TNG S4E21 "The Drumhead" Review by AnswerMan

Horrible:Meh:Adequate:Good:Fantastic

This episode begins with very disturbing information revealed by the captain's log in the first 10 seconds of the prologue. A Klingon exchange worker has stolen classified ship info and handed it over to the Romulans. Furthermore, he's the lead suspect in the case of a dilithium chamber explosion. Dun dun duhhhhh.

Brought on board to help, due to the seriousness of allegations of treason, is retired Admiral Satie. You know what happens when an admiral comes on board, right? It's never good. Much ado is made about her presence and the fact that they called her out of retirement for the job. Moreover, she's been able to get the old band back together with her two assistants. All this is presented as if we're supposed to remember some occasion when this team has helped out before, but I sure don't. And I would definitely remember those crazy-ass collars she wears. I mean, they're wider than her shoulders. Anyway she gets right to work and heads to engineering to check out the damage. It seems that they are thinking sabotage because all systems read normal right up until the explosion, so there was no evident cause. They offer to show Satie a video of the explosion, and she takes them up on it. It is a boring video of a hatch blowing off a chamber. I'm not sure why we needed to see that.



In Picard's ready room, Satie and the captain chat about their mission. Picard flatters her because he is familiar with her father's work, who was some important judge. She says that she was hesitant about a partnership with him in the investigation, because she prefers to work alone, but she is impressed with him and knows they'll do well together. Just then Worf comes in and explains that he's figured out how the Klingon got the information off the ship. He takes regular injections for Klingon diabeetus or something, and he configured the injector to read computer information and then sequence the code like DNA and inject it into a person. The computer code will float around in the bloodstream as an inert protein. It's actually a really neat concept. Satie is very impressed with Worf's work, and comments after he leaves that he will be very valuable to the investigation.

The Klingon admits to stealing the information. He says that the Romulans are a better ally than the Federation because they are not weak. He doesn't like what Klingons have become since they've made peace. But, he swears he knows nothing about the boiler hatch explosion. Next they question medical crewman Tarses, because he is the one that gives the injections. He is obviously nervous and scared, but says he knows nothing about the act of treason. When he leaves, the Betazoid assistant insists that he is lying and must be hiding a tremendous secret. Picard is skeptical and refuses to put the man under restriction just because of someone's intuition, Betazoid or not. When they bring him back in for further interrogation, Picard is surprised that the meetings are now open to the public, and there are a number of people in attendance. Rather dramatically, and in courtroom fashion, it is revealed that Tarses has lied on his application, as his grandfather was Romulan and not Vulcan. He is humiliated and realizes that his career is probably over for the indiscretion.

The proceedings are kind of strange. Sometimes it seems like a formal hearing, and other times not. At one point Satie begins questioning Dr. Crusher, who is just in the audience at the time. Towards the beginning, I thought that Picard was presiding over the hearings as a judge or chairman of some sort, but later on he ends up in the witness stand himself. It's all very disjointed and bizarre.

Admiral Whatshisface is not pleased

Meanwhile in engineering, after the radiation has subsided and they have had a chance to get in there and investigate, it turns out that the hatch blew due to a flaw in its construction. That's right (plot twist), it was just an accident, not an act of sabotage at all. But this news doesn't stop Satie from speculating on other possibilities. Worf smells blood in the water as well and gets on board with digging up any kind of dirt they can find on Tarses. Picard begins to feel that the whole thing is spiraling out of control. He likens the investigation to drumhead trials performed on battlefields where punishments are dished out with very little evidence or thought rights of the accused. Eventually the investigation leads to attacking Worf himself since his father was a disgraced traitor. Then Picard's leadership comes into question as they examine all the times that he's violated the Prime Directive. It all culminates in a dramatic sequence where Picard quotes Satie's own father regarding witch hunts. She flies into a rage, shouting crazy shit and threatening Picard. Another Admiral that has been brought on board to oversee the hearings just stands up and walks out during this tirade. After she's done, everyone else slowly and silently files out of the room as well, leaving her all alone. It's a very powerful scene. The investigation is stopped, and Satie leaves without even saying goodbye. The fate of Tarses is not explored, because no one cares.

There is a big flaw with this episode, and it's that there is never a suggestion of what Satie's motivation is. Does she really believe there's a big conspiracy? Is she just drunk on power? Does she have some other devious motivation? It's particularly odd that she would go after Worf and Picard, who she specifically pointed out earlier that she had a great respect for. Was her whole career this way, or has she recently lost it? But still, "The Drumhead" offers some great courtroom drama that keeps you interested, and is a Good episode. This is yet another episode that wouldn't be nearly as good if they didn't have Patrick Stewart carrying most of the weight. The script plays to this strength by giving him several fantastic speeches, and one classic facepalm. It also has a plot twist that I did not see coming, and a message that comes through loud and clear. The witch hunt could be a parallel for any number of recent or historical events, making the episode timelessly relevant.

Published June 7, 2017