The Betazoid sense walks a delicate balance in these episodes. With Deanna, it has to do with emotional signals and body sense; with others, it's almost like mind reading. Tam Elbrun, the young empath aboard the enterprise, is a super reader of life forms, almost to the point of insanity. He has a checkered history which leads people to fear him, but he is a master at first contact. He has hooked up with "Tin Man," the name given to an entity that looks like a large pine cone. It used to be ship with a crew but circumstances have ended that. The thing has immense power and thinks on its own, but like so many one-of- a-kind creatures, it is filled with dread and loneliness. Tam-Elbrun, being empathic, feels the creature's pain. There is an issue in that the Romulans, who attacked Tin Man are set on revenge because the thing destroyed one of their war birds. Data is taken in on this whole thing because he does not send out any human baggage. This is a really thoughtful episode and well worth the viewing.
16 Reviews
The rush of emotions
bkoganbing4 January 2018
Harry Groener's remarkable performance as Betazoid telepath is the highlight of
this TNG story. The two on the crew Groener bonds with are his fellow telepath
Marina Sirtis and Brent Spiner who being an android he can't read the mind at all.
I really felt this character and the torment he was going through. As Deanna Troi explains it her people for the most part develop their abilities as adolescents. But some like Groener develop it almost from birth. The rush of hearing emotions and not developing proper filters is too much and many become unstable.
In a sense Groener is on a mission of life because the Enterprise is sent to contact a space creature who is orbiting around a star about to go supernova. The Romulans are interested as well and their intentions are less benign.
I won't go any further, but this gifted and troubled telepath at last finds peace and content in a curious symbiotic relationship with the orbiting creature.
This is one TNG story that will stay with you.
I really felt this character and the torment he was going through. As Deanna Troi explains it her people for the most part develop their abilities as adolescents. But some like Groener develop it almost from birth. The rush of hearing emotions and not developing proper filters is too much and many become unstable.
In a sense Groener is on a mission of life because the Enterprise is sent to contact a space creature who is orbiting around a star about to go supernova. The Romulans are interested as well and their intentions are less benign.
I won't go any further, but this gifted and troubled telepath at last finds peace and content in a curious symbiotic relationship with the orbiting creature.
This is one TNG story that will stay with you.
Nice Sci-Fi Adventure, Beautiful special effects support a great performance
emrart-7158922 May 2022
I had not seen Tin Man in 20 years. It was one of my favorite NG episodes so I watched it on BBC today in anticipation of enjoying it again. It did not disappoint. The special effects for the creature Gomtuu were Emmy nominated and still shows. The story still captivates and the brilliant, empathetic performance of Harry Groener carries the show.
I did not like most of.the earlier NG episodes, (the pace was slow and Picard was not Kirk), but the slower pace was correct here. Everything was on point. This was pure Sci-Fi and I loved it!
I did not like most of.the earlier NG episodes, (the pace was slow and Picard was not Kirk), but the slower pace was correct here. Everything was on point. This was pure Sci-Fi and I loved it!
Finding Your Purpose
Samuel-Shovel25 October 2019
Warning: Spoilers
In "Tin Man" the Enterprise is sent on a secret mission to make first contact with what they believe to be a living starship. This alien being is near a sun on the verge of going supernova and killing it. Tagging along is Tam, one of the most powerful telepaths in the Federation. But the Federation isn't the only one attempting to reach Tin Man. The Romulans claim that sector of space and are also racing against time to meet it first. When Tam warns Tin Man of the danger the Romulans could be, Tin Man destroys the Romulan ship, damaging the Enterprise as well. The Enterprise now must repair itself, make contact with Tin Man, and extract it from the danger area, all while more Romulans are in hot pursuit, ready to kill this alien as revenge.
I thought this episode had a lot going right for it. The set design of the inside of Tin Man was super cool. I enjoy the build up to the inevitable finale of Tam leaving with Tin Man even if the actor is hamming it up a bit much throughout the episode. The crew members that get the biggest spotlight here are Data and Troi. Troi because she has a history with her fellow Betazoid; Data because this new type of intelligent life intrigues Tam since he can't read the android's thoughts. I think they're both pretty good in this one.
The subplot of the race with the Romulans is a nice little wrinkle to add some tension into what would otherwise be a bit of a plodding episode. I think it does enough to keep the viewer's interest and makes the entire episode not fully dependent on Tam and Tin Man. While not a top tier episode, this has been one of the hidden gems of the season.
