The Beauty of Star Trek's Most Low-Key Episode - TNG's "Family"

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Star Trek: The Next Generation is a generally a fantastic action series, but in season 4's "Family", TNG took a different approach. This episode sees Picard return home to France and visit his brother. I go over why I love this episode SO much.
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Special thanks to Andrew Elliott (Stalli111: / stalli111 ) for editing this video

[@captainmidnight]

What's your favorite TNG episode? How about Trek in general? This video is sponsored by NordVPN. Check it out at nordvpn.com/captainmidnight

[@dbrighthd]

the thaw in voyager is peak

[@SpencerTheBard]

I think my favorite episode in TNG is episode 15 of the last season called Lower Decks, where it focuses on the younger Star Fleet members on the enterprise. That or the finale which I felt was perfect.

[@dlevcovitz29]

TNG: The Offspring or The Inner Light DS9: The Visitor

[@8bitvictor]

I’ll never not watch “Measure of a Man” if I catch it playing.

[@Evohunter7]

Family is my favourite TNG episode, it is/was a beautifully written palette cleanser after the heavyness of Best of Both Worlds.

[@charliericker274]

That scene where Picard breaks down in the mud, going from laughing hysterically to crying hysterically. . . It's such a powerful moment of catharsis.

[@Bow-to-the-absurd]

You have been terribly hard on yourself, Jean Luc.

[@hulkhatepunybanner]

*I'm just glad he didn't do that in front of a love interest.* Self🐔block.

[@SpecialK234]

“..suffered even a greater fate..Having to hang out with the characters of Star Trek Picard..” I guffawed and almost spit my drink out laughing at this line

[@eli-p]

I'm so proud you're willing to take time to show the beauty of this era of television

[@hezekiahramirez6965]

This episode was, until the modern era, the only Star Trek episode without a scene on the bridge. Just a fun fact. I love Star Trek: The Next Generation

[@Shuttlebay4]

Really? That's an awesome fact!

[@Renegade2786]

*Dark Page* and *Liaison*

[@JerichosFishStand]

When I rewatched TNG years later, I was surprised to realize that the Best of Both Worlds was really all about Riker. Having this episode after that absolutely was necessary. The previous episodes' events were so important to Picard, we needed an episode focused on him.

[@kennethchia4194]

Not just Sisko but Captain Shaw as well in Season 3 of "Picard."

[@hrothgar014]

‘Jean-Luc, here is a little of the '47. Do not drink it all at once, and if possible, try not to drink it alone.’ The embrace of the two brothers after that still brings a tear to my eye.

[@ikenosis8160]

I just thought it was so refreshing seeing Picard be trolled, disregarded, and talked down to by his older brother. It's such a break from the regular, "Yes, Captain!" Energy You've seen him treated with for previous seasons. It humanizes him without disrespecting his character. Anyone who has an older brother knows how that dynamic can unfold. It's good to see Picard have to eat a little shit for once in such opposition to him being Odin on the Enterprise. Great ep, Cap'n. Liked and shared. Godspeed.

[@Shuttlebay4]

This was a great episode, after the large-scale nature of Best Of Both Worlds, it felt like the series needed something more intimate and this was a great way to humanise Picard after his humanity had been compromised by The Borg. A great extended cast and a great family drama. This shift in tone was refreshing, plus it enabled the entire Locutus experience to not be simply brushed under the carpet, it had real consequences for the captain.

[@chaospudding]

I don't know if Family is my favorite TNG episode, but it's one of the ones that affected me the most emotionally.

[@DCMarvelMultiverse]

I wanted more "follow-up" episodes like this as well as ones with more family members for the crew beside Lwaxana (whom I loved btw). Damn, Geordi really got the short of the stick on that last one.

