Sins of the Father (TNG)

Season 3 Episode 67

When Worf’s long lost brother joins the Klingon-Starfleet Cultural Exchange Program, Worf’s family honor is put on trial. But when a surprise witness threatens to reveal the truth, Worf must consider accepting dishonor to protect a more influential and powerful family.

Transcript

auto-generated transcript has not been edited for accuracy.

Little peek behind the pod here. Today, Allie, today, March 22nd, is William Shatner’s birthday.

Is it? Oh,

it’s also in honor of his birthday. Speak like William Shatner Day.

There’s something on the wing. something.

[ SHOW INTRO ]

NuqneH and welcome to Humanist Trek. It’s a comedy Star Trek podcast about the humanism in Star Trek. I’m Sarah Ray

and I’m Allie Ashmead.

And at the top of the show this week, we wanted to tell you about our joining the trek against pancreatic cancer. We’ve created our own team for the 2026 Colorado event. The late Gene Rodenberry, creator of Star Trek, said, quote, “The human race is a remarkable creature, one with great potential. And I hope that Star Trek has helped to show us what we can be if we believe in ourselves and our abilities. A better world, a brighter future, no disease or suffering, limitless possibility, hope. These were all part of Gene Rodenberry’s vision for Star Trek. and they also run parallel to Pancan’s vision to create a world in which every patient with pancreatic cancer will thrive. So we are we’re going to do the event this year in Littleton, Colorado. That’s on April 25th, 2026. So you have some time local listeners are already joining including president of the continuum Bruce. Bruce is on our team and Tim is on our team.

Oh my gosh. All right.

Yeah. , but thanks to Bruce, Ruth, and Circuit Guy for donating already on behalf of our team.

Oh, nice.

Yeah. So, we’re well on our way to our team goal of $2,000.

Allie, do you have any personal connection to the the pancreatic cancer mission here?

I think we talked about this several podcasts ago, like back in maybe early last or late last year about Subrina Wood one of the members of the Syfy Sistas,

Yeah.

she passed away from pancreatic cancer. And in sort of a tribute, they did a a podcast live and then they did have Armin Shimmerman’s wife on who was there and lots of other Star Trek people that were there just to, you know, honor Subrina. So, it was really cool.

Yeah, that’s awesome.

I personally you know, I’ve I’ve had some friends whose family have passed away from pancreatic cancer because so nothing like really close personal to me. but I I just know that it was watching them watch their families go through that and I it was always, you know, whenever you heard in the past whenever you heard that someone had pancreatic cancer, the the chances of them surviving it was really low. so it’s it’s really good to to be able to be a part of this.

I didn’t think I had a a direct connection either. But then as we were talking about this and scheduling and and you know that we’re going to go do this thing. I learned that I believe it was Becca’s grandmother also had pancreatic cancer. So there you go. you probably if you ask around you probably have a connection whether you knew about it or not, there’s probably a connection in your life. So yeah, so join us.

You can check out the events page at humanisttrek.com or visit humanisttrek.com/pancan26 to learn more. If you’re not local to us, there are like 60 events across the US. So find one close to you, start your own team, make a donation to a team locally, or if you are local to us, join our team. It would be an absolute honor to have you join us in the fight against pancreatic cancer.

Yeah.

And speaking of honor, this week on Star Trek the Next Generation, we dive deep into Klingon honor culture in Star Trek the Next Generation, Season 3, Episode 17, Sins of the Father.

[ TEASER ]

Hey, remember that episode where Riker went on the cultural exchange program and served on a Klingan ship? Payback time.

This time the D is taking on a Klingon and Picard and Riker are headed to the transporter room to greet Commander Kurn. They talk about how this exchange program works. Kurn is accorded all the rights and responsibilities due the first officer of this ship, but they are going to prepare the crew for unusual orders since Klingons in the Federation do things very differently. And one interesting note, apparently Commander Kurn specifically requested the Enterprise for this exchange.

Put a pin in that.

In the transporter room, they’re beaming him in. And here he is, a really, really tall Klingon just, you know, with a weapon and everything. And of course, Picard welcomes him to the Enterprise and introduces Riker as well and saying that he’s going to be yielding his first officer’s position to to you. Kurn is right to business. He’s like, “You’re relieved. I’d like to take my station.” And Riker’s like, “Don’t you want to see your quarters and, you know, do the whole hospitality tour of the ship thing?” And nope. Kurn is like ready to go.

This is of course the late great Tony Todd who left this earth far too soon. He was 69.

Yeah.

He reprises this role several times. Comes back as an old Jake Cisco in DS9 and again as an alien on Voyager which I didn’t remember. But you might also know him as the Candyman.

Mhm. Oh, I loved him.

Just he a brilliant actor with a massive body of work to prove it and did lots of voice acting too.

Yeah. Yep. Tony Todd’s awesome.

So up on the bridge, Kurn is speechifying, introduces himself, says he studied all the Starfleet regulations, which will be strictly adhered to by everyone. And he studied all their personnel files, too. And as he walks a circle around the bridge, he pauses next to Worf as he talks about bringing a sense of discipline that they’re not used to. And this is definitely aimed at Worf,

you think?

And then Kurn catches Wes and Data like whispering down front and he’s like, “Would you like to share with the class acting in Wesley Crusher?” And Wes is like scared out of his [ __ ] “Oh no, sir. Commander, sir. Sorry, sir.” So then Kurn takes his place in Riker’s spot and he’s tells Picard, you know, we’re waiting your orders. And so Picard says, let’s go to the outer cometary cloud. And Kurn says, “Set the course, yada yada yada.”
And Wesley confirms and then of course instead of saying like “make it so” or “engage” or whatever Kurn says “execute” which is so you know aggressive but that’s Klingon.

