Star Trek: The Next Generation is a science fiction show that Gene Roddenberry has fabricated. It has several genres, including sci-fi-like drama, mystery, action, and adventure, and has the best episodes till now. The Production Company associated with it is Paramount Television, also its distributor. The budget for a single episode is $1.3 million.
The First Season of Star Trek was released in the year 1966 and was named Star Trek: The Original Series. The protagonist here is James T Kirk, the Captain of the Starship Enterprise crew captain, who goes on adventures to explore strange and evil things, the galaxy and deep space, or the alien world.
The primary genre of this series is science fiction, and the audience liked it so much that it has three seasons and some movies.
Star Trek: The Next Generation came into being in t987 and had seven seasons, and the Star Trek episodes were 178; massive, isn’t it? Thus, It has become hard to determine the best Star Trek: The Next Generation episodes. Yet, here is a list of episodes in Trek History that have gotten a lot of praise and attention because of the bthecharacters’ plot and roles
30. Family (Season 4, Episode 2)
The family followed Best of Both Worlds, depicting Captain turning into the BBorg’sevil Locutus. Now Picard struggles to have a good life and thus takes a vacation trip to France, his native village, and spends quality time with his brother Robert and family.
You must know that both of them did not have a good relationship, but when Picard speaks of his traumas, things get better between them, and the audience also learns more about the inner feelings of the Enterprise’s Captain Picard. This episode mostly takes place in the Trek Canon of Picard’s family.
In the B-story, Worf-centric episodes are also there. He got visiteHis parents visited him here, just above the Earth. His parents are tense about Worf as he struggles to have a good life after being from the Klingon empire. Thus this episode is all about family and care and is one of the most loved ones.
29. Reunion (Season 4, Episode 7)
In this episode, fans witness Lieutenant Worf’s beloved K’Ehleyr coming back, and this time she speaks of the upcoming Klingon War and is here at the request of Chancellor K’mpec, who is on the verge of dying and wants Picard to discover who has poisoned him. Gowron is suspected, but nothing can be said for sure; Durascan Duras is the one. Fans could also see Alexander, the child of K’ehleyr and Worf.
This episode had a lot to reveal. It also brought in Gowron, one of the most loved characters in Star Trek episodes.
28. Q Who (Season 2, Episode 6)
Picard finds Q not a good person and o turns him down, but he comes along eventually and encounters the cybernetic beings called Borg. Guinan is familiar with these mysterious races responsible for for annihilating her homeworld.
Picard’s decision will be seen to be challenged here, making it one of the most beautiful episodes fabricated by the Star Trek Franchise.
27. Redemption, Pt. I
This episode shows how Gowron requests Picard to make him the new Klingon Chancellor. But Toral comes as a challenger and has been brought by the Duras sisters. Picard knows that The House of Duras must not be trusted, but such things should not come in between as he is the Klingon Arbiter of Succession.
Toral fails,s to become the possible leader and, therein, b, beginning the civil war. Worf thinks that the Romulans are helping the Duras sisters. It was the season 3 finale, as was expected to be more thrilling, but overall the fabricated turn of the plot was good enough.
26. Redemption, Pt. II
This episode revealed the man behind the Romulan alliance with the Klingon Duras family. Commander Sela also comes in this episode and claims to be the child of Tasha Yar. Worf also leaves his position and joins the conflict. Picard and the Enterprise crew are determined to stay away from both parties but are planning to expose RRomulan’sinvolvement.
This episode gives Worf and Data their best moments and is a thrilling Star Trek episode.
25. The Drumhead (Season 4, Episode 21)
In this episode, the focus is unearAdmiral Norah Satie, who has learned more about the Enterprise, Drumhead, when it is known that a saboteur is onboard. A rogue Klingon exchange officer is also witnessed to be stealing details. Satie, however, believed there were more such men; even Picard could be one of them.
This episode is a crucial one that shows show to e used in a democratic rule. It is one of the most thrilling Star Trek episodes and a political parable
24 Ro (Season 5, Episode 3)
Michael Piller comes in this episode to balance the character development areas between Ro Laren and the new Captain Picard. Bajoran Ro gives the vibe to stay away but becomes the audience’s favorite character. In a very short time
This episode is a classic example of character development, and the twist, ts and turns that take place here did impact the overall Splot story, and this is one of the best episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation.
