User Reviews

In the referenced previous episode, religion is depicted as useless, counterproductive, and irrational. In this episode, religion is depicted as useful for what it teaches, regardless of its supernatural basis. Data even says he experienced a "leap of faith", an idea very far removed from the attitude expressed in Who Watches the Watchers.

One has to wonder what would happen on earth if someone came up with a clone Jesus or Muhammad. I have to be honest ---- I would be pretty impressed!

I enjoyed the aspects of the episode dealing with meeting and talking to this religious figure. I wonder what the Klingon preists motivations were? They say in the episode that it was to 'unite' the Klingon people but Gowron has stated that they don't like him. I am putting my money on an attempted coup d'etat.

The premise is rather interesting but I felt that there could have been more conflict in this one. Maybe something goes wrong with the cloning process and Kahless is completely crazy ----- Worf has to figure out a way to fix this issue and is faced with conflict of his love for Klingon culture/honor and his duty to his people.

I suppose in an episode about religious belief you had to be on tippy toes to avoid a wave of angry letters. There was a very light dusting of a message about believing in the meaning behind the deity instead of believing in the deity itself.

I do love the idea of a clone rising up against it's creator who is attempting to use it as a political tool. When you think about it ---- That's a real jerk move by the Klingon priests.

Excellent premise but should have been tweaked a bit to make a more impactful statement.

ST:TNG:149 - "Rightful Heir" (Stardate: 46852.2) - this is the 23rd episode of the 6th season of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

When Worf makes a religious pilgrimage to the planet Boreth (because he felt spiritually empty ever since he rescued the Klingon children in "Birthright"), where the followers of Kahless the Unforgettable (the first Klingon Emperor who reigned 1500 years ago) wait for the Emperor's return, Kahless suddenly appears to him.

Back on the Enterprise, Gowron (Robert O'Reilly making another TNG appearance) insists Kahless is an imposter.

It's up to Worf and the Enterprise to discover the truth . . . and that truth will have lasting repercussions for the Klingon Empire.

Trivia note: Data continues his night watches on the Enterprise. Riker also notes that Worf is never late to his post (this episode is the first time - he would again be late for his post in Star Trek: Insurrection but for a different reason). Furthermore, we learn that Kahless created the batleth sword 1500 years ago. And, it is noted that there hasn't been a Klingon Emperor in 3 centuries.

In all previous or later Trek never had there been a better back story about the Klingons. We see Worf in this as a very distracted Klingon and seeks refuge on a Klingon outpost to study his religion and Kahless. When Kahless appears the Klingons are thrown into disarray and Gowran, the Klingon leader arrives and is personally threatened by him. Kevin Conway gave a great performance as the wise and learned Kahless. It is interesting to see even when it is discovered that he is a clone many of the Klingons still cling to the belief that he is their salvation. Worf loses his faith for a brief time, but in a very interesting scene Data, of all people, sheds light on Worf's dilemma. Worf listens in earnest about how a leap of faith kept Data from just thinking of himself as nothing more than a computer. Returning to the Klingons he gives the same advice and Kahless is installed as Emperor, to help rally the Klingon people and bring back faith and the ways of the old days of the Klingons. The best Klingon episode in Next Gens illustrious seven year run with Sins Of The Father up there with it.

After Worf fails to turn up for duty he is found in his quarters; he is having a crisis of faith following the events shown in the two-part story 'Birthright'; there he told a group of young Klingons about their heritage but realises he isn't convinced that he believes the legends himself. Picard gives him a leave of absence to visit Boreth; the planet where Klingon's believe the legendary Kahless went to die and from where he will return when the Empire most needs him. A group of the most faithful pray there hoping for visions but after ten days Worf sees nothing; the head priest admonishes him for his impatience and he returns to the shrine… then Kahless appears before him… not as a vision but as a living, breathing Klingon! At first it is hard to believe but he knows details of Kahless's life that only the priests know and when a very sceptical Gowron arrives it is discovered that his DNA is an exact match with that found on an ancient dagger that belonged to Kahless. Can this really be Kahless back again? Gowron certainly doesn't think so.

After episodes centred on Riker and Dr Crusher it is Worf's turn to take centre stage in this interesting look at Klingon mythology. The central idea that the great leader Kahless who died 1500 years ago will return in a time of need seems a clear link to Arthurian legend with Boreth acting as his Avalon. There is a difference of course; a number of Klingons actually believe he will return. Early on I was a little unsure about this story; if Kahless were to return it would be a remarkable coincidence if it happened while Worf was visiting. When we learn the truth behind his 'return' the timing makes perfect sense. Michael Dorn does a fine job portraying Worf's crisis of faith, Kevin Conway does a solid job as Kahless and Robert O'Reilly makes a welcome return as Gowron the wild-eyed Klingon leader. One would expect lots of fighting in a Klingon led episode but here it is rather lacking; apart from one impressive fight between Gowron and Kahless and some sparring between Worf and Kahless they are surprisingly restrained; certainly not the brawls we might expect. Overall though a pretty good episode.