Yeah so off they go.

Yeah. And we get a shot to Picard just you could see on his face is like “this is going to be a weird [ __ ] week you guys.”

He’s so annoyed.

[ ACT 1 ]

Later, Riker finds Wes sitting alone in tin forward and he’s like, “What’s wrong, Commander Kurn up your ass?” And Wes just starts unloading.

Yeah.

“It doesn’t matter what I do. This guy doesn’t like me. I can’t do anything right. I don’t know what I’m doing wrong.” And before Riker can give some sage advice, Geordi comes ripping in. P I S S TUH. Because Kurn has been up his ass, too.
Yeah, they he did an surprise inspection of engineering and of course it was in the middle of like a maintenance cycle and of course nothing was right and they’re all just [ __ ] tired of him. He’s he’s doing it to the whole ship. So it’s not just them. And Riker tries to say, you know, his style is different. You know, Klingons, you know, believe in obedience. And LaForge is like “this isn’t a Klingon ship.” So, he’s got to loosen up, man. But Wesley says, “you know, he’s been leaning into everybody and but maybe except the guy who really wouldn’t mind it,” which is Worf. He’s kind of been ignoring Worf and hard on everyone else.

Cut to the bridge where Kurn is going easy on Worf. “Please scan the asteroid field for me” and such, which really starts to piss Worf off. But right when Worf’s about to headbutt this jackass, he like pulls it back together and calms down.

But but there’s a moment there when they cut the camera to Kurn and he’s looking at Worf real hard as if to say something unspoken like like don’t you recognize me or do you know who I am or something like that. That’s what I got. But but that was a a great shot.

Mhm. In the turbo lift, Riker and Kurn
are headed to dinner with the captain, and Riker tries to offer Kurn some guidance given his own experience serving on a Klingon ship. This has got to be difficult for Kurn working with such a different crew, but Kurn takes offense that Rker has even suggested that he needed any advice.
He said he said if this wasn’t a Klingon ship, he would have killed him. We’re offering We’re offering a suggestion. O,

which is that’s that tracks.

Yeah, right.

Totally tracks.

Next, the senior staff and Kurn have
gathered in the captain’s mess. And this is another famous meme moment from TNG. Peicard is carving the Thanksgiving turkey next to a casserole and a jello- mold. Tell me you’re from the Midwest without telling me you’re from the Midwest.

I know.

And Kurn is like, “What did you people do to that poor bird?” Geordi explains that the food is replicated and cooked. And Kurn is like, “Oh yeah, I was warned about your shitty food.”

Yeah.

And “I shall try some of your burned, replicated bird meat.” It’s just so good.

Crusher comes up. She’s so nice. She’s like, “Try some caviar.” And he smells it and he’s like, “What the [ __ ] is this?” And then Data launches in to give like his normal long explanation. But no, Picard’s like later Data, it’s just a delicacy from the Caspian Sea. It’s actually not replicated. Picard had a somehow brought some cases of caviar on board. I’m like, really? so it’s actually real and it’s basically fish eggs. But Kurn doesn’t like the way it smells. He does say he’s honored, but he doesn’t really mean it. So, they sit down and they start the the chitchat. So, how’s it going? Troi is like,
“How’s it going? You know, are you adjusting to your new environment?”

I love this. Kurn’s like, “Well, I almost killed Commander Riker out in the hallway, but I was able to conform to your way of doing things.”

She giggled. I thought that was so funny how how she just giggled her head off at
that. He explains that Riker was trying to communicate the crew’s discomfort with his style of command, which in any other circumstances would have been challenging his authority. And then he takes a big bite out of something and spits it out and he’s like, “Gh, our food is so much better
than this garbage. I’m sure it’s well prepared, but it’s far too bland for the stomach of a Klingon. Right, Worf?” And Jord’s like, “Well, I don’t know. It seems like it it agrees with Worf just fine.” And Kurn’s like, “-huh. Yeah, it does, doesn’t it? [ __ ] Worf, man. Something going on
here.”

Yeah. And of course, we soon find out because later that night, Worf comes to visit Kurn in his quarters.

Worf asks permission to speak freely, and he’s like, “What the [  ] man? What have I done to offend you? Have I not performed my duties to your satisfaction? Why are you being such a dick to me?” And of course, this all comes down to whether Worf is a proper Klingon or a soft Starfleet [  ]

As always.

Oh, of course. Yeah. Kurn starts pushing his buttons until Worf throws
a chair across the room, growling, “I am a Klingon. If you doubt it, a demonstration can be arranged.” And Kurn is like, “Fuck yeah, that’s a Klingon.”

Yeah. So, he’s like, “Your blood’s not so thin at all.” Which is what they always accuse him of just because he’s a Starfleet officer. Mhm.

And then he says, “Yeah, that’s the response of a Klingon. The response I would expect from my older brother.”

And we get Worf’s what the [ __ ] face to commercial.

And yeah, I didn’t I forgot that Worf didn’t know it was him.

[ ACT 2 ]

Kurn explains that when he was barely a year old, he was left with a family friend, Lorg, while Worf and their parents went to the Kdimer outpost. Put a pin in that. I have a question about this later.

