Jean-Luc and Robert

[Kilana2]

Just watched 'Family' and was greatly amused about Jean-Luc's reunion with his brother Robert.
(Rivalry and jealousy among siblings is no alien concept to me)

I liked it when they wrestled on the floor in the dirt with Robert finally recognizing that his brother is still human. It was after Picard confessed what the Borg did to him.

It's a shame to know what happened to Robert and René later on.....

 

[2takesfrakes]

Unfortunately, Robert & his family dying in a fire -- as they were reported to have done -- was actually Sir Patrick Stewart's idea, according to The Internet:

Picard's personal tragedy (in Generations) was written as his brother Robert's heart attack, but Stewart suggested the loss of his entire family in a fire to add emotional impact.

I liked the actors playing Robert & Marie (in Family) who were very likeable and seemed like veteran actors, to me. Very professional and able to elevate a rather thin script with a great deal of charm and emotional weight. When Robert sees Jean-Luc off, for example, Marie has nothing to do, here, but instead of just standing around looking bored, she's looking at her husband, apparently impressed with his show of love and support for his brother. Interestingly enough, the episode even buttoned up with Robert & Marie, rather than the regular cast, which wasn't common. The material was well-trodden, in this episode, but it was handled extremely well, indeed!

 

[Kilana2]

Robert and René died in that fire. Marie survived. I guess after mourning she carried on the management of the vineyard. The boy playing René was more likeable than the all the child actors in Generations. In Generations I felt with Jean-Luc, with Guinan, with Kirk, but never cared much for the Nexus scenes.

 

[2takesfrakes]

Poor Marie ... but a FIRE, though? Surely, the Fire Departments of the Future make those of today look obsolete! What an awful suggestion, I can't believe it was even considered, much less used. But you're right about the kids in Picard's Nexus fantasy, or whatever word applies, there ... but, I'm sure it was intended that they come off as false to make it clear to the audience that Picard shouldn't be interested in holding onto this in favour of finding Kirk in order to "... make a difference."

 

[UssGlenn]

but a FIRE, though? Surely, the Fire Departments of the Future make those of today look obsolete!

indeed, while I can accept that Robert didn't have his house equipped with the latest in fire suppression technology, my vision of 24th Century Fire rescue is a computer automatically scanning the area for fires and beaming out anyone in danger automatically.

 

[Kilana2]

indeed, while I can accept that Robert didn't have his house equipped with the latest in fire suppression technology, my vision of 24th Century Fire rescue is a computer automatically scanning the area for fires and beaming out anyone in danger automatically.

A heart attack killing Robert wouldn't have been much better considering the fact that Jean-Luc survived being stabbed by a Nausicaan, if only with an artificial heart.
On the other hand: they obviously defeated Alzheimer in the future just to be confronted with the Irumodic Syndrome.

 

[Tenacity]

Maybe the fire was out in the vineyard, and Robert ran to protect his vines, and got trapped.

Would a dry vineyard burn?

 

[velour]

I liked it when they wrestled on the floor in the dirt with Robert finally recognizing that his brother is still human. It was after Picard confessed what the Borg did to him.

When I saw the title of your thread, the Picard mud wrestling match was the first thing that came to mind. I guess Jean-Luc was the golden child of the family and village. I can see why Robert had such resentment and jealousy of Jean-Luc.

I have to say it was kind of a heartwarming moment at the end with Rene looking up at the sky and dreaming away.

I wonder why Rene didn't get invited to visit the Enterprise. Other children, like the brat Alexander, got to visit the ship.

 

[Nakita Akita]

When I saw the title of your thread, the Picard mud wrestling match was the first thing that came to mind. I guess Jean-Luc was the golden child of the family and village. I can see why Robert had such resentment and jealousy of Jean-Luc.

I have to say it was kind of a heartwarming moment at the end with Rene looking up at the sky and dreaming away.

I wonder why Rene didn't get invited to visit the Enterprise. Other children, like the brat Alexander, got to visit the ship.

Alexander was the son of Worf. Not really a visitor. He came with his mother to the ship after she was killed he was living with his father, not visiting.
I would think if the ship was in 'dry-dock' as it was being repaired possibly Picard could bring his nephew to the ship for the day.
Maybe he did and it wasn't in the episode.
As for bringing him to the ship while they are out traveling the galaxy, seems like that might be rather ridiculous.
Also towards the end of the episode the little boy says that he wants to be a starship captain and Picard tells him that he might later chsnge his mind. Possibly to keep peace with his brother or is dinky realizing that other people choose other options as his own brother had done.

