History Recap / StarTrekTheNextGenerationS3E20TinMan

* BlessedWithSuck: Tam's telepathy is extraordinary even by Betazoid standards. He can learn everything there is to know about a person simply by being near them, read the minds of people on other starships with ease, and is constantly aware of everyone around him. Which is the part that sucks. He can't turn it off, and therefore has severe socialization issues and exhibits schizophrenia-like symptoms, except that the voices in his head are the actual thoughts of the people in his proximity.

* DolledUpInstallment: It's s based on the non-''Star Trek'' novel, ''Tin Woodman'' by Dennis Putman Bailey and David Bischoff.

* TelepathicSpaceman: Tin Man broadcast its loneliness across light-years, but only Tam was a powerful enough telepath to pick it up. They've been in loose contact since, giving each other impressions.

* AmbiguousEnding: We never find out if Tam and Gomtuu survived the supernova explosion or not; the episode doesn't even give enough information to know if Gomtuu has the capability to outrun the explosion or not. It may have performed a HeroicSacrifice to save the ''Enterprise'' and the second Warbird, or Tam's presence might have given it the will to live and save itself from the supernova.
* AMindIsATerribleThingToRead:
** Tam Elbrun was born with his abilities active and on a level beyond other Betazoids, and thus has been assaulted by the thoughts of others since he was born. Even with early diagnosis and training, he never learned to shut them out properly. The stress sent him to hospitals throughout his life, and he mentions to Troi that the thoughts of the few thousand people on the ''Enterprise'' alone feels like a tide that might swallow him up.
** Merging minds with Gomtuu causes him to be nearly overwhelmed by its grief, nearly losing himself in it.

* {{Telepathy}}: Tin Man broadcast its loneliness across light-years, but only Tam was a powerful enough telepath to pick it up. They've been in loose contact since, giving each other impressions.

* ArtisticLicense — Psychotherapy: Deanna matter-of-factly reveals to the crew that their next mission specialist is a former patient of hers and later on essentially reveals said patient’s entire medical history to the entire senior staff. By present-day ethical standards around confidentiality and dual roles, that would be a ''severe'' no-no.

While on a routine assignment, the ''Enterprise'' is suddenly approached by the USS ''Hood'', captained by an old comrade of Picard's who informs him that the ''Enterprise'' has received new top-secret orders involving a time-critical mission. Due to security concerns, they will be briefed by the Betazoid mission specialist, Tam Elbrun. Riker immediately bristles at the name due to Tam Elbrun's involvement in the "[[NoodleIncident Ghorusda Disaster]]," which resulted in the deaths of 47 Starfleet personnel, including two of Riker's former classmates. Troi knows Tam from her university days and reveals that he was once one of her patients, which does [[TheMentallyDisturbed not sit well]] with the rest of the crew.

While on a routine assignment, the ''Enterprise'' is suddenly approached by the USS ''Hood'', captained by an old comrade of Picard's who informs him that the ''Enterprise'' has received new top-secret orders involving a time-critical mission. Due to security concerns, they will be briefed by the Betazoid mission specialist, Tam Elbrun. Riker immediately bristles at the name due to Tam Elbrun's involvement in the "Ghorusda Disaster," which resulted in the deaths of 47 Starfleet personnel, including two of Riker's former classmates. Troi knows Tam from her university days and reveals that he was once one of her patients, which does [[TheMentallyDisturbed not sit well]] with the rest of the crew.

* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Tam, with a large dose of JerkassWoobie. Being bombarded with others' thoughts all his life hasn't done his sanity any favors. He's much nicer to Deanna and Data, and he's certainly happy when he and his mind are alone with Gomtuu.

* ArtisticLicense — Psychotherapy: Deanna matter-of-factly reveals to the crew that their next mission specialist is a former patient of hers, and why he was. By present-day ethical standards around confidentiality and dual roles, that would be a ''severe'' no-no.

* ArtisticLicense — Psychotherapy: Deanna matter-of-factly reveals to the crew that their next mission specialist is a former patient of hers. By present-day ethical standards around confidentiality and dual roles, that would be a ''severe'' no-no.

Tam is a gifted telepath even by Betazoid standards. Brusque and aloof, he skips to the end of every conversational exchange using his telepathy "to save time" and unceremoniously hands Picard his orders. He's much more friendly to Troi, however, but he's even more fascinated by Data. As someone whose mind he cannot read, Data offers him a unique opportunity to get to know someone. That said, he urges they crew to convene in 15 minutes for his briefing.

Tam explains that 23 parsecs beyond any previous manned mission, in deep the Beta Stromgren system, a life form code-named "Tin Man" has been discovered orbiting a collapsing star, but all subspace attempts at communications have failed. Tam, as Starfleet's top expert in first contact with unknown life-forms, will attempt to telepathically communicate with it. Complicating matters is the fact that Tin Man is in a sector claimed by the Romulan Empire, which has sent their own ships in an attempt to get to Tin Man first, making this a race. At the end of the meeting, Tam confronts Riker about his bitter feelings over Ghorusda, but Riker is unmoved.

