"Star Trek: The Next Generation" Sarek (1990)

Director:

Les Landau

Writers:

Gene Roddenberry (creator)
Peter S. Beagle (television story)

TV Series:

"Star Trek: The Next Generation" (1987)

Original Air Date:

12 May 1990 (Season 3, Episode 23)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

Plot:

Legendary Federation ambassador Sarek visits the Enterprise to conclude peace talks with a race called the Legarans. His arrival is accompanied with a rash of unusual emotional outbursts among the crew.

Plot Keywords:

Character Name In Title | Captain | Security | Mother Son Relationship | Space Shuttle

Cast

Patrick Stewart	...	Captain Jean-Luc Picard
Jonathan Frakes	...	Commander William T. Riker
LeVar Burton	...	Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge
Michael Dorn	...	Lieutenant Worf
Gates McFadden	...	Doctor Beverly Crusher
Marina Sirtis	...	Counselor Deanna Troi
Brent Spiner	...	Lt. Commander Data
Wil Wheaton	...	Wesley Crusher
Mark Lenard	...	Sarek
Joanna Miles	...	Perrin
William Denis	...	Ki Aloysius Mendrossen
Rocco Sisto	...	Sakkath
Colm Meaney	...	Chief Miles O'Brien
John H. Francis	...	Science Crewman

Trivia:

Per the title, Sarek is a legendary Federation ambassador, scientist and father of the half-human Star Fleet officer and science officer of the NCC-1701 USS Enterprise Spock who served under the equally legendary Captain James Tiberius Kirk.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): The crew are entertained by a recital that starts with a Mozart string quartet, as promised. This needs four players: two violins, viola and cello. The piece that causes Sarek's tear is in fact Brahms' Sextet #1 - which would require six players, i.e. an additional viola and cello.

Quotes:

Ambassador Sarek: My mind to your mind... your thoughts to my thoughts.

Movie Connections:

References "Star Trek: Journey to Babel (#2.10)" (1967)

A bridge to the Original Series - not yet forgotten.

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

ST:TNG:71 - "Sarek" (Stardate: 43917.4) - this is the 23rd episode of the 3rd season of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

As this episode's title suggests, we again see Mark Lenard as Ambassador Sarek (Spock's father) in his first TNG appearance. This time, he has a new wife named Perrin (since Amanda who was Spock's mother, has already died long ago). When Sarek boards the Enterprise, the famed Vulcan ambassador begins to emit emotions, being moved to tears by a performance in which Data is a participant on the violin. As the episode progresses, we see that Sarek's mind isn't what it used to be as violence and emotional outbursts escalate by various crew on the Enterprise (including an Original Series inspired Ten Forward barfight).

Special note: GREAT and TOUCHING performance by Patrick Stewart as Picard.

Trivia note: Data played on the violin in an earlier 3rd season episode "The Ensigns of Command". We also see the planet Vulcan in this episode. And, Picard met Sarek years ago at his son's wedding (we assume he meant Spock).