I thought this episode had a lot going right for it. The set design of the inside of Tin Man was super cool. I enjoy the build up to the inevitable finale of Tam leaving with Tin Man even if the actor is hamming it up a bit much throughout the episode. The crew members that get the biggest spotlight here are Data and Troi. Troi because she has a history with her fellow Betazoid; Data because this new type of intelligent life intrigues Tam since he can't read the android's thoughts. I think they're both pretty good in this one.
The subplot of the race with the Romulans is a nice little wrinkle to add some tension into what would otherwise be a bit of a plodding episode. I think it does enough to keep the viewer's interest and makes the entire episode not fully dependent on Tam and Tin Man. While not a top tier episode, this has been one of the hidden gems of the season.
Uniqueness.
russem3119 April 2006
Warning: Spoilers
ST:TNG:68 - "Tin Man" (Stardate: 43779.3) - this is the 20th episode of the 3rd season of Star Trek: The Next Generation.
The Enterprise picks up a passenger, a Betazoid telepath Tam Elbrun (who was a patient of Troi's while she was studying on Betazed), who will be the chief Federation specialist with a new alien intelligence named Tin Man. And they must get to Tin Man before the Romulans do . . . and everything rests on Tam Elbrun's shoulders, who is revealed to be mentally unstable and with a trick up his sleeve.
Trivia note: the Hood, Riker's previous ship he served on, drops off a passenger (you even get to see the captain of that ship, Captain DeSoto). Also, Tam's nickname for Troi is "D". And, Data reveals, although he has tried it from time to time, he doesn't need sleep.
The Enterprise picks up a passenger, a Betazoid telepath Tam Elbrun (who was a patient of Troi's while she was studying on Betazed), who will be the chief Federation specialist with a new alien intelligence named Tin Man. And they must get to Tin Man before the Romulans do . . . and everything rests on Tam Elbrun's shoulders, who is revealed to be mentally unstable and with a trick up his sleeve.
Trivia note: the Hood, Riker's previous ship he served on, drops off a passenger (you even get to see the captain of that ship, Captain DeSoto). Also, Tam's nickname for Troi is "D". And, Data reveals, although he has tried it from time to time, he doesn't need sleep.
Tormented Tam and Tin Man find peace
the_oak26 September 2018
Warning: Spoilers
I love this epiode! For anyone who knows what social anxiety is this episode will hit home. Tam Elbrun is a tormented soul and there are plenty of good scenes. Riker doesn't like him, Troy understands him, Picard as usual has empathy, yet manages Tam to repect him. Data gets closest to Tam, because Data gives him peace. The romulans are villains and Tin Man and Tam destroy them. I really like this episode!
Great acting / weak writing
M_Exchange27 January 2017
Harry Groener did an outstanding turn as Tam Elbrun. He made his character seem real and three dimensional, which compensated for most of the shortcomings in this episode's writing. There wasn't enough tension in this episode (the clichéd, old, "I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN DO THAT, CAPTAIN" from engineering doesn't suffice for me) and I didn't real feel much empathy for the "Tin Man" creature-- some near the end, but not enough.
But again, Groener delivered everything that could be expected for his effete, hyper-sensitive character. I'm disappointed that he was in only one "Next Generation" episode. I wish that he was recurring character like de Lancie's "Q" entity.
This episode is worth watching.
But again, Groener delivered everything that could be expected for his effete, hyper-sensitive character. I'm disappointed that he was in only one "Next Generation" episode. I wish that he was recurring character like de Lancie's "Q" entity.
This episode is worth watching.
Space Whale Salvation
thevacinstaller19 March 2021
Warning: Spoilers
I enjoyed the performance of Tam Elbrun. I can't imagine the horror of hearing the thoughts and feeling the emotions of everyone who is in close proximity to you. There was an underlying message about those on the outside of society finding common ground with one another ---- shared experience of loss/trauma/anxieties.
Elbrun is an interesting character in this episode. He easily could have come off as being a mind reading jerk but the writers successfully make him an empathetic character who essentially is crippled by feelings and voices that cannot be shut out. I kept thinking about schizophrenia when watching this one ---- I had a family member who had it and the weight of constant voices in your mind is a real horror show.
I like the design of the Space Whale. Solid design and very alien.
