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#Algernon_Asimov’s guide to ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’
I’ve compiled an episode guides for ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’. This shows major milestones and character development - hopefully without giving away too many spoilers.
Whether you want to track the development of Worf during Next Generation, or skip the Wesley-heavy episodes, this is the page for you!
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Season 1
| Episode | Title | Key points / milestones | Characters featured | Essential? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 & 2 | Encounter at Farpoint | Captain Picard takes command of the Enterprise-D. The new crew faces a dilemma at Farpoint Station, and an unknown adversary called “Q”. | All | Engage! |
| 3 | The Naked Now | The Enterprise crew is infected with a virus which causes drunk-like symptoms. Data proves himself “fully functional” to Tasha. | All | meh |
| 4 | Code of Honor | The leader of the Ligonians wants Yar as a wife. A fight to the death ensues between Yar and the Ligonian’s First Wife. | Yar | Avoid |
| 5 | The Last Outpost | The Enterprise deals with some Ferengi, and both get caught on a random planet. Introduction of the Ferengi. | meh | |
| 6 | Where No One Has Gone Before | A Starfleet engineer arrives to upgrade the Enterprise’s engines. We meet the Traveller. Picard appoints Wesley an Acting Ensign. | Wesley Traveller | Engage! |
| 7 | Lonely Among Us | An energy creature takes over various Enterprise crew. | Avoid | |
| 8 | Justice | Paradise has thorns. Wesley is sentenced to death. | meh | |
| 9 | The Battle | The Ferengi present Picard with the wreckage of his old ship, the USS Stargazer. | Picard | Engage! |
| 10 | Hide and Q | Q returns, and gives Riker the power of the Q. | Q Riker | Just for fun |
| 11 | Haven | Troi has to fulfil her duty - an arranged marriage. First appearance of Lwaxana Troi (Deanna’s mother). | Troi Lwaxana | meh |
| 12 | The Big Goodbye | Picard plays detective Dixon Hill on the holodeck. Naturally, the holodeck malfunctions. | Picard | Just for fun |
| 13 | Datalore | The Enterprise crew find another android, identical to Data: his “brother”, Lore. Some background on Data. | Data Lore | Engage! |
| 14 | Angel One | Riker has some sexy time in a female-dominated society. | Riker | Avoid |
| 15 | 11001001 | The crew has some downtime while the Bynars upgrade the Enterprise computer. Riker creates a fantasy woman on the holodeck: Minuet. | Riker | Just for fun |
| 16 | Too Short a Season | The Federaton negotiator, Admiral Jameson, seems to be getting younger… | Avoid | |
| 17 | When the Bough Breaks | The Aldeans kidnap some children from the Enterprise during negotiations. | Wesley | meh |
| 18 | Home Soil | Terraformers discover unexpected life on a supposedly barren planet. | Just for fun | |
| 19 | Coming of Age | Wesley sits the exams to enter Starfleet Academy, while an Admiral is investigating the Enterprise. | Wesley Picard | Engage! |
| 20 | Heart of Glory | Enterprise takes some Klingons on board. Lots of background on Worf. | Worf | Engage! |
| 21 | The Arsenal of Freedom | An automated weapons-selling demo. LaForge in command. Picard and Crusher have a moment. | LaForge Picard Crusher | Just for fun |
| 22 | Symbiosis | Two planets and their medicine trade tests the Prime Directive. Worst anti-drug speech EVER. | Picard Crusher | meh |
| 23 | Skin of Evil | Data learns about grief after a crew member dies on an away mission. | Data | meh |
| 24 | We’ll Always Have Paris | Picard meets an old flame, while experiments with non-linear time go awry. | meh | |
| 25 | Conspiracy | Picard investigates a conspiracy at the top levels of Starfleet. | Engage! | |
| 26 | The Neutral Zone | The Enterprise is sent to investigate what is destroying outposts along the Romulan Neutral Zone. Three humans from 20thC are unfrozen. | Engage! |
Season 2
