Star Trek TNG - Season 7 - Episode 21
Star Trek TNG - 7x21 - Firstborn
Originally Aired: 1994-4-25
Synopsis:
Worf worries about the fate of his son, Alexander. [DVD]
Problems
None
Factoids
- This is the only TNG episode in which Quark appears.
- Quark makes a reference to the Pakleds in this episode.
Remarkable Scenes
- Worf's preoccupation with Alexander.
- Worf participating in the Klingon ceremony telling the story of Khaless and Molor.
- Alexander defeating the actor Molor.
- Riker mentioning the Duras sisters' incident on Deep Space Nine. Good continuity.
- K'mtar's speech to Alexander about the appeal of becoming a warrior.
- Quark's conversation with Riker.
- Alexander's lesson in the holodeck.
- K'mtar trying to encourage Alexander to become a warrior.
- Riker uncovering a Klingon Bird of Prey.
- Worf regarding the tarnishing of the good name of the Duras sisters: "You cannot tarnish a rusted blade!"
- Future Alexander telling his story.
My Review
This episode features a pleasing Klingon story. Alexander still does not want to be a warrior, Worf's family's status in the empire is still being challenged by the Duras family once again. The plot twist at the end revealing K'mtar to actually be Alexander from the future was excellent. Made a rather ordinary albeit above average Klingon episode much more exciting and interesting. Another well done episode.
The following are comments submitted by my readers.
I really like this episode for many reasons. I am partial to any Klingon story episodes. A nice feature of this episode is when K'Mtar is teaching Alexander how to fight on the holodeck. It gives us a glimpse into Klingon hand-to-hand combat strategy. Interesting factoid; James Sloyan, who played K'Mtar in this episode, also played Setal/Admiral Jarok in the STTNG episode, The Defector.
This is one of my favorite episodes of season 7.
They knew the end was coming, and the writers were certainly tying up loose ends this season, and their dealing with Alexander (even though they brought him back in DS9) was masterful.
When it first aired, I just thought it was an interesting show, but every few years I do a re-watch of all the Star Trek series (that's what I'm doing now)
Oddly, I find that they help me center myself, as I grow older. I find that each time I watch them, as I progress through the stages of life, I find something different that I never found before (probably why ST has touched so many, especially TNG)...
As a father now, decades later, rewatching this show just tonight, I think it touches on many of the feelings, challenges and fears I've faces as my daughter turns into a young woman.
Rearing a child is the scariest thing I've done in my life, for all of the reasons indicated in this episode.
I think that aspect alone, deserves praise. I would rate this episode an 8 out of 10, for those reasons.
Until this episode, I wasn’t a huge fan of Alexander. I found Wesley Crusher a lot more tolerable. But they finally came up with a great plot involving Alexander. The messages about children wishing in hindsight that they’d been more receptive to their parents’ teachings, and parents learning to let their children find their own destinies resonated powerfully. And I like the reappearance of the Duras sisters. It portrays these Klingon feuds as potentially lasting generations.