Solid episode. I believe this one would resonate well with people who have social anxieties or those who don't fit into the cookie cutter molds present in society.
Elbrun is an interesting character in this episode. He easily could have come off as being a mind reading jerk but the writers successfully make him an empathetic character who essentially is crippled by feelings and voices that cannot be shut out. I kept thinking about schizophrenia when watching this one ---- I had a family member who had it and the weight of constant voices in your mind is a real horror show.
I like the design of the Space Whale. Solid design and very alien.
Solid episode. I believe this one would resonate well with people who have social anxieties or those who don't fit into the cookie cutter molds present in society.
"Hoe are things in the land of the living?"
classicsoncall5 January 2024
Warning: Spoilers
This wound up being a quite thoughtful episode, dealing as it does with a Betazoid empath who unlike Counselor Troi (Marina Sirtis), acquired his ability at birth, and not as a maturing child the way most of their race did. Tam Elbrun (Harry Groener) is introduced amid a cloud of suspicion due to an unfortunate disaster that occurred while he was dispatched by the Federation to intervene in a planetary dispute. As mission specialist to the planet Ghorusda, he was late in advising on the cultural hostility of its inhabitants, resulting in the death of forty-seven people. For that reason, Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart), and especially Commander Riker (Jonathan Frakes), are reluctant to allow Elbrun to directly participate in a potential conflict between the Romulans and an unknown sentient spacecraft nicknamed 'Tin Man' for its lack of any sign of passengers. Complicating matters is the presence in space of a star about to go supernova, threatening the very existence of the Enterprise and its crew.
With a Romulan warbird rapidly approaching to avenge the destruction of a fellow craft by the Tin Man entity, the Enterprise finds itself momentarily weakened by the first warbird's attack. By gaining Data's (Brent Spiner) confidence, primarily because he couldn't read the android's thoughts and emotions, Data convinces Picard that he should accompany Elbrun aboard the odd looking, pine cone shaped spacecraft to determine if they can communicate effectively with it to avoid a major conflict. When Tam Elbrun realizes that Tin Man has effectively blocked all other forms of empathic communication for the first time in his life, he decides to remain behind and bond with the sentient vehicle, the only one of its kind to survive over the millennia. The story effectively demonstrated how two individuals, (if you can call Tin Man an individual), were able to heal each other and overcome their loneliness, thereby agreeing to exist with each other in the vastness of space. In turn, Tin Man, with its immense power, flung both the Enterprise and the Romulan warbird into the far reaches of the galaxy in different directions in order to pursue its newfound reason for existence.
With a Romulan warbird rapidly approaching to avenge the destruction of a fellow craft by the Tin Man entity, the Enterprise finds itself momentarily weakened by the first warbird's attack. By gaining Data's (Brent Spiner) confidence, primarily because he couldn't read the android's thoughts and emotions, Data convinces Picard that he should accompany Elbrun aboard the odd looking, pine cone shaped spacecraft to determine if they can communicate effectively with it to avoid a major conflict. When Tam Elbrun realizes that Tin Man has effectively blocked all other forms of empathic communication for the first time in his life, he decides to remain behind and bond with the sentient vehicle, the only one of its kind to survive over the millennia. The story effectively demonstrated how two individuals, (if you can call Tin Man an individual), were able to heal each other and overcome their loneliness, thereby agreeing to exist with each other in the vastness of space. In turn, Tin Man, with its immense power, flung both the Enterprise and the Romulan warbird into the far reaches of the galaxy in different directions in order to pursue its newfound reason for existence.
Heart Of Tin
davidegede_7449 September 2007
Warning: Spoilers
Tightly packed storyline. Little more time to explain it self, that is the only "But" I have on this episode. There are so many things to comment on, I don't know where to begin.
Yes the thing with this episode, and this season is there are so much action. Planets in danger, war with the Romulans. The Enterprise always in the sight of destruction. And this episode is no different. Enterprise picks up a passenger from the Hood. Tam Elbrun. A Telepath whom has been born with a Betazoid Defect. That makes him different. Speculation--> (In many ways, one could say his character is a symbol for the insane, troubled, sick, lonely, and addicted personalities back here on our planet. Drugs is the big unsaid word in this episode. Sexuality is another big word not said.) I Like when Picard greets Tam welcome. Tam reads his mind and tells Picard what he was thinking, what Picards next command would be. Then Picard does the usual command but a little altered so that Tam does not get to his rights, not just yet. That is Picard in a nutshell.
