star trek tng season 6 episode 3

TNG Season 6

• 3 Background information
• 4.3.1 Production companies
• 6 External links

Episodes [ ]

Summary [ ].

The season begins with the successful rescue of Data and the others from the 19th century , and we learn just how long Guinan has actually known Picard. ( TNG : " Time's Arrow, Part II ")

The crew also took part in a variety of shady operations, the first of what would be many departures from Gene Roddenberry 's more Utopian vision of the future. Picard is temporarily assigned away from the Enterprise for a dangerous espionage mission against the Cardassians , but is captured and subjected to torture , nearly succumbing before being released. ( TNG : " Chain Of Command, Part I ", " Chain Of Command, Part II ") Deanna Troi engaged in a similarly risky mission of espionage against the Romulans . ( TNG : " Face Of The Enemy ") The Enterprise also nearly became a victim of space pirates. ( TNG : " Rascals ")

Picard also underwent significant personal development during this season. He formed an intense and troubled romantic relationship with the Enterprise 's head of stellar cartography, Nella Daren . ( TNG : " Lessons ") After his artificial heart is nearly destroyed, Q helps Picard experience a vision of the unremarkable life he could have led, giving him a better understanding of his mortality and his reasons for living. ( TNG : " Tapestry ")

Riker also experiences a deeply personal conflict, making a gripping personal battle with his own sanity, ( TNG : " Frame of Mind ") and later discovers an accidental transporter-copy of himself that had been abandoned on a desolate planet for nearly a decade. ( TNG : " Second Chances ")

Several well-known recurring characters make appearances this season, the most famous among them being Montgomery Scott . The TOS Enterprise engineer is discovered alive, and after an awkward period adjusting to the 24th century, sets out to explore the galaxy on his own. ( TNG : " Relics ") The sentient hologram Professor Moriarty returns, holding the ship captive in a complex game that he hopes will grant him freedom to live outside the holodeck. ( TNG : " Ship In A Bottle ") Reginald Barclay continues to develop, overcoming his fear of transporters. ( TNG : " Realm Of Fear ") Q, in addition to his appearance in Picard's counterfactual vision, returns earlier in the season. ( TNG : " True Q ")

We are left with the rediscovery of Lore , leading a group of rogue Borg , who with the influence of an emotional stimulant for androids , successfully seduced Data to become a willing participant in his violent plans in the cliffhanger that ends the season. ( TNG : " Descent ")

Background information [ ]

• This season was broadcast concurrent with Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Season 1 .
• Brent Spiner and Ronald D. Moore both named this season as the best one. Moore further named " Tapestry " as one of his favorite episodes. ("Mission Overview Year Six", TNG Season 6 DVD special feature)
• This is the only season of The Next Generation not to feature Lwaxana Troi played by Majel Barrett . Her (to this point) annual appearance was made this year instead on the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode " The Forsaken ". She does however still portray the voice of the Starfleet computer on both series.
• This is the only season of The Next Generation in which Wil Wheaton does not appear as Wesley Crusher . The character is briefly referenced. This is also the only season of The Next Generation where Denise Crosby does not make an appearance at all (though her only appearances during Season 2 were part of stock footage sequences).
• This is also the final season of The Next Generation in which Colm Meaney appears as his character, Miles O'Brien transfers to Deep Space 9 along with his family.
• Between seasons 5 and 6, the turbolift closest to the " pool table " in main engineering was replaced by a Jefferies tube access shaft. The turbolift doors were last seen opening, revealing a turbolift in " The First Duty ", while the Jefferies tube was first seen behind the door in " Realm Of Fear ".
• Several characters " cross over " from other Star Trek series in this season: Montgomery Scott in " Relics "; Julian Bashir and, briefly, Morn in " Birthright, Part I "; and, after a fashion, Kahless the Unforgettable in " Rightful Heir ". (The original appearance of Kahless in TOS : " The Savage Curtain " was a duplicate created by the Excalbians , while the version who appeared in " Rightful Heir " was a clone .)

Credits [ ]

• Patrick Stewart as Captain Jean-Luc Picard
• Jonathan Frakes as Commander William T. Riker
• LeVar Burton as Lieutenant Commander Geordi La Forge ("Time's Arrow, Part II” – “Suspicions", "Second Chances” – “Descent")
• Michael Dorn as Lieutenant Worf
• Gates McFadden as Doctor Beverly Crusher
• Marina Sirtis as Counselor Deanna Troi ("Time's Arrow, Part II” – “Birthright, Part I", "Starship Mine” – “Suspicions", "Second Chances” – “Descent")
• Brent Spiner as Lieutenant Commander Data
• Gene Roddenberry

Executive Producers

• Michael Piller
• Rick Berman

Co-Executive Producer

• Jeri Taylor

Co-Producers

• Ronald D. Moore
• Wendy Neuss
• Peter Lauritson

Supervising Producers

• David Livingston
• Frank Abatemarco ("Time's Arrow, Part II" – "Aquiel")

Line Producer

• Merri D. Howard

Story Editors

• Brannon Braga
• René Echevarria
• Junie Lowry-Johnson , C.S.A.
• Dennis McCarthy ("Time's Arrow, Part II", "Man of the People", "Schisms", "Rascals", "The Quality of Life", "Ship in a Bottle", "Tapestry", "Lessons", "Suspicions", "Second Chances” – “Timescape")
• Jay Chattaway ("Realm of Fear", "Relics", "True Q", "A Fistful of Datas", "Chain of Command, Part I” – “Chain of Command, Part II", "Aquiel", "Birthright, Part I" – "Starship Mine", "The Chase” – “Frame of Mind", "Rightful Heir", "Descent")
• Don Davis ("Face of the Enemy")

Main Title Theme By

• Jerry Goldsmith
• Alexander Courage

Director of Photography

• Marvin Rush ("Time's Arrow, Part II” – “Realm of Fear")
• Jonathan West ("Man of the People” – “Descent")

Production Designer

• Richard D. James
• J.P. Farrell ("Time's Arrow, Part II", "Relics", "Rascals", "Chain of Command, Part I", "Aquiel", "Birthright, Part I", "Lessons", "Suspicions", "Timescape")
• Robert Lederman ("Realm of Fear")
• Tom Benko , A.C.E. ("Man of the People", "True Q")
• Steve Tucker ("Schisms", "A Fistful of Datas", "Chain of Command, Part II", "Face of the Enemy", "Birthright, Part II", "The Chase", "Rightful Heir", "Descent")
• David Ramirez ("The Quality of Life", "Ship in a Bottle", "Tapestry", "Starship Mine", "Frame of Mind", "Second Chances")

Unit Production Manager

• Brad Yacobian

First Assistant Directors

• Jerry Fleck ("Time's Arrow, Part II", "Man of the People", "Schisms", "Rascals", "The Quality of Life", "Chain of Command, Part II", "Aquiel", "Tapestry", "Birthright, Part II", "Lessons", "Frame of Mind", "Rightful Heir", "Timescape")
• Adele G. Simmons ("Realm of Fear", "Relics", "True Q", "A Fistful of Datas", "Chain of Command, Part I", "Ship in a Bottle", "Face of the Enemy", "Birthright, Part I", "Starship Mine", "The Chase", Suspicions", "Second Chances", "Descent")

Second Assistant Director

• Arlene Fukai

Costume Designer

• Robert Blackman

Set Designer

Visual Effects

Visual Effects Supervisors

• Ron Moore ("Time's Arrow, Part II", "Man of the People", "Schisms", "Rascals", "The Quality of Life", "Chain of Command, Part II", "Aquiel", "Tapestry", "Birthright, Part II", "Lessons", "Frame of Mind", "Rightful Heir", "Timescape")
• David Stipes ("Realm of Fear", "Relics", "True Q", "A Fistful of Datas", "Chain of Command, Part I", "Ship in a Bottle", "Face of the Enemy", "Birthright, Part I", "Starship Mine", "The Chase", "Suspicions", "Second Chances", "Descent")

Post-Production Supervisor

• Wendy Rosenfeld (credited as Wendy Knoller in "Timescape" and "Descent")

