I have to give credit where credit is due, the writers, Joe Menosky and Phillip Lazebnik really out did themselves. Given a rather standard story of opening communications with a new race of beings, they put on a very clever spin.
Where it would be very easy to research the language, The Tamarians speak in a way that outright confuses the Enterprise crew. Instead of using typical words, they speak and express themselves by example. Meaning their entire native tongue us based on events and examples that have already occurred.
To further complicate things, Captain Picard has been transported by the Tamarians (along with their captain) to the planet below. Little does Picard know that there is a deadly predator on the planet with the ability to turn invisible. While he waits for the creature to attack, Captain Dathon (Tamarian Captain), played by the late Paul Warfield, who played in Star Trek II: Wrath of Kahn, tries to communicate with Picard, who has no idea on how to understand what Dathon is saying.
Back on the Enterprise, Riker is plotting a way to get Picard back. After a failed attempt to communicate with the Tamarian vessel, Riker plots away to transport Picard back. Alas, it not only fails, but occurs at the worst time. The creature has attacked, and has Captain Dathon pinned to the ground. Free of the transporter beam, Picard runs over to the fallen captain. It is too late, the Tamarian captain has suffered mortal wounds, and is dying. However, he and Picard had finally been able to communicate to each other, and they spend the night exchanging stories.
Once back on the Enterprise, Picard speaks to the Tamarian vessel, and offers his condolences. At this point, Picard's name becomes part of the Tamarian language. The aliens leave, to which Riker ask of Picard "New friends?" Picard replies he's not sure, but at least they are not new enemies.
This is a very enjoyable episode, and it offers a very interesting look at how two completely different cultures can start to build a relationship, even when in the beginning, they literally don't even speak the same language. Too bad this marked the only appearance of the Tamarians in the TNG series.
Where it would be very easy to research the language, The Tamarians speak in a way that outright confuses the Enterprise crew. Instead of using typical words, they speak and express themselves by example. Meaning their entire native tongue us based on events and examples that have already occurred.
To further complicate things, Captain Picard has been transported by the Tamarians (along with their captain) to the planet below. Little does Picard know that there is a deadly predator on the planet with the ability to turn invisible. While he waits for the creature to attack, Captain Dathon (Tamarian Captain), played by the late Paul Warfield, who played in Star Trek II: Wrath of Kahn, tries to communicate with Picard, who has no idea on how to understand what Dathon is saying.
Back on the Enterprise, Riker is plotting a way to get Picard back. After a failed attempt to communicate with the Tamarian vessel, Riker plots away to transport Picard back. Alas, it not only fails, but occurs at the worst time. The creature has attacked, and has Captain Dathon pinned to the ground. Free of the transporter beam, Picard runs over to the fallen captain. It is too late, the Tamarian captain has suffered mortal wounds, and is dying. However, he and Picard had finally been able to communicate to each other, and they spend the night exchanging stories.
Once back on the Enterprise, Picard speaks to the Tamarian vessel, and offers his condolences. At this point, Picard's name becomes part of the Tamarian language. The aliens leave, to which Riker ask of Picard "New friends?" Picard replies he's not sure, but at least they are not new enemies.
This is a very enjoyable episode, and it offers a very interesting look at how two completely different cultures can start to build a relationship, even when in the beginning, they literally don't even speak the same language. Too bad this marked the only appearance of the Tamarians in the TNG series.