Cronenberg would feel right at home with this storyline. It is a bit grotesque. Well worth those 43 min. And what a touching ending. Another tear, clear as a pearl. 8 out of 10. D.
Yes the thing with this episode, and this season is there are so much action. Planets in danger, war with the Romulans. The Enterprise always in the sight of destruction. And this episode is no different. Enterprise picks up a passenger from the Hood. Tam Elbrun. A Telepath whom has been born with a Betazoid Defect. That makes him different. Speculation--> (In many ways, one could say his character is a symbol for the insane, troubled, sick, lonely, and addicted personalities back here on our planet. Drugs is the big unsaid word in this episode. Sexuality is another big word not said.) I Like when Picard greets Tam welcome. Tam reads his mind and tells Picard what he was thinking, what Picards next command would be. Then Picard does the usual command but a little altered so that Tam does not get to his rights, not just yet. That is Picard in a nutshell.
Cronenberg would feel right at home with this storyline. It is a bit grotesque. Well worth those 43 min. And what a touching ending. Another tear, clear as a pearl. 8 out of 10. D.
Review 2022
iamirwar26 August 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I very much enjoyed this one. With its brush on mental illness it ventured into deeper darker areas of the human consciousness that would later become the mainstay of DS9. I experienced various nuances within the many layers to this story. Collapsing stars, lonely aliens, confused betazoids as well as chasing Romulans. I thought the performance by Harry Groener who played Tam Elburn especially to be very strong and powerful. Perhaps not the best of season 3, but certainly a contender for the top 10 shows of the season.
Note: That I do try to avoid giving away too many plot points in my reviews. I do feel that anybody who wishes to visit the Star Trek universe should really view each and every episode and determine for themselves which stories they find appealing and those they may find week.
Note: That I do try to avoid giving away too many plot points in my reviews. I do feel that anybody who wishes to visit the Star Trek universe should really view each and every episode and determine for themselves which stories they find appealing and those they may find week.
One of the weaker episodes in a great season
Nominahorn20 November 2014
Warning: Spoilers
A large, ancient space creature is discovered in a remote system. The 1701-D takes on a Betazoid first contact specialist and it's a race with the Romulans (randomly inserted) to reach Tin Man first.
While occasionally interesting, this is an episode that is ultimately forgettable and mostly dull. Harry Groener guest stars as Tam Elbrun, a sort of autistic-savant type character who is even more gifted than normal Betazoids at reading minds. His character is a stereotypical Aspie--socially awkward and very difficult to get along with, but brilliant and indispensable to Starfleet due to his mind-reading abilities. I understand that his character is supposed to be a difficult person to like, but every time he is on the screen (which is like 90% of the episode), I find myself cringing internally from his awkward and graceless performance. Interestingly, Groener would later go on to play one of TVs best and most interesting villains on Buffy The Vampire Slayer as the evil mayor. The character of Tam Elbrun, however, is a far cry from the slick, smarmy, and incredibly creepy Mayor--and a whole lot less entertaining, too.
Aside from the issues with Elbrun, the episode suffers from some other issues. For one, the Romulans seemed tacked onto the story. It feels like the creators of the episode realized late in the process that they had a very boring episode on their hands, and they decided to throw in the Romulans to make things more exciting. It doesn't really work, however, as the Romulans seem to serve no actual point to the story, except as a forced attempt to raise the stakes. The episode may have been better served by spending more time exploring the nature and history of Gomtuu (Tin Man), rather than the Romulans. Star Trek has always made itself interesting by posing intellectual issue for its viewers to consider, not by cheaply throwing in a couple of space battle and explosions.
Overall, this is a mediocre episode with unrealized potential and burdened by unlikable characters and a pointless cameo by the Romulans.
THE GOOD:
-Some decent scenes with Data. The ending scene where he has his "human moment" and Troi hugs him is pretty sweet and touching.
-We get to see Riker's old ship and captain, the USS Hood and Captain DeSoto, respectively. It's a nice scene when Riker, DeSoto, and Picard are reunited, albeit briefly and only via the viewscreen. Scenes like this do so much for making the characters feel like real people with real lives and histories. Great job here by the writers.
-Gomtuu represents some tantalizing ideas. Sadly, they are not adequately explored here.
