Star Trek 134: The Child

134. The Child

FORMULA: Writers' strike + TV's Star Trek II script + Dr. McCoy + The Search for Spock

WHY WE LIKE IT: The changes from the last season are good for the most part.

WHY WE DON'T: Wesley decides to stay, Beverly's gone, and a hum-drum plot.

REVIEW: The Child begins a rather short season affected negatively by the writer's strike going on at the time, and so the script is recycled from work done for Star Trek II, the television series that morphed into The Motion Picture. So imagine Ilia in the role of Troi, and Decker in that of Riker. It's an ok plot, with an interesting alien first contact and a good turn by the regulars, but it's all a little too contrived when the child turns out to be emitting radiation that makes the viruses unstable and must leave before his time. Big reset button, and it makes little sense that the Enterprise can't destroy these viruses after jettisoning them.

The plot is secondary anyway (though well enough handled by the regulars and guest stars), but it serves a purpose: It introduces us to the changes that have occured between seasons. It gives something for both the chief engineer AND the doctor to do, introducing new characters in those roles.

Well, Geordi isn't a new character, but it's his new position. About time a regular took that post. As for Pulaski, I think she drew a lot of ire from the fanbase, and I can see why. For one thing, people were sad to see Beverly go. The character was engaging, and her potential seems wasted at this time. There's also the fact Pulaski is derivative of Dr. McCoy, as if the creators were trying to recreate the Bones-Spock infighting with her dismissive attitude toward Data. Yes, she rubs many people on the ship the wrong way, and because we care for them and not yet for her, that makes us dislike her. However, with hindsight telling us she would only be onboard for a year (even back then, she was only ever a special guest-star), I don't dislike her at all. She's tough and no-nonsense, but has a good bedside manner too. And scenes like the one where she mispronounces "Data" are priceless and a ncessary part of the android's development toward humanity. (He's perhaps a little too emotional for my tastes in this one though.)

Another new character aboard is Guinan, who commits her greatest sin in the series by advising Wesley to stay aboard ;-). A bit unkind of me, as Wil Weaton is fine here, and it's not like I didn't notice his name in the credits. Whoopi Goldberg plays a character unlike any she's ever played, either before or after this, and it frankly works. This mysterious and wise character even has a distinctive exotic or even alien look to her. And Ten-Forward is a nice idea, the first season never really showing a rec room per se.

Other changes are more minor, but include distinct improvements in dress and hair design. Worf looks less like a pinhead and has fully replaced Tasha Yar. Riker's beard gives him a little more presence. Wesley's new uniform is much better, less silly. And Troi looks gorgeous with her hair loose like that (though she goes a bit heavy on the lipstick, in my opinion).

One thing I should note, because it really elevates the experience of watching The Child, is the direction. Unlike the script, this is a very fresh approach. The season starts with a dolly showing in turn all the aforementioned changes, beautifully executed. The camera moves show off a number of times, sometimes using special effects, such as moving in from outside the ship into Ten-Forward, or showing us the bar's eye-view of going to warp, or a shot of a shuttle leaving the shuttle bay, or even a beam-out sequence with a character staying behind after having interacted with the transporting character. There are lots of cool moments like that.

LESSON: They grow up too fast, don't they?

REWATCHABILITY - Medium: A by-the-numbers story, but with interesting direction, good acting, and a couple of important introductions.

Comments

Anonymous said…
My biggest problem with this is the total failure to address the rape aspect of the situation. In order to have Deanna be sufficiently sympathetic towards the child, we never get any idea that she feels particularly strongly about being sexually violated.

And even once the alien child grows up and explains the plot, nobody stops to point out that humans aren't that keen on being forced to make babies without their consent.
Bully said…
I disliked it better when it was Avengers #200.
LiamKav said…
Watched the HD version of this last night (I'm very slowly making my way through the series again, having not seen several episodes for several years). First thing that struck me was how much more like "TNG" this felt than season 1. I always remembered the change as happening in season 3, but a lot of the dialogue and interaction here feels more like I remember TNG to be, compared to the frequent weirdness of season 1.

Second thing is... the crew doesn't actually DO anything. Alien makes Troi pregnant. Enterprise caries dangerous cargo. Troi's new child makes cargo more dangerous. By the time the crew figure out it's him, he's already decided to leave.

Also, Picard's: "She's been on board a few hours and she's already found Ten-Forward". Considering it took him over a year, that sounds like sour grapes to me.
Siskoid said…
You're right, it's very much the kind of episode where the characters are witness to a story rather than active participants.