Everybody remembers The Best of Both Worlds being an amazing episode, but what really sells TNG as a show deeper than just an action show is this very emotional followup. Most shows would move pretty quickly back to normal even after the kind of horror experienced by Picard, but TNG has him going home to settle things with his brother and Worf reconciling with his parents after being dishonored by the Klingons. Finally the short bit about Wesley getting to meet a hologram of his father is really touching.
The episode begins with the Enterprise being repaired on earth and the crew deciding what they will do with some time off. Picard has decided to spend some time in the village he grew up in, Worf is getting a visit from his family, and well, those are the stories we get tonight. Troi is at her worst as a nosy but unhelpful councilor questioning Picard on why he would possibly want to go home. When he arrives Picard is greeted by his enthusiastic nephew, but it is clear that his brother does not hold him in such high regard. His sister in law is happy to see him but his brother would rather spend time working on his grape vines. Back on the ship Worf is less than eager to meet his parents again but they are very happy to see him. Maybe this is why he isn't excited, but his father is eager to see as much of the ship as possible and his mother just wants to spend time with him.
Back on Earth Jean Luc keeps getting into fights with his brother about the nature of progress but is also met happily by an old friend working on making a new continent. The friend keeps trying to recruit Jean Luc, and does manage to at least tempt him. Back on the ship Worf isn't doing a great job with his parents, but they have a nice talk with Guinan which gets them feeling a little better. Eventually they end up in Worfs quarters and he tells them he is happy they came. He even accepts their comfort when discussing his dishonor before the Klingon empire.
Down in France Jean Luc and his brother get into a quarrel over a bottle of wine and end up in a fist fight that turns into a mud wrestling match which ends with them both laughing. Jean Luc admits to his brother how upset he is about having been unable to stop helping to Borg kill all those people and his brother is happy to learn he is still human on the inside. The make up and Jean Luc decides staying with Starfleet really is the best place for him to be. The episode ends with Wesley getting to watch a holographic recording of his father telling him about himself and it made me cry a bit.
Review: After all the action is it really great to get to see how the various characters are dealing with the trauma they just went through. Picard and his brother are especially great together. Also, can I move to future space France? It looks pretty nice!
8 out of 10
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