[@drak347]

I do love this episode. As a multiracial adoptee, Worf’s story always hit home. It helped me learn to find peace in our differences, humility in my own anger and insecurity, and recognition of the love they always had for me. There will never be another ST:TNG

[@cyrussmith4744]

Finally someone talks about this episode! It was so beautiful to me and I was surprised to not see many videos talking about it on KZbin

[@Shuttlebay4]

It's true - this episode just seems to get sadly overlooked!

[@adamkares7549]

Classic Trek (meaning before the Discovery era) content always makes me smile. The world needs the real Picards diplomacy and Sisko's pimp hand more now than ever.

[@ShadowSonic2]

Oh please, this hatred of anything new is antithetical to Trek.

[@johnhendrix3253]

Oh hell yeah, finally getting some more Captain Midnight Star Trek analyses! ETA: Jean Luc fighting Robert in the mud is way more intense and gripping than nearly any Star Trek action scene since 2009.

[@allclevernamesgone]

The character of Robert really makes this episode something special. He's the only one who can break through the shield that Jean Luc has in place. The goading, the jabs -- all done out of a sense of love to break his brother down. What a performance by Kemp --- One of the all time great star trek performances.

[@jdolce7898]

I'm on a rewatch of TNG right now, and did a DS9 rewatch a couple years ago. Real great stuff.

[@RaspK]

“Family” has categorically been one of the best episodes, and stories even, in the entire franchise.

[@theeviljames]

I've seen TNG so many times that I really value being reminded of a classic. Thanks, I will be watching this shortly

[@IN-tm8mw]

This episode is the very reason i cried along with Picard during the opening of "Generations" film. I had rewatched this episode so much, it felt like i had lost my family also. Many who skipped over Star Trek Generations, missed that devastating character development for him. I kinda felt like he might've quit Starfleet if not for Kirk.

[@KingOfMadCows]

Worf learns more about honor from his human parents than from other Klingons, except maybe General Martok. And even Martok knew that he had to play politics to ensure things run smoothly in the Empire.

[@BenjiMay_]

Man, what a great episode! Picard's break down in the mud genuinely gets me every time. Nice vid!

[@johnchedsey1306]

100% agree this was one of the best TNG episodes. There's a lot of episodes I have to read the synopsis to remember what happened. Family always stuck with me. And for the record, I love how bonkers the Picard series got at times. I understand why other might not care for it, but I had tons of fun watching all three seasons of it.

[@kendrickl5913]

It probably won't but I hope this video gets a million views. Old (real) trek is absolutely peak entertainment

[@g-rated3514]

10:04 Dang fam! That's a worse burn than his family got

[@cabacage3593]

Hope you do more of these Star Trek TNG deep dives! Really loved it!

[@Amadeus451]

TV Picard is such a more well-written, nuanced character than his movie counterpart. Thanks for having some nice TNG analysis without having to hear Rich Evans's goblin cackle every two seconds -_-

[@videovoidtv]

when Picard broke down in the mud… it always makes me teary eyed. its beautiful.

[@mirage809]

Family is one of my favourite TNG episodes for all the reasons you mention here. The Worf B-plot is a little bit I enjoy in particular. It's fascinating to see the people who raised him. Who tried their hardest to give Worf the best childhood they could offer. And specifically try to adapt to the fact that he is a klingon. They're not perfect, not by any stretch, but the efforts they made in raising Worf left a big impact on him. When Worf introduces himself to Raffi in the final season of Picard he lists his titles and among them he calls himself a song of Sergei, house of Rozhenko. After many years Worf has learned to take all the best best parts of his heritage as a klingon and his upbringing by humans and combined it all into becoming the best version of himself. Made me like one of my favourite characters even more. The first two seasons of Picard might have their flaws, but season 3 gave me exactly what I wanted.

[@ddm7833]

Glad to see someone talk about how good this episode is. It’s usually glossed over I feel like.

[@CaptainGlack]

Unrelated but right at the start of this video when the guy says "MIDNIGHT!" in the intro, the clock ticked over to midnight. ... and then I apparently thought it was worthy of a comment. You're totally welcome.

