As a young man, K'mpec fought against the House of G'Iogh alongside General Chang during one of many Klingon civil wars. During this conflict, the House of G'Iogh triggered a supernova that destroyed a star system containing strategically critical dilithium mines, to prevent it from falling into Chang's hands. This forced the empire to overmine Praxis, leading to the industrial accident that destroyed the moon and forced them to make peace with the Federation. So K'mpec knows first-hand just how dangerous it would be to let the wrong person take control.
He knows the gravity that his passing will cause. If left to the High Council, there would be outright challenges to whatever the judgment was. Even though it was an unusual and controversial move, asking Picard, a Starfleet Captain, to be the Arbiter of Succession, was a genius stroke, and logical. Only an outsider could rightfully choose, so why not ask Starfleet and Picard for help.
I love the tremendous respect that K'mpec is showing to Picard here, as much as Picard is uncomfortable with it. Picard later says that K'mpec "ruled the Klingon Empire longer than anyone in their history" - how well he realizes the gravitas of the moment.
K'mpec so casually rocks one of the most badass moments here. A Klingon to his core. His enemy poisons him, not giving him an enemy to challenge. They poisoned his wine of all things, and he knows it. He tells Picard, and then he just takes a swig like it's just another day squabbling with Klingon beaurocrats. He isn't just going to let something like a dishonorable assassination slow him down. Sto'vo'kor welcomed this absolute chad for nothing else than his staunch disregard of death itself.
K’mpec sees he is fighting something he cannot see and decides to give his poisoner a similar opponent. Now the poisoner must face his own societal rules. A true Klingon
It's so shocking that his first line behind doors was so... vulnerable. A tired, desperate "I need your help." No bluster or aggression, just a sincere plead.
And it’s an honest request from the chancellor of the Klingon high Council to an esteemed Starfleet Captain. And although unusual, it is the Chancellor’s dying wish. Interstellar politics aside, having an outsider ultimately judge was the only way the line of succession could be fairly chosen.
K'mpec: "Will you be the arbiter of succession?" Picard: "No, I cannot." K'mpec: "A pity, because I already announced you were, thus you are." Picard: "You had no right to do that without my permission." K'mpec: "If I had asked, you would have said no." Picard: (internally) "Well damn... checkmate."
He presumably vouched for Picard to himself and the empire. And he was right. If he outright asked, Picard would’ve refused. Yes, it painted Picard in a corner, but even with that, Picard did acquit himself very well in the role as Arbiter.
When you get to such layers after the grandstanding and border skirmishes that TOS had, you really see Klingons as a culture that is rich in its traditions and values.
Don't forget to give props to the set designers here. Like the chairs. The seats lean back, forcing the seated into a recline by default, making it harder for them to jump up and attack. All the little details sell scenes just as much as the focus elements.
That is a good point and absolutely makes sense within Klingon culture. If you're high ranking, any little inconvenience you can put to slow down any hothead with designs on your job would be worth considering.
the dialoge, the costumes, you can hear the leather uniform of the klingon general crack, it makes it so perfect!. the whole room looks perfectly klingon!.
A salute for K'mpec! Ruthlessly cunning, and unapologetic for being so. Wise to his own faults, and better for it. Willing to die for the Empire, but in the end he chose his own path, and made sure the Empire would be in good hands after he passed.
Does make me wonder (and yes, I know it's entirely up to a writing staff for this, or at the very least a novel writer) how he would have acted if still Chancellor by the Dominion War (Klingons have long lives if not killed in battle. Just look at the TOS era ones on DS9). Would he have been so willing to take advice from the Martok Changeling as Gowron? Would the mini-war between the UFP and the Klingon empire even have happened?
Indeed. Doesn't know who to trust on his own council so make someone with nothing to gain the arbiter. Plus the fact that it is Picard who is acting as Arbiter will insure that everyone falls in line as that name is both famous and infamous to the Klingon. Also this gives Picard an interesting position to insure the peace continues for however long it can.
@@rahmspinat Well Russia seems largely okay with it, or at least the upper echelons approve it use. For fictional societies, Romulans would support it. Ferengi as well. I'm sure you can think of others if you actually try instead of attempting belittling others and give a smart ass response.
