Picard, Guinan, Ro Laren, and Keiko O'Brien are returning to the Enterprise when an energy field surrounds their shuttlecraft. They're beamed out before the shuttle is destroyed... but in the process are transformed into pre-teen versions of themselves. As Dr. Crusher searches for a way to restore them to adulthood, the Enterprise responds to a distress call. Ferengi profiteers in Klingon birds-of-prey have cooked up an ambush and manage to capture the ship. But the "children" have slipped under the Ferengi's radar, and now must retake the ship.
This episode came from an idea pitched by a freelancer back in season five, and may have been inspired by the final episode of the animated Star Trek series, "The Counter-Clock Incident" (in which a phenomenon causes everyone on the Enterprise to age rapidly in reverse). Only the two oldest members of the writing staff -- Michael Piller and Jeri Taylor -- wanted to buy the idea; the rest thought it was ludicrous. But since Piller and Taylor were the two showrunners in seasons five and six, they went for it, perhaps interested in the notion of a "second childhood episode."
Several drafts from outside writers were going nowhere, and finally it was "do or die" time for the episode -- Whoopi Goldberg was at the end of her window of availability, and everyone felt this episode needed to have Guinan. So Ronald D. Moore drew the assignment for a polish (uncredited) on the script. Personally, I think he saved the story, even if he did feel going in that it was "completely insane." He really focused on the characters, keeping their individual voices crystal clear even in younger bodies, and explored what a serious reaction by everyone to the situation might look like. And it's that first half of the episode -- before the Ferengi show up -- that really makes the episode work.
For his part, Picard wants to just keep working. His desire to ignore the problem borders on the irrational; he doesn't even want to hang around the site of the accident to gather information that might help in restoring him. He has to put up with people around him suddenly losing respect for him -- even if unintentionally. Even Data briefly forgets protocol, hastily adding a "sir" when addressing the child captain.
Miles and Keiko have to deal with an intense strain on their relationship. Miles wants to comfort his wife, but understandably struggles to get over a child wanting to get close to him. Only when their own daughter Molly fails to recognize Mommy (a heartbreaking moment for Keiko) does the massive wall between them start to come down.
Ensign Ro has only hatred of her childhood, and disgust at the thought of having it inflicted on her again. But really, it's growing up as a Bajoran refugee that Ro hates. Guinan is eager to wring whatever bit of fun she can out of the situation, for however long it lasts, and encourages Ro to do the same and have the real childhood she was denied the first time around. Under Guinan's guidance, Ro actually starts to enjoy her situation -- and is even reluctant to turn back at the end of the episode.
As thoughtful as all these character moments are on the page, they wouldn't work on the screen if they hadn't cast some wonderful child actors to play the parts. All four studied their adult counterparts, and mind the details in their performances. Young Picard is played by David Tristan Birkin (who also played Picard's nephew in "Family"). He brilliantly captures the indignity of the situation -- and mimics Patrick Stewart's trademark tunic tug. Megan Parlen perfectly evokes Michelle Forbes in playing both Young Ro's disgust and eventual enjoyment -- and pulls off one of Forbes' signature one-heel turns. As Young Guinan, Isis J. Jones retains all of Guinan's regal dignity, even while acting like a child. (This was not Jones' only experience as a young Whoopi Goldberg; she served the same role in the movie Sister Act, released the same year as this episode.) And as young Keiko... well, I'll be honest, Caroline Junko King feels like the weak link here. But casting one solid child actor is a coup, and three out of four is a minor miracle.
Guiding these actors in their performances was first time director Adam Nimoy, son of Leonard Nimoy. After first pursuing a career in law, Adam decided to follow in his father's footsteps. He assisted director Nicholas Meyer during the production of Star Trek VI, and then began to shadow different directors on The Next Generation. This was quite a tough assignment he pulled for his debut, but he got it not only by his own determination, but with the support of Whoopi Goldberg. She'd kept her filming schedule open as late as she had specifically to work with Leonard Nimoy's son.
It's actually the second half of the episode that I find a bit tougher to swallow. It feels a bit unnatural, even forced. To save money on the visual effects, the production reused shots from "Yesterday's Enterprise" -- that meant Klingon ships. But they're crewed by Ferengi, being the only race you could ever believe a bunch of kids defeating. Even then, the rest of the crew has to be stupid enough to be beaten by a bunch of Ferengi in the first place. It's a vicious cycle.
Still, even if it's all one "ask" too many after the whole transporter-turns-people-into-kids thing, it is all great fun, to be sure. Bringing actual child Alexander in as a "young warrior" to assist in the plan is a nice touch. And how can you not smile at Picard's hissy-fit, picturing Patrick Stewart performing it? Plus, the scenes between Picard and Riker are pure comic gold. ("He's my Number One Dad!") Riker's ruse to distract the Ferengi is also particularly inspired -- a scene which Ronald Moore dubbed his "Salute to Technobabble." The Next Generation didn't do comedy often, but it certainly felt like they mined every bit from this premise.
Other observations:
- Dramatically, there might have been one or two missed opportunities. First, I think it might have been interesting if Miles had blamed himself for the accident that affected his wife, since he was operating the transporter that turned the four into children. And second, I think involving Worf in the accident might have been a great opportunity, pairing a young Worf with his own son of the same age.
- Speaking of Worf, even the Ferengi get to "beat him up," knocking him out cold with a phaser blast.
- The "RVN" element of biology is completely made up here, as Rick Berman specifically asked for some other thing here besides the often-referenced DNA. Unexplained is how clothes change size too. And unexplained in the long term are any ramifications of the key to immortality apparently discovered by accident in this episode. Just run yourself through the transporter every so often and start over again at adolescence with all your memories intact!
- This was Miles and Keiko's last appearance on The Next Generation before moving over to Deep Space Nine. (Though this episode was actually filmed after the pilot for Deep Space Nine.)
- Michelle Forbes, eager for a movie career, not only rejected the offer to become a main character on Deep Space Nine, she increasingly pulled away from guest appearances on The Next Generation. This was her only appearance in all of season six -- and she's only actually on screen during the teaser. In part because of Forbes' unavailability, and given that this episode never actually shows Ro restored, the writers briefly toyed with the idea of leaving her as a child to keep the character on the show! Ultimately, they decided that was too drastic a change.
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