10 Best Individual Performances In Star Trek

5. Sarek

Star Trek Picard Sarek
CBS

Star Trek: The Next Generation: Sarek (S3EP23)

Patrick Stewart was given an unenviable task in the episode Sarek. Here, he must first go head to head with Mark Lenard, one of the original stars of Star Trek, a man who originated the Romulans and, of course, played Spock's father. The episode shows the man succumbing to the rigors of Vulcan old age, named here as Bendii Syndrome.

As there are crucially important negotiations to take place, Sarek's wife, Perrin, requests that he and Picard mind-meld. This would give Sarek all of Picard's emotional control, though it would leave Picard with Sarek's turmoil. So begins a painful scene to watch.

Stewart is fantastic, playing the aging Vulcan, even as he remains in the guise of Picard. He cries out for Perrin, for Amanda, and indeed for Spock. Tears stream down his face and he decries the pain of aging.

It is a brutal scene to watch, though it is one of the many, many examples of Stewart's gift to Star Trek.

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Seán is the host and head writer/presenter for TrekCulture, as well as a writer/presenter on WhoCulture and WhatCulture Horror. He has authored two novels, dozens of short stories, and hundreds of articles for WhatCulture. He holds a Master of Arts in Creative Writing from University College Dublin. As part of his work with TrekCulture, Seán has been invited to participate in collaborations with Roddenberry Entertainment, as well as contributing to several Star Trek community projects. An avid fan of Star Trek, Doctor Who, and the horror genre at large, Seán's expertise has helped develop these channels to the successes they are today. As host of the Ups & Downs series on TrekCulture, Seán has become internationally recognised for his positive yet critically informed approach to reviewing every episode of modern Star Trek, ensuring he is one of the go-to voices in the Trek community. Favourite Quote to describe himself: "I'm serious about what I do, just not always about the way that I do it"