Episode Review - Brothers (Next Generation, Season 4)

For those who are new to my episode reviews, you can find the post where I establish my point criteria here

Overview – The Enterprise is en route to Starbase 416 to save a young boy who is in severe need of medical help. It is during this crisis that Data suddenly and unexpectedly takes control of the ship and redirects it to Terlina III. As the crew try to regain control of the ship, Data beams down to the planet where he encounters his creator and “father”, Doctor Noonian Soong. Soong had activated a homing device in Data that would cause the android’s programming to seek only Data’s return to the cyberneticist that created him.  As Data reconnects with Soong, they are joined by Data’s brother, Lore, who was inadvertently activated by the same homing device. As the father and sons reunite, the purpose of Soong’s plan is revealed, as he has created an emotion chip for Data. As he prepares to implant the chip into Data, Lore takes matters into his own hands.

Score: 8/10 – I quite enjoy this episode. It gives us a great insight into Data and does a lot to move his character’s development along. We follow up on the fate of Lore and meet Dr. Soong himself. Data finally gets a chance to have emotions, and this development will have big impacts in a few seasons. Best of all, this episode really showcases Brent Spiner’s acting skills. Honestly, how he went all seven seasons of TNG without a single Emmy nomination is beyond my comprehension. I am hard pressed to think of any actor in television that had this much screen time as three distinct characters, and he pulled it off in fantastic form. Not only does he make each character unique, but he adds depth to all of them. Even Lore is one you can't help and feel a bit of sympathy for, except at the end when he pulls a fast one on them and assaults Soong. The side story of the two brothers on the Enterprise serves as fair backdrop to give the episode a touch of risk, but the focus is all on Data. In the end, we get some great insight into one of Star Trek’s most beloved and popular characters.

Relevance – 3 points. One point for following up with Lore’s fate from “Datalore”. He apparently had spent a couple years floating in space until he was picked up by the Pakleds. Another point scored for the emotion chip which will come into play in the Season 6 finale as well as the movie “Generations”. There is also a throwback to “Encounter at Farpoint” as Data once again tries to (unsuccessfully) whistle “Pop Goes the Weasel”. That gives it a third point in this category.

Continuity – 3 points. I don’t see anything in this episode that goes against story, character, or universe continuity. There are everybody acts the way we would expect. Nothing contradicts here. Lore especially shows a few layers that do accurately reflect who he is. He shows a love for his brother that I believe is genuine, and he gives us a few moments where we believe that his evil actions in the past were more like those of a misguided teenager lashing out for attention. He also reveals that in his books, Lore always comes first, and turns on his creator that ultimately seals his role as a villain. He will play on his knowledge of Soong and Data to deceive them and gain the upper hand.

Character Development – 2 points. This is all about Data. This is his story where he is reunited with members of his “family”, mainly his father and brother. We almost see him achieve one of his desires in gaining emotions. Mostly, his best moment comes when he is saying goodbye to Doctor Soong who is dying. It is touching and shows a deep look into how thoughtful Data is. He gives his father a reassurance that he will honor his memory and legacy. All the other characters are simply doing what they do, but nothing really gives us much insight into their characters.

Social Commentary – 3 points. Family. It is a universal theme. Families are complex and often messy. Here, we have a family made up of a father and his two sons (both androids). While Soong does care for both of them, he had to make some hard choices regarding Lore due to his actions. Despite his good intentions, Soong’s day of reckoning came. I’m not saying that Soong deserved what Lore did to him, but sometimes doing the right thing can catch up with you. This can lead to another theme of the unintended consequences of even our best intended actions. In the midst of all of this is Data, the good son, who deserved better than he received. And in the end, the side story of the two brothers on the Enterprise teaches Data, and us, an important lesson on family: “Brothers forgive”.

