The Perfect Mate
- FIRST SHOWN (US)
- 27 April 1992
- ON
- First-run syndication
- STARDATE
- 45761.3
- DIRECTED BY
- Cliff Bole
- PRODUCTION NO.
- 221
WRITTEN BYTeleplay by Gary Perconte and Michael Piller; story by René Echevarria and Gary Perconte
“Gary Perconte” is a pseudonym used by Reuben Leder in protest at rewrites. It was the only time during Michael Piller's tenure that a writer chose a pseudonym.
Picard escorts a peace offering between two old enemies, only to discover it is a woman: Kamala, an empathic metamorph who becomes whatever the man in her presence desires.
Red alert: the full plot, ending included. Haven't watched yet?REVEAL SYNOPSIS
The Enterprise is hosting a peace ceremony between the Kriosians and the Valtese, who have been at war for centuries. Two Ferengi passengers break into the Kriosian cargo and release Kamala, a rare empathic metamorph who was meant to stay in stasis until her arranged marriage to the Valtese Chancellor Alrik sealed the treaty. Kamala instinctively senses what any man near her desires and becomes it, which causes havoc among the crew. When Ambassador Briam is injured by the Ferengi, Picard must take over the negotiations and look after Kamala himself. Over the days they spend together he treats her as a person rather than a gift, and she begins to discover a self of her own. Kamala tells Picard she has bonded with him, yet she insists on honouring her duty, believing the marriage will bring peace. Picard escorts her to the ceremony and gives her to Alrik, then is left alone with what he has given up.
- 01Famke Janssen was offered the role of Jadzia Dax on Deep Space Nine but turned it down. Kamala's spotted makeup was later adapted for the Trill.
- 02Janssen was reunited with Patrick Stewart as Jean Grey in X-Men (2000). She said working with him was easy because of this episode.
- 03Real Balinese musicians were brought in to play the gamelan seen on the holodeck as a Kriosian instrument.