TNG: The Defector
March 3rd, 2004 at 7:48 am (Uncategorized)
A great plot idea brilliantly executed The Defector is one of the true gems of the third season. The episode raises the Romulan threat introduced earlier in the show and gives opportunity for some great actors to show their worth. We not only get to see Patrick Stewart get Shakespearian and authoritative but are treated to a superb performance by James Sloyan whom many will recognize from his return to Star Trek as the Klingon K’Mtar in the Alexander coming of age story TNG: Firstborn, and as Doctor Mora Pol (the scientist who raised Odo) in the Deep Space Nine episode The Alternate. The tension of the episode feels real and comes to an exciting end when Romulan Commander Tomalak gets to offer the Enterprise a choice between surrender and annihilation. Picard’s calm and calculated response shows the quality of his character. The episode not only helps to forward the Romulan story arc but also shows the Romulan struggle over duty versus loyalty with clarity reminiscent of Sophocles’ (or even better Jean Anouilh’s) Antigone.
sven said,
March 3, 2004 at 10:29 am
Hey, I’ve been wondering about this for some time… Didn’t the actor who played the Romulan also play another character on NextGen? I’m thinking of the episode where you have a scientist onboard who’s going to drop a big testing device into a supernova… It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity — but micro-aliens of some sort get into the computer system. Scientist murders a bunch of them, saying they’re not sentient, by wiping out the computer core — said aliens start zapping people with electricity and talking through the com system. Notable, the scientist has a love of baseball and has a monologue where he envisions a baseball game aloud. He also takes a liking to the Weasle.
Same guy?
Leopoldo said,
March 3, 2004 at 12:57 pm
Different guy. The actor who plays the Romulan Commander (James Sloyan) did the roles I listed above as well as one other on Star Trek Voyager as Doctor Ma’Bor Jetrel which I did not list because I have not seen that episode. You can get his full filmography at the IMDB or his Star Trek only filmography at epguides.info. The other Romulan (Commander Tomalak) is Andreaas Katsulas. He plays the same character in a number of other TNG episodes and then had an appearance on Star Trek Enterprise. He was also a regular on Babylon 5. You can see his filmography at epguides.info. The episode you describe is also from season 3, the very first episode in season 3 titled ‘Evolution’ and the actor playing Doctor Paul Stubbs is Ken Jenkins who did not appear in any other Star Trek episodes.
heathcliffe said,
March 3, 2004 at 4:18 pm
‘The Defector’ was one of the only TNG episodes that handled Romulans with the delicacy and realism that they deserve. Most of the time they’re represented as plastic-browed stiffnecks whose deviousness is their chief characteristic, rather than the clever but honorable opponents they actually are.
Trinity said,
March 4, 2004 at 2:06 am
I think you meant ‘between surrender and annihilation’ not ‘between surrender and inhalation’
:) Sorry, I’m a spelling freak. That’s a cute spelling error though. Take care.
Leopoldo said,
March 4, 2004 at 6:18 am
Hehe.. woops. Thank you, fixed it.
Diane Gibson said,
March 4, 2004 at 3:20 pm
Hey, Sven, I would appreciate it if you would kindly refrain from labeling certain characters on TNG with the names of animals with which said character has no shared characteristics.
His name is Wesley, ok? W-E-S-L-E-Y. Got it?
Paul Stubbs’ sole redeeming factor was that he was nice to Wesley.
I can hear Leopoldo groaning ‘Oh, not again…’ at this very moment. You needn’t worry, Leopoldo. I’ve learned a lot of things since that little episode with dyingofluv. Speaking of whom, I haven’t seen her in a while.
Leopoldo said,
March 4, 2004 at 3:31 pm
Hehehe.. actually if you could have heard me as I read your reply you would have heard a nice big laugh. I had to laugh and think ‘Oh Sven.… I should have warned you not to use the rodent term’. And no, I haven’t seen dyingofluv either though I also have not been posting new Star Trek stuff until now…
sven said,
March 6, 2004 at 12:31 pm
Apologies, Diane. I actually have no personal gripes with Will Weaton (sp?), and feel some sympathy for a few of the more humiliating bits that the writers put Wesley through (which were not, in my opinion, actually appropriate to the character).
My jab was actually meant as a sweetness to Leopoldo, knowing that he’s used “Weasle” in the past. Had I realized the extent to which he’s recanted his previous use of the term, I wouldn’t have used it myself. [Have you recanted, Leopoldo?
]
In other words: Point taken. I acknowledge fault.
Diane Gibson said,
March 12, 2004 at 2:53 pm
You are most enthusiastically forgiven, Sven! It is positively thrilling (I mean it) to find a person like you. Leopoldo forgot to warn you about Geekroar’s resident lunatic Wesley fan, did he?
My reaction to what you called Wesley, I realise was somewhat overreactive, but you responded with courtesy, reason, and showed a sense of humour dealing with a crazy like me. So thank you.
I think Leopoldo has recanted.
At least, he better have… (looks around darkly)
P.S. W-I-L W-H-E-A-T-O-N. Does this help?
Leopoldo said,
March 12, 2004 at 3:03 pm
Let’s see.. w.. i.. l… w… e.. a… s… no, wait, how does that go again?
Diane Gibson said,
April 9, 2004 at 4:48 pm
No, no, no, Leopoldo! You need to get small animals off the brain before attempting anything as tiring as I am sure spelling is for you. Come back and try again.
TurboTaX64_ said,
June 2, 2006 at 6:45 pm
I barely read that, but that is one FLIPPIN’ SWEET pic up there