2x01: THE CHILD

>EPISODE INFORMATION

Original Air Date: 21 November 1988

Stardate: 42073.1

Written By: Jaron Summers, Jon Povill and Maurice Hurley

Directed By: Rob Bowman

>ABOUT

Counselor Troi becomes pregnant when a prescence enters her body. When she gives birth to the baby, he rapidly ages and becomes a threat to the crew.

>TRIVIA

• The bridge set has been modified with lockers at the side of the bridge, the helm and con chairs are rised and Picard's computer control on his chair permanently sticks out.
• Wesley Crusher is seen wearing a grey officer's uniform for the first time as of this episode. He stops wearing this and is promoted to full Ensign in the Season 3 episode "Menage a Troi".
• The sickbay set is modified with lights on the bottom of the ceiling.
• A new set, Ten Forward, is introduced as of this episode, with a new recurring character who tends bar, named Guinan (played by Whoopi Goldberg). According to Counselor Troi in the finale "All Good Things...", Ten Forward was always on the ship as she said there was a reception in Ten Forward after Picard takes command of the Enterprise.
• This episode marks the first appearance of Diana Muldaur (Doctor Pulaski) on the series. Gates McFadden (Doctor Crusher) was renowned from the Season 2 contract because there were disagreements between her and one of the show's producers as to how the Crusher character should develop. However, Muldaur's character, Doctor Pulaski proved unpopular and Gates returned to the series in Season 3 and Muldaur's final episode is the Season 2 finale "Shades of Gray". Dr Crusher was explained in the show to have left the ship to go to Starfleet Medical.
• Riker is seen with a beard for the first time as of this episode. Apparently actor Jonathan Frakes had planned to shave his beard before returning for TNG's second season, but Executive Producer Gene Roddenberry told Frakes the beard looked good and asked him to keep it so Frakes did. Riker later shaves his beard in the film ST: Insurrection.
• The warp drive visual effect, shown inside the Enterprise, debuts in this episode.

>STARRING

• Patrick Stewart as Capt. Jean-Luc Picard
• Jonathan Frakes as Cmdr. William Riker
• LeVar Burton as Lt. Geordi La Forge
• Michael Dorn as Lt. Worf
• Marina Sirtis as Counselor Deanna Troi
• Brent Spiner as Lt. Commander Data
• Wil Wheaton as Wesley Crusher

>SPECIAL APPEARANCE BY

• Diana Muldaur as Doctor Pulaski

>SPECIAL GUEST STAR

• Whoopi Goldberg as Guinan

>GUEST STARS

• Colm Meaney as Transporter Chief
• R.J. Williams as Ian
• Seymour Cassel as Hester Dealt
• Dawn Arnemann as Miss Gladstone
• Zachary Benjamin as Young Ian
• Dore Keller as Crewman

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