Tamarian captain Dathon has himself and Picard transported to the planet El-Adrel IV where they must fight a dangerous beast and learn to communicate through metaphor.

Paul Winfield (Captain Dathon)
Richard James (Tamarian first officer)
Colm Meaney (Lt. Miles O'Brien)
Ashley Judd (Ensign Robin Lefler)

• Picard begins wearing a new uniform top: a black and grey under-shirt and a tunic made of leather and red suede.
  
• This episode introduces the new Starfleet warp-capable mid-sized Type-VI Shuttlecraft Magellan.
  
• "Children of Tama" is the name the Tamarians use to describe themselves.
  
• "Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra" indicates an attempt to understand each other by sharing a common experience.
  
• "Sokath, his eyes uncovered" refers to acheiving sudden insight or understanding.
  
• "Shaka, when the walls fell" refers to the inability to understand or be understood.
  
• Ensign Lefler will be featured in "The Game" with Wesley Crusher.