Cool Stuff – 2 points. There is definitely a point for Doctor Noonien Soong. Brent Spiner plays the character with delicious zest. Another point is scored for seeing Brent Spiner play three different characters at once. It was well acted and edited. I already said it once, but I want to say it again, but it was almost criminal that Spiner did not receive even an Emmy nomination for his work in this episode. Finally, in one of the final scenes when Soong implants the emotion chip in Data, there is a neat little plot twist that shows us that it is Lore that received the chip instead of Data. Watching this for the first time, I was surprised by this turn of events. It made sense, but I really think that it was a cool twist. 

Rank – Admiral (21 points). Season 4 started with the Best of Both Worlds ending, and then, to lighten things up a bit, gives us back-to-back episodes about family. Brothers is the second of those, and it is a strong episode. Brent Spiner is the biggest highlight with portraying three different characters at the same time, and he is up to the task. A great continuation to the Lore story, an important move in Data’s development, and introduced to a fun character in Noonian Soong. A must see episode on many fronts. 

If you would like to read other reviews from the Next Generation, click this link.

If you would like to read an episode review from any of the Trek series, click the following link to get to the series catalog. If the episode you want reviewed has not been done yet, then feel free to request it in the comments and I will see what I can do. 

Episode Review - Pen Pals (Next Generation, Season 2)

For those who are new to my episode reviews, you can find the post where I establish my point criteria here.

Overview – Data makes contact with a young girl from a pre-warp civilization and develops a friendship. The Enterprise soon learns that her planet is undergoing extreme seismic activities that threatens the lives of its inhabitants. The Enterprise is faced with a difficult decision: follow the Prime Directive or save the planet. Meanwhile, Wesley Crusher is assigned to lead a scientific team to analyze the planet’s stability.

Score: 7/10 – This is a cute story that had some great potential. A moral dilemma that puts, in the center, the friendship between a little girl and an android. The premise is promising, yet the execution was not quite what it could have been. It seemed as if the B-story of Wesley’s science team took away from some of the relationship between Data and Sarjenka. Sarjenka is a well-developed character of innocence and is portrayed with great success by actress Nikki Cox. So while not the best of Season 2, it is a decent episode.

Relevance – 2 points. Pulaski’s memory altering technique will be used again in the following season in the episode “Who Watches the Watchers”, although it will not be successful. Another point is scored for the opening scene with Picard riding his horse on the holodeck. This is the introduction of one of Picard’s favorite hobbies that will be revisited multiple times throughout the series and even in the movie “Generations”.

Continuity – 3 points. Story is good here as the Prime Directive continues to be something that is not entirely cut and dry. Character continuity remains intact, especially during the debate as to whether or not the crew should help Sarjenka’s planet or not. Worf and Picard predictably take the point of view of keeping the Prime Directive, while Pulaski and La Forge side for the more compassionate approach. Universe continuity is also good here. Everything seems to be working out the way it should.

Character Development – 3 points. Wesley and Data both receive some serious attention in this episode. Wesley is put in charge of a team of adults, forcing him to learn to be assertive in leadership. Data, meanwhile, continues to develop his quest to become more human. I thought it fitting that he would be the one to respond to Sarjenka’s request for communication. The ever curious android shows much compassion and empathy for one who is supposedly void of emotion.

Social Commentary – 2 points. It is important to do the right thing. Sometimes this means breaking, or perhaps in this case, bending the rules a bit. As soon as Picard heard Sarjenka’s plea for help, he ruled that the Prime Directive no longer applied and that they were obliged to assist. There is also the issue that is shown in Wesley’s story of having confidence in yourself, even if you are in charge of those older and more experienced in you. This part is a little less subtle and presented in a far too obvious manner, but it is something.

Cool Stuff – 1 point. I thought Sarjenka’s makeup to be quite intriguing. I particularly liked her long fingers and how her features were appealing yet very alien at the same time.

Rank – Captain (18 points). While this could have been a better episode if it had dropped the Wesley Crusher B-story, this is still a sweet little tale. It is nice to see Data develop an innocent friendship with a child as only the android could. I would recommend it as one of the highlights of Season 2.

If you would like to read other reviews from the Next Generation, click this link.

If you would like to read an episode review from any of the Trek series, click the following link to get to the series catalog. If the episode you want reviewed has not been done yet, then feel free to request it in the comments and I will see what I can do. 

