“Family,” The Next Generation
Not all shore leave episodes are a gag, however—sometimes the catharsis is much more serious and emotional instead of “I’m a Starfleet officer who needs a vacation, oh no!”
Picard’s homecoming in La Barre after his assimilation as Locutus in “Family” is one such serious example of times we got to see our heroes step aside from their job for rest. It might not feature the outward fun many of the other episodes mentioned here do, but it’s an important and emotional moment for the character that shines an alternate spotlight on what these kinds of episodes can be.