Supervising Editor

• John P. Farrell

Senior Illustrator/Technical Consultant

• Rick Sternbach

Scenic Art Supervisor/Technical Consultant

• Michael Okuda

Make-Up Designed and Supervised By

• Michael Westmore

Art Director

• Andy Neskoromny
• Gary Speckman

Visual Effects Coordinators

• Philip Barberio ("Time's Arrow, Part II", "Man of the People", "Schisms", "Rascals", "The Quality of Life", "Chain of Command, Part II", "Aquiel", "Tapestry", "Birthright, Part II", "Lessons", "Frame of Mind", "Rightful Heir", "Timescape")
• David Takemura ("Realm of Fear", "Relics", "True Q", "A Fistful of Datas", "Chain of Command, Part I", "Ship in a Bottle", "Face of the Enemy", "Birthright, Part I", "Starship Mine", "The Chase", "Suspicions", "Second Chances", "Descent")

Original Set Design

• Herman Zimmerman

Original Starfleet Uniforms

• William Ware Theiss

Script Supervisor

• Cosmo Genovese

Special Effects

• Dick Brownfield

Property Masters

• Joe Longo ("Time's Arrow, Part II")
• Alan Sims ("Realm of Fear” – “Descent")

Construction Coordinator

Scenic Artists

• Jim Magdaleno ("Time's Arrow, Part II", "Man of the People", "Schisms", "Rascals", "The Quality of Life", "Chain of Command, Part II", "Aquiel", "Tapestry", "Birthright, Part II", "Lessons", "Frame of Mind", "Rightful Heir", Timescape")
• Alan Kobayashi ("Realm of Fear", "Relics", "True Q", "A Fistful of Datas", Chain of Command, Part I", "Ship in a Bottle", "Face of the Enemy", "Birthright, Part I", "Starship Mine", "The Chase", "Suspicions", "Second Chances", "Descent")

Hair Designer

Make-Up Artists

• Gerald Quist
• June Abston Haymore

Hair Stylists

• Candace Neal ("Time's Arrow, Part II")
• Patti Miller ("Realm of Fear” – “The Quality of Life", "Ship in a Bottle", "Face of the Enemy", "Birthright, Part I", "Starship Mine", "The Chase” – “Descent")
• Josee Normand ("Chain of Command, Part I” – “Chain of Command, Part II", "Aquiel", "Tapestry", "Birthright, Part II", "Lessons” – “Descent")

Wardrobe Supervisor

Sound Mixer

• Alan Bernard , C.A.S.

Camera Operator

• Joe Chess , S.O.C. ("Time's Arrow, Part II” – “Realm of Fear")

Chief Lighting Technicians

• William Peets ("Time's Arrow, Part II” – “Realm of Fear")
• R.D. Knox ("Man of the People” – “Descent")

First Company Grip

• Bob Sordal ("Time's Arrow, Part II” – “Realm of Fear")
• Steve Gausche ("Man of the People” – “Descent")

Key Costumers

• Kimberley Thompson ("Time's Arrow, Part II", "Man of the People", "Schisms", "Rascals", "The Quality of Life", "Chain of Command, Part II", "Aquiel", "Tapestry", "Birthright, Part II", "Lessons", "Frame of Mind", "Rightful Heir", "Timescape")
• Amanda Chamberlin ("Time's Arrow, Part II")
• David Powell ("Realm of Fear", "Relics", "True Q", "A Fistful of Datas", "Chain of Command, Part I", "Ship in a Bottle", "Face of the Enemy", "Birthright, Part I", "Starship Mine", "The Chase", "Suspicions", "Second Chances", "Descent")
• Jerry Bono ("Realm of Fear")
• Mary Ellen Bosché ("Man of the People", "Schisms", "Rascals", "The Quality of Life", "Chain of Command, Part II", "Aquiel", "Tapestry", "Birthright, Part II", "Lessons", "Frame of Mind", "Rightful Heir", "Timescape") (credited as Mary Ellen Boché on the first four episodes)
• Matt Hoffman ("Relics", "True Q", "A Fistful of Datas", "Chain of Command, Part I", "Ship in a Bottle", "Face of the Enemy", "Birthright, Part I", "Starship Mine", "The Chase", "Suspicions", "Second Chances", "Descent")

Music Editor

• Gerry Sackman

Supervising Sound Editors

• Bill Wistrom ("Time's Arrow, Part II” – “Chain of Command, Part II")
• Mace Matiosian ("Ship in a Bottle” – “Descent")

Sound Effects Supervisor

• Jim Wolvington ("Time's Arrow, Part II")

Sound Editors

• Miguel Rivera
• Masanobu Tomita
• Guy Tsujimoto
• Dan Yale ("Time's Arrow, Part II” – “Birthright, Part II")
• Wilson Dyer ("Starship Mine” – “Frame of Mind")
• Ruth Adelman ("Suspicions” – “Descent")

Production Coordinator

• Diane Overdiek

Post Production Coordinator

• Dawn Hernandez

Visual Effects Associate

• Edward L. Williams

Production Associate

• Kim Fitzgerald

Based Upon Material By

• Matthew Corey ("True Q")
• LJ Scott ("The Quality of Life")

Science Consultant

• Naren Shankar ("Time's Arrow, Part II” – “Aquiel", "Tapestry” – “Descent")

Casting Executive

• Helen Mossler , C.S.A.

Pre-Production Associate

• Lolita Fatjo

Stunt Coordinator

• Dennis Madalone ("Time's Arrow, Part II", "Man of the People", "Schisms” – “Chain of Command, Part I", "Tapestry” – “Starship Mine", "Frame of Mind” – “Descent")

Post Production Sound By

• Modern Sound

Monitors By

• Sony Corp. of America ("Schisms", "Rascals", "The Chase")

Filmed with Panavision ® Lenses and Cameras

The Sherlock Holmes characters were created by A. Conan Doyle . This use by arrangement with Dame Jean Conan Doyle . ("Ship in a Bottle")

Special Visual Effects By

• Industrial Light and Magic , A Division of Lucasfilm, Ltd.

Motion Control Photography By

Video Optical Effects By

• Digital Magic

Special Video Compositing

• CIS Hollywood

Editing Facilities

• Unitel Video

Uncredited [ ]