23. The Next Phase (Season 5, Episode 24)
The Next Phase depicted how the Enterprise came to help the Romulan Ship, which did m, I, which mixed and Ensign Ro, and the pain,r, got entangled in a limbo phase. They could not contact anyone. Situations become challenging when it is heard that the Romulan commander has asked his group to rig the ship destroying the Enterprise as soon as they activate their warp drive.
Geordi and Ro must find a way to solve this problem. This is one of the most thrilling episodes in Star Trek: The next generation.
22. The Defector (Season 3, Episode 10)
It shows how Setal tries to convince that all his men are preparing for an invasion, and he has come to warn the Federation about it. Picard thinks that this might need them to enter the Neutral Zone, but that is, a violatioviolatesith the Romulan Empire and can even start a war. So is it right to believe Setal?
This is a dramatic and tension-filled part of Star Trek: The Next Generation and is worth watching.
21. Brothers (Season 4, Episode 3)
This episode focuses upon Data, who comes across their father and brother, whom he believed to believe forever. But not everything is as good as this reunion. Data must relinquish control of the Enterprise, or else the young kid will die. This is a great episode to learn many things and learn everything about Data.
20. Relics (Season 6, Episode 4)
In this episode, the audience witnesses Montgomery Scott, who has lived 75 years by being in the ship’s transporter and has re-materialized Enterprise D and now feels out of place.
The Enterprise is now trapped within the Dyson Sphere, and it is up to Scotty and Geordi LaForge to save them. This is one of the most thrilling episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation, so do not forget to watch it if you haven’t done it yet.
19. Chain of Command, Part I (Season 6, Episode 11)
Part shows a dramatic turn when Starfleet Officer Picard gets removed, and Captain Edward Jellico comes to take his place, but of course, it is pretty unbelievable. Picard’s replacement has a significant reason. He, Doctor Crusher, and Worf are going fo,r a dangerous and secret mission, so Captain Jellico has come to negotiate with the Cardassians.
18. Chain of Command, Part II (Season 6, Episode 11)
It shows how Gul Madrid brutally tortures Picard. Madrid wants to know all the Federation’s secrets and tries to break Picard’s will and spirit.
On the other hand, Jellico is struggling with Riker, but Riker is hinted to be the one who can expose the Cardassian plan and save Picard. This episode is darker, and the dramatic turns are worth watching.
17. The Offspring (Season 3, Episode 16)
In this episode, an offspring, Lal, gets created by Commander Data. She chooses her identity and develops into a young woman with a great personality and looks. But a Starfleet officer and crew come and try to take Lal away and to be judged by the Federation experts first. Picard finds it hard to make a decision. It is more about a dilemma and has an emotional ending.
16. The Inner Light (Season 5, Episode 25)
In the Inner Light episode of Star Trek, the next generation is the most loved. Even there is a massive argument over why this episode isn’t declared the best Star Trek TNG episode. As soon as it begins, it shows how Captain Jean Luc Picard(Patrick Stewart) discovers he is now in an alliance world.
His name is Kamin, and he has a wife named Eline in the new world named Kataan. He believes he will never find the Enterprise and thus admits this new world and his family and also has children and grandchildren now.
Now the story is not ending yet. It was all memories, Patrick Stewart had experienced everything in this short time but ultimately wakes up to witness that he is actually in the Enterprise only.
15. Deja Q (Season 3, Episode 13)
This is the sole comic episode and one of the best episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation. The credits, however, go to John De Lancie mainly who comes and reveals that he does not have the god-like powers like before and has been exiled from Q Continuum. He seeks help when other races of beings come to take revenge against him. It also has several touching moments, so do not miss it.
14. The Pegasus (Season 7, Episode 12)
This episode starts with the arrival of Admiral Erik Pressman, who is none other than Riker’s old Captain and used to govern the ship named Pegasus. He is all set to execute new orders for Picard and states that Pegasus was never destroyed. It was believed that Pegasus completely collapsed, but it was buried in the asteroid field. Now the Romulans are on a quest to find it out.
