TNG S2E1 "The Child" Review By AnswerMan

Horrible:Meh:Adequate:Good:Fantastic

Crusher has left the Enterprise to head up Star Fleet Medical. In her place is Dr. Pulaski, who introduces herself to the captain while explaining an important medical situation. It seems that a being of light has impregnated Troi, and the fetus is growing at a rapid rate. The senior staff discuss what should be done, with Worf falling squarely on the side of aborting it. They discuss the matter as if she's not in the room, but when she speaks up and says she intends to carry it to full term, her decision is accepted without further comment by everyone in attendance. Her right to choose is the only possible factor in the situation, even though the pregnancy could pose unknown threats to the entire crew. It's a great moment, and one that probably brushed up against some controversy at the time.

Lt Chest Sweater did not get picked for breeding

Meanwhile the Enterprise is playing cargo ship by transporting a special shipping container of horrible diseases from a planet with a numerical name. Pulaski is all over this situation making it known that she's assertive and takes her job seriously. Her tone is completely different from Crusher's, and it's safe to say that she will not be invited to stay for breakfast in the captain's quarters.

Troi has the baby, which becomes a school age child within the first day. Also, lucky for her, there was no birth pain and she's all healed up and feeling fine. He continues to grow, and is a precocious young lad. He is aware that he is different, and clearly knows more about what's going on than he is saying. But soon he's dying, and it's kind of a good thing because he's emitting radiation that is going to cause the diseases to break free of the container and kill everyone. When he dies in Troi's arms, his body dissipates back into energy, and he telepathically communicates with Troi for a moment. He explains that he's just a curious alien that wanted to experience what it was like to be human.

I chose to watch this episode after listening to an interview with Marina Sirtis on the Mission Log podcast. She said that it was important episode about abortion and a woman's universal right to choose. They also discussed that the topic of consent was left untouched, even though she obviously was impregnated against her will. Those are both good takeaways from the episode, but I thought the most striking aspect was that the episode tells the story of Jesus Christ.

Star Trek often tells religious stories from an atheistic perspective by simply defining gods as aliens. However, I usually fail to see the difference. I wonder what an alien would have to do for Star Trek to call it a god? I mean let's face it, Q is a god. In this case, the parallels between the plot and the story of Christianity are undeniable. In Christianity, God comes to Mary and impregnates her. He then becomes the baby, and is raised normally, but has knowledge beyond his raising. He then must die in order to save everyone else. In "The Child," an alien comes to Troi and impregnates her. He then becomes the baby, and is raised normally, but has knowledge beyond his raising. He then must die in order to save everyone else. So, a few similarities.

As an episode of Trek, "The Child" is pretty Good. I love Pulaski, and feel that she made a solid mark in her first appearance, as did the mysterious Guinan. The main plot was engaging and kept me interested, and the B plot of the disease transport served its purpose of creating urgency an implementing Pulaski throughout the story. Wesley deciding to stay on the Enterprise even though his mommy is gone was less entertaining than it was just necessary to explain.

Published March 18, 2018