| Episode | Title | Key points / milestones | Characters featured | Essential? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Child | Troi gets impregnated by an alien. Staff changes: Dr Crusher gone, Dr Pulaski arrives; Worf is Chief of Security; LaForge becomes Chief Engineer; Guinan runs Ten-Forward; Riker grows a beard. Data: “One is my name; the other is not.” Uniform change: no collar stripes. | Troi | meh |
| 2 | Where Silence Has Lease | A curious energy entity toys with the Enterprise. Musings on death. | Just for fun | |
| 3 | Elementary, Dear Data | LaForge challenges the holodeck to create an adversary to match Data’s Sherlock Holmes. It does: Moriarty. | Data Moriarty | Engage! |
| 4 | The Outrageous Okona | A charming rogue inspires Data to investigate comedy. | Data | Just for fun |
| 5 | Loud As A Whisper | Troi is attracted to a deaf negotiator. | Troi | meh |
| 6 | The Schizoid Man | The man who mentored Dr Noonian Soong, Data’s creator, tries to take over Data’s body. This is the only time we see Doctor Selar. | Data | Engage! |
| 7 | Unnatural Selection | Pulaski catches an old-age disease from genetically engineered children. The Transporter Chief, who we’ve seen five times before, finally gets a name: O’Brien. | Pulaski | meh |
| 8 | A Matter of Honor | Riker serves aboard a Klingon ship. | Riker | Engage! |
| 9 | The Measure of a Man | A hearing to determine Data’s personhood. Widely acknowledged as the best episode of the first two seasons of TNG, and one of the best of the series. | Data Picard | Engage! |
| 10 | The Dauphin | Wesley falls in love with a girl who’s destined to rule a planet. | Wesley | Avoid |
| 11 | Contagion | Enterprise infected by a computer virus. Discover Iconian gateways. First mention of ‘Earl Grey’. | Just for fun | |
| 12 | The Royale | Crew discovers a real-life replica of a hotel from an old book. | Riker | Avoid |
| 13 | Time Squared | A duplicate Picard from six hours in the future arrives and “present” Picard must prevent the destruction of the Enterprise. | Picard | Engage! |
| 14 | The Icarus Factor | Riker is offered a promotion. His estranged father visits. Worf celebrates anniversary of his Rite of Ascension. | Riker Worf | Just for fun. |
| 15 | Pen Pals | Data corresponds with a young girl from a doomed planet. Prime Directive. | Data | Engage! |
| 16 | Q Who | Q transports Enterprise to meet… the Borg! | Picard Guinan Q | Engage! |
| 17 | Samaritan Snare | Picard and Wesley bond while on a shuttle together. Enterprise and Pakleds. | Picard Wesley | Just for fun |
| 18 | Up The Long Ladder | Avoid | ||
| 19 | Manhunt | Lwaxana has a hyperactive sex-drive, and is looking for a man. Picard hides in the Dixon Hill holodeck program. | Lwaxana | Just for fun |
| 20 | The Emissary | Worf meets an old flame, K’Ehleyr, and old feelings re-ignite. | Worf | Engage! |
| 21 | Peak Performance | Picard versus Riker in war games. Data out-competes someone in a table-top game: “I ‘busted him up’!” | Data Riker | Just for fun |
| 22 | Shades of Grey | Worst! Episode! Ever! Due to a writers’ strike: a clip show. | Riker | AVOID! |
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Season 3
Episode Title Key points / milestones Characters featured Essential? 1 Evolution Wesley carelessly lets his nanites escape, and they evolve. Wesley and his mother get to know each other again. Staff changes: Dr Crusher returns from Starfleet Medical; Dr Pulaski gone; LaForge is Lt. Cmdr.; Worf is Lieutenant. Uniform change: two-piece. Wesley DrCrusher meh 2 The Ensigns of Command Data has to convince colonists to leave their homes, and learns that having authority is not enough to be a leader. Data Engage! 3 The Survivors Two humans mysteriously alone on an obliterated colony. Troi’s hearing music and becoming hysterical. Picard Avoid 4 Who Watches the Watchers The proto-Vulcanoid Mintakans discover Federation observers. Prime Directive dilemma. Picard refuses to become a god, making an excellent speech against superstition and ignorance. Picard Engage! 5 The Bonding A young orphan boy struggles with his grief. Worf adopts the boy into his House. Worf meh 6 Booby Trap LaForge has romantic problems, and engineering problems. He creates a hologram of Dr Leah Brahms (from the Daystrom Institute!), and gets confused about which of these problems she’s supposed to help him with. LaForge Engage! 