Okay. Of course, we know that the outpost was attacked and Worf’s parents were killed. The Klingon High Command told Starfleet that Worf had no living relatives because they assumed the whole family was together and everyone else died. Meanwhile, Lorg, who was babysitting Kurn, Lorg took Kurn into his house and raised him as his own, and he wasn’t even told the truth until the age of Ascension. So Kurn asked for an assignment here so he could check up on his brother. Make sure he was truly a Klingon and not a weak ass starfleet [ __ ] But not just for his curiosity. You see, the Klingan High Council has judged their father a traitor and it is the eldest son’s right to challenge this ruling.

Why did they wait until now to try his father or judge his father?

We find out later that the Klingons recently acquired a Ramulan ship that had logs about Khitomer.

Oh, okay. That’s why. Gotcha.

Yeah. So, Worf goes straight to Picard to put in for some PTO to go handle this and but he also gives Picard some more details. The council accused his father of aiding and abetting the Romulons in their attack on Kdimer, although he was killed in that very attack. So, that’s
kind of odd. And for some unknown reason, it took them 20 years to decide to make this accusation like you said.

Yeah. And the way that this works with Klingons is the family of a Klingan is responsible for his actions and there’s going to be some sort of challenge and if he fails, he’ll be executed. And so
he’s asking Picard for some leave and Picard is no. He’s like, “No, if a Starfleet officer, a member of his crew is accused of a capital crime, that’s that affects not only Worf, but it also affects Starfleet.” And and so Picard is going to be at his side whether he wants to or not.

this like the acts of a man bring dishonor on his family for seven generations is some dumb biblical [  ] if I’ve ever heard it. So yeah, it’s a bunch of [  ] about honor and

come on.

And I know I shouldn’t be judging other
cultures. I should be, you know, whatever. But it is kind of stupid if you This is your autonomy thing. Like am am I an autonomous person or am I the actions of the people in my family?

Yeah. I mean, I get honoring other people’s cultures, but logically it does not make it doesn’t it’s not fair and it
it makes no sense.

Nope. So they pop back out onto the bridge and Picard gives Kurn an order to change course to the first city of the Klingan Imperial Empire. Isn’t that a little redundant? Imperial Empire.

But it it sounds really like it sounds
really Star Wars too. Imperial Empire.

Yeah. Yeah. In Tin Forward, Worf and Kurn prepare for this challenge. And apparently one of the important pieces of this process is to bring along a defender. Worf won’t be able to fight. So he brings someone with him called a chaDI’ch. And
of course he asks Kurn to take on this responsibility and Kurn starts speaking of you know some Klingon to accept this role. There’s a phrase that is yes brother I accept or whatever he says. I don’t know. But when Kurn starts talking about oh the sons of Moog will gloriously restore the family honor
together. Worf’s like, “No, no, no. You can’t reveal who you really are because if I fail, we both get killed.” And Kurn’s like, “Well, that sounds like some weak human [ __ ] Like, aren’t you a Klingon? You know, shouldn’t we face this together as as brothers?” He’s kind of right.

But Worf is like, “Well, on this ship, you’re my commander, but once we get to the council, you do what I tell you to do.” And Kurn agrees. The D arrives at Kronos and this Kling on world building is just fantastic. I mean when you say Klingon, this is what
I think of this map painting from Oh, who did this map painting? Let’s give them credit.

Like a great hall, the great hall, and it literally is a great hall with the Klingon symbol, like vated ceilings and just dark and smoky and Yeah. I I saw a social media post the other
day that somebody was like the one of the most interesting things about alien cultures in Star Trek is how great at branding they are. They all have a logo.

Klingons are red, Federation is blue, Romulons are green. The design of the Klingon Great Hall and other sets in the episode won an Emmy
for best art direction.

Oh, nice. Yay.

Production designer Richard James. The exterior of the great hall and surrounding First City was a matte painting created by Sid Dutton at Illusion Arts.

Cool.

I mean, when when you say Klingon, this is what appears in my mind. So, they walk into the great hall, it’s Kurn and Worf and then Riker and Picard. And there’s just all these Klingons around and Worf kind of announces himself and he says, “I am Worf, son of Moog, and I’ve come to challenge the
lies that have been spoken about my father.”

This is another like super formative thing for me where the you have the leader of the council seated in a throne and then the Klingons in the council take a position around the outside of the room kind of flanking the throne. I
like it.

Are you adjusting to your new environment, Commander?

I find the constraints a bit difficult to conform to.

Just a short while ago, I had to stop myself from killing Commander Reich.

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Simulation not recognized as an official start fleet training program. Card shuffling speed may vary by species. Attendee, look at us. Lower decks breaching protocol together. Friendship. Couple of key guest stars in this scene. Starting with Kimpek, chancellor of the Klingan High Council, played by Charles
Cooper, who also played a Klingan in Star Trek 5: The Final Frontier.

Cool.

And I love when he sits, he does this flourish with his cape. Every time he sits, this like robe cape thing is the same thing that his Klingon character wore in Star Trek 5: The Final Frontier,
which I thought was interesting.

Nice. And these two roles are kind of what he’s known for, but he had a pretty long career going back to 1950. Oh wow.

Then we have Duros played by Patrick Mette. You might know his work better as a writer and producer. He co-wrote Lara
Croft, Tomb Raider.

Oh wow.

Wrote and produced for the Nightrider reboot and Friday Night Lights. Sorry.

Kimpek speaks first and asks Worf is he prepared to answer for this if he fails, which Worf says, “With my
life.”

He’s so honorable. Like, he really believes in the honor, which again, put a pin in that.

Yes. Then Kimpek asks Commander Kurn why he’s there and he follows Worf’s order to lie and say he’s from the House of Lord and announces himself as chaDI’ch.
And another Klingan brings him a dagger. Some ceremonial. It looks like a dictag dagger.