** Contacting Gomtuu before the Federation could was so important for the Romulans that they ''burned out the warp coils of their ship'' overclocking their engines in order to keep keep up with the ''Enterprise''.

Troi is a gifted telepath even by Betazoid standards. Brusque and aloof, he skips to the end of every conversational exchange using his telepathy "to save time" and unceremoniously hands Picard his orders. He's much more friendly to Troi, however, but he's even more fascinated by Data. As someone whose mind he cannot read, Data offers him a unique opportunity to get to know someone. That said, he urges they crew to convene in 15 minutes for his briefing.

* PowerIncontinence: Tam is unable to control his telepathy, which causes him to be bombarded with people's thoughts 24/7. And seeing as his abilities are apparently powerful enough to sense a Romulan Captain's thoughts from ''a different ship passing by at a large fraction of the speed of light'' as well as to sense Tin Man's emotions from ''several days distance away at FTL speeds''. . .

* NeverMyFault: Tam (and eventually Starfleet) blamed Captain Darson for what happened at Ghorusda, claiming that Darson didn't listen to his recommendations. (Although it is a bit HilariousInHindsight when one considers how many times Troi's empathic misgivings get ignored as well.) Tam later admits that he may have been so caught up in the Ghorusdan race's minds and wanted everyone to get along so much that he neglected to warn Darson more forcefully.

While on a routine assignment, the ''Enterprise'' is suddenly approached by the USS ''Hood'', captained by an old comrade of Picard's who informs him that the ''Enterprise'' has received new top-secret orders involving a time-critical mission. Due to security concerns, they will be briefed by the Betazoid mission specialist, Tam Elbrun. Riker immediately bristles at the sound of the name, due to Tam Elbrun's involvement in the "Ghorusda Disaster," which resulted in the deaths of 47 Starfleet personnel, including two of Riker's former classmates. Troi knows Tam from her university days and reveals that he was once one of her patients, which does [[TheMentallyDisturbed not sit well]] with the rest of the crew.

Troi is a gifted telepath even by Betazoid standards. Brusque and aloof, he skips to the end of every conversational exchange through his telepathy "to save time" and unceremoniously hands Picard his orders. He's much more friendly to Troi, however, but he's even more fascinated by Data. As someone whose mind he cannot read, Data offers him a unique opportunity to get to know someone. That said, he urges that they crew convene in 15 minutes for his briefing.

Deep in the Beta Stromgren system, 23 parsecs beyond any previous manned mission, a life form code-named "Tin Man" has been discovered orbiting a collapsing star, but all subspace attempts at communications have failed. Tam, as Starfleet's top expert in first contact with unknown life-forms, will attempt to telepathically communicate with it. Complicating matters is the fact that Tin Man is in a sector claimed by the Romulan Empire, which has sent their own ships in an attempt to get to Tin Man first, making this a race. At the end of the meeting, Tam confronts Riker about his bitter feelings over Ghorusda, but Riker is unmoved.

En route to Beta Stromgren, Picard holds a meeting with Crusher and Troi due to his concerns about Tam's stability. Troi explains that Tam was born telepathic, which is unusual for a Betazoid and means he cannot turn it off at will. His unusually powerful abilities mean he's constantly bombarded with other people's thoughts. In spite of the therapy he receives to cope, he's become a miserable recluse. While venting to Troi, Tam lets slip that he's already been in mental contact with Tin Man, which is why he's volunteered for this assignment against his natural inclination.

In the mean time, Tam visits Data, who's using the extra time to study Tin Man further, He says that Tin Man is a LivingShip but lacks a crew. He wonders whether Tin Man was bred for that purpose or if it adapted itself to serve a purpose. Tam and Data then get philosophical about the purpose of anyone's life, organic or android. Tam shows great appreciating for Data and assures him that, even though he can't read his mind, his thoughts are no less valid than anyone else's.

When they finally reach Tin Man, the Warbird is preparing to arm its weapons again. Tam realizes that they're going to [[IfICantHaveYou destroy Tin Man to deny it to the Federation]]. Tan reaches out his mind to Tin Man to warn it, and it released a pulse of energy that obliterates the War Bird and damaged the ''Enterprise''. Confronted by Picard over his actions, Tam admits that he's been in stronger contact with Tin Man than he'd admitted. It's real name is Gomtuu and is the LastOfHisKind. It journeyed to the dying star to commit suicide. Tam claims the only way to stop Gomtuu from killing himself is to go inside him. Troi is worried that Tam is losing himself in the merger of minds, so Data volunteers to go along with Tam to "anchor" him.

* NoodleIncident: The Ghorusda Disaster, an infamous FirstContact mission GoneHorriblyWrong that resulted in the deaths of 47 Starfleet officers aboard the U.S.S. ''Adelphi'', including the ship's captain.

* ScottyTime: Geordi says he needs 30 minutes to get some shield power back, Picard says, "You've got 10."