History YMMV / StarTrekTheNextGenerationS5E8Unification2

* AlternativeCharacterInterpretation: Judging by Sela's statements "[[HiddenDepths I rather enjoy writing. I don't get to do it often in this job.]]", it's possible that she never wanted to be an officer in the Romulan military, only signing on out of obligation/pressure by her Romulan father. That could explain [[{{Nepotism}} how she made it to Commander at such a young age]] and [[BondVillainStupidity her stupid decisions during this episode and "Redemption: Part II"]]. So, Data's answer "Perhaps you would be happier in another job." might not be too far from the truth.

* HeartwarmingInHindsight: The ''Series/StarTrekDiscovery'' episode "Unification III" reveals that [[spoiler:Spock's efforts were ultimately successful, and the Romulans did rejoin Vulcan]].

** "Unification" ends on a hopeful note that the young of Romulus will eventually replace their warmongering elders and embrace their relationship with Vulcan on far more friendly terms. [[spoiler:Neither will happen; the Romulus of this universe is canonically vaporized by a supernova in ''Film/StarTrek2009'', giving Nero the impetus to go back in time and screw around with the alternate universe of the Abrams films.]] And then, ''Series/StarTrekPicard'' reveals that [[BrokenHero Picard was so heartbroken by this that he'd left Starfleet]].
** On the other hand, the Star Trek Online verse shows that D'Tan and the other members of the underground eventually achieve their dreams in the form of the Romulan Republic.

** Yes, 2,000 Romulan soldiers should have absolutely no problem handling the ''billions'' of Vulcan geniuses who are just as physically tough as they are and know their home planet, its technological infrastructure, and its resources a lot better than they do! Even worse in hindsight, as [[Series/StarTrekVoyager Tuvok]] would later reveal that there is a "Vulcan Institute for Defensive Arts," [[GoodIsNotSoft clearly indicating that their pacifism does not extend to passively allowing themselves to get beaten up by just anyone who tries to roll them for their lunch money]]. Even with the presence of additional cloaked ships likely with additional troops, it would take a ''very'' well planned strike against key targets to allow for a lot of troops to be committed to taking over the entire planet. And that's even before Starfleet gets involved.

** Yes, 2,000 Romulan soldiers should have absolutely no problem handling the ''billions'' of Vulcan geniuses who are just as physically tough as they are and know their home planet, its technological infrastructure, and its resources a lot better than they do! Even worse in hindsight, as [[Series/StarTrekVoyager Tuvok]] would later reveal that there is a "Vulcan Institute for Defensive Arts," [[GoodIsNotSoft clearly indicating that their pacifism does not extend to passively allowing themselves to get beaten up by just anyone who tries to roll them for their lunch money]].

* ValuesDissonance: Spock means well, but his plan for reunification requires that the Romulans assimilate into Vulcan culture, a culture that persecuted and turned them into refugees millenia earlier.

** Yes, 2,000 Romulan soldiers should have absolutely no problem handling the ''billions'' of Vulcan geniuses who are just as physically tough as they are and know their home planet, its technological infrastructure, and its resources a lot better than they do! Even worse in hindsight, as [[Series/StarTrekVoyager Tuvok]] would later reveal that there is a "Vulcan Institute for Defensive Arts," [[GoodIsNotSoft clearly indicating that their pacifism does not extend to passively allowing themselves to get beaten up by just anyone who tries to roll them for their lunch money]]. Though, as pointed out above, the Russian invasion and annexation of Ukraine followed the same principle.

-->'''Spock:''' An inexorable evolution toward a Vulcan philosophy has already begun. Like the first Vulcans, these people are struggling to a new enlightenment, and it may take decades or even centuries for them to reach it, but they will reach it... and I must help.

** "Unification" ends on a hopeful note that the young of Romulus will eventually replace their warmongering elders and embrace their relationship with Vulcan on far more friendly terms. [[spoiler:Neither will happen; the Romulus of this universe is canonically vaporized by a supernova in ''Film/StarTrek2009'', giving Nero the impetus to go back in time and screw around with the alternate universe of the Abrams films.]]

** "Unification" ends on a hopeful note that the young of Romulus will eventually replace their warmongering elders and embrace their relationship with Vulcan on far more friendly terms. [[spoiler:Neither will happen; the Romulus of this universe was canonically vaporized by a supernova in ''Film/StarTrek2009'', giving Nero the impetus to go back in time and screw around with the alternate universe of the Abrams films.]]

* IdiotPlot: Yes, 2,000 Romulan soldiers should have absolutely no problem handling the ''billions'' of Vulcan geniuses who are just as physically tough as they are and know their home planet, its technological infrastructure and resources a lot better than they do! Even worse in hindsight, as [[Series/StarTrekVoyager Tuvok]] would later reveal that there was a "Vulcan Institute for Defensive Arts", [[GoodIsNotSoft clearly indicating that their pacifism did not extend to passively allowing themselves to get beaten up by just anyone who tried to roll them for their lunch money]]. Though, as pointed out above, the Russian invasion and annexation of Ukraine followed the same principle.
** And on the subject of stupidity, we might as well say it again: Sela, you idiot! What the hell were you ''thinking,'' leaving the heroes alone in a room with a computer? Especially after she actively recognized the ship Data commanded during "Redemption", shortly before he defeated her, and now knows he's right here in front of her.
* ValuesResonance: Nowadays, it isn't hard to compare Spock with politicians like Jeremy Corbyn in the UK or Bernie Sanders in the US, as elder statesmen who strike a chord with younger activists hoping to make their world better. Spock's last lines to Picard still resonate thanks to populist wave of TheNewTens.
-->'''Spock:''' An inexorable evolution toward a Vulcan philosophy has already begun. Like the first Vulcans, these people are struggling to a new enlightenment and it may take decades or even centuries for them to reach it but they will reach it... and I must help.