• Greg Agalsoff – Mike Operator ("Descent")
• Dolores Arce – Assistant Accountant
• Camille Argus – Costumer ("Descent")
• Richard Balder – Special Effects Labor Artist ("Descent")
• Christopher Bergschneider – Prop Fabricator: Kurlan naiskos ("The Chase")
• David Bernard – Sound Cable Person ("Descent")
• Rob Bloch – Animal Trainer: Critters of the Cinema ("Time's Arrow, Part II", "True Q", "A Fistful of Datas", "Aquiel", "Birthright, Part I")
• Tom Bookout – Grip ("Tapestry” – “Descent")
• Mary Ellen Bosché – Set Costumer ("Descent")
• Brannon Braga – Lyrics: Klingon aria ("Birthright, Part II")
• George Brozak – Storyline ("Birthright, Part I")
• Lloyd A. Buswell – Construction Foreman
• Kevin D. Carlson – Puppeteer: Exocomps ("The Quality of Life")
• Richard Chronister – Special Effects Artist ("Descent")
• Ray Clarke – DFX Paint FX Artist: The Post Group
• Richmond G. Cogswell – Video Playback ("Descent")
• Cogswell Video Services, Inc. – Video Playback ("Descent")
• Laura Connolly – Hair Stylist ("Time's Arrow, Part II")
• Brian Cooper – Assistant Chief Lighting Technician ("Descent")
• Dick D'Angelo – Swing Gang ("Descent")
• Doug Davey – Re-Recording Mixer ("A Fistful of Datas", "Descent")
• Robert De La Garza – Assistant Property Master ("Descent")
• Frank Detone, Jr. – Extra Grip ("Descent")
• Alfred T. Ferrante – ADR Mixer ("Time's Arrow, Part II” – “Man of the People", "A Fistful of Datas” – “The Quality of Life", "Ship in a Bottle” – “Tapestry", "Starship Mine” – “Descent")
• Larry Field – Final Colorist ("Time's Arrow, Part II” – “Descent")
• Hala Gabriel – Accountant
• William Jay Gahret – Extra Camera Operator ("Descent")
• Mark Gehred-O'Connell – Storyline ("Timescape")
• Jeff Gersh – Sound Editor ("Time's Arrow, Part II")
• Cheryl Gluckstern – Production Associate
• Jason Gold – Production Assistant
• Peter Greenwood – Special Effects Artist: Creature Suit ("Time's Arrow, Part II")
• Chris Haire – Re-Recording Mixer ("A Fistful of Datas", "Descent")
• John Hanna – Animal Trainer: Critters of the Cinema ("Time's Arrow, Part II")
• Paul Hill – Visual Effects Compositor: Digital Magic
• Arthur Loy Holcomb – Storyline ("Birthright, Part I")
• Michael Hood – Costume and Character Designer and Fabricator: Devidians ("Time's Arrow, Part II")
• Adam Howard – Visual Effects Compositor ("Realm of Fear” – “A Fistful of Datas", "Chain of Command, Part I” – “Ship in a Bottle", "Face of the Enemy” – “Descent")
• Carey Howe – Model Maker ("Realm of Fear")
• Gregory Jein – Model Maker ("Time's Arrow, Part II” – “Descent")
• Brian Johnson – Crab Dolly Grip ("Descent")
• Ralph Johnson – Lamp Operator ("Descent")
• Dean Jones – Makeup Artist ("Chain of Command, Part I” – “Chain of Command, Part II", "Birthright, Part I” – “Birthright, Part II")
• Starr Jones – Makeup Artist ("Birthright, Part I” – “Birthright, Part II")
• Hilarie Jutras – DGA Trainee ("Time's Arrow, Part II” – “Face of the Enemy")
• Richard Kelley – Assistant Camera Operator ("Aquiel” – “Descent")
• Alan Kobayashi – Graphic Designer ("Time's Arrow, Part II", "Man of the People", "Schisms", "Rascals", "The Quality of Life", "Chain of Command, Part II", "Aquiel", "Tapestry", "Birthright, Part II", "Lessons", "Frame of Mind", "Rightful Heir", "Timescape")
• Jules Kovisars – DGA Trainee ("Descent")
• Kris Krosskove – Camera Operator ("Descent")
• Erwin H. Kupitz – Wig Maker ("Ship in a Bottle” – “Descent")
• Don Lehman – Lamp Operator ("Descent")
• Michael E. Little – Camera Operator ("Man of the People” – “Descent")
• Jill MacKay – Jewelry Designer
• Daryl F. Mallett – Storyline ("Birthright, Part I")
• Margulies – Extra Camera Assistant ("Descent")
• Daniel Cary McCrystal – Second Assistant Camera Operator ("Descent")
• Scott McKnight – Lamp Operator ("Descent")
• Ed Miarecki – Props ("Time's Arrow, Part II” – “Descent")
• Patricia Miller – Hair Stylist ("Time's Arrow, Part II")
• Ronald D. Moore – Co-Writer ("Chain of Command, Part II")
• James Mooring – Storyline ("Tapestry")
• Richard L. Morrison – Re-Recording Mixer ("A Fistful of Datas", "Descent")
• Janet Muswell – Lead Compositor ("Realm of Fear” – “Relics", "True Q", "A Fistful of Datas", "Chain of Command, Part I", "Ship in a Bottle")
• Danny Nero – Extras Casting: Central Casting
• John Nesterowicz – Swing Gang ("Descent")
• Josée Normand – Hair Stylist ("Time's Arrow, Part II")
• Frank O'Hea – Painter ("Descent")
• Daniel R. Purinton – Rigging Gaffer/Lot Best Boy
• Tom Purser – Construction Worker
• Robbie Robinson – Still Photographer ("Tapestry", "Descent")
• Tim Roller – First Assistant Camera Operator ("Descent")
• LuJean Rose – Animal Trainer: Critters of the Cinema ("True Q", "Aquiel")
• John Frank Rosenblum – Writer ("Time's Arrow, Part II")
• David Rossi – Production Associate
• Rick Rowe – Craft Service ("Descent")
• Charlie Russo – Property Person ("Descent")
• Richard Sabre – Hair Stylist ("Time's Arrow, Part II")
• Stu Satterfield – Transportation Coordinator ("Descent")
• Suzie Shimizu – Production Accountant
• Fernando Sepulveda – Property Lead Person ("Descent")
• Joseph Smith – Orchestrator
• Mark Stimson – Special Effects Artist ("Descent")
• Jeri Taylor – Writer ("Chain of Command, Part II")
• Karen Thomas-Kolakowski – Animal Trainer: Critters of the Cinema ("True Q", "A Fistful of Datas", "Birthright, Part I")
• Kimberley Thompson – Costumer ("Descent")
• Wil Thoms – Special Effects Artist ("Descent")
• Rich Thorne – Creative Director: Digital Magic
• Daryl Towles – Script Typist
• Monte Thrasher – Graphic Designer: Romulan language ("Face of the Enemy")
• Jerry Trent – Foley Artist ("Time's Arrow, Part II” – “Descent")
• David G. Trotti – Second Assistant Director ("Descent")
• Elaina M. Vescio – Set Security ("Descent")
• Patrick J. Vitolla – Extra Grip ("Descent")
• Julia L. Walker – Hair Stylist ("Time's Arrow, Part II")
• Barbara Wallace – Storyline ("Birthright, Part I")
• Jana Wallace – Script Typist
• L.Z. Ward – Set Security ("Descent")
• Jack White – Second Grip ("Descent")
• Murphy Wiltz – Lamp Operator ("Descent")
• Jim Wolvington – Sound Effects Supervisor ("Schisms")

Production companies [ ]

• Central Casting – Extras Casting
• Critters of the Cinema – Animal Casting and Training ("Time's Arrow, Part II", "True Q", "A Fistful of Datas", "Aquiel", "Birthright, Part I")

See also [ ]

• TNG Season 6 performers
• TNG Season 6 UK VHS
• TNG Season 6 US VHS
• TNG Season 6 DVD
• TNG Season 6 Blu-ray

External links [ ]

• Star Trek: The Next Generation season 6 at Memory Beta , the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
• The Next Generation Season 6 episode reviews at Ex Astris Scientia
• 1 Bell Riots
• 2 Obi Ndefo
• 3 Gabriel Bell

Currently available on 7 streaming services.

Star Trek: The Next Generation - Season 6 (1992)

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26 Episodes

S6 e1 - time's arrow (2), s6 e2 - realm of fear, s6 e3 - man of the people, s6 e4 - relics, s6 e5 - schisms, s6 e6 - true q, s6 e7 - rascals, s6 e8 - a fistful of datas, s6 e9 - the quality of life, s6 e10 - chain of command (1), s6 e11 - chain of command (2), s6 e12 - ship in a bottle, s6 e13 - aquiel, s6 e14 - face of the enemy, s6 e15 - tapestry, s6 e16 - birthright (1), s6 e17 - birthright (2), s6 e18 - starship mine, s6 e19 - lessons, s6 e20 - the chase, streaming, rent, or buy star trek: the next generation – season 6:.

Currently you are able to watch "Star Trek: The Next Generation - Season 6" streaming on Paramount Plus, Paramount Plus Apple TV Channel , Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel or buy it as download on Apple TV, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store.

In season six, the crew is faced with a familiar face from the past who insists that machines cannot replace human experience. This causes conflict in Data who questions his affiliation with the Enterprise vs. joining a powerful enemy in order to feel his first emotion. Worf begins a quest to find his father as a means to finally accept his Klingon heritage and to restore honor upon his family. As the journey continues through the galaxy, Picard is kidnapped by a rebel alien command and Riker takes on the role of Captain to free Picard and restore the Enterprise. To Riker’s surprise, an old enemy returns and offers assistance with Picard’s rescue. All finishing with the Enterprise facing its most shocking surprise.

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http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS6E3ManOfThePeople

Star Trek The Next Generation S 6 E 3 Man Of The People » Recap

Original air date: October 5, 1992

A transport vessel carrying Ambassador Ves Alkar is attacked en route to mediation sessions between the Rekags and Seronians. Ves Alkar beams aboard with his aged mother Sev Maylor and is met by Troi. Maylor instantly starts accusing Troi of wanting to sleep with Alkar and reacts with spiteful jealousy. Alkar smoothly apologizes for his mother and says that she's been ill. He requests an audience with the captain and asks to be transferred to a smaller, less intimidating vessel to take him the rest of the way, but Starfleet won't risk another attack, so the Enterprise will escort him the rest of the way.

Alkar and Troi quickly get acquainted, and there's obvious attraction. Alkar is a Lumerian, a species that is empathic but only between each other. He asks for Troi's help in the upcoming negotations, and she agrees, as long as she gets permission. However, when the pair cross Alkar's mother, she repeats her jealous threats to Troi. While working on some staff evaluations with Riker, the disturbed Troi relates how she sensed malevolent, evil thoughts from Maylor.

