When the Bough Breaks

This Story: Season 1 Episode 17 (production code 118)
TNG Overall: Episode 17
Trek Overall: Story 117, Episode 119
Airdate: 15 Feb 1988
Written by Hannah Louise Shearer
Directed by Kim Manners

Notes

• I believe this is the first episode of Star Trek to be solely credited as being written and directed by a woman (not the same one).
• The character of Roshella was played by Brenda Strong who I know well from the series “Dallas” as Cliff Barnes girlfriend and later as Bobby’s third wife Ann.
• There is also a child’s pet/toy that looks nearly identical to a Tribble, although it’s not called that as such on screen. David Gerrold was at this time one of the production crew, so it could be one.
• This is the only episode to have been directed by Kim Manners.
• Wil Wheaton’s sister Amy Wheaton and his brother Jeremy Wheaton are featured as Tara and Mason in this episode.
• The actor Jeremy Hardin plays Radue here. He later returns to play Samuel Clemens in “Time’s Arrow” and a character named Neria in the Star Trek Voyager episode “Emanations“.

Links