In this, the first of a two-part episode that continues the saga of Worf's discommendation by the Klingon High Council, Captain Picard is called to oversee the succession ceremony of Gowron (Robert O'Reilly) as the new leader of the High Council. The Duras family, whose rival to Gowron was killed by Worf in episode 81, "Reunion," and whose traitorous collaboration with the Romulans led to Worf's dishonor, is planning a civil war. Worf lends his support to Gowron in exchange for getting the honor of his family name back. This episode ends with one of the show's most jaw-dropping cliffhangers, involving a surprise from the past.

a cliffhanger you won't believe

In this first part of surprising 2-part episode, Gowron is ready to take his place as successor, to be leader of the Klingon High Council. Worf has grown weary of bearing the burden of discommendation and dishonor he accepted in order to save the Klingon Empire and longs to regain his family honor.

In episode 81 ("Reunion"), Worf kills Duras after Duras kills Worf's mate, K'Ehlyer, and as a result, prevents the Duras family from ever taking official power in the High Council.

Duras' sisters, Lursa and B'Etor are powerful and even feared, but women may not serve on the High Council. Worf tells Gowron the true nature of his discommendation and offers to support Gowron if he will in turn restore his family honor. Gowron refuses, since his ascension to the throne is almost a certainty... or is it?

Worf's younger brother, Kurn, is the commander of a small, yet powerful squadron of Klingon warships and as elder brother, enlists Kurn to aid him in bending Gowron's will.

Picard is the reluctant Arbiter of Succession. Patrick Stewart, a long-time Shakespearian actor must have inwardly cringed at the ridiculous Klingon phrases he was forced to recite during this ritual.

The last 5 minutes are where the true surprises rear their head. As Gowron has told Picard, the Romulans are indeed behind the Duras family and when the person behind the scenes, driving the Romulans to this path is revealed, the avid Star Trek fan will gasp in amazement and be dying to see Part II to have it explained.

Forget the new Klingon Emperor. Who's the blonde Romulan?

After the epic cliff hanger of "The Best of Both Worlds, Part I" which ended the previous season, STNG went for a much more intimate but equally dramatic ending to its fourth season focusing on Worf in an episode that brings together virtually every Klingon plot thread in the series. In "Reunion" (Episode 81), Captain Picard was named the arbiter of succession for the leadership of the Klingon Empire. The Enterprise is heading to the Klingon home world and Picard wants Worf to challenge his discommendation ("Sins of the Father," Episode 65) and restore his family name. The two competitors for the throne are Gowron and the illegitimate son of Duras, supported by the lovely Duras sisters, are things are getting ugly and personal big time. Worf tells Gowron the truth about his discommendation and offers the support of his brother Kurn and several other squadron commanders in exchange for returning Worf's family honor. After Gowron is installed as leader civil war breaks out between the two sides and the new Klingon Emperor asks the Federation for assistance. When Picard refuses Worf resigns his commission and joins Gowron. It is then that we learn the Duras sisters have been conspiring with a blonde Romulan who looks very, very familiar.

If "The Best of Both Worlds" left us with a summer wondering WHAT will happen after Picard orders the Enterprise to open fire on Locutus/Picard and the Borg Cube, "Redemption" had his scratching our heads over WHO that was we saw in the final shot. We do not believe that Worf is walking away from the Enterprise for good any more than we believed Riker was going to kill Picard, but the episode does a nice job of bring the personal and political conflicts involved to a head and the final shot of Denise Crosby might be the greatest OMG moment in the entire series. There is nothing like a summer of speculation to warm the hearts of the fans of a beloved television series and the answers in the second part of "Redemption" are well worth the wait. Meanwhile, with every episode focusing on him, Worf continues to become much more than "the only Klingon serving in Starfleet," which I always thought a bit excessive. But if the idea of Worf as some sort of Klingon "Moses" is a bit over the top, these episodes certainly give Michael Dorn some great scenes and compensate him for all the time he had to spend in make-up getting his head together.

Action!The battles are awesome!

When the Enterprise approaches the Klingon homeworld,Gowron(Robert O'Reilly)informs Picard(Patrick Stewart)that a Klingon civil war might form.Worf talks to Kurn(Tony Todd) and Kurn wants to overthrow Gowron.Then,the war begins,Worf joins Duras and gets his honor back.The Romulans are involved.And a special guest star,stars!