Redemption is an ambitious attempt to recreate, at least in some measure, the success of The Best of Both Worlds, the cliff-hangar ending to season three. And while there is a touch of audacity and hubris in hoping to reach such a lofty goal, one cannot criticize the attempt. To do so, Redemption calls upon threads of stories from episodes that date as far back as season one, including Skin of Evil, Heart of Glory, and The Neutral Zone. Two of the three connections are exceptionally well done. The third, while successfully shocking upon first blush, becomes rather problematic upon further reflection.

The first, and most prominent, thread focuses on Worf, and his character’s unique position between the two worlds of the Federation and the Klingon Empire. Following the story that builds from Sins of the Father and Reunion, Redemption picks up the loose pieces and confronts them directly: Gowron’s installation as leader, the corruption of the Empire by way of collaboration with the Romulans, and Worf’s Discommendation. All three themes are brought to the fore when Gowron’s installation is opposed by the sisters of Duras: Lursa and B’Etor, as well as Duras’ illegitimate son, Toral. Because Picard, who mediated the power struggle in Reunion, rejects Toral’s claim on the right of succession, the Klingon Empire is split and civil war swiftly erupts. These political maneuverings, are handled quite well and subsequently form the backdrop upon which the rest of the episode will unfold.

For his part, Worf finds himself in direct conflicts of interest between his sworn duty to Picard and the Enterpise and the call of the warrior and the plight of his homeworld. Worf attempts regain his family name by offering to Gowron the support of his brother, Kurn — who commands a large military contingent. It is only after Worf and Kurn turn back a surpise attack that Gowron relents and, following his own installation as leader, finally restores Worf’s honor and family name. But Worf is still caught between worlds and when he finds that Picard will not allow a Starfleet officer to remain within the war zone, Worf promptly resigns his commission, leading to the best scene in the episode.

Picard and Worf have been slowly developing a rather enjoyable friendship and mutual respect for one another. Redemption continues that trend. It is with Picard’s prompting, afterall, that Worf petitions for his reinstatement. And so, when Worf resigns, Picard is both understanding and saddened. The scene between the two as Worf is packing his belongings is touching and profound. As Worf prepares to leave, he finds the entire corridor, from the turbolift to the Transporter Room, lined with officers and crew of the Enterprise. Worf has rightly earned a full send-off, with honors. And as an audience we are left wondering: is this really the end of Worf as a member of the Enterprise crew?

The second thread involves the Romulans, who first reappeared in season one’s finale. Their machinations throughout seasons three and four, however, all point toward their intense desire to undermine the Federation’s alliance with the Klingons, to forge an alliance of their own. The Mind’s Eye is an explicit prelude to the Romulans’ involvement in this episode, as we see a deliberate attempt to put their strategy to work. This whole “Balance of Power” angle has expanded the scope of TNG, allowing for a much grander canvas upon which the stories can be painted. And this episode successfully weaves together the natural union between the Klingon and Romulan stories.

The final thread is one that creates a moment of shock that rivals (but in no way equals) seeing Picard as a Borg. The plot point was a deliberate and explicit representation of the growing cooperation between the Romulans and the powerful Duras family. Beginning with The Mind’s Eye, we are introduced to a shadowy female Romulan commander with a hauntingly familiar voice. The commander returns in this episode, giving orders and offering advice. As Redemption ends, the commander steps out from the shadows and we see the owner of the voice for the very first time: Tasha Yar. Or is it Tasha? We had to wait three months to find out.

The big reveal was quite successful when the episode first aired. But it doesn’t hold up well, almost two decades later. But because the explanation is dealt with in Redemption, part II, I will reserve my discussions about it for that particular review.

All-in-all, Redemption is a complex, highly dramatic episode that includes just about everything you can think of: action, character, political upheaval, and the culmination of a vast array of story ideas from the previous four seasons. This episode should have earned a stronger grade, but as I will explain in the next review, the big reveal is exceptionally problematic — and I don’t think that it would be appropriate to penalize previous or preceding episodes for the mistakes of this one.

Topics: Klingons, Romulans
Filed under: TNG Reviews