Star Trek: The Next Generation
(1987–1994)
Deanna is impregnated by a unknown alien life-form, and Dr. Katherine Pulaski joins the Enterprise as the ship's new Chief Medical Officer.
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Title: The Child (21 Nov 1988)
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Cast
| Episode complete credited cast: | |||
| Patrick Stewart | ... | Capt. Jean-Luc Picard | |
| Jonathan Frakes | ... | Cmdr. William Riker | |
| LeVar Burton | ... | Lt. Geordi La Forge | |
| Michael Dorn | ... | Lt. Worf | |
| Marina Sirtis | ... | Counselor Deanna Troi | |
| Brent Spiner | ... | Lt. Cmdr. Data | |
| Wil Wheaton | ... | Wesley Crusher | |
| Diana Muldaur | ... | Doctor Pulaski | |
| Seymour Cassel | ... | Lt. Cmdr. Hester Dealt | |
| Whoopi Goldberg | ... | Guinan | |
| R.J. Williams | ... | Ian Andrew Troi | |
| Colm Meaney | ... | Transporter Chief | |
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Dawn Arnemann | ... | Ms. Gladstone |
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Zachary Benjamin | ... | Young Ian Andrew Troi |
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Dore Keller | ... | Crewman |
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Plot Summary
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Storyline
The ship has a new chief medical officer, Dr. Katherine Pulaski, now that Beverley Crusher has been made head of Starfleet Medical. The Enterprise is on an emergency mission to collect plague samples for analysis but Counselor Troi unexpectedly finds herself pregnant. She also finds her pregnancy advancing very quickly with conception to birth expected to take no more than 48 hours. Once born the child, whom Troi names Ian Andrew after her father, grows at a rapid rate proceeding through childhood in a matter of hours. Meanwhile Guinan, who tends the bar in Ten Forward, a crew lounge, gives Wesley Crusher some advice. Written by garykmcd
Plot Keywords:
immaculate conception | impregnation | season premiere | hangar bay | shuttlecraft bay |Parents Guide:
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Dr. Kate Pulaski: Are easy births the norm for Betazoids?
Counselor Deanna Troi: Not according to my mother.
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Composed by Jerry Goldsmith and Alexander Courage
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Did You Know?
Trivia
The holographic image of the containment module Geordi calls up that is projected from Picard's table is the last time we see such 3D imagery used during conferences and meetings to display information. This method was used in the first season to show information on planets, ships, and star systems, but for the rest of the show's run, the 2D displays embedded in the walls of the observation lounge are used for this purpose. See more »Goofs
Pulaski describes the fetus as identical to Troi "in every way", yet if that were truly the case, it would be female instead of male. See more »Quotes
[Troi undergoes a completely painless delivery]Dr. Kate Pulaski: Are easy births the norm for Betazoids?
Counselor Deanna Troi: Not according to my mother.
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Soundtracks
Star Trek: The Next Generation Main TitleComposed by Jerry Goldsmith and Alexander Courage
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The episode was just weird. Not sure what they were thinking making this the opener of season 2. The more I think about the plot, the more I realize how ridiculous it was.
The acting has improved considerably since season one. The newly added characters seem solid. This is not a good reflection on a pretty well written season 2.