Suddenly Human (episode)

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"Suddenly Human"
TNG, Episode 4x04 Production number: 40274-176 First aired: 15 October 1990
←	75th of 176 produced in TNG	→
←	77th of 176 released in TNG	→
	{{{nNthReleasedInSeries_Remastered}}}th of 176 released in TNG Remastered
←	184th of 727 released in all	→
Teleplay By John Whelpley & Jeri Taylor Story By Ralph Phillips Directed By Gabrielle Beaumont
44143.7 (2367)
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The Enterprise crew discovers a young Human boy being raised by the aliens who killed his parents.

Contents 1 Summary 2 Background 2.1 Video and DVD releases 3 Links and References 3.1 Guest Stars 3.2 Uncredited performers 3.3 References

[edit] Summary

"Captain's log, stardate 44143.7. We have moved into sector 21947 in response to a distress call from a Talarian observation craft. The alien vessel appears adrift, and our initial scans detected a life-threatening radiation leak within its propulsion system."

Despite Data's warnings that this may be a well-known trap as evidenced during the Talarian war, Troi senses life on board, which is fading. Picard decides to send an away team.

When they board the ship, they discover five Talarian males, all wearing uniforms, who are unconscious with radiation burns. They conclude it is a training ship, and beam them all to sickbay, but not before Doctor Crusher finds one of the boys is Human.

"Captain's log, supplemental. We have completed the evacuation of four Talarians – and one Human. How this young man found himself in the company of these aliens remains a mystery."

During their treatment, all of the Talarians and the Human, Jono, are first still and silent, despite being talked to by the doctor and nurses. Suddenly, they all begin rocking and howling. Only when the captain comes in and commands them to stop loudly do they all stop. The boy is silent until he hears Picard addressed as captain, and then he admits his name is Jono and requests formally to return home to his captain, Endar.

When Picard talks to Doctor Crusher, she explains other medical findings, in addition to the radiation: two previously fractured ribs, a broken arm, and a low-grade concussion, all sustained during the past seven years. She believes that he has been with the Talarians for some time, since he has assimilated their culture, and it is they who could have brutalized him to cause the injuries.

After Picard stops Jono from resisting further medical examination, again by commanding him to stop struggling, they receive a subspace message from Starfleet identifying the boy as the grandson of Admiral Rossa. The crew concludes that the boy must rediscover his Human identity, and that Picard – the only one he has listened to so far – must be the one to help him do it.

The Enterprise is intercepted by the Talarian ship Q'Maire and Picard arranges to send over the four Talarian youth they rescued, and also asks why a human has been been in their custody for so long. Picard learns that Jono was adopted by Captain Endar after he led the forces that wiped out the colony Jono (whose birth name is Jeremiah) lived on with his parents until he was three and half years old. Endar beams aboard to discuss the return of Jono to the Talarians, and Picard accuses Endar of torturing the boy. However, it seems Jono's injuries are not a result of abuse, but rather Jono's zeal to over-achieve in the warrior culture of the Talarians. Jono is asked whether he wants to return with Endar or be reunited with his biological grandmother, for in Talarian culture he has reached the age where he may choose for himself. He chooses to return with Endar, but Picard will not allow it. Endar threatens war with the Federation if his son is not sent back to the Q'Maire within a certain amount of time.

Picard and Jono begin a process of trying to introduce Jono to his human roots. Jono receives a message from Admiral Rosa, which bring up conflicting emotions for the youth and later cause him to recount the events of the colony massacre during a game of racquetball between himself and Picard. Afterward, Picard takes Jono to Ten Forward where Wesley invites Jono to try a banana split, "quite possibly one of the greatest things in the entire universe." Jono, unaccustomed to using a spoon, stabs the dish and sends ice cream splattering all over Wesley's face. Picard and Riker crack up while Data asks why it's funny, and Riker tells him to look it up in his databanks under humor, subsection "slapstick". Wesley and Jono also laughed, and Wesley orders more ice cream for the two of them, while Picard and Riker move to the bar to discuss Jono's progress.

