ST:TNG Rewatch: "When the Bough Breaks" & "Home Soil"

[retsuko]

These were another two episodes that didn't really... stand up, or congeal, or something. They weren't actively bad, though, and they did show off some seriously good character moments for the people involved, but they've left me with more questions than answers.

Comments

[alexeia_drae]

I remember becoming obsessed with the name Alexandra after watching "When the Bough Breaks." For awhile I was convinced I would grow up, have a daughter and name her Alexandra. Then the name exploded in popularity which turned me off a bit, and as I also have a niece with the name...

Granted, even as a small child I remember thinking that the episode was silly. Interesting bringing up the Children of Men angle that I hadn't thought of, it could have been a lot better if more thought was put into it.

[retsuko]

Well, to be fair, Alexandra is a pretty and versatile name. You have good taste. :)

As for the Children of Men angle, I think there's a really creepy side to this episode that didn't get played up enough. The Al-Daeans are clueless, desperate jerks who've so completely forgotten what it's like to be children themselves that they see nothing wrong with what they've done, only their own desire. P.D. James plays this up so effectively in her very chilling novel. I wish we'd forgone the techno-babble in favor of exploring those creepy ideas.