Star Trek TNG Homeward

Another Worf episode that's kind of different since it doesn't focus on his Klingon heritage. It's kind of a shame that they waited until the last season to begin expanding Worf's character a little, but it's okay because he moved on to DS9 where he got to stretch some more. It's also interesting to see Micheal Dorn unencumbered by that Klingon forehead piece for a large portion of the episode. It's not the greatest episode ever but it's good and I think it's a much better take on observing primitive societies than Who Watches The Watchers.

The episode begins with a distress call from the planet Boraal II where Worf's brother Nikolai is posted as a cultural observer. The atmosphere is dissipating rapidly and the planet will become uninhabitable in eight hours. They don't understand why he waited so long to send the distress call, but this kind of atmospheric phenomenon is fast acting and Data figures that he didn't have much warning.  The power grid for the observation post is still functioning but there's nobody there. There is a signal coming from some nearby caves resembling a deflector shield though. Worf is worried and wishes to go down with an away team. But Picard wants to keep the Prime Directive in tact, so he sends Worf alone and surgically altered to appear as a Boraalan. While Crusher is modifying his face, we learn that he and Nikolai have never gotten along well. Worf laments the fact that Nikolai didn't make it in Starfleet because he was never one to follow rules but admits that he's a natural charismatic leader. Worf beams down to the caves and begins to scan when he runs in to a crowd of Boraalan villagers that wonder where he came from. He then discovers his brother among them. He too is altered to look like the Boraalans who have only a different looking nose from normal humans.  They're curious about Worf, who Nikolai introduces as his brother. Privately he admits to sheltering the village from the storms and knowing that the Enterprise was near when sending the distress signal. Worf rejects any notion of taking them in on the Enterprise as a matter of non interference, but Nikolai is determined to appeal to Picard personally. He feeds the villagers a lie about needing to return to the surface for supplies but that they shouldn't worry because Worf is a "seer" and has special knowledge of the movement of the storms. Worf reluctantly goes along with that and they return to the ship.  Picard isn't happy when Nikolai briefs them on his actions; how he placed a section of land in an atmospheric bubble with the deflector shield to protect the villagers. He understands that the Prime Directive is designed for non interference, but he cites that they're also interfering in their development if they allow them to die. Crusher, as a doctor of course, agrees. And Nikolai presents a plan to save them without revealing their presence to them. He sums up the plot of the show very briefly as he explains that he intends to use the holodeck to simulate a journey they'll go on to a place where the storms don't exist while the Enterprise takes them to a different planet that they can survive on. Picard denies it without much soul searching. It's one of the down sides of the Prime Directive that they have to deal with. So Nikolai asks to link to the observation post to collect his data.

They return to the bridge to sadly watch the demise of the planet's atmosphere and honor the lives that will soon be lost. Nikolai informs him that he has made the link to get his data and excuses himself on the idea that he's offended at finding anything honorable about letting the people die. Data ticks off the minutes until the atmosphere is completely dead when they experience a plasma burst on the bridge and a sudden power drain. They track the power drain to deck ten where Worf finds holodeck 5 locked. He's unable to override it but before he can try anything else Nikolai emerges and tells him to follow him quietly. He's generated a system of caves and transported the Boraalans aboard. The plasma burst was a distraction. Worf is furious and after a brief argument over duty versus feelings, he leaves in disgust to tell the captain. Picard is also furious and informs Nikolai that he's ended his career. They all meet in Stellar Cartography to begin searching for a suitable planet to take the Boraalans since they now have no choice but to proceed with his plan. But Geordi has a problem. The energy surge that they experienced is making the holodeck matrix unstable. It's not a matter of if, but when the program will collapse. He'd have to shut all of the holodecks down and it would take hours to fix it. Nikolai declares that he'll return to them as a Boraalan to start them on their "journey" and Picard tells Geordi to monitor the holodeck carefully with an open com link. He orders Worf to go with Nikolai. He doesn't want to, but Picard doesn't want the people introduced to anyone new. Nikolai and Worf return to tell the villagers that their town was completely destroyed. Nikolai sets up Worf as their guide through the caves. They're very skeptical, especially when Worf tells them that the land will be different as well as the stars. But since he's been propped up as a "seer" Nikolai encourages them to trust him.

Almost immediately one of the subterranean pools flashes with an image of the holodeck grid lines and the people panic. They fear it's an omen but Worf covers by telling them it's a good sign and since he knows Geordi is listening he tells them that it's the sign of the LaForge and describes what he's seeing in the pool of water so that Geordi can work on it. You then see Geordi feverishly tinkering around to fix the problem. Shortly thereafter the lines in the pool disappear. This is one of my approved uses of the holodeck by the way. The scenario is creative and the problems are real. There was so much versatility with that thing. It's the best idea since transporters, and that's no joke. After the crowd of people move out, Nikolai moves to praise Worf and express delight that they make such a good team. Worf continues to be cold and accusing, but Nikolai feels no guilt or shame for what he's done though. Back in Stellar Cartography they've located two possibilities for a new planet. Data and Beverly share a conversation on the responsibility of a relocation like this to a strange environment and what kind of impact it'll have on their development. The closest is very close to the Cardassian border and subject to territory disputes. The best choice is more isolated and also 42 hours away, but that's the one they're forced to go with. Back in the cave while the group is at rest, Worf visits with the Boraalan that he first met and who was most skeptical of him. His name is Vorin. Worf asks him what he's writing on strips of wood. Vorin tells him it's the Chronicle of the village and wonders that Worf's village doesn't keep one. He touts the written and illustrated chronicle as being a better representation of the villages history than stories and songs. He's sad that some of it was lost in the storms and shows him his recent additions relating how Worf and his brother were leading them to safety. Worf is uncomfortable and insists on moving on. But Vorin has lost a scroll and wants to back track to look for it. Worf allows it and then is immediately distracted by an older man that needs help to move his things and wants to offer him his daughter in marriage. Vorin goes hunting for the scroll and finds it. He also sees the edge of the holodeck door sticking out of the rock face with lights blinking.

