When I saw the name I thought this might be the one, but then the review image for the episode is just a fairly generic picture of the captain and some crew. But I was right the first time. This is the one. I am by no means going to suggest that this is the worst episode in all of Star Trek. It isn't even the worst episode of TNG. But it certainly is going to make any list of memorably bad episodes, and for good reason. Any time you have a Captain Picard centric episode and replace Patrick Stewart with a child you know it is going to be a bumpy ride. And then everyone insisting he can't possibly remain captain due to his condition that they all agree hasn't effected his mental capabilities? Really? They didn't do an awful job with the child version actors, but that is really only in comparison to how bad it could have been in theory rather than against some objective standard of good.
Rascals opens with the captain, Ro, Guinan and Keiko returning from a trip in a shuttle when there is some sort of problem and the shuttle explodes. Miles is able to get them out in time, but he notices a 40% reduction in mass. It turns out they are all children now. Only on body, they seem to have their normal intelligence. Picard returns to the bridge but the crew can't seem to take him seriously. Crusher tells him that just maybe he will have mental issues as a result so he needs to step down. He agrees to leave Riker in charge and returns to his quarters. Guinan keeps trying to convince Ro to enjoy her new found youth, but Ro just wants to pout. More seriously Keiko and Miles are having serious relationship issues with her being a little girl.
Things get worse when Klingon ships decloak and attack. Boarding parties appear across the ship, although we later learn it is a total of 6 or 7 Ferengi. They somehow manage to take over the ship but not before Riker can lock them out of the computer. For plot reasons all the adult crew other than Riker are removed but the children are left behind. Picard manages to get Riker to transfer command control to a computer in the classroom where they are being held and along with the actual children they manage to beam all but two Ferengi into a sealed transporter pad with their weapons turned off. Picard returns to the bridge and along with Riker they take out the remaining two Ferengi. In the end they figure out how to use the transporter to turn them the right age again.
Review: Not only is this episode pretty lame for having children versions of most of the main character, the overall plot is pretty dumb too. Also, really TNG, I thought you gave up on the Ferengi being serious enemies a while ago.
3 out of 10
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