TNG Spoiler: "Rightful Heir" [SFLAaE/BS]
SFLAaE/BS
Review by the Star Fleet Ladies Auxiliary and Embroidery/Baking Society
Posted by Julia Kosatka <ju...@jetson.uh.edu>
=============================================
[SPOILERS]
Plot:
JEK
I liked it! I found myself thinking 'Devil's Due!!!!' a couple of times,
but then it turns out that it was more complicated than that after all.
I really felt sorry for Kahless and with my eagerness to see Jurassic Park
(which I've read) I can't *believe* that I didn't think of a clone! Just
goes to show that a well crafted story can go a long way toward keeping
you thinking along the very lines the writer *wants* you to think along.
It's also interesting to see that Worf is becoming a power in the Empire.
It was also nice to see Picard actually chew somebody out for screwing
up on duty. I wonder how many netters are going to complain about that.
:-)
SG
I liked it too, considering I went in with the preconceived notion that
it was gonna suck (I know, not very wise of me!). Considering we just saw a
clone in DS9, you'd think that would be the first thing I'd think of.
Then again, I am *NOT* a Master of the Plainly Obvious (hey, I didn't figure
out "Suspicions"). I let out a WHOO-EEE! THREE SNAPS UP!! when Picard
said, "On your feet, Lieutenant." Things tend to get a little comfortable
on the big E... once in a while we -- and they -- need a reminder as to
who's in charge!
SG
I had two songs running through my head for the whole episode: "I Still
Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" by U2, and "Cult of Personality" by
Living Colour. If Creation did a music video to accompany this episode,
I'd bet dollars to donuts that one of these songs would get used. :)
SG
The whole religious aspect was, to me, very thought-provoking. I mean, if
Christ did return to Earth... He'd probably get thrown into a psychiatric
ward!
JEK
Ok, when are they going to come to Worf and ask him to be head of the
council? :-) This would have to be after an assassination attempt or two. :-)
He's getting to be quite powerful. Worf the King-maker. And him just a
lowly lieutenant!
SG
When is this poor ma-- I mean Klingon-- going to get a promotion? All
this great work he does...! (when he's not getting throttled, that is!)
:)
KMS
Yep, it was kind of surprising to hear that the Klingon Who Get's Whomped
On All The Time (tm) is a powerful voice in the Klingon Empire. Hmmm...
kind of makes you wonder doesn't it?
SG
My head was kind of spinning. When did he go from the dishonorable son
of a traitor, to *this*? I like it, but I am a bit confused about this. I
mean, I really, really, REALLY like seeing Worf assume such a position!
Oh, and I kinda wanted to see Worf's brother again. Owell.
KMS
But.... Worf has a *good* hair day! The rest of the episode can go hang
for all I care! They *finally* gave him Klingon Hair! I was jumping
up and down with proverbial glee when they showed him crouching over that
brazier (Worf goes to Dairy Queen?) with his hair all down and wild!
Cool stuff, maynard! Umm.... whatever happened to Alexander, btw. Did
Lwaxana steal him? He doesn't seem to be in residence any more. Odd.
SG
Worf gets high! :) ;) I really liked the strange opium-den quality that
scene in the cave had. Worf gets to be a Klingon, a *real* Klingon!
(The brazier joke was cute, Kel.)
KMS
Rightful Heir was kind of Klingon Lite. It didn't quite satisfy me though
I liked it overall. I found that I kept calling Kahless "Koresh" :-) (That
name even *sounds* Klingon!) I kind of felt sorry for the ol' guy when Gowron
beat him. He looked so shocked and depressed, and even more so after Worf
told him "They grew you like a fungus!" (How tactful!) But the solution was
nice. A moral leader for the Klingons. What a concept! But wait a sec...
wasn't Kahless supposed to be a super bad guy? (Ref: TOS, "The Savage
Curtain" if I remember correctly)
JEK
I thought that was a nice touch, myself. After all, during TOS the Klingons
were the Bad Guys [tm], now they're the Good Guys [tm]. Hero or Villain, it
all depends on your point of view.