[@rafferdx]

That half-sentence dig at the Picard show 😂

[@Creator_Chris]

Midnight, this is my favorite video of yours. I love a good Star Trek analysis, especially from your form of videos!

[@bigbrain1415]

This video was AMAZING. Would love more Trek content. Great as always Captain!

[@TheRyFiNetWork]

I believe this to be your best video yet. And that Star Trek Picard Dig was just gold. 10/10

[@Knightman89]

Excellently put. I always feel any watch through of Best of Both Worlds isn't complete without "Family".

[@somejerkbag]

It's amazing how much Ronald D Moore did for tv show serialization. I'm glad he's done so well 😊

[@koreyjeffers6963]

A matter of honor is my favorite episode ever. Will goes to serve on a klingon ship and ends up taking it over and winning the respect of the crew but in order to let the old klingon captain save face he lets himself get punched in the face. It's fucking brilliant

[@icantthinkofanything798]

so excited to see you talk about star trek!!!!

[@QuestionMan]

Man. I GOTTA watch that episode again. I'd forgotten how much I liked it and now I miss it. Thank you.

[@tobario]

Seasons 4 and 5 really are peak television. They had timeless episodes that are still great today.

[@yodon6867]

That's one of the best episodes of Star Trek Next Generation. After he got taken over by the board and reassembled and went home to go see his brother damn good episode

[@ericgaskins571]

No one can argue that any television show has anything on how well the next generation is written. The episodes range a gambit across all kinds of stories. You name it and you can probably find it. No one, other than true fans, ever acknowledged this

[@seangordonmurphy6912]

Top 5 for me. Love that you covered this.

[@Dizcrete]

I don’t even watch star trek but I love watching all your videos 😭💯

[@zypher8677]

Wow, I literally JUST watched this episode like 2 days ago. What a coincidence! Or is the Captain watching me?!

[@dlevcovitz29]

You should really do an episode about DS9 and specifically "The Visitor." That episode is emotional perfection and Tony Todd is masterful

[@RyanSPK]

Great vid, would love more Trek content!

[@Chill1332]

You know, your list at the beginning is one of the reasons I like Star Trek. It's not just one genre. One episode is a sitcom, the next is a courtroom drama, the next is a medical mystery. I think that is exactly why you actually CARE about the characters when they are in danger. You don't just see dumb action heroes with guns. From all the interpersonal stories you feel like you know them. You've seen them with their parents, their kids, playing cards together, compiling silly little plays and petting their cats. It always makes me raise an eyebrow when people complain about a show or movie "not knowing what it wants to be" when it tries to be both funny and dramatic. But that's the BEST kind of stories.

[@jstarwars360]

More Trek videos please and thank you.

[@captainmidnight]

I wish more people watched them, but I love making them!

[@jstarwars360]

@@captainmidnight If RedLetterMedia can pump out a handful of TNG videos anyone can.

[@captainmidnight]

They’re extremely good at it.

[@jstarwars360]

@@captainmidnight They’re best of videos they did during quarantine finally motivated to me to watch it. Binged it all before it left Netflix. Sadly was only able to get through one season of DS9 before it left.

[@Balt21Raven]

While I respect and enjoy watching pretty much everything you post, I was thrilled to see you do this Trek analysis, hope there's more to come. (GARAK!!!!)

[@vishuprathikanti9352]

Love the next generation, and while this was just one episode, it really shows what I love about the show as a whole

[@BigGiantMonster]

Well done. I loved TNG so much,

[@Morbos1000]

I remember back when this originally aired I was in high school. Myself and a trekkie friend had been trying to convince a German exchange student friend of ours to give TNG a chance. He was resistant because he only knew the ToS and thought it was cheesy. Well, he finally gave in and decided to watch the latest episode of TNG. And that was Family. Sure, it is a great episode for die hard types looking for backstory and deeper character explorations. But it was probably the worst episode for a new viewer to watch. He thought it was boring and never gave TNG another chance!