A what?

Dukto.

Okay.

Which is one of my favorite Klingan weapons. It’s the It’s the dagger that
has the two It has the single blade and then there’s like two dagger blades that pop out from the side. You know what I’m talking about here?

Then Dura starts talking [  ] You come up in here wearing this child’s uniform claiming a birthright you’ve forsaken and you brought offworlders too. [  ]
you.

Picard puts his chest out though. He’s like I’m Captain [  ] Picard of those [  ] Enterprise. like he was like but Dazzo like you don’t you don’t mean anything here but Kimpek is like let them speak and then Picard wax is poetic about how Lieutenant Worf has
served it under his command with distinction and he’s earned his admiration and respect and he’s just hoping that this having this council will clear his name and return him to duty.

Then Duress lays the accusation out on the table. Moog sent the defense access
codes to the Romulons, allowing them to desTroi the Kdimemer outpost. Thousands died, including Durus’ father. So Mor Moog Morg

Morgan Morg Morgan Lorg.

So Moog was a [  ] trader and Worf’s a [  ] traitor, too, for coming here with this challenge.
And Durus backhands Worf and then to add insult to injury, he rips Worf’s Baldrick off and says that Worf is a fool and this challenge can only end in a fool’s death. The Worf steps to him though. He’s like, “Today is a good day to die, bitch.” And the [ __ ] was silent and the day is not over yet.
So Kemp declares a recess and then they’ll reconvene for the Meekba where evidence will be presented. So this is this is Klingon night court. Yeah, it is pretty much. So on the bridge though, Picard runs right to Data and puts his googling skills to use and he’s like, “Data, you got to get me
some info on what happened on the Khitomer outpost.” So cross reference it with any Romulan tactics and strategic information and request access to the Klingan Central Command internet

and then and then put all of that together and let me know what you find. Back on the planet, Kimpek pulls Worf to
the side for a private conversation about his frustration.

You’ve got a private conversation.

While Kurn steps away and is handed a note by some UC Klingon and then he leaves. Kimp basically says like, “Dude, you shouldn’t have come here. Your life in
the Federation wouldn’t be affected by this at all. And besides, your father’s dead.” He says he served with Moog. And this definitely isn’t how he wanted to remember an old friend, but it is what it is. And the present is more important than the past.

Yeah. He’s trying to get him to like,
okay, don’t pursue this and just go back to your life. Yeah. at Starfleet.

H no shame, no judgment. Just let’s forget this whole thing.

That doesn’t sound very Klingon, does it?

Sure doesn’t. Nope. Yeah. Worf’s like, “, are you sure you’re a Klingon?
because you’re basically asking me to set aside our entire honor culture.

Mhm.

Kimpek moves even closer and whispers, “Fucking leave, bro, or you’ll die here a traitor today.”

Yeah.

Back on the D, Riker and Data are
working on their research project and they loop in Dr. Crusher to review some medical records for the ships that responded to Kdimer. Maybe there’s something there they can use. And then back on the planet in some corridor, Kurn is surprised by Duras, who knows the truth about him.

Oh,

they have a very similar conversation to the one Kimpek and Worf just had. You don’t have to do this. You know, you can leave now and live, but if you stay, you’re all going to be dead. So he’s like, “Nah, we’re we’re doing this.”

And so Das is like, “Okay, fine. Then you’re going to die for him, too.” And then these two goons, two Kling on goons try to kill him and stab him in the stomach.

This is a great Kling on Star Trek fight.

Everybody was Star Trek fighting.

I mean, not much of one because Kurn gets the knife to the stomach pretty quickly.

He gets the shaft. , this knife was called a cutluchch.

Cut luch. That was kind of cool.

Yeah,

you are a fool and your challenge can
only result in a fool’s death.

It is a good day to die, Durus. And the day is not yet over. During the commercial, Kurn was apparently found and beamed back up because in sick bay, Worf is explaining ceremonial assassination weapons to Dr. Crusher and laments that they should
have let Kurn die. Worf’s like, “Now he’s going to have to get killed a second time because Durus knows his house and we are both fucked.”

Yeah. Crush is like, “Well, you sound like you’ve already given up.” Yeah,

but luckily back on the bridge, data has found some interesting info. This is
where we find out that they’ve captured a Romulan ship recently. So that’s how they kind of know that there was some sort of communication sent to the Romulons moments before the shields went down and it looks like it was Worf’s father. So what they do is they access all the records to see if it’s
anything’s been falsified and then crossch checkck them when the timestamps from the Intrepid their sensor logs and something doesn’t match up. So there’s some sort of time gap with the Intrepid’s log and the Romulan logs and this apparently there’s a gap missing where Moog’s transmission should
be but it’s missing.

Mhm. I liked how they did show Antel for this. They could have just said it, but on the screen you see the side by side of the Ramulan log and the intrepid log and how it mismatches after the gap. I thought that was fun.

Fun. Okuda
Okuda Grams.

Anyway, clear evidence of some sensor data tampering.

Yep. Meanwhile, Picard and Worf are in the ready room, and Worf is still a bit shocked that the leader of the Klingan High Council would ask him to basically
abandon being Klingon, drop the challenge, and not fight for his family honor. And Picard thinks the Klingons didn’t expect Worf to come make this challenge at all. They’re clearly hiding something.

