Friday, November 10, 2023

Star Trek: Bloodlines

Episode: "Bloodlines"
Series: Star Trek: The Next Generation
Season 7, Episode 22
Original Air Date: May 2, 1994

DaiMon Bok is back (see here).  Still bitter about Picard killing his son in battle, Bok has found Picard's own son, Jason Vigo, and has threatened to kill him as vengeance.  The Enterprise rushes to the Camor system in order to save the young man from Bok.

Wait, Picard has a son???

It's the sequel no one wanted.  Well, that's not entirely true.  Producer/writer Jeri Taylor had asked Patrick Stewart if there were any aspects of his character he'd like to explore and he responded that it seemed a shame the Bok-out-for-revenge story had never been resolved.  "Bloodlines" was the result.  There are now three NextGen episodes left.  The series is gasping for air.

The long lost child trope is an important one for Trek.  It's a central element in Wrath of Khan, of course.  I suppose it's believable enough for a spaceship (or sea) captain: woman in every port and what not.  It feels different with Picard, though, than it did with Kirk.  Captain James T. was well-established as an interstellar playboy.  Jean-Luc has never been like that (often to Patrick Stewart's own disappointment).  There's a sheepishness when he admits to his relationship with Jason's mother.  It's endearing.  


Acting Notes

Ken Olandt (Jason) was born in Richmond, California, April 22, 1958.  Not long before this appearance, he had the lead in the series Super Force.  Beyond Trek, television guest spots include Riptide, V and Murder, She Wrote.  Films include Leprechaun, Summer School and Falcon Down.  Orlandt has also done significant work in production and financing, including co-founding Unified Film Organization, LLC.

2 comments:

  1. I don't remember seeing this at all! If he has a son, they never looked at him ever again

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    Replies
    1. Spoiler: Jason isn't really Picard's son. Bok somehow manipulated his DNA to make it appear so.

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