Character development episode for Worf. Not my favorite cuz I'm not into kids, but Alexander is a more interesting kid than Wesley in the long run because he further develops Klingon culture by way of Worf's interaction with him throughout the rest of the series.
The Enterprise is going to see a new method of propulsion being tested out; a Solitan Wave. And Geordi is nerding out in front of Data and Worf who arent' as excited about it as he his. You gotta love Geordi's devotion to his work. Worf then gets a transmission from his adopted mother who brings his son on board. Worf thinks it's just a visit but Alexander is under the impression that he's not going back.
So this episode is mostly about Worf being thrust somewhat unexpectedly into parenthood. He'd sent Alexander to live with his parents after K'Ehleyr died in the episode Reunion which was a sensible thing to do. But his mother points out that they're getting too old to raise a Klingon child which requires a lot of energy. She also discusses Alexander's behavioral problems with him... that he'd been lying and such. Worf appears to be in denial of that, but he's also not committed to taking Alexander on. You see the embarrassment when he's introducing him to the school teacher that will be in charge of him on the ship as he doesn't even know Alexander's birthday. Alexander feels dejected, and rightfully so. You also see Worf having to suffer through the discomfort of rearranging his schedule to deal with appointments for his child. He's not the only officer on board with a kid, but being faced with the prospect of changing his lifestyle to accommodate his son makes him feel inadequate for his duties. Picard finds it mildly amusing and I'm sure a lot of parents in the audience feel no sympathy. But it's not the same as if a playboy like Riker had been saddled with a kid.
So, the guy they're consulting with on the new propulsion technology explains that the wave will push the test ship into warp speed. Warp without warp power. It's a neat little bit of story that doesn't have enough to it to stand on its own, so it becomes the subplot to Worf's new responsibilities. He goes to a Father-Son field trip of sorts where the teacher is showing the children different species of lizards and Alexander loves it. He loves it so much that he steals one of the model lizards and the teacher catches him. At first Worf doesn't believe the teacher but then pulls the lizard from his pocket. I'm glad at this scene because I've had occasion to observe second hand a lot of parents who let their kids get away with anything and if a teacher tries to discipline even a little they get raked over the coals for it. Worf then gets to teach Alexander a lesson about lying using Klingon mythology regarding Kahless and his brother Morath. Worf is really in his element here because he's getting to pass on the Klingon culture that he loves so much. He's starting to become interested in having Alexander around now.
But Alexander continues to run wild. He disobeys the teacher again and Worf tries again to brush it off with the fact that a Klingon child simply requires a firm hand. But he also goes looking for him. He's proud to see him working a batliff in his own calisthenics routine on the holodeck, but when he tries to take parental command Alexander refuses to obey him and Worf decides that he's going to send him to a Klingon school. Alexander takes it the wrong way of course and assumes that Worf is sending him away because he's ashamed of him. But Worf's motivations aren't bad. It's not that he doesn't really want
Alexander or that he's too lazy to care for him, but he simply feels
that he can't teach him discipline in this environment. His frustration with having to figure out how to deal with a stubborn Klingon boy is driving his decisions. He talks a lot with Troi in this episode and she finally gets to do her job some more by counseling Worf on how they both need healing from K'Ehleyr's death. I complain a lot about her not doing her job on the ship because times like these are equally as important as reading the feelings of a sinister enemy.
While all that is going on, the Soliton wave worked but it also destroyed the test ship and then got away. It's speed keeps increasing as it rockets towards another planet. The Enterprise must get in front of it and set off and explosion to stop it, but their shields are still weak from the explosion of the test ship. Worf also gets some good advice from Picard at this point comparing the challenge of raising a child to the challenges he's had to deal with in Star Fleet and I think that's the real turning point for Worf as far as changing his mind about Alexander goes.
So, the Enterprise has run out of time to go over, under, or around the wave to get in front of it before it reaches Lemma II, so now they have no choice but to ride through the wave. In the meantime Alexander has wandered off from Worf's quarters after Worf told him to stay. He goes back to the biolab to look at the lizard he likes and is trapped in there when the ship takes heavy damage from the wave. They detect a fire and a life sign in the biolab.
Naturally they don't have much time since the priority is protecting the planet and the fact that the biolab would be flooded with radiation when the torpedo is launched. So Picard sends Riker with Worf to help rescue Alexander and it's a wonderful scene where Worf gets to show off his Klingon strength by lifting a beam off his son. Alexander is shown to be tender hearted as he begs them to save the lizard and Riker goes back for it, but they get out in time just as the wave has been shut down.
Worf decides to keep Alexander on board and he interests Alexander in the arrangement by likening it to a challenge that would be more difficult than attending a Klingon school. And from what I hear from parents, he's probably not wrong.
And that's how the character of Alexander becomes a new secondary character on the show. They hired a different boy to play Alexander and it's okay because you really can't tell the difference from the first one due to the makeup. All in all it's a good episode. The content is relevant, it's interesting to watch, and anything that develops Worf's character is fascinating. I have no complaints. It's jut not on my list of favorites, so I can't go more than three and a half stars.
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