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#Algernon_Asimov’s guide to ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’

I’ve compiled an episode guides for ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’. This shows major milestones and character development - hopefully without giving away too many spoilers.

Whether you want to track the development of Worf during Next Generation, or skip the Wesley-heavy episodes, this is the page for you!

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Season 1

Episode Title Key points / milestones Characters featured Essential?
1 & 2 Encounter at Farpoint Captain Picard takes command of the Enterprise-D. The new crew faces a dilemma at Farpoint Station, and an unknown adversary called “Q”. All Engage!
3 The Naked Now The Enterprise crew is infected with a virus which causes drunk-like symptoms. Data proves himself “fully functional” to Tasha. All meh
4 Code of Honor The leader of the Ligonians wants Yar as a wife. A fight to the death ensues between Yar and the Ligonian’s First Wife. Yar Avoid
5 The Last Outpost The Enterprise deals with some Ferengi, and both get caught on a random planet. Introduction of the Ferengi. meh
6 Where No One Has Gone Before A Starfleet engineer arrives to upgrade the Enterprise’s engines. We meet the Traveller. Picard appoints Wesley an Acting Ensign. Wesley Traveller Engage!
7 Lonely Among Us An energy creature takes over various Enterprise crew. Avoid
8 Justice Paradise has thorns. Wesley is sentenced to death. meh
9 The Battle The Ferengi present Picard with the wreckage of his old ship, the USS Stargazer. Picard Engage!
10 Hide and Q Q returns, and gives Riker the power of the Q. Q Riker Just for fun
11 Haven Troi has to fulfil her duty - an arranged marriage. First appearance of Lwaxana Troi (Deanna’s mother). Troi Lwaxana meh
12 The Big Goodbye Picard plays detective Dixon Hill on the holodeck. Naturally, the holodeck malfunctions. Picard Just for fun
13 Datalore The Enterprise crew find another android, identical to Data: his “brother”, Lore. Some background on Data. Data Lore Engage!
14 Angel One Riker has some sexy time in a female-dominated society. Riker Avoid
15 11001001 The crew has some downtime while the Bynars upgrade the Enterprise computer. Riker creates a fantasy woman on the holodeck: Minuet. Riker Just for fun
16 Too Short a Season The Federaton negotiator, Admiral Jameson, seems to be getting younger… Avoid
17 When the Bough Breaks The Aldeans kidnap some children from the Enterprise during negotiations. Wesley meh
18 Home Soil Terraformers discover unexpected life on a supposedly barren planet. Just for fun
19 Coming of Age Wesley sits the exams to enter Starfleet Academy, while an Admiral is investigating the Enterprise. Wesley Picard Engage!
20 Heart of Glory Enterprise takes some Klingons on board. Lots of background on Worf. Worf Engage!
21 The Arsenal of Freedom An automated weapons-selling demo. LaForge in command. Picard and Crusher have a moment. LaForge Picard Crusher Just for fun
22 Symbiosis Two planets and their medicine trade tests the Prime Directive. Worst anti-drug speech EVER. Picard Crusher meh
23 Skin of Evil Data learns about grief after a crew member dies on an away mission. Data meh
24 We’ll Always Have Paris Picard meets an old flame, while experiments with non-linear time go awry. meh
25 Conspiracy Picard investigates a conspiracy at the top levels of Starfleet. Engage!
26 The Neutral Zone The Enterprise is sent to investigate what is destroying outposts along the Romulan Neutral Zone. Three humans from 20thC are unfrozen. Engage!