Pegasus was once used as a test cloaking device, and as you all must know, it is a prohibited act. Riker’s loyalty gets challenged here, and he has to choose between the two captains. This episode was thrilling, and I hope you have not missed it.
13. Lower Decks (Season 7, Episode 15)
This episode is mainly concerned with a group of people who wishes to be on the Enterprise Bridge; one of them gets chosen by Picard, Bajoran Ensign Sito, to aid him in executing a dangerous mission involving the Cardassians.
This episode can be termed the sequel to First Duty. Picard’s mentorship can achieve Sito’s redemption, which is the best part of this episode. This is one of the series’ most effective episodes, with much to do with the story.
12.Darmok (Season 5 Episode 2)
Darmok is one of the best parts of Next Generation that shows how Captain Picard gets kidnapped and brought to an unknown space. And gets to see another Tamarian captain belonging to the Children of Tawa. They are trapped together and get to fight a dangerous beast, but they are unable to understand each other’s language, even with the universal translator.
This episode is full of sympathy, friendship, and tolerance and exemplifies how wonderful life can be if people try to be friends, even if they cannot exchange words.
11. The Wounded (Season 4, Episode 12)
In this episode, the Cardassians appear for the first time. Picard and Chief O’Brien must work together to find Maxwell, who has become a rogue and attacking mom-military Cardassian targets.
O’Brien fought against the Cardassians years back but now must focus on his duty. But it gets revealed to Picard that Maxwell attacked ships that Cardassians were preparing to re-arm themselves. This episode is a dramatic one so do not miss streaming it. You can watch it anytime on Netflix.
Read More: All 13 Best Star Trek Movies In Order You Must Watch
10. I, Borg (Season 5, Episode 23)
Doctor Crusher insists Picard bring the surviving drone after coming before the wreckage of the Borg ship so that he can save it, but Picard has some other plans. He wants to use the drone and destroy the entire Collective. The most exciting part in this episode is when the Borg starts showing signs of personhood and even speak the name, Hugh. Hugh is left to decide his fate and returns to the Collective. He returns in Next Generation and Star Trek: Picard.
Several lessons can be learned here so do not miss watching it. You can stream this episode anytime on Netflix, so what are you waiting for?
9. Cause and Effect (Season 5, Episode 18)
This episode is the sci-fi show’s riddle episode. This episode shows that the Enterprise is destroyed but later shows how the crew is trapped in s never-ending loop that results in the ship’s destruction. No one can guess what is happening, which makes this episode both exciting and confusing.
The best part is this episode’s plot and the cameo of Fraiser, Kelsey Grammar. It is a great episode to watch and a loved one, so stream it on Netflix if you haven’t yet watched it or want to rush it again.
8. Measure of a Man (Season 2, Episode 9)
This episode focuses on Commander Data and Bruce Maddox, where the latter has come to recreate his positronic brain. Data is not ready to accept the process, but Maddox states that since Data is a property of Starfleet Academy, he cannot say No.
Picard joins Data in this conflict but Riker had to go against Data though he had no wish to do so genuinely. The Measure of a Man is one of the great episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation, so watch it if you haven’t. It is all about patience and willpower; I hope everyone can relate to it to some extent.
7. Tapestry (Season 6, Episode 15)
You must know that Q has always been a bad guy for Picard and Starfleet, and they have never been able to go along. He still returns to the Tapestry and is now all set to be the spiritual advisor.
Picard is now dead only to be welcomed by the trickster in the so-called afterlife who offers him to witness all his past events and change them. But Picard eventually realizes that mistakes make one what they are, which is why this is one of the best Star Trek: The Next Generation episodes.
There are several realizations that one will go through here; it is a lesson episode for everyone. If you have not yet watched it, stream it now on Netflix.
6. Ship In A Bottle (Season 6, Episode 12)
This episode starts with Professor James Moriarty appearing to see Captain Picard. Data and Geordi on the other hand gave in sentience in Elementary, Dear Data though none of them wished to do so. Moriarty’s program is said to be in the holodeck computer for several years, and now he wants to go away.
Picard and his crew believe it is impossible, but Moriarty somewhat threatens that if his wishes are not fulfilled, he will take over the ship and destroy it.
