Television Review: Redemption, Part II (Star Trek: The Next Generation, S5X01, 1991)

Redemption II (S05E01)

Airdate: 23 September 1991

Written by: Ronald D. Moore
Directed by: Daniel Carson

Running Time: 46 minutes

The commencement of Season 5 of Star Trek: The Next Generation presented a tantalising prospect for the future of the franchise. With the narrative momentum established in previous seasons, the outlook for the series appeared incredibly bright, particularly judging by the second instalment of the two-part premiere, Redemption, Part II. While it may not stand as a top-tier classic in the pantheon of Star Trek lore, it serves as another compelling example of the high production values and innovative worldbuilding that characterised TNG when its authors were operating at the peak of their creative powers. The episode operates as a sprawling narrative that attempts to balance multiple threads, showcasing the series' versatility at perhaps its most eclectic point.

This confidence is further reflected in the production timeline itself. Ronald D. Moore, the scriptwriter, actually composed Redemption, Part II during the summer hiatus between seasons, rather than writing it concurrently with the first instalment. This leisurely approach mirrored the precedent set by The Best of Both World" the previous year, allowing for a more developed narrative arc. This approach is evident in the episode retaining its title as Redemption II rather than a simple rebranding, signalling a direct continuation of the narrative arc.

The hiatus in production is somewhat mirrored in the plot's temporal setting. The story picks up some time after the events of the first part, finding the Klingon Empire embroiled in a full-scale civil war. Picard, despite being officially involved in the events that sparked this conflict, opposes intervening directly, citing the Prime Directive and the Federation's official policy of non-interference in the internal affairs of other nations. This stance places him at odds with his former security officer, Worf, who does not accept this view. Instead, Worf departed Starfleet to join his brother Kurn, fighting on the side of Chancellor Gowron against the faction led by the Duras' sisters.

The opening sequence immediately establishes the gravity of the situation, showing that the war is going badly for Gowron's side. Despite Worf, acting as tactical officer on the Hegh'ta, his brother's ship, using brilliant manoeuvres to defeat two enemy ships, the overall strategic picture remains dire. This proves to be a great concern for Picard, who now believes that the Duras faction is receiving covert logistical and technical aid from the Romulans, who appear very keen to install a new regime that would end the Klingon-Federation Alliance. At a conference with Fleet Admiral Shanti (Frann Bennett), Command-in-Chief of Starfleet, Picard suggests a plan to prevent Romulan supplies. He proposes sending a number of ships to the Klingon-Romulan border to establish a blockade and form a detection network that should, at least temporarily, disable the cloaking devices of Romulan supply ships. The plan is approved, but the sheer size of the ships necessary for the network to work means that Starfleet will have to use many of its reserves, resulting in one of them undermanned, like USS Sutherland, being commanded by Data.

Picard later confronts Romulan ships near the border and is hailed by one of them. The person who appears is almost exactly like Tasha Yar. She introduces herself as Sela, the daughter of Tasha Yar who had served on the Enterprise in an alternate timeline and was later sent to fight Romulans in the Enterprise-C. Tasha had been captured and later had a daughter with a Romulan officer, with Sela declaring herself to be a Romulan rather than a human. Later, she instructs her scientists to find a way to circumvent the Federation blockade.

In the meantime, Worf is abducted by the Duras sisters, who unsuccessfully try to win him over to their side. Picard then contacts Gowron, suggesting that his forces hit the Duras faction hard to cause logistical problems and force the Romulans to send cloaked supply ships through the blockade. The plan works, mainly thanks to Data. He deliberately disobeys Picard's orders and has the Sutherland in a different spot than expected. He launches modified photon torpedoes that reveal the Romulan ships. Sela, not wanting to risk open conflict with the Federation, stops the convoy and informs the Duras sisters that they are on their own. The civil war is practically over, with Worf breaking free from captivity and capturing Toral, while the Duras sisters flee.

Worf is brought to the Great Hall, where Gowron gives him the opportunity to take revenge by killing Toral. However, he refuses, saying that it is "not his way". Instead, he asks Picard whether he would be allowed to rejoin Starfleet, which Picard agrees to at the end of the episode.

Ronald D. Moore had the task of dealing with three major storylines within the limits of a single episode: the Klingon Civil War and Worf's eventual return to Starfleet, explaining the background of the Tasha Yar-lookalike as a Romulan commander, and Data's debut as a starship commander and dealing with the doubts and prejudices embodied by his sceptical second-in-command, Christopher Hobson (Timothy Carhart). Moore succeeded in this task with remarkable success, although not perfectly.

The Klingon issue is dealt with the most easily and in a predictable manner. Gowron's side wins the civil war, Worf returns, and, at the very end, consistently chooses "his way" over Klingon tradition, seeing the latter as corrupted by treachery and intrigue.

The Sela issue is slightly more problematic. This is a continuation of TNG's efforts to find some ways to, even temporarily, bring back the character of Tasha Yar, whose death in Season 1 had appeared to be a sore wound for many trekkies. The result of those efforts was Yesterday's Enterprise – a Season 3 episode that is often considered one of the best. "Redemption II" builds on it, but through a slightly convoluted scenario, melodramatic reveals, and the need for some reminders and expositions through the brief scene with Guinan. While fans probably appreciated seeing Denise Crosby back, even as a villain, some might question what the purpose of Sela was other than some sort of fan service.

The storyline with Data as the ship's commander is handled slightly better, although it could have, under the right circumstances, been used for a full episode. Moore, by his own admission, added it during the hiatus. The episode explores the theme of leadership and the ethical dilemmas of command, resonating with contemporary AI discussions.

The episode is directed by David Carson, one of the more celebrated directors of Star Trek, also known for his work on Yesterday's Enterprise. He makes the episode look dark and atmospheric, and this is especially effective in scenes that take place among Klingons. David Carson's direction deserves special mention for creating a visually rich and moody atmosphere that complements the intense storytelling. The episode's pacing, special effects, and action sequences are top-notch, making this a standout.

RATING: 8/10 (+++)

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