So I just started watching tng a few days ago and I started at season 3 and i really fell in love with “the ensigns of command” for its incredibly high stakes and smart writing. That episode hooked me but the next couple weren’t doing the same thing for me so I was like oh no did I speak to soon. Then here comes the bonding, where do I start with this episode, I have never been so excited by a tv show, it is so unique (I’m speaking broadly I don’t know about in the star trek universe) and so emotionally potent! The idea that the people on the enterprise are always putting themselves and families in danger and the kids can’t truly decide if they want that or not, the fact that the death of Marla aster affects everyone in unique and profound ways, how the kid is having to handle death and try and deal with it at such a young age, Troy’s careful and gentle approach to helping the kid verses warfs harsh and brash but loving way of helping him, to the aliens motives (which we never see in any show about aliens) and how it just can’t understand human emotion. This episode is phenomenal and nobody talks about it!! Why? My other question is can I get a guide on more philosophical episodes of this show that resemble this episode?! Thank you to whoever read this far!