When he touches the rock it disappears revealing an Enterprise corridor. He steps out and wanders down it. People ignore him at first but when it's obvious that he's freaked out they start to ask him if he's okay. He manages to get cornered in Ten Forward where Riker and Troi notice him and order that everyone back off. They tell them that they know Worf and Nikolai and that he's safe. They get him to sickbay where they discover that they can't wipe his memory because his neurology is too different. Picard gently tells him the truth about what happened to their planet, where they really are now, and what is being done to transfer them to a habitable planet. He's devastated. In the holodeck, the party has left the cave system and emerged into a landscape similar to the planet they're headed towards. Worf takes Nikolai aside to tell him that Vorin has left the holodeck. Nikolai can't believe that Picard has told him everything and has given him the option to come back with that information. Worf rightfully tells him that he should've thought of this sort of thing happening before he forced the issue. They argue more about Nikolai's dangerously spontaneous nature compared to Worf's reserved and obedient nature. But this time when they part, Worf is approached by the woman that's been close to Nikolai since he met them, Dobara. Trek fans will recognize her as she later went on to play the reoccurring character of Cassidy Yates on DS9. She's now on The Orville, a Trek satire show. I first knew her as Beverly on The Larry Sanders Show. Dobara implores Worf not to be angry with Nikolai. She tells him she wants them to be a family as she unwittingly drops the bombshell that she's carrying Nikolai's child. It just adds more to Worf's amazement at Nikolai's spiraling rash behavior. He also understands his personal stake in saving the village,

They get to the planet and Geordi is still trying to work out some problems with the transporters as well as keeping the holodeck limping along. Meanwhile, Picard goes to see Vorin in his quarters to ask if he's made his decision about where to go. At first Vorin wants to go back to his people but he's not sure how to deal with this new information. He doesn't like the idea of being thought of as a mad man if he tells the truth but he doesn't think he could keep it a secret either. Picard suggests that he remain on the Enterprise to start a new life. Vorin is disillusioned because everything that made him and his people who they were is gone. He asks for more time to think. In the holodeck, Worf confronts Nikolai about Dobara. He's angry at Nikolai's choice to insert himself into this culture and mate with one of them. He accuses him of treating Dobara dishonorably but they never really get into what their customs are so it may be that a formal marriage arrangement isn't necessary. Nikolai stands firm in his decision to stay with these people and raise his child together with Dobara. He claims that Worf will have to kill him to get him to leave. Worf is fed up with his impulsive selfishness and they square off to fight. Just then the holodeck flickers. The villagers think the storms have returned and panic, thinking they'll all die. Nikolai calms them by telling them that Worf has power over the storms. Worf confirms it and tells everyone to get to their tents. Standing aside, Worf also asks Geordi to produce some storm effects to add to the illusion. They know that their tents won't protect them from storms, but Worf and Nikolai assure them that it's for the best. Once they're inside the Enterprise transports them all to the surface. When the sounds of the storm stop they emerge relieved to the peaceful surroundings. Nikolai credits Worf for saving them all.

We return to sick bay to see the sad fate of Vorin. He appears to have committed a ritual suicide being unable to deal with the pressure of his situation. Picard is unhappy and Beverly points out that he'd be dead anyway if they hadn't interfered. But Picard states that he wouldn't have died alone and afraid. He laments that he couldn't bridge the gap between their cultures. On the planet surface Worf catches up to Nikolai again, presumably after several hours of getting the group settled in. Dobara is worried as she saw that they were about to fight before, but leaves when Nikolai bids her to. Nikolai reiterates he will fight to the death to stay with these people but Worf has calmed down. He doesn't want to fight. Nikolai is contrite as well. He admits he should've been more like Worf growing up but Worf admits that if he had been these people would be dead now. Nikolai is proud to finally be taking responsibility with raising a child and starting a new chronicle. Worf remembers that he's never been good at drawing but Nikolai, displaying his spontaneous nature again, tells him that he'll learn fast. Worf asks to take one of the old chronicles with him which his brother grants. He then tells Nikolai that he'll have to explain all of this to their parents. Nikolai thinks they won't understand but Worf thinks they will since he's finally happy. They part in peace.

I can't deny there are a lot of holes in this one. The biggest one being that the events didn't have to be this intense - if they'd knocked them all out after they'd gone to sleep one "evening" they'd have had time to fix the holodeck so it wouldn't have been such a race. And I'm grateful it wasn't railing against religion like Who Watches the Watcher was, but there was no indications of what their beliefs were which kind of oversimplified things. Nikolai setting up Worf as a seer is one thing but claiming that Worf has power over the storms is a bit more of a stretch. What would that do to whatever their belief system was? That could be considered a worse kind of interference than moving them unknowingly to another planet. Vorin's death isn't surprising, but it's also devoid of deeper meaning for the audience since Vorin only appears to be mourning a planet when his people have no real concept of planets yet. But I can't complain. I'd rather it be a little vague in this area than see more atheist rants against faith. So, in spite of the holes, it was a good episode. A family episode. The dynamic between Worf's and Nikolai's personalities was well written and of course the cast worked like a well oiled machine that's why it was hard to have a bad episode to me towards the end unless it had a crazy liberal slant to it. Four stars.