I just watched this episode for the first time in years and would be interested to hear people's thoughts...
"Firstborn"
- Thread starter Tora Ziyal
- Start date
Well, that got a lot of responses! Of course, the fact that I was half asleep when I posted and didn't really say anything might have something to do with it. 
By now, I can't even remember what was on my mind. Sorry, folks.
By now, I can't even remember what was on my mind. Sorry, folks.
I'd be interested to hear your original line of thinking Tora.
To be honest, its not a terrible episode, but it is Alexander centric. I usually found him best in small doses. The one exception would be Cost of Living. Majel did a great job playing off of him, and he off of her.
To be honest, its not a terrible episode, but it is Alexander centric. I usually found him best in small doses. The one exception would be Cost of Living. Majel did a great job playing off of him, and he off of her.
Problem is, I don't remember what my original line of thinking was. Maybe I was half asleep when I was watching, not just when I was posting. 
Overall, I enjoyed the episode. Thought it was totally realistic, given his background, for Alexander to be so disinterested in being a warrior. Thought the festival was fun -- a more lighthearted view of Klingons than we usually get. Was touched by the way Future Alexander ("K'Mtar") related to young Alexander in the beginning, before he got frustrated.
What I found confusing was just how Future Alexander was able to take on the identity of an advisor who was so trusted that he had been made part of the family. Had Worf really never met K'Mtar? And I didn't think time travel was common or reliable enough to make his showing up at the right moment plausible, especially without a real (technobabble) explanation.
Overall, I enjoyed the episode. Thought it was totally realistic, given his background, for Alexander to be so disinterested in being a warrior. Thought the festival was fun -- a more lighthearted view of Klingons than we usually get. Was touched by the way Future Alexander ("K'Mtar") related to young Alexander in the beginning, before he got frustrated.
What I found confusing was just how Future Alexander was able to take on the identity of an advisor who was so trusted that he had been made part of the family. Had Worf really never met K'Mtar? And I didn't think time travel was common or reliable enough to make his showing up at the right moment plausible, especially without a real (technobabble) explanation.
^ As I understood it, he returned to his own time.
I'm guessing future Alexander knew Worf had not yet met the real K'Mtar at this point in time. As far as the time travel, I'm really cloudy on this because it has been quite a while since I've seen it. I could swear he say something about obtaining unorthodox means...but I could be waaaay off on that.
It was an alright episode but feels like most of the episodes in Season 7 where it's trying to play a bit of lip-service to TNG's various "running arcs" and characters and trying to end things on some level. (As when the episode was written/made they likely didn't know Worf would continue on DS9.) And I'm rarely a fan of time-travel stories in TNG unless they do something special with them (see: Yesterday's Enterprise) and this was just not very good.
It was also more Klingon/Worf/Alexander bullshit which I thought Worf and Alexander had mostly worked out.
DS9 handled/ended the Alexander/Worf stuff better. But even then not well, Alexander should have just accepted his more human side and gone into Starfleet or something instead of trying to be a great warrior or something, Worf may not have minded.
It was also more Klingon/Worf/Alexander bullshit which I thought Worf and Alexander had mostly worked out.
DS9 handled/ended the Alexander/Worf stuff better. But even then not well, Alexander should have just accepted his more human side and gone into Starfleet or something instead of trying to be a great warrior or something, Worf may not have minded.
To me, the transition from TNG Alexander to DS9 Alexander felt forced and unconvincing. I would've preferred to see him remain rebellious and emphasize his human side more, no matter what Worf thought.
Loved this episode. A definite highlight amongst many mediocre episodes of season seven. Sloyan did a great job as Future Alexander, but I also thought Dorn was great as Worf in this. The final hug between the two - and the suggestion that Worf's parenting approach will change in the future - gets me everytime.
Shame DS9 ruined all this good character work when they reintroduced Alexander. I know people these days think DS9 can do no wrong (esp. with characterisation) but they essentially committed character assassination on Alexander, and did Worf no favours either (in terms of his storyline arc as a parent).
Shame DS9 ruined all this good character work when they reintroduced Alexander. I know people these days think DS9 can do no wrong (esp. with characterisation) but they essentially committed character assassination on Alexander, and did Worf no favours either (in terms of his storyline arc as a parent).
Love me some DS9, but I totally agree with you on this one. It's the thing that bugged me about Worf on DS9 the most, they pretty much tossed away all the growith Worf's character underwent in New Ground, Ethics, Cost of Living, A Fistful of Datas and of course Firstborn.
Similar threads