THE BAD:
-Troi gets a lot of scenes. She's not overly bad here, just boring. Less Troi is usually better.
-The aforementioned issues with Elbrun and the Romulans
-The nature, origin, and history of Gomtuu should have been explored more. Giving it more personality might have made the ending more satisfying.
THE UGLY:
-Hood is also the name of a ship from the Original Series. I know that the TNG Hood was introduced in the pilot, but I still don't like that the name was re-used without adding a letter or re-using the registry number of the original Hood.
-The supernova explosion is not only immediately visible, despite being several light-hours away, but the Enterprise doesn't even get hit by a shock wave. Even at that distance, the power of the explosion would be devastating.
-There is an offhand comment made that Gomtuu was detected 23 parsecs beyond the borders of the Federation. That is approximately 75 light years. Based on other sources, it seems a Starfleet ship can travel less than 3 light years a day at high warp, meaning this episode takes place over nearly a month's time, followed by another month-long return trip after the episode ends.
While occasionally interesting, this is an episode that is ultimately forgettable and mostly dull. Harry Groener guest stars as Tam Elbrun, a sort of autistic-savant type character who is even more gifted than normal Betazoids at reading minds. His character is a stereotypical Aspie--socially awkward and very difficult to get along with, but brilliant and indispensable to Starfleet due to his mind-reading abilities. I understand that his character is supposed to be a difficult person to like, but every time he is on the screen (which is like 90% of the episode), I find myself cringing internally from his awkward and graceless performance. Interestingly, Groener would later go on to play one of TVs best and most interesting villains on Buffy The Vampire Slayer as the evil mayor. The character of Tam Elbrun, however, is a far cry from the slick, smarmy, and incredibly creepy Mayor--and a whole lot less entertaining, too.
Aside from the issues with Elbrun, the episode suffers from some other issues. For one, the Romulans seemed tacked onto the story. It feels like the creators of the episode realized late in the process that they had a very boring episode on their hands, and they decided to throw in the Romulans to make things more exciting. It doesn't really work, however, as the Romulans seem to serve no actual point to the story, except as a forced attempt to raise the stakes. The episode may have been better served by spending more time exploring the nature and history of Gomtuu (Tin Man), rather than the Romulans. Star Trek has always made itself interesting by posing intellectual issue for its viewers to consider, not by cheaply throwing in a couple of space battle and explosions.
Overall, this is a mediocre episode with unrealized potential and burdened by unlikable characters and a pointless cameo by the Romulans.
THE GOOD:
-Some decent scenes with Data. The ending scene where he has his "human moment" and Troi hugs him is pretty sweet and touching.
-We get to see Riker's old ship and captain, the USS Hood and Captain DeSoto, respectively. It's a nice scene when Riker, DeSoto, and Picard are reunited, albeit briefly and only via the viewscreen. Scenes like this do so much for making the characters feel like real people with real lives and histories. Great job here by the writers.
-Gomtuu represents some tantalizing ideas. Sadly, they are not adequately explored here.
THE BAD:
-Troi gets a lot of scenes. She's not overly bad here, just boring. Less Troi is usually better.
-The aforementioned issues with Elbrun and the Romulans
-The nature, origin, and history of Gomtuu should have been explored more. Giving it more personality might have made the ending more satisfying.
THE UGLY:
-Hood is also the name of a ship from the Original Series. I know that the TNG Hood was introduced in the pilot, but I still don't like that the name was re-used without adding a letter or re-using the registry number of the original Hood.
-The supernova explosion is not only immediately visible, despite being several light-hours away, but the Enterprise doesn't even get hit by a shock wave. Even at that distance, the power of the explosion would be devastating.
-There is an offhand comment made that Gomtuu was detected 23 parsecs beyond the borders of the Federation. That is approximately 75 light years. Based on other sources, it seems a Starfleet ship can travel less than 3 light years a day at high warp, meaning this episode takes place over nearly a month's time, followed by another month-long return trip after the episode ends.
Dull!!
planktonrules17 November 2014
A gigantic organic spacecraft has come to the attention of both the Federation and Romulans--and the craft is dangerously close to a star that is about to explode. Attempts to contact it have been unsuccessful and so the Federation wants to have Tam Elbrun make contact. After all, he's the greatest of all the Betazoids when it comes to reading thoughts. Howevrer, Elbrun's gift is also a horrible curse, as he reads EVERYONE and cannot shut them out--a rare condition that often drives Betazoids like him insane. He's on edge and Picard and the rest of the crew are worried that he's losing it. Their confidence seems real, as Elbrun once was in therapy with Counselor Troi and suffered a nervous breakdown during one disastrous assignment. Can Elbrun keep his sanity and help the Federation?
