The Emissary (episode)

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"The Emissary"
TNG, Episode 2x20 Production number: 40272-146 First aired: 29 June 1989
←	45th of 176 produced in TNG	→
←	45th of 176 released in TNG	→
	{{{nNthReleasedInSeries_Remastered}}}th of 176 released in TNG Remastered
←	152nd of 727 released in all	→
Teleplay By Richard Manning & Hans Beimler Story By Richard Manning & Hans Beimler and Thomas H. Calder Directed By Cliff Bole
42901.3 (2365)
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This article refers to the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode. For other meanings, please see Emissary (disambiguation).

The Enterprise crew has to deal with a Klingon sleeper ship whose occupants don't know the Federation and Klingons are at peace. On-board to help them is an emissary, who (coincidentally) is one of Worf's former love interests.

Contents 1 Summary 1.1 Teaser 1.2 Act One 1.3 Act Two 1.4 Act Three 1.5 Act Four 1.6 Act Five 1.7 Log entries 2 Memorable Quotes 3 Background information 3.1 Story and production 3.2 Continuity 3.3 Reception 3.4 Video and DVD releases 4 Links and references 4.1 Special appearance by 4.2 Guest stars 4.3 Co-stars 4.4 References

[edit] Summary

[edit] Teaser

Worf, Data, Geordi La Forge, Dr. Pulaski and Riker are playing poker. When Worf makes a big bet, Data suggests that he doesn't fully understand the nuances of the game. Riker points out that Worf has been the biggest winner that day, implying that Data shouldn't underestimate his poker skills. Data expresses doubt that Worf's success is due to anything other than random chance. On a subsequent hand, Worf once again bets big, and La Forge says he's bluffing. Worf insists that Klingons never bluff.

The poker game is interrupted before the hand can be played out, when the Enterprise receives an urgent confidential message from Starfleet Command.

[edit] Act One

The crew is informed that they are to pick up an emissary who will assist them with a very important mission. Captain Picard asks for more information, but is told that utmost secrecy is required and that he will be fully informed of the situation by the emissary. They later rendezvous with the emissary's shuttle, a specially-converted probe capable of transporting one person at warp 9. Upon opening the probe, the emissary is revealed to be K'Ehleyr, a half Klingon, half Human woman and one of Worf's former love interests.

[edit] Act Two

K'Ehleyr explains that a Klingon battle cruiser named the T'Ong was launched from the Klingon homeworld seventy years ago, during the Klingon War, on a long-term mission to attack a remote Federation outpost. Ever since the launch, its crew has been in suspended animation, set to awaken only upon reaching the target. Thus, the crew of the T'Ong are unaware of the peace between the Federation and the Klingons, and will attack the outpost when they awaken.

Forced to work together with unresolved feelings from their previous relationship, Worf and K'Ehleyr get into heated emotional conflicts and are unable to properly concentrate on the job at hand.

[edit] Act Three

The conflicts come to a head when Worf and K'Ehleyr engage in one of Worf's holodeck training routines. They fight and defeat holographic enemies, then give in to their desires and engage in a Klingon mating ritual.

[edit] Act Four

Afterwords, Worf initiates a vow of marriage, shouting "tlhIngan jIH" (Klingonese for "I am a Klingon"), but K'Ehleyr refuses to participate, unwilling to commit to the marriage dictated by Klingon tradition.

Captain Picard wants a peaceful solution to the Klingon battle cruiser problem, but K'Ehleyr insists the Klingons will have to be destroyed because they will never believe him if he tries to explain that they are no longer at war. When they first encounter the T'Ong, the Enterprise is immediately fired upon with no attempt made at communication. It appears K'Ehleyr's prediction is correct; the Enterprise will be forced to destroy the T'Ong.

[edit] Act Five

However, Worf has come up with a cunning plan. Clad in full traditional Klingon command uniforms, he and K'Ehleyr appear on viewscreen as captain and first officer of the Enterprise. "Captain" Worf informs Captain K'Temoc of the T'Ong that the war is over, implying with his appearance and apparent command of a Federation ship that the Klingons have been victorious. He then orders K'Temoc to lower his shields. K'Temoc hesitates to comply, unsure whether to trust Worf's explanation – but finally agrees, fooled by Worf's well-played bluff. Arrangements are made for K'Ehleyr to beam on board the T'Ong and take command until the arrival of a Klingon ship to escort them back to Qo'noS.

Worf and K'Ehleyr discuss their feelings for one another prior to her departure, leaving open the question of whether their paths will cross again.