7 The Enemy Worf refuses to help a Romulan, while LaForge works with a Romulan to survive. Romulan Commander Tomalak makes his first appearance. Worf LaForge Engage! 8 The Price Troi gets into a romance. She and Crusher do that exercise scene. Two Ferengi get stranded in the Delta Quadrant (they’ll turn up later in VOY). Troi meh 9 The Vengeance Factor Enterprise crew try to mediate a long-standing feud. Avoid 10 The Defector A Romulan wants to defect. Tomalak returns. Engage! 11 The Hunted A political prisoner reveals a shameful secret about his government. Engage! 12 The High Ground Dr Crusher is taken as a hostage by terrorists. Crusher Engage! 13 Deja Q Q has been thrown out of the Q Continuum, and chooses to be Human, with Picard. However, Q has made enemies who want revenge. We meet another Q. Q Picard Engage! 14 A Matter of Perspective Riker is accused of murder, and events are examined from different perspectives using the holodeck. Riker meh 15 Yesterday’s Enterprise A favourite episode of fans. The Enterprise-C emerges from a temporal rift, and the timeline changes: among other things, Yar is still Security Chief on the Enterprise-D. Only Guinan knows something is wrong. Captain Garrett of the Enterprise-C has to make the ultimate choice. An excellent resolution for Yar. Yar Guinan Picard Engage! 16 The Offspring Data makes an android: a daughter, Lal. Data learns about parenting while Lal learns about life. Excellent Data episode. One of my personal favourites. Data Engage! 17 Sins of the Father Worf’s long-dead father, Mogh, is accused of treason by the Klingons, and Worf has to make some tough choices. We meet Worf’s borther Kurn. The House of Duras returns. Worf Engage! 18 Allegiance Picard is kidnapped and has to work with three other prisoners. Meanwhile, on the Enterprise, Picard is acting strangely. Picard Engage! 19 Captain’s Holiday Picard gets caught up in adventures and a romance while on holiday on Risa. First appearance of Vash. Picard Vash Just for fun 20 Tin Man A telepath comes on board to help the Enterprise investigate a space-borne lifeform. Data Troi meh 21 Hollow Pursuits Lieutenant BroccoliBarclay has an addiction to using the holodeck - with some embarrassing moments for his fellow crewmembers. First appearance of BarclayBarclay Troi Engage! 22 The Most Toys Data is captured - just to be part of someone’s collection. Data Just for fun 23 Sarek Sarek, Spock’s father, comes aboard the Enterprise for one final diplomatic mission. Picard has to help Sarek, and forms a strong bond with him. Excellent moments for Picard and Sarek. Sarek Picard Engage! 24 Ménage à Troi Lwaxana Troi is kidnapped by a Ferengi, and Picard has to declare his love for her to rescue her. Wesley leaves for Starfleet Academy. This episode includes this well-known Picard meme image, which is not him saying “WTF?” but instead quoting Shakespeare. Lwaxana Picard Wesley Just for fun 25 Transfigurations A mystery man starts developing new powers. Avoid 26 The Best of Both Worlds Widely acknowledged as one of the best episodes of TNG. The Borg invade Federation space, heading for Earth. Commander Shelby joins the Enterprise, and challenges Commander Riker. Picard is captured by the Borg and… [The first cliffhanger season-ending.] Picard Riker Shelby Engage! Season 4
Episode Title Key points / milestones Characters featured Essential? 1 The Best of Both Worlds, Part II … Locutus of Borg leads the Borg on to Earth. Riker is promoted to Captain of the Enterprise, with Cmdr Shelby as First Officer. The Battle of Wolf 359. Riker Picard Shelby Engage! 2 Family Picard deals with the emotional consequences of his time with the Borg with help from his brother. Worf’s parents come to visit. Wesley sees a message from his late father. Staff: Riker is Commander again; O’Brien is first described as a Chief Petty Officer (not defined before now). Picard Worf Wesley Engage! 3 Brothers Data meets his creator, Doctor Noonian Soong. First mention of the emotion chip. Data Engage! 