"Star Trek: The Next Generation"
Darmok (1991)

Director:

Winrich Kolbe

Writers:

Gene Roddenberry (creator)
Joe Menosky (teleplay)

TV Series:

"Star Trek: The Next Generation" (1987)

Original Air Date:

28 September 1991 (Season 5, Episode 2)

Genre:

Adventure | Sci-Fi

Plot:

Picard must learn to communicate with a race that speaks in metaphor under a difficult set of circumstances.

Plot Keywords:

First Contact | Metaphorical Language | Number One | Visor | Warp Core

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
Richard Allen	...	Tamarian First Officer
Colm Meaney	...	Chief Miles O'Brien
Paul Winfield	...	Captain Dathon
Ashley Judd	...	Ensign Lefler
Majel Barrett	...	Enterprise Computer (voice)

Trivia:

Ashley Judd's TV acting debut.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Captain's log, Stardate 45047.2 - The Enterprise is en route to the uninhabited El-Adrel system. Its location is near the territory occupied by an enigmatic race known as the 'Children of Tama'.

Another winner from "Next Generation's" landmark fifth season

Paul Winfield makes his second appearance in a Trek production (the first being the theatrical "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan") as "Captain Dathan," the leader of an alien species never encountered before by the crew of the Enterprise.

He and Capt. Picard find themselves allies on a planet, facing a malevolent and invisible presence. Adding to their situation is the fact that neither is able to communicate with the other, for Dathan's language is based solely on symbolism, making it almost impossible for the captain to make his wishes or strategies known. However, the two finally are able to "talk" to each other and the subsequent communication becomes a lesson in diplomacy and the importance of understanding language in forming relationships, political or otherwise.

"Darmok" is one of my top ten all-time favorite "Star Trek: The Next Generation" episodes.