UNCUT REACTION - Star Trek TNG S1E20 - Heart of Glory
Added 2023-12-08 15:00:09 +0000 UTC
Comments
This was the last of the TNG episodes that aired before I was alive. I was born 4 days after it originally aired. Riker asking to separate the saucer was a nice touch considering the whole point of the saucer section is a mixture of a giant self sufficient lifeboat and a way to keep the civilians and non essential crew out of danger if you're going into battle. Shame they didn't film a few more separation sequences and use the feature more often in the show. There's a lot of firsts in this episode. First time we see klingons(aside from Worf and the klingon woman Riker conjured up), first appearance of MANY for Vaughn Armstrong, first time we see Geordi's POV, first on screen use of the replicator, first appearance of the klingon death ritual, first real Worf episode. Regarding the klingon death ritual, it is pretty metal. Almost seems like something you might expect from vikings. I do find it funny how the older woman at the console behind them is just like "WTF was that?". There's a game called Klingon Academy that covers some of the same ground as this episode. One generation of warriors, or perhaps younger warriors with nostalgia for the past, unable to let go of the past and find a place in a time of peace. Korris is a great character, and Armstrong gave a memorable performance. I don't think he was evil per se, he was just born in the wrong era. Probably my biggest criticism of the episode was the escape sequence. Even since I was a kid, that lego disruptor gun just wasn't it for me. It just looks so flimsy and awkward, the barrels don't even stay aligned, and how did they not scan them for weapons(or weapon components)? Then you got the one guy stupidly rushing in and getting killed just so Korris could get a phaser, then the second guy just stands there waiting to be killed. Plus you got Konmel licking his lips when he's supposed to be a corpse. I really love Worf's speech at the end. It sets him apart early on from other klingons in establishing that he has a very personal code of honor based on integrity and duty and principle. Compare that to most klingons where battle and glory and accolades are all that matters. It's all about external appearance and being a "great warrior" to those around you. As Worf says, it's the battles within that count the most, and that's a lesson many klingons could learn from him. So yeah, it's a fantastic episode, and a strong contender for the best of S1. It really starts the process of shaping both Worf and the klingons into what they eventually become in this era of Trek, though the bulk of that work was done by Ronald D. Moore.
Timothy Nikiforovs
2024-06-27 22:15:00 +0000 UTCWithout a doubt later seasons are superior but the first 2 are not the disaster people make out. You know how it is on the Internet shades of grey and nuance are not allowed.
AzoriusMage
2023-12-10 20:07:00 +0000 UTCNo: https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Talarian
AzoriusMage
2023-12-10 20:06:10 +0000 UTCAs far as the Romulans go....you will soon get your wish.
Monty Crawford
2023-12-09 21:49:19 +0000 UTCI'm sure Klingon culture very much allows for a warrior to forgo the death ritual when he himself is under fire or in mortal danger.
JD Nevesytrof
2023-12-09 17:32:21 +0000 UTCTo be honest I thought Tellarian was the possessive noun of Tellarite (the Pig People fron TOS) Also Patrick Stewart desperately trying to sound Amazed by Jordi's visor
Justin DiBari
2023-12-09 16:28:54 +0000 UTCI’ve always felt season 4 is the most consistent..can’t really think of a miss..but season 6 & 7 (and even 5) have their fair share of clunkers. Maybe because I’ve seen it the least, but season 7, with a few end of season exceptions, is my least favorite
Glenn Johnson Barnes
2023-12-09 14:53:49 +0000 UTCI still maintain that you’ll forget about most of this season when the others roll in. Season 2 is sorta in the middle. Season 1: the least of all 7 Season 3-7: far superior Season 2: the transition 🙂
Tom Occhipinti
2023-12-09 03:46:45 +0000 UTCAbout the whole "Klingons don't take prisoners/hostages but Kruge did" thing, I look at that as the normal generalizations that every society has. "Americans don't do XYZ." But, even with just 330 million of us, I'd wager you could find a few Americans that do XYZ, you just have to look for them. As a rule, Klingons don't take hostages and consider it cowardly, but in practice, some Klingons across the Empire have been known to do so if they think they have to in order to accomplish a goal. :)
tyranusfan
2023-12-09 03:08:50 +0000 UTCHey, I think my top 10 just turned into a Top 15. That line by Riker struck me as funny. "Smells Like a Trap...let's go." 😀🖖
Duane Chancey
2023-12-09 02:37:53 +0000 UTCHe went on to work on The X-Files, and directed the X-Files movie in '98.
tyranusfan
2023-12-09 02:33:19 +0000 UTCI last watched season one when the DVD season sets first started coming out 21 years ago…I remember at the time that season one seemed better compared to when I watched it originally back in 1987 and 1988. Now watching them again I’m liking it even more.
Rich Loga
2023-12-09 01:00:43 +0000 UTCAnd in the remastered edition, they reinserted a couple of the Balance of Terror style Romulan ships to emphasize the point. Made a lot more sense.
Terrafan
2023-12-09 00:18:33 +0000 UTCI always wondered if the Klingon who was killed when they break out of the brig ever got a death ritual performed for him.
KatWithAttitude
2023-12-09 00:11:12 +0000 UTCThis was one of the seasons top 5
Scarpad’s Domain
2023-12-08 22:33:36 +0000 UTCYou’ll get to know Klingons alright
Scarpad’s Domain
2023-12-08 22:33:16 +0000 UTCJust wait till we meet the Tamarians. Or the Tarkarians. Or the Takellians. Or the Tarkelliens. Or the Takerians...
Nolan
2023-12-08 21:50:11 +0000 UTC"The Enterprise Incident" the first real appearance of the Klingon D7-Battlecruiser, though production-wise it appeared in another episode as a straight Klingon ship, then the TOS remasters included some in the updated effects for Klingon appearances in Seasons 1 & 2: Scotty: "Thats a Klingon ship!" Spock: Intelligence reports Romulans now using Klingon design."