Episode Review - Clues (Next Generation, Season 4)

For those who are new to my episode reviews, you can find the post where I establish my point criteria here

Picard passed out from the Paxan encounter

Overview – On their way to study a newly discovered M-class planet, the crew finds themselves completely incapacitated, with the sole exception of Data. Upon reviving the crew, Picard orders a probe to be launched to study the planet as they continue along their previous course. It does not take too long before the crew begin to suspect that a great deal more had occurred during the time they were supposedly unconscious. As the clues begin to amass, Picard begins to suspect that Data is hiding something from them.

Troi is surprised by what she sees in the mirror.

Score: 8/10 – This is quite a fun bottle episode that has viewers guessing again and again as to what exactly is happening. We start off with some more casual moments as the crew members spend some down time relaxing. When the crew is revived after their first encounter, they find themselves entangled in a web of mystery. To think that Data is either responsible or connected to this mystery adds intrigue. While Guinan is always a welcome character, her only appearance is in the Dixon Hill scene with Picard. Some may say that it is a trivial appearance, but I argue that nothing about Guinan is trivial, and it creates some great moments. While it would have been nice to have had more of her in the episode, especially since in “Yesterday’s Enterprise” she shows an aptitude of knowing when things aren’t quite right, it is always good to see her.

Gloria...from Clevland

Relevance - 3 points. A point is scored for revealing the first name of “Alyssa” to the nurse that has often been seen in sickbay. Later, in the episode “Cause and Effect”, she is given the last name of Ogawa. We also score a point for the first appearance of Worf’s Mok’bara class that we will see several more times in future episodes. We also score a point for another appearance of Dixon Hill, this time with Guinan as Picard’s special guest.

Geordi has trouble with the idea that Data is lying to them

Continuity - 2 points. Universe continuity is intact. Character continuity works. Of particular note is Data who, even at the risk of his being court martialed and possibly disassembled, strictly keeps the order Picard gave him to never reveal the existence of the Paxans. This fact, however, shows the flaw in the story continuity. Until Picard gives the order to Data, nobody had ever mentioned the name “Paxans”. A bit of a goof up, but enough to cost them this point.

Encountering the Paxons

Character Development – 2 points. I can score points for showing how far Data will go to obey orders, even at the cost of his career. I also give Picard some props for being able to convince the Paxans to spare them a second time. It was also nice to see Picard lighten up a bit on the holodeck at the beginning of the episode.

Yet another clue suggesting something is amiss

Social Commentary – 1 point. As enjoyable as this episode is, it says very little about our society. I guess the closest I can get is “Everybody loves a good mystery, so leave no loose ends when you are covering something up” is as good as a take away lesson here. While that seems a bit of a stretch to me, I’ll take it.

Worf's Mok'bara class

Cool Stuff – 3 points. As I said before, having Guinan with Picard in the Dixon Hill program was great. I particularly liked the end of the scene where, after ducking for cover Guinan asks him about this being fun. Picard shows the excitement of a school boy when he says “That is fun!” I also score a point for how the mystery unfolds. Plus, there is that moment when Troi, after being possessed by the Paxans, breaks Worf’s wrist. Poor Worf. Everyone seemed to beat him up on the Enterprise.

The crew tries to figure out what the Paxans want.

Rank – Captain (19 points). Enjoy this episode. Not much on action, but it will engage you the first time you watch it, and future viewings will have you looking for the clues themselves.

Data is surprised to see the crew incapacitated.

Episode Review – Force of Nature (Next Generation, Season 7)

For those who are new to my episode reviews, you can find the post where I establish my point criteria here

Data provides his insight on the Hekaras Corridor

Overview – The Enterprise is sent to find the missing the Fleming, a medical transport ship lost in the Hekaras corridor, an area of space surrounded by dangerous tetryon fields. As they investigate, they discover a sibling pair of Hekaran scientists who are disabling ships in the corridor, fearing that warp drive is damaging the fabric of space in their sector. Before long, and due to drastic measures taken by one of the scientists, the Enterprise is facing the consequences of a technology long thought to be safe.

