Treknicalities

We watched the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode “The Child” not too long ago. In the episode a ball of energy enters the ship unnoticed and enters Counselor Deanna Troi’s quarters. The next morning she goes to see the ship’s doctor who tells her that A) she’s pregnant and B) the fetus is growing at a phenomenal rate.

Before Counselor Troi even has time to send out baby shower invitations, she has delivered a perfectly healthy, full-term baby. After a day, the child is ready to attend school with the five-year old children.

The crew finds themselves in danger because a plague specimen has been exposed to Eichner radiation and is continuing to grow despite the containment field it’s inside. It is discovered that Troi’s child, Ian (who is dying), is the source of the radiation. Ian dies in Troi’s arms, turning back into the ball of energy that first entered the ship. The energy being communicates with Troi telepathically and explains that he wanted to experience life as a human. Once he’s gone, the plague sample returns to normal and the danger is gone.

What bothers me about this episode is that, while Troi makes it clear that she loves her child dearly, she doesn’t grieve is loss at all and Ian is never mentioned again for the rest of the show’s run. There’s just something wrong about a psychologist who helps others through the grieving process but doesn’t grieve herself.