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Star Trek: The Next Generation 1x17 "When the Bough Breaks" - Full Watch-along (Patreon)

Published:
2025-12-05 19:00:11
Imported:
2026-10

Content

Follow along with me using your own copy of the episode!

Files

Star Trek: The Next Generation 1x17 "When the Bough Breaks" - Full Watch-along

Comments

Preaching to the Horse's Mouth

Not an omg high stakes barn-burner of an episode (we promise, B, those are coming) but a solid, if a little trope-y science fiction outing. The society that has turned itself over to automation and therefore forgotten how to fend for itself is certainly something that turns up in this genre quite often but it's still a fun time. Sappy and emotional but I still enjoy it. A good Wesley episode, showing his morals and what a good kid he is.

NateWiz

"when the bough breaks" is another way to say "enough is enough" or I can't take anymore.

Roland Steiger

Has the poll for another sci-fi tv show happened yet? I'm rooting for Stargate and X-Files

Seth Walker

This is one of my favorite season 1 episodes. Like many of these season 1 episodes this feels like a lost TOS plot with TNG grafted over it. But where as that doesn't usually work out well in my opinion, this one really does. The cast is developing nicely and getting more comfortable in their roles so that really helps here. The layers of Picard are starting to peel back a bit allowing the character to become more likable and Riker is geling better than the ridiculous stilted over the top way he was portrayed in the first half of the season. This is in my top 5 of season 1 for sure.

Greg

"When the bough breaks" is also a line from one of the most oldest and well known nursery rhymes, "Rock a Bye Baby". And since this episode resolves around kids, it describes it very well. I think this is a case of an episode that YOU enjoyed more then I did Bunny. I don't HATE it, and on watching it again today for the first time in a long time I can see perhaps I was a bit too harsh on it. It's not a favorite of mine though. There's a lot to like about this episode -- the premise is interesting, the acting across the board is solid -- both from the regulars like Patrick Stewart and Will Wheaton to the kids, it ties into current events like a lot of ST episodes do in an interesting way and has a overall happy and positive ending. You also learn more about how things operate on the ship and see inside glimpses with things like families. I always found this episode slow paced though and a bit boring at parts. It's yet ANOTHER episode that draws from TOS episodes a bit too heavily for it's ideas and elements. There is a lot that could have been done, such as Wesley interacting more with the computer (why even HAVE it if it's just window dressing?) and some other plot points that just don't make sense to me. Strong guest acting as usual in this episode. Radue was played by Jerry Hardin, who would go on to be a regular character in the X-Files. Rashella was played by Brenda Strong, who has done numerous TV shows and movies. Katie was played by Jandi Swanson, who also went on to appear in several TV shows. Paul Lambert and Ivy Bethune round out the guest starts, both also experienced acting vets. Several uncredited children appeared, including McKenzie Westmore, the daughter of make-up supervisor Michael Westmore, and the younger siblings of Wil Wheaton, Jeremy and Amy. The whole idea of the Enterprise having family and kids on it in the FIRST place was a MAJOR change from TOS and was controversial with the fans when it first aired, to say nothing of NOW. There's pro's and con's for it. The argument that Roddenberry made, as quoted from the series bible, was "The starship is designed to be home (home in a very literal sense) to 1012 persons. Gone is the metallic sterility of the original ship.... Starfleet has begun encouraging crewpersons to share the space exploration adventure with their families." With the Enterprise being on a 'never ending mission', it was believed that officers would be happier and more productive with their loved ones with them on the ship. Of course there's numerous problems with that approach, just one of which we saw in this episode here. It should be noted that as far as I'm aware that this 'experiment' was ONLY done with Galaxy Class ships -- no other class of starship was mentioned having families aboard. For a story based reason you could say that was due to the size of the ship -- Galaxy Class ships were huge, after all. But even the next bigger class of ships, the Sovereign Class, didn't have families, which is why I said this was an 'experiment' that Starfleet finally decided against. (Bunny has seen First Contact, so mentioning the Sovereigns here isn't a spoiler.) And yes, the little girl was very cute, as well as Picard's reactions to her as he clearly doesn't like kids, LOL. But PLEASE note Bunny -- Picard DID show concern for Wesley on the bridge after that scanning beam, taking his shoulder and asking him in a gentle voice if he was alright.

Mark Chrisco

Google the Nursery Rhyme "Rock-a-bye-baby." i think that will answer some of your questions regarding the episode title.