The Hekaran Scientists have something to say.

Score: 2/10 – When I re-watched this episode I was a bit shocked as to how bad it was. Nothing seemed to work in this. The actors all appeared to be confused by the story, and sometimes it felt like they were just going through the motions so they could finish it and move on to something better. The story is not well constructed, meandering around without purpose or direction. There is even a distinct lack of a coherent B-story as we jump between Data training his cat and Geordi trying to outdo an old Academy rival for engine efficiency. I get that the writers wanted to do an episode that addressed environmental concerns, but this just seemed too forced. The list of things that just didn’t work could take a long time to accumulate, but let me leave it at this: there was a great deal of lost potential. Rumor has it that Geordi’s sister was originally supposed to visit and provide some comfort to the loss of their mother in an earlier episode, but it was dropped because they couldn’t get it to work right. Aside from some humorous moments about Data’s cat, the same solution could have worked for the entire story. I think the biggest issue here is that the writers painted the franchise into a corner with the Warp 5 speed limit solution. Eventually the whole speed limit thing was dropped, a half-hearted explanation about reconfiguring the warp engines was produced, and the idea was entirely forgotten.

Geordi is looking for Spot, thankfully without a phaser

Relevance - 1 point. The cursed speed limit was mentioned in a few other episodes, such as “The Pegasus” and “Eye of the Beholder”. Also, this is used as an explanation for the different design of the warp nacelles used on Voyager.

Spot's training begins.

Continuity - 0 points. Had to dock a point for story continuity in the fact that Data’s cat Spot had an unexpected sex change. I think this was setting us up for the importance of solving the issue in a future episode “Genesis”. I am docking the point for Universe continuity due to the fact that the whole warp speed restriction is largely forgotten by the time the series ends. As for character continuity, while there is some nice moments between Data and Geordi, and everyone does behave as one would expect them to, I found one thing in this episode that seemed out of place character wise. Troi is never on the bridge during the entire episode. Not when they are encountering the Ferengi or the Hekaran ship, not when they are trying to rescue the Fleming, not once. Her chair is empty during the entire episode, and that is very out of place.

Daimon Prak

Character Development – 0 points. There wasn’t much that pushed along any character. Just when they started to move things along with one character, they changed direction and focus. I felt that nobody really got any traction here.

The consequences of warp travel

Social Commentary – 1 point. Save the environment! OK, so that is a very relevant topic in all ages. The environment is important and should be protected. We need to realize that our actions and choices impact the Earth and its health, and its health is intimately interwoven with our own health. I get that, and my low ranking on this should not be in any way interpreted as a knock on environmentalism. The problem is in the delivery. The way the message was presented in this episode is weak, to put it mildly. It seems like the entire episode was written to get us to reduce our pollution or greenhouse gas emissions or something. It is not subtle, forced, and at times a bit over the top. If you want to see Star Trek tackle the environmental message is a very effective way, may I suggest you watch Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home.

Data's training continues

Cool Stuff – 0 points. Nothing was cool about this episode. We didn’t get any great special effects, no intriguing characters, not even a look at the Fleming. Nothing.

What will happen if warp travel doesn't stop

Rank – Crewman (4 points). Well, as I have said before, every great show has its fair share of stinkers. Here’s one of them. Since the warp speed restriction is only touched on in a couple of later episodes, you can skip this one for now. Oh, and turn off the extra lights in your house, buy more efficient devices, and recycle.

 

Arguably the most interesting part of the episode

Top 10 Star Trek Movie Villains - Part 2

In my last post I talked about numbers 10-6 of the top Star Trek movie villains. If you want to check it out, just read Part 1. If you want a quick recap, they were:

10. Sybok
9. Khan (Into Darkness)
8. Shinzon
7. Nero
6. Soran

Now, let's take a look at the Top 5, starting with...

