Warning: SPOILERS for Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 4, Episode 5 – "Empathalogical Fallacies"
Summary
- Bendii Syndrome is a rare degenerative neurological illness that affects Vulcans and can cause them to lose control of their emotions, with potentially dangerous consequences for those around them.
- Ambassador Sarek, Spock's father, had Bendii Syndrome in Star Trek: The Next Generation and his emotions were projected onto the crew of the USS Enterprise-D, requiring a mind meld with Captain Picard to share the burden.
- Lieutenant T'Lyn suspects she has Bendii Syndrome in Star Trek: Lower Decks, despite being younger than the typical affected Vulcan. She eventually recovers and regains control of her emotions, indicating that younger Vulcans can potentially recover quickly from the syndrome.
Lieutenant T'Lyn (Gabrielle Ruiz) referenced Bendii Syndrome in Star Trek: Lower Decks season 4, episode 5, but what is this rare disorder that led to the death of Ambassador Sarek (Mark Lenard)? Vulcans have a few diseases and disorders specific to their species, one of which is the rare degenerative neurological illness Bendii Syndrome. Because most Vulcans are natural telepaths, the side effects of Bendii Syndrome can affect not only the infected Vulcan, but also those around them.
In Star Trek: The Next Generation season 3, episode 23, "Sarek," Spock's father Ambassador Sarek (Mark Lenard) visits the USS Enterprise-D. When the crew of the Enterprise begin experiencing strange outbursts of emotion, Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden) comes to the conclusion that Sarek must have Bendii Syndrome. Sarek had also been uncharacteristically emotional since arriving on the Enterprise, even crying at a musical performance. Although Sarek was able to mostly keep his own emotions in check, they were soon being projected to everyone on the Enterprise. In order for Sarek to complete his mission of peace talks, Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) offered to mind meld with him to share the burden of Sarek's intense emotions.