Start-over dramas focus mainly on him and Picard and are worth watching.
5. All Good Things (Season 7, Episodes 25 and 26)
In this episode, Picard is seen to witness events from both the past and the future and goes through his timeline several times to know what is happening. He is again on trial in front of Q Continuum. He is trying to state to the three different crews that everything is happening is real, but is it that easy?
This episode is by far the most dramatic one in Star Trek: The Next Generation, so do not miss watching it. It has several surprising twists and turns; some might even seem unexpected, making it a great episode.
4. Yesterday’s Enterprise (Season 3, Episode 15)
In this story, Enterprise-C is thrust 22 years forward in time. It has been fabricated in a darker alternate timeline. Picard now has a warship where the Federation struggles with the Klingons and might get defeated. Picard also learns that this conflict could have been avoided but does not know what to do now. Tasha Yar and Denise Crosby return in this episode, making it one of the most thrilling Star Trek: TNG episodes.
This episode also has much to do, much of my travel, so I do not miss watching it.
3. The Best of Both Worlds, Part I
Part I did make the audience admit that Star Trek The Next Generation episodes are brilliant, and this episode did turn the show into a pop culture phenomenon. In this episode, Picard Picard warns his crew that they might soon witness enemies from an alien civilization. Admiral Hanson comes to help them.
Commander Riker also does not know whether to leave or stay. Commander Riker is hugely focused in this episode, and the episode ends at the cost of Jean Luc Picard. Watch it and know what aid happens.
2. The Best of Both Worlds II
In the former episode, Commander Riker ordered to fire upon the Borg Cube. This was a thrilling attack, and the audience had been dying to watch this. The Starfleet loses the battle, but Riker is expected to rescue Picard and save Earth. It is one of the most exciting episodes of Star Trek.
Almost each and eveeveryunique on its own terms anis episode also has a thrill that excites the fans. It is one of the most loved episodes, so if you have missed watching it, stream it now.
1. Time’s Arrow Part I
This episode opens with the discovery of Data’s head buried in San Francisco. It means that at any time in the future, Data can be hurdled back, so Picard must devise a plan to keep Data safe. It is also revealed that some alien race is mass kill mass killed past 1893 to absorb their life force. Did Data die like this?
Data is shown to have bonded with Guinan and also gets the attention of Mark Twain. This part is mainly about time travel and might seem a lot to take in, but it is one of the most significant Star Trek episodes ever produced.
If you want to watch the seasons and every episode, you can easily stream them on Netflix.
Read More: Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Honest Review
Star Trek The Next Generation Ratings:
IMDb: 8.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 91%
TV Guide: 51%
The ratings must be enough to say how demanding the series has been.
The Cast of This Series
It is hard to name all the stars associated with this series. However, the most prominent names are Jonathan Frakes as William T. Riker, Patrick Stewart as Jean Luc Picard, Michael Dorn as Worf, Gates McFadden as Beverly Crusher, Marina Sirtis as Deanna Troi, Brent Spiner as Data, Lore, LeVar, Wil Wheaton as Wesley Crusher, Gene Roddenberry, Majel Barrett as Lwaxana Troi.
Why Did The Series End?
People often wonder why did this series end. It has been one of the most trending series, and if the audience has thoroughly loved it, why aren’t more seasons being fabricated.?The simple answer is because of budget. The aging cast is also more than it was because science fiction series need a lot of money to fabricate several things. In the current era, you need to pay a considerable amount of money to get the desired results, but it seems the production company is not ready to spend so much on it.
This Sci-Fi shows that what the Enterprise encounters, be it a dangerous mission or an alien race, is truly loved by the audience. The Entire Franchise has been able to keep intriguing till the last until. If you h, have not yet streamed any inodes, start doing it now.
You cannot name a single episode to be great because many such can be listed here, but since it will be more than 30, it is better to enlist them in other areas. It is hard to tell which episodes are the best, so here is the list of the top 30 most loved and great episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Above that, sometimes severely long-drawn series lose their essence, so it is okay to have fewer seasons. Still, all must be equally thrilling, and Star Trek has always kept that in mind and produced all episodes with utmost drama, excitement, thrill, and adventure.
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