Tin Man

DVD, TNG S3 (Tin Man)

For one of the first times in the series the Romulans are seen as a true threat. There have been several encounters, but it is the race to get to Gomtuu and its portentous and tentative music that underlines the danger of the pointy-eared ones. A well-placed reference to the Borg sneaks its way in, preparing the audience for their imminent return, and we get another Betazoid, this one a prodigy. We learn that Betazoids generally develop their abilities in adolescence, but Tam is one of the few who was born that way and so exhibits an eccentric personality, finishing other people's sentences, even pushing Captain Picard aside at one point!

There were no prizes for guessing what was likely to happen - you've got a man that wants to get away from it all, and you've got a living organism that needs people inside it to complete it so they were sure to get together. V'Ger is brought to mind with that destination, but not only in the desires of the participants - the resplendent burst that was the creature's weapon had visual ties to V'Ger's change at the end of 'The Motion Picture'. What wasn't so predictable was Data's identification with events and his realisation that his existence is tied to the Enterprise as Gomtuu was to its inhabitants. A lovely symmetry there. Harry Groener gives a great performance, in turns rude, impatient, and yet sympathetic, unpredictable, but with good intentions. He would return to the Trek universe as a different character in one of the final episodes of 'Enterprise'.

My only regret is not learning the fate of Gomtuu and Tam, or seeing their return in a sequel. I don't believe Gomtuu actually wanted to destroy itself from the time it had contact with Tam, or it would have allowed the Romulan vessel (a D'deridex-class apparently) to succeed in its attack. I like to think its 'still' out there somewhere, exploring, or doing whatever large, space-birthed organisms do. The interior, though arguably a generic representation of the inside of something living, reminded me strongly of the Nintendo game 'The Legend of Zelda' and more specifically the level inside Lord Jabu-Jabu's belly! And the score was noticeably more melodic than usual, thanks to new composer Jay Chattaway who would go on to write many Trek scores.

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