@@DivineFOMO I even know the source of about 100% of your comment: your ass. The fact that some individuals in a society (fictional and real) would approve of poisoning doesn't mean they work pars pro toto. Especially with Ferengi and Russians. You might consider that "thinking" thing yourself 🖖
The actor who portrayed K'mpec did a magnificent job. A gruff, aged warrior, but a surprisingly wise and perceptive man and capable leader. He was, I'd say, one of the singularly best leaders the Klingons ever had. But thanks to Duras' machinations, the Empire was robbed of what likely could have been several more years of his leadership.
Being that he held the leadership the longest of any Klingon, surely he and his works would be recorded in the annals and other writings of Klingon history.
@@PouchMaster I think you are referring to the lie that Worf (and Kurn's) dad was the one who was a Romulan collaborator at the Khitomer massecure. The truth would have caused a civil war somehow. Worf realised that and took the dishonor to save the Empire. A true leader does what is best for his people. I do feel badly for what Worf and Kurn had to go thru.
I remember when this episode first came out. At the time, all I could think of was that a klingon was asking a human for help because he trusted the human over his own people. Definitely showed that TNG was going in its own direction.
@@omegastar19 But he was drinking it for some few or several months, that poisoning was not meant to work immediately like cyanide, perhaps meant to be undetected if possible.
"Such a man would be capable of anything......even war, with the Federation!" In one sense I believe K'mpec was playing on Picard's emotions. Knowing Picard would want to do anything possible to avoid a future war with the Klingon Empire, but I also get the impression that K'mpec is genuine in the belief that even HE would not wish a war with the Federation.
I honestly think that one of his motivations in naming Picard as the Arbiter was just to give one last giant middle finger to both Duras and Gowran, not really caring which of them killed him.
Bob Page That’s exactly why he designated Picard as the Arbiter of Succession. K’mpec valued the alliance with the Federation, and had another Arbiter (say one from the High Council) been designated, Duras might have ascended to lead the Empire, which would lead to the withdrawal of the Khitomer Accords and the Klingons and Romulans being overt allies against the Federation.
From what seen and what I understand, he is essentially displaying every possible high honor a Klingon of his standing can display on that exterior cloak. Heavy lies the crown, or in this case the cloak.
Next Generation has always been very old-timey, but it's in the Klingon-focused episodes you can see the Shakespearian influences. "And I approved it, all for the glory of the empire. That shall be my epitaph."
It's "old-timey" because they don't have an action scene or joke every 3 minutes to keep today's short attention-spanned sensibilities people entertained.
Or since he knew it was poisoned he had it discarded and was back to drinking normal wine. I dont understand why everyone in the comments thinks he was just randomly still drinking poison wine.
@@fanatic26 at the end of the scene, he salutes Picard and takes a swig. Then after that, he looks into the goblet as though he can actually see the poison.
K'mpec did make an apperance in the Klingon Academy game as one of the students. During his tenure at the academy, you could actually see his strategic brilliance in play; to where one of his classmates compared him to a Romulan in terms of cleverness.
Non-canon he also was chancellor after the Narendra and Khitomer attacks. He killed his predecessor in combat and recognised the honour Starfleet had in the (futile) defense of Narendra 3.
He was fat, but he was FEARED as a knife fighter. He was a champion with a dak'tagh for several years running according to some novels. He challenged his predecessor in open combat and won rather handily.
Kurtzman and co never watched this, they never felt this, and CBS Paramount, never looked beyond their showrunners' credentials and vetted those according to producing a lexicon of this depth, caliber, and potential. I could have, and will, here, in this comment section, produce a something great. Here. We are at the turn of the 25th cebntury
@@brohan914 The federation was the romantic dream of socialism, written by people too stupid to anticipate human bevavior. The degenerate scum running amok in our society, thats is the reality of communism applied. It might be ironic, but it's not funny at all.
Every time he mentions about the assassin and who it was who tried to kill him, you just know what he is saying is 'Find evidence of what Duras has done.'
All the signs do point to it being Duras, as I doubt gowron would have stooped so low. Poison is more a romulan tactic. And we ALL know Duras and his family were buddy buddy with Romulans.
We never learn whom assassinated Kempec as both Duras and Gowron, by their actions during TNG and DS9, respectively showed that they were both equally capable of doing the deed.
