Trivia / Star Trek: The Next Generation S2E1 "The Child"

• Actor-Inspired Element: Jonathan Frakes showed up to begin pre-production on the second season sporting a beard he'd grown over the production break, which inspired the producers to decide a beard would be a good look for Riker.
• Creator Backlash:
  • Jon Povill and Jaron Summers, who wrote the Star Trek: Phase II version of the script, weren't too thrilled with the end result, and even more so the fact that showrunner Maurice Hurley apparently didn't even read their original script when turning it into this episode, just relying on a brief synopsis that Gene Roddenberry gave him.
  • Maurice Hurley didn't care for it either, saying that it "suffered from being the first episode of the second season more than anything else."
• Deleted Scene: Several scenes were filmed but later cut from the episode during editing.
  • Troi retires to her quarters, and speaks to her yet-unborn child.
  • Hester Dealt and Geordi discuss the status of the containment module.
  • Pieces of the Troi birthing scene, including Pulaski announcing Ian Troi's gender and weight (6lbs, 3oz), Picard congratulating Troi, and Riker dismissing Worf and his security team.
  • O'Brien and Data work to transport the virus aboard; Data identifies himself to the computer by his full name ("NFN NMI Data"). (NFN NMI = No First Name No Middle Initial)
  • An extended visit with Troi and Ian in their quarters; Ian dumps a beverage on his lap to experience the sensation.
  • Wesley arrives on the bridge after his last discussion with Guinan.
• First Appearance:
  • Of Dr. Pulaski and Guinan.
  • This episode marks the first time we see the Enterprise accelerate to warp speed from inside the ship itself.
• Prop Recycling: Science Station Tango Sierra is the orbital office complex model, recycled from Star Trek: The Motion Picture (also used as the Regula I in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan).
• Recycled Script: Due to a writers' strike, this episode's main plot was recycled from one originally developed for the scrapped Star Trek: Phase II, a planned sequel to the Original Series from 1978.
• You Look Familiar: Diana Muldaur, who plays Dr. Pulaski, appeared in two separate roles in Star Trek: The Original Series: Dr. Ann Mulhall in Season Two's "Return to Tomorrow" and Dr. Miranda Jones in Season Three's "Is There No Truth in Beauty?" .