** And on the subject of stupidity, we might as well say it again: Sela, you idiot! What the hell were you ''thinking,'' leaving the heroes alone in a room with a computer? Especially after she actively recognized the ship Data commanded during Redemption, shortly before he defeated her, and now knows he's right here in front of her.

** "Unification" ends on a hopeful note that the young of Romulus will eventually replace their warmongering elders and embrace their relationship with Vulcan on far more friendly terms. [[spoiler:Neither will happen; the Romulus of this universe was canonically vaporized by a supernova in ''Film/StarTrek'', giving Nero the impetus to go back in time and screw around with the alternate universe of the Abrams films.]]

* IdiotPlot: Yes, 2,000 Romulan soldiers should have absolutely no problem handling the ''billions'' of Vulcan geniuses who are just as physically tough as they are and know their home planet, its technological infrastructure and resources a lot better than they do! Even worse in hindsight, as [[Series/StarTrekVoyager Tuvok]] would later reveal that there was a "Vulcan Institute for Defensive Arts", [[GoodIsNotSoft clearly indicating that their pacifism did not extend to passively allowing themselves to get beaten up by just anyone who tried to roll them for their lunch money]].
** And on the subject of stupidity, we might as well say it again: Sela, you idiot! What the hell were you ''thinking''?

* ValuesResonance: Nowadays, it isn't hard to compare Spock with politicians like Jeremy Corbyn in the UK or Bernie Sanders in the US, as elder statesmen who strike a chord with younger people hoping to make their world better. Spock's last lines to Picard still resonate thanks to populist wave of TheNewTens.

-->'''Spock:''' An inexorable evolution toward a Vulcan philosophy has already begun. Like the first Vulcans, these people are struggling to a new enlightenment and it may take decades or even centuries for them to reach it but they will reach it... and I must help.

* ValuesResonance: Nowadays, it isn't hard to compare Spock with politicians like Jeremy Corbyn in the UK or Bernie Sanders in the US, as elder statesmen who strike a chord with younger people hoping to make their world better. Spock's last lines to Picard still resonate thanks to populist wave of TheNewTens.

* HeartwarmingInHindsight: Nowadays, it isn't hard to compare Spock with politicians like Jeremy Corbyn in the UK or Bernie Sanders in the US, as elder statesmen who strike a chord with younger people hoping to make their world better. Spock's last lines to Picard still resonate thanks to populist wave of TheNewTens.

** And on the subject of stupidity, we might as well say it again: Sela, you idiot! What the hell were you ''thinking''?

* HeartwarmingInHindsight: Nowadays, it isn't hard to compare Spock with Jeremy Corbyn in the UK or Bernie Sanders in the US, as elder statesmen who strike a chord with younger people hoping to make their world better. Spock's last lines to Picard still resonate thanks to populist wave of TheNewTens.

** On the other hand, the Star Trek Online verse shows that D-Tan and the other members of the underground eventually achieve their dreams in the form of the Romulan Republic.

* IdiotPlot: Yes, 2,000 Romulan soldiers should have absolutely no problem handling the ''billions'' of Vulcan geniuses who are just as physically tough as they are and know their home planet, its technological infrastructure and resources a lot better than they do! Even worse in hindsight, as [[Series/StarTrekVoyager Tuvok]] would later reveal that there was a "Vulcan Institute for Defensive Arts", [[GoodIsNotSoft clearly indicating that their pacifism did not extend to passively allowing themselves to get beaten up by just anyone who tried to roll them for their lunch money]].

* IdiotPlot: Yes, 2,000 Romulan soldiers should have absolutely no problem handling the ''billions'' of Vulcan geniuses who are just as physically tough as they are and know their home planet, its technological infrastructure and resources a lot better than they do! Even worse in hindsight, as [[Series/StarTrekVoyager Tuvok]] would later reveal that there was a "Vulcan Institute for Defensive Arts", clearly indicating that their pacifism did not extend to passively allowing themselves to get beaten up by just anyone who tried to roll them for their lunch money.

* IdiotPlot: Yes, 2,000 Romulan soldiers should have absolutely no problem handling the ''billions'' of Vulcan geniuses who are just as physically tough as they are and know their home planet, its technological infrastructure and resources a lot better than they do! Even worse in hindsight, as [[StarTrekVoyager Tuvok]] would later reveal that there was a "Vulcan Institute for Defensive Arts", clearly indicating that their pacifism did not extend to passively allowing themselves to get beaten up by just anyone who tried to roll them for their lunch money.

** An out-of-universe example: The Romulans' invasion plan, since Russia used basically the same plan to take Crimea in 2014.

* HarsherInHindsight: "Unification" ends on a hopeful note that the young of Romulus will eventually replace their warmongering elders and embrace their relationship with Vulcan on far more friendly terms. [[spoiler:Neither will happen; the Romulus of this universe was canonically vaporized by a supernova in ''Film/StarTrek'', giving Nero the impetus to go back in time and screw around with the alternate universe of the Abrams films.]]