Data's got the night shift again, but we've missed three separate spectral analyses by the lateral sensor arrays on the Alawanir Nebula. I cannot help but feel cheated.

Meanwhile Worf hasn't turned-up for duty. Just what does a Klingon get up to when he's not at work?

Worf's feeling empty. He's still fretting over what happened at the Carraya System as we remember it from the earlier season six episode: Birthright part II. Is Worf losing faith in Kahliss? Sto-vo-kor?

It's been a long time since we visited the Klingon home world, perhaps we'll get a chance to visit with Worf.

Torva... luk... do... shell. Torva... luk... do... shell.

The good news is, we have a living deity, or is this an imposter. Gowron will no-doubt, soon found out.

I always prefer the stories involving Klingon's and this is a very good one. The political machinations and power struggles are forever present and make for entertaining story-telling. Brilliant. One of my favourite TNG and Klingon tales.

As I am in the process of completing a review of the entire TNG run of 176 episodes, I did set about this task with the intention of setting out the wheat from the chaff. There have been some exceptional episodes during the run to-date, but there have also been some turkeys. I also wanted to identify any of those episodes that could be said to form an arc. These could either be Borg arc, Data-Lore Arc, Klingon arc, or even DS9 arc.

This Episodes Clue: Steve Martin, Debra Winger, Liam Neeson, Lolita Davidovich

(Answer's to all episode clues will appear in the reviews of season seven, episode 25: All Good Things, Part One.)

Another strong Klingon-themed episode of Star Trek—The Next Generation has Worf going to Boreth to practice a "waiting ceremony", hoping the spirit of their warrior god Kahless will return to unite the rift that exists within the Klingon people. In a crisis of faith, Worf is uncertain if his belief in Kahless remains on fertile ground…that is until Kahless "returns" with a ripple effect certain to bring quite the bit of controversy. Leader of the Klingon High Council, Gowren (Robert O'Reilly) doesn't believe Kahless is real, thinking he's some impostor sullying the great name of such a revered cultural icon. Worf also has his doubts…until Kahless' blood is tested with the blood on a knife held in a sacred place on the Klingon Homeworld, brought on board the Enterprise by Gowron. The blood, tested by Dr. Crusher, does in fact match, and Worf's faith is restored…temporarily. When Gowron engages in a knife battle with Kahless, getting the upper hand, doubt resurfaces, and Worf has some choice words and warnings towards Kahless' entourage, politically influential Koroth and Torin (Alan Oppenheimer and Norman Snow) regarding this attempt to pull wool over the eyes of the Klingon people. This episode does reintroduce and reemphasize Worf's admirable status with the Klingons; you can go back to the early days of Star Trek—The Next Generation and recall how he wasn't looked upon as favorably by his people, if just because he wore a Starfleet uniform. But close to the end of the show's tenure, his place with the Klingon people was far more respected. That conflict that existed in Worf regarding torn loyalties between the Klingon Empire and the Federation was always a fascinating storytelling device to explore; there was plenty of room to explore his conflict considering the length of the show's run. Here, though, Worf is front and center with the Enterprise (except an exceptionally well used Data, with some words that really harvest in Worf and take root) taking a back seat regarding the developing plot. Picard encourages Worf to seek out spiritual/philosophical fulfillment, but the Captain is stern and firm in his demands for proper officer behavior when wearing the Starfleet uniform. To command respect like that, few humans could elicit such honor from a Klingon; Picard was such a human. The politics of the worsening power struggle and cultural strife shaking the foundation of the Klingon people takes precedence over most of this episode's story. Worf put aside the knowledge of the origin of this "new" Kahless, and how he wasn't the same warrior so idolized, in favor of his people uniting as a whole, acknowledging that through "something to believe in" they can find that warrior spirit so lacking. To use Worf as a means to potentially lead the way through his endorsement a new era for the Klingons gives the character further value. The show had opportunities to explore themes we can identify, like this episode's dealing with the loss of faith, and the lengths sometimes it takes in order for that lost faith to be resurrected. Worf isn't totally satisfied, but this Kahless the Klingons are left with has great wisdom; this Kahless has him contemplating the importance of what the "last" Kahless left behind in his legacy, teachings, and wise words, and perhaps that is what is ultimately lasting and fruitful. If you have the words of a great warrior, the kind of words that have left inspiration to centuries of Klingons, then maybe that is far more important than a return from the spiritual realm. Kevin Conway, the cult character actor, I thought does well to bring aspects of the personality so valued by Klingons to his Kahless, even approach those who challenge his standing in battle as this ancient warrior would, then later, when having to endure where he really come from (and how he's looked upon due to this), he is willing to still stand as a faux replacement, a symbol of warrior pride and honor, as well as, a restorer of faith for the people needing the proper motivation to be the best he can be.

