New Ground (4 Jan. 1992)

Geordi can barely curtail his enthusiasm at being able to test out a new theory of transportation, as Worf's mother boards the Enterprise with his son and news that Worf's Earthly parents can no longer care for him.

Director:

Robert Scheerer

Writers:

Gene Roddenberry (creator), Grant Rosenberg (teleplay),

Stars:

Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, LeVar Burton

Cast

Episode cast overview:
Patrick Stewart	...	Captain Jean-Luc Picard
Jonathan Frakes	...	Commander William T. Riker
LeVar Burton	...	Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge
Michael Dorn	...	Lieutenant Worf
Gates McFadden	...	Doctor Beverly Crusher
Marina Sirtis	...	Counselor Deanna Troi
Brent Spiner	...	Lt. Commander Data
Georgia Brown	...	Helena Rozhenko
Brian Bonsall	...	Alexander Rozhenko
Richard McGonagle	...	Dr. Ja'Dar
Jennifer Edwards	...	Ms. Kyle
Sheila Franklin	...	Ensign Felton
Majel Barrett	...	Enterprise Computer (voice)

Storyline

The Enterprise goes to planet Belena 3 to assist in testing the new propulsion method soliton waves. Lieutenant Worf is visited by his mother Helena and young son Alexander Rozhenko, who intends to stay with him. He soon finds the burdens of paternal duties cumbersome, especially as the frustrated schoolboy proves dishonorably mischievous. The experiment goes horribly wrong...

---

Plot Keywords:

24th century

---

Genres:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

---

Details

Release Date:

4 January 1992 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Television

Technical Specs

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

47-reference: because of anticipated ion radiation, Commander Riker suggests evacuating sections 24 to 47 of the Enterprise.

---

Goofs

When Worf brings Alexander to see Ms. Kyle, they walk into the room, talk with Ms. Kyle for a moment, and then they all sit down. At first, the wall behind Alexander's chair is solid, with a plant nearby. When the shot changes to a closeup of Alexander, there is suddenly a window with space outside and stars drifting by.

---

Quotes

Helena Rozhenko: Alexander is a, is a fine boy, Worf. He's, he's smart and he's high-spirited, a lot like you were at that age. And sometimes, when he comes running through the house, then he knocks over that big green lamp, just like you used to do.
Lieutenant Worf: I don't remember you smiling when I knocked over that lamp.
Helena Rozhenko: Well, maybe once, when you weren't looking.

---

Connections

References Star Trek: The Next Generation: Reunion (1990)

User Reviews

Alexander makes a comeback.

ST:TNG:110 - "New Ground" (Stardate: 45376.3) - this is the 10th episode of the 5th season of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Worf gets a surprise visit from his mother (Georgia Brown in her second appearance as Helena Rozhenko) who brings Alexander to the Enterprise (this time played by "Family Ties" alum Brian Bonsall, in a first of many appearances). But it's not just a visit, his mother says that she and Worf's father can no longer take care of Alexander (since they are getting old) - so Worf must learn to deal with his son wanting to stay on the Enterprise permanently (even though Worf is completely against this).

At the same time, the Enterprise is picked to test a new propulsion method called a soliton wave (basically surfing along a warp current instead of using Warp Drive Nacelles anymore).

But when the experiment goes awry and Alexander becomes trapped in a bio lab, can Worf deal with the situation, come to terms with Alexander's abandonment issues.

Trivia note: Geordi mentions that seeing the soliton wave testing is like watching Zephram Cochrane perform the first warp test (which they do later on in Star Trek: First Contact!). We also get to see the Enterprise school in this episode, which Alexander is enrolled to (as well as a field trip to the Enterprise zoo!). And, we hear the legend of the fight between Kahless (the first Klingon Emperor) and his brother Moroth, as well as see Worf's calisthenics program again, and hear mention of Worf's mate/Alexander's mother, the late K'Ehleyr.