4 Suddenly Human An orphan Human boy who was raised by a warrior species, is introduced to his Human heritage. Picard Just for fun 5 Remember Me Crusher notices that Enterprise personnel are vanishing, and has to work out why. Crusher Just for fun 6 Legacy Yar’s sister asks for the Enterprise’s help in a civil war. Data meh 7 Reunion Picard is appointed Arbiter of Succession by the dying Klingon Chancellor, and must find who killed the Chancellor. Worf is reunited with K’Ehleyr - and her young son. Worf Picard Engage! 8 Future Imperfect Riker wakes up sixteen years older, with no memory of the past sixteen years. He has to refamiliarise himself with his life, with the help of Admiral Picard, First Officer Data - and his own son Jean-Luc. Minuet. Riker Engage! 9 Final Mission Wesley and Picard have some time to bond before Wesley leaves for Starfleet Academy. Wesley’s last regular appearance in the series. Wesley Picard Engage! 10 The Loss Troi loses her empathic abilities. First mention of the Breen. Troi meh 11 Data’s Day Data records his personal log of an ordinary day on the Enterprise. He tries to mediate between O’Brien and his fiancee (first appearance of Keiko) in the days before their wedding. He learns to dance for the wedding. A fan favourite. Data Engage! 12 The Wounded A rogue Starfleet captain may possibly cause a new war between the Federation and the Cardassians. First appearance of Cardassians. O’Brien Engage! 13 Devil’s Due The Devil returns to claim a planet, according to the contract they signed with her. meh 14 Clues The Enterprise crew seem to have missed a day, and Data is being suspicious. Data Just for fun 15 First Contact A pre-warp civilisation discovers an alien hiding among them at the same time as other aliens appear, offering first contact with something called “the United Federation of Planets”. Picard Riker Engage! 16 Galaxy’s Child The real Dr Leah Brahms comes aboard, causing more confusion for LaForge. An orphaned space organism turns to the Enterprise for maternal comfort. LaForge Engage! 17 Night Terrors The Enterprise gets trapped inside a space rift, and the crew become short-tempered and irrational - except Troi. Troi Avoid 18 Identity Crisis Members of an earlier away mission are starting to transform; LaForge is next. LaForge Avoid 19 The Nth Degree Barclay is still in therapy - but suddenly starts showing unexpected signs of improvement… too much improvement. Barclay Just for fun 20 Qpid Vash returns, causing Picard some embarrassment. Q decides to do Picard a “favour”, and tries to kindle a romance - in Robin Hood style. But Worf is “not a Merry Man!” Q Vash Picard Just for fun 21 The Drumhead Admiral Satie investigates sabotage and espionage on board the Enterprise. Picard’s famous “With the first link…” speech. A classic episode. Picard Engage! 22 Half a Life Lwaxana Troi becomes fond of a visiting scientist - who is too old on his world. A very different side of Lwaxana. Lwaxana Engage! 23 The Host Crusher gets romantic with a Trill ambassador - but is in for a surprise. The introduction of the Trill. Crusher Just for fun 24 The Mind’s Eye LaForge is brainwashed by the Romulans, to cause trouble between the Federation and the Klingons. The first hint of a new character. LaForge Engage! 25 In Theory Data creates a program for his attempt at a romantic relationship. Data Just for fun 26 Redemption The new Klingon Chancellor is to be installed. Worf attempts to redeem his House. The House of Duras is scheming with… someone surprising… [Another cliffhanger season-ending.] First appearance of Lursa and B’Etor. First appearance of this character. Worf Duras surprise…! Engage! Season 5
