Overview – Returning from an expedition, Captain
Picard, Guinan, Ensign Ro, and Keiko O’Brien encounter an occurrence that puts
their shuttlecraft in jeopardy. When the Enterprise beams them aboard, they
appear on the transporter pad as children. The altered crew members try to
adjust to their new youthful states and the rest of the crew try to help them
adapt. As Doctor Crusher searches for a way to reverse their condition, a group
of rogue Ferengi attack and capture the Enterprise, forcing the adult crew
members into slave labour. Picard and the rest of the “children” are left to
retake the ship.
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| A surprise upon their rescue. |
Score: 8/10 – I must admit that while I was writing
the overview for this episode, I was taken aback by how ridiculous the summary
sounded. Yet the episode is oddly endearing and fun. Yes, it is a bit
incredulous that the Enterprise could be taken over by the Ferengi in such a
manner, but if you can suspend your belief over that, the story is quite clever
and enjoyable. We love to see our beloved characters in interesting, unusual,
and odd situations, and who wouldn’t want to see them as children with adult
personalities. I must say that the casting of the child actors was brilliant. Isis
J Jones, who plays young Guinan, was also cast as a young version of Whoopi’s
character in the movie “Sister Act”. To cast David Tristan Birkin, who
previously played Picard’s nephew, as a young Picard was clever and perfect.
Caroline King and Megan Parlen are wonderful as the respective younger Keiko
and Ro Laren. Each child actor wonderfully captures the essence of their adult
counterparts. In addition, we get to use Worf’s son, Alexander, in a more
meaningful manner. I also love the humor in this episode, from Riker’s
techno-babble to confuse the Ferengi Morta, to Guinan and Ro’s polar opposite
approaches to their condition, to Picard’s “temper tantrum” to get access to
his “father” Riker (“He’s my Number One Dad!”), the script is cleverly written.
Yes, it is odd that the hundreds of experienced Enterprise crewmembers are
unable to fend off the Ferengi, yet Picard and a bunch of kids are able to
retake the ship, and yet I can’t help but love this episode.
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| Guinan and Ro, perfectly cast. |
Relevance - 3 points. One point for the first time
that Hana Hatae as Molly O’Brien. This is also the final episode for the
O’Brien family on TNG as they will be going to Deep Space Nine after this
episode (which was actually filmed after DS9’s pilot). This incident is
referenced in the DS9 episode “Bar Association” when Odo is reminding Worf of
various security breaches on the Enterprise during is tour as security chief,
so a third point is scored.
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| O'Brien is not too sure how to take his wife's change. |
Continuity - 2 points. Character continuity works
perfectly here, especially with the children versions. I loved how Picard runs
his fingers through his hair, how Keiko still acts like a wife to Miles (which
was also quite funny), and how Guinan especially is thrilled to be a kid again.
Mostly, it is Ro Laren that acts perfectly here, as her childhood was much less
enjoyable than the others, leading her to first resent and then love this
second chance. Story continuity is spot on as well. While to enjoy the episode
requires the viewer to simply ignore the relatively easy manner in which the
Enterprise falls to a bunch of Ferengi with a couple of old Klingon ships, I
cannot ignore this bit of universe continuity violation in this section. I must
deduct a point for making the Enterprise crew look either totally incompetent,
or the Ferengi extremely lucky.
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| Can you believe these guys took the ship? |
Character Development – 2 points. I would say that if
there is one character whose story is advanced in this episode, it is Ro Laren.
We get a deep insight into her childhood that explains much about her tough
manner. She is then taught to appreciate childhood thanks to the guidance of
Guinan, her friend and mentor. The other affected characters are also given a
bit of depth, but none more than Ro. Of particular, the ending which has Ro
choosing to remain a child for a little longer so that she can continue to
enjoy her coloring is sweet. This is before adult coloring books were created,
so I am sure a lot of us adults were thinking how nice it would be to spend the
afternoon coloring like a kid again.
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| Kids mobilizing to retake the ship |
Social Commentary – 2 points. What would we do
with a second childhood? That is a great question that we the viewer can’t help
but ask ourselves upon watching this episode. For some of us, like Ro, we need
to learn to be kids again. Others of us are like Guinan, who take the most of
the opportunity. We also explore a bit of what we would do with Picard,
contemplating everything from taking a sabbatical to returning to the Academy
to take more courses. There may also be the time-honored parenting lesson of
never underestimating the tenacity of children.
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| Like father, like son. |
Cool Stuff – 2 points. As I have mentioned several
times, we have brilliant casting that gives us one of the coolest moments with
seeing some beloved characters as children. A second point is scored for the
director. This is the first Trek episode directed by Adam Nimoy, son of Leonard
Nimoy. It was neat to know that the son of the legendary actor and director was
following in his father’s footsteps by directing Star Trek.
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| One of the more touching moments for Ro and Guinan |
Rank – Captain (19
points). A
great episode full of light-hearted fun and shenanigans. Try not to let the
incompetence of the Enterprise crew get in the way of enjoying a trip to a
second childhood.
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| Picard and his "#1 Dad" |
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