But before the old lady can do more harm, she suddenly dies. Alkar asks Troi, as an empath, to help him with a mourning ritual. He and Troi hold up special rocks and intone some platitudes. Then Alkar taps his rock to Troi's while her eyes are closed, causing some magical thing to happen. Troi opens her eyes in surprise, and Alkar thanks her enigmatically.

Troi begins acting strangely almost immediately. In her quarters, she tugs at her clothing and runs her hands over her body self consciously, then cancels all of her appointments that day. Later, she arrives at Alkar's quarters and makes an uncharacteristically blunt pass at him, but he awkwardly refuses her advances, apologizing for any misconception about their relationship. She storms away and starts making sex-eyes at the first ensign she meets in the turnolift. Meanwhile, Crusher is trying to figure out why Maylor died, but Alkar has refused any autopsies.

Troi continues to decline and behave in increasingly hostile and sexual ways. When Riker arrives to continue their staff evaluations, she rubs her recent affair in his face, driving him away. She spitefully dresses down one of her counseling patients. At the same time, she seems to be aging rapidly . She shows up in Ten-Forward in a cocktail dress with graying hair to confront Alkar, hurling the same accusations at a female aid that Maylor made when she first arrived. Riker confronts Troi, and she tries to seduce him before raking her nails across his face.

The ship arrives at Rekag-Seronia, and Alkar meets with colleagues to discuss the important diplomatic work ahead. The gray and aged Troi confronts Alkar again, pleading with him to take her with him to the negotiations, but Alkar, unsurprised by her recent transformation, tells her that she is his "rock," and he needs her to remain on the ship. As he prepares to beam down, Troi rushes the transporter room with a knife, accidentally slashing Picard before she's subdued. In sick bay, Crusher notes the similarity in symptoms between Troi and Maylor. Picard authorizes an autopsy in spite of Alkar's prohibition. Crusher finds that Maylor was not related to Alkar and was in her thirties. Picard beams down with Worf to get answers from Alkar.

Alkar explains that he has found a way to shunt his negative emotions to other people, making him a peaceful and effective negotiator. He refuses to release Troi and has his guards send the Starfleet officers away. Back on the ship. Crusher proposes breaking Alkar's connection to Troi by temporarily killing her . Picard agrees. As Alkar walks away from successfully negotiating the peace deal, he suddenly feels faint. Picard summons him back to the ship, where he justifies Troi's death as serving the greater good of peace.

Alkar returns to his quarters, where he ropes his aide into the same "mourning" ritual to ensnare another victim. When Crusher's staff revive Troi, Alkar reacts in sudden pain. The crew beam his aide to safety, and Work arrives as Alkar stumbles around the room, aging rapidly. He finally collapses and dies. Troi has been returned to normal. She reflects with Riker on her ordeal, and they share a kiss. Riker holds her and assures her that he'll always protect her, even when she's old and grey.

Tropes featured:

• Artistic License – Biology : When Troi ages rapidly, her existing hair turns grey and then white. Existing hair doesn't change color as you age. It just loses color as you grow it. So if Troi were aging rapidly, she would just start showing grey roots.
• "Ass" in Ambassador : It turns out that Ves Alkar is perfectly untroubled by his practice of mentally raping and killing a string of women to make him better at his job.
• Big "NO!" : Troi screams this when Alkar abandoned her in her quarters, when he goes to the transporter room to beam down to the mediation sessions.
• Bitch in Sheep's Clothing : Alkar is super-zen because he offloads all of his negative emotions onto other people, which kills them.
• Poor Troi turns into this, thanks to Alkar.
• And while we're on the subject, Riker doesn't look too happy at the hapless crewman Deanna seduces, though it is greatly downplayed, with the influenced Deanna clearly wanting him to be more jealous than he is.
• Cowardice Callout : Picard calls the villain of the episode a coward for using telepathy to transfer his negative emotions to other people instead of dealing with them himself.
• Damsel in Distress : It wouldn't be a Troi episode unless her empathic nature is used to victimize her in some way, requiring the crew to save her.
• Didn't See That Coming : Once under Alkar's influence, it doesn't take long for Troi to become unhinged and age rapidly. Alkar expected much more than that, as his past victims lasted years, but he figures this is because Troi is a different species than he is.
• Diplomatic Impunity : When Picard angrily tells Alkar that he intends to make him answer for what he has done, the ambassador smugly replies that the Federation council has promised him safe passage back home, and he expects Picard to honor that.
• Disease Bleach : As Troi gets increasingly unhinged, her hair starts graying.
• Disney Death : In order to save Deanna, Crusher euthanizes her. When the link is broken, Crusher revives her and all of her youth returns.
• The way Alkar tricks women into receiving his baser, crueler thoughts under the guise of a private ceremony, and knowing the women will eventually die from the strain, feels disturbingly similar to a man tricking women into sleeping with him and knowingly spreading an incurable, fatal STD .
• The story as a whole is similar to The Picture of Dorian Gray with Alkar's ladies in place of the titular picture. The transport ship that the Enterprise beams Alkar over from is even named the Dorian.
• Femme Fatalons : Riker receives some nasty gashes courtesy of Troi when he rejects her advances.
• Friendship Moment : At the end of the episode, Troi thanks Riker for looking out for her. He assures her he'll be doing that even when she turns old and gray for real.
• Giving Someone the Pointer Finger : Experiencing the full brunt of his negative emotions, Alkar rapidly ages and finds himself cornered by ship security. His last act is to point at Worf before falling over.
• Hoist by His Own Petard : After Dr. Crusher has saved Deanna and the crew save Liva, Ves Alkar's negative emotions backfire on him and he ages to death.
• It's All About Me : Alkar remorselessly uses women as dumping grounds for his negative emotions, thinking he's far too important a negotiator to let a little thing like innocent women going insane and dying get in the way of that. As far as he's concerned, it's more important that he maintain a clear mind by getting rid of the negative emotions that everyone else in the galaxy can overcome on their own than that innocent women are left alone to live their own lives.
• Karmic Death : Alkar was about to trick another unsuspecting woman into taking his toxic emotions when Troi's revival forces him to receive those emotions again, and the shock kills him.
• Kill the Host Body : Dr. Crusher injects Deanna with a compound that stops her heart in order to stop Alkar from possessing her, as she can revive her within thirty minutes.
• Kissing Under the Influence : As Alkar's malevolent impulses, including his lust, begin to overtake her, Troi seduces a young ensign.
• My Beloved Smother : Alkar passes Maylor off as his mother, making her jealousy seem like overprotectiveness.
• Narcissist : It's implied Alkar is this, given the nature of some of the thoughts he projects. Maylor accuses Troi of "wanting" him; later, after becoming his new receptacle, Troi makes the same accusation against his female aide Liva, as well as accusing his male aide, Jarth, of envying him and wanting him to fail. It's likely these are actually Alkar's own attitudes toward all three.
• No Sympathy : Alkar towards each and every woman he's used to store his negative feelings, thinking their deaths are a necessary sacrifice in the long scheme. To that end, when confronted with how many women he's probably killed, Alkar only expresses the barest type of remorse but makes it perfectly clear he'll not stop. And when Alkar is finally dying, Worf flips this right back on him.
• O.O.C. Is Serious Business : Under Alkar's influence, Troi's behavior becoming increasingly unusual, such as becoming more spiteful and changing her attire. After she's back to normal, she remembers everything, but she says thinking back on it is like watching a completely different person in action. Riker quips everyone else had the same reaction throughout the episode.
• Quit Your Whining : Troi, under Alkar's negative influence, does a counseling session with an Ensign Janeway note  Not that Janeway . Janeway complains about her superior being far too critical of her. Troi tells her that this isn't Starfleet Academy and that if she can't take things on the Enterprise then she might do better on a transport ship. She tells her that her superior is probably just tired of hearing her complain, that she certainly is, and to get a hold of herself or be prepared for transfer.
• Rapid Aging : Troi, courtesy of Alkar. Then Alkar, when it gets turned back on him .
• "The Reason You Suck" Speech : When Alkar justifies his actions on the grounds that his negotiation skills are needed and he never asks for anything in return, Picard denounces him as a coward who refuses to face the burden of his own negative emotions.
• First, Alkar's "mother" isn't. That leads to the second reveal...
• Alkar can telepathically channel his unwanted emotions into people, which explains Troi's behavior, and her rapid aging.
• Screw This, I'm Outta Here! : After Riker interrupts her making a scene at Ten Forward and takes her back to her quarters, Troi tries coming on to him again, but she ends up clawing him with fingernails. It's a nasty enough wound that a freaked out Riker immediately has to leave for Sickbay.
• Serial Killer : What Alkar essentially is, luring in a string of victims and tricking them into becoming his "receptacles", then murdering them over a period of time. He has done this to Sev Maylor and an unknown number of others before her (he mentions that they "usually" survive for years), and attempts to do the same to both Troi and Liva.
• Sexy Discretion Shot : One minute, Deanna's smirking at a crewmember in the turbolift. The next we see them, Riker walks in as Deanna's in a dressing gown, and the guy's just putting on his boots.
• Significant Wardrobe Shift : Deanna, while under the influence of Alkar's negative emotions, strides into Ten-Forward in a very revealing dress.
• The Sociopath : Alkar clearly considers himself the most important person in whatever room he's in and puts his own well-being above others. He treats his women as things to be used and replaced once they've outlived their usefulness , and with no moral qualms or sympathy for their suffering.
• Took a Level in Jerkass : Troi under Alkar's influence.
• Tranquil Fury : When Alkar refers to the women he brutalises by forcing his negative emotions into simply as 'receptacles', Picard hisses the word back at him, the look on his face one of complete and utter disgust.
• Vampiric Draining : Alkar uses specific women like Troi as "receptacles" for his negative emotions so he would be a better focused ambassador. Unfortunately, this emotional toxic waste also ages his victims to the point of death, while also causing them to become unhinged and, specifically in Troi's case, to unleash uncontrollable passions upon other people.
• What the Hell, Hero? : In his talk with Picard, Alkar claims he's justified in excising his negative thoughts in random women, since The Needs of the Many and whatnot. Picard calls bullshit on that reasoning immediately. Picard: You cannot explain away a wantonly immoral act because you think that it is connected to some higher purpose!
• Yandere : Deanna turns into this while suffering from Alkar's Rapid Aging powers. She becomes clingy and jealous of Liva who Alkar plans to make his next victim and tries so hard to be with Alkar. When he tries pushing her away, saying that she's still useful while on the ship, she starts losing her mind. She even attempts to kill Liva so that she can be with Alkar. Thankfully, she loses this behavior when she's revived.
• Younger Than They Look : Alkar's "mother" was really in her thirties. This is because Alkar has a Rapid Aging power, which can be redirected to another person if a certain ritual is performed. Later, Troi briefly as well, after he does it to her.
• Star Trek: The Next Generation S6E2 "Realm of Fear"
• Recap/Star Trek: The Next Generation
• Star Trek: The Next Generation S6E4 "Relics"