[edit] Log entries

• Captain's log, USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D), 2365

[edit] Memorable Quotes

"nuqneH, qaleghneS" (Greetings; I am honored to see you)
"You speak Klingon!"

- Riker greeting K'Ehleyr upon her arrival on the Enterprise

"Lieutenant, I order you to relax"
"I am relaxed!"

- Picard and Worf

"How did you like your first command?"
"... Comfortable chair."

- Riker and Worf

"Still, I am delighted to be out of that damned coffin!"

- K'Ehleyr, about her ride inside a class 8 probe

"Whoever said getting there was half the fun never traveled in a class 8 probe."

- K'Ehleyr

"Worf, we're alone now. You don't have to act like a Klingon glacier, I don't bite. Well, that's wrong, I do bite."

- K'Ehleyr to Worf

"K'Ehleyr, I will not be complete without you."

- Worf

[edit] Background information

[edit] Story and production

• This episode was based on an unpublished story by Thomas H. Calder.
• Suzie Plakson was cast as K'Ehleyr because the production staff were impressed with her performance as Doctor Selar in "The Schizoid Man". Tracy Tormé, who had written "The Schizoid Man", had wanted to develop a romance between Selar and Worf, but the idea was overruled when "The Emissary" was being planned. Tormé complained that the premise was "obvious. Had it been a Vulcan, it would have been a lot more interesting." (Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages)
• Director Cliff Bole devised several of the Klingon customs seen here. He recalled, "I came up with that thing where [K'Ehleyr] digs into [Worf's] hand and there's all that blood. I did that on the set. I was wondering what these people do, and I had the image of bones breaking and felt that's what they do when they get it on." (Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages)

[edit] Continuity

• This episode has a very similar title to that of DS9: "Emissary" in which Patrick Stewart (Captain Jean-Luc Picard) and Colm Meaney (Chief Miles O'Brien) also appear.
• Footage of the Klingon battle cruiser is reused from Star Trek: The Motion Picture with added disruptor and cloaking device effects. (Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion)
• A star chart, first seen behind Dexter Remmick in "Conspiracy" makes another appearance in the tactical room in this episode.
• The chief of security's office seen in this episode is a redress of the Starbase 173 court room in TNG: "The Measure Of A Man".
• Wesley Crusher (Wil Wheaton) does not appear in this episode.
• Alexander Rozhenko is conceived in this episode.

[edit] Reception

• Maurice Hurley remarked, "Great idea and one that worked. Hard for that one not to work, but it worked well all the way through. With the Klingons you're dealing with emotion and passion. You've got somebody who can saw something. You need that balance in the show sometimes. The show gets so intellectually smug and self-serving, and you need something like that to break it off; someone willing to storm the barricades. The idea of the half-Klingon was fun." (Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages)
• Cliff Bole commented, "I liked the show and though Michael Dorn did a real good job in it. I think I let [Suzie Plakson] get overboard a little bit. She was a little too broad, but she's a talented lady. I think the Klingon shows are fun to do, because you can go a little broad with them." (Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages)

[edit] Video and DVD releases

• Original UK VHS release (two-episode tapes, CIC Video): Volume 23, catalogue number VHR 2506, 7 October 1991.
• In the UK video collection Star Trek: The Next Generation - 10th Anniversary Collector's Edition, under the "Worf" section, 29 September 1997
• UK re-release (three-episode tapes, Paramount Home Entertainment): Volume 2.7, catalogue number VHR 4743, 5 July 1999.
• As part of the TNG Season 2 DVD collection

[edit] Links and references

[edit] Special appearance by

• Diana Muldaur as Doctor Katherine Pulaski

[edit] Guest stars

• Suzie Plakson as K'Ehleyr
• Lance LeGault as K'Temoc
• Georgann Johnson as Gromek
• Colm Meaney as Miles O'Brien

[edit] Co-stars

• Anne Elizabeth Ramsay as Ensign Clancy
• Diedrich Bader as a tactical officer

[edit] References

2290; 2331; 2359; Boradis III; Boradis system; class A probe; class 8 probe; class 11 emergency signal; cloaking device, Klingon; cryogenic stasis; Dixon Hill series; Earth; France; gamma ray; Hanauma Bay; Holodeck Two; Klingon calisthenics program; Klingon High Command; K't'inga-class; Longchamps; poker; P'Rang, IKS; racetrack; Rio de Janeiro; Rite of Ascension; Samrin's Planet; scuba diving; ShiKahr; sleeper ship; special emissary; Starbase 153; Starbase 336; T'Ong, IKS; Vulcan

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Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 2

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