Episode Title Key points / milestones Characters featured Essential? 1 Redemption II The Klingon Civil War continues. Data struggles to be accepted as Captain. Picard is… surprised… at who’s behind it all. Worf Duras Picard Data surprise…! Engage! 2 Darmok Picard and a Tamarian captain learn to communicate with each other. One of the quintessential episodes of this series. Picard Engage! 3 Ensign Ro The Bajoran, Ro Laren, is reinstated as an Ensign in Starfleet to help Picard deal with Bajoran terrorists. Introduction of Bajorans. First appearance of Ro. Picard Ro Engage! 4 Silicon Avatar The Crystalline Entity returns. A mother grieves for her son, lost in the previous Entity attack, and turns to Data. Data meh 5 Disaster A disaster wipes out most systems on the Enterprise, with people stranded all over the ship. Troi has to take command on the bridge, and deal with Ro. Worf delivers Keiko’s baby. Picard leads a crew of children. Troi Picard Just for fun 6 The Game Wesley vists the Enterprise, and finds everyone addicted to a video game. Wesley (and Data) save the day. Wesley meh 7 Unification I Ambassador Spock has gone to Romulus, and Picard and Data have to get him back. Spock! Sarek Picard Data Engage! 8 Unification II Picard and Data learn why Spock is on Romulus, and they work together. Spock Sela Picard Data Engage! 9 A Matter Of Time A historian from the future comes back to witness a historic event involving the Enterprise. Just for fun 10 New Ground Worf has to make decisions about his son Alexander. The Enterprise tests the soliton wave as a form of propulsion. Worf Engage! 11 Hero Worship An orphaned boy emulates Data. Data Just for fun 12 Violations A telepath mind-rapes members of the Enterprise crew, starting with Troi. Avoid 13 The Masterpiece Society A genetically engineered perfect society may be in more danger from the Enterprise than the problem the Enterprise is helping with. Engage! 14 Conundrum The Enterprise crew all lose their memories, but not their personalities, and must deal with an unknown alien ship. meh 15 Power Play Data, Troi, and O’Brien are possessed by unknown entities, and take over the ship. Avoid 16 Ethics Worf is permanently paralysed. Is it ethical to commit suicide? Is it ethical to perform untried medical procedures? Worf Crusher Engage! 17 The Outcast A person from a sexless androgynous species chooses to be female, and is cast out as a pervert. Riker Engage! 18 Cause and Effect The Enterprise cycles over and over again through the same events leading to its destruction. Just for fun 19 The First Duty A member of Wesley’s squad at Starfleet Academy is killing in a training accident. Picard visits an old friend at the Academy, Boothby. Picard’s famous “first duty” speech. Picard Wesley Engage! 20 Cost of Living Worf is having difficulty being a parent, and asks Troi for help. Lwaxana takes a maternal interest in young Alexander; she’s good with children. Lwaxana Alexander Worf Troi Just for fun 21 The Perfect Mate An empathic metamorph causes quite a stir among the male crew members, especially Picard. Picard meh 22 Imaginary Friend A little girl’s imaginary friend becomes a lot less imaginary. Avoid 23 I Borg The Enterprise crew find a single Borg, and try to find out if they can use it to defeat the Borg. In the meantime, the Borg learns about individuality and friendship. Guinan confronts her fears. Picard has an ethical dilemma. Hugh LaForge Guinan Engage! 24 The Next Phase LaForge and Ro become “ghosts” after a transporter accident. LaForge Ro meh 25 The Inner Light Picard lives a full life, with family and friends, as “Kamin”. Widely acclaimed as one of the best episodes of the series. Picard Engage! 26 Time’s Arrow The Enterprise crew find Data’s head which was buried nearly 500 years ago, then investigate a threat to 19th Century San Francisco, and meet Mark Twain and a younger Guinan. [Another cliffhanger season-ending.] Data Guinan Just for fun Season 6