It actually makes more sense that Gowron was the one who had K'mpec poisoned. Unless he was caught red handed doing so everyone would naturally suspect Duras of doing that and Gowron would get his heart's desire (leadership of the High Council).
@@charlesnowlin4359 It one of the great plot twists of the episode that we never discover the truth of whom Kempec's assassin was and allowing viewers to make up their own minds. As short term, Duras is the obvious suspect, while long term, Gowron shows he could have done it just as well. Though agree Gowron has more to gain of creating succession crisis as it allowed him an outsider politically speaking to challenge for the chancellorship, against the established elite, that includes Duras and his allies, already sitting on the high council
@@MrDEMarq That's why people are still watching them. But that doesn't make them particularly unique. Some shows are taken from Shakespeare and the Bible. But you wouldn't know that if you weren't somewhat familiar with Shakespeare and the Bible. Don't tell anyone. They'd stop watching the show if they knew the story origins.
the sad thing is as a kid i would not have not been able to understand this scene. i actually ended up watching this episode once or twice as a kid but it was after the bomb exploded and i thought they were talking about a ship(plus i was not aware of the history of what happened to worf) watching tng was very on and off back when i was a kid so i was only able to watch it when and if it was on.
This is like Robert Baratheon asking Eddard Stark for one last favour before he dies, a burnt out aging warrior asking for help from an honourable man.
Its a bit similir, but neither Robert Baratheon nor Ned Stark are anywhere near as politically gifted as K’mpec and Picard. Baratheon was a strong man who won through military might, but who failed at ruling, and Stark was too honorable to survive in a cutt-throat political court, though to Stark’s credit at least he recognized that fact - he tried to refuse his appointment as Hand, but Baratheon kinda forced him to accept. Meanwhile K’mpec skillfully ensnares the Federation in an Internal Klingon conflict while Picard dances around him with carefully chosen words, avoiding a clear commitment to anything more than the minimal cooperation that is required.
@@omegastar19 further, K'mpec recognizes the trap that has been laid. He has figured out how to reveal who has conspired against them, selected a person and crew more than capable of taking care of the problem. Also, he was able to get the Klingon Empire to obtain some level of economic stability despite decades of peace. Considering this is a society born of the concept of always being at war, of addition by conquest, that's quite a feat. One I would like to read about.
What a powerful scene! Even the music, towards the end, is filled with foreboding. There are many great scenes in Star Trek, but this one, I watch over and over. The acting is superb. From the small details (the way K'mpec dismisses the guard at the door) to the drama that unfolds towards the end of the scene, it gives me chills.
The moment he heard Duras’ name, Picard realized he was being trusted with the future of the entire Alpha Quadrant; that the threat before him was more terrible than any he had anticipated. His face says all that and more. Exquisite
Agreed. Since this is a direct request from the Chancellor of the Klingon Empire, it overrides any other regulation in place, including the Prime Directive. And while ideally, the Chancellor could’ve appointed any other high-ranking officer within the Federation, such as the UFO present, one of his cabinet, or any member of Starfleet’s Office of the Admiralty, he specifically chose Picard because he knew that he would take the role seriously and ensure fair play in choosing his successor. He’s personally dealt with Picard and knows he will do as he’s asked.
Charles Cooper did such an incredible job as K'mpec. The way he added the heavy breathing, shortness of breath and labored movement here compared to his first appearance perfectly conveyed just how badly his health was.
I started watching it in 1987 ( I was 7) and watched every episode until the end. So many yrs later and I still love watching Star Trek TNG. I’m 40 now and the year is 2020!
Something I think adds to the scene is the sound of the High Chancellors clothes every time he moves. It adds the aged but wise and sturdy feel of the character.
The very fact that we were gifted with such incredible storytelling and depth of world-building, at once an educational crash course in interstellar politics, is such a blessing. This is and forever shall be, the highest brow of fictional engagement. I'm so grateful for this.
Possibly one of the best written scenes in the series, IMHO. “K’mpec, you cannot possibly be serious.” is one of my favorite Picard lines because of the position he’s instantly put in, and then how must negotiate that position. Classic Picard!
This is seriously high levels of respect right here! Despite having years of violent and shaky history, K'mpec has absolute trust in Picard more than he trust the Klingon Council.