 

[Kilana2]

Picard was never a man who talked openly about family matters. Except with Troi or Riker, but later as the show progressed and he got to know his crew better.
He opened up a bit during the course of the TNG relaunch novels. Alway interesting to see at least of Jean-Luc's private side, not just the Starfleet Captain and saver of the Earth.

 

[bigglesworth]

indeed, while I can accept that Robert didn't have his house equipped with the latest in fire suppression technology, my vision of 24th Century Fire rescue is a computer automatically scanning the area for fires and beaming out anyone in danger automatically.

Maybe the Q continuum killed Picard's brother? For what reason they'd want to kill Robert and Rene, I don't know, but we do know that the Q created the tornado that killed Amanda Rogers' parents in True Q. Granted the Rogers were former Q... I guess I'm just rambling at his point...

 

[F. King Daniel]

Robert and René died in that fire. Marie survived. I guess after mourning she carried on the management of the vineyard. The boy playing René was more likeable than the all the child actors in Generations. In Generations I felt with Jean-Luc, with Guinan, with Kirk, but never cared much for the Nexus scenes.

If only Picard could have saved them somehow.

With some kind of magical time travel device.

Instead he resurrects an old man to have a two-on-one senior citizen fistfight.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Maybe the Q continuum killed Picard's brother? For what reason they'd want to kill Robert and Rene, I don't know, but we do know that the Q created the tornado that killed Amanda Rogers' parents in True Q. Granted the Rogers were former Q... I guess I'm just rambling at his point...

Not even Q is that sadistic. He likes to needle Picard, but killing innocent family members would be out of the question. Q is a prankster, not a murderer.

As for the tornado that killed the Rogerses: IIRC, it was sent by the leadership of the continuum (or what passes for such), not "our" Q.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

It's a shame to know what happened to Robert and René later on.....

I headcanon that to make it a terrible misunderstanding. They were actually saved by an emergency transporter system at the last minute, then there was a clerical error that thad them reported dead while they were being treated for burns because they wound up at a different hospital than expected.

 

[Kilana2]

I headcanon that to make it a terrible misunderstanding. They were actually saved by an emergency transporter system at the last minute, then there was a clerical error that thad them reported dead while they were being treated for burns because they wound up at a different hospital than expected.

Sadly, there is nothing that can be done about their deaths. They could have been victims by the

Spoiler: Destiny

Borg Attack that wiped out big parts of the AQ.

That would have been an even crueler fate IMO.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

Sadly, there is nothing that can be done about their deaths. They could have been victims by the

Spoiler: Destiny

Borg Attack that wiped out big parts of the AQ.

That would have been an even crueler fate IMO.

Sure there is, fans can invoke the 'Bad writing clause' to unofficially decanonify anything. Just like we do with Trip.

 

[Burning Hearts of Qo'nos]

As was done with Trip in the Litverse. Unfortunately Robert and Rene are still very much burned in a fire.

I still hate that it was a fire. Can't suspend disbelief on this one because I can't fathom even an old school house like that not being fitted with some kind of fire suppression system or as was suggested a local fire department/computer that was just regularly scanning for dangerous fires (great idea btw!) Random murderer in the society with no murder was more plausible than a fire. It felt as implausible as a tornado appearing above their house a la True Q.

Even if the house was burning through lack of fire system or local department, like how could it be possible that no one called someone and request an emergency beam out? That house was huge; I can't believe that even if Rene and Robert were alone at that house neither of them would have been able to call for help. It's as if the house suddenly burst into flames and instantly killed both of them. I hate this part of Generations. Watching Picard cry was heartbreaking enough as it was, but having him cry over something that was so implausible and so horrific, I didn't know how to even process this scene seeing it the first time.

 

[wayne66]

I have not watched Generations in a while but wouldn't it have made more sense for Picard to go into the Nexus to save his brother and nephew and have them fight Soren. Wasn't Robert and Rene caught in the Nexus like Kirk? Or am I mistaken about that? I even thought that they could have replaced Robert with Patrick Stewart's buddy Ian Mckellan. I liked the actor who played Robert but I could see that the producers would want a movie actor to play the role if he were to appear on the big screen.

 

[WraithDukat]

Rene died because his father rejected technology.

Surely in the 24th century if your house is on fire you can request an emergency beam out, or even have it detected and they beam you out.

Roberts stubbornness killed his entire family.

 

[sbk1234]

Did they ever specify that the fire was in their house? It could have been somewhere that they were separated from all that fire safety technology. Even with all of their advances, I'm sure accidents still happen. Just spitballing here.