The Child

DVD, TNG S2 (The Child)

An impressive start for the new season, this packs a lot into it's 45 minutes! It's quite exciting to see so many changes, small and large, an affecting story, introduction of new characters, and great moments - the whole package. We begin with suitably rousing music as the Enterprise glides past camera, the main mission of the episode isn't really important, it becomes the background canvas on which the real drama happens.

There seems to be a lack of respect for Captain Picard with both the new doctor, Pulaski, and the man responsible for the stuff they're carrying, seeming very casual with him. Picard's reactions are steamrollered over since he isn't given a chance to respond in either case, which makes for some humour. Questions about Dr. Crusher's name missing from the credits are soon answered as we find she's left to become head of Starfleet Medical, though in reality I believe the character wasn't liked well enough so she was 'let go'. It would have been nice if they could have at least given her a goodbye scene by screen so we could see her reaction to Wesley's decision to stay on board.

The new doc is much more in the McCoy vein with a no-nonsense approach that holds her duty of care higher than protocol, as in Troi's situation. Her scene playing with Data and not taking him seriously is quite similar to Spock and McCoy's exchanges, most likely a deliberate inclusion. That isn't the only link to the previous series, as the script was originally written as a potential episode of the aborted 'Phase II' series in the 70s, so no wonder it was good - they'd had over ten years to polish it! It does seem strange they didn't include Diana Muldaur's name (she'd played two characters in the Original Series) in the opening credits since she's obviously more than a recurring character.

The other important character introduced is one of their best creations - Guinan, played by Whoopi Goldberg. There have been several high profile actors wanting a part in Trek over the years (Eddie Murphy, Robin Williams, etc), but few have made it in. Goldberg is probably the most high-profile exception, and her debut here is very good indeed, laying out her mysterious, but playful depth (and the beginning of the cool hats!). It's made clear she's been on the ship for a little while, and seems to know Picard, but apart from that she proves useful to Wesley in helping him realise what's best for his next step in life. The end scene where Picard and Riker tease the lad a bit about whether he can stay is in the same style as the Original Series endings, and gets the season off to a good, upbeat beginning.

Initially we're busily trying to spot all the differences since the last season: Riker's beard; Worf's more imposing brow and change to a gold uniform; likewise for La Forge who's been made Chief Engineer, a post that needed filling throughout Season One; Crusher's absence; Troi's new look, which suits her much more than the previous severe approach. We even get a welcome appearance from O'Brien, albeit a silent one. After seeing 'Star Trek Nemesis' the moment with Riker and Troi together after the baby's born (in what must be the quietest birth you'll ever see on TV!), seemed so right, as if you were glimpsing their future, and made me wish we could have a series with them on the Titan, and see their family develop. Troi stays remarkably calm throughout her experience, and seems to take child-bearing in her stride, though of course there's great sadness when the child leaves.

The effects were excellent, with various interesting directorial choices (such as the fisheye lens from the creatures POV; the focus on Troi during the meeting about this apparent 'threat'; the outside view into Ten Forward, and the effect of going to warp seen from the window; even the window turning opaque at the touch of a button when Troi puts her boy to bed) - the only thing they didn't get right, and it's something that is always wrong whenever episodes deal with an outside entity that swishes through the hull of a ship: the scale. You see this large light flashing around the Enterprise, then when it's inside it's become a tiny little light. Anyway, this episode succeeds on every level and launches the ship and crew into something that you really want to come back to, in a confident and positive way.

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