Mhm. Well, with his brother stuck in sick
bay, Worf needs a new chaDI’ch, and he asks Picard to stand in that place. And at first, Peicard is like, “Gosh, Mr. Worf, I’m deeply honored, but surely there are stronger and younger men who you could choose to die on your behalf.” Worf’s like, “No, you’re my ride or
die. Maybe ride and die. , we aren’t quite sure yet, but you’re definitely the guy.” And now Picard speaks that Klingon phrase.

His face just like he’s just swells with pride. You know, there’s along with this whole honor [  ] they’ve got. They’ve it’s a lot of dick swinging and a lot of pride that comes along with that honor [  ] But

Picard’s face swells and he says some Klingon [  ] and he’s like, I accept. Back at the Hall of Klingons, Worf and Peicard beam in and Worf announces his challenge will proceed despite their threats and assassination attempts. And Duras starts talking [  ] again. And Picard steps between them as Worf announces that Peicard is now chaDI’ch. And Durus is like, “You? Well, you better be prepared to fight something Starfleet didn’t teach you.” And I love this. Picard is like cool, calm, and collected, but very
threateningly, he says, “You may test that assumption at your convenience.”

Oo.

Back on the bridge, Crusher has something. They found that there was not just Worf that survived the Kdimer massacre, but there was a woman named Kst,
and they don’t know who she was, but she was severely injured and transferred to Starbase 20 for treatment. Then she was separated from Worf and then after that she were went home and so they’re now on a search to see if she’s still alive and where where can they find her? Meanwhile, in the Hall of Klingons,
Duros is bloiating the events of the phone call from Moog to the Romulons at Khitomer and testimony about Moog’s admiration for the Romulons when Riker calls Picard and Picard steps away to take the call. And Riker’s like, “Hey, so we found this old lady who was there and she lives in the old quarter of the
first city.” So Picard hangs up the call and he comes back and asks for a short recess and the Klingons all scatter and Picard asks Worf about Kest who Worf says was his nurse. But Worf believes her to be dead of course. So when Peicard is like no Worf, she’s alive and living in the
old quarter and I’m going to go find her. Worf is like it is too dangerous to go alone. Picard I love this. Picard’s like hey I’m your chaDI’ch.

I’m your [ __ ] man. Just the way he said it was so good. I love it.

He’s like, I got this. He’s like his he’s letting this go to his head. He’s
like, man, I’m I’m a chaDI’ch. I can do anything.

But as he leaves, we see three Klingons lurking in the shadows nearby.

This is not your world, human. You do not command here.

I’m not here to command. Then you must be ready to fight.
something Starfleet does not teach you.

You may test that assumption at your convenience.

This reminded me of Star Wars again. Star Wars because Picard puts on this robe with a hood and I’m like this is some this is some Star Wars Jedi [ __ ]

Yeah. Well, and the old city that he’s
the old quarter that he’s walking around in, I mean, it looks like a a poor neighborhood in Star Wars, for sure.

Totally. But he goes to this door and it opens. I guess when you, you know, live in the city, you just go into somebody’s house.

Yes.

Anyway, there’s an old woman shrouded in darkness and she asks him, “What do what do you want?” And he says, “I want your help.” And she just says no. He’s like, “But you don’t even know what I want.” And she already knows that he is chaDI’ch. She already knows. And even though she
knows Worf’s life is at stake, she’s like, “I can’t help. I’m dead. Long time dead.” He asks her some questions like, “Were you with Worf’s father just before the attack?” And she said, “No.” Her life ended on Khitomer. She served a proud family and that’s all gone. Well, he’s like, “Worf not gone.” and they and
he needs you right now, but she just refuses to help. But at least she does tell him that Moog was not a traitor and that he was loyal to the empire. But he did suspect somebody else of plotting with the Romulons and he followed them to Kimmer. So that’s why they were on Khitomer.

And why did he bring Worf with him?

Why would you bring a child with him?

That’s what I’m saying. Why was Worf there at all? This is some weak backstory filling in the blanks to me.

Yeah. If you’re going to follow someone suspected to be plotting against the Empire, why would you take a child?

Yeah. Leave your kids at home.

Yeah. Anyway, she does say that she doesn’t know who the traitor was. So, Picard just realizes, well, I guess we don’t have any way to prove Moog Moog’s innocence and Worf is going to die. And then she tells him, you need to leave. I’m dead. Just a as a reminder, I’m
dead. This is Thelma Lee, whose first credit is a comedian. Oh, on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1962.

Holy moly. Wow.

Yeah. And then she didn’t have a lot to do until the 80s and 90s where she appeared on episodes of The New Odd Couple.

Mhm.

Doogiehouser MD.

Oh man, I remember that show.

Ending with a couple episodes of Loveboat: The Next Wave. Outside, Picard is predictably jumped by a pair of Klingon assassins, kicking off another Star Trek fight.

Everybody was Star Trek fighting

and he’s able to pull his dagger and shove it into the gut of one attacker, but the other gets Picard pinned up against a wall. And just as he raises his dagger, about to finish Picard, the attacker is stabbed in the back. And I love this reveal. He turns and falls to
the ground, revealing Kest with her hand still in the air like she just let go of the knife.

I love it.

Oh, Lady got some some spunk.

She is rather impressed with Bard, too. So, she she thinks that Worf chose well. And I think this is when she’s like
thinking, “Okay, I’ll come with you.” Picard wants to know if they would recognize her. And then she says, “Yeah, Kim Peek would remember me. I caught his eye back then, but he was too fat.”

Like,

this is solid TNG humor. I love it. So
good. Cuz the payoff later is just

Yeah.

Chef’s kiss.

And it’s like humor, but at the most weird the weirdest time.

Yeah. It’s not even a funny situation and they throw it in there which is which is makes it even funnier.

