History Recap / StarTrekTheNextGenerationS2E1TheChild

* EstablishingCharacterMoment: The first thing Dr. Pulaski does is ''not report for duty.'' She's in the bar at the time. As Worf says, "Not the best way to meet your captain." When Picard arrives to dress her down, however, she cuts him off and tells him to sit down and listen to the medical issue she's handling. Pulaski is thus established as a headstrong and irreverent doctor who is nonetheless serious about her duties. Over the rest of the episode, she repeatedly treats Data as a machine rather than a person, one of her other main character features.

* IgnoredEpiphany: When Pulaski mispronounces Data's name and he corrects her, she speculates that Data taking umbrage at the mispronunciation is an emotional response. Throughout the series Data displays wonder, confusion and surprise (among other things), which are all emotions. But Pulaski is the only character who ever makes this point, and she never mentions it again after this episode.

* ArtisticLicenseBiology: If the child really was identical to Deanna, it ''should'' have been a girl.

* EstablishingCharacterMoment: The first thing Dr. Pulaski does is ''not report for duty.'' She's in the bar at the time, talking with Deanna. As Worf says, "Not the best way to meet your captain." Most of the more notable moments she has involve insulting Data repeatedly, even though he ''can't'' be insulted, which just comes off as pure spitefulness rather than the ribbing [=McCoy=] would give Spock. And ''she's not even doing it on purpose''. She just doesn't think of Data as a "real" person.
** Granted, both have justifications, as Deanna, a patient, has asked to speak with the Chief Medical Officer, apparently in a comfortable setting, as she talks about the pregnancy, while, as we see with the later attitude of Starfleet Command officers in [[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS2E9TheMeasureOfAMan Measure of a Man,]] even their superiors aren't fully convinced that Data is more than a piece of machinery at this point in time. Still, not the best foot to put forward in her first appearance.

* {{Expy}}: A Chief Medical Officer who argues with the emotionless Bridge officer, and hates transporters. [[TheMcCoy Where have we seen that before?]]

* RankUp: Geordi was promoted to full lieutenant along with becoming Chief Engineer.
* RememberTheNewGuy: Guinan and [[GoodGuyBar Ten-Forward]] make their debuts in this episode, with the implication that they were on the Enterprise throughout Season 1. Although, in a much later episode, Picard mentions that Guinan joined the ship a year after the Enterprise took off.

The senior officers gather to discuss the development. Riker is both surprised and annoyed, and says, "I don't want to sound indelicate, but who's the father?" It turns out something that Deanna can only describe as a "presence" entered her body and took up residence in her womb. It's the fastest progressing pregnancy Dr. Pulaski has ever seen; the fetus is apparently twelve weeks along after eleven ''hours''. Worf thinks whatever's growing inside Counselor Troi is probably a threat to the ship and suggests abortion, while Data thinks they should study it. The Counselor shuts them all up with, "Do what you have to in order to protect the ship, but know this. I'm '''going''' to have this baby."

* EstablishingCharacterMoment: The first thing Dr. Pulaski does is ''not report for duty.'' She's in the bar at the time, talking with Deanna. As Worf says, "Not the best way to meet your captain." Most of the more notable moments she has involve insulting Data repeatedly, even though he ''can't'' be insulted, which just comes off as pure spitefulness rather than the ribbing [=McCoy=] would give Spock. And *she's not even doing it on purpose*. She just doesn't think of Data as a "real" person.

* RememberTheNewGuy: Guinan and [[GoodGuyBar Ten-Forward]] make their debuts in this episode, with the implication that they were on the Enterprise throughout Season 1.

* {{Jerkass}}: Pulaski.

* RememberTheNewGuy: Guinian and [[GoodGuyBar Ten-Forward]] make their debuts in this episode, with the implication that they were on the Enterprise throughout Season 1.

* StrawmanHasAPoint: In-universe, Worf is treated like the bad guy for suggesting they terminate the pregnancy, despite that fact that an [[HornyDevils unknown and potentially hostile alien entity essentially raped one of their officers and impregnated her with a child]] that will be born in less than a day! Isn't making the safety of the ship his ''top'' priority supposed to be his entire job?

* WhamEpisode: Dr. Crusher is gone and replaced by Pulaski. We also learn that Worf has formally been promoted to chief of security, while Geordi is now chief engineer.

Later, Ian has the appearance of a preteen, and when Picard asks him why he's there, [[LiteralMinded he responds that it's dinnertime.]] Picard says, "No, why are you on this ship?" and Ian responds that he's not ready to reveal that yet.

* BadassBeard: This episode marks the first appearance of Riker's [[GrowingTheBeard trope]]-[[TropeNamer naming]] beard.

* ItIsPronouncedTroPay: The argument between Pulaski and Data over the latter's name pronunciation. Which, incidentally, is the ''only'' time in the franchise that anyone brings this up.
* JerkAss: Pulaski.

* GoodGirlsAvoidAbortion: Work suggests abortion due to the unusual nature of Troi's pregnancy as a possible threat to the ship, but Troi adamantly refuses.

* EstablishingCharacterMoment: Pulaski's treatment of Data--in particular, her accusing him of having an ego problem for insisting that his name is pronounced "Day-ta" rather than "Datt-ah"--put her firmly on the path to [[TheScrappy Scrappydom]].

