generation 17th episode american science fiction television series star trek generation episode aired broadcast syndication february episode written series episode series kim_manners director set 24th century series follows adventures starfleet crew federation starship enterprise episode residents mythical planet kidnap children enterprise dying world captain attempts negotiate release passive resistance children episode features star trek role daughter supervisor younger brother sister appear uncredited children million viewers watched episode higher number viewers watching following episode received mixed reception critics praised performances stewart criticised environmental message plot enterprise enters system searching legendary world planet reveals ship beam commander counselor chief medical officer planet explain unable bear children years revealed enterprise hopes trade advanced technology enterprise children world refuses crew returned enterprise simultaneously seven children including young taken planet protected energy shield crew enterprise unable penetrate elders attempt integrate children society shown ancient computer system rely understand captain attempts negotiate briefly allow reunite son planet hints secretly passes scan fails agree children return fire energy weapon sends enterprise days away maximum warp warn send enterprise far distance refuse cooperate return trip reviews results finds suffering radiation poisoning harmed reproductive capabilities reversed source discovered arrival planet orders crew try find way planet shield negotiations aware enterprise orbit arranges children resist request help resolve issue children crew finds way beam shield allowing commander commander data sneak planet data manages disable disrupting shield explains shield weakened layer planet exposing inhabitants radiation left unable bear children radiation likely effects children enterprise shield layer naturally return allowing reproduce recognize error ways return children enterprise accept starfleet help correct ancient systems recognize continue society production writer pitched episode associate producer highlighting families living board enterprise pilot episode encounter mentioned children ship time plot element discussed story idea series creator society lost humanity favor technology originally subplot involving separation section taken hostage described performance episode wonderful episodes credited later described favourite episode episode series directed kim_manners manners later produced television series files supernatural visual effects supervisor created foot model computer cheaper build model computer create series paintings took simple approach score theme piano flute instead singing theme representative enterprise children appeared opening cue escape technology embodied electronic music pieces including scanning children power source guest stars later appeared generation episode time arrow appeared x-files went appear episodes nominated emmy awards uncredited children appeared including daughter supervisor younger siblings amy reception home media release episode aired february received nielsen ratings million broadcast ratings decrease following short season received ratings previous week episode received higher ratings following episode home soil week gained ratings million reviewers watched episode end series said harmless episode lifts bit cliché handbook thought performances fairly solid overall message layer praised performance captain noting anger outrage justified self kidnapping children nicely diplomacy negotiating total discomfort actually deal directly children gave episode score writing den geek said decent story way makes want watch felt complete episode contains unique franchise zack_handlen said scared way liked episode despite focusing noticed similarity legendary planets episode guide galaxy reference handlen considered possibly deliberate thought child heavy episode wasn bad gave episode grade review described tedious ending thought plot element damage optimal quality episode typical season released vhs cassette united_states canada august episode released march star trek generation season dvd box set included season blu ray set july
When the Bough Breaks (Star Trek: The Next Generation)