See also
- "The Emissary", the second season episode where Worf and K'Ehleyr meet again after six years.
- "Sins of the Father", the third season episode where Worf and Duras first meet.
- "Redemption", Parts I & II, the sequel to "Reunion".
| "Reunion" | |
|---|---|
| Star Trek: The Next Generation episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 4 Episode 7 |
| Directed by | Jonathan Frakes |
| Story by |
|
| Teleplay by |
|
| Featured music | Ron Jones |
| Cinematography by | Marvin Rush |
| Production code | 181 |
| Original air date | November 5, 1990 |
| Guest appearances | |
| |
"Reunion" is the 81st episode of the syndicated American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation . It is the seventh episode of the fourth season.
Set in the 24th century, the series follows the adventures of the Starfleet crew of the Federation starship Enterprise-D. In this episode, ambassador K'Ehleyr returns to the Enterprise to advise Captain Picard, who has been chosen as a neutral party to arbitrate the selection of the new Klingon leader from two candidates, Gowron and Duras, one of whom is suspected to be a traitor.
The starship Enterprise is met by a Klingon Vor'cha class battlecruiser, and Ambassador K'Ehleyr (Suzie Plakson) requests to speak to Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) on an "urgent matter". When she beams aboard, she brings a young Klingon boy (Jon Paul Steuer); based on previous romantic encounters with K'Ehleyr, Lt. Worf (Michael Dorn) suspects the boy is his son. K'Ehleyr warns the senior staff of a power struggle occurring within the Klingon Empire and implores Picard to meet Chancellor K'mpec (Charles Cooper) aboard the battlecruiser. On the Klingon ship, K'mpec reveals that he has been poisoned and is slowly dying, and insists that Picard become the Arbiter of Succession and identify his assassin. He suspects that it is either Gowron or Duras, the two challengers for the succession, and warns Picard that allowing a Klingon who would use poison to become chancellor could result in war between the Klingon Empire and the Federation (as killing anonymously is seen as dishonorable).
Worf finally meets and spends time with the Klingon boy, and is troubled by the boy's lack of interest in becoming a warrior. In a private moment with Worf, K'Ehleyr confirms that the boy is his son, Alexander, but hid him from Worf in fear that Worf would ask her to take the Klingon oath of marriage. Worf, already burdened by his discommendation, fears for Alexander's future, given the stigma of his family name.
The two challengers for leadership of the council, Gowron (Robert O'Reilly) and Duras (Patrick Massett), arrive for the Rites of Succession. The rites begin with Picard, Duras, Gowron, and K'Ehleyr confirming that K'mpec has died, but a bomb detonates in the assembly hall, resulting in the deaths of two unnamed Klingons. Picard decides to draw out the Rites using an archaic ceremony to give the Enterprise crew time to complete a forensic analysis on the dead Klingons. Though both resent the longer form, Gowron and Duras have little choice but to agree to continue the Rites.
The Enterprise crew discovers that the explosion came from a Romulan bomb worn by one of Duras' guards. Due to Picard's refusal to explain the circumstances of Worf's discommendation, K'Ehleyr begins her own investigation and discovers that Duras's father was the true traitor in the Khitomer massacre. Duras, notified of K'Ehleyr's access to the records, confronts her and mortally wounds her. Worf and Alexander discover K'Ehleyr in time for her to reveal that Duras attacked her; before she dies, she has Worf promise to look after Alexander. Worf takes a bat'leth from his quarters and transports to Duras's ship, where he challenges Duras to combat under the Right of Vengeance. Duras initially rejects the challenge, but accepts it when Worf claims K'Ehleyr was his mate. Riker, Data, and another Enterprise officer board Duras's ship to stop Worf, but are unable to prevent him from killing Duras in combat. With Duras dead and no other challengers present, Gowron is named Chancellor of the Empire.
After the Klingons leave, Picard reprimands Worf for killing Duras. Though Worf defends his actions as valid under Klingon law, Picard reminds him he is first of all a Starfleet officer and places a formal reprimand on Worf's record. Though Duras's death means that there is no longer any reason to hide the truth of the Khitomer masscare, Worf explains to Picard that the High Council will not admit their actions and vows he and his brother will convince them to speak the truth. Worf and Alexander mourn their loss, and Worf places the boy in the care of his adoptive parents Sergey and Helena Rozhenko.
This episode introduced a Klingon spacecraft to the Star Trek franchise, the "Vor'cha", which was designed by Rick Sternbach; the model was built by Greg Jein. [1] This was also the first episode with the Klingon recurring character Gowron, who would appear in subsequent episodes of both TNG and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine ; the character was played by Robert O'Reilly. [2]
The Bat'leth prop, a Klingon weapon, was designed by Dan Curry for this episode. [3] Dan Curry was the visual effects producer. [3] The Bat'leth later appeared many times and became known in pop culture. [4]
In 2016, the story of K'Ehleyr in "Reunion" was noted as one of the saddest conclusions in Star Trek franchise. [5] In 2017, Den of Geek ranked Suzie Plakson's role as K'Ehleyr as one of the top ten guest stars on Star Trek: The Next Generation, noting her performance in this episode and earlier episode which introduced the character, "The Emissary". [6]
In 2017, Den of Geek ranked this episode as one of top 25 "must watch" episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation. [7]
In 2017, Comic Book Resources ranked Worf and K'Ehleyr as the ninth best romantic relationship of the Star Trek franchise up to that time, noting their introduction in the previous episode "The Emissary". They note that in this episode she returns with Worf's son, but is killed by Duras. [8]
Keith R. A. DeCandido of Tor.com rated the episode ten out of ten. [9] Zach Handlen of The A.V. Club gave the episode a grade of B+. [10]
K'Ehleyr was suggested as the inspiration for later Star Trek main cast character B'Elanna Torres. [5] In terms of the continuity in the show, it provides an origin story for Worf's son Alexander. [5]
The episode introduced the bat'leth to the series, which became the iconic weapon of the Klingons. [4]
"Reunion" was released in the United States on September 3, 2002, as part of the Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 4 season four DVD box set. [11]
Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG) is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry. It originally aired from September 28, 1987, to May 23, 1994, in syndication, spanning 178 episodes over seven seasons. The third series in the Star Trek franchise, it was inspired by Star Trek: The Original Series. Set in the latter third of the 24th century, when Earth is part of the United Federation of Planets, it follows the adventures of a Starfleet starship, the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D), in its exploration of the Alpha quadrant and Beta quadrant in the Milky Way galaxy.
