Star Trek: 10 Greatest Filler Episodes

Family was an experiment. The Next Generation was not a show designed for serialised stories, so the original plan had been to finish the Locutus story with The Best Of Both Worlds, Pt 2. However, that sort of trauma was too deep to erase by the episode's end, so Family was added as a breather.

It's actually a rather important episode overall for character growth, even though it contributes nothing to ongoing action. The Picards wrestling in the mud, the Roshenkos visiting their son and Wesley Crusher getting to meet a holographic version of his Dad - this episode tackled it all.

Except for Jean-Luc's breakdown, this was light on ongoing plot arcs but still is a crucial piece of the puzzle for all concerned. It also serves as a deep breath after that season opener which is a format Star Trek: Enterprise would revisit for its fourth season episode Home.