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Star Trek: The Next Generation - Episode Guide - Season 3

Now we’re rolling! The apex of televised Star Trek begins at around episode 7 of The Next Generation’s third season when this program became the first-ever “must-see TV” in syndication. High concept episodes like “Yesterday’s Enterprise” are paeans to the fans and sci-fi hardcores, whereas stories like “The Offsping” show TNG’s maturity into mainstream-audience viewing – a rarity for science-fiction shows in those days before the genre geeks took over entertainment.

And the whole thing culminates in “Best of Both Worlds,” a triumph of an episode habitually ranked among all sorts of “Top TV episodes” listings, Star Trek-themed or no that ultimately spawned the fantastic Star Trek: First Contact. (The best ST film, for STG’s money…)

1. Evolution – Acting ensign Wesley Crusher screws up (sigh) by unleashing a swarm of sentient nanites into the Enterprise; a war for control of the ship ensues. A really small-scale war, but still Good news: This would be the last weak script to begin a TNG season. **

2. The Ensigns of Command – Data must convince a third-generation Federation colony to evacuate their planet before the aggressive Sheliak move in. Picard’s outsmarting of the would-be new tenants in the last act is nearly worth the price of admission. ***

3. The Survivors – 10,998 of a Federation colony of 11,000 have been killed, their planet made essentially uninhabitable. So how are the two humans left able to survive, living in a pristine house? **

4. Who Watches the Watchers – See, Federation types? This is what you get for spying on “primitive” cultures Prime Directive violations all over the place (well, that and Star Trek: Insurrection). In this episode, a Bronze Age-type stumbles upon Federation observers and becomes convinced that Captain Picard is a god. (You mean he’s not?) **

5. The Bonding – On an away mission, Lt. Worf gets a Red Shirt killed. An entity attempts to comfort the Red Shirt’s young son by creating an image of his mother who offers to live with him on the uninhabited planet. The boy ultimately decides Worf is cooler, stays on the Enterprise, and disappears by the next episode. **

6. Booby Trap – Any episode of any ST series in which a character falls in love with a Holodeck character (I’m looking at you, Harry Kim) is stupid. The icky vibe Geordi LaForge gives off in this one only makes it worse. 0

7. The Enemy – As though in karmic payback for “Booby Trap”, LaForge gets to spend most of this episode on a fairly inhospitable planet with an irritable Romulan in the Star Trek version of “Enemy Mine”. ***

8. The Price – Four parties (for the record, it’s the Federation, Caldonians, Chrysalians and Ferengi) board the Enterprise so as to begin bidding and negotiations with a group offering to sell the rights to a wormhole which leads into the Gamma Quadrant. Ultimately, it is revealed that at least two of the parties haven’t played fair and that the wormhole is worthless anyway. Also, Troi falls in love but nobody cares. ***

9. The Vengeance Factor – As Picard attempts to solve the problems of the fractured Acamarian society, Riker gets the hots for an assassin and then ties on a good buzz in Ten Forward. *

10. The Defector – A low-ranking Romulan officer gets a conscience and defects to the Federation. And when fellow Romulans seek to double-cross the double-crosser, well, Picard proves too freakin’ clever for them. ***

11. The Hunted – The Enterprise is dispatched to Angosia, a planet being considered for United Federation of Planets membership. Things on Angosia aren’t as hunky-dory as the planet’s leader, who bears a strong resemblance to Zefrim Cochrane, makes it seem – particularly a pesky bunch of genetically-altered soldiers who demand, you know, rights and stuff. ***

12. The High Ground – A terrorist group whose members are slowly dying thanks to their own weaponry kidnaps Dr. Crusher for medical assistance; later they bag Picard himself in a bid to get Federation mediation for their planetary conflict. A science-fiction comment on terrorism and censorship. ***

13. Déjà Q – When is Q not Q? When the Q Continuum strips him of his power and leaves him for Picard and the Enterprise crew to deal with. A decent episode, but Q without powers isn’t nearly as much fun as Q with powers…***

14. A Matter of Perspective – As it turns out, the holodeck can be useful. Picard gets to play defense attorney again when Riker is accused of a murder he (naturally) didn’t commit; the Captain and Data employ the holodeck to help reconstruct events and crack the case. ****

15. Yesterday's Enterprise – A classic that not only thrilled and amazed Star Trek fans, but helped show American TV what that wacky continuity thing could do. The long-since destroyed Enterprise “C” emerges from a rim in space, thereby changing history. In a (televisual) instant, the familiar Enterprise “D” morphs into a warship, fighting a losing war with the Klingon Empire. Guinan, who senses that Lt. Yar should not exist at all and yet is somehow key to winning the war, convinces Picard that the Enterprise C must be sent back through time to *lose* a battle while assisting the Klingons, an act of heroism that thaws relations between Klingons and Federation. Excellent stuff. *****

16. The Offspring – Lt. Data creates an android which he thinks of as a Data. Well funnier and far less nauseating than the idea sounds on paper. And the meeting between Riker and Data’s “daughter” Lal is one of the single best scenes of season 3. ****

17. Sins of the Father – In an attempt to clear his father’s name after the Klingon High Council’s accusations of complicity with the Romulans, Worf, along with Picard, appears before a tribunal to plead the case. This episode introduces Worf’s brother Kurn and the devious House of Duras, who’d make it all the way to Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Generations, respectively. ****

18. Allegiance – Aliens replace Picard with a doppleganger while placing the real Picard in an (almost) inescapable trap along with three others, each of a different species. After Picard deduces everything, he delivers a swell comeuppance to the captors. ****

19. Captain's Holiday – As though not badass enough already, Picard becomes a 24th-century Indiana Jones while ostensibly enjoying some R&R. Mix in Ferengi and time-travelers to make one dandy romp of an episode. ****

