Star Trek: The Next Generation reached its A-Game with the delivery of the iconic two-part episode, ‘The Best of Both Worlds’. The stakes were at their highest. The Enterprise and her crew were challenged more than they ever had been. And the consequences of the events that unfolded would reverberate throughout the franchise’s future.
However, after that much intensity and action, the show needed a moment to catch its breath. It made it so with a touching and emotional epilogue to ‘The Best of Both Worlds’. This episode allowed characters to process and grow in the aftermath of the season 4 premiere, with the unconditional love and support of ‘Family’.
Reunion
‘Family’ begins with the Enterprise-D docked at McKinley Station, undergoing repairs after its battle with the Borg. Picard (Sir Patrick Stewart) takes the repair time to visit his home village of La Barre and spend time with his family. As he beams down, Worf’s (Michael Dorn) adoptive parents beam up, eager to visit their Klingon son and explore the Enterprise.
Picard receives a warm welcome at his family home from nephew René (David Birkin) and sister-in-law Marie (Samantha Eggar). However, it quickly becomes apparent that there’s no love lost between Picard and his brother, Robert (Jeremy Kemp). The pair remain frosty towards each other in every encounter, leading up to a much-needed fight. With frustrations vented and truths laid bare, the brothers reconcile.
Meanwhile, back on the flagship, Worf has been struggling with the enthusiasm of his parents. Finally, his tough Klingon exterior relaxes, and he shares with them how much he appreciates their visit. With family connections reinforced, Picard bids farewell to Robert, Marie and René while Worf does the same with his parents. The episode concludes with renewed positivity and an acknowledgment that grief and trauma need time and work to heal.
You Are Not Alone
An important message from this episode is that your family and friends can be a great source of support. Picard knows this, even if he won’t acknowledge it openly, as he sets off for La Barre. He’s gone through a massive trauma, and despite his reassurances to Counselor Troi (Marina Sirtis), he hasn’t fully recovered.
It’s obvious from their first interaction, not long after Picard returns home, that he and Robert are not on good terms. They are men with very different beliefs and ways of life. While Picard explores the Galaxy and embraces the advancement of technology, Robert dedicates himself to preserving the family legacy in France.
The tension between the two brothers eventually boils over, and it’s exactly what the doctor ordered. Robert purposefully antagonises Picard, who throws a punch in response, resulting in the pair rolling around in the mud. Before long, they’re both laughing and throwing dirt at each other. Then comes one of the most raw and emotional scenes Patrick Stewart ever performs in The Next Generation. Picard breaks down, revealing the horror of what the Borg did to him and what they made him do. The brothers embrace, their bond restored by the trust and support between them.
Unconditional Love
Where a large part of ‘Family’ focuses on Picard and his recovery, it also explores two other family relationships. The first is Worf’s relationship with his adoptive parents, Sergey (Theodore Bikel) and Helena (Georgia Brown) Rozhenko. The second is Wesley Crusher’s (Wil Wheaton) relationship with his deceased father, Jack (Doug Wert).
When Worf’s parents board the Enterprise, the Klingon already has his shields up. This distance he creates, using his Klingon heritage, makes things a little awkward for Sergey and Helena. But it’s obvious they’ve visited out of concern for their son, having received word of his discommendation from the Klingon Empire. Guinan (Whoopi Goldberg)shares some lovely words with the Rozhenkos. Where he values his Klingon heritage, they will always be his family, and he will always think of them as his home. And in the end, Worf confides in his parents that he is glad they visited him, as they reinforce their love and support for him.
Wesley’s part in this episode is much shorter than Picard’s and Worf’s, but still resonates with the episode’s overall message. Having recovered some of her husband’s belongings, Doctor Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden) finds a recording Jack made just after Wesley was born. She gifts Wesley the recording, and towards the end of the episode, he visits a holodeck to play it. The message left by Jack is touching, sharing some personal thoughts from a new father and sharing his unconditional love for his son.
Better Together
Season 4’s ‘Family’ is an expressive and touching epilogue to one of the best two-part episodes Star Trek has ever created. It’s a necessary calm after a violent storm, giving characters space to reflect, grieve, and begin the healing process.
It also makes a very bold statement to Star Trek fans. The franchise isn’t just about discovering strange new worlds or seeking out new life and new civilisations. It’s about exploring the inner lives of its characters and the effects trauma and grief can have on their lives. It’s about accepting help when you need it, and giving yourself the time and space to heal.
At its core, it’s about understanding what it means to be human, and the potential we have to flourish and grow. Together.
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