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Star Trek: The Next Generation
S4.E2
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Family

  • Episode aired Sep 29, 1990
  • TV-PG
  • 45m
IMDb RATING
8.3/10
4.8K
YOUR RATING
Patrick Stewart, Samantha Eggar, David Birkin, and Jeremy Kemp in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)
ActionAdventureDramaSci-Fi

After defeating the Borg, the crew of the Enterprise experiences shore leave in various ways. Captain Picard's return to his family's vineyard in France has some extraordinary repercussions.After defeating the Borg, the crew of the Enterprise experiences shore leave in various ways. Captain Picard's return to his family's vineyard in France has some extraordinary repercussions.After defeating the Borg, the crew of the Enterprise experiences shore leave in various ways. Captain Picard's return to his family's vineyard in France has some extraordinary repercussions.

  • Director
    • Les Landau
  • Writers
    • Gene Roddenberry
    • Ronald D. Moore
    • Susanne Lambdin
  • Stars
    • Patrick Stewart
    • Jonathan Frakes
    • LeVar Burton
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    8.3/10
    4.8K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Les Landau
    • Writers
      • Gene Roddenberry
      • Ronald D. Moore
      • Susanne Lambdin
    • Stars
      • Patrick Stewart
      • Jonathan Frakes
      • LeVar Burton
    • 28User reviews
    • 11Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos10

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    Top cast23

    Edit
    Patrick Stewart
    Patrick Stewart
    • Captain Jean-Luc Picard
    Jonathan Frakes
    Jonathan Frakes
    • Commander William Thomas 'Will' Riker
    LeVar Burton
    LeVar Burton
    • Lieutenant Commander Geordi La Forge
    Michael Dorn
    Michael Dorn
    • Lieutenant Worf
    Gates McFadden
    Gates McFadden
    • Doctor Beverly Crusher
    Marina Sirtis
    Marina Sirtis
    • Counselor Deanna Troi
    Brent Spiner
    Brent Spiner
    • Lieutenant Commander Data
    • (credit only)
    Wil Wheaton
    Wil Wheaton
    • Ensign Wesley Crusher
    Jeremy Kemp
    Jeremy Kemp
    • Robert Picard
    Samantha Eggar
    Samantha Eggar
    • Marie Picard
    Theodore Bikel
    Theodore Bikel
    • CPO Sergey Rozhenko, ret.
    Georgia Brown
    Georgia Brown
    • Helena Rozhenko
    Dennis Creaghan
    Dennis Creaghan
    • Louis
    Colm Meaney
    Colm Meaney
    • Chief Miles O'Brien
    Whoopi Goldberg
    Whoopi Goldberg
    • Guinan
    David Birkin
    David Birkin
    • René Picard
    • (as David Tristan Birkin)
    Doug Wert
    Doug Wert
    • Jack Crusher
    Majel Barrett
    Majel Barrett
    • Enterprise Computer
    • (archive sound)
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Les Landau
    • Writers
      • Gene Roddenberry
      • Ronald D. Moore
      • Susanne Lambdin
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews28

    8.34.8K
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    Featured reviews

    10kevinosborne_99

    Astounding

    In the quality of a weekly hour long TV show, addressing that most complex of human interaction, family. I expected something good but not this good. As I push 70 all that really seems to matter is family, the one that was, and those who are ongoing and even appearing. The depth of emotional commitment is not optional which is a reason life and an accurate play of life, as in this show, is so plaintive and compelling.
    9dlaird8

    TNG at it's emotional best.

