‘HEART OF GLORY’ (TNG)
Please feel free to comment on my review.
This is a ‘Star Trek: TNG’ episode for Worf. I like Worf as a character and I believe this is the only ‘TNG’ episode of Season 1 where he gets some proper attention and character development in this.
In this episode, the Enterprise comes across the aftermath of a battle between two vessels, including a Talarian freighter. It happens to be in the neutral zone, where Romulans are suspected to be back.
Picard sends Riker with Data and Geordi to beam over to the freighter and rescue survivors. This is where we see what Geordi’s point of view is like as the Enterprise bridge crew see through his visor.
This was…interesting to see. Don’t get me wrong, I like that we get to have a moment in the episode where he see how Geordi sees via his visor. Most of the imagery is distorted and so unusual to see.
But in hindsight, this rather slowed down the story when Riker, Data and Geordi were on the freighter. Even Riker informed Picard that they needed to get onto the job of rescuing the survivors.
Eventually, the away team find the survivors and they happen to be Klingons. This episode must be the first time we get to see Klingons in ‘TNG’, apart from Worf who is already an Enterprise member.
The episode features the first ‘Star Trek’ appearance of Vaughn Armstrong as Korris the Klingon. Vaughn Armstrong would make many more ‘Star Trek’ appearances in its various spin-off TV shows.
There is also Charles Hyman as Konmel and Robert Bauer as Kunivas, who is wounded. Riker, Data and Geordi eventually get the Klingons back to the Enterprise before the freighter explodes in space.
Back on the Enterprise, Beverly Crusher tends to Kunivas’ injuries, but they’re too severe. Kunivas eventually dies, before Korris and Konmel with Worf let out a fierce roar as part of a Klingon custom.
This episode allows a backstory to Worf’s character, as it gets revealed where he comes from and how he came to be in Starfleet. This happens when he interacts with Korris and Konmel on the ship.
I like Worf’s interaction with Korris and Konmel. It was intriguing how Worf differed to the typical warrior Klingon and restrained his violent tendencies over the years whilst growing among humans.
There was tension when Worf was around Korris and Konmel as he escorts them around the ship. The two Klingons are backward-looking and disapprove of their species’ peace with the Federation.
It should be noted that ‘TNG’ takes place at a time when Klingons and humanity are at peace with each other. This is after the events of ‘Star Trek VI’ take place in the continuity of this sci-fi universe.
The episode also features David Forman as Commander K’Nera. K’Nera commands a Klingon battlecruiser that the Enterprise encounters, as he demands the return of the two Klingon fugitives.
But the two Klingons manage to escape from the brig after being put there by Tasha Yar under Picard’s orders. Konmel gets killed in the process of escaping, whilst Korris is on the run on the ship.
Korris eventually ends up in engineering. He threatens to destroy the warp core chamber. Worf and Picard eventually turn up in engineering. Worf then attempts to stop Korris from destroying the ship.
I like that last scene between Worf and Korris, as Korris tries to persuade Worf to join him and his Klingon cause. Worf refuses to hear Korris’ ideals, before he gets accused of not being a true Klingon.
Worf soon fires on Korris, killing him in the process. As Korris dies, Worf looks into his eyes and lets out another fierce roar, according to the Klingon custom. Worf later informs K’Nera of Korris’ death.
K’Nera offers Worf the opportunity to rejoin the Klingons once he finishes his duty aboard the Enterprise. But Worf prefers to remain aboard the Enterprise, as he politely considers K’Nera’s offer.
‘Heart of Glory’ is probably one of ‘TNG’s finest episodes from its first season. It’s a great episode for Worf, features Klingons in it and also has some stimulating incidental music composed by Ron Jones.
‘Heart of Glory’ (TNG) rating – 8/10
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