SG
Oh heavens, I hadn't made the Koresh connection. Thanks a lot. :) A
moral leader is a good idea... as long as no one's forcing the morals. :)
Characterization:
SG
Michael Dorn does a teeee-rific job, what more can be said?! He's
really made Worf into a believable leader. Come on, Fleet, give this
officer a well deserved promotion!
KMS
Worf as Doubting Thomas. I liked it. Instead of plunging headlong into
the fray just because it's the "Klingon Way," we get a Worf who thinks first
and acts second. (Too bad he didn't do this with K'eyhlar... then they
might have had time to go get the box of Klingenz brand condoms :-)) I
have always liked Worf, but Michael Dorn seems to be adding a new dimension
that I really approve of.
JEK
Gowron's become a rather interesting character. He's grown as a leader, from
grab power at any cost to trying to hold the empire together at almost any
cost. It gives his character a depth that we don't normally see in infrequently
used characters. (Or in *frequently* used characters, for that matter.) I think
I see a Klingon movie in the offing. The empire is shaping up to be an
interesting place to visit.
SG
I liked the guy who played Kahless, tho' I had the irresistible urge to
twist his head convolutions around like so much Silly Putty. Where have
I seen *this* guy before? (That's the Obligatory SFLAaE/BS Question--KMS)
SG
Decent performances all around from everyone else, the little screen time
they had. Picard's scene with Worf is the one scene that comes to mind.
Picard is their "leader", but he is an approachable leader.
Visuals/costuming/misc:
[okay, so we've gone a little off kilter here]
JEK
(Costumes)
Much nicer than the SF uniform. These were *great* clothes this time!
And you're right! Terrific hair day!!!!! I'm kinda surprised that
Alexander wasn't around. He could have at least mentioned that children
aren't allowed to participate in this sort of ritual and that he was
staying with friends.
KMS
I love what they do with Klingon costuming! Beautiful textures and drapes.
I especially liked the High Priest's robes (the blue ones), they were
just spectacular.I also like the fact that each Klingon has an individual
set o' head-bumps. It makes them seem more real somehow. The Klingons are
one of the few races we get to see where not *everyone* wears a uniform! Only
the military does. Everyone else has just *clothes*. I wish the designer(s)
would do more societies like that. It just doesn't make sense to me that every
planet they come to has a dress code! BTW, Worf looks great in Klingon garb,
Dorn's height and bulk really *work* when accentuated. And my last rant on
this subject for this review: I want them to let him wear his hair *KLINGON*
all the time, darn it! I don't understand why he has to look like he's spends
hours in front of the mirror every morning!
MISC:
KMS
As to the question of Where's Alexander (Imagine a Where's Waldo book full of
Klingons!) I can just see it now, Alexander comes home from a hard day at
preschool to find Dad crouched over a brazier muttering incantations! Talk
about a shock to the system! Poor kid might never come home again! He'll
start camping out in Troi's quarters!
SG
Funny image, that. :)
In my book, the less we see of Alexander... the better. Though it would
have been nice for them to kind of *hint* as to who the kid got dumped off
with for the duration.
SG
They do look so damned uncomfortable in those big Klingon uniforms
though. And those boots! (Actually, I kind of want a pair of those.)
You'd think by the 24th century beings would be more concerned
with function then Truly Ungodly Shoulderpads (borrowed from the
Drinking Game). But, okay, these ARE the Klingons... they DO sleep on a
flat slab of rock.... :) And was that the same Gowron? He looked different,
somehow.
Best Lines:
JEK
Worf to Kahless: "Questions are the beginning of wisdom."
Gowron to Picard: "Have you ever tried to fight an idea?"
All in all:
SG
I liked it. 'Nuff said.
***************************
The Star Fleet Ladies Auxiliary and Embroidery/Baking Society is:
Catherine Cartwright CCar...@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu
Janis Maria Cortese cor...@skid.ps.uci.edu
Sandra Guzdek SGu...@ubvms.cc.buffalo.edu
Julia Kosatka JU...@Jetson.UH.EDU
Kellie Matthew-Simmons Matth...@cubldr.colorado.edu
Melanie A. Miller Km...@midway.uchicago.edu
copyright retained by the authors, permission to distribute freely
(within reason) is granted. SFLaAE/BS reviews will be posted to:
rec.arts.startrek.current, and rec.arts.startrek.reviews on a semi-
regular basis.