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Suddenly Human (TNG episode)
Encyclopedia
"Suddenly Human" is an episode from the fourth season of Star Trek: The Next Generation
.
responds to a distress call from a Talarian vessel. They rescue five teenaged members of the crew, four of whom are Talarian, and one who is a human male named Jono (Chad Allen
).
Jono keeps to himself, apparently completely identifying and behaving as a Talarian, but shows strict obedience to Picard
, which together with some unexplained past injuries leads Doctor Crusher
to suggest Jono may have been physically abused. (She also suggests he possibly may be suffering from Stockholm Syndrome
to explain his devotion to being Talarian and to returning to their culture despite said sign of abuse and the Talarian
reputation for ruthlessness.)
After some research, it is determined that Jono is in fact Jeremiah Rossa, a long lost Federation citizen. In fact, his grandmother is a Starfleet
admiral
, and he was orphaned ten years ago when his parents were killed in a border skirmish with the Talarians.
Picard tries to reach out to Jono, but has limited success. When the Captain introduces the topic of Jono's human family, the boy Jono gets angry. However, after persistent effort by Picard, gradually Jono's memories of the attack begin to return. Meanwhile, friendship develops between Jono and Wesley Crusher
.
A Talarian ship arrives, and its Captain, Endar, asks for a status on his son - whom he identifies as Jono. Ten years ago, Endar claimed Jono after the attack that killed Jono's parents, which is allowed by Talarian tradition, as Endar's own son was killed in a battle on Castal I. Picard confronts Endar about Jono's past injuries. Amused, Endar explains Jono's injuries as the products of a boy trying to impress his father by participating in high-risk activities and contests with other youths; Picard seems satisfied with this answer and observes that Endar indeed seems to care for Jono. With some reservations, Picard allows Endar to see Jono, but when Jono says he wants to stay with Endar, Picard suspects the boy is afraid to say he wants to stay in the Federation. Endar insists that Jono will come back with him, even if the result is war between the Talarians and the Federation.
Returning to his vessel, Endar calls for reinforcements, as Picard decides to try to convince Jono to stay. After Jono receives a message from his grandmother, Picard takes the boy to play a form of racquetball. During the game Jono breaks down and cries, releasing a wellspring of pent up emotion. The crew believes they are making progress with the boy - but that night, Picard wakes up in time to see Jono standing over him with a knife, and Jono stabs the Captain.
Fortunately, the dagger is deflected by Picard's sternum, and the resulting wounds are relatively minor. The problem of where Jono should live is now compounded as Jono has committed a Federation crime.
When Picard learns that Jono feels he cannot betray Endar by befriending Picard, the Captain realizes he has been trying to impose his wishes on the boy. Just as Endar's patience is about to run out, Picard contacts the Talarians and lets them know he will let Jono go back.
Jono is transported back to be with his father, but not before Jono bids Picard farewell with a Talarian ritual that is normally reserved for family members.
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry as part of the Star Trek franchise. Roddenberry, Rick Berman, and Michael Piller served as executive producers at different times throughout the production...
.
Plot
The EnterpriseUSS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D)
The USS Enterprise is a 24th century starship in the Star Trek fictional universe and the principal setting of the Star Trek: The Next Generation television series...
responds to a distress call from a Talarian vessel. They rescue five teenaged members of the crew, four of whom are Talarian, and one who is a human male named Jono (Chad Allen
Chad Allen (actor)
Chad Allen is an American actor. Beginning a prolific career as a child actor at the age of seven, Allen is a three-time Young Artist Award winner and GLAAD Media Award honoree, best known for rising to prominence as a teen idol during the late 1980s as David Witherspoon on the NBC family drama,...
).
Jono keeps to himself, apparently completely identifying and behaving as a Talarian, but shows strict obedience to Picard
Jean-Luc Picard
Captain Jean-Luc Picard is a Star Trek character portrayed by Patrick Stewart. He appears in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and the feature films Star Trek Generations, Star Trek: First Contact, Star Trek: Insurrection, and Star Trek Nemesis...
, which together with some unexplained past injuries leads Doctor Crusher
Beverly Crusher
Commander Beverly Crusher, M.D. , played by actress Gates McFadden, is a fictional character on the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and its subsequent spinoff films...
to suggest Jono may have been physically abused. (She also suggests he possibly may be suffering from Stockholm Syndrome
Stockholm syndrome
In psychology, Stockholm Syndrome is an apparently paradoxical psychological phenomenon wherein hostages express empathy and have positive feelings towards their captors, sometimes to the point of defending them...
to explain his devotion to being Talarian and to returning to their culture despite said sign of abuse and the Talarian
Talarian
Talarian was a provider of real-time infrastructure software. Now part of TIBCO, it was a veteran provider of message-oriented middleware.Talarian was a member of the Business Integration Group , the Internet Protocol Multicast Initiative , the Securities Industry Middleware Council , the Object...
reputation for ruthlessness.)
After some research, it is determined that Jono is in fact Jeremiah Rossa, a long lost Federation citizen. In fact, his grandmother is a Starfleet
Starfleet
In the fictional universe of Star Trek, Starfleet or the Federation Starfleet is the deep-space exploratory, peacekeeping and military service maintained by the United Federation of Planets . It is the principal means by which the Federation conducts its exploration, defense, diplomacy and research...
admiral
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
, and he was orphaned ten years ago when his parents were killed in a border skirmish with the Talarians.
Picard tries to reach out to Jono, but has limited success. When the Captain introduces the topic of Jono's human family, the boy Jono gets angry. However, after persistent effort by Picard, gradually Jono's memories of the attack begin to return. Meanwhile, friendship develops between Jono and Wesley Crusher
Wesley Crusher
Wesley Crusher is a character in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation. He is Beverly Crusher's son and is portrayed by actor Wil Wheaton, the character was a regular for the first four seasons. Afterwards, the character appeared sporadically. The character also appeared briefly in...
.
A Talarian ship arrives, and its Captain, Endar, asks for a status on his son - whom he identifies as Jono. Ten years ago, Endar claimed Jono after the attack that killed Jono's parents, which is allowed by Talarian tradition, as Endar's own son was killed in a battle on Castal I. Picard confronts Endar about Jono's past injuries. Amused, Endar explains Jono's injuries as the products of a boy trying to impress his father by participating in high-risk activities and contests with other youths; Picard seems satisfied with this answer and observes that Endar indeed seems to care for Jono. With some reservations, Picard allows Endar to see Jono, but when Jono says he wants to stay with Endar, Picard suspects the boy is afraid to say he wants to stay in the Federation. Endar insists that Jono will come back with him, even if the result is war between the Talarians and the Federation.
Returning to his vessel, Endar calls for reinforcements, as Picard decides to try to convince Jono to stay. After Jono receives a message from his grandmother, Picard takes the boy to play a form of racquetball. During the game Jono breaks down and cries, releasing a wellspring of pent up emotion. The crew believes they are making progress with the boy - but that night, Picard wakes up in time to see Jono standing over him with a knife, and Jono stabs the Captain.
Fortunately, the dagger is deflected by Picard's sternum, and the resulting wounds are relatively minor. The problem of where Jono should live is now compounded as Jono has committed a Federation crime.
When Picard learns that Jono feels he cannot betray Endar by befriending Picard, the Captain realizes he has been trying to impose his wishes on the boy. Just as Endar's patience is about to run out, Picard contacts the Talarians and lets them know he will let Jono go back.
Jono is transported back to be with his father, but not before Jono bids Picard farewell with a Talarian ritual that is normally reserved for family members.