Star Trekis arguably the most successful and influential science fiction television franchise of all time, setting the precedent for future sci-fi works and how to showcase space travel in the fictional realm. Dating back to 1966, theStar Trekfranchise holds a rich history and maintains an epic timeline that spans centuries. The initial casting of stars like William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy made for the show’s exceptional popularity, alongside the likability of their iconic characters.
Although there have been a number of films in its name,Star Trekhas a more prominent presence on television, with a total of twelve different shows that have aired in the last 50-plus years. The original series stands on its own pedestal, andDeep Space Nineis praised for its fresh take and creativity. Meanwhile,Star Trek: The Next Generation(TNG) is among the franchise’s best era of storytelling and plays a huge role in theStar Trektimeline.
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In 2020,Picardcontinued the story ofTNG. With season 3 ofPicardending in April 2023, it’s the optimal time to catch up on Picard’s adventures duringTNG.His adventures on the Enterprise give viewers the full background and a better understanding of the character that is Picard, and his crew aboard the Enterprise-D.
When Did Star Trek: The Next Generation First Air?
The originalStar Trekseries was on TV from 1966 to 1969. After its cancelation, the series revamped in animated form for a brief time, airing two seasons that lasted just over a year. Once the animated series was over, the franchise took a five-year hiatus before the first film was made,Star Trek: The Motion Picture, which brought back the original crew from the 1966 series.
The film was a success and opened the door for producing three sequels, beforeStar Trek’s creators decided to bring a new crew back to television for the first time in thirteen years.Star Trek: The Next Generationfirst aired in September 1987, originally broadcasted on local ABC networks, and later moved to CBS. Initially, it suffered setbacks, including struggling to find a network who wanted to pick it up. However, it proved to be a valuable asset, eventually being viewed by millions every week.
TNGwas the firstStar Trekstory that centered on a different USS Enterprise than the one led by Captain Kirk. Under the command of the stoic Jean-Luc Picard,TNGfollowed the Enterprise-D and its particularly young crew. Characters included the sometimes hot-headed Klingon Worf, first officer William Riker, engineer Geordi Laforge, Beverly Crusher, Tasha Yar, Deanna Troi, and the quirky, yet immensely intelligent AI Chief Operations Officer named Data. The show ran for seven seasons and produced 178 episodes.
What Are The Best Episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation?
When examining a story as dense as any of theStar Trekshows or films, it can be a tall ask to pick out which moments are the best. However, among the many options to choose from, here are a few episodes generally regarded to be amongTNG’s best.
All Good Things… (Season 7, Episodes 25 and 26)
The two-part series finale follows Picard as he tries to solve the mystery of a spatial anomaly through three different time periods: the past, the present, and the future. In all three timelines, he finds himself intrigued by the anomaly and wanting to pursue it no matter the restrictions. With a crucial role played by the omnipotent Q, Picard tries to figure out both what the anomaly is and why his consciousness is bouncing around uncontrollably through time in this interstellar conclusion of the series.
Yesterday’s Enterprise (Season 3, Episode 15)
In another time-traveling episode, the Enterprise-D stumbles upon a space-time phenomenon that sends Picard and his crew into an alternate timeline alongside another Starfleet ship, the Enterprise-C, which was believed to have been destroyed years prior. In this timeline,Enterprise-C transported to the future and are fighting off a Klingon fleet. Unsure what to do, or how they got into this situation in the first place, the crew aboard the Enterprise-D – which has been inexplicably cut down after encountering the space rift – must figure out how to safely return the Enterprise-C to the past and how to restore their own timeline before it’s too late.
The Measure of a Man (Season 2, Episode 9)
A more unique episode of the series, “The Measure of a Man” is a sort of court drama story.When Commander Bruce Maddox decides to visit the AI Enterprise-D crew member Data, claiming to want to learn more about how he works, it’s quickly revealed that Maddox’s true intentions are to transfer Data’s computer brain into the database of the starbase so that they can learn how to recreate his inner technological operations. Data refuses to comply. The issue is taken to court, where the question explored is whether Data is considered human or 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)
In the two-part special, airing as the season 3 finale and season 4 premiere, the Enterprise-D receive a distress call from a Federation colony, only to find that the colony has disappeared.The crew is quickly ambushed by the Borg, a robotic people who assimilate their enemies. The attackers take a member of Enterprise-D as part of their hive-minded army. With the help of Lieutenant Commander Shelby, the Enterprise-D must rescue their crew member and defeat the borg before they reach Earth.
Where Can You Watch Star Trek: The Next Generation?
TNGwas made at the perfect time, offering a fresh take on the classic sci-fi story for a new generation of viewers. Not to mention, certain aspects of the show improved with things like better visual effects and arguably more sincere dialogue. To this day, many fans considerTNGto be the pinnacle ofStar Trek.
Star Trek: The Next Generationis available to stream on Paramount+, or for purchase on Apple TV. Catch up now before season 4 ofPicardreturns.
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