[@ChristopherFossMusic]

What are the odds?? I *just* watched this episode for the first time earlier this week! It's been a blast watching TNG so far. :) Oh, for those who haven't seen DS9 yet, do yourself a favour and check it out. I started my Trek adventures there, and my only regret is that I didn't check it out sooner.

[@BookMattic]

Wow, this sounds like a really good episode. If I did watch it, I watched it when I was only about 10 years old, but I barely remember that so I'm gonna go watch this episode tonight. I just recently watched the episode in season 7 episode 20 where a group of Native Americans settle on Dorvan V but it ends up being under despute between the Cardassians and Federation. The Enterprise is tasked to relocate the inhabitants. It's also the episode where we see Wesley join the Traveler. Thanks so much for suggesting it. I may come back after watching it and give feedback on the episode.

[@thatbuckmulligan]

One of my favourite episodes

[@MovieMagic515]

i'd love a vid on DS9, Kira has a great arc

[@captainmidnight]

Love Kira

[@itsallfunandgames723]

Who didn't love it when we found out Picard's remaining family died in a fire? What a fantastic, cinematic masterpiece that movie turned out to be. Why even Captain Kirk finally got a respectful, tactful sendoff, where he died falling off a bridge and then got put to rest in hastily made, impromptu grave covered in gravel. On a distant world he had never been to before. Just a classy movie, with well earned emotional gravitas.

[@jeffbenson7278]

The Happiest Place on Earth is obviously not Quark's Bar, as Quark's Bar is located not on Earth but on the (Usually) Happiest Place in the Universe, the Promenade of Deep Space Nine, sentry of the Temple of the Prophets in the Bajoran Star System many hundreds of light years away. Anyway, I hope this means we're getting some Deep Space Nine videos soon.

[@DavisCentis]

Great episode. One of my favourites. There were characters in the past that I didn't like. The Roshenko's, Loxanna Troi. But now, older as I am, missing people in my life who meant so much to me, I look at the Roshenko's and Loxanna Troi, and I see in them so much of those older generations whom I miss. They may have been annoying at times, but their hearts were overflowing with love. Can you do an episode on Loxanna Troi, actually? She annoyed me SO MUCH every time she showed up before, but now she's my favourite part of every episode she's in. She has quite the journey over the course of TNG and DS9.

[@just_delightful]

Just the title of this suggest it will be your best video in years.

[@GeorgeMarionerd]

Yaaaaasssss Star Trek content

[@alyzu4755]

My favorite episode of "Trek".

[@chadjones1266]

Thanks again

[@GuineaPigEveryday]

Fuck yes, considering all the misery being discussed of modern day big corporate tv shows that both rely on effects and action yet do it poorly, its refreshing to see a new video essay about star trek and how brilliantly they managed to make it super exciting even if obviously under-budgeted. Honestly thats so many shows of that era, you had historical miniseries with no money yet squeezed every bit of drama out of their plastic costumes and props, I Claudius for example is very much like Star Trek in that sense

[@deathdealer9054]

this episode is peak.

[@gabrielamaro1470]

If people who haven’t watched trek enjoyed this video, please do yourself a favor and get into old Star Trek! Some of the most enjoyable television episodes I’ve ever watched, both the quality and the trashy ones

[@vsznry]

Not a Trekkie, but I enjoy Robert Meyer Burnett harping about it. lol

[@vsznry]

Did you do a "What Deadpool 3 needs to do for the MCU" video yet lol

[@hezekiahramirez6965]

Oh yeah, the guy who says he's not racist because he likes having sex with women of all ethnicities. I find him extremely tedious and ignorant (especially the whining about pronouns) but hey, I guess that's some people's jam

[@Waffletigercat]

Love this episode. There’s a good reason most Trekkers consider it one of the best episodes of TNG.