How Data is used because of his curiosity in the Klingon belief of a returning warrior from the "other side", as promised, with questions for Worf and the way the topics of faith and rationale are voiced in their conversations (I particularly like how Data mentions he "took a leap of faith" when looking at himself as a man, not just a machine of circuitry and subprocesses in addressing Worf's concerns about Kahless not being as so advertised) I think provide key moments that resonate. Rightful Heir is the kind of episode that uses the Enterprise as a place of significance in terms of how the Klingon Empire could be re-shaped.

When Lieutenant Worf (Michael Dorn) becomes distracted from his duties on the Enterprise, he admits to Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) that he's suffering from a crisis of faith for the Klingon traditions of honor and warrior spirit. Not one to accept less than full commitment to his officer duty, Picard suggests he go to the planet Borath where a gathering of Klingons engage in a vision quest to contact the legendary warrior Kahless, revered in their tradition. After repeated attempts, Kahless (Kevin Conway) suddenly appears not only to Worf, but materializes in physical form to the rest of the Guardians, led by Koroth (Alan Oppenheimer). Skeptical, Worf challenges Kahless with the bat'leth, who is only too happy to engage in a contest of strength. With Koroth and Worf convinced that Kahless is who he says he is, both are beamed back aboard the Enterprise where Dr. Crusher's (Gates McFadden) genetic tests confirm he's the real deal.

This was an intriguing story up to a point, that point being that someone dead for centuries couldn't supernaturally exist again. When Klingon High Council leader Gowron (Robert O'Reilly) arrived on Borath vehemently opposed to the notion that Kahless was really alive, his challenge was successful, forcing the truth to emerge that Kahless was a clone of the fabled Klingon warrior of ancient times. With Worf acting as mediator, he got both Koroth and Gowron to accept elevating Kahless to the title of Emperor, with no political or military power, thereby restoring honor to the Klingon culture and presumably preventing war among factions that might have seen him as the actual reincarnation. For all that went before, this seemed like a tepid solution for this viewer, considering what unintended consequences could have developed from making the situation widely known to the Klingon Empire. However, I did like the concept of the Sto-vo-kor, the Klingon concept of the afterlife for the honored dead.

The Golden Age of Star Trek: we had the 6th Season of The Next Generation and the 1st Season of Deep Space Nice on our televisions, Generations on view in our cinemas and First Contact due out soon. This season of TNG contains some excellent stand-alone episodes and several spectacular two-parters, with only the occasional make-weight. Despite the length of time it had already been on the air, it still represents some of the highest standard of television Science Fiction ever broadcast.

This is one of the best Klingon episodes of the series, in my opinion. I like it because it makes a serious examination of the place of religious faith in an increasingly secular world. Something that might not have been possible during committed humanist, Gene Roddenberry's, lifetime. Where does myth end and faith begin and how much latitude should be given for religious observance?

Picard takes the pragmatic view that Worf's crisis of belief, which results in tardiness and inattention, cannot be allowed to interfere with the safety of the ship and send him off to explore his demons at the monastery of Boreth, even suggesting that he has the option not to return. The subtext being "shape up or ship out"; sentiments that probably wouldn't be permitted in the Star Trek of today.

The ends-justifies-the-means approach of the religious elders who have secretly cloned a new version of the ancient hero Kahless in order to take their race back to its traditional values has numerous echoes in the behaviour of so many religious leaders of today. That I didn't notice this when I first saw this episode is probably because of the strong narrative and fine guest performances, to say nothing of the polarisation of opinion that has taken place in the in the intervening thirty years.

The episode revolves around a fine performance from versatile actor Kevin Conway as the putative Kahless who despite (or perhaps because of) being so much shorter than the regular Klingon, conveys all the strength and magnetism his character requires. His confusion when confronted with the understanding of what he really is turns him from an imposter to a rather tragic figure. That said, the compromise reached at the end of the episode has little to recommend it and suggests that, knocked backwards by Robert O'Reilly's stellar over-acting and all that smoky atmosphere, the writers just ran out of road.

Senior Trekker scores each episode with a 5.