Imaginary Friend

Episode aired May 2, 1992
TV-PG
45m

IMDb RATING

6.0/10

YOUR RATING

Shay Astar and Noley Thornton in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)

Action Adventure Drama Sci-Fi

A powerful, potentially dangerous energy life form, intent on scouting out the Enterprise, steps into the role of a girl's imaginary friend.A powerful, potentially dangerous energy life form, intent on scouting out the Enterprise, steps into the role of a girl's imaginary friend.A powerful, potentially dangerous energy life form, intent on scouting out the Enterprise, steps into the role of a girl's imaginary friend.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.0/10

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Trivia
In early drafts, Isabella was much more benign and curious. This was changed in part due to the producers feeling the resulting story was dull, and also because they felt it was too similar to The Child (1988).

Goofs
When Troi confronts "Isabella" and Clara tells Troi "Isabella's" threatening response, Clara is clearly scared--and Troi, being an empath, should be able to sense Clara's fear. Yet in the next scene, she acts as if Clara was just acting out.

Quotes
Captain Jean-Luc Picard: [to "Isabella," the energy life form] You are seeing this ship, all of us, from a unique perspective - from a child's point of view. It must seem terribly unfair and restrictive to you. As adults, we don't always stop to consider how everything we say and do shapes the impressions of young people, but if you're judging us, as a people, by the way we treat our children - and I think there can be no better criterion - then you must understand how deeply we care for them. When our children are young, they don't understand what might be dangerous. Our rules are to keep them from harm, real or imagined, and that's part of the continuity of our Human species. When Clara grows up, she will make rules for *her* children, to protect them - as we protect her.

Connections
Referenced in Star Trek: Voyager: Collective (2000)

Soundtracks
Star Trek: The Next Generation Main Title
Composed by Jerry Goldsmith and Alexander Courage

User reviews19

Featured review

10/10

Another misunderstood episode

It's all about perception.

In this case, from a child's point of view.

If we ever had a parent or set of parents that seemed restrictive, they were doing their jobs. If of course the parent/s were genuinely concerned for our safety.

Clara Sutters father is simply concerned that his daughter was going to restricted areas of the ship and then blaming it all on her imaginary Isabella. He was doing nothing wrong, but then again, he didn't know. Didn't know that Isabella was suddenly real.

And of course an alien pretending to be a 12 year old girl would think that the "grups" were totally unfair.

This has been one of my favorite episodes, it makes a valid point. That, sometimes kids are telling the truth, even when recounting improbable events. The only adult that really respected Clara was of course Guinan with her "Tarkassian Razor Beast".

Of course Isabella wanted to react drastically.

Fortunately, Picard also knew how to not only talk to kids, but listen to them as well. Something he would not have been able to do before being thrust in command of a starship that included families as part of the crew. So, because he respected and listened to Isabella, he was able to prevent some bad things from happening... So, even Captains learn.