Season 2

Episode Title Key points / milestones Characters featured Essential?
1 The Child Troi gets impregnated by an alien. Staff changes: Dr Crusher gone, Dr Pulaski arrives; Worf is Chief of Security; LaForge becomes Chief Engineer; Guinan runs Ten-Forward; Riker grows a beard. Data: “One is my name; the other is not.” Uniform change: no collar stripes. Troi meh
2 Where Silence Has Lease A curious energy entity toys with the Enterprise. Musings on death. Just for fun
3 Elementary, Dear Data LaForge challenges the holodeck to create an adversary to match Data’s Sherlock Holmes. It does: Moriarty. Data Moriarty Engage!
4 The Outrageous Okona A charming rogue inspires Data to investigate comedy. Data Just for fun
5 Loud As A Whisper Troi is attracted to a deaf negotiator. Troi meh
6 The Schizoid Man The man who mentored Dr Noonian Soong, Data’s creator, tries to take over Data’s body. This is the only time we see Doctor Selar. Data Engage!
7 Unnatural Selection Pulaski catches an old-age disease from genetically engineered children. The Transporter Chief, who we’ve seen five times before, finally gets a name: O’Brien. Pulaski meh
8 A Matter of Honor Riker serves aboard a Klingon ship. Riker Engage!
9 The Measure of a Man A hearing to determine Data’s personhood. Widely acknowledged as the best episode of the first two seasons of TNG, and one of the best of the series. Data Picard Engage!
10 The Dauphin Wesley falls in love with a girl who’s destined to rule a planet. Wesley Avoid
11 Contagion Enterprise infected by a computer virus. Discover Iconian gateways. First mention of ‘Earl Grey’. Just for fun
12 The Royale Crew discovers a real-life replica of a hotel from an old book. Riker Avoid
13 Time Squared A duplicate Picard from six hours in the future arrives and “present” Picard must prevent the destruction of the Enterprise. Picard Engage!
14 The Icarus Factor Riker is offered a promotion. His estranged father visits. Worf celebrates anniversary of his Rite of Ascension. Riker Worf Just for fun.
15 Pen Pals Data corresponds with a young girl from a doomed planet. Prime Directive. Data Engage!
16 Q Who Q transports Enterprise to meet… the Borg! Picard Guinan Q Engage!
17 Samaritan Snare Picard and Wesley bond while on a shuttle together. Enterprise and Pakleds. Picard Wesley Just for fun
18 Up The Long Ladder Irish Bringloidi refugees help a colony of clones. Avoid
19 Manhunt Lwaxana has a hyperactive sex-drive, and is looking for a man. Picard hides in the Dixon Hill holodeck program. Lwaxana Just for fun
20 The Emissary Worf meets an old flame, K’Ehleyr, and old feelings re-ignite. Worf Engage!
21 Peak Performance Picard versus Riker in war games. Data out-competes someone in a table-top game: “I ‘busted him up’!” Data Riker Just for fun
22 Shades of Grey Worst! Episode! Ever! Due to a writers’ strike: a clip show. Riker AVOID!
  • M-5@startrek.websiteOPB
    2·
    1 year ago