20. Tin Man – What appears to be the transportation of a friend of Troi’s to a simple first-contact mission gets complex quickly when Romulans appear on the scene and a nearby star gets set to go supernova. ***

21. Hollow Pursuits – This introduction of the perpetually nervous fan favorite Lt. Reginal Barclay features the former “Howling Mad” Murdock having to get a grip and assist the Enterprise with its mysterious technical difficulties. ***

22. The Most Toys – A dude named Kivas Fajo, perhaps in an attempt to make Comic Book Guy of The Simpsons jealous, swipes Data off the Enterprise bridge so as to add the android to his “collection.” ***

23. Sarek – Spock’s father, a staple of the Star Trek mythos since at least Star Trek III, shows up on the Enterprise in rough shape, as he’s suffering from a terminal disease. Picard assists the Vulcan in his ambassadorial mediation. ***

24. Ménage à Troi – Star Trek Guide doesn’t know what’s more execrable about the tile of this one: The feeble attempt at a very bad pun or the sheer misleading of its implication. In any case, “Meange” is quite a funny episode featuring Ferengi kidnapping Riker, Troi and Troi’s mother. Wesley (!) discovers where they’re being held and Picard must act as though Lwaxana is his lover, threatening to destroy the Ferengi ship in a jealous rage. It almost enough to forgive the stupid title. ****

25. Transfigurations – In another “more than he seems” plotline, the Enterprise finds a human-looking guy with fantastic powers – and some enemies. **

26. The Best of Both Worlds, Part I – “We have engaged the Borg.” In case you’ve never heard it before, here it is: The height of Borg badassery, with concomitant awesome performances by all characters up to and including guest first officer Commander Shelby. The Enterprise comes face to face with a Borg vessel that has assimilated an entire Federation colony, only for the Borg demand that Picard come aboard. Picard is then assimilated, to be used as an information-providing tool to conquer Federation worlds from Earth on down. Now captaining the Enterprise, Riker reckons the Enterprise can destroy the Borg cube with Picard – now dubbed Locutus – aboard. He gives Lt. Worf the command: “Fire!” *****

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The Best Episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation

In the imaginative universe of Star Trek: The Next Generation , countless episodes have made their mark, leaving a lasting impression on viewers. With a brilliant mix of engaging storytelling, memorable characters, and thought-provoking themes, the series has offered countless moments that resonate with viewers even decades after its initial run. Delving into these exceptional episodes not only entertains but also offers an insight into what makes this great sci-fi series stand apart. 

The best episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation showcase the incredible creative talent behind the show, presenting stories that both entertain and challenge viewers through captivating narratives and philosophical dilemmas. By exploring themes such as morality, identity, and the human condition, these episodes remind us of what makes Star Trek: The Next Generation a groundbreaking and enduring television phenomenon. 

A few examples of extraordinary Star Trek: The Next Generation episodes include "The Best of Both Worlds," "Yesterday's Enterprise," and "The Inner Light." Each of these masterfully crafted episodes demonstrates the show's ability to craft complex narratives, create memorable characters, and tackle thought-provoking concepts. In "The Best of Both Worlds," the crew faces an unprecedented threat from the Borg, leading to a nail-biting cliffhanger. "Yesterday's Enterprise" transports viewers to an alternate timeline where they witness dramatic events unfold between the Federation and the Klingon Empire. And in "The Inner Light," Captain Picard experiences a deeply emotional and heartrending journey that profoundly impacts his perspective on life. 

Episodes like these Illuminate the brilliance of Star Trek: The Next Generation , demonstrating the power of exceptional storytelling and the transcendent themes that have made the series an enduring classic. By examining these standout episodes, it becomes evident why fans celebrate and cherish the show's legacy: inspiring generations to boldly go where no one has gone before. 

The Best of Both Worlds

• Season : Star Trek: The Next Generation - Season 3
• Episode Number : 26
• Series : Star Trek: The Next Generation

Cause and Effect

• Season : Star Trek: The Next Generation - Season 5
• Episode Number : 18

Yesterday's Enterprise

• Episode Number : 15

The Best of Both Worlds, Part II

• Season : Star Trek: The Next Generation - Season 4
• Episode Number : 1

The Inner Light

• Episode Number : 25

• Season : Star Trek: The Next Generation - Season 2
• Episode Number : 16

The Measure of a Man

• Episode Number : 9

• Episode Number : 14

All Good Things...

• Season : Star Trek: The Next Generation - Season 7

• Season : Star Trek: The Next Generation - Season 6

• Episode Number : 2

Starship Mine

Chain of Command

• Episode Number : 10

• Episode Number : 4

• Episode Number : 11

Lower Decks

• Episode Number : 23

Ship in a Bottle

• Episode Number : 12

The Defector

Future Imperfect

• Episode Number : 8

Redemption, Part II

• Episode Number : 7

The Offspring

The Next Phase

• Episode Number : 24

• Episode Number : 5

• Episode Number : 13

• Episode Number : 20

Face of the Enemy

The Nth Degree

• Episode Number : 19

Sins of the Father

• Episode Number : 17

Elementary, Dear Data

• Episode Number : 3

Thine Own Self

The Pegasus

Unification, Part II

Unification

The Survivors

A Matter of Honor

The Drumhead

• Episode Number : 21

Time's Arrow

• Season : Star Trek: The Next Generation - Season 1

Remember Me

Chain of Command, Part II

Data's Day

Peak Performance

The First Duty

Frame of Mind

Who Watches the Watchers

The Wounded

Where No One Has Gone Before

• Episode Number : 6

Time's Arrow, Part II

Gambit, Part II

Preemptive Strike

Devil's Due

Night Terrors

Redemption, Part I

The Most Toys

• Episode Number : 22

The High Ground

A Fistful of Datas

The Neutral Zone

A Matter of Perspective

The Arsenal of Freedom

Time squared.

Inheritance

Eye of the Beholder

Transfigurations

Up the Long Ladder

The Quality of Life

Suddenly Human

Imaginary Friend

A Matter of Time

Realm of Fear

Birthright, Part II

Final Mission

Descent, Part II

The Masterpiece Society

Rightful Heir

Samaritan snare.

Hero Worship

The Outrageous Okona

Ménage à Troi

The Bonding

Loud as a Whisper

Man of the People

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Live long, and prosper.

The 10 Best Captain Picard Episodes in 'Star Trek: The Next Generation,' Ranked

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Star Trek: The Next Generation isn’t just one of the best installments in the Star Trek franchise, but one of the greatest drama shows of all time . While the original Star Trek series was sadly canceled after the end of its third season, Star Trek: The Next Generation was given the chance to keep pushing the story forward for over seven years.

Although there are many beloved characters in Star Trek: The Next Generation, Patrick Stewart’s performance as Captain Jean-Luc Picard turned him into the greatest hero in the history of the Star Trek saga . Stewart crafted a complex, vulnerable hero who was defined by his dedication, principles, and willingness to hear both sides of any given dispute; he’s simply a character that everyone should aspire to be like. Here are the ten best Captain Picard episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation .

Star Trek: The Next Generation

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10 “The Measure of a Man”

Season 2, episode 9 (1989).

There are few relationships in the Star Trek franchise that are more profound than the dynamic between Picard and Data ( Brett Spiner ), the android who serves as one of the most important officers on the U.S.S. Enterprise. “The Measure of a Man” featured Picard serving as Data’s defender in a legal case in which he must defend his right to exist. The discussion about the merits of artificial intelligence is just as relevant today as they were when the episode first aired in 1989.

“Measure of a Man” showed that Picard was willing to stand up for the rights of those that were mistreated , as Star Trek has always been an incredibly progressive franchise when compared to other science fiction properties. This episode solidified the fact that Picard was willing to risk his own livelihood if the safety of one of his crew members was ever placed in danger.

9 “The Best of Both Worlds”

Season 3, episode 26 & season 4, episode 1 (1990).

“The Best of Both Worlds” is one of the most important episodes of any Star Trek series, as the first installment of the two-parter that ended the third season had a massive cliffhanger that had viewers screaming at their televisions. The episode featured Picard being captured by the Borg, with his replacement Captain William T. Riker ( Jonathan Frakes ) put in a position that could end his life.