Worf, son of Mogh is a fictional character in the Star Trek franchise, portrayed by actor Michael Dorn. He appears in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG), seasons four through seven of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (DS9), and the third and final season of Star Trek: Picard, as well as the feature films Star Trek Generations (1994), Star Trek: First Contact (1996), Star Trek: Insurrection (1998), and Star Trek: Nemesis (2002).
Gowron, son of M'Rel, is a fictional character who appeared in the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Portrayed by Robert O'Reilly, he is the leader of the Klingon Empire, known as the Chancellor. O'Reilly had appeared earlier in The Next Generation as Scarface in the second season episode "Manhunt", and was cast as Gowron due to his comedic ability and his piercing and extremely unsettling gaze, or what O'Reilly himself humorously referred to as "that crazy loon eyeball thing".
The bat'leth is a double-sided scimitar/hook sword/lujiaodao hybrid-edged weapon with a curved blade, four points, and three handholds on the back. It was designed and created by Star Trek: The Next Generation visual effects producer Dan Curry for the Star Trek franchise, where it is the characteristic close combat weapon of Klingons. Curry has called the bat'leth "one of the iconic images associated with the show." It has spawned a smaller weapon, which became known as the mek'leth; in Klingon, this is written meqleH. A third weapon, a kur'leth, was later designed by Dan Curry, for Season 3 of Star Trek: Picard. Bat'leths have become an enduring symbol of the franchise among fans, and they are occasionally referenced in other media.
"Redemption" is a two-part episode of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation. Parts I and II of "Redemption" comprise the 100th and 101st episodes of the series, also being the fourth season finale and the fifth season premiere.
"Sins of the Father" is the 65th episode of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and the 17th episode of the third season.
In the fictional Star Trek universe the Klingon High Council is the supreme ruling body of the Klingon Empire. The council meets at the Great Hall of the First City of the Klingon Empire on the planet Qo'noS.
Robert O'Reilly is an American film, stage, and television actor who has appeared in a variety of roles. He appeared in the Star Trek franchise for over ten years, primarily in his recurring role on Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine as Chancellor Gowron, the leader of the Klingon Empire. He has also appeared in over 100 films and television episodes, and has acted on Broadway and at Carnegie Hall. His links with the Colony Theatre Company resulted in his receiving a Drama-Logue Award in 1981 for directing the play Getting Out.
"Manhunt" is the nineteenth episode of the second season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation, the 45th episode overall, originally broadcast on June 19, 1989.
"The Emissary" is the twentieth episode of the second season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation, the 46th episode overall, first airing on June 26, 1989.
Rightful Heir is the 149th episode of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation, and the 23rd episode of the sixth season.
"Tacking Into the Wind" is the 172nd episode of the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. The episode was written by Ronald D. Moore and directed by Mike Vejar.
"Firstborn" is the 173rd episode of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation. The 21st episode of the seventh season. It was broadcast on television in April 1994.
"Birthright" is a story spanning the 16th and 17th episodes of the sixth season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation, the 142nd and 143rd episodes overall.
"Apocalypse Rising" is the 99th episode of the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, the first episode of the fifth season. The episode was directed by James L. Conway, and written by Ira Steven Behr and Robert Hewitt Wolfe.
"The Sword of Kahless" is the 81st episode of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, the ninth of the fourth season. It originally aired on November 20, 1995, in broadcast syndication. The story was created by Richard Danus and was turned into a teleplay by Hans Beimler. The episode was directed by Star Trek: The Next Generation alumnus LeVar Burton, and featured the return of John Colicos as Kor. Colicos had first appeared as Kor in the Star Trek: The Original Series episode "Errand of Mercy", and had previously appeared in this series in the episode "Blood Oath".
Several characters within the Star Trek franchise, primary and secondary, often made crossover appearances between one series and another. This included appearances of established characters on premiere episodes of new series, a few long-term transfers from one series to another, and even crossovers between Trek films and television. A few crossover appearances, such as that of Spock on The Next Generation and the time-travel of the crew of Deep Space Nine to the era of The Original Series were especially lauded by both fans and critics.
The fourth season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation commenced airing in broadcast syndication in the United States on September 24, 1990 and concluded on June 17, 1991 after airing 26 episodes. Set in the 24th century, the series follows the adventures of the crew of the Starfleet starship Enterprise-D.
"The Way of the Warrior" is the first episode from the fourth season of the American syndicated science fiction television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, counting as the 73rd and the 74th episodes overall as it is a double-length episode. Michael Dorn joins the cast of Deep Space Nine as Worf, a character originating on the preceding series, Star Trek: The Next Generation.
