TNG 4x04: "Suddenly Human"
Aug. 5th, 2012 09:01 am![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
tafadhali.livejournal.com posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
1summermissionEpisode Notes:
+ Deanna wins MVfreakingP of this episode for her masterful ability to keep a straight face and a nearly entirely unsarcastic tone when faced with the shocking -- SHOCKING -- revelation that Picard is slightly uncomfortable around children! SHOCKING. She gets extra points for then gently calling him to task on it in a way that makes me appreciate her counselor-fu for once.
+ Even more bonus points for pulling out "Did you have any friends as a child?" Snap, Deanna.
+ On the other hand, I wish there had been more Worf, who is really the only person on the Bridge who can understand the birth-parents-died-in-war-adopted-by-aliens-and-raised-on-another-planet thing. His and Jono's experiences are very different, but still -- I feel like Worf could have had more to say. (I also felt like Jono's dismissive, "I am no more human than you are!" was a bit disingenuous, because, indeed, Worf is much more human by Jono's nurture versus nature argument.)
+ I entertain myself by thinking that the reason Jono wins all the games is that the people he is raised among, although a warrior species, are just innately physically weaker than humans. I mean, being a warrior doesn't make you stronger than an alien species, you know?
+ Wesley with a banana split to the face? PRICELESS!
Overall Reaction: I restrained myself above, but from now on, I will refer to Jono by his proper name: Chad Allen. HI CHAD ALLEN, HI. It took me like ten minutes to recognize your baby face, but once I did I was so excited! HI!
A ball of confusion, that's what Chad Allen is today. The crew of the Enterprise struggles with what to do with the rescued Chad Allen, who has thoroughly assimilated to his adoptive/slightly kidnappy culture, and through his exposure to Starfleet, he too begins to question where his loyalties lie -- with the man he knows as his father, or with his birth species. But let's be real here: all we really care about is watching Picard be terrible with children when he is saddled with an unexpected teenaged roommate. That is the entire point of this episode.
Picard! Honey! So bad at this! Picard alternates between gruff orders and awkward commiseration, used to being obeyed and uncomfortable with the noise and emotion and confusion that comes with adolescents. (Picard, I honestly can't believe you refused to let him listen to music EVER; what were you hoping to accomplish there? Just tell him to respect your need for quiet when you are present in your quarters and to mind the volume otherwise! This is not a kid who is being purposefully difficult to you! Taking away all of his self-soothing techniques is obviously going to backfire.) And, of course, because Picard struggles so much with children, it was satisfying as ever to see his innate compassion overcome his awkwardness in the rather touching Holodeck scene where Chad Allen begins to experience flashbacks to the death of his parents.
As to the resolution, I think the Enterprise made the right call. The episode is a nice defense of adoption and the validity of made families, and Chad Allen's relationship with his father was well done. Add in the fact that Jono was of legal majority in Telerian culture and had already suffered enough unspeakable trauma for one lifetime (constantly switching custody? REALLY NOT GOOD FOR KIDS, SURPRISE! Of course, it doesn't usually lead to attempted-suicide-through-stabbing-Starfleet-officers, but the kid was going through a lot), and they've sold me! But...I do wonder what they're going to tell his grandparents, and if Starfleet isn't going to have a lawsuit on their hands from one pissed off and grief-stricken admiral. Maybe they can become pen pals?
Star Rating: ***
Quote of the Episode:
"There was a crime committed on board this ship, but it was not Jono's; it was mine. When we found Jono, it seemed so clear what had to be done. We knew that if we could only... persuade him to make the decision to stay, then you would most likely let him. So with the best of intentions, we tried to convince him. And in so doing... we thoroughly failed to listen to *his* feelings, to his needs. That was the crime. And it has... taken a huge toll on a strong and a very... noble young man. And it must be rectified. He will return home - to the only home he's ever known. And to the father that he loves. To you, Endar." (Picard)
+ Deanna wins MVfreakingP of this episode for her masterful ability to keep a straight face and a nearly entirely unsarcastic tone when faced with the shocking -- SHOCKING -- revelation that Picard is slightly uncomfortable around children! SHOCKING. She gets extra points for then gently calling him to task on it in a way that makes me appreciate her counselor-fu for once.
+ Even more bonus points for pulling out "Did you have any friends as a child?" Snap, Deanna.
+ On the other hand, I wish there had been more Worf, who is really the only person on the Bridge who can understand the birth-parents-died-in-war-adopted-by-aliens-and-raised-on-another-planet thing. His and Jono's experiences are very different, but still -- I feel like Worf could have had more to say. (I also felt like Jono's dismissive, "I am no more human than you are!" was a bit disingenuous, because, indeed, Worf is much more human by Jono's nurture versus nature argument.)
+ I entertain myself by thinking that the reason Jono wins all the games is that the people he is raised among, although a warrior species, are just innately physically weaker than humans. I mean, being a warrior doesn't make you stronger than an alien species, you know?
+ Wesley with a banana split to the face? PRICELESS!
Overall Reaction: I restrained myself above, but from now on, I will refer to Jono by his proper name: Chad Allen. HI CHAD ALLEN, HI. It took me like ten minutes to recognize your baby face, but once I did I was so excited! HI!
A ball of confusion, that's what Chad Allen is today. The crew of the Enterprise struggles with what to do with the rescued Chad Allen, who has thoroughly assimilated to his adoptive/slightly kidnappy culture, and through his exposure to Starfleet, he too begins to question where his loyalties lie -- with the man he knows as his father, or with his birth species. But let's be real here: all we really care about is watching Picard be terrible with children when he is saddled with an unexpected teenaged roommate. That is the entire point of this episode.
Picard! Honey! So bad at this! Picard alternates between gruff orders and awkward commiseration, used to being obeyed and uncomfortable with the noise and emotion and confusion that comes with adolescents. (Picard, I honestly can't believe you refused to let him listen to music EVER; what were you hoping to accomplish there? Just tell him to respect your need for quiet when you are present in your quarters and to mind the volume otherwise! This is not a kid who is being purposefully difficult to you! Taking away all of his self-soothing techniques is obviously going to backfire.) And, of course, because Picard struggles so much with children, it was satisfying as ever to see his innate compassion overcome his awkwardness in the rather touching Holodeck scene where Chad Allen begins to experience flashbacks to the death of his parents.
As to the resolution, I think the Enterprise made the right call. The episode is a nice defense of adoption and the validity of made families, and Chad Allen's relationship with his father was well done. Add in the fact that Jono was of legal majority in Telerian culture and had already suffered enough unspeakable trauma for one lifetime (constantly switching custody? REALLY NOT GOOD FOR KIDS, SURPRISE! Of course, it doesn't usually lead to attempted-suicide-through-stabbing-Starfleet-officers, but the kid was going through a lot), and they've sold me! But...I do wonder what they're going to tell his grandparents, and if Starfleet isn't going to have a lawsuit on their hands from one pissed off and grief-stricken admiral. Maybe they can become pen pals?
Star Rating: ***
Quote of the Episode:
"There was a crime committed on board this ship, but it was not Jono's; it was mine. When we found Jono, it seemed so clear what had to be done. We knew that if we could only... persuade him to make the decision to stay, then you would most likely let him. So with the best of intentions, we tried to convince him. And in so doing... we thoroughly failed to listen to *his* feelings, to his needs. That was the crime. And it has... taken a huge toll on a strong and a very... noble young man. And it must be rectified. He will return home - to the only home he's ever known. And to the father that he loves. To you, Endar." (Picard)
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}