Anyway, she agrees to return with Picard and hopefully shake out the truth of what really happened on Khitomer. So, back in the hall of Klingons, Duras is finishing up his closing arguments when Picard rocks in dick in hand with a your honor, I would like to call a surprise witness.
Kimp angrily calls for a recess and they go into chambers where Dura starts in right away shit-talking the old woman and Kempek is like, “Shut up, Duras. Would you kill an old lady to cover your dishonor?

The light bulb clicks above Picard’s head and he’s like, “Oh, yes, yes, yes,
yes, yes, yes. This is your dishonor that we’re protecting here, isn’t it? are you prepared to hear evidence in open counsel as is required by the Meccbah.

Kimac obviously knows about everything that’s going on and he’s like obviously we would not. And Kas doesn’t even have
to say anything. She just had to show her face and he’s dismisses her. He’s like Kay you can go now. Oh by the way you look fine. And she turns around and like yeah well you’re still fat. so good.

But yeah, she didn’t have to say anything because just the threat of her being there and being still alive. Did they not know she was alive? I guess

apparently not.

She lived in the same She lived in the city.

Living off the grid, I guess. I don’t
know.

I guess

got a fake ID and changed her social security number. I don’t know.

So Ka leaves and this the truth starts flowing. The Klingons that captured the Romulan ship learned of the treachery,
but only the council knew whose security codes were used. Gerard, father of Duras, which is why he’s been such a pain in the ass this episode. And I just want to say to Star Trek Starfleet Academy, that for as much [ __ ] as I’ve given you for naming a Klingan Jaden, here we are way back in TNG with a
Klingan named Jared.

Yeah. What? J Apostrophe Rod.

Of course,

J. It’s Gerrod.

Yeah, it’s Gerrod.

Anyway, Kimpek explains that House Duros is super powerful and revealing this to
the public would certainly have thrown them into civil war. But Worf, Worf was in Starfleet, and they never expected him to challenge this judgment. And they certainly had no idea there was another Son of Moog. They really thought they had this whole plot figured out.

Then this is what’s so disturbing about
the their honor. They’re willing to basically sacrifice Worf or somebody else to keep the powerful family in power and everything. the public perception, you know,

none the wiser. So Picard’s like, “Well, as someone who’s been through many Star Trek
procedurals, I can confidently say that Worf’s challenge is successful and his family honor restored.” Right? Right.

Nope.

Wrong. Kimpck’s like, “No, this evidence is not going to come out.” And the judgment stands. And Picard’s like, “Wow, you admit the truth and yet expect Worf
to die now. What does that say about your precious [ __ ] honor code?” Mhm. Because it stands to desTroi the empire. They’re not going to to sacrifice the empire for one family’s honor. One family that isn’t as powerful. Doesn’t really mean doesn’t really mean anything.

And of course, Bardines is unacceptable. But of course, he’s not clinging on. He doesn’t really have anything to say in this as points out. But then he takes off his chaDI’ch hat and puts on his Captain of the Enterprise hat back on and he’s like, “Well, you’re not going to kill one of my officers and I’m not
going to turn Kurn over to you. Protect your secrets if you must, but you will not sacrifice these men.” And then Worf is like, “I will die for the Empire.” And Picard’s like, “Worf, shut the [ __ ] up.”

No, you won’t. What the [ __ ] are you saying? I know.

Worf shuts him up, though. The chaDI’ch will be silent. and he asks Kempek to let Kurn go and continue to keep his true family bloodline a secret. Duras is like, “Well, that wouldn’t work. The same [ __ ] honor culture that brought you here with this challenge would require Kurn to seek revenge.” So, Worf
offers Kempek a deal. Let my brother go and I will accept discommendation in open counsel. And Kemp’s like, “Ah, this is going to work. This is great.” That’s the same thing as admitting that your father was guilty. And Worf’s like, “Yeah, I I know.”
So Kempek says, “You know, your heart is truly Klingon, and nothing that happened here today will ever be spoken of again.”

I’m so I’m so mad, but whatever.

Mhm. Well, there’s one moment here that that made me feel a little better. When Dura starts to leave, Worfake puts his
hand on his chest and stops him and says, “You are the son of a traitor.” And backhands him across the face and goes, “Okay, now I’m ready.”

I know. He Oh, so so good.

Back out in the Hall of Klingons, Kurn asks Picard why Worf is doing this, and Picard explains that someday their
family name will have to be cleared. And in order to do that, Worf needs a son of Moog alive with his honor intact. He says, “There will be another day. Do not forget what he does here today.”

And do not let your children forget.

Oh, this is this is heartbreaking.

Yes. Because Worf says some Klingon
stuff and then Kimpek says some Kling on stuff back to him and then one by one the people on the council or the Klingons on the council cross their arms, turn their back to him.

Yeah. This is this final scene is like another one of those seared into my young brain watching this series for the
first time.

Mhm. It it’s such a a Klingon worldbuing thing and like it it you know it’s just h so emotional and moving and then they all after all the council members are turned Worf turns to Kurn and says you must also turn your
back on me and he does reluctantly.

Yeah. And then the episode ends with Peicard and Worf walking out of the chamber as these circle of Klingons just fades out.

Like the ultimate disc.

Yeah.

Yeah. Boy, I’m sure glad that’s over
with.

I’ll be glad to be relieved of this cargo.

Me, too.

It is done. And perhaps just as well.

Yeah. But you know, I learned something today.