5. Krall (Star Trek: Beyond) – Ah, now we are striking some gold! In Star Trek: Beyond we are introduced to the demonic looking Krall, played with ferocious intensity by Idris Elba. Formerly the Starfleet Captain Balthazar Edison, Krall uses alien technology he discovered on the planet Altamid to prolong his life and to formulate a plan to destroy the Federation. It does not take long for Krall to destroy the Enterprise and imprison much of her crew while he strikes out at starbase Yorktown. Krall demonstrates a villain with a cause and a blood-thirsty attitude that has been lacking in many of Trek’s villains that appear lower on this list. He has a plan, and it is huge. Some have said he could be Trek’s poster child for PTSD that afflicts too many of our veterans. His actions are brutal and terrifying, and he has the face to match. His use of the alien technology mutates him into a demonic looking warlord, giving us a nice little surprise when we learn his origins. More than Nero, more than Kelvin-Khan, Krall gives Kirk and company a genuine fight. If it hadn’t been for that blasted Beastie Boys song, he might have destroyed the starbase and everyone on it. My only complaint with him is that he spent much of the movie arguing that the diversity in the Federation was its greatest weakness, and yet when Kirk finally defeated him, there was nothing in his downfall that proved his theory wrong. He was bested by a better warrior and tactician, but there was no indication that the diversity he so despised was not the weakness he claimed it to be. Still, as far as villains that have actually destroyed the Enterprise, he was the most fearsome and effective in all the Kelvin Timeline films.

4. Chang (Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country) – How can you tell that your Klingon opponent is tougher than most? When he has his eye patch bolted to his skull. The talented Christopher Plummer gave us one of the most unique looking Klingons to serve as main adversary in the final voyage of the original crew. On the eve of peace between the Klingon Empire and the Federation, there were those who wanted to tear those plans asunder. The tension between these two super powers was easily compared to the Cold War between the USA and the USSR at the time, and as in the real world there were the old dogs on both sides who had difficulty letting go of past mistrusts, so too in Star Trek. Chang was the epitome of this. He orchestrated the assassination of his own Chancellor, collaborated with the enemy to sabotage the peace talks, and with his state-of-the-art bird of prey (that just so happened to have the ability to fire when cloaked) almost destroyed the Enterprise and her crew. His love for Shakespeare (in the original Klingon, of course) added a witty dimension to his character, and he delivered his lines with delectable emotion. We suspected from the trailers that he was up to no good, but we didn’t need to be surprised in the reveal of his part to enjoy the destruction he brought to the story. He was the ideal foil to Kirk, and his defeat at the end was satisfying.

3. The Borg (Star Trek: First Contact) – if ever there was an enemy from one of the TV series that was made for the movies, it would be the Borg. In First Contact, they are back with a vengeance. A single cube decimates another Federation armada, but is soon stopped by Picard and his crew of the new Enterprise E. That it is far from the end, however. Unlike before, the Borg had an extra trick up their collective cybernetic sleeves. A smaller sphere vessel escapes the cube’s destruction and goes back in time, assimilating Earth of the past. Picard follows and destroys the sphere, but not before the Borg beam aboard the Enterprise and starts to assimilate the ship. During this, we are introduced to the Borg Queen, played with delicious mastery by Alice Krige. She is the collective. Upon capturing Data begins to seduce him to her side, promising him the gift of merging his synthetic with the humanity he has always desired. The Borg, as shown many times in the Next Generation, always seemed to be so very close to beating the Federation. In arguably the strongest of the TNG films, the Borg are just as relentless as we had come to expect, but the addition of the Queen added to the stakes like never before. Her introduction was one of the best effects in the franchise, and her individuality added a great layer of complexity to the most feared enemy. Their goal was simple: assimilate humanity. They again came so close to succeeding. If only she hadn’t underestimated the will and loyalty of Data, she just might have done it.