[@BeeWhistler]

I like this episode for a petty reason… it’s a rare time that anyone gets dirty! Robert is the only character whose clothes ever looked like he’d worn them more than once. And Roddenberry was a schmuck. Humans evolving beyond human feelings? No. Prejudices, maybe, but jealousy, regret, pettiness? It would mean we no longer had their opposites, wouldn’t it? It’s possible to feel these things and decide not to submit to them. And it’s always gonna be possible to resent other people.

[@johnwhiteX]

Maybe do an episode on magnum pi? I recently discovered the series as a 30 year old and have become entirely obsessed.

[@MCLegoboy]

I was completely dismayed at the fact that Jean Luc's brother and his family were killed in a fire in Generations. I mean, I felt bad, it's a terrible thing to happen and the episode we saw them in was very fun to watch so it hurt because we got to know the characters being referenced, but it was just so unnecessary cruel, too. Also Jean Luc says that his nephew was the closest thing he had to a son and I'm sitting over here like, "So what was up with Wesley Crusher? You spent more time with that kid than anyone else below the age of 20 for four years!" It's obviously going to be different when it's blood relations, but like seriously? Jean Luc does not like kids, but he went on a big arc of growth from barely even tolerating Wesley being on the bridge to then making him an Ensign while waiting for his chance to attend Star Fleet Academy, and then greatly missing him while away. Then he even has to be a father with what Wesley does at the Academy being both disappointed in what he did but also proud of what this young man has done to right his wrongs. Everyone was done dirty with that story bit in Generations. I have yet to watch the Picard series, I'm still experiencing most of Trek for the first time and only halfway through both Deep Space Nine and Voyager, trying my best to go as in order of release as I can, but I'm not really looking forward to it just from the sound of things, although I am still interested if for no other reason than to see just how badly they can mess things up from how they ended things in Next Generation or even Nemesis, flawed as it was.

[@GuineaPigEveryday]

7:24 I’m going to be bluntly honest here, it does seem that it was Roddenberry that was holding this series back for a while, especially in the first two seasons, and that with his decreased influence it was finally able to come into its own, without Roddenberry ordering everyone around. The stories you hear about the way he commanded production in those early episodes dont exactly seem to inspire much confidence, it stifled the writers. And more importantly Roddenberry was adamant about these core tenets of Trek that no longer worked, he refused the idea of having any drama/conflict between characters of the crew. Idk, he was a brilliant founder of the series, but also not the only one, its a shame that with sci-fi people seem willing to chalk up every and all of its good parts to one guy, and solely them. Star Trek TNG really thrived when it was able to take some risks in terms of what Star Trek could be, and what it might explore, that not every utopia is perfect. The direction that TNG went in would be expanded upon by DS9, which for some people went too far with it, too dark, too militant, too depressing, too cynical. Idk I love all three series as all entirely unique, and I think its great that a series was able to evolve. Something that was sadly not possible for much of Star Wars or many reboots and remakes that were forced to walk in the shadows of the better source material, and retread everything. TNG and DS9 had a wonderful balance of adapting those utopian optimistic curious wondrous qualities that made Star Trek so famous, but also injecting it with conflict and drama and some grittier aspects. Something like the five lights is a great example of that, or Ro Laren’s character. It respects what came before but makes necessary changes. I think most series after this core three never rlly managed to balance that in the same way imo

[@hewh0wearspants]

I've always said Best of Both Words is actually a trilogy! I wonder, would "The Best of Both Worlds, Part 3" have been a good alternate title for "Family"? I feel like it still could have worked

[@UndyingNephalim]

Whenever people ask me which part of "Best of Both Worlds" was the best, I always say Part 3.

[@CaptainQ2607]

Would love to see more stsr trek videos ❤

[@Omrifere]

Overall I think TNG struck the perfect balance of Roddenberry's "highly evolved post scarcity" humanity, and a believable and relatable character.

[@SweetSweetCandyBoyz]

Let me know if you ever want some 4K upscaled Star Trek footage.

