Star Trek: The Next Generation is the pinnacle of excellence in science fiction television, and these 10 episodes are required viewing for every TV fan. Debuting more than 20 years after Star Trek: The Original Series hit the airwaves in the ’60s, TNG had big shoes to fill. Though the series got off to a rocky start in its first few seasons, it blossomed into an all-time classic.
Running for nearly 200 episodes between 1987 and 1994, The Next Generation was a TV institution for years, and helped usher in a new era for the Star Trek franchise. Without TNG‘s success, the 1990s wouldn’t have been dominated by Gene Roddenberry’s utopian sci-fi vision. Though the show is amazing when taken as a whole, not every episode is required viewing.
The best episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation aren’t always the most essential, though there is a considerable amount of overlap. The must-see installments are simultaneously enjoyable science fiction stories, and brilliant morality plays that examine the fundamental philosophy of the franchise. Across 179 episodes, only a handful truly stand out as indispensable classics.
This list doesn’t rank the episodes in terms of quality, but instead displays them in broadcast order. What’s amazing is that nearly every season is represented, including episodes released during some of the series’ lowest points. By watching these 10 Star Trek: The Next Generation episodes, a casual viewer can come to understand exactly what makes the beloved science fiction show so monumental.
10
“Measure Of A Man” – Season 2 Episode 9
After a pretty abysmal debut outing, season 2 showed a glimmer of hope with its ninth episode, “Measure of a Man”. In the story, Data is ordered to turn himself over to a scientist for potentially life-threatening study, and Captain Picard argues for his humanity. In order to best examine the moral quandary, Picard and Riker are tasked with defending opposite sides of the debate.
Essentially a courtroom drama, “Measure of a Man” is one of the best-written episodes in all of Star Trek. If offers a rich look at the characters, and continues Data’s gripping character arc. Without a single action sequence, the season 2 episode manages to keep viewers on the edge of their seats.
9
“Yesterday’s Enterprise” – Season 3 Episode 15
“Yesterday’s Enterprise” is a must-watch episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation because it showcases all of what makes the show so good. The Enterprise C is sent into the future, and Captain Picard must grapple with sending his predecessor back to her certain death in order to preserve the timeline. Time travel is often pretty wonky in Star Trek, but season 3, episode 15, handles it deftly.
The episode is a showcase for the fundamental challenges of exploring deep space, and the impossible choices Captain Picard must make on a weekly basis. “Yesterday’s Enterprise” is also a well-made piece of TV science fiction, throwing in some action to spice things up. Arguably, the mid-season gem is one of the most well-rounded installments in the entire series.
8
“The Best Of Both Worlds” Parts 1 & 2 – Season 3 Episode 26 & Season 4 Episode 1
Though it is a two-part episode of Star Trek: TNG, “The Best of Both Worlds” is being counted as one story for the purposes of this list. Captain Picard is assimilated by the Borg, and the collective uses his knowledge to attack the Federation. The story spans the gap between seasons 3 and 4, and is downright cinematic when taken as a whole.
Besides the exciting action and gut-wrenching cliffhanger, “The Best of Both Worlds” also introduces a brilliant one-off character and is a major turning point for the entire series. Picard’s trauma (and the fallout of the Borg attack) are pivotal for the ongoing franchise, and it is fundamental for understanding the emotional depth of later episodes in the series.
7
“The Wounded” – Season 4 Episode 12
Season 4, episode 12, “The Wounded”, isn’t usually an episode that is mentioned as one of TNG‘s all-time greats, but it is nevertheless a must-watch adventure. The Enterprise is dispatched to ascertain why a Starfleet captain has gone rogue and begun attacking Cardassian ships. The episode hinges on a stellar guest performance by Bob Gunton as Captain Maxwell.
“The Wounded” introduces the Cardassians as a new reoccurring enemy for the franchise, and sets the stage for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine a few years later. On top of its historical significance, it peels back the curtain on the utopian sci-fi show, revealing the all-too-human parts underneath. It frankly discusses the horrors of war, and how fundamental issues of violent conflict still exist in the 24th century.
6
“Darmok” – Season 5 Episode 2
Even dozens of episodes into the series, the writers still cooked up clever one-off adventures for the crew, including season 5’s “Darmok”. Captain Picard is trapped on a dangerous planet where he must learn to communicate with an alien ally who only speaks in cryptic metaphors. More so than any other episode, “Darmok” is about the importance of understanding.
Season 5’s sophomore outing is simple but effective, and it nails the fundamentals perfectly. It’s brilliantly paced, and it’s rewarding to watch Picard form a bond with Dathon as the two learn how to communicate. “Darmok” continues Star Trek: TNG‘s commitment to utopian ideals, showing that seeking out new life isn’t always straightforward.
