Darmok (TNG S5 E02)

Darmok (Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG), S5 E2) was recommended by Toledo (he), who said: Yes, this is one of the most famous episodes of The Next Generation. That's because it's darn good. There's so many wonderful moments: the rarity of the depiction of aliens initiating a first contact with the Federation, the humor of the Enterprise crew's incomprehension, the exploration of cultural misunderstandings beyond the linguistic (Dathon casts lots, what's the knife for), Picard telling the 4,000-year-old story of Gilgamesh right as Dathon dies, and the centrality of the term "Darmok," leading us to wonder: who in this story *is* Darmok?

But one thing I love about it is akin to why I recommended "Distant Origin." Just like that Voyager episode catastrophically misrepresents evolution, "Darmok" butchers linguistics: there is no way that a culture could communicate solely via memes and references. There has to be some linguistic substrate in which the foundational stories could be communicated, after all. The premise of the episode would fall apart under the slightest examination. But it doesn't matter: it serves the story, the story is good, and the story of two strangers willing to risk life for the opportunity to share stories is the heart of Star Trek.

Darmok first aired on September 30, 1991, written by story by Philip LaZebnik & Joe Menosky, teleplay by Joe Menosky, and directed by Winrich Kolbe

Picard must learn to communicate with an alien captain who speaks in metaphors before a dangerous beast kills them both. Guest star Paul Winfield as Dathon.

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