Plot Synopsis: In the Romulan prison camp, Worf teaches the Klingon children about their culture.
Plot A and B Analysis: The teaser gives us the background story: the Klingons were knocked unconscious during the Romulan assault and not allowed to die. When the Klingon government wouldn’t negotiate for their release the Romulans offered to let them go, but the Klingons refused because to return home after having been captured would dishonor their families. Plot A is about Worf and the prison camp, there is no plot B. The kids have been lied to about why they’re there and have no idea they are a warrior race. Worf tries to escape in the first 15 minutes and is foiled. He tries a different tack, that of teaching the Klingon kids their heritage. Doing so forces the Romulan jailer to sentence him to death, but it is already too late. The plot moves forward at a steady pace, though for a bunch of Klingons there’s virtually no violence whatsoever. The theme here seems to be assimilation, and how to keep your heritage.
Favorite Scenes: The hunt Worf takes the kid on has some nice moments. In the 31st minute the Klingons sing a rousing Klingon song that I enjoyed, and it’s a pivotal change in the culture of the camp. The final scene at the camp where all the Klingons line up to be killed since Worf is, is nice.
Use of Cast/Characters: Marina Sirtis does not appear in this episode. Worf is the center of this episode, and we learn a bit more about Klingon history. He becomes an insurrectionist by giving the Klingon young adults knowledge of who they really are, and awakening their inner warriors. He is well-used and is really the only part of the principal cast featured in the episode. Picard, Riker, Data, Geordi and Beverly have about four minutes between all of them and do nothing. There are several guest stars in the prison camp, and they all do a decent job.
Blu Ray Version: A few graphics were newly created, there were some retouches to background shots. There are 8 deleted scenes! The first is a bit more on the Bridge. In the first one we learn Marina is actually in the episode, and Picard says he thinks Worf was hoping his father was dead. Deanna agrees, but says another part of him hopes he is alive. The second scene is just Tokath mentioning they will hunt down the Yridian ship. The third deleted scene is a slightly altered version of the Kahless story Worf tells. The fourth deleted scene is an extended tale of how Ba’els mother eventually fell in love with a Romulan. The fifth deleted scene is Worf telling more of the tale of Kahless to the boy in the jungle. The sixth is just an extended version of Worf’s conversation with Tokath. The seventh is Tokah going on more about the history of Klingons and Romulans living in peace. The eighth is just Data receiving a coded message from Worf before the rendezvous.
Nitpicks: In the 36th minute Worf says he loves the girl, Ba’el. I don’t buy it, the romance doesn’t work quite so well as to make me believe he is in love with her.
Overall Impression: This episode isn’t as good as part one, but it’s fine. I guess I’m ok with losing the ‘Data dreaming’ angle, because Dorn can certainly carry an episode. It just feels like a regular episode instead of a special two-parter, it’s not near the standard that I’ve come to expect from them. Worf borders on not being sympathetic here because of the peace the Romulans and Klingons have found, but really all he wanted to do was remind the Klingons of who they are. I rate this episode 2.5 out of 5 stars.
Behind the Scenes/Trivia: This is the first time the Sword of Kahless is mentioned. It is the focus of the DS9 episode The Sword of Kahless. The Yridian is only shown briefly and has no lines because James Cromwell broke his leg between filming the two parts. No, Michael Dorn didn’t actually throw the spear through the hoop, that was the director Dan Curry. The effects of this episode will have an effect on Worf’s faith, which we will discover in Rightful Heir.
Missable/Unmissable? Unmissable if you liked part I, missable otherwise. The next one is unmissable.