S4.E21

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The Drumhead

Episode aired Apr 27, 1991
TV-PGTV-PG
45m

IMDb RATING

8.4/10

3.7K

YOUR RATING

Jean Simmons and Patrick Stewart in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)

Action Adventure Sci-Fi

A retired admiral boards the Enterprise in an effort to determine the actions aboard the ship surrounding an act of sabotage and possible treason.A retired admiral boards the Enterprise in an effort to determine the actions aboard the ship surrounding an act of sabotage and possible treason.A retired admiral boards the Enterprise in an effort to determine the actions aboard the ship surrounding an act of sabotage and possible treason.

IMDb RATING

8.4/10

3.7K

YOUR RATING

- Jonathan Frakes
Writers
- Gene Roddenberry
- Jeri Taylor
- Ronald D. Moore(executive story editor)
Stars

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Photos12

Spencer Garrett in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)

Michael Dorn, Jean Simmons, Patrick Stewart, Bruce French, Ann Shea, and Henry Woronicz in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)

Michael Dorn, Bruce French, and Henry Woronicz in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)

Jonathan Frakes, Jean Simmons, Patrick Stewart, Bruce French, and Ann Shea in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)

Jean Simmons, Bruce French, and Ann Shea in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)

Michael Dorn and Henry Woronicz in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)

Henry Woronicz in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)

Jonathan Frakes and Patrick Stewart in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)

Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
The events of Conspiracy (1988), Sins of The Father (1990), The Best of Both Worlds (1990), The Best of Both Worlds Part II (1990), Family (1990), and Data's Day (1991) are referenced in this episode. It reveals that 39 Federation starships were annihilated and 11,000 personnel were lost at the Battle of Wolf 359.

Goofs
In the first act's captain's log entry, Picard says that Admiral Satie was the one who uncovered the alien conspiracy from three years prior ("Conspiracy"). However, it was Picard and Riker who shot the infected officers and ultimately killed the mother creature that was hiding inside of LCDR Remmick. That sounds more like an uncovering than any investigation an elderly admiral would've undertaken.

Quotes
Captain Jean-Luc Picard: You know, there are some words I've known since I was a schoolboy: "With the first link, the chain is forged. The first speech censured, the first thought forbidden, the first freedom denied, chains us all irrevocably." Those words were uttered by Judge Aaron Satie, as wisdom and warning. The first time any man's freedom is trodden on, we're all damaged. I fear that today...
Admiral Nora Satie: How dare you! You who consort with Romulans, invoke my father's name to support your traitorous arguments. It is an offense to everything I hold dear. And to hear those words used to subvert the United Federation of Planets. My father was a great man! His name stands for integrity and principle. You dirty his name when you speak it! He loved the Federation. But you, Captain, corrupt it. You undermine our very way of life. I will expose you for what you are. I've brought down bigger men than you, Picard!

Connections
Featured in Star Trek: First Contact Review (2009)

Soundtracks
Star Trek: The Next Generation Main Title
Composed by Jerry Goldsmith and Alexander Courage

User reviews27

Review

Featured review

9/10

Emmy-worthy performance from guest star Simmons

Oscar nominee Jean Simmons is outstanding in this emotionally and politically charged episode. She plays "Nora Satie," a retired admiral who heads a Star Fleet investigative team that must determine whether or not treasonous activities have been done by members of the Enterprise, including Capt. Picard.

The episode is marvelously paced, never losing any of the tension, with outstanding performances from not only Simmons and Stewart but other featured players, including Spencer Garrett as novice crewman first class "Simon Tarses".

This particular installment of the series shows how science fiction can make commentary on the machinations of the government and how we all can fall victim to the paranoia that develops when mistrust is placed above faith.

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