6.23 — “Rightful Heir”
Plot: Worf has a crisis of faith, and goes on a retreat to a Klingon religious colony hoping to receive a vision. He is startled by the appearance of Kahless, a long-dead Klingon leader and Messiah figure who appeared under different circumstances in TOS 3.22, “The Savage Curtain.” Kahless’ return presents a challenge for Gowron, Chancellor of the Klingon High Council, and Worf once again finds himself at the center of a power struggle for political dominance.
Thoughts: TBH, I’m not much in love with this talky episode. It looks very cinematic and the religious material represents a daring departure from the usual format. There’s a lot of smoke here: Klingon politics, Worf’s career, but it seems to come down to talk, talk, talk signifying little. Gene Roddenberry, the rational humanist. who never missed a chance to poke at superstition and religious dogma, must have shifted a little in his grave when it first aired. Are Klingons better off believing in Kahless, even if he’s a clone with fake memories? Better off reviving the hidebound traditions of their ancestors? Really? What would Gene say?
I kept wondering where Starfleet is while all this is going on. Picard is hosting the Klingon High Chancellor and the reincarnated Kahless. Surely this has political ramifications that would cause a few ripples among the Federation. Maybe exploring that would give us some context as to why we should care who rules the Klingon Empire? It’s like the Federation/Starfleet doesn’t exist anymore on this show.
There’s been a big shift in the portrayal of Klingons, not just since the Original Series, but even since “A Matter of Honor” (TNG 2.8) and other early TNG episodes that focused on the warrior culture. At this point, Klingon seems like a religious cult. Looking back to Kor and Kang and Koloth, they didn’t seem like such godly people.
I still love Gowron’s giant, insane eyes.
If there is anything original or wise to be found in the talk about searching for/loss of faith, finding true strength within and whatnot, I’m afraid it is lost on me. The one part that will stick with me is Data’s speech:
DATA: I understand your dilemma. I once had what could be considered a crisis of the spirit.
WORF: You?
DATA: Yes. The Starfleet officers who first activated me on Omicron Theta told me I was an android, nothing more than a sophisticated machine with human form. However I realized that if I were simply a machine, I could never be anything else. I could never grow beyond my programming. I found that difficult to accept, so I chose to believe that I was a person, that I had the potential to be more than a collection of circuits and subprocessors. It is a belief which I still hold.
WORF: How did you come to your decision?
DATA: I made a leap of faith.
Alexander’s absence is noticeable. Apparently a throwaway line explaining that he is away visiting his human grandparents was cut for time.
Picard’s dressing down of Worf before he leaves the ship is over the top. At this point, all he has done is miss the start of a shift, and possibly violate fire codes in his quarters. We are told his attendance record is exemplary. This warrants a lecutre from the Captain? Picard careens from over-the-top criticism to almost equally overwrought concern for Worf’s spiritual crisis.
2 of 5 trials by combat, the greatest way to make decisions.
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