This is an extremely static episode and like the duller episodes, it's set completely on the Enterprise. It's extremely talky, slow and the overall theme is shockingly uninteresting.
This is an extremely static episode and like the duller episodes, it's set completely on the Enterprise. It's extremely talky, slow and the overall theme is shockingly uninteresting.
Where one belongs
skiop7 February 2016
This episode returns to a more accepting version of the human future (in stark contrast to the season opener "Evolution"). Gifted, reclusive telepath Tam Elbrun joins the Enterprise to communicate with a new life form that's been dubbed Tin Man.
Tam is reclusive and telepathic, being able to hear the thoughts of the 1000+-member crew. Though, he's drawn to Tin Man, so he tolerates being on the Enterprise with all those people in order to make contact with Tin Man.
The message here is that it's OK to be different. You'll always find some place to belong.
Of course, this wonderfully touching episode is slightly marred by the usual space-opera nonsense involving Romulans who want to destroy Tin Man.
Tam is reclusive and telepathic, being able to hear the thoughts of the 1000+-member crew. Though, he's drawn to Tin Man, so he tolerates being on the Enterprise with all those people in order to make contact with Tin Man.
The message here is that it's OK to be different. You'll always find some place to belong.
Of course, this wonderfully touching episode is slightly marred by the usual space-opera nonsense involving Romulans who want to destroy Tin Man.
Standard weak Trek work
zac-warsteiner20 August 2020
Mildly obnoxious overacting, one-shots brought in to make one par, and thus low-quality, episode of a television program. Standard stuff for this crew of writers. Only thing missing from standard efforts is an overzealous progressive bent. On the plus side some pointlessly evil Romulans die.
A Senior trekker writes......................
celineduchain13 January 2022
Warning: Spoilers
New uniforms, new credit sequence and Doctor Crusher returned to us but was Season 3 of The Next Generation really as good as we remember? Some of that enthusiasm may have have been generated by relief that the series had not been cancelled but the 1990's also heralded an era of considerably more stability behind the scenes. Senior Trekker will continue to score every episode with a 5.
This episode, based upon a previously published Science Fiction story, the tale of a misfit bonding into a symbiotic relationship with a living ship, only peripherally fitted into the Star Trek universe. The Federation mission and the interfering Romulans had a "bolted on"feel and, however good the performances, this is not one of the most enduring episodes.
Am I the only one who had an "ouch moment" when Troi disclosed that the Federation's specialist advisor, Tam Elbrun, was formerly a patient at the Betazed Institute of Psychology? Has no-one else noticed how closely his behaviour parallels that of people on the Autistic Spectrum? Harry Groener, who returned to Star Trek in several other parts, made an excellent job of conveying the miscommunication and disassociation inherent in having a mind that just doesn't work the way other people's do. The sentimental ending is a bit of a let down.
I am grateful to the folks at Memory Alpha for the following snippets of gossip. Apparently, the Space Whale noises were generated by holding a microphone close to a rumbling human stomach and the strange materialisation of an organic chair was achieved by running the film of a melting wax chair backwards.
This episode, based upon a previously published Science Fiction story, the tale of a misfit bonding into a symbiotic relationship with a living ship, only peripherally fitted into the Star Trek universe. The Federation mission and the interfering Romulans had a "bolted on"feel and, however good the performances, this is not one of the most enduring episodes.
Am I the only one who had an "ouch moment" when Troi disclosed that the Federation's specialist advisor, Tam Elbrun, was formerly a patient at the Betazed Institute of Psychology? Has no-one else noticed how closely his behaviour parallels that of people on the Autistic Spectrum? Harry Groener, who returned to Star Trek in several other parts, made an excellent job of conveying the miscommunication and disassociation inherent in having a mind that just doesn't work the way other people's do. The sentimental ending is a bit of a let down.
I am grateful to the folks at Memory Alpha for the following snippets of gossip. Apparently, the Space Whale noises were generated by holding a microphone close to a rumbling human stomach and the strange materialisation of an organic chair was achieved by running the film of a melting wax chair backwards.
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