    Season 5

    Episode Title Key points / milestones Characters featured Essential?
    1 Redemption II The Klingon Civil War continues. Data struggles to be accepted as Captain. Picard is… surprised… at who’s behind it all. Worf Duras Picard Data surprise…! Engage!
    2 Darmok Picard and a Tamarian captain learn to communicate with each other. One of the quintessential episodes of this series. Picard Engage!
    3 Ensign Ro The Bajoran, Ro Laren, is reinstated as an Ensign in Starfleet to help Picard deal with Bajoran terrorists. Introduction of Bajorans. First appearance of Ro. Picard Ro Engage!
    4 Silicon Avatar The Crystalline Entity returns. A mother grieves for her son, lost in the previous Entity attack, and turns to Data. Data meh
    5 Disaster A disaster wipes out most systems on the Enterprise, with people stranded all over the ship. Troi has to take command on the bridge, and deal with Ro. Worf delivers Keiko’s baby. Picard leads a crew of children. Troi Picard Just for fun
    6 The Game Wesley vists the Enterprise, and finds everyone addicted to a video game. Wesley (and Data) save the day. Wesley meh
    7 Unification I Ambassador Spock has gone to Romulus, and Picard and Data have to get him back. Spock! Sarek Picard Data Engage!
    8 Unification II Picard and Data learn why Spock is on Romulus, and they work together. Spock Sela Picard Data Engage!
    9 A Matter Of Time A historian from the future comes back to witness a historic event involving the Enterprise. Just for fun
    10 New Ground Worf has to make decisions about his son Alexander. The Enterprise tests the soliton wave as a form of propulsion. Worf Engage!
    11 Hero Worship An orphaned boy emulates Data. Data Just for fun
    12 Violations A telepath mind-rapes members of the Enterprise crew, starting with Troi. Avoid
    13 The Masterpiece Society A genetically engineered perfect society may be in more danger from the Enterprise than the problem the Enterprise is helping with. Engage!
    14 Conundrum The Enterprise crew all lose their memories, but not their personalities, and must deal with an unknown alien ship. meh
    15 Power Play Data, Troi, and O’Brien are possessed by unknown entities, and take over the ship. Avoid
    16 Ethics Worf is permanently paralysed. Is it ethical to commit suicide? Is it ethical to perform untried medical procedures? Worf Crusher Engage!
    17 The Outcast A person from a sexless androgynous species chooses to be female, and is cast out as a pervert. Riker Engage!
    18 Cause and Effect The Enterprise cycles over and over again through the same events leading to its destruction. Just for fun
    19 The First Duty A member of Wesley’s squad at Starfleet Academy is killing in a training accident. Picard visits an old friend at the Academy, Boothby. Picard’s famous “first duty” speech. Picard Wesley Engage!
    20 Cost of Living Worf is having difficulty being a parent, and asks Troi for help. Lwaxana takes a maternal interest in young Alexander; she’s good with children. Lwaxana Alexander Worf Troi Just for fun
    21 The Perfect Mate An empathic metamorph causes quite a stir among the male crew members, especially Picard. Picard meh
    22 Imaginary Friend A little girl’s imaginary friend becomes a lot less imaginary. Avoid
    23 I Borg The Enterprise crew find a single Borg, and try to find out if they can use it to defeat the Borg. In the meantime, the Borg learns about individuality and friendship. Guinan confronts her fears. Picard has an ethical dilemma. Hugh LaForge Guinan Engage!
    24 The Next Phase LaForge and Ro become “ghosts” after a transporter accident. LaForge Ro meh
    25 The Inner Light Picard lives a full life, with family and friends, as “Kamin”. Widely acclaimed as one of the best episodes of the series. Picard Engage!
    26 Time’s Arrow The Enterprise crew find Data’s head which was buried nearly 500 years ago, then investigate a threat to 19th Century San Francisco, and meet Mark Twain and a younger Guinan. [Another cliffhanger season-ending.] Data Guinan Just for fun