    This episode is somewhat a continuation of the 'Best of Both Worlds' episodes as it features both the ship and crew recovering after their encounter with the Borg. Picard and Worf visit and have a visit respectively with their family. Dr Crusher has a message for Wesley from his father. I enjoyed Wesley's part in this episode, it seems many others did not. It certainly is the weak subplot, Worf's subplot is far stronger, although less emotional, hey it's Worf, what do you expect? Picard's role in this episode is fantastic. A view into his experience and the effect it had on him while being part of the Borg collective. Great story telling to further add to the narrative of ' Best of Both Worlds'.
    7tomsly-40015

    Family reunion

    The Enterprise undergoes repairs and upgrades and the crew has time to meet their parents or relax on shore leave. Worf is not very pleased to see his adoptive parents coming on board the Enterprise. Especially his father who once served on a starship himself wants to see everything. I think we all know this feeling, when parents are so proud of their children that it becomes overbearing. But even Worf accepts the fact at the end, that family is family and that his parents wants to be a part of his life.

    On the other hand we see Picard reunite with his brother and his family in France while visiting the family vineyard. Not sure why Picard has to dress like a homeless person. It looks like he put on some rags. And Picard surely loves to wear breast free clothing when not in his uniform.
    9M_Exchange

    Definitely One Of The Strongest Episodes

    This story was PERFECTLY timed for a release after the Borg crisis. It reminded us of humans' and klingons' superiority over the Borg in the form of three dimensional, sentient beings who aren't under the thrall of collectivized thinking. It also connected us even further into Worf and Picard's backgrounds. Patrick Stewart delivered a convincing and passionate note of closure (until "First Contact") about his traumatic Borg experience, which his character needed desperately and is probably why he visited his family in the first place.

    Every every actor who was involved with this episode delivered well, including the guest actors who played Worf and Picard's relatives.

    It's definitely a great start to season four.
    9jasonbuckley-02962

    Why dub picards brother?

    The write up on IMDB says that Picard's brother was dubbed. I wonder why?

    I would love to know as he was an actor of distinction.

    Apparently I have written too little according to IMDB so pad pad pad.

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    Sci-Fi

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Gene Roddenberry was apparently not happy at the commissioning of this episode as he thought it was too much like an episode of a soap opera and lacked any science fiction element. However, show-runner Michael Piller received the backing of producer Rick Berman to go ahead and film it, because he liked the way it would humanize Picard and give him some back-story after his traumatizing experience of being turned into a Borg before being rescued. Roddenberry protested to Paramount who, at this stage were already losing patience with Roddenberry and his constant interference in the show's production. (He had already been banned from the sets of the film franchise some years earlier, after constantly complaining to the studio.) After his complaints about this episode, the Paramount board decided to force the already ill Roddenberry to take a back seat and take no further part in the production process and he died just over a year after this episode's broadcast.
    • Goofs
      In most cases, Robert's name is pronounced in French ("Robare"), as it should be. Yet when Jean-Luc tells his brother about his ordeal with the Borg, he once uses the English pronunciation "Robburt".
    • Quotes

      Captain Jean-Luc Picard: You don't know, Robert. You don't know... They took everything I was. They used me to kill and to destroy and I couldn't stop them.

      [sobs]

      Captain Jean-Luc Picard: I should have been able to stop them. I tried... I tried so hard. But I wasn't strong enough! I wasn't good enough! I should have been able to stop them, I should've, I should...!

      Robert Picard: So - my brother is a human being after all. This is going to be with you a long time, Jean-Luc. A long time. You have to learn to live with it. You have a simple choice now: live with it below the sea with Louis - or above the clouds with the Enterprise.

      [they help each other up from the ground]

      Captain Jean-Luc Picard: You know, I think you were right, after all. I think I did come back so that you could help me.

      Robert Picard: Yeah... Do you know what? I still don't like you, Jean-Luc.

    • Connections
      Featured in Trek Nation (2011)
    • Soundtracks
      Star Trek: The Next Generation Main Title
      Composed by Jerry Goldsmith and Alexander Courage

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    FAQ1

    • Anyone who understood the whole; "You're my nephew Jean-Luc from the starship Enterprise.""Then you must be my uncle René.""I'm not your uncle. It's the other way around."Plz explain

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 29, 1990 (United States)
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Filming locations
      • 4825 Louise Ave, Encino, Los Angeles, California, USA(Chateau Picard)
    • Production company
      • Paramount Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 45m
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 4:3

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