STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION
Season 3, Episode 23

Sarek

Series: The Next Generation - (1987-1994)
Season: 3
Episode #: 3.23
Production #: 40273-171
Original Airdate: 05/14/1990

Writer(s): Peter S. Beagle (from an unpublished story by Marc Cushman and Jake Jacobs) and Peter S. Beagle
Director(s): Les Landau

Guest Stars
Mark Lenard as Ambassador Sarek
Joanna Miles as Perrin
William Denis as Ki Mendrossen
Rocco Sisto as Sakkath
Colm Meaney as Chief Miles O'Brien
John H. Francis as a Sciences Division Ensign

Uncredited Guest Stars
Rachen Assapiomonwait as Crewman Nelson
Joe Bauman as Crewman Garvey
Michael Braveheart as Ltjg. Martinez
David Chanel as a Command Division Lieutenant
Gil Combs as an Operations Division Officer
Nyra Crenshaw as an Operations Division Officer
Robert Daniels as an Operations Division Officer
Christopher Doyle as a Civilian
Michele Gerren as a Sciences Division Officer
Eben Ham as an Operations Division Officer
Cat Hayes as a Sciences Division Officer
Kim as an Operations Division Officer
Mark Lentry as a Civilian
Ken Lesco as a Sciences Division Officer
Buck McDancer as an Operations Division Officer
James McElroy as a Command Division Officer
Michael Moorehead as a Civilian
Randy Pflug as Lt. Jones
Denise Lynne Roberts as Crewman Patti
Joyce Robinson as Ensign Gates
Richard Sarstedt as a Command Division Officer
Marston Smith as the Cellist
Uchizono as a Civilian
Guy Vardaman as Lt. Darien Wallace

Stardate: 43917.4

Synopsis

Sarek, the renowned Vulcan Ambassador, is on a mission to establish relations between the Federation and a race of beings known as the Legaran. His arrival on the starship is preceded by his human Chief of Staff, Mendrossen, and a young Vulcan, Sakkath, the Ambassador's personal assistant. Mendrossen explains to Captain Picard that Sarek's age has recently caused him to tire easily, and asks him to dispense with the official ceremonies that would normally be accorded a visitor of Sarek's rank, so that he may rest. Picard is disappointed that Sarek will not be able to attend a concert arranged on his behalf, but defers to Mendrossen's wishes.

Picard later extends a personal invitation to attend the concert to Sarek's wife, Perrin, who thanks him and says that she will extend the invitation to her husband. When Picard departs, Perrin enters Sarek's room to find the Vulcan uncharacteristically annoyed by an apparent inability to meditate. Later in the evening, Sarek and his entourage attend the concert, where Picard is surprised to see the Ambassador, who is normally emotionally detached, moved to tears by the music.

[ Complete Screencap Index ]

During the course of Sarek's stay, sporadic bouts of anger and violence plague the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise. Dr. Crusher is horrified when she is driven to strike Wesley, and seeks counsel from Troi, who expresses concern because it is just one of many similar incidents that have been reported to her. The situation becomes desperate when a brawl breaks out among the crew in Ten Forward.

Troi and Dr. Crusher theorize that Sarek is suffering from Bendii Syndrome, a rare condition among Vulcans, characterized by a loss of emotional control. Although Mendrossen denies the suggestion, Sakkath, concerned about the success of the conference, admits that he has been attempting to telepathically reinforce Sarek's emotional control.

When Sarek is informed of the recent events, he so vehemently denies his affliction that it results in an outburst of anger, which proves Picard's point. Before the captain cancels the conference, he proposes that he and Sarek participate in a mind-meld in which they would become telepathically linked, and virtually share one mind. When Sarek agrees, Picard suffers through a whirlwind of the Ambassador's emotions unleashed in his mind, while Sarek is able to use the captain's strength to successfully negotiate with the Legaran delegates.

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