    Season 6

    Episode Title Key points / milestones Characters featured Essential?
    1 Time’s Arrow, Part II More shenanigans in 19th Century San Francisco Data Guinan Just for fun
    2 Realm of Fear Barclay is nervous about using the transporters - and then sees a creature during transport. Barclay Avoid
    3 Man of the People An empathic ambassador and his crazy old mother take an interest in Troi. Troi meh
    4 Relics The Enterprise finds a Dyson sphere - and rescue Captain Montogmery Scott (“Scotty”) from a ship crashed on the sphere’s surface. Scotty LaForge Engage!
    5 Schisms Members of the crew are getting edgy and skitterish. Includes Data’s famous ‘Ode to Spot’. Avoid
    6 True Q A young woman who’s been raised as human learns that she is actually a Q. Q Just for fun
    7 Rascals Picard, Ro, Guinan, and Keiko are accidentally turned into children. This is the final appearance of O’Brien on the Enterprise, before his off-screen transfer to Deep Space Nine. Picard Ro meh
    8 A Fistful of Datas The holodeck breaks (surprise!) while Worf, Troi, and Alexander are playing a Wild West program - with Datas appearing everywhere. Data Just for fun
    9 The Quality of Life Exocomps - small drilling machines designed to learn and reproduce - are acting unexpectedly. Data Just for fun
    10 Chain of Command, Part I The Cardassians are mobilising. Picard, Crusher, and Worf are removed from the Enterprise and sent on a secret mission. Captain Jellico is put in command of the Enterprise (first appearance of Admiral Nechayev) to negotiate with the Cardassians. Jellico doesn’t get along with the crew or the Cardassians - but he does make Troi start wearing regulation uniforms. Riker Troi Engage!
    11 Chain of Command, Part II Jellico relieves Riker of duty; Data becomes First Officer. Picard is captured by the Cardassians and tortured: “There! Are! Four! Lights!” Picard Engage!
    12 Ship in a Bottle Barclay discovers Moriarty in the holodeck’s memory and re-activates him. Moriarty holds Picard and the Enterprise hostage, to achieve his freedom. Moriarty Picard Engage!
    13 Aquiel LaForge falls in love with a woman who is suspected of murdering a fellow Starfleet officer. Avoid
    14 Face of the Enemy Troi wakes up and discovers she now looks like a Romulan. She’s been kidnapped to help Romulan dissidents by impersonating a Major in the Tal Shiar. First mention of the Tal Shiar. Some good Troi development. Troi Engage!
    15 Tapestry Q lets Picard change a key moment in his past - and see the consequences of that change. Picard Q Engage!
    16 Birthright, Part I Data starts having visions of his “father” Doctor Noonien Soong. Worf investigates a rumor that his father Mogh is alive in a Romulan prison camp. Appearance by Bashir: the Enterprise is at Deep Space Nine. Data Worf meh
    17 Birthright, Part II Worf finds the prison camp, and teaches the children of the captured Klingons about their Klingon heritage. Worf Engage!
    18 Starship Mine Terrorists capture the Enterprise and its crew while the ship is undergoing maintenance. Data Picard Engage!
    19 Lessons Picard learns the difficulties of having an “office romance” in Starfleet. Picard Just for fun
    20 The Chase Picard’s mentor, Professor Galen, has learned something amazing that connects all humanoid species. [This episode gives the in-universe explanation for why most Star Trek aliens look humanoid.] Engage!
    21 Frame of Mind Riker is on the Enterprise rehearsing a play about being an insane man in an asylum, and he’s in an insane asylum having delusions about being on the Enterprise. Riker Avoid
    22 Suspicions Crusher has committed unethical acts while investigating a possible murder. Crusher meh
    23 Rightful Heir Worf goes to a Klingon monastery for a spiritual retreat, where he meets someone who claims to be the legendary Klingon hero Kahless. Worf Just for fun
    24 Second Chances A transporter accident eight years ago created a duplicate Riker - now called “Tom” (from their shared middle name). We see how “our” Riker has matured and changed over the past eight years; plus, “Tom” Riker is still in love with Troi. Real-life astronaut Dr Mae Jemison has a cameo appearance in this episode. Riker Troi Engage!
    25 Timescape Picard, Data, La Forge, and Troi have to find out why a time-frozen Romulan warbird is firing on an equally time-frozen Enterprise. Just for fun
    26 Descent The Enterprise encounters some individual Borg - who have been influenced by Hugh. Data starts getting emotional. [Another cliffhanger season-ending.] Includes a cameo appearance by Dr Stephen Hawking. Data Engage!
    • M-5@startrek.websiteOPB
      2·
      1 year ago

