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Star Trek: The Next Generation
S7.E13
All episodesAll
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IMDbPro

Homeward

  • Episode aired Jan 15, 1994
  • TV-PG
  • 46m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
3.1K
YOUR RATING
Paul Sorvino and Penny Johnson Jerald in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)
ActionAdventureDramaSci-Fi

In an attempt to preserve a race of people on a planet being bombarded by storms that would kill them, Worf's foster brother violates the Prime Directive, leaving the Enterprise crew in a di... Read allIn an attempt to preserve a race of people on a planet being bombarded by storms that would kill them, Worf's foster brother violates the Prime Directive, leaving the Enterprise crew in a difficult position.In an attempt to preserve a race of people on a planet being bombarded by storms that would kill them, Worf's foster brother violates the Prime Directive, leaving the Enterprise crew in a difficult position.

  • Director
    • Alexander Singer
  • Writers
    • Gene Roddenberry
    • Naren Shankar
    • Spike Steingasser
  • Stars
    • Patrick Stewart
    • Jonathan Frakes
    • LeVar Burton
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    7.0/10
    3.1K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Alexander Singer
    • Writers
      • Gene Roddenberry
      • Naren Shankar
      • Spike Steingasser
    • Stars
      • Patrick Stewart
      • Jonathan Frakes
      • LeVar Burton
    • 25User reviews
    • 8Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro

    • Photos2

    View Poster
    View Poster

    Top cast33

    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
    Penny Johnson Jerald
    Penny Johnson Jerald
    • Dobara
    • (as Penny Johnson)
    Brian Markinson
    Brian Markinson
    • Vorin
    Edward Penn
    • Kateras
    Paul Sorvino
    Paul Sorvino
    • Dr. Nikolai Rozhenko
    Susan T. Collins
    • Tarrana
    • (as Susan Christy)
    Majel Barrett
    Majel Barrett
    • Enterprise Computer
    • (voice)
    Pam Blackwell
    • Boraalan
    • (uncredited)
    Michael Braveheart
    • Crewman Martinez
    • (uncredited)
    Uriah Carr
    • Boraalan
    • (uncredited)
    David Paul Christian
    • Ten Forward Waiter
    • (uncredited)
    Tracee Cocco
    • Lt. Jae
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Alexander Singer
    • Writers
      • Gene Roddenberry
      • Naren Shankar
      • Spike Steingasser
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews25

    7.03K
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    Featured reviews

    6Hitchcoc

    Inferior Episode

    Paul Sorvino guest stars, playing Worf's dangerously careless brother, Nikolai (born of two human parents). He has embedded himself with a group of people whose planet is doomed. They have taken refuge underground, but their days are numbered. Because of the prime directive, Picard refuses Nikolai's request to save them. Brother decides to go it on his own, using the Holodeck as a holding place, causing these people to believe they have not left their planet. To get to the point, he forces Picard, et. al., to search for a planet that can sustain them. They will then be beamed down as they sleep. There is a slip up when one of them escapes the Holodeck and must be dealt with appropriately. This is such a hare-brained scheme to start with that it really pushes the limits of reality (even for science fiction).
    2jcaynon-91303

    Prime Directive Doesn't Apply Here

    The problem with this episode is that Picard clearly misinterprets what the Prime Directive is all about. The Prime Directive is about non-interference with a planetary society's culture. However, it says nothing about allowing an entire species to become extinct because of forces outside of that society's control (such as the natural disaster threatening to extinguish life from the surface of the planet in this episode). Essentially, his view would be that if a culture hasn't developed space flight capability on its own and a planetary disaster falls upon them, they should be allowed to die off.

    Clearly, that view flies in the face of the Original Series episode "All Our Yesterdays" where the Enterprise tried to save some of the people of the planet Sarpeidon when its sun was going supernova. Star Fleet had ordered Kirk to rescue at least some of the people there, people who had not developed space flight capability.

    So with the precedent already established in the Original Series, Picard's strained view simply doesn't hold any water especially since Worf's brother came up with a fairly ingenious way to transport the people without impacting their culture.
    Blueghost

    Better than usual.

    Again, original Star Trek was a plot driven "police in space" show. Star Trek the Next Generation emphasized character interaction with plots used as backdrops for character driven stories.

    Homeward is still character driven but has an interesting premise of transplanting a group of people from one world to another. The practicalities aside of finding a habitable world with a compatible atmosphere, water and edible flora and fauna, not to mention a human "mating" with the natives, this episode explores the bridging of interpersonal gaps between cultures and foster brothers.

