The new Star Trek movie due out December 13th focuses on the strive for peace between the Romulans and the Federation, much the same way Star Trek: The Undiscovered Country focuses on the beginnings of peace between the Klingons and the Federation.

The episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine which deal with the animosity between the Federation and the Romulans are now cast in a different light as I see them more as the build-up to this movie; the tension; the problems; the personalities; all these encounters will have some impact on how the crew will react in Star Trek: Nemesis if the story is written well. This was successfully done in the past using Captain Kirk's animosity at the Klingons over the death of his son in the movie Star Trek III: The Search For Spock as a pivotal point of Star Trek: The Undiscovered Country.

In The Enemy, an away team of Geordi, Worf & Riker (LeVar Burton, Michael Dorn and Jonathan Frakes) arrive on the planet Galorndon Core in middle of an electrical storm. This planet is on the Federation side of The Neutral Zone - an area of space which serves as a buffer between the Federation and the Romulan empire. The Enterprise has come here as a response to a distress signal. The team discovers the remnants of Romulan ship destroyed after it crashed.

Nearby, Worf and Riker find an injured Romulan (portrayed by Steve Rankin). While exploring the area, Geordi falls down a shaft. As the storm intensifies, Worf and Riker are forced to leave him behind. Geordi soon escapes the shaft, only to find himself now being held prisoner by another Romulan survivor ( portrayed by John Snyder).

This part of the episode reminds me a great deal of the film Enemy Mine where the two cultures at war with each other must work together to survive the planet. Geordi loses the use of his VISOR which enables him to see (he is blind) due to the electromagnetic storm. Having been exposed to the surface of the planet for a longer period of time, the Romulan, Bochra, begins to lose the use of his legs.

Back on the Enterprise, Riker attempts to interrogate the wounded Romulan. His name is Patahk and he claims to be only survivor. Patahk's condition is very serious and the only possible help is from his own kind. Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) contacts a Romulan vessel which "happens" to have intercepted the distress signal. It will be some time before they are within range.

Dr. Crusher (Gates McFadden) discovers a possible ribosome donor to the injured Romulan. It's Worf. He refuses due to fact that Romulans were the ones who murdered his parents. Worf cannot get past this, even when Captain Picard explains the political implications that a Romulan dying on a Federation ship will have.

This was a really good episode all around. Thought he plot is one we've seen many times before - in this universe and others - the actors here all handle it well. LeVar Burton gives another tremendous performance as Geordi. Michael Dorn is excellent as Worf, and I really liked that the writers didn't have him give in and do what is good and what is right. He conveyed his anguish with so little words; more with body language and expression.

Andreas Katsulas - better known to sci-fi fans as G'kar on Babylon 5 - portrays Tomalak, the commander of the Romulan rescue vessel. His portrayal here is very pivotal against that of Patrick Stewart. It will be interesting to see the two of them together again in the film Star Trek: Nemesis as these are two very strong personalities portrayed by two excellent actors.

If you're a Trek fan looking forward to the new movie, I'd suggest watching this episode before heading to theaters in December. If you're planning on seeing the film, and haven't seen many of the Star Trek: The Next Generation episodes, I'd suggest a quick primer since many of the Romulan characters from the series are appearing in the film.


To read my review of the entire third season of Star Trek: The Next Generation on DVD, check out: Star Trek: The Next Generation Season Three on DVD

© 2002 Patti Aliventi

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Better than Watching TV
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 9 - 12