the plot contrivances are forgotten, as you realize that the whole episode was worth it to watch this amazing scene". James Hunt, reviewing "Sarek" for Den of Geek in 2014, appreciated the episode's metaphor for the declining health of Gene Roddenberry. He felt that there was no follow-up to the emotional disturbances suffered by the crew, but said that despite this the episode worked because of the presence of Lenard as Sarek. He said that "they cunningly build up [Sarek's] respect for Picard throughout the episode so that the proposed solution to his problem doesn't seem too far-fetched, and the rapport between Lenard and Stewart is so immediate that you can believe a literal mind-meld makes sense for the characters. It's not a perfect episode in terms of its writing, but the acting sells it far better than it could've." In 2014, the episode was ranked as the 70th best out of the over 700 episodes in the Star Trek franchise by Charlie Jane Anders for io9. In a 2016 article highlighting the best episode from each Star Trek series, Digital Trends gave "Sarek" an honorable mention. In 2017, Den of Geek ranked Mark Lenard as Sarek in Star Trek: The Next Generation as one of the top ten guest star roles on Star Trek: The Next Generation, noting his performances in "Sarek" and also in "Unification" (Parts I & II). In 2017, Nerdist ranked "Sarek" the eleventh best episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. In 2017, ScreenRant ranked this episode the 8th thematically darkest episode of the Star Trek franchise, noting how it tackles the difficulty of disease in old age; in this case the previously well respected diplomat Sarek is "emotional, unpredictable, and disoriented" due to the fictional Bendii syndrome. They compare this fictional Star Trek disease to real diseases such as Alzheimer and Parkinsons. In 2019, The Hollywood Reporter listed this episode among the twenty five best episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Home media release The first home media release of "Sarek" was on VHS cassette, appearing on October 3, 1995 in the United States and Canada. The episode was later included on the Star Trek: The Next Generation season three DVD box set, released in the United States on July 2, 2002. The first Blu-ray release was in the United States on April 30, 2013. Notes References External links Star Trek: The Next