Cheap Star Trek - The Next Generation, Episode 78: Family (Video) (LeVar Burton, Gates McFadden, Gabrielle Beaumont, Robert Becker, Cliff Bole, Timothy Bond, David Carson, Chip Chalmers, Richard Compton, Robert Iscove) Price

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Customer Reviews of Star Trek - The Next Generation, Episode 78: Family

No matter where humans go, there will always be family
This is one of the most powerful of the TNG episodes, and it is based on the notion of family ties. Set in the immediate aftermath of Captain Picard's assimilation into the Borg collective, the Enterprise is in Earth orbit undergoing repairs. There are three simultaneous and independent tracks, involving Picard, Worf and Wesley Crusher.
The strongest of the three is the one where Picard goes back to his home village in France and stays with his brother's family. The family consists of his brother Robert, his wife and son Rene. Picard and his brother are at odds in every way, Robert is a bit of a Luddite, wanting only to tend his vines and is still extremely jealous of his successful brother. Picard meets an old friend, who tempts him to leave Starfleet and become the head of a major development project designed to create a new continent. To his surprise, Picard finds himself considering the position, which gives his brother an opening to question his courage. After being aggravated in ways only a brother can do, Picard lashes back, finally letting loose with all the feelings of inadequacy he felt when the Borg were using him. This has a healing effect on both of them, as they then proceed to get drunk and sing a duet. The scene when Picard leaves is very touching, probably the most emotional moment of the series.
Worf's human parents arrive on the Enterprise and their gregariousness at first embarrasses Worf, but he quickly warms to their presence. Eventually, the three of them sit down and they talk about his dishonor, a reference to his discommodation that took place in episode 65, "Sins of the Father." In true parental form, they tell him that even though they do not understand what it means, they still love and support him.
The third track involving Wesley Crusher could have been left out with no great loss to the quality of the episode. Wesley's father recorded a holographic message to him shortly after his birth and now that Wesley is old enough to understand, his mother gives it to him. He views it in the holodeck, but the scene lacks the emotional power of the other two tracks.
Although it lacks the special effects dynamics of most of the other episodes, the story line of this one is so strong that it doesn't matter. I rank it as one of the five best episodes of the TNG series.

Intriguing story- one of the best TNG episodes
I was drawn to this episode because it is so different from most TNG plots: no alien encounters, no epic battles or encounters with strange phenomena. In fact, there is no space travel at all! It is one of the few episodes I've seen that actually takes place on Earth, and you really get to explore a different, not-often-seen side of Picard and Worf.

The stories take place right after the Borg attack and the subsequent rescue and "deprogramming" of Picard. In search of perspective on the incident he travels to his home town in France and stays in his parents' house, now occupied by his brother, Robert, and his family (who, like Patrick Stewart, all have English accents!! Does anyone else find humor in this?). Robert feels Picard has lost touch with his roots, his heritage, that he has sacrificed his values to go gallivanting around the universe. Picard feels that Robert, who runs the family vineyard, is antiquated, foolishly resisting to acknowledge technological progress (Robert doesn't even have a food replicator in his house - how primitive!). Robert is not thrilled that his son wants to join Starfleet when he grows up; Picard thinks it's a great idea (or at least doesn't object). A war of wills develops, soul-searching ensues, and Picard eventually comes to terms with his ordeal with the Borg.

Worf also does some soul-searching when his human foster parents visit him on Enterprise. At first he dreads their visit, ashamed of having them discover his recent Klingon dishonor and embarrassed by their behavior around him. He feels distant from his parents, and vice versa, but some help from Guinan and a heart-to-heart talk with the folks help mend the relationship.

There is another minor, though heartfelt, storyline in which Wesley Crusher views a holographic message left by his late father shortly after Wesley's birth.

Overall, this is a great introspective, character-driven episode that really showcases the acting talents of Patrick Stewart and Michael Dorn. And as with all of the great TNG episodes, it is an allegory for our time, telling us that sometimes going boldly where no man has gone before simply means going home.