“The Child”
“The Child” The new chief medical officer, Dr. Pulaski, assumes her post, and Geordi is promoted to chief engineer. While the Enterprise is ferrying samples of a deadly virus, Deanna is impregnated by an alien lifeform and, after only 36 hours, she gives birth to a boy whom she names Ian Andrew after her father. The boy continues to grow at a fast rate and this affects the virus samples too which threaten to break out of their containment. Ian decides to leave his humanoid body. His intention was to experience birth, life and death of humanoids. summary by Ex-Astris-Scientia
By the time I saw this episode, I had already been deep in love with Star Trek. Well, TNG, to be precise, since it was the only series I knew back then.
Anyway, I just loved this one. The boy was cute, the way he was conceived and then growing up was such a mistery. Deanna’s feelings were real. My only justification is that I wasn’t a mother yet.
I saw the episode again two years ago, when my son was eight years old and I could understand it much deeper. If I were Deanna there, I’d go crazy after losing my child like that.
Going back to the episode, the scene when they’re watching the fetus on the screen and while discussing its future Deanna starts hearing his heartbeat is one of my favourites of all Star Trek. I also liked Riker’s attitude. Though he tends to annoy me just as Kirk did in TOS, I must admit he’s got his moments. This was one of them. Caring and supportive: that’s how I like my friends, too.