뱀파이안젤

Aldea has "scientists" yet because "The Custodian" gives them anything, they don't care to question "how stuff works" which is the fundamental driving prerequisite for all "science" ...riiiiiight.... "scientists" XD

Summer

I like this one, it shows the best of Wesley, some gems for Bev, seeds of Picard, the kids were great, sure some of the logic is sus but it always is

William Terry

Another spot-the-TOS-plotlines episode. Even the planet setting is 1960-'70. It looked like Gamera was going to save the children. The statuesque actress who played Rashella saved the episode. The kidnap plot was like the Romans and the Sabine women when on a signal they grabbed them to marry them since the founders had no women with them when they set up Rome. I give When the Bough Breaks an 8; they show the inner workings of Landrue, Val, Nomad, etc.

Desmond

The idea of a planet run by a computer where the people have forgotten how to take care of themselves was very TOS, IMO.

reply

Can you imagine ever being t h i s attached to children?

Jeremiah

“This isn’t the only planet with wood!” made me lol 😂

Carlos Stevens

heh heh, the (full) quote your looking for is... "Steve Austin... astronaut. A man barely alive. Gentlemen, we can rebuild him. We have the technology. We have the capability to make the world's first bionic man. Steve Austin will be that man. We can make him better than he was before. Better... stronger... faster." I remember watching that show when I was like 10. I'm impressed with your '70s TV show knowledge. Now I'd be super impressed if you can do your best impression of Rod Sterling.

Max

Wait, you can cure infertility by removing radiation?

Max

oh right it's hundreds of years in the future advanced medical technology... ok then :)

Carlos Stevens

"I like the kids in this better than the TOS episodes..." What did we get in TOS? ...BONK BONK... BONK BONK... and Kids magically empowered by space demon... yeah, much better.

Carlos Stevens

You know... the Aldarian could have just asked for orphans instead of kidnapping. It would have gone better for them.

Carlos Stevens

When the bough breaks is from a old nursery rhyme. "...when the bough breaks, the cradle will fall..."

Carlos Stevens

Oh lordy... Bunny is in denial; her reaction to this episode made it clear and obvious. She has the baby rabies. Bunny, have a talk with your husbando... Y'all need to have a child. Stop putting it off.

Carlos Stevens

Its more gene repair therapy. Come on, don't you remember the TOS episode when Kirk, Spock and McCoy rapidly aged from radiation poisoning, but the standard "hydrodronoline" treatment had no effect?

Carlos Stevens

Are you literally trying to make Bunny's baby rabies symptoms worse?

Carlos Stevens

Yes, very very much so. Gene Roddenberry definitely had his hands in this episode.

Matthew Graves (Graviton)

Cute outfit Bunny. That’s a good look for you. This is another good, solid episode. You probably liked it a bit more than me but it’s definitely one of the better season 1 episodes. Solid guest acting all around, even from the kids. One of Wesley’s better early appearances. And some nice work by Patrick Stewart showing Picard as awkward around children, but still empathetic and protective. I’ve really got no complaints other than there wasn’t much action, but then, not every episode needs it.. One thing it does hammer home is how absolutely bat shit crazy the idea of having children on a starship is if you really think about it. Also, piece of advice for any leader: if you ever find yourself uttering the phrase “a small demonstration of our power” chances are you do not occupy the moral high ground no matter how noble you may think your intentions are. Just sayin.

Carlos Stevens

I wish I learned calculus in the 3rd grade. Sadly, I had to wait for college. And oooooo, I was so mad after the end of the 3rd semester when I learned that I could just throw everything I learned out for that one formula that solved pretty much everything I just spent the previous two semesters learning. (I know, I know... it's about the journeyer, not the destination). }:-(

Carlos Stevens

h-Wil h-Wheton never overcame "SHUT UP WESLEY!"

Carlos Stevens

How about The Six Million Dollar Man (since Bunny was trying to quote it)?

Mark Gosine

I had to scan the comments to make sure I didn't repeat. Most just sing the song and skim over that meaning.

Mark Gosine

OK. just stop taking my ideas.

Bret Kay

The title is from an old nursery rhyme: "Rock-a-bye baby, in the tree tops. When the wind blows, the cradle will rock. When the bough breaks, the cradle will fall. And down will come baby, cradle and all." Kind of weird now that I think about the words lol

John DiGiantomasso

Maybe you are sad because you lost your Dad (a Star Trek fan) and so the loss family forever here resonated with you...

Carlos Stevens

I think it was an actual thing back in the day... I seem to remember there was a purpose to it... but alas, I don't remember right now.

Carlos Stevens

Well, you know... it would have been the appropriate solution, but then we wouldn't have a story to tell.

bunnytails

That’s actually a really good idea

bunnytails

I’ve gotten by so far without it, with varying success.

bunnytails

Nope. Lots of people asked for more movies so I might focus on that for a bit first.