I always thought K'mpec was such a great character, and it's a pity we see so little of him. An aging warrior long past his prime, realising too late that he's ruling over a corrupt council and a fracturing empire and using his only remaining weapon, his cunning, to hold it together. A story worthy of song.
What is interesting is that this episode never actually brings a direct answer to the question of who poisoned K'mpec. It's heavily implied to be Duras, & his association with the Romulans fits the bill. Also Gowron's later actions show his corruption works very differently. But its never definitively proven. Great episode!
And Worf eventually solves the question in a simply "Klingon" way; He kills Duras, the worst of the two, and then kills Gowron years later when he becomes a dishonorable liability.;)
@@stormsurge2103 I'm surprised Worf didn't get a Jaime Lannister treatment and started getting called "Chancellorslayer" for always killing the candidates or owners of the position, but never taking it himself. XD
@@stormsurge2103 yes its quite something how that came full circle. infact i beleive this whole thing started with tahsas death and was one of the most important events in the tng/ds9 eara star trek because otherwise i believe the federation would have lost to the dominion.
Indeed as it is one of the great mysteries of TNG, that remains unanswered to this day and can be the responsibility of either Duras or Gowron as they both showed that they were less than honourable men, capable of getting their hands dirty to achieve their aims, no matter how base those methods were.
The episode doesn't give the outright answer but it is heavily implied that it was Duras. In addition, Ronald Moore went on record in an interview saying that it was Duras they intended to be the one to poison him. The Gowron theory is just that, a fan theory.
I think Picard as a deep-space starship captain actually has the authority to act on behalf of the Federation without consulting it first. Ambassador plenipotentiary or something like that.
IF it had been anyone BUT Picard they probably would have sent out a diplomatic team on the spot. But this is Jean-Luc Picard we're talking about here, by this point in just Series lore alone he's proven his diplomatic accumen. And before any of that he already had the service record that only the most Elite could dare touch let alone match. If the show had ever become Riker's the going talk would not have been the Admiralty. But an Ambassadorship where he could have done the most good. Picard was the equal of anyone they could send in the diplomatic corps on short notice. Plus the aid of the Only Klingon in Starfleet helped. Objectively Starfleet and the Federation could not have been in a better situation with or without preparation.
They like Picard really had no choice in the matter. K'mpec already notified Duras and Gowran about Picard. If Picard backs out the Klingon's will take it as a massive insult. That alone would shatter the treaty and maybe provoke a war.
"if i had asked... you would have said no": such great insight. you can see from Picards look that he was right. he WOULD have refused if the order had not alredy been sent.just shows that klingon leaders are philosophers as well as great warriors. as is the case for all great leaders.
The actor who plays K'mpec is Charles Cooper. He first played this role when Worf accepted discommendation, and he also played General Korrd in Star Trek V. He's also been a character actor in almost 100 other roles from The Rifleman to The Practice.
Charles Cooper played K'mpec in this episode. He also played General Korrd in Star Trek V. The only actor to play two different Klingons in guest-starring roles.
worf played a klingon in star trek 6 and the actor who played martok played a klingon in enterprise heck the actor who played duras played duras in enterprise too.
The guy who played Klag in the TNG episode 'A Matter of Honor' also played a Klingon helmsman in Generations, a Dosi and a Jem'Hadar in DS9 and a Romulan in Enterprise. He's also famous for Luke in Buffy, Shao Khan in Mortal Kombat, a bounty hunter in X-Files and the thug who had his insides ripped out by Arnie at beginning of The Terminator.
@@toddsmitts but Picard has also outmaneuvered Q as well. The Romulan spy was a total shock to everyone. One on one he has outmaneuvered Romulans, Klingons, Cardassians, Humans, Ferengi to name a few races.
You know, every time I see this scene I think the same thing. K'mpec was actually pretty sharp. He wasn't asking Picard at this point. He was simply telling him in-person and advising him. Dude was sharp, no question.
I hadn't watched this episode in about 10 years. When I rewatched this a month ago, I had fun looking at all of Gowron's future actions and trying to weigh that against what Duras had been shown to do in the past.
