3x20 Tin Man - Star Trek: The Next Generation Episode Guide

Star Trek: The Next Generation

- Episode 03x20

Episode: 03x20
Title: Tin Man
Type: Regular Episode
Production Code: 168
First Aired: Apr. 23, 1990

Season 3 » Episode #20 - Tin Man

Star Trek: The Next Generation - 03x20 Tin Man

Summary: Stardate: 43779.3 An alien ship named Gomtuu is in danger since it is in Romulan space. Enterprise is forced to rely on a Betazoid named Tam Elbrum to try and communicate with Gomtuu. It turns out that Gomtuu needs Tam, as much as Tam needs Gomtuu. Tam's has telepathic abilities so strong that for a time Tam had to be a patient of Deanna once, and Gomtuu hasn't seen its crew or another of its own kind in many years.

Who appeared in this episode?

Guest Stars:

Captain Jean-Luc Picard	played by Patrick Stewart
Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge	played by LeVar Burton
Doctor Beverly Crusher	played by Gates McFadden
Counselor Deanna Troi	played by Marina Sirtis
Lt. Commander Data	played by Brent Spiner
Wesley Crusher	played by Wil Wheaton
Captain Robert DeSoto	played by Michael Cavanaugh
Romulan Commander	played by Peter Vogt
Engineer	played by Joseph Michael Roth

	Season 3 / Episode 20: - Tin Man Tam Elbrun: Alright, alright, I should have brought up the Romulans earlier, but I was...distracted. Tam Elbrun: [suddenly, to Riker] And no, Billy-boy, I wasn't distracted on Ghorusda. If Darson had listened to me, no one would have died. Tam Elbrun: No. I don't care whether you believe that or not.
	Season 3 / Episode 20: - Tin Man Tam Elbrun: Having to get to know someone - just once - has its appeal.

[More Quotes]

MISTAKES/GOOFS

CONT: Capt. DeSoto's first name is "Robert" here; even though he is referred to as Captain Jonathan DeSoto in "Encounter at Farpoint, Part One". Possibly his initials are "J.R.".

TRIVIA

When Tam Elbrun is in Data's quarters, he lifts up the covers to one of Data's paintings. The image on the painting is that of the top view of the energy vortex the Enterprise was caught inside of in "Star Trek: The Next Generation" (1987) {Time Squared (#2.13)}.
Gomtuu, a.k.a. "Tin Man" in this episode uses a self defense special effect that is a re-use of the cinematic implosion of V'Ger from the end of "Star Trek: The Motion Picture".
The design of Gomtuu was based in part on a peach pit.
The sound effects for the alien ship were produced by having a stage crew member eat half a large pizza and then sit quietly with dermal microphones taped to his stomach to record the sounds of his digestive process.
Although this isn't the first episode to feature the D'deridex-class Romulan warbirds (their first appearance being on "Star Trek: The Next Generation" (1987) {The Neutral Zone (#1.25)}), this is the first episode to refer to this class of warbird by its name.