Episode Title Key points / milestones Characters featured Essential? 1 Time’s Arrow, Part II More shenanigans in 19th Century San Francisco Data Guinan Just for fun 2 Realm of Fear Barclay is nervous about using the transporters - and then sees a creature during transport. Barclay Avoid 3 Man of the People An empathic ambassador and his crazy old mother take an interest in Troi. Troi meh 4 Relics The Enterprise finds a Dyson sphere - and rescue Captain Montogmery Scott (“Scotty”) from a ship crashed on the sphere’s surface. Scotty LaForge Engage! 5 Schisms Members of the crew are getting edgy and skitterish. Includes Data’s famous ‘Ode to Spot’. Avoid 6 True Q A young woman who’s been raised as human learns that she is actually a Q. Q Just for fun 7 Rascals Picard, Ro, Guinan, and Keiko are accidentally turned into children. This is the final appearance of O’Brien on the Enterprise, before his off-screen transfer to Deep Space Nine. Picard Ro meh 8 A Fistful of Datas The holodeck breaks (surprise!) while Worf, Troi, and Alexander are playing a Wild West program - with Datas appearing everywhere. Data Just for fun 9 The Quality of Life Exocomps - small drilling machines designed to learn and reproduce - are acting unexpectedly. Data Just for fun 10 Chain of Command, Part I The Cardassians are mobilising. Picard, Crusher, and Worf are removed from the Enterprise and sent on a secret mission. Captain Jellico is put in command of the Enterprise (first appearance of Admiral Nechayev) to negotiate with the Cardassians. Jellico doesn’t get along with the crew or the Cardassians - but he does make Troi start wearing regulation uniforms. Riker Troi Engage! 11 Chain of Command, Part II Jellico relieves Riker of duty; Data becomes First Officer. Picard is captured by the Cardassians and tortured: “There! Are! Four! Lights!” Picard Engage! 12 Ship in a Bottle Barclay discovers Moriarty in the holodeck’s memory and re-activates him. Moriarty holds Picard and the Enterprise hostage, to achieve his freedom. Moriarty Picard Engage! 13 Aquiel LaForge falls in love with a woman who is suspected of murdering a fellow Starfleet officer. Avoid 14 Face of the Enemy Troi wakes up and discovers she now looks like a Romulan. She’s been kidnapped to help Romulan dissidents by impersonating a Major in the Tal Shiar. First mention of the Tal Shiar. Some good Troi development. Troi Engage! 15 Tapestry Q lets Picard change a key moment in his past - and see the consequences of that change. Picard Q Engage! 16 Birthright, Part I Data starts having visions of his “father” Doctor Noonien Soong. Worf investigates a rumor that his father Mogh is alive in a Romulan prison camp. Appearance by Bashir: the Enterprise is at Deep Space Nine. Data Worf meh 17 Birthright, Part II Worf finds the prison camp, and teaches the children of the captured Klingons about their Klingon heritage. Worf Engage! 18 Starship Mine Terrorists capture the Enterprise and its crew while the ship is undergoing maintenance. Data Picard Engage! 19 Lessons Picard learns the difficulties of having an “office romance” in Starfleet. Picard Just for fun 20 The Chase Picard’s mentor, Professor Galen, has learned something amazing that connects all humanoid species. [This episode gives the in-universe explanation for why most Star Trek aliens look humanoid.] Engage! 21 Frame of Mind Riker is on the Enterprise rehearsing a play about being an insane man in an asylum, and he’s in an insane asylum having delusions about being on the Enterprise. Riker Avoid 22 Suspicions Crusher has committed unethical acts while investigating a possible murder. Crusher meh 23 Rightful Heir Worf goes to a Klingon monastery for a spiritual retreat, where he meets someone who claims to be the legendary Klingon hero Kahless. Worf Just for fun 24 Second Chances A transporter accident eight years ago created a duplicate Riker - now called “Tom” (from their shared middle name). We see how “our” Riker has matured and changed over the past eight years; plus, “Tom” Riker is still in love with Troi. Real-life astronaut Dr Mae Jemison has a cameo appearance in this episode. Riker Troi Engage! 25 Timescape Picard, Data, La Forge, and Troi have to find out why a time-frozen Romulan warbird is firing on an equally time-frozen Enterprise. Just for fun 26 Descent The Enterprise encounters some individual Borg - who have been influenced by Hugh. Data starts getting emotional. [Another cliffhanger season-ending.] Includes a cameo appearance by Dr Stephen Hawking. Data Engage! Season 7