2. Kruge (Star Trek III: The Search for Spock) – OK, for the #5 entry I claimed Krall was the best villain to have destroyed the Enterprise, but what about Kruge? Simple, Kirk destroyed the ship, not Kruge, but it was the only way Kirk could win. That is what made this Klingon such a threat. Kruge was masterfully portrayed by Christopher Lloyd with relish and calmness. He was an intriguing foe for Kirk. First, he felt completely justified in his actions. He saw Kirk and the Genesis device as a legitimate threat to the Klingon Empire. So he went about to acquire all information he could. He was able to tie up loose ends, even if it meant personal sacrifice (RIP Valkris). He would quickly and severely deal with incompetence on his ship. Remember the poor gunner who was vaporized after his “lucky shot” destroyed the USS Grissom? In later generations, we learned that such is often the way on Klingon warships, but Kruge did it first. He also cared. He cared about his dog…lizard…uh, whatever that was. He cared about his crew, as he demonstrated when Kirk tricked most of them onto the Enterprise just as is it was about to self-destruct. He cared about the glory of the Empire. I suspect that is he had somehow survived and lived long enough to see peace made between the Klingons and the Federation, he would not have changed much and likely would have fit in well with the likes of Gowron and Martok. He caused the death of Kirk’s son, showing strength in his resolve. Up until the end, Kruge fought for the Empire. While his actions were brutal and calculated, his motives were understandable. He was much more complex than many gave him credit for.

1. Khan Singh (Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan) – Ah, Khan. With all due respect to the supremely talented Benedict Cumberbatch, nobody does the genetically enhanced superman like the delightful Ricardo Montalban. It is true that Khan had the benefit of already having a back story to establish his wickedness (see the first season episode Space Seed), but it took nothing away from how wonderful an adversary he was. He committed horrible crimes of murder and mayhem, torture and treason, all in the name of vengeance. Long before Picard was compared to a certain peg-legged whale hunter, Khan personified the trait of revenge. He was clever, devious, charismatic, and ruthless. Where Kruge and Chang did what they did out of loyalty towards their empire, and the Borg out of a goal to achieve ultimate perfection, Khan did what he did out of a personal thirst for revenge. Where Nero, Shinzon, and Krall had similar motives, it was Khan that took it to the personal level. The others had an out-of-control rage that boiled over on numerous occasions, Khan was mostly in full control of the situation. His intelligence and self-discipline allowed him to bring Kirk to the brink of defeat. Even as he breathed his last, he felt that he had, at the very least, taken his hated foe with him. Had it not been for Spock’s ultimate sacrifice, Khan would have succeeded. He was a villain with nothing to live for but revenge, and he almost had it. And not once did he ever face Kirk in the same room. His mere presence on the view screen was enough to elicit fear in those who had faced him before. There are many reasons why Wrath of Khan is considered to be the best Trek film of all time, and Khan would definitely be a huge factor in making that case.

So, there they are. How did your favorite movie bad guy fare? Any surprises? Leave a comment.

Why I Love the Next Generation

Celebrating the five full decades of Star Trek should be a yearlong event, so I thought I would spread the love of all things Trek. Previously in this series I wrote about why I love the Original Series. Next up, Picard and his crew aboard the USS Enterprise D and my Five Reasons for why I love the Next Generation!

It’s hard to imagine that TNG is almost 30 years old. For me, this is the series that I grew up with. I remember the excitement of hearing about a new Star Trek series, and in 1987 we began a seven year journey that furthered the story and ideology of creator Gene Roddenberry. Sadly, it was during the height of TNG that we would lose Gene, but he was able to see a renaissance of the franchise that has carried it forward for decades to come. So, in continuation of my reasons for loving all things Trek, I give you my Five Reasons for loving what became not only a worthy successor to the Original series, but arguably the most successful series in the franchise.

1.     Familiar, yet new – Whenever there is a sequel to a popular series, fans are anxious because they want to see that which is familiar, but not have it be a blatant copycat of the original. TNG achieved this in grand style. The ship is still the Enterprise with a familiar approach to the design, but is now the flagship and much sleeker. While Kirk and Picard are definitely different as captains, there is a familiarity in Riker’s charm and swagger that reminds us of good ol’ James T. Even the uniforms are familiar yet updated, with the same basic colors (red, gold, and blue), just a bit of switching (how many of you were originally concerned that all captains now wore red shirts!). It brought us a sense that yes, this is Star Trek, but it is also something new and exciting.