“The Best of Both Worlds” was the first instance in which Picard felt completely vulnerable , as it was feasible that he could get killed off and replaced by Riker for the rest of the show. Although Picard ended up surviving the incident, his feud with the Borg as a result of his torture left him with a severe case of post-traumatic stress disorder that he continued to deal with for the rest of the series.

8 “Family”

Season 4, episode 2 (1990).

“Family” was a critical episode that helped to humanize Picard and showed what his family life looked like for the first time. Although Picard rarely discussed his personal motivations and background with members of his crew during the first three seasons of the show, “Family” saw him returning to visit his family farm after his traumatic encounter with the Borg in “The Best of Both Worlds.”

“Family” was an important shift in tone for Star Trek: The Next Generation that helped follow up the action of “The Best of Both Worlds,” and did a great job at showing how Picard was dealing with his personal mental health in the series after such a frightening incident. Stewart is arguably at his most profound and emotional in “Family,” as the episode strips away all the duties of command from Picard and examines what it is like for him to live a normal life outside of Starfleet.

7 “The Drumhead”

Season 4, episode 21 (1991).

Star Trek has always been a very political franchise that touches on hot-button issues, and “The Drumhead” explores a scary situation about the denial of truth that has proven to be just as relevant today in an era of political divisiveness and fake news. After a member of his crew is accused of being a traitor, Picard is forced to prevent a representative of Starfleet from badgering everyone under his command and impeding their civil liberties.

“The Drumhead” plays out like a legal thriller, and feels just as exciting as the courtroom dramas that dominated the 1990s . While it is relatively light on action compared to some of the more intense episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation, “The Drumhead” proved that the series was capable of developing nuanced ideas about what the future would look like under Gene Roddenberry ’s vision.

6 “Darmok”

Season 5, episode 2 (1991).

“Darmok” is perhaps the most intimate episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation , as it sees Picard being trapped in a primitive world where he can only communicate with the native species using rudimentary language. The episode shows just how effective of a hero Picard can be, even if he seems to enjoy being in the company of a crew that supports him.

Star Trek: The Next Generation is well known for making interesting genre deviations, and “Darmok” feels like the closest that the series ever got to a Western adventure story . Although some viewers may have felt the same exact confusion and frustration that Picard did when the premise was first established, “Darmok” ends with one of the most powerful emotional revelations about the ability that Picard has to inspire others in all seven seasons of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

5 “Conundrum”

Season 5, episode 14 (1992).

“Conundrum” is one of the most imaginative episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation , as it takes place after a mysterious alien virus forces the entire crew to forget their memories, leaving them helpless in the middle of space. This was an episode that essentially showed how the Enterprise crew could be built again from the ground up, as Picard is the first one to assess the parameters of the mystery and start developing a solution to keep everyone safe.

“Conundrum” was one of the best episodes that showed Stewart’s generosity as an actor , as even though it is Picard’s moment to shine as a leader, every single member of the cast is given a standout moment. The success of “Conundrum” in combining the emotional with the practical is a major reason why the fifth season is often cited as the best that Star Trek: The Next Generation ever aired.

4 “Cause and Effect”

Season 5, episode 18 (1992).

Time travel is notoriously a concept that is very difficult to capture on screen in a compelling way, as it is very easy to get so confusing that viewers struggle to understand what the stakes are supposed to be. However, “Cause and Effect” presented a brilliant time travel storyline in which Picard and the crew of the Enterprise are trapped in a recurring loop that could doom them for eternity.

“Cause and Effect” was a great example of Star Trek: The Next Generation showing Picard’s abilities as a strategist . While many of the captains established in other shows and films in the Star Trek franchise earned their rank through military conquest, it's Picard’s intelligence and ability to make rational decisions while under pressure that make him such an all-time great character. “Cause and Effect” succeeds because Stewart understands this fundamental truth about the character.

3 “The Inner Light”

Season 5, episode 25 (1992).

“The Inner Light” is perhaps the most emotional episode of the entire Star Trek franchise, and would have earned Stewart a Primetime Emmy Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series had the Television Academy not been so notoriously biased against science fiction and other genre shows. The episode takes place entirely in Picard’s mind, as he begins to live out different fantasies about what an alternate life could look like when he is unconscious.

“The Inner Light” revealed truths about Picard as a character , showing how his unflinching willingness to perform his duty against mitigating circumstances put a severe detriment on his ability to start a family. There isn’t another episode more tear-jerking as “The Inner Light,” as Stewart reveals how Picard is dealing with the burdens of his sacrifices, and how it has been taken for granted by those who serve under him.

2 “Tapestry”

Season 6, episode 15 (1993).

“Tapestry” was an integral episode that revealed that Picard himself was flawed , as his encounter with Q ( John de Lancie ) allows him to travel back to moments from his past and reflect on the mistakes that he made as a young man. Essentially serving as a coming-of-age story about Picard’s youth, “Tapestry” showed that even someone that noble had elements of their past that they had buried deep within their minds.

The dynamic between Q and Picard is one of the show’s most interesting, as the two have completely different outlooks on humanity and its potential. While Q uses the mistakes that humanity has made as evidence that they are beyond reason, Picard argues that humans are capable of being empathetic, compassionate, and willing to redeem themselves. It’s Picard’s faith in others and general optimism about the future that makes him such an inspiring character.

1 “All Good Things…”

Season 7, episode 25 (1994).

There aren’t many shows that end on a perfect note, as many acclaimed programs like Game of Thrones , House of Cards , Killing Eve , and Battlestar Galactica had such underwhelming series finales that fans questioned why they were ever loyal to the shows in the first place. However, Star Trek: The Next Generation ended on a perfect note with “All Good Things…,” an episode that featured a profound moment where Picard was able to thank every member of the crew for their dedication to the Enterprise .

“All Good Things…” showed that Star Trek: The Next Generation was more interested in developing great characters than overwhelming the viewers with action, as it takes a far more philosophical approach to a series finale than some may have expected. A final shot of Picard playing cards with various crew members was the perfect way to wrap up the show.

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7 star trek: tng "yesterday's enterprise" details you missed.

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Every Star Trek Character Killed By Ron Moore

Every star trek episode & movie directed by david carson, i hope star trek's forgotten enterprise captain is back for good after their upcoming movie return.

Star Trek: The Next Generation season 3, episode 15, "Yesterday's Enterprise" remains one of the series' most highly acclaimed episodes, but there are some fascinating things many viewers may not know about this iconic story. "Yesterday's Enterprise" begins like any other episode of TNG , with the USS Enterprise-D encountering a seemingly inexplicable galactic phenomenon. Suddenly, the battle-damaged USS Enterprise-C emerges from a wormhole, and everything on the Enterprise-D changes. Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) now sits on a darkly lit bridge and Lt. Tasha Yar (Denise Crosby) stands at the tactical station.

Captain Picard then meets the injured Captain Rachel Garrett (Tricia O'Neil) of the USS Enterprise-C, informing her that she and her ship have journeyed 22 years into the future. The United Federation of Planets is now at war with the Klingons — a conflict even Captain Picard fears they will soon lose — which forces Garrett to make an impossible decision. With compelling guest stars and a fascinating glimpse into the history of ships named Enterprise, "Yesterday's Enterprise" remains an incredibly memorable episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation and more than earns its reputation. However, many pieces had to fall into place for "Yesterday's Enterprise" to make it to the screen in the first place.

7 "Yesterday's Enterprise" Combined Two Different Star Trek: TNG Story Ideas

Tasha yar was added to a time travel story.

In Star Trek: The Next Generation season 3, the producers of the show began accepting scripts from outside writers. This policy led to the show receiving over 5,000 scripts in a year. One of those scripts, written by Trent Christopher Ganino, caught the eye of one of TNG's producers. While this story included the USS Enterprise-C, it did not feature Tasha Yar or Guinan (Whoopi Goldberg) , and included an ensign who panicked after learning the fate of the Enterprise-C. Ganino later struck up a friendship with TNG pre-production associate Eric A. Stillwell, and the two began working on ideas for new stories.

They eventually pitched a story that involved Tasha Yar, as well as Ambassador Sarek (Mark Lenard), the Vulcan father of Spock (Leonard Nimoy). In this story, a Vulcan science team accidentally altered the future by causing the death of Surak (Bruce Gray), the founder of Vulcan philosophy. This led to an alliance between the Vulcans and the Romulans, who then declared war on the Federation. The Klingons later replaced the Vulcan/Romulan alliance, and this idea was then combined with a time-traveling Enterprise-C to eventually become "Yesterday's Enterprise."

