The Ultimate Guide to Watching Star Trek: The Next Generation

Star Trek is widely considered the most successful and influential science fiction television franchise ever, serving as a blueprint for future sci-fi works and how to portray space travel in the realm of fiction. Originating in 1966, the Star Trek franchise boasts a rich history and an extensive timeline that spans centuries. The initial casting of actors such as William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy contributed to the show's immense popularity, as their iconic characters resonated with audiences.

While there have been several films associated with Star Trek, its television presence has been more significant, with a total of twelve distinct shows airing over the past 50-plus years. The original series holds a unique place, and Deep Space Nine is widely lauded for its innovative approach and creativity. Additionally, Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG) stands as one of the franchise's most noteworthy eras, playing a pivotal role in the Star Trek timeline and delivering exceptional storytelling.

When Did Star Trek: The Next Generation First Air?

With the conclusion of season 3 of Picard in April 2023, now is the perfect opportunity to delve into Picard's journey during TNG. Exploring his exploits aboard the Enterprise-D offers invaluable insight into the complex character that is Picard, as well as his dedicated crew.

The original Star Trek television series aired from 1966 to 1969. Following its cancellation, the series underwent a brief revival in animated form for two seasons that lasted slightly over a year. Subsequently, after the conclusion of the animated series, there was a five-year break in the franchise before the production of the first Star Trek film, titled Star Trek: The Motion Picture. This film marked the return of the original crew from the 1966 series.

The film's success paved the way for three sequels before Star Trek's creators made the groundbreaking decision to bring a new crew back to television after a thirteen-year hiatus. Premiering in September 1987, Star Trek: The Next Generation originally aired on local ABC networks before later moving to CBS. Despite facing initial setbacks in finding a network, the show ultimately became a valuable asset, captivating millions of viewers each week.

TNG broke new ground in the Star Trek franchise by centering its story on a different USS Enterprise under the leadership of the stoic Jean-Luc Picard. Following the adventures of the youthful crew aboard the Enterprise-D, notable characters included the occasionally fiery Klingon Worf, first officer William Riker, engineer Geordi Laforge, Beverly Crusher, Tasha Yar, Deanna Troi, and the eccentric yet brilliantly intelligent AI Chief Operations Officer known as Data. Spanning seven seasons, the show produced a total of 178 episodes.

What Are The Best Episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation?

When analyzing a narrative as intricate as any of the Star Trek series or movies, identifying the top moments can be quite challenging. Nonetheless, amidst numerous possibilities, presented below are several episodes that are commonly considered the finest in TNG's repertoire.

All Good Things... (Season 7, Episodes 25 and 26)

In a gripping two-part series finale, Picard embarks on an enigmatic journey to unravel the secrets of a spatial anomaly that spans across three distinct time periods: the past, the present, and the future. Fascinated by the anomaly in each timeline, Picard's unwavering determination drives him to pursue it despite all obstacles. With the omnipotent Q playing a pivotal role, Picard endeavors to decipher the nature of the anomaly and understand the reason behind his consciousness being unpredictably thrown across time in this extraordinary interstellar culmination of the series.

Yesterday's Enterprise (Season 3, Episode 15)

In another thrilling time-travel adventure, the brave crew of the Enterprise-D unexpectedly stumbles upon a mysterious space-time phenomenon. This extraordinary event catapults Captain Picard and his loyal team into an alternate timeline, where they find themselves side by side with the once-thought-destroyed Starfleet vessel, the Enterprise-C. To their astonishment, in this parallel reality, the Enterprise-C has journeyed to the future and is currently embroiled in a fierce battle against a relentless Klingon fleet. Faced with confusion and uncertainty about their sudden displacement, the crew of the Enterprise-D, who have considerably diminished in numbers due to their encounter with the cosmic rift, must urgently devise a plan to safely guide the Enterprise-C back to its rightful place in the past. Additionally, they must unravel the mysteries surrounding their current predicament and restore their own timeline before it is irrevocably altered for eternity.

The Measure of a Man (Season 2, Episode 9)

"The Measure of a Man" presents a distinctive twist in the series, highlighted by its courtroom-style narrative. Commander Bruce Maddox pays a visit to Data, a remarkable member of the AI Enterprise-D crew, under the guise of wanting to understand his workings. However, his true motive emerges swiftly: Maddox aims to transfer Data's computer brain into the starbase's database, seeking insights on replicating his intricate technological functions. Unyielding, Data refuses to comply. The matter escalates to a court hearing, delving into the fundamental question of whether Data should be recognized as human or merely an android.

The Inner Light (Season 5, Episode 25)

The Enterprise-D encounter a space probe which beams a light upon Picard, knocking him unconscious. When he wakes, he finds himself on the planet Kataan as a person named Kamin. Kamin has a family, including children, and he's informed he just woke up from a sort of coma. Meanwhile, on Enterprise-D, the crew attempt to awaken Picard to no avail. Kamin lives an entire lifetime on Kataan as it approaches an inevitable doom, while he learns to play the flute in this story of love and legacy.

The Best of Both Worlds, Parts 1 and 2 (Seasons 3 and 4, Episodes 26 and 1)

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Picard of the Enterprise-D is rendered unconscious by a space probe that emits a powerful beam of light upon him. Upon regaining consciousness, he discovers that he has been transported to the planet Kataan and assumes the role of a person named Kamin. Kamin, who has a family and children, is informed that he has recently emerged from a state resembling a coma. Simultaneously, aboard the Enterprise-D, the crew futilely endeavors to awaken Picard. As Kataan nears its impending demise, Kamin experiences an entire lifetime on the planet, intertwined with a tale of love and legacy, all while mastering the art of playing the flute.

The Best of Both Worlds, Parts 1 and 2 (Seasons 3 and 4, Episodes 26 and 1)

In the thrilling two-part special, serving as both the season 3 finale and season 4 premiere, the Enterprise-D is confronted with a distress call emanating from a Federation colony, only to discover that the entire settlement has mysteriously vanished. The crew finds themselves suddenly ambushed by the Borg, a formidable race of robotic beings known for assimilating their adversaries. Alarming as it might be, the attackers succeed in abducting one of the Enterprise-D's own, effectively incorporating them into their hive-mind army. In a race against time, the Enterprise-D, aided by Lieutenant Commander Shelby, must rescue their crew member and vanquish the relentless Borg threat before they can reach and unleash havoc upon Earth.

Where Can You Watch Star Trek: The Next Generation?

TNG arrived at the ideal moment, presenting a refreshing twist on the timeless sci-fi narrative for a fresh audience. Moreover, certain elements of the series were enhanced with improved visual effects and, some argue, more authentic dialogue. Even now, numerous fans regard TNG as the ultimate embodiment of Star Trek.

You can stream Star Trek: The Next Generation on Paramount+ or purchase it on Apple TV. Be sure to catch up before the return of Picard in season 4.