    To be honest, it's still a chore to watch, but there's enough "alien intrigue" to mitigate The Next Generations typical slowness and soft peddled approach to story telling. George adds some plot hijinks trying to nurse both holodeck and engineering, and trying to sooth the brow of one of the guest characters adds some interest, but once again Star Trek the next Generation was designed for a broader and younger audience. Therefore any cross cultural is kept comparatively static.

    It's interesting for what it is, and had more story energy than previous episodes I had seen, but again the show has a softer approach to just everything old classic fans like me enjoyed from Kirk and Spock.

    Take that for what it is.
    7the_oak

    I liked it

    I just watched this episode and I liked it. I liked the simple, natural ways of the villagers, I like the emotional conflict between Worf and Nicolai, I like how Picard has to make tough choices, I liked Deanna's compassion when Vorin found himself terrified in ten forward, I liked the surprising ending where Vorin committed suicide. I'm not going to analyze it further to find flaws. I hope you enjoy it, too. I have to write some more to meet the requirements of the review board, so these last words coming from wintery november land Norway is just to wish you a good and peaceful day. Tonight we have a starry sky.
    4nicolasboeyer

    Prime directive apparently means "let people die under all circumstances"

    An exceptionally flawed episode. Captain Picard, Captain "creative solutions and differentiated analysis", of all people, now interpets the Prime Directive in the most dull way possible. Said directive is about avoiding interference in cultures - its purpose is to leave cultures as "original " as possible to avoid artificially induced unrest. However, if all members of a culture will die with a 100% certainly, it follows that this outcome is undoubtedly worse than any negative outcome an interference could possibly have. So it must follow that applying the Prime Directive here makes absolutely no sense at all. And let's not get started about how much Picard's behavior in this episode completely contradicts his personality and his moral values as laid out in the more than 100 episode before. Also Worf should have been totally on board with his step brothers actions since it's without a doubt the more honorable thing to rescue the villagers.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Paul Sorvino's request to appear on the series came just as the role of Nikolai was set to be cast. Producers immediately felt that Sorvino was an actor who best embodied what they were looking for in the character.
    • Goofs
      The entire premise of this episode is ridiculous. All the hemming and hawing about the unstable holodeck program was pointless. All the crew had to do was wait for the colonists to go to sleep, and gas/stun them. While they were out, reboot the holodeck, they wake up, problem solved.
    • Quotes

      Tarrana: Look!

      [the holo-grid is beginning to show through Nikolai's simulation of Boraal in a pool of water]

      Lieutenant Worf: Do not worry. It is an omen.

      Dobara: What does it mean?

      Lieutenant Worf: It is the sign of LaForge. It is a message to travelers. It is said when these lines appear and disappear in a pool of water...

      [the scene cuts to Engineering where Geordi is listening on the com-channel]

      Lieutenant Worf: ... the road ahead will be filled with good fortune.

      Lt. Cmdr. Geordi La Forge: Hang in there, Worf

      [works some controls]

      Lt. Cmdr. Geordi La Forge: Give me just a second. There, that should do it.

      Dr. Nikolai Rozhenko: [the simulation stabilizes] You see. Our journey is already blessed. The road ahead is long. Let us have a meal together and then we'll make preparations to leave.

      [after the Borallans have dispersed]

      Dr. Nikolai Rozhenko: Worf, very good work. Apparently, we don't make such a bad team after all.

      Lieutenant Worf: [can barely hide his contempt] We are not a team. I am here because Captain Picard ordered me here.

      Dr. Nikolai Rozhenko: Worf, don't we share the same goal? Aren't we trying to make this plan work?

      Lieutenant Worf: Only because you forced us into it.

      Dr. Nikolai Rozhenko: I'm not ashamed of what I did. I'm not sorry I saved their lives.

      Lieutenant Worf: You have not changed. You still expect people to solve the problems you create.

      Dr. Nikolai Rozhenko: I'm not here to work out the issues of our childhood. I'm here to save a people who I care about, and if that upsets you, then so be it.

      [storms out]

    • Connections
      Referenced in Star Trek: Insurrection (1998)
    • Soundtracks
      Star Trek: The Next Generation Main Title
      Composed by Jerry Goldsmith and Alexander Courage

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 15, 1994 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Filming locations
      • Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA(Studio)
    • Production company
      • Paramount Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 46m
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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