[floatboxright:
Series: ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration''\\
Episode: Season 2, Episode 1\\
Title: "The Child"\\
Previous: "The Neutral Zone"\\
Next: "Where Silence Has Lease"\\
Recapper: Koby_Fish]

The ''Enterprise'' is on its way to pick up some virulent specimens of various pathogens, for which the newly-minted Chief Engineer Geordi La Forge has designed a biohazard containment module. Dr. Crusher has left for a post with Starfleet Medical, and the new Chief Medical Officer, Katherine Pulaski, has failed to report to Captain Picard on schedule, opting to visit with Counselor Deanna Troi in [[GoodGuyBar the ship's lounge]], Ten-Forward, instead. Picard is preparing to chew Pulaski out for this when Troi makes a startling announcement: She is pregnant.

The senior officers gather to discuss the development. Riker is both surprised and annoyed, and says, "I don't want to sound indelicate, but who's the father?" It turns out something that Deanna can only describe as a "presence" entered her body and took up residence in her womb. It's the fastest progressing pregnancy Dr. Pulaski has ever seen; the fetus is apparently twelve weeks along after eleven ''hours''. Worf thinks whatever's growing inside Counselor Troi is probably a threat to the ship, while Data thinks they should study it. The Counselor shuts them all up with, "Do what you have to in order to protect the ship, but know this. I'm '''going''' to have this baby."

The ''Enterprise'' is on its way to pick up some virulent specimens of various pathogens, for which the newly-minted Chief Engineer Geordi La Forge has designed a biohazard containment module. Dr. Crusher has left for a post with Starfleet Medical, and the new Chief Medical Officer, Katherine Pulaski, has failed to report to Captain Picard on schedule, opting to visit with Counselor Deanna Troi in [[GoodGuyBar the ship's lounge]], Ten-Forward, instead. Picard is preparing to chew Pulaski out for this when Troi makes a startling announcement: She is pregnant. The senior officers gather to discuss the development. Riker is both surprised and annoyed, and says, "I don't want to sound indelicate, but who's the father?" It turns out something that Deanna can only describe as a "presence" entered her body and took up residence in her womb. It's the fastest progressing pregnancy Dr. Pulaski has ever seen; the fetus is apparently twelve weeks along after eleven ''hours''. Worf thinks whatever's growing inside Counselor Troi is probably a threat to the ship, while Data thinks they should study it. The Counselor shuts them all up with, "Do what you have to in order to protect the ship, but know this. I'm '''going''' to have this baby."

Series:Series/{{Star Trek The Next Generation}}\\

Title: The Child\\
Previous: The Neutral Zone\\
Next: Where Silence Has Lease\\

The ''Enterprise'' is on its way to pick up some virulent specimens of various pathogens when Counselor Deanna Troi makes a startling announcement: She is pregnant. Riker is both surprised and annoyed, and says, "I don't want to sound indelicate, but who's the father?" It turns out something that Deanna can only describe as a "presence" entered her body and took up residence in her womb. It's the fastest progressing pregnancy Dr. Pulaski has ever seen. Worf thinks whatever's growing inside Counselor Troi is probably a threat to the ship, while Data thinks they should study it. The Counselor shuts them all up with, "Do what you have to in order to protect the ship, but know this. I'm '''having''' this baby."

When the Enterprise is finished loading its extremely dangerous cargo, Dr. Pulaski and Data are together cataloging the specimens. Pulaski calls Data "Dah-tuh" and Data informs her his name is pronounced "Day-tuh". When she asks what the difference is, he replies that one is his name, the other is not. Pulaski also remarks that the pathogens are a result of some "eager beaver at play." Data doesn't understand, so Pulaski explains that some scientist used genetic engineering just to see how bad bad could get. They inform the Captain that if the most innocuous of the pathogens gets loose, it'll destroy all life on the ''Enterprise'' in a matter of hours.

Laforge starts noticing that some of the pathogens are starting to multiply for some reason, which they should not be. If they continue to multiply, they will burst through containment.

!!Provides examples of:

* EnergyBeing: The ball of white light that impregnates Troi.
* EstablishingCharacterMoment: Pulaski's treatment of Data -- in particular, her accusing him of having an ego problem for insisting that his name is pronounced "Day-ta" rather than "Datt-ah" -- put her firmly on the path to [[TheScrappy Scrappydom]].
* EverythingFades: Ian dissolves into sparkles after he dies.

* {{Expy}}: A Chief Medical Officer who argues with the emotionless Bridge officer, and hates transporters. Where have we seen that before?

* MythologyGag: The classroom Ian visits has the letters of the Latin alphabet on the wall - in the [[Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries original series]]' title font.
* OppositeSexClone: Ian is basically this to Troi.

* [[PutOnABus Put On A Shuttlecraft]]: Dr. Crusher.
* RemakeCameo / YouLookFamiliar: The actress playing Dr Pulaski appeared in two separate roles in ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries''.
* SenseFreak: Ian burns himself on his soup just to experience pain.
* StrawmanHasAPoint: In-universe, Worf is treated like the bad guy for suggesting they terminate the pregnancy, despite that fact that an [[HornyDevils unknown and potentially hostile alien entity essentially raped one of their officers and impregnated her with a child]] that will be born in less than a day! Isn't making the safety of the ship his ''top'' priority supposed to be his entire job?

* {{Expy}}: A Chief Medical Officer who argues with the emotionless Bridge officer, and hates transporters. Where have we seen that before?

* MythologyGag: The classroom Ian visits has the letters of the Latin alphabet on the wall - in the [[StarTrekTheOriginalSeries original series]]' title font.

* PlotRelevantAgeUp: Ian has a vastly accelerated development cycle, going from conception to a lad of 15 in three days.

* SoapOperaRapidAgingSyndrome: A plot point. Ian has a vastly accelerated development cycle, going from conception to a lad of 10 in three days.