Episode Review - New Ground (Next Generation, Season 5)

For those who are new to my episode reviews, you can find the post where I establish my point criteria here

Overview – The Enterprise is headed to Bilana III where they will be assisting in the testing of a new form of propulsion called the soliton wave. Worf receives a communication from his adoptive human mother who is coming to the ship with Worf’s son, Alexander. She informs Worf that due to their age, she and her husband are unable to raise Alexander anymore. Worf suddenly finds himself to be a single parent. As he adjusts to his new responsibilities, the soliton wave causes an accident that endangers the entire ship.

Score: 6/10 – Well, Worf finally has to take responsibility for his son, something I personally thought he should have done when he first met Alexander. It makes sense that his adoptive parents cannot care for him any longer (side note, this is one of the last performances by actress Georgia Brown who played Worf’s mother. The actress passed away in 1992, shortly after the episode aired). This was always one aspect of Worf’s character that I felt the writers had difficulty developing. Worf was great at a lot of things, but being a father was one that this father had difficulties with. I don’t blame the character himself, but he did seem like a fish out of water when it came to his son. This episode does have some good moments, but it is a bit slow at times. It is refreshing to give Worf something more than just losing fights and offering sensible solutions that few pay attention to. The side storyline involves the new theoretical way of moving a starship, and it is this story that provides a dilemma that resolves aspects of Worf’s discomfort with raising his son. It is a convenient way of getting Worf to embrace his new parental responsibilities. Their bonding at the end is touching, it just takes a while to get there first.

Relevance – 1 point. This episode is important in introducing the element of Worf having his son on the ship. This will be significant for the several episodes to follow. It also is the last time that we see Helena Rozhenko. Besides that, not much that is relevant to the rest of the series.

Continuity – 3 points. Worf is definitely out of his element, and it shows here. He is responding the way we would expect him to. He wants to do what is right by his son, but I bet a big motivation for him to send Alexander to live with Worf’s parents had a lot to do with how uncomfortable parenting was to Worf. Other characters are also acting how we expect them to. Picard being first irritated by Worf’s lateness and later amused by his security chief’s new role fits, as does Geordi’s excitement about the new technology they were about to test. Story continuity and universe continuity are also intact here.

Character Development – 2 points. This is a Worf-centric episode that makes him a full-time parent. This is very significant in his development. It sets the stage for several father-son conflicts to arise in the years to come. Establish Worf’s uneasiness with being a parent and send him through the typical motions of one caught up in his situation. First, there is discomfort, followed with a by-the-book approach that shows limited success. Then there is the resignation at the first sign of trouble. There is then a threat or dilemma that forces the two together which brings them closer together. There is finally acceptance and a promise that things will get better. Pretty standard stuff here, but it is a first for Worf, so it amounts to a significant growth for his character.

Social Commentary – 2 points. Parenting is never easy. In fact, it can be quite intimidating. Worf, like many of us, is thrust into it with little warning and is not prepared for its challenges. At the end, he shows that there is no easy way to parent, but it is necessary to show the child that you love them and will be there for them. Once that has been achieved, it becomes more manageable. Something many parents (especially single parents) can relate to.

Cool Stuff – 1 point. It’s a cool idea to replace warp drive that gives a cool effect of the Enterprise being caught up in it. It gives us an interesting visual effect that sadly does not get further developed in the future.

Rank – Lieutenant (15 points). A mediocre episode that tells a good yet typical parenting story. It adds an element to Worf’s character that will make him more interesting in the future, and it is an episode that should be viewed to explain why Alexander is now aboard the Enterprise.

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If you would like to read an episode review from any of the Trek series, click the following link to get to the series catalog. If the episode you want reviewed has not been done yet, then feel free to request it in the comments and I will see what I can do. 

Episode Review - Firstborn (Next Generation, Season 7)

For those who are new to my episode reviews, you can find the post where I establish my point criteria here

Overview – Worf is frustrated that his son, Alexander, shows little interest in becoming a warrior, to the point of jeopardizing his Rite of Ascension. As he struggles to accept his son’s choice, he decides to take Alexander to a Klingon outpost for the Kot’baval celebration, hoping that the culture and folklore can inspire them both. One evening at the festival, Worf and Alexander are ambushed by three would-be assassins. Father and son are rescued by K’mtar, who identifies himself as the gin’tak, or adviser, to the House of Mogh. K’mtar, who has a strong connection to young Alexander, offers help in influencing the youngster as well as track down the source of the assassination attempt. While the Enterprise and the crew try to locate the Duras sisters, believed to be responsible for hiring the would-be killers, Worf makes a startling discovery about K’mtar and what the future holds for himself and his son.