      Season 7

      Episode Title Key points / milestones Characters featured Essential?
      1 Descent, Part II Data joins the Borg and their leader, and starts “experimenting” on LaForge. Crusher is left in command of the Enterprise - and flies it into a sun! Data Hugh surprise…! Engage!
      2 Liaisons Iyaaran diplomats test Worf’s limits, and Troi’s limits, on the Enterprise, while Picard is stranded on a desert planet where he finds a woman who says she loves him. Worf Troi meh
      3 Interface LaForge uses an experimental interface that links to his VISOR to investigate a wrecked starship, and sees his supposedly dead mother. LaForge meh
      4 Gambit, Part I Riker investigates Picard’s death - and ends up kidnapped and working for a crew of mercenaries. Riker Picard Just for fun
      5 Gambit, Part II Naturally, Picard isn’t actually dead. He and Riker work together to infiltrate the mercenaries. Picard Riker Just for fun
      6 Phantasms Data starts having nightmares. This includes the “Data answering his own phone” scene. Avoid
      7 Dark Page Lwaxana is moody and depressed. Troi tries to find out why, and learns a dark secret from their past. We see Troi’s Human father for the only time. Lwaxana, Troi meh
      8 Attached Picard and Crusher are captured, and have implants attached to their brains, connecting them to each other. Interesting Picard/Crusher insights. Picard Crusher Just for fun
      9 Force of Nature Using warp drive is damaging space itself. This is the episode which introduces speed limits for starships. meh
      10 Inheritance Data meets Dr Noonien Soong’s wife, Juliana - his “mother”. We learn about prototypes made before Lore and Data. Data Engage!
      11 Parallels Worf keeps slipping between alternate quantum realities, leading to an awesome climactic moment. Also… Worf… and Troi? Worf Troi Engage!
      12 The Pegasus It’s “Captain Picard Day”! Riker works with his former captain to retrieve the ‘Pegasus’, a ship they worked on which carries a dark secret, before the Romulans find it. Riker Engage!
      13 Homeward Worf’s Human foster brother breaks the Prime Directive. Worf Picard Engage!
      14 Sub Rosa Crusher’s grandmother dies, and Crusher falls in love with the same ghost her grandmother was having a fling with. Crusher Avoid
      15 The Lower Decks The Enterprise from the point of view of four Ensigns. Engage!
      16 Thine Own Self Data gets amnesia while on a low-tech world where he’s supposed to save the population. Troi decides to work towards a promotion - and fails the test. Data Troi Just for fun
      17 Masks Data is possessed by multiple personalities, while the Enterprise becomes a temple. Avoid
      18 Eye of the Beholder Troi investigates empathic impressions of a death on the Enterprise. And… yes… Worf and Troi. Troi Worf meh
      19 Genesis The crew de-evolves into amphibians, lemurs, lizards, apes… Avoid
      20 Journey’s End The Enterprise negotiates handing a colony back to the Cardassians. Wesley visits - and finds a new destiny. The end of Wesley’s story. Wesley Traveller Just for fun
      21 Firstborn Worf’s son Alexander is approaching the Klingon Rite of Accession, but isn’t interested, until a mysterious Klingon warrior helps out. Lursa and B’Etor are scheming again. Quark makes an appearance. Worf Alexander Just for fun
      22 Bloodlines Daimon Bok (from first season’s ‘The Battle’) has returned again to seek revenge against Picard. This time, he is going to kill Picard’s son [It’s okay - Picard didn’t know about him, either.] like Picard killed Bok’s son. Picard Just for fun
      23 Emergence The Enterprise’s computer is developing self-awareness… in the holodeck program to end all holodeck programs. Just for fun
      24 Preemptive Strike Ro goes undercover to infiltrate the Maquis. The end of Ro’s story. Ro Picard Just for fun
      25 & 26 All Good Things… Picard is jumping randomly between time periods: his first days on the Enterprise; today; decades in the future. He has to solve the same problem in all three time periods, with Q “helping”. “It’s time to put an end to your trek through the stars.” <sob> Engage!

      Season-by-season ratings

      Season Engage! Just for fun meh Avoid Engage! (%) Just for fun (%) meh (%) Avoid (%)
      Season 1 8 5 8 4 32% 20% 32% 16%
      Season 2 8 7 3 4 36% 32% 14% 18%
      Season 3 15 3 5 3 58% 12% 19% 12%
      Season 4 14 7 3 2 54% 27% 12% 8%
      Season 5 12 6 5 3 46% 23% 19% 12%
      Season 6 11 7 4 4 42% 27% 15% 15%
      Season 7 7 9 5 4 28% 36% 20% 16%