Episode Title Key points / milestones Characters featured Essential? 1 Descent, Part II Data joins the Borg and their leader, and starts “experimenting” on LaForge. Crusher is left in command of the Enterprise - and flies it into a sun! Data Hugh surprise…! Engage! 2 Liaisons Iyaaran diplomats test Worf’s limits, and Troi’s limits, on the Enterprise, while Picard is stranded on a desert planet where he finds a woman who says she loves him. Worf Troi meh 3 Interface LaForge uses an experimental interface that links to his VISOR to investigate a wrecked starship, and sees his supposedly dead mother. LaForge meh 4 Gambit, Part I Riker investigates Picard’s death - and ends up kidnapped and working for a crew of mercenaries. Riker Picard Just for fun 5 Gambit, Part II Naturally, Picard isn’t actually dead. He and Riker work together to infiltrate the mercenaries. Picard Riker Just for fun 6 Phantasms Data starts having nightmares. This includes the “Data answering his own phone” scene. Avoid 7 Dark Page Lwaxana is moody and depressed. Troi tries to find out why, and learns a dark secret from their past. We see Troi’s Human father for the only time. Lwaxana, Troi meh 8 Attached Picard and Crusher are captured, and have implants attached to their brains, connecting them to each other. Interesting Picard/Crusher insights. Picard Crusher Just for fun 9 Force of Nature Using warp drive is damaging space itself. This is the episode which introduces speed limits for starships. meh 10 Inheritance Data meets Dr Noonien Soong’s wife, Juliana - his “mother”. We learn about prototypes made before Lore and Data. Data Engage! 11 Parallels Worf keeps slipping between alternate quantum realities, leading to an awesome climactic moment. Also… Worf… and Troi? Worf Troi Engage! 12 The Pegasus It’s “Captain Picard Day”! Riker works with his former captain to retrieve the ‘Pegasus’, a ship they worked on which carries a dark secret, before the Romulans find it. Riker Engage! 13 Homeward Worf’s Human foster brother breaks the Prime Directive. Worf Picard Engage! 14 Sub Rosa Crusher’s grandmother dies, and Crusher falls in love with the same ghost her grandmother was having a fling with. Crusher Avoid 15 The Lower Decks The Enterprise from the point of view of four Ensigns. Engage! 16 Thine Own Self Data gets amnesia while on a low-tech world where he’s supposed to save the population. Troi decides to work towards a promotion - and fails the test. Data Troi Just for fun 17 Masks Data is possessed by multiple personalities, while the Enterprise becomes a temple. Avoid 18 Eye of the Beholder Troi investigates empathic impressions of a death on the Enterprise. And… yes… Worf and Troi. Troi Worf meh 19 Genesis The crew de-evolves into amphibians, lemurs, lizards, apes… Avoid 20 Journey’s End The Enterprise negotiates handing a colony back to the Cardassians. Wesley visits - and finds a new destiny. The end of Wesley’s story. Wesley Traveller Just for fun 21 Firstborn Worf’s son Alexander is approaching the Klingon Rite of Accession, but isn’t interested, until a mysterious Klingon warrior helps out. Lursa and B’Etor are scheming again. Quark makes an appearance. Worf Alexander Just for fun 22 Bloodlines Daimon Bok (from first season’s ‘The Battle’) has returned again to seek revenge against Picard. This time, he is going to kill Picard’s son [It’s okay - Picard didn’t know about him, either.] like Picard killed Bok’s son. Picard Just for fun 23 Emergence The Enterprise’s computer is developing self-awareness… in the holodeck program to end all holodeck programs. Just for fun 24 Preemptive Strike Ro goes undercover to infiltrate the Maquis. The end of Ro’s story. Ro Picard Just for fun 25 & 26 All Good Things… Picard is jumping randomly between time periods: his first days on the Enterprise; today; decades in the future. He has to solve the same problem in all three time periods, with Q “helping”. “It’s time to put an end to your trek through the stars.” <sob> Engage! Season-by-season ratings
Season Engage! Just for fun meh Avoid Engage! (%) Just for fun (%) meh (%) Avoid (%) Season 1 8 5 8 4 32% 20% 32% 16% Season 2 8 7 3 4 36% 32% 14% 18% Season 3 15 3 5 3 58% 12% 19% 12% Season 4 14 7 3 2 54% 27% 12% 8% Season 5 12 6 5 3 46% 23% 19% 12% Season 6 11 7 4 4 42% 27% 15% 15% Season 7 7 9 5 4 28% 36% 20% 16%
