"Family" is the 76th episode of the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation. The second episode of the fourth season. The episode takes place several weeks after the Borg attack on Earth shown in the episode "The Best of Both Worlds", and is sometimes considered to be a third part to the "Best of Both Worlds" story arc, although it does not include any scenes with the Borg.[1] It is one of the most popular episodes of the entire series.
Plot
The Enterprise-D is docked at Earth Station McKinley, undergoing repairs and refitting following its battle with the Borg. During the repairs many of the crew are either visiting family or receiving visits from family members. Lt. Worf's adoptive human parents, Sergei and Helena Rozhenkho, visit the Enterprise, having only just learned about his discommendation. Worf, though believing love and support is too human, belatedly appreciates their concern.
Dr. Beverly Crusher receives a chest containing her late husband Jack's mementos, including a holographic recording he made for Wesley when their child was only 10 weeks old. Beverly, worried that the two have only recently reconciled Jack's death, eventually gives the recording to Wesley, who is emotionally uplifted by the message.
In the episode's main plot, Captain Jean-Luc Picard, recovering from his Borg ordeal, visits his family's vineyard in La Barre, France, which is run by his elder brother Robert along with his wife Marie and son Rene. Robert, who has always been resentful and jealous of his brother, is critical of Jean-Luc's choice of Starfleet and leaving him to run the vineyard. Robert is concerned that Jean-Luc's presence will drive Rene to also join Starfleet. The two have a bitter argument and end up wrestling each other in a mud puddle, eventually falling into an emotional reunion, Jean-Luc thankful to relive memories of similar disagreements with Robert when they were both younger. The two spend the night getting drunk as they resolve their differences. After Jean-Luc leaves, Robert decides to let Rene follow his dreams even if they lead to Starfleet.
Notes
"Family" takes place several weeks after the Borg attack on Earth shown in the episode "The Best of Both Worlds", and is sometimes considered to be a third part to the "The Best of Both Worlds'" story arc, although it does not include any scenes with the Borg.[2]
The episode has been named in a number of polls and surveys as one of the two most popular and best episodes of the entire Next Generation series, along with "The Inner Light", which at a 4.8 rating is the most popular single episode of the series.[citation needed] "Family" is second on the top five episode list released in a Star Trek: TNG marathon survey broadcast in association with the series finale All Good Things (which also won a Saturn Award, as did "The Inner Light").
Wil Wheaton has criticised his own performance as an actor in this episode on his blog, explaining his 'shame' while watching it, "a pathetic waste" of an opportunity to move his character beyond the "two-dimensional caricature" he often complained it had become. [3]
