S2.E5

Loud as a Whisper

Name: Loud as a Whisper
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama
Released: 1989-01-07
Duration: 45 min
Rating: 6.5
Cast: Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, LeVar Burton

Episode aired Jan 7, 1989
TV-PG
45m

IMDb RATING

6.5/10

3.9K

YOUR RATING

Leo Damian, Marnie Mosiman, Randy Oglesby, and Howie Seago in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)

Action Adventure Drama Sci-Fi

The crew ferries a deaf mediator to Solais V to negotiate an end to a civil war.The crew ferries a deaf mediator to Solais V to negotiate an end to a civil war.The crew ferries a deaf mediator to Solais V to negotiate an end to a civil war.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.5/10

3.9K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Photos11

+ 6

User reviews22

6.53.9K

Featured reviews

8patrick-lafont

Good spirit in this episode

I wanted to write a positive review because I feel like some of the other reviews are done by robots, focusing on things that don't match, and they're missing the point, which is how to achieve communication between people and the confidence to overcome our own issues to take a step towards someone else. This is one of the many episodes that carry positive values and make us think about how we can do or be better. Even if those episodes are sometimes long and are stretching a single idea over 45 minutes, I'll take it anytime over the drama that we find in most sci-fi series nowadays.

7bkoganbing

Negotiations

The mission of the Enterprise in this episode is to bring a mediator from his planet to another world where they've had Guelph-Ghibelline or if your prefer a Hatfield- McCoy type war going on for centuries. They've forgotten why it all got started in the first place.

The mediator is Howie Seago a deaf mute who has 3 interpreters who communicate with him telepathically. When he interpreters are assassinated by a fanatic that throws the negotiations off. Seago is in despair.

Helping save the situation are Marina Sirtis and Brent Spiner. Each helps in a unique way with the talents both Troi and Data have.

Nicely done story about the challenges disabled folk have and ways overcoming same.

4anarchistica

Another Contrived Problem

You would think that with all their technology Star Fleet would have some way to ensure a person's safety - either by projecting a localised shield or a field that disables weapon. And if they couldn't do that, at least they would use sufficient security personnel. Here one of the ugly skulking cavemen involved in the conflict can just walk in and casually murder people. It is so lazy.

This episode also has another example of someone being "famous but not famous". Riva brought peace between the Federation and Klingons, Worf is anxious to meet him, his reputation is legendary. But apparently there are no records of the fact that he uses interpreters? Again, lazy stupid writing where something extremely simple goes wrong to cause an issue.

Worf is proven to be useless once again, Geordi rejects being cured once again, Troi is useless once again as well. She couldn't feel the dissatisfaction of the rogue alien? Worf didn't draw his weapon? Why does Geordi keep enduring his pain and poor substitute for vision for no reason?

Any of the interesting concepts in this episode are too undermined by assaults on logic to keep you interested.

4jseph1234-262-617488

Drama

James Earl Jones and David Prowse in Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Sci-Fi

Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Guest star Howie Seago, who plays Riva, is deaf and had in fact petitioned the producers to create an episode involving deaf people.

Goofs
When Data is interpreting for Riva, he speaks the words before Riva signs the word. He also signs words to Riva before Captain Picard speaks them.

Quotes
Riva: [after Riva's Chorus were slain and they beamed back, Riva is ranting in sign language] Stupid false egoistical...
[rambles on with back turned to camera]
Riva: ... tired of everything... three dead! What will we do now?
Captain Jean-Luc Picard: How did this happen?
Commander William T. Riker: A total surprise. Apparently a member of one of the factions didn't like the idea of peace.
Riva: ...any time think
[Rubs hands through hair in frustration]
Captain Jean-Luc Picard: I don't understand what you're trying to say.
[Pleading gesture to Troi]
Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Counselor.
Riva: I'm not talking to you. I'm talking to myself!
Counselor Deanna Troi: Riva, go slowly.
Riva: What!
Counselor Deanna Troi: Slowly.
Riva: I'm not talking to him anyway.
Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Can you write it out?
Riva: No! Leave me alone!
Captain Jean-Luc Picard: I am so sorry that your friends were killed.
Riva: I don't need your pity!
Riva: [Riva and Picard are talking simultaneously] ... tired of all of you hearing people not understanding me! I'm not talking to you anyway.
Captain Jean-Luc Picard: I'm sorry, I-I don't know what you are trying to tell me. We have to find some way to communicate with him.
Riva: I'm tired of you hearing people, arg!
Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Data, he knows some kind of gestural language. Find out which one and learn it.
Lt. Commander Data: Aye, sir.
Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Counselor, take him to Sick Bay. Maybe Pulaski can help.
Riva: I - my friends are dead! I-
[Picard grabs Riva's head]
Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Listen to me! You are not alone! Do you understand? We are all in this together... now.