PATRON TIER LIST - TNG S7E21 - Firstborn

They put "Armin Shimmerman's Credits" in the beginning to help promote DS9, for TNG fans who were not yet watching, so they would follow over when TNG ended. I've always enjoyed this episode. My father died at the hands of a drunk driver the day his orders came in the mail at Ft. Richardson to leave for Vietnam. Dad had premonitions of his death telling my Native Alaskan Mom where to bury him back in Kentucky and giving her permission to find someone else if he died there. He never knew he would never make it. Mom remarried when I was 1.5 to a Vietnam veteran shot 4 times and made it home, went through physical therapy, and was going to go back until he met and married Mom, and by him, I have a brother & sister, and Mom and Dad celebrated their 56th wedding anniversary this past year. That being said, given the opportunity to go back in time and meet your deceased Father is a very strong appeal emotionally in this episode.

I got confused with the episodes titles between this and Bloodlines, what was with TNG doing 2 ‘main characters and their sons’ episodes back to back?

B. Boy! You are NOT ready! Bring me that Bat'leth! I like it. In a way it's the Klingon version of the Twilight Zone's "Walking Distance". It has the same 'Don't try to improve your past' lesson. As one last Alexander episode it's not bad, and strong acting by James Sloyan. It's in that "Rightful Heir"/"Birthright" tier. I wish though old "Alexander" had vanished the moment history changed.

B tier for me for me, although I wouldn't always call B's bangers. It was one of the better Alexander episodes, and makes you wish the show wasn't a product of the age of episodic shows, so that Worf and his son could have a less fragmented and uneven relationship. That said, the twist was weird, even though James Sloyan's performance was great as always.

I can't wait for you guys to see Picard seasons one two and three. That's going to be a great reaction. I think you're really going to love it.

Two really solid monologues in this one, plus some fun trickery from Riker puts it solidly above average for me. And it gives Alexander's character far more depth. It's an A for me.