[@RogueFilmsVFX]

Fun fact- the writers of TNG conceived of and have referred to "Family" as being the third part of "Best of Both Worlds"

[@biggiejeffrey]

The problem with Roddenberry's "vision of the future" is that it was just another version of the despotic idea that life would be perfect if there was nothing, or no "outsiders", to cause conflict, either personal or public. You can't have personal growth without conflicts to overcome.

[@StephenSchaal]

This is something that not only new Trek doesn't get, but almost all new TV. These shows were deep.

[@BlueBeetle1939]

MORE STAR TREK PLEASE

[@vallraffs]

Wish they'd done a Family-style episode right after the Inner Light. Devote some time to Picard dealing with that other life-changing experience he had. If only Ron Moore had had greater pull on the show. Or just if Rick Berman and Brannon Braga had had less.

[@chrismartin509]

bit late but u should do a vid on the last few eps of rick and morty s7, i actually thought it finished rlly strong

[@Bow-to-the-absurd]

FAMILY is as essential as BEST OF BOTH WORLDS. essential TREK.

[@Ma55ey]

Its nice to be reminded of a time when star trek was great.. its just a shame you have to go back to an episode that's 40 years old... I wouldn't call this a low key episode. This was the writers really breaking out of the restrictions of "the format" it was a huge gamble for them but it paid off massively. And probably went along way to help convince the studio that character drama would work on startrek.

[@captainmidnight]

I enjoy Strange New Worlds tbh, but it doesn’t quite measure up. Hoping season 3 takes that next step.

[@somejerkbag]

Ironically DS9 was on Netflix in Japan last year during the blackout. It's where I sent my vpn...

[@garyjaffe9845]

YOU ARE AN ABOSOLUTE MONSTER WITH THE UPLOADS

[@Aaron-kj8dv]

Bro do an episode on "chain of command" where Picard is captured and being tortured by the Kardasians. THERE......ARE......FOUR......LIGHTS!!!

[@captainmidnight]

I would love to but no one watched this one 🥲

[@hadyzabibrebolledo1394]

more star trek!!

[@hariman7727]

You know... Patrick Stewart probably needed physical therapy after TNG, because he CARRIED a lot of those episodes. Heck, everyone probably needed the same help, because all the other actors carried their own episodes from time to time.

[@TONYGILLEY]

What were your thoughts on Picard Season 3? Speaking for myself I felt the creative teams of seasons 1 and 2 should be ashamed of themselves for putting out two seasons rancid of Dog CRAP, while a separate creative team behind season 3 not only made the best out of some of that garbage, but crafter a fun, compelling story that I personally felt satisfied with should that be the end of not just Star Trek, but The Next Generation Era (TNG, DS9, & Voyager) as well. Reason I ask, is that when you said how the Best of Both Worlds had affected Picard's character for the rest of the series and going into First Contact, but in reality, that horrific time with The Borg would essentially affect him for the rest of his life; definitely bad, but for the good as well.

[@ray53208]

People throw a lot of shade at Nemesis. It's got its flaws, but I enjoyed it. More than 5, more than Insurrection, and more than Beyond.

[@smartalec2001]

I sometimes wonder how the Captain Riker show would have been. They would have had Locutus as a recurring villain, right? They wouldn't have needed a Borg Queen, Locutus would play that role. Imagine the Voyager crew having to deal with him.

[@Eidlones]

I kinda hate the Borg Queen, honestly. I like the idea of the Borg being a single entity, not like a colony of ants.

[@Overbound]

My jaw hit the floor when Picard became a Robot. Dumbfounded, I did not watch Picard Season 2.

[@haitileblanc3075]

Best reason to join Star Fleet is to avoid civilian clothing

[@foxyfoxington2651]

I always hated the way they killed Robert and his family off screen like that.

[@Yaarrr]

That play fight with Picard and his bro was absurdly staged