Tin Man

Harry Groener did an outstanding turn as Tam Elbrun. He made his character seem real and three dimensional, which compensated for most of the shortcomings in this episode's writing. There wasn't enough tension in this episode (the clichéd, old, "I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN DO THAT, CAPTAIN" from engineering doesn't suffice for me) and I didn't real feel much empathy for the "Tin Man" creature-- some near the end, but not enough.

But again, Groener delivered everything that could be expected for his effete, hyper-sensitive character. I'm disappointed that he was in only one "Next Generation" episode. I wish that he was recurring character like de Lancie's "Q" entity.

This episode is worth watching.

Harry Groener's remarkable performance as Betazoid telepath is the highlight of this TNG story. The two on the crew Groener bonds with are his fellow telepath Marina Sirtis and Brent Spiner who being an android he can't read the mind at all.

I really felt this character and the torment he was going through. As Deanna Troi explains it her people for the most part develop their abilities as adolescents. But some like Groener develop it almost from birth. The rush of hearing emotions and not developing proper filters is too much and many become unstable.

In a sense Groener is on a mission of life because the Enterprise is sent to contact a space creature who is orbiting around a star about to go supernova. The Romulans are interested as well and their intentions are less benign.

I won't go any further, but this gifted and troubled telepath at last finds peace and content in a curious symbiotic relationship with the orbiting creature.

This is one TNG story that will stay with you.

I had not seen Tin Man in 20 years. It was one of my favorite NG episodes so I watched it on BBC today in anticipation of enjoying it again. It did not disappoint. The special effects for the creature Gomtuu were Emmy nominated and still shows. The story still captivates and the brilliant, empathetic performance of Harry Groener carries the show.

I did not like most of.the earlier NG episodes, (the pace was slow and Picard was not Kirk), but the slower pace was correct here. Everything was on point. This was pure Sci-Fi and I loved it!

This episode returns to a more accepting version of the human future (in stark contrast to the season opener "Evolution"). Gifted, reclusive telepath Tam Elbrun joins the Enterprise to communicate with a new life form that's been dubbed Tin Man.

Tam is reclusive and telepathic, being able to hear the thoughts of the 1000+-member crew. Though, he's drawn to Tin Man, so he tolerates being on the Enterprise with all those people in order to make contact with Tin Man.

The message here is that it's OK to be different. You'll always find some place to belong.

Of course, this wonderfully touching episode is slightly marred by the usual space-opera nonsense involving Romulans who want to destroy Tin Man.

The Betazoid sense walks a delicate balance in these episodes. With Deanna, it has to do with emotional signals and body sense; with others, it's almost like mind reading. Tam Elbrun, the young empath aboard the enterprise, is a super reader of life forms, almost to the point of insanity. He has a checkered history which leads people to fear him, but he is a master at first contact. He has hooked up with "Tin Man," the name given to an entity that looks like a large pine cone. It used to be ship with a crew but circumstances have ended that. The thing has immense power and thinks on its own, but like so many one-of- a-kind creatures, it is filled with dread and loneliness. Tam-Elbrun, being empathic, feels the creature's pain. There is an issue in that the Romulans, who attacked Tin Man are set on revenge because the thing destroyed one of their war birds. Data is taken in on this whole thing because he does not send out any human baggage. This is a really thoughtful episode and well worth the viewing.