I sincerely hope that this is the last
time that I find myself here. You just don’t get it, do you, Jeanuk? You see, of all the species, yours cannot abide stagnation. Change is at the heart of what you are. That is the exploration that awaits you. Not mapping stars and studying nebula, but charting the unknown possibilities
of existence.

I know I poke fun at the Klingan honor culture a bit, but this is core Klingan world building here. And I remembered loving this episode as a kid because of that.

Yeah.

It was really immersive into Klingan
culture.

Yeah. And the whole honor thing, it makes you like question, okay, what is honor? You have to define what it is to sort to because it’s different things for different cultures,

right?

And and for me, I would think truth
would be a part of that as honor, but it’s not for for them. For them, it’s more perception, public perception maybe.

The the dictionary definitions that come up here are high respect, great esteem. That’s not the the the one we’re talking to here. The one we’re speaking about
here is adherence to what is right or to a conventional standard of conduct.

And those those things are in conflict here.

Yeah. They are adhering to the conventional standard of conduct despite what is right.

Yeah. Yeah.

And that’s the part of the honor culture that I don’t like. That’s the part that I’m always [ __ ] on.

Yeah. And what surprises me is Das had no shame. Mhm.

He’s he’s trying to thrust this shame upon Worf when in reality Worf’s family didn’t do anything wrong
and his family was the one who did something wrong. So in his mind,

he’s he’s cool with the lie and but he’s also bought into the lie that his family he shouldn’t have any shame, which is crazy. He should be

Why doesn’t he feel the dishonor?

None. None. Yeah, he’s the one that’s
not truly Klingon.

Yeah.

This episode also says a lot about what a government might be willing to do to protect powerful, influential people.

Oh, you think? Oh my goodness.

You know, there this probably has been here from the beginning of this nation,
that underlying distrust of government. Mhm.

But it’s front and center right now in our lives because the people that distrust that say they distrust government the most are the ones running it.

Absolutely. And those people cannot be
trusted.

No,

they can’t be trusted.

No, that’s it’s their projection because if when we’re in power, that’s what we would do. So, we just assume that everyone in power would do it, too. And that’s possibly true, but not
necessarily true. And I’m wondering if if is there something about being in power that corrupts you and makes you throw all of that out the window when you’re not in power and you want to believe all the the good things,

right?

But then it just once you get in power, you’re like, hm, this is kind of nice. I wonder if I could get away with this. And I wonder if that’s what’s happening sometimes. Well, power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely is a famous quote from the 1800s. So,

yeah,

I think there is some truth to that. And that that that seed of doubt, that idea that governments are inherently untrustworthy and doing shady coverup [ __ ] like this all the time.

Yeah,

I think they reflected it in this
episode in an interesting way.

Yeah. Then you have Worf and holy [ __ ] his whole life changes in this episode. And I really like the way that it ended. There’s no chair chat. There’s no happy resolution. It’s like

it’s just Worf and his dishonor and you’re left going, “Holy [ __ ] what just
happened?”

And then one minute he learns he has a brother and then he loses him. So it’s like, “What the It was Yeah.

And what’s going to happen next?”

Yeah. And so I read that the producers talked about how this episode is really one of the early examples of setting
up a a long story arc that carries forward into, you know, future episodes. It really kind of showed them that

these episodes don’t have to be strictly episodic and unconnected to each other. That they could do stories that, you know, that we follow up on later,

which is brilliant. which is why we have
so much Star Trek now because they left those strings to be tugged on,

which I think also led to the ability for Deep Space 9 to serialize.

Mhm.

They they saw something in TNG about those those story lines that carried through, you know, multiple seasons

that that the formula could work.

Yeah, it was Yeah, it was really good. Are you going to rap for the assassins?

I did. I do. I will. I will. I do. I I can.

Are they the only ones that died in this episode?

Yeah, I I believe so. Yeah.

Okay. All right. We’re here together to honor our friend and comrade. We will all find time to grieve for her in the days that are ahead. But for now, she has asked that we celebrate her life with this. Klingon honor, it’s [  ] Klingon honor, it’s [  ] Worf’s honor and stake. Picard gave a great speech. Hey man, I got your back. I’ll be your child dee. So Dator did some digging at Picard’s behest. They found a possible witness and her name was Kles. Well, he found her. She didn’t want to talk, but Picard didn’t know that he was being
stalked. Picard was assaulted by two Klingon goons. Picard was handling his business when she changed her tune. He got one in the gut. She got the other from the rear. She said, “You’re so brave. I’ll come with you, dear.” And so the story goes. We can handle all the pleasantries
later. Now, let’s get down to business.

I am willing to pay handsomely for you.

I think you’ve had a little too much to drink.

Now, what do you know about my money?

Your money?

The money he stole.

You stole his money?

Those vouchers I gave you were every bit as good as Latin.

You can spend platinum almost anywhere. Those vouchers are only good at your bar.

As always, we want to thank everyone who supports the show. And a special thank you to our founding admirals at
patreon.com/humanisttrek. Thank you to Alli, Peter, Sarah D, Bruce, the Baron Currid podcast, and some call him Tim. And this week we have a new inen joining the ranks.

Do we?

A welcome aboard to Leonard John Crowoot.

Oh my gosh. Thank you, Leonard.

Thanks, Leonard. Leonard had such great things to say. Let me read it to you, actually.

Okay. Okay. Dear Sarah and Allie, wow, I just saw the video and just loved it. It shows loud and clear that you are so talented, informative, concerned,
passionate, and loving. What a great episode. I am so proud to be on your show. Thank you so much for including me in this podcast episode of The Offspring. I am honored. Love, peace, and harmony. Leonard Cro.