@@kickass21ful I don't know about the first Cal, but my conclusions were that Gowron was the only "Klingon" choice *at the time* as Duras continually acted with dishonor. The political choice would be to frame Gowron and puppet Duras with the threat of assassination or simply the producing of evidence of all of Duras' wrongdoings at an appropriate juncture, and replacing him, in turn, with someone else when the time comes. Duras as an unwilling puppet might prevent the Federation-Klingon conflict during DS9, and sacrificing him at that point (release evidence right before he starts the shooting, that he's a dishonorable, treasonous snake) would leave the Klingons indebted to the Federaton for uncovering the truth. Within the plot armor of Star Trek, this ought to work.
@@calanon534 But making the Klingon Empire indebted to the Federation is going to stir extremely bitter feelings. I suspect eventually for the sake of honor, the Klingons would have declared war on the Federation.
@@FireLordJohn3191 Eventually, if you accept ST:O as the continuation of the series, they do anyway. Klingons are a permanently war-like species. That, apparently, will never change. They'll always find some excuse for a war, even a limited one, to "get it out of their systems" until their culture completely changes - which, even then, may not solve the problem entirely. What I was drawing here was a more short-term/long-term solution - something that would have kept the peace going until the Dominion War started and the Klingons got the honorable war they really wanted. Beyond that.. well.. give them another generation, they'll want a war again.
Oh my effing HELL I miss this show, this time period for Star Trek, these magnificent actors and writers... what we have today is a turd with a lens flare accentuating it.
@@kaelryder3565 cloak has to be dropped before weapons can be fired. The klingon ship in the movie that had the ability to fire from cloak was a scandal for Klingons.
@@kaelryder3565 I believe the phrase mentioned here applies only to regular encounters and not where the Klingon warrior, or the empire for that matter, has declared battle against their adversary. In the case of the latter, Worf explained that victory against your enemy is far more honorable than anything else out there. On the other hand, Klingons that hide and particularly prey on the weak without declaring battle beforehand have no honor whatsover.
@@redpillfreedom6692 Also, you gotta thank the Founders for stirring up the worst in him. Gowron may have always been corrupt, but he was not without his level of decency. Come the threat of the Dominion, plus the Martok impersonator, and he began changing for the worse. Sad really. I actually really liked Gowron. :(
@@MrDibara Eh, I think you see even in TNG the first signs of what eventually led to his downfall in DS9. I'm guessing the DS9 writers drew on that when it came to writing that script; Duras was responsible for the bombing, but I feel it's left pretty ambiguous who poisoned K'mpec. And honestly, with hindsight? It could've been either of them. Snakes, the both of them.
@@directive0 Dude, the guy peeling potatoes in the mess hall is a warrior. They're Klingons: EVERYONE's a warrior. We're not talking about combat prowess, we're talking about leadership ability. Gowron's issue wasn't honor, but pride; he was willing to lose the war against the Dominion for his people so that he could play the role of the champion, rather than allow his subordinates to do what had to be done.
K'mpec seemed like he was the last of an old guard on Qo'nos. With the new crowd like Gowron, Duras, etc replacing him. I wonder what he was doing around the time of the events of Star Trek VI. Maybe he knew his predecessor, Gorkon.
I think he means that someone who kills for political reasons or personal gain anonymously and indirectly is a threat to the traditions that regulate use of violence outside of a military context. When a Klingon openly challenges leadership he thinks is weak or incompetent it might lead to a duel to the death to determine who was right which acts as the cost of doing business for not obeying one's authority figures. Having someone assassinated instead sends the signal that you were only after selfish gains and are unwilling to defend the legitimacy of your actions. On the other hand, in open war any tactical confrontations with the enemy are just continuations of the argument that started the war and using cloaking technology just adds to your capabilities in a fight rather than reflecting on your motivations for why you are fighting in the first place.
Fun Fact: the actor who played K'mpec - Charles Darwin Cooper (1926-2013) also played the Klingon general Korrd in STAR TREK V: THE FINAL FRONTIER (1989). Imagine a STAR TREK series based on Klingon society and politics. This is why I always liked the Klingons. They are the closest to modern day society in terms of politics and conspiracies than any other species in STAR TREK, including humans.
K'Mepec died with honor and chose the finest warrior to meditate the Duras-Gowron factional dispute for power. May Duras burn in Gret'hor forever for killing Kaylar and other treacheries.
Yeah. Programs had some real longevity back when the characters were good. Hell the series was only intermittently watchable until Riker grew a beard for season 2.
