Summary
- Star Trek: The Next Generation introduced families on board the Enterprise-D, offering a glimpse into civilian life on a starship.
- The episode "When the Bough Breaks" showcased the importance of families on board when the children were kidnapped.
- However, as threats to the Federation escalated, the presence of families on starships became increasingly impractical and dangerous.
With Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and the USS Enterprise-D, Star Trek: The Next Generation introduced a new kind of starship that was very different from Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and his USS Enterprise in one particular way. Not only was the Enterprise-D significantly larger than Kirk's Enterprise in Star Trek: The Original Series, but it also housed the families of many of the officers on board. Picard's Enterprise was meant for exploration and potentially long missions in deep space, and the United Federation of Planets at the time was experiencing a period of peace. During Kirk's time as Captain of the Enterprise, the Federation had a conflict-filled relationship with the Klingons and threats like the Romulans asserted themselves.
Star Trek: The Next Generation season 1, episode 17, "When the Bough Breaks," brings the children of the Enterprise-D to the forefront of the story for the first time. When the Enterprise visits the mythological planet of Aldea, the Aldeans kidnap several children from the Enterprise because they cannot have children of their own. As Captain Picard tries to negotiate with the Aldeans, Ensign Wesley Crusher (Wil Wheaton) takes on a leadership role among the group of kids. The Enterprise crew eventually figures out a way to beam the children safely back to the Enterprise, and Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden) discovers that the Aldeans' inability to have children can be cured.
Three of the children are played by relatives of people involved in TNG. Wil Wheaton's younger siblings, Jeremy and Amy, play Mason and Tara, and the daughter of make-up supervisor Michael Westmore plays Rose.
