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Star Trek: The Next Generation
S1.E16
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IMDbPro

When The Bough Breaks

  • Episode aired Feb 13, 1988
  • TV-PGTV-PG
  • 45m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
3K
YOUR RATING
Michael Dorn, Jonathan Frakes, Gates McFadden, Marina Sirtis, and Patrick Stewart in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)
  • Action
  • Adventure
  • Sci-Fi
A planet that was able to cloak itself for thousands of years suddenly reveals itself, with its inhabitants proposing peace. But, after initial negotiations, children of the Enterprise are k... Read allA planet that was able to cloak itself for thousands of years suddenly reveals itself, with its inhabitants proposing peace. But, after initial negotiations, children of the Enterprise are kidnapped due to the infertility of the inhabitants.A planet that was able to cloak itself for thousands of years suddenly reveals itself, with its inhabitants proposing peace. But, after initial negotiations, children of the Enterprise are kidnapped due to the infertility of the inhabitants.
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
3K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Kim Manners
  • Writers
    • Gene Roddenberry(showrunner)
    • Hannah Louise Shearer(executive story editor)
    • Tracy Tormé(executive story editor)
  • Stars
    • Patrick Stewart
    • Jonathan Frakes
    • LeVar Burton
Top credits
  • Director
    • Kim Manners
  • Writers
    • Gene Roddenberry(showrunner)
    • Hannah Louise Shearer(executive story editor)
    • Tracy Tormé(executive story editor)
  • Stars
    • Patrick Stewart
    • Jonathan Frakes
    • LeVar Burton
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 23User reviews
    • 12Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos14

    Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)
    Wil Wheaton, Jandi Swanson, McKenzie Westmore, Amy Wheaton, Jeremy Wheaton, Jessica Bova, and Vanessa Bova in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)
    Brenda Strong, Jessica Bova, and Vanessa Bova in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)
    Gates McFadden, Marina Sirtis, and Patrick Stewart in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)
    Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)
    Gates McFadden in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)
    Gates McFadden and Patrick Stewart in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)
    Wil Wheaton in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)
    Denise Crosby and Gates McFadden in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)
    Wil Wheaton and Patrick Stewart in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)
    Michael Dorn and Marina Sirtis in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)
    Jonathan Frakes and Patrick Stewart in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Patrick Stewart
    Patrick Stewart
    • Capt. Jean-Luc Picardas Capt. Jean-Luc Picard
    Jonathan Frakes
    Jonathan Frakes
    • Cmdr. William Rikeras Cmdr. William Riker
    LeVar Burton
    LeVar Burton
    • Lt. Geordi La Forgeas Lt. Geordi La Forge
    Denise Crosby
    Denise Crosby
    • Lt. Tasha Yaras Lt. Tasha Yar
    Michael Dorn
    Michael Dorn
    • Lt. Worfas Lt. Worf
    Gates McFadden
    Gates McFadden
    • Dr. Beverly Crusheras Dr. Beverly Crusher
    Marina Sirtis
    Marina Sirtis
    • Counselor Deanna Troias Counselor Deanna Troi
    Brent Spiner
    Brent Spiner
    • Lt. Cmdr. Dataas Lt. Cmdr. Data
    Wil Wheaton
    Wil Wheaton
    • Wesley Crusheras Wesley Crusher
    Jerry Hardin
    Jerry Hardin
    • Radueas Radue
    Brenda Strong
    Brenda Strong
    • Rashellaas Rashella
    Jandi Swanson
    Jandi Swanson
    • Katieas Katie
    Paul Lambert
    Paul Lambert
    • Melianas Melian
    Ivy Bethune
    • Duanaas Duana
    Dierk Torsek
    • Dr. Bernardas Dr. Bernard
    Michele Marsh
    Michele Marsh
    • Ledaas Leda
    Dan Mason
    Dan Mason
    • Accolanas Accolan
    Philip Waller
    • Harry Bernardas Harry Bernard
    • (as Philip N. Waller)
    • Director
      • Kim Manners
    • Writers
      • Gene Roddenberry(showrunner)
      • Hannah Louise Shearer(executive story editor)
      • Tracy Tormé(executive story editor)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Aldea is the Spanish word for village.
    • Goofs
      Data explains that the Aldeans cloak works by bending light rays around the planet. This would mean that no light or other electromagnetic energy could reach the planet's surface, leaving it in complete darkness and completely frozen. It would be so cold even the planet's atmosphere would freeze and fall to the ground like snow. This would also not hide the planet's gravitational field, which would give its location and clearly as if there were no cloak at all.
    • Quotes

      [Picard has quoted Starfleet Regulation 6.57 to Radue, in order to justify Dr. Crusher's presence during negotiations]

      Lt. Commander Data: Captain, I am not aware of Regulation 6.57.

      Captain Jean-Luc Picard: No, Data, neither am I.

      Lt. Commander Data: I see, sir. Oh - I see, sir!

    • Soundtracks
      Star Trek: The Next Generation Main Title
      Composed by Jerry Goldsmith and Alexander Courage

    User reviews23

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Not as warty as most season one episodes
    It's not stellar but it's ok. It doesn't have the warts that so many first season episodes have. This one could have been slotted almost seamlessly into the second or third seasons.

    Though it does have hilarious plot holes. First, are there not orphans that might want to move here? Second, how exactly can this planet disappear again? Once the Enterprise detected it, they should easily be able to quickly determine its orbital parameters. Why didn't Picard point out that he'd already transmitted all this information to Starfleet and if anything happened to the Enterprise, a whole fleet would come looking?
    helpful•0
    0
    • bgaiv
    • Dec 9, 2021

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 13, 1988 (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
    • Production company
      • Paramount Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      45 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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