5
“Cause And Effect” – Season 5 Episode 18
“Cause and Effect” proves that Star Trek: The Next Generation can do hard sci-fi, and it’s one of the headiest adventures for the Enterprise crew. The Enterprise gets caught in a time loop that results in the ship’s destruction, and the officers must devise a means of escape. Season 5, episode 18, takes the “bottle episode” concept and builds upon it.
It’s a perfect story for fans of nitty-gritty science fiction, and is a departure from the show’s usual morality play framework. Time loops are nothing new in sci-fi, but the TNG gem adapts the concept to fit the Star Trek philosophy. The time travel logic is enough to cause a headache in the uninitiated, and “Cause and Effect” demands a bit of contemplation to fully understand.
4
“The Inner Light” – Season 5 Episode 25
The penultimate episode of season 5 really tugs at the heartstrings, and is an important part of Captain Picard’s lore. In “The Inner Light”, Picard is zapped with a beam which causes him to live out an entire lifetime on a dying planet. When viewed alongside “The Best of Both Worlds”, “The Inner Light” is something of a redemption for the tortured captain.
The episode reminds viewers that the universe is vast and largely unfeeling, but it also reminds them to find beauty in the here and now. Science fiction is often merely a platform for a message, and “The Inner Light” is TNG‘s simplest offering. Even someone who has never seen a second of Star Trek can get a lot from Picard’s journey and enlightenment.
3
“Relics” – Season 6 Episode 4
Though “Relics” may look like a nostalgic throwback episode, season 6, episode 4, actually has much deeper themes worth exploring. The Enterprise crew discovers Mongomery Scott in a pattern buffer, and they help the Starfleet legend adapt to the future. “Relics” isn’t the first time a character from The Original Series appeared on the show, but it is the best.
Scotty is the perfect character for the story, because his jovial attitude hides a deep sadness below the surface. “Relics” is a lesson about treating older people with respect, and making space for them in a rapidly-changing world. Newcomers who are familiar with TOS will get a kick out of seeing the legendary engineer one last time, and James Doohan makes the most of his guest role.
2
“Tapestry” – Season 6 Episode 15
After five and a half seasons, Star Trek: TNG finally gave fans a closer look at how Captain Picard’s early years shaped him. “Tapestry” sees Q take Picard back to his days at the Academy, and gives him the choice to correct a costly mistake. In a lot of ways, the season 6 episode is like the opposite of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.
As a standalone episode, “Tapestry” carries the important lesson that the past, no matter how painful, is integral to who we are. It’s also a fitting cap on Picard’s ongoing storyline, and sees him accept the worst parts of himself after years of shame and regret. Q’s episodes often free the series from the constraints of reality, and never was it put to better use than in “Tapestry”.
1
“Lower Decks” – Season 7 Episode 15
Though the final season of Star Trek: The Next Generation certainly saw a step back in quality, gems like “Lower Decks” still shine through. Episode 15 doesn’t focus on the main crew, but instead follows junior officers as they compete for a coveted promotion. Despite introducing most of the characters for the first and only time, they are three-dimensional and engrossing.
This episode should not be confused with Star Trek: Lower Decks, an animated series which ran for five seasons.
More than a mere novelty, “Lower Decks” is a must-see for casual Star Trek viewers because it offers a different view of ship operations. Breaking loose from the series’ procedural elements, it is a well-written change of pace that illustrates how flexible the franchise can be when put in the right hands. It also features one of the most heartbreaking moments in all seven seasons of Star Trek: The Next Generation.
- Release Date
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1987 – 1994-00-00
- Network
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Syndication
- Showrunner
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Gene Roddenberry
- Directors
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Cliff Bole, Les Landau, Winrich Kolbe, Rob Bowman, Robert Scheerer, Jonathan Frakes, Robert Wiemer, Gabrielle Beaumont, Alexander Singer, David Carson, Paul Lynch, Corey Allen, Patrick Stewart, Chip Chalmers, Joseph L. Scanlan, James L. Conway, Robert Lederman, Tom Benko, Timothy Bond, Robert Legato, Adam Nimoy, Robert Becker, David Livingston, LeVar Burton
- Writers
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René Echevarria, Maurice Hurley, Richard Manning, Melinda M. Snodgrass, Tracy Tormé, Hannah Louise Shearer, Stuart Charno, Ira Steven Behr, Sara B. Cooper, Peter Allan Fields, Herbert Wright, Frank Abatemarco, Burton Armus, Hilary Bader, Morgan Gendel, David Kemper, Michael I. Wagner, Philip LaZebnik, Robert McCullough, Susan Sackett, Nick Sagan, Fred Bronson, Robert Hewitt Wolfe, Sam Rolfe