Oh my gosh, he’s so great.

Right.

Thanks, Leonard. You’re the best.

Thank you so much. Yeah, totally. It’s always such a pleasure to have him on. It is.

Captain, Starfleet Academy is requesting an update on our estimated arrival.

Finalists, please take your seats.

I must admit, you have a very fast mind.

Once I realized it was a trick question, there was only one answer.

Although only one student will be chosen for the academy. Any of you could easily qualify. Candidates could not.

You got called to the superintendent’s office. It’s a story I’d like to hear. Becca is back now with the answer to
this week’s Starfleet Academy Cadet Challenge. Question four, Sins of the Father. Remind us once again the question.

What redundant order does Picard give during this episode? Now,

now

actually

I would just like to say

Mhm. that I left and now realize in hindsight that this question was phrased incorrectly.

Mhm.

Oh, okay.

Uhhuh.

So, I I was wrong because I asked the wrong question.

All right. Peek behind the pod. Becca and I connected yesterday to arrange. Becca is is joining us live from Tennessee.

Nashville.

Nashville, Tennessee.

Nashville.

We should make you speak in a in a hillbilly accent for this whole thing.

Well, I could certainly put on my charming southern accent.

There you go.

There you go.

yeah. So, I was wrong. And so while technically you guys the answer that you guys gave was not the answer that I was looking for,

right?

But after further reflection and basically Sarah pinning me down in the
corner saying, “No, you’re wrong.” I have come to realize that that she was right. I I am this question was written incorrectly. So I’m going to give you the points.

Affirmative.

Yeah. How? Okay. And you tell us.

So the order that he gave was to set the
coordinates for the first city of the Klingan Imperial Empire. So while the order the order was not given before, he didn’t give the order multiple times. The redundancy is in the language of the order much like the error was in the language of my question.

Okay. So the redundancy is that imperial
is a word for empire. So to

say go to the imperial empire

okay

is redundant but the order itself wasn’t redundant and so asking the question what redundant order does give gave you guys the impression that he gave an order multiple times where it wasn’t. It
should have actually been something like what type of redundancy was in an order that Pard gave.

Yeah.

Yeah. Okay.

All right.

Okay. Cool.

Even though you said shields up and red
alert and that wasn’t what I was looking for.

Yeah.

But you get the points out of a technicality on my end and my error.

I love I love it because we never would have gotten Imperial Empire for damn sure.

Maybe. And maybe if I had had worded it correctly, I would have been laughing my ass off right now because you would have been wrong because that’s just how it works. But yeah,

I will take this one. Well, we definitely talked about the Imperial Empire during the episode.

Yeah.

So, yeah. All right.

Next time on Humanist Trek, we’ll discuss Star Trek: The Next Generation, season 3, episode 18, Allegiance. Without the crew’s knowledge, Captain Picard is kidnapped and replaced by an evil impostor.
Okay, this is the one I remember where he’s transported into this prison cell with like three other people, but one of them is actually like one of the keepers or something.

Yeah. Yeah.

And it I think it’s another one of those episodes where it’s one of those those
powerful aliens. They just wanted to like

find find out what makes humans tick or something some [ __ ] like that. So, they just like kidnap and replace like like like we always say aliens are doing to us. They did that to Picard. I think that’s
I think this is the episode.

Yeah. Not that that’ll help us, but what is our question for Allegiance?

Let’s play another round of Name That Recycled Script.

Oh, [ __ ]

What toos episode made this one feel like deja vu?

Oh, what was Okay. What was the to episode where they they body snatched someone and they

My god. Was it Kirk? It had to be Kirk. I think it was I think it was Kirk.

Yeah, it was Kirk, wasn’t it? Cuz he was walking around.

see, the only thing I can think of is
the mirror universe one.

But that’s not it.

No, this was they they Oh, they b they body snatched him and then they put him in a Didn’t they put him in another Enterprise, remember?

Was this the one with the green people outside the window?

Oh, yeah. That’s it. That’s it. That’s it.

What the [ __ ] is it called, though?

I don’t know. WE’RE GOING TO NEED AN EPISODE NAME. SO, if you want to look up the green people or whatever it is to figure out what the episode is,

can we look at episode titles?

I’ll allow it. You have 30 seconds. Somebody play the Jeopardy music.

She’s allowing us to look it up.

Cuz I’m not going to know the episode. So, without the episode name, I don’t know what you’re talking about.

Wow. I think I think they’re green
people. It wasn’t Orion.

no. They made a replica of the Enterprise on the planet. Yes, it was the mark of I think it was the Mark of Gideon.

The Mark of Gideon. Yes, I believe you’re correct. And final answer.

Okay.

Cuz I ain’t got anything better than that.

Mark of Gideon. Both of you.

Sure.

Yep.

We’re out of time anyway. The

you you are.

And and I’m not going to put Jeopardy
music in. I’m going to put countdown music in.

That’s great. Oh, I love it.

Yes. Oh my god, it’s funny.

I love it.

I want to watch more Countdown. I wish if anybody knows us, they’ll they’ll
love that.

I wish there was like episodes that we could actually get new ones every day. We need to move to UK so we can watch the real one.

Mhm.

There’s there’s a way you can do it. No, but I won’t.

Well, if you want to guess at what Star Trek to episode that was, you can head out to your social media, share this episode with the hashtag Starfleet challenge, and we’ll pick out a winner, and next time we’ll discuss Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 3, episode 18, Allegiance.

It’s a good day to die, isn’t it,

Beverly? I mean, BEVERLY,

that’s hilarious. God,