Firstborn (S70E21)
Airdate: 25 April 1994
Written by: René Echevarria Directed by: Jonathan West
Running Time: 46 minutes
Star Trek: The Next Generation, in its final episodes, made a concerted effort to bring a sense of narrative closure to certain character arcs that had been developing throughout the series. Following the successful conclusion of Wesley Crusher’s arc in the preceding episode, Journey's End, the show wasted no time in pivoting its focus toward Worf, offering a poignant and, at times, complicated resolution to his personal and familial struggles in Firstborn. This episode serves as a thematic bookend for the Klingon's time aboard the Enterprise, dealing heavily with legacy and the burdens of heritage.
The narrative commences with Worf undertaking the solemn responsibility of preparing his young son, Alexander Rodzhenko, for the rigorous Klingon rites of passage that define their culture. Naturally, a young boy of Alexander's age is hardly brimming with enthusiasm for such stoic and demanding traditions. Recognising the need to bridge the cultural gap between father and son, Captain Picard advises Worf to immerse Alexander further in his heritage by taking him to the Kot'baval festival, which happens to be taking place at a Klingon colony on Maranga IV. It is during the Enterprise's scheduled visit to this colony that Alexander initially appears somewhat captivated by the Klingon culture surrounding him. However, the festivities are cut short when Worf and his son become the targets of a coordinated attack by three Klingon assassins. The ambush is thwarted with the unexpected assistance of a mysterious figure identifying himself as K'mtar (James Sloyan). This character claims to be a gin'tak, or advisor, to the House of Mogh, and reveals that he was dispatched specifically to protect Worf and his family. Consequently, K'mtar decides to join Worf and Alexander upon their return to the Enterprise, ostensibly to continue their protection and navigate the complex political landscape of the Klingon Empire.
Upon their arrival back aboard the starship, K'mtar initiates a rigorous and unforgiving training regimen aimed at transforming Alexander into a warrior. Unfortunately, the boy exhibits a distinct lack of interest and motivation, much to the frustration of the gin'tak. Frustrated by Alexander’s reluctance to embrace the Klingon way of the warrior, K'mtar suggests that the only viable solution is to remove Alexander from his father’s custody and send him to a Klingon military school. When Worf vehemently rejects this proposal, viewing it as an unnecessary intrusion into his parenting and a denial of his son's potential, K'mtar retaliates with a veiled threat, explicitly stating that he intends to take the boy from Worf’s custody if his current approach fails.
While the interpersonal drama unfolds on the bridge, the Enterprise crew turns their attention to the assassination attempt that occurred on Maranga IV. Through forensic analysis, they discover that one of the daggers used during the ambush bore markings belonging to the nefarious House of Duras. Commander Riker, drawing upon his previous experiences while stationed at Deep Space Nine, contacts Quark for intelligence. Quark, in turn, points the Enterprise crew toward the location of the Duras sisters. Following this lead, the Enterprise tracks the sisters' movements and intercepts their vessel during an illicit mining operation. The Duras sisters, B'ethor and Lursa, are subsequently brought aboard to face questioning. They vehemently deny any involvement in the attack. However, when confronted with the incriminating dagger as evidence, Lursa becomes visibly distressed because she recognises the markings as belonging to "Lursa's son." She reveals a shocking detail: she has only recently become pregnant, casting doubt on her ability to have recently been involved in an assassination plot.
The narrative takes a sharp turn when Worf catches K'mtar in the act of apparently attempting to kill the sleeping Alexander. He immobilises the attacker, leading to a dramatic confession from K'mtar. The gin'tak reveals that he is, in fact, Alexander himself, but from a timeline situated forty years in the future. This future version of Alexander explains that he had rejected the Klingon way of the warrior in favour of a career in diplomacy. He confesses that he was utterly horrified when he failed to save Worf from assassination in the Great Hall of the Klingon. Driven by this guilt, he travelled back in time with the specific intent of steering his younger self toward developing martial abilities. His plan was to arrange for a fake assassination to take place on Maranga IV. Worf, however, delivers a comforting revelation to K'mtar/Alexander: the future has already been altered by his arrival, and Alexander will ultimately choose his own path. Worf asserts that a diplomatic career is just as noble as the way of the warrior, validating his son's identity regardless of his choices. Satisfied with this philosophical reassurance, K'mtar returns to his own time, potentially altering or solidifying the history he left behind.
Firstborn can best be described as a massive piece of fan service; it is an episode that is next to incomprehensible to anyone who is not a dedicated Star Trek fan deeply familiar with Worf, his complex life story, and his family heritage. The producers had originally intended to bring back the character of Alexander's late mother, K'Ehleyr, for this episode, but the actress Suzie Plakson was unfortunately unavailable. Despite this, her death is referenced in a genuinely moving scene where K'mtar convinces his father that he is indeed his future son, acknowledging the legacy of his mother. Other aspects of the episode serve as heavy-handed nods to the fanbase, including another appearance of the Duras sisters, who remain the best Star Trek ever produced for recurring Klingon villains. Additionally, Quark makes an appearance as the source of Riker’s intelligence, which serves to tie TNG once again into the DS9 universe, strengthening the former show as the backdrop that would serve as the foundation for the franchise's next generation.
David Sloyan reappears in another intriguing role, playing a Klingon after having previously portrayed a Romulan in the classic episode The Defector and a Bajoran in a DS9 episode The Alternate. In terms of technical execution, the episode is competently made, though it suffers significantly due to a noticeable lack of chemistry between Worf and Brian Bonsall, the child actor playing his young son. The whole premise of an older Alexander wanting to change history is undeniably intriguing, but the execution is somewhat thin and the concept is not explored to its full potential. Like many Star Trek episodes before and after, the episode treats the concepts of time travel very casually, often glossing over the logical inconsistencies that such a plot device inevitably creates.
Ultimately, the saga of Worf will continue in the subsequent series, Deep Space Nine, where we would see the appearance of a more mature and adult Alexander played by Marc Worden. Firstborn is nevertheless a solid piece of Star Trek in its closing stages. It manages to balance the demands of fan service with a genuine attempt to resolve character arcs, even if the acting chemistry between the leads occasionally falters. It shows the franchise's ability to weave complex personal narratives into its science fiction framework, even when the mechanics of the plot are occasionally secondary to the emotional beats.
RATING: 7/10 (+++)
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