2.     Star Trek became cool in mainstream – The Original Series was cancelled after three years (and we were lucky to get the third season) due to low ratings. While you will get no argument from me that Star Trek was and continues to be influential, the franchise really jumped into the mainstream midway through the Next Generation. TNG became a ratings juggernaut, which was impressive for a syndicated series. Soon, it was beating out all comers, including the traditional powerhouse Monday Night Football. When it ended its seven year run (which became the unofficial bar for all future series to meet), it went out on top. Many thought it could have gone on for a few more, but people were hoping to turn it into a successful film franchise. TNG helped a lot in making it cool to be a Trekkie. I can think of no bigger endorsement for Star Trek than to have Whoopi Goldberg request to be a part of the show. To have an Oscar-winning A-lister Hollywood want to be a large part of the franchise says something, and she was not alone.

3.     A strong main cast and the characters they played – I love the original crew, but the show revolved around the triad of Kirk, Spock, and McCoy for the most part. On TNG, an equally diverse cast spread the love a little more evenly. We had stories dedicated to each of the main crew, and the actors who played them were solid. Gates McFadden gave the compassionate Dr. Crusher a level of strength that helped her character grow. Levar Burton brought a level of vulnerability and eagerness to Geordi. Michael Dorn brought depth and respect to our favourite Klingon, Worf. Marina Sirtis gave Troi a fierce conviction. Johnathan Frakes brought a sense of professionalism and charm to Riker. Arguably the strongest actors were Brent Spiner, whose portrayal of Data required such great discipline, and Sir Patrick Stewart as Captain Picard, taking the leadership role to a new realm. Many of these fine actors brought their theatre training as one of their assets, and after watching an episode like “Frame of Mind”, “Brothers”, or “The Inner Light”, we can see just how great an asset it was.

4.     Story telling ahead of its time – Ask anyone for their top 10 favorite Trek episodes, and there will most likely be some real gems from TNG. “The Inner Light”, “Yesterday’s Enterprise”, “Relics”, “The Measure of a Man”, “The Offspring”, “The Drumhead”, and the list goes on. And let’s not forget the classic “The Best of Both Worlds” that kept audiences trembling with anticipation for an entire summer, desperate to know the fate of Picard in what is arguably one of the best cliffhangers of all time. Yes, there were some duds (looking at you, Code of Honor), but we had a good mix of wonderful tales that kept us coming back each week. We dealt with the death of beloved crew member in “Skin of Evil”, tackled themes such as sexual identity, torture, terrorism, and what constitutes life. The stories also, and appropriately, brought us the odd tip of the hat to the original crew, with episodes like “Sarek” and “Unification”. Suffice it to say, the stories were more often than not very well told.

5.     It has to be Q – From the first to the last episode, Q has been there. John de Lancie appeared in eight separate episodes and each one were memorable. OK, so “Hide and Q” may not have been the best episode (it was one of de Lancie’s least favourite), but we did see Wesley get the point! All bad puns aside, Q was often one of the highlights of the season. We had the silly fun Q stories (Deja Q and Q-Pid), the serious tales (Q Who and True Q), and the truly philosophical (Tapestry). And while the crew were ultimately frustrated by this omnipotent rascal, we the audience were delighted. I particularly thought that the pilot and series finale being the ultimate bookend to the introduction to Q was perfect for the series. Q was a perfect foil for Picard and gave us some great moments. Whether it was his banter with the crew (“Growl for me micro-brain! Show me you still care!”), introducing us to the Borg, trading verbal barbs with Guinan (likely my second most favourite guest character) or teaching Picard about the value of a life lived without regret, Q was always a welcome visitor to the show.

So there you go, my Top 5 reasons as to why I love the Next Generation. I have many others, and I am sure that you have your own Top 5 list. Please feel free to share the reasons you love Picard and the crew of the Enterprise D. If you want to know what my Top Ten favorite TNG episodes are, check out this link.