Nolan
2023-12-08 21:49:29 +0000 UTCI think Rob Bowman as a director is pretty much as common and essential as Marc Daniels (or perhaps Ralph Senesky) was to TOS. You'll see some more good episodes from him in the future. Yes, a very good episode. My favorite so far of Season 1, but I have a another favorite yet to come (1 that finally convinced me this show was headed in the right direction). Romulans you say? We'll just have to wait a while and see.
Collin Freeman
2023-12-08 19:52:03 +0000 UTCGood observation about Worf and the role his character will play moving forward. This is the first time he moves into the spotlight and takes centre stage and Michael Dorm delivers. He's matched by guest star Vaughn Armstrong who turns in an electric performance.
William McRae
2023-12-08 19:45:35 +0000 UTCYou are correct that they switched around some Romulan and Klingon designs. Mostly because originally in the movies often the Romulans were originally intended but then last minute they decide to make it Klingons, and the ships were already done. The in-universe explanation is that there used to be a Romulan Klingon alliance with some tech-exchange going on. So for a while they used similar ship designs.
Andreas Schmitt
2023-12-08 18:57:28 +0000 UTCHonestly its a silly trope to apply singular characteristics to an entire species and civilization. Imagine saying Americans don’t torture prisoners….well ya it’s generally true but hardly a thing you can say about all Americans. Or the Imperial Japanese army was known to frown upon taking prisoners….contrast that with Japan today…an extremely peaceful society.
Derek Orr
2023-12-08 18:51:55 +0000 UTC30:11 The looks on your faces... too funny to me :-)
Jovet
2023-12-08 18:15:59 +0000 UTCPronounced "Kronos."
JD Nevesytrof
2023-12-08 18:01:19 +0000 UTCYou were correct when you said the ship was a Romulan ship, because it's also a Klingon ship. From what I remember, there was a brief alliance between the Klingons and the Romulans. The Klingons traded some of their D7 battlecruisers to the Romulans for their cloaking devices. Someone please chime in here if I'm mistaken.
Ca$hWednesday
2023-12-08 18:00:40 +0000 UTCConfusingly, these are Talarians, the ones in Haven were Tarellians :)
Bret Kay
2023-12-08 17:49:09 +0000 UTCI'm really glad you're enjoying the first season. I've always enjoyed it watching it when it aired. The general hate toward Season 1 & 2 and emphatic love of Season 3 on has made me question whether I was missing something, but I've still enjoy all of them lol
Bret Kay
2023-12-08 17:44:35 +0000 UTCEvery time I watch this episode I actually like it just a little bit more. Music, Ron Jones is a big MVP in early TNG. He gets fired around Season 4 and, honestly, the music is never as good in this era of Trek after we lose him. In these first three season of TNG the music is so big. Here, we have great use of an almost "ambient" take on the Klingon theme/motifs featured in Star Trek The Motion Picture and Star Trek III. Those low horns, the clanking percussion. I love it. It feels so tribalistic and mysterious. Some interesting language is used here Korris refers to humans as "infidels" which is not a commonly used word among Klingons. It has always made me wonder if he was part of some kind of a religious sect. Also, props to Vaughn Armstrong. He becomes a bit of a workhorse actor throughout Star Trek, playing many different alien species.
Steven Johnson
2023-12-08 17:41:18 +0000 UTCPeople usually bring up Kruge, but Kruge was taking prisoners in what he considered an act of war (The Genesis "weapon" being seen as a weapon of total destruction by the Klingons.)
Steven Johnson
2023-12-08 17:36:41 +0000 UTCOkay, a little obnoxious, but TNG basically likes to use "Talarian" or some variant for a LOT of generic alien races they encounter, none of which have any relation to each other. You'll have to get used to it.
JD Nevesytrof
2023-12-08 17:00:43 +0000 UTCI don't classify it as an inconsistency at this point. It's no different than how our own planet has multiple names. Earth, Terra, Sol 3, Gaia.
Steven Johnson
2023-12-08 16:49:17 +0000 UTCIts amusing to catch the inconsistencies before things got codified. You guys caught the reference to "Kling" and asked if its their homeworld. The answer is they hadn't really settled on the final name (Qo'noS) yet.
Julie Carter
2023-12-08 16:04:32 +0000 UTCInteresting that he wouldn't take a small girl hostage but was perfectly fine murdering her and everyone on the ship if he didn't get his way a few hours later.
David Scudder
2023-12-08 15:59:01 +0000 UTCIn D.C. Fontana’s original script for Enterprise Incident they specifically state that the Romulans and Klingons are sharing technology. It was trimmed from the shooting script by Freiberger.
Glenn Johnson Barnes
2023-12-08 15:56:06 +0000 UTCIf you go back to TOS the Enterprise Incident In the beginning of the episode there was a throw away line as the Klingon style ship appears Spock said They are using a Klingon design. This happened because the original romulan ship was destroyed during the filming of balance of terror.
Thicketdweller
2023-12-08 15:41:55 +0000 UTCWhich is to say Worf appearance will evolve
Thicketdweller
2023-12-08 15:32:07 +0000 UTCIt is true worf looks slightly different. Between season 1 and 2 someone stole the Klingon head prosthetic from the set. Michael Dorn had to sit through another lifecast and a new prosthetic.
Thicketdweller
2023-12-08 15:30:35 +0000 UTCI'm really excited for this one!
Ca$hWednesday
2023-12-08 15:25:35 +0000 UTCOur first real look at Klingon culture
Thicketdweller
2023-12-08 15:05:39 +0000 UTC