Score: 7/10 – This was a nice episode and a change from the typical Klingon-centered shows. While there is still the ceremony and ritual we grew to expect from Klingons, there is a deeper familial struggle between the expectations of parent and the dreams of the son. Worf is never going to be given the “Father of the Year” award, but he does show some growth in that department here. There is a lot that works well in this story. We get to see the Duras sisters one last time before their fate is sealed in the upcoming feature film. We get a further look into Klingon myth and culture, including some Klingon opera. We have a hunt for the suspected assassins that shows some of the ingenuity of the crew (mostly Riker), we have time travel, and we even have a great scene with DS9’s favourite bartender, Quark. There are some funny scenes (Worf getting hit with a water balloon, for example) and some real tender moments. James Sloyan plays yet another character in the franchise (he has already been a Bajoran and a Romulan and will go on to make an appearance in Voyager), and he gives us something special in K’mtar/future Alexander. The idea that Alexander travels back in time to try to change his younger self is a new take on the time travel trope, and it is a bit of a surprise. We see some real depth to Alexander in this, and it reflects upon Worf as well. While the pacing gets a bit slow at times, the general flow is consistent. As Worf and the crew search for Lursa and B’Etor, we are introduced to a couple colorful characters that move the story along well enough. Although they are entertaining, they are really just token alien smugglers with otherwise little significance. So while this episode is not earth-shattering or a game-changer, it is pleasant to watch and gives us some interesting concepts to ponder.

Relevance -2 points. A point scored for using the death of K’Ehleyr as a means for Worf to verify the claim that K’mtar is the future version of Alexander. The way it was described was perfect and gives us the perspective of Alexander on an important part of Worf’s story. Another point is scored for the reference of the Duras sisters being on Deep Space Nine (from the episode “Past Prologue”). It was the events in this DS9 episode that led Riker to contacting Quark for information.

Continuity - 3 points. Character continuity is intact. Worf again stumbles around parenthood, trying to make his son into something Alexander simply does not want to be. In typical Worf fashion, he learns to accept his son for who he is. He is fiercely defensive of Alexander. Story continuity does work here as well. Universe continuity is also good. Of particular note is the Klingon culture that is explored in a bit more detail than before, highlighting the reverence for Khaless in story and song.

Character Development – 2 points. This is definitely and unsurprisingly a Worf episode, with very little attention given to other characters. Riker does show some ingenuity in his investigation and location of the Duras sisters (his detonation of some magnesite ore to reveal a cloaked Bird of Prey vessel is particularly impressive), but that is about it for character development of everyone else. Worf, meanwhile, is given another story that highlights his difficulties in being a single parent. He learns that his son does not have to be a Klingon warrior to make him proud. He starts to see the true potential in Alexander and allows him choose his own path of honor.

Social Commentary – 3 points. Ah, the delicate balance between allowing your child to find their own way and to influence to take the path you think that they are best suited for. Worf, as mentioned, wants his son to go one way, and has to accept the fact that his son will likely try to seek glory in his own way. As a parent, I understand how difficult that can be. There is also the concept of regret of one’s perceived failings. K’mtar goes back in time to try to persuade his younger self to choose the warrior’s path, hoping to prevent the assassination of his father in Worf’s future. When that he fails, he attempts to kill his younger self, perhaps in an attempt to take away the pain of his failure by preventing he, the older Alexander, from reaching his current situation. As much as Worf must accept that his son can choose his own destiny, Alexander/K’mtar must accept that his choices do not necessarily mean that he has failed his father. As Worf pointed out, by warning him of his fate, K’mtar may have set events in motion to prevent his future death.

Cool Stuff – 1 point. A point has to be scored for the fun and entertaining scene between Riker and Quark. We were still in the early stages of getting to know Quark at this point, and it was fun watching the banter between the two.

Rank – Captain (18 points). The final season of TNG may not have been the strongest of the seasons, but this episode does have some great moments. While it lacks lots of action, it does give us some nice drama. This is the last episode for which actor Brian Bonsal plays Alexander (the character returns in DS9, but much more mature and played by another actor). Definitely an interesting story that should be seen.

If you would like to read other reviews from the Next Generation, click this link.

If you would like to read an episode review from any of the Trek series, click the following link to get to the series catalog. If the episode you want reviewed has not been done yet, then feel free to request it in the comments and I will see what I can do. 

