In this episode, the Enterprise rescues a Starfleet admiral's grandson, long thought dead, but who had been adopted and raised by the enemies who killed the boy's parents.
The blade deflects off Picard's sternum, causing only a minor wound, but the problem of where Jono should live is now compounded due to the assault he has just committed.
Jamahl Epsicokhan of TrekNation's Jammer's Reviews, pointed out that this was the third TNG episode in a row to deal with family issues.
Epsicokhan called "Suddenly Human" the least effective of the three family-oriented episodes, criticizing the script by stating that the plot took too long to play out, and that the storyline was flat in parts.
The reviewer was also disappointed that the Starfleet admiral's reaction to her request for custody being disregarded by Picard was left as an unresolved plot point.
[2] "Suddenly Human" was released in the United States on September 3, 2002, as part of the Star Trek: The Next Generation season four DVD box set.