TNG Episode Review: IMHO - "Rightful Heir"
TED BRENGLE
***A Special Encore Presentation Of The Best Of IMHO***
(or a lousy, stinking re-run)
TNG: Season 6: "Rightful Heir"
Just when everybody on the planet was THIS close to writing off
Worf and the Klingons as completely mined out...
I must admit I was dreading this episode. "Here we go again," I
sneered. "Another daring showcase of TrekAngst(Patent Pending) which
will ultimately amount to less than The Shatner's respect for his
co-workers. More self-aggrandizing tripe that further debases the
once vibrant Klingon tradition of this show in a pathetic attempt to
strangle one last bit of interest out of the audience!" I howled.
I enjoy being wrong. At times.
This episode was nothing less than a revelation. A return to
what made both the Klingons and Worf interesting in the beginning. A
resurgence of an alien spirit that has been spat on by Alexander,
and devalued by the bad writing that turned Worf into a stoic fool,
a stooge who could be beaten up by anyone with a working digit and
an eyesight rating of legally blind or better. And if this episode
doesn't quite reach the heights of "Sins of the Father" or
"Reunion", (the Klingon storyline at its peak) few episodes do.
"Rightful Heir" also proves, yet again, that sometimes TNG only
hits its stride during the follow-up. "Q-Who" and "Best of Both
Worlds", "Elementary, My Dear Data" and "Ship in a Bottle",
"Datalore" and "Brothers." Each sequel was, in my estimation, far
superior to it's predecessor in ever conceivable way. And now,
"Rightful Heir" joins that list with its jumping-off point,
"Birthright Part II" (an episode in which, halfway through, I found
myself chanting Daffy Duck's immortal line, "Shoot me! Shoot me,
NOW!").
But, back to the episode. It was just plain good, and very
little else needs be said. The performances were just right, the
writing was crisp, even keeping me guessing (although I knew for a
fact TNG would come up with a sectarian explanation for Kahless'
re-emergence, I didn't know what it would be), and Worf's cleaver
and thoroughly Klingon plan to save the Empire was inspired and, to
me, one of those moments I watch Star Trek for. Not to mention the
fact that the whole episode was another demonstration of Star Trek
as mirrored prism reflecting our age and attitudes, and this time,
they did it well.
Now, I don't have my head so far up in the clouds that I think
there won't soon be vicious flame wars scorching the net. over the
real and perceived religious themes in this episode, but I just want
to say that the way that this episode handled the tricky matters of
religion, the need for saviors, the nature of miracles, and faith
(wonderfully brought out in the REAL soul-searching of Worf, as
opposed to TrekAngst(Pat. Pending)) was not just good fiction, but
good SCIENCE fiction. Trek gets a bad rap, not wholly undeserved I
might add, for its sometimes alarming lack of speculative
imagination in its plotting, but this episode was a notable
exception, that involved the intelligent tinkering with IDEAS.
An example is that this Kahless is a sham, but a sincere one,
and one that ultimately does perform miracles (becoming the first
emperor in three centuries) simply because perceptions are more
important than reality. Even more potentially interesting, though,
is the concept of an imperfect clone of a legend, who is aware of
its nature, and who still tries to live up to the ideals of honor
that its predecessor honed to perfection. If ever there was a story
on Star Trek that cried out for a follow-up, it is this one.
Ronald Moore continues to be the most dependable staff writer on
TNG. A name that usually assures a good episode. Just remember: A
lot of staff "writers" on TNG would have had the Enterprise
transport Kahless for convenience sake, but none beside Moore would
have explained why it was the E and not a Klingon ship. Don't bother
arguing the point. You all know its true.
Now, I could nit-pic (Didn't Riker seem jumpy in the beginning?
"My scrambled eggs are runny! Security!", and how did the clone know
about Worf's boyhood vision in the cave?) but I don't feel like it.
Besides, the problems in the show were offset by more of those
little moments that in bad episodes make the show bearable to watch.
You know, the cute little touches. Like Picard reacting toward
Worf's initial spiritual malaise with concern, tempered with
discipline. It played "real", and when coupled with last week's
"Adventures In Autopsies", seems to indicate that Picard wishes to
run a tighter ship these days (Jerrico might have had an impact
here. If not on Picard, the on the writers). I also liked Data's
brief appearances, especially his simple, effective monologue on
making a leap of faith.
Now, with enthusiasm, to the big board:
The Grade: B+ (And that says it all. Definitely one
of the best of the season.)
Next week: We ask the musical question, are two Rikers better
than one?
-Ted Brengle
(Usually cynical about
Klingon stories)
(c) Copyright 1994, Ted Brengle (IMHO Inc.)
* OLX 2.1 TD * I am Berman of Borg... Plots are irrelevant...
==========================================================================
Origin: Spock's Adventure! BBS - Computer Shopper's BBS of the Month
Cincinnati, OH (513) 779-9717 FidoNet 1:108/175 TrekNet 87/6001:1839
==========================================================================
Bruce Clark
>hits its stride during the follow-up. "Q-Who" and "Best of Both
>Worlds", "Elementary, My Dear Data" and "Ship in a Bottle", >"Datalore"
and "Brothers." Each sequel was, in my estimation, far
> superior to it's predecessor in ever conceivable way. And now,
>"Rightful Heir" joins that list with its jumping-off point
Could'nt agree more mate.
DAVE