Episode Review - Sons and Daughters (Deep Space Nine, Season 6)

For those who are new to my episode reviews, you can find the post where I establish my point criteria here.

Overview – Worf must learn to work with his estranged son, Alexander, who has joined the crew of the Rotarran on the eve of a vital and dangerous mission, Meanwhile, on Deep Space Nine (Terrok Nor), Ziyal has returned to the station, putting Kira at odds with Dukat.

Score: 7/10 – This episode was a bit slower than what we have come to expect in the opening season arc. This episode seems to have been done to move character development along more than overall story plot, and because of that the pace seems a bit slower. We do see more of Worf and Martok than in the previous episodes, and hardly anything from Sisko’s crew. We see the return of Alexander Rozhenko, Worf’s estranged son. He’s all grown up now and has enlisted in the Klingon Empire’s forces, which leads to some tension between him and his father. Alexander has difficulty fitting in with the crew, at first, and his desire to prove himself costs him. Aside from what the wedding episode that will follow the multiple episode arc, this is the only time we will see Alexander. On the station, things for Kira become more complex as Ziyal arrives on the station, and Dukat uses it to his advantage to get to Kira.

Relevance - 3 points. A point is scored for showing us how Sisko’s crew was rescued from the planet they were marooned on in “Rocks and Shoals”. A point is scored for the barrel of bloodwine bet that will be settled in the final episode of this arc. A point is scored for addition of Ziyal into the mix, as her fate will factor into how stories and characters develop in a huge way. Additional points could have been scored for many other aspects of this episode, but we hit the limit here, and that is sufficient for me.

Continuity - 2 points. To score this section, I would have to say that a point had to be deducted for the sudden accelerated growth of Alexander. He was born eight years before this episode aired, and he is a young man. Now, this does not come from the character continuity, as the way that the story is told it makes sense that Alexander would take this path, even if it goes against all the issues he had with Klingon culture in the past. I deduct the point from the Universe section, as they have shown teenaged Klingons before. The reason for this was given as a combination of two factors. One, to cast a younger actor would have been difficult for filming, as there are laws as to how long a youth actor can be in front of the camera. This would have placed huge constraints as to the filming sequence. Second, the writers and producers felt that if Alexander was younger, Worf would have come across as being border-line abusive towards his son. So, while the change works for the story, I still had to take a point off. Oh, and story wise, everything seems to fit.

Character Development – 3 points. Two main characters get quite the extensive treatment. Kira almost gets pulled into Dukat’s web as she tries to be supportive of Ziyal. She eventually sees through his ploys and puts her foot down. She shows some great wisdom and fairness in telling Ziyal that she will not force her to choose between Kira and her father. Meanwhile, Worf gets a solid, though not original, story as the negligent father forced to confront the results of not being there for his son. They argue, they make mistakes, and get into trouble, and eventually they reconcile. Some of the recurring characters also get some good development. Dukat, Damar, and Ziyal on the station all see some notable development. Meanwhile, we also see Martok show some wisdom as he confronts Alexander in the training hall. Martok tries to get Alexander to admit the reason he joined the military, and Alexander only gives a slogan-type answer. I like the line that Martok uses after Alexander pleads for a chance to prove himself, to which Martok responds “I just gave you one! And you failed!”. A great Martok moment.

Social Commentary – 3 points. Two different lessons on parenting in this episode. First, from Dukat, there is the tale of using your child as a part of your game of manipulation. Second, Worf learns the consequences of not being there for your son. Neither man is likely to win the “Father of the Year” award with this episode. We also see with Kira how to not hold the sins of the parent on the head of their child without driving a wedge between them.

Cool Stuff – 0 points. Sadly, one of the prices of trading in action and intrigue for character focus is that there is not a lot of cool stuff to experience. While this episode is a decent enough episode, there is nothing that stands out as being a “wow” moment. The speech that Martok gives Alexander comes close, but beyond that, not much. This is not necessarily a bad thing. With everything that happened in the last episode, it was good to slow things down a bit. We just have to accept that cost that often comes along with this direction.

Rank – Captain (18 points). I would say that this episode is likely the weakest of the six that we open this season, but it is still a worthy episode. It’s always nice to see how things progress on the Klingon ship, and we get some good and important character development. Obviously, you should not miss this episode, but you would almost be able to get away with skipping it if not for the key element of adding Ziyal into the Kira-Dukat angle.

If you would like to read other reviews from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, please click the following link.

If you would like to read an episode review from any of the Trek series, click the following link to get to the series catalog. If the episode you want reviewed has not been done yet, then feel free to request it in the comments and I will see what I can do.