That night, conflicted over whether to reclaim his humanity or cling to his adopted Talarian father and way of life, Jono stabs Picard in his bed. Picard wakes to find himself in sickbay without any serious injury and vaguely surprised to discover it wasn't a dream. Dr. Crusher informs him Jono has been taken into security custody by Lt. Worf. Picard demands to see Jono. Meanwhile, Endar contacts the Enterprise and demands Jono's return. Riker tells him that Jono, having attacked the captain, is in custody and subject to judgement by Starfleet. Endar warns that if Jono is not aboard the Q'maire in five minutes, he and the two Talarian ships that responded to his call for back-up will attack the Enterprise.

The boy is later brought in to answer to what he's done. Jono expects to be killed for killing a superior officer, and clearly intended to die. Picard assures this will not be the case and begins to understand that they have not handled Jono's problem properly, as Jono explains he feels becoming more human betrayed everything Endar had done for him and the life he loved with the Talarians.

Picard takes Jono to the bridge and tells Endar that the attack was Picard's fault for trying to sway Jono to staying with the humans, and that Jono should go home with the father he loves. Endar thanks him and the attack is over before it began. In the transporter room afterward, Jono also thanks Picard, and finally takes off his gloves to touch Picard in the familiar greeting/farewell that he had given his Talarian father, then returns the Q'maire.

[edit] Background

• Jeri Taylor (who went on to become an executive producer and scriptwriter for both this series and Star Trek: Voyager) joined the Star Trek production team with this episode. Because she had no prior experience or knowledge of Star Trek, she was given a "crash-course" in the series, both old and new, with a very large number of videotapes.
• Jeri Taylor originally called the alien race "Phrygians;" the producers chose instead to introduce a race that had been mentioned but not seen. (Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion)
• The Talarian writing and logo, first seen aboard the Batris in "Heart of Glory" are seen again aboard the observation craft.
• The Talarian uniforms were later re-used in "Man of the People" for guards on Rekag-Seronia.
• Connor Rossa is seen wearing the Starfleet uniform (2350s-2360s) on a photograph holding young Jeremiah shortly after his birth in 2351. This might be the earliest chronological appearance of the uniform.
• This episode marks one of the few times that a sheathed d'k tahg is seen. Captain Picard keeps one in his quarters.
• The rifles worn by the Talarian militia were later re-used as Romulan disruptor rifles.
• In a short scene, Data is seen playing three-dimensional chess with himself, having trouble deciding which move to make.
• Among the costumes and props from this episode which were sold off on the It's A Wrap! sale and auction on eBay, was a Talarian helmet. [1]

[edit] Video and DVD releases

• Original UK VHS release (two-episode tapes, CIC Video): Volume 39, 17 February 1992.
• UK re-release (three-episode tapes, Paramount Home Entertainment): Volume 4.2, 7 May 2001.
• As part of the TNG Season 4 DVD collection.

[edit] Links and References

[edit] Guest Stars

• Sherman Howard as Endar
• Chad Allen as Jono/Jeremiah Rossa
• Barbara Townsend as Connaught Rossa

[edit] Uncredited performers

• Lorine Mendell as Diana Giddings
• Michael Braveheart as Martinez
• An unknown actor as Connor Rossa
• An unknown actress as Moira Rossa

[edit] References

admiral; Age of Decision; Alba Ra; B'Nar; artery; asteroid storm; autosuture; banana split; calcium; Captain; Castal I; d'k tahg; distress call; DNA; Endar; ice cream; Galen border conflicts; Galen IV; Galen IV colony; guerrilla; hammock; humor; Jono; Krasner outpost; laser; leak; merculite rocket; music; neutral particle weapon; Q'Maire; patriarchal; racquetball; racket; radiation; rib; river; Rossa, Connor; Rossa, Moira; Sector 21947; self-destruct device; sextant; slapstick; spoon; Starfleet; Starfleet Command; sternum; Stockholm syndrome; subspace proximity detonator; Talar; Talarian; Talarian observation craft; Talarian warship; three-dimensional chess; t'stayan; triangular envelopment; tricorder; Woden sector; X-ray laser

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Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 4

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