‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ Retro Recap – ‘Unification I’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

It is no easy feat to create a sprawling franchise. Because with so many opportunities to tell unique stories and so many dynamic characters populating that franchise, it is easy for creative minds to lose their way and send said saga in directions that can sometimes confuse the fans or cheapen the experience. Something that sadly happened in the 1980s and early 1990s with slasher films since they were supremely experimental in nature at times and that put audiences off. But assembling a rich universe that everyone loves and feels is properly connected can and does happen in Hollywood and for proof, then take a look at the Marvel Cinematic Universe or the Star Trek Universe. Since Gene Roddenberry’s simple vision of a trek through the stars has now expanded to a whopping ten unique series. Some are animated, some are live action, but all of them are beloved and connected by the principle of a better future for mankind. One where we finally put our differences aside to travel to the stars.

But what’s amazing is that for a time… that rich connective tissue didn’t exist in the STU. In fact, after borrowing heavily from The Original Series in its first season, Star Trek: The Next Generation worked hard to establish itself as its own powerhouse sequel, by backing away from concepts used in TOS. Which did in turn, bring about some powerful storytelling, the kind that is widely regarded as some of the best science fiction to ever grace television screens. But eventually, the writing staff and executive staff came to realize that to truly make this series iconic in every way imaginable, it had to properly connect to the past in some manner, and while season's four ‘Sarek’ appeared to be the moment that a connective universe was born, the door was merely opened during that episode. For it turns out… that the real moment when this grand universe was brought to life, came about in the seventh and eighth episodes of season five of TNG since ‘Unification I’ and its sequel, merged TOS and Next Gen together in a beautiful manner.

A feat that was accomplished by bringing the iconic Ambassador Spock into the fold storytelling wise. Since Captain Jean-Luc Picard was sent on a grand mission to Romulus to find out whether or not this hero of the Federation had potentially defected, putting the security of the Federation at grave risk and well, while Spock only appears in the closing moments of part one, his shadow and his past hangs heavy over this tale. Because Picard isn't convinced in the slightest, that a man of Spock's stature would ever turn his back on what he has spent a lifetime defending and that's a wonderful way to begin to create some of that connective tissue since it reminds the audience that what Spock stood for continues here and now he is officially apart of this new world, tying it right into the past. But what's amazing about this tale, is that it also takes the time to surprise the fans by making it apparent, that the time had come for the old franchise to pass the torch and prepare audiences for decades of new adventures around the galaxy. And one such way to lay down the foundation for that in this particular tale… was to bid farewell to a true staple of The Original Series, Sarek. 

For this is his final on screen appearance in the STU and he goes out in a fascinating manner for a character of his caliber. Because when Jean-Luc meets with him on Vulcan, he is at his worst here, suffering from the advances stages of his illness and while it is hard to see Sarek, the once proud Ambassador, be reduced to a shell of his former self here, Mark Lenard’s performance and the script provide the character with a powerful send off. One that informs us (or reminds us) that this rigid Vulcan hero cared for his son dearly and believed in him until the end, giving inadvertent peace their always tumultuous relationship while at the same time informing the viewer… that The Original Series and the ones to follow it, would not last forever. For times change, people fade into history and stories eventually must end that really is a poignant and powerful lesson for the fans to have endured back then… one that really did prepare everyone mentally for the changing of the guard that Undiscovered Country was about to bring forth. 

But while this particular tale did a wonderful job of providing closure for a wildly popular character whilst preparing us for life without James T. Kirk and the intrepid crew of the NCC-1701, there is also an important first for the franchise to be found here as well. Such as the fact that this is the franchise’s first up-close visit to Romulus since we actually spend time on this mysterious world, and that is huge since that is a first step toward all kinds of impactful moments in the future, which will we discuss in our recap of part two. But it is also important to note that this was the first time that the franchise acknowledged a supremely important behind the scenes change for the saga as well. For a title card here paid tribute to the passing of the saga’s creator, Gene Roddenberry, since he passed away four days before ‘The Game’ aired on television and well, that title card is both bittersweet and beautiful for certain. Since it serves to remind viewers today, that while Gene didn’t live long enough to see what Trek would grow into, he did indeed create a future where we are a better people and while it may be fictional in nature, it still inspires so many to be more and do better and that’s quite the legacy to leave behind. Until next time.

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