half life star trek generation half life 22nd episode fourth season american science fiction television series star trek generation episode overall originally released broadcast syndication episode series written later joined writing staff director said half life morality play society deals elderly set 24th century series follows adventures crew federation starship enterprise episode falls love scientist attempting test theories stellar hopes saving world dying star experiment fails encourages continue research turn years age prepares instead ritual suicide according cultural tradition people voluntarily choose prevent aged burden younger generation episode features appearance star trek franchise later appear ensign season cast praised story expansion character episode received positive reviews critics noting performances character love story changes character plot takes aboard eccentric mother brought aboard conduct experiment hopes save threatened home planet sun state near collapse federation enterprise sun similar state decay conduct experiments yield method saving system destruction arrival destination crew assists modifying torpedo launch sun expectation repair damaged star prove technique safely applied sun torpedo fired experiment initially work effect short lived experiment fails intended result enterprise returns crushed questioning reveals things tells turn reaches age performs resolution ritual act voluntary outraged learn brings attention captain makes clear prime directive interfere planet local affairs tries beam planet halt process thwarted spend evening tries explain custom resolution tells fixed age selected randomly choosing time die finds practice refuses accept tradition tells woman planet successfully fought tradition wearing ornate contained live captive birds took courageous woman step forward end cruel tradition compares plans end life research save star time die argues time star die continue try prevent thinks told analysis failed test turns promising options follows resolution experience knowledge carry work save world concerned requests asylum enterprise renounce resolution continue research science minister outraged learning request asylum sends warships ensure enterprise leave system board orders bridge crew analyze offensive capabilities ships realizes situation simple hoped home planet accept reports told find solution accept daughter beams board enterprise insist return undergo resolution tells bear thought laid rest mother loves ashamed realizes man forge cultural revolution agrees return despite disagreement realizes decision custom loved ones present resolution beams dies production half life star trek credit writer later write inner light staff writer star trek generation season prior writing script fields reviewed haven previous episodes use references note level privilege realized let explained played daughter thought compared earlier episodes half life showed different character mother interactions episode argues considerably character previous episodes tendency centered director felt plot half life resembled morality play noted similarity episode morality play style plots franchise creator included star trek original series deals issue growing old society deals elderly mind story lines recalled casting episode guest starred best known role major american television series fan star trek generation enthusiastic producers asked interested appearing set production met series producer invited house practice scenes wife described grand old man behaviour people speaking highly story half life indicated mood episode debate decision end life emotionally involved piece script argued sides suicide issue left viewer determine practice acceptable said episode powerful simply discussion makes generation appearance half life performance led directly later casting larger role ensign recurring character season onwards reception home media release half life released united_states broadcast syndication review commended acting saying gave noble nuanced performance approved episode saying time treated real character causing time forget problems previous appearances noting best episodes feature prime directive debate endorsed writer idea sides suicide magnificent tragic love story takes thin character gives depth gives beautifully realized guest character casting brings subtle roles takes issues seriously wrote gave episode score later concluding featured tragic love stories book unauthorized trek complete generation observed significant improvement performance episode compared previous appearances said capable depth feeling described ending episode touching disturbing society shouldn naturally evolve include ritual suicide van argue population control methods child policy china appear linked similar required effect albeit different means reviewing episode zack_handlen said served excellent foil ridiculous relationship believable core broad arguably rushed writes handlen powerful moments pleasant adding storyline handlen criticizes setup situation reduced characterization available enterprise crew spite flaw handlen decides episode largely staying true main point matter time left half life released vhs cassette united_states canada july episode later released united_states september star trek generation season dvd box set blu ray release united_kingdom july followed united_states july
Half a Life (Star Trek: The Next Generation)