6 "Yesterday's Enterprise" Almost Involved Star Trek: TOS' Guardian Of Forever

One version of the story included spock's father, sarek.

When working on the Sarek time travel story, Ganino and Stillwell wanted to incorporate elements from several classic episodes of Star Trek: The Original Series, including "The City on the Edge of Forever" and "Mirror, Mirror." The idea of an altered militaristic universe came from "Mirror, Mirror," while the actual Guardian of Forever originally played a role in the time travel part of the story. The Vulcans were investigating the Guardian of Forever when they traveled to the past and inadvertently altered history their own history.

The Guardian of Forever returned in Star Trek: Discovery season 3, in the form of Carl (Paul Guilfoyle), who sent Emperor Philippa Georgiou (Michelle Yeoh) back to the past.

According to the book The Making of Yesterday's Enterprise by Eric A. Stillwell, TNG season 3 showrunner Michael Piller feared that the Guardian of Forever was too much of a gimmick, and he wanted to stay away from too many references to TOS. This story idea also saw Sarek travel back in time to replace Surak, thus restoring the correct version of the Star Trek timeline. The idea of someone going into the past and replacing a historical figure was later used in the excellent Star Trek: Deep Space Nine two-parter, "Past Tense," which saw Commander Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks) take the place of Gabriel Bell (John Lendale Bennett).

5 5 Writers Worked On Star Trek: TNG's "Yesterday's Enterprise" Script

Each writer wrote a portion of the script.

To accommodate the schedules of both Denise Crosby and Whoopi Goldberg, the production of "Yesterday's Enterprise" had to be moved from January 1990 to December 1989. This meant the teleplay had to be written very quickly over the Thanksgiving weekend of 1989. In order to accomplish this, the story was divided among four members of Star Trek: The Next Generation's writing staff — Ira Steven Behr, Hans Beimler, Richard Manning, and Ronald D. Moore . According to an article published in Star Trek Magazine, Ira Steven Behr said the writers enjoyed the darker material in "Yesterday's Enterprise," even if they did have to work over a holiday weekend.

Ronald D. Moore sent many big-name Star Trek characters to their final frontier during his time on The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine...

Michael Piller reportedly polished the final script before production but was not included among the credits as the Writer's Guild only allowed four names. Because of the rushed nature of the script, many of the writers feared the final episode wouldn't work. Despite having five writers and being written so quickly, very little about "Yesterday's Enterprise" feels disjointed or out of place. When it first aired, "Yesterday's Enterprise" performed better in the ratings than any other episode in TNG season 3.

4 "Yesterday's Enterprise" Had A Bigger Star Trek: TNG Budget

Space battles, new ships, & guest stars require bigger budgets.

With an impressive guest cast, an entirely new Starship Enterprise, and a climactic final battle scene, "Yesterday's Enterprise" required a larger budget than most Star Trek: The Next Generation episodes. Thankfully, the episode was due to air during the time period when Nielsen collected viewing data from households across the United States. Because this was an important time for television studios to do well in the ratings, Paramount Studios increased the budget for the episode.

This extra money gave the production team more leeway to create new sets and ship models for the USS Enterprise-C and completely redress the bridge of the Enterprise-D. Much of the budget was spent on crafting a model of the Enterprise-C and ensuring that the Warship Enterprise-D looked suitably different from its Prime Universe counterpart. Despite this increase in budget, some scenes during the final battle sequence had to be cut, partly for budgetary reasons and partly for time. "Yesterday's Enterprise" was filmed in only seven days, from December 11th to December 19th, 1989.

Some of the expanded budget also went to hiring new guest actors, including Tricia O'Neil as Rachel Garrett and Christopher McDonald as Richard Castillo. Both actors were Star Trek fans prior to being cast.

3 USS Enterprise-C Model Built For "Yesterday's Enterprise" Inspired Ships In Later Star Trek: TNG Episodes

The enterprise-c model had to be built quickly.

The Ambassador-class USS Enterprise-C was designed to be the logical step between the Excelsior-class USS Enterprise-B and Galaxy-Class USS Enterprise-D. A small sketch of the ship had been done during TNG's first season as part of an image depicting the lineage of ships named Enterprise . However, illustrator Andrew Probert, who designed the Enterprise-D, had already left the show. Illustrator Rick Sternbach built on Probert's original concept to create the final version of the Enterprise-C.

Due to time constraints, Sternbach simplified Probert's original design so that the model could be constructed more quickly. Artist and model-maker Gregory Jein then created the $10,000 shooting model of the battle-damaged Enterprise-C. The design model for the Enterprise-C was later modified to appear as various Ambassador-class starships in other episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation, including "Data's Day."

2 "Yesterday's Enterprise" Was Director David Carson's 2nd Star Trek: TNG Episode

David carson directed star trek generations.

Director David Carson had only previously directed one episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation — TNG season 3, episode 7, "The Enemy." Because of this, he had few preconceived notions about how "Yesterday's Enterprise" should be shot. This likely allowed him more freedom, as he focused on emphasizing the darker, more militaristic nature of the alternate universe. From the lighting to the uniforms to the extra security, nearly everything about the warship Enterprise-D feels different from the normal one. Even Captain Picard appears much more exhausted and battle-hardened than he ever has before.

Director David Carson helmed several acclaimed episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation, DS9, and the feature film Star Trek Generations.

David Carson went on to direct two more episodes of TNG and four episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, including the show's feature-length premiere, "Emissary." After proving his directing ability over the course of these eight episodes, Carson was chosen to helm the first TNG film, Star Trek Generations. Generations was the first of three feature films Carson would direct, followed by Letters from a Killer in 1998 and Unstoppable in 2004.

1 Time Constraints Cut Several "Yesterday's Enterprise" Scenes

Wesley & data almost died along with riker.

In the original teleplay for "Yesterday's Enterprise," several more USS Enterprise-D crew members met somewhat grisly untimely ends. The only main TNG cast member who died in the final episode was Commander William Riker (Jonathan Frakes). As the Enterprise-D fights off three Klingon battlecruisers, the ship takes heavy damage, and Riker is killed when his console explodes, prompting Picard to jump over the barrier and take over at the tactical station.

The original script featured an extended battle sequence (courtesy of Ronald D. Moore) that included scenes of Ensign Wesley Crusher (Wil Wheaton) having his head blown off and Lt. Commander Data (Brent Spiner) being electrocuted. Time constraints or not, it's likely some of these scenes would have pushed the limits of what the studio would have allowed anyway. Regardless, this more gruesome end to the Enterprise-D and its crew never made it on screen, but "Yesterday's Enterprise" still remains one of Star Trek: The Next Generation's most memorable and lauded episodes.

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Star Trek: The Next Generation

Set almost 100 years after Captain Kirk's 5-year mission, a new generation of Starfleet officers sets off in the U.S.S. Enterprise-D on its own mission to go where no one has gone before. Set almost 100 years after Captain Kirk's 5-year mission, a new generation of Starfleet officers sets off in the U.S.S. Enterprise-D on its own mission to go where no one has gone before. Set almost 100 years after Captain Kirk's 5-year mission, a new generation of Starfleet officers sets off in the U.S.S. Enterprise-D on its own mission to go where no one has gone before.

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• Trivia Almost everyone in the cast became life-long friends. At LeVar Burton 's 1992 wedding, Brent Spiner served as best man, and Sir Patrick Stewart , Jonathan Frakes , and Michael Dorn all served as ushers. Man of the People (1992) (#6.3) aired on that day.
• Goofs It is claimed that Data can't use contractions (Can't, Isn't, Don't, etc) yet there are several instances throughout the series where he does. One of the first such examples is heard in Encounter at Farpoint (1987) , where Data uses the word "Can't" while the Enterprise is being chased by Q's "ship".

[repeated line]

Capt. Picard : Engage!

• Crazy credits The model of the Enterprise used in the opening credits is so detailed, a tiny figure can be seen walking past a window just before the vessel jumps to warp speed.
• Alternate versions From 2012-2014, to celebrate the Silver Anniversary of TNG, CBS/Paramount decided to remaster the series in High Definition. This would involve rebuilding the show from the ground up using new HD scans of the original camera negatives, including the numerous VFX elements. Under the supervision of Mike and Denise Okuda, the series has been reborn for a new generation.
• Connections Edited into Reading Rainbow: The Bionic Bunny Show (1988)

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