Almost twenty years after The Original Series was cancelled, Gene Roddenberry was able to parlay the success of the Star Trek movies (which, despite being marketed as action films, explored themes of the acceptance of aging and death, environmentalism, and the stubbornness of soldiers to let go of a war) into a new TV series. Dubbed “The Next Generation” Star Trek was reborn in a style more similar to Roddenberry’s original pilot “The Cage” than the remade “Where No Man has Gone Before.”

This new Star Trek had a captain who was the kind of man to stand still and think before coming to a reasoned course of action, whereas Kirk was more of a “think while running because your first idea—punching—only angered the big brutish alien” kind of guy. Cpt. Picard was also, strikingly, bald, in what is probably the most meta difference between he and William Shatner’s Cpt. Kirk. This captain, unlike Kirk, wasn’t afraid to show the chrome dome.

But really, the differences in the Original Series and The Next Generation come from the eras in which the shows were produced. The Original Series was filmed while the late-60’s social revolution was occurring. Its actors were largely progressive, but still came from an older generation, where certain things just simply were a certain way. Star Trek was a TV trail-blazer, but it had to hide those intentions behind a thick “sci-fi action” veil. The Next Generation certainly had it’s sci-fi cheese, but it—being on the other side of the 60’s social revolution—was able to be more open and frank in its social commentary.

It didn’t start out with a bang the way the Original Series did, however. Early TNG episodes are hard to get into. In fact, if the show hadn’t been a first-run syndication program (meaning the producers sold the show directly to TV stations, and not a network), it likely would have been cancelled after its second season. Looking back on the show as a whole it’s easy to mark the moment when the show “got good” as fans think of it. It was around the time the cast stopped wearing onesie pajamas with low necklines and started wearing something that more resembled a uniform. It was also around this time—season three—that the show finally found some continuity in the writers room.

Despite a few stand out episodes early on (one of which will be highlighted below), the show didn’t really find its stride until it found Michael Pillar. Pillar joined TNG in its third season as a writer but halfway through the season he was promoted to showrunner, which meant he would be the creative voice behind the direction of the whole writers room. There was still Rick Berman overseeing things, and his role continued to expand as Gene Roddenberry’s health failed him, but the voice of TNG was definitely Pillar’s.

Speaking of Roddenberry, his diminished influence over the show as it went on directly correlates to the uptick in quality of the show. Roddenberry was a great visionary mind whose big picture idea of Star Trek can’t be disputed. But that said, his ideas on the micro level were…hit and miss. The much-maligned first Star Trek movie is entirely his baby, while the universally praised Star Trek II was almost disavowed by Roddenberry, whose rejected idea for the movie would have seen the crew of the Enterprise go back in time to Dallas 1963 in a plot revolving around JFK’s assassination. His fingerprints are all over the first two seasons of The Next Generation but less so starting with season three (again, right as the show started getting good).

Eventually Star Trek would begin to run on fumes (Voyager, Enterprise, Nemesis) but there was a time when the creative juices were flowing and Star Trek-post Roddenberry was must see sci-fi TV. When it comes to The Next Generation there are three episodes that stand out which highlight how the spinoff was able to stand on its own as great television…

MEASURE OF A MAN

Even though this was a pre-season three episode (only the ninth episode of season two, to be exact), it offered the promise of what TNG could be, and what the show would eventually be known for: Brilliant social commentary. Measure of a Man, essentially, explores the nature of human rights, and whether or not those rights should be passed on to human-like beings, in this case, an android. The plot is very basic: A Starfleet scientist and engineer—Bruce Maddox—comes aboard the Enterprise intending to take Data (by force) for experimentation, in order to clone his hardware and “put a Data on every starship in the fleet.” Data is skeptical of Maddox’ research and doesn’t believe he has the knowhow just yet to duplicate him. Data fears if he becomes a guinea pig it could mean an accidental death on the operating table. He respectfully declines Maddox’ initial-friendly offer. In response Maddox declares that Data, as an android, has no rights and is the property of Starfleet to do with as it pleases. A hearing is called by Cpt. Picard to determine if Data does in fact have human rights.

What follows is a courtroom drama, not the first one Star Trek has ever done and certainly not the last, but in this case it is one of the sharpest and tensest courtroom drama in the franchise’s history. Cmdr. Riker is drafted by the prosecution to argue that Data has no rights. Johnathan Frakes delivers some of his best acting work, showing his conflict in doing his duty while also remaining Data’s friend. The nature of Data’s existence is debated and even though the outcome should not have been in doubt, the show did a brilliant job explaining how and why Data should be viewed as a being with rights. Star Trek is at its best when it forces the viewer to think and debate a social conundrum and this episode stands alongside the very best TV show episodes to explore the human condition.

THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS

This two-parter comprises the third season finale and the fourth season premier. And although the second part does a good job wrapping up the plot and tying all the loose ends together, it is part one that stands among the best science fiction television ever. This episode is gripping, weighty, tension soaked, action packed, and sporting a cliffhanger that every Star Trek season from every Star Trek show since has tried to duplicate (to no success). The plot revolves around the Borg, the cybernetic-human hybrid species introduced in the previous season. The Borg seek to “assimilate” organic lifeforms in order to expand their collective knowledge and consciousness. They encountered the Enterprise when Q flung the starship to the far reaches of space—far beyond the limits of Starfleet’s exploration. Afterward Q returned the Enterprise back to their corner of space, but within just a year, the Borg—intrigued by the humans they encountered—made their way to the Alpha Quadrant with the intent to assimilate all of humanity.

The real hook of the episode comes near the end when the Borg attack the Enterprise and kidnap Captain Picard, but its the tense half-hour leading up to that point that makes the episode so great. The Borg encounter the Enterprise and demand that Picard surrender himself. When he refuses the two ships engage in a short firefight (in which the Enterprises is clearly outmatched). The good guys escape only thanks to some quick thinking by guest-star Lt. Commander Shelby (who spends the episode trying to push Riker out the door to take his place as first officer of the ship). While hiding in a nebula the Enterprise crew develop a device they hope will be powerful enough to destroy the Borg ship and all aboard it. Eventually though the Enterprise is captured, Picard is kidnapped and at the end of the episode he is revealed as Locutus of Borg, a half-Borg, half-Picard hybrid who demands the surrender (for assimilation) of the entire crew. The music swells as the camera zooms in close on acting-captain Riker, who calls for Lt. Worf to fire the Borg-destroying weapon.

Those final words (“Mr. Worf…fire.”) are accompanied by an imposing music cue, a fade to black and the dreaded “to be continued” flashing on the screen. It was very rare for TV shows to have cliffhangers that stretched across whole seasons. Star Trek may not have been the first to do it, but it did it most famously, and even took home multiple Emmy’s for its production. The Best of Both Worlds stands among the very best of Star Trek, especially part one, and shows how versatile the franchise can be.

THE INNER LIGHT

Speaking of versatile, here’s an episode as far removed from The Best of Both Worlds as any show can be. Whereas the Borg-centric two-parter was all about action and tension, this episode is introspective, quiet, moving and dramatic. The plot device that kicks off the episode-proper is really a prop: The Enterprise encounters an alien probe that “attacks” Cpt. Picard. While he lies on the bridge convulsing, the probe somehow links with his mind and downloads the data of its entire civilization into his brain. That’s the sci-fi part of the story. Again, it’s a means to an end. The real meat of the episode follows Picard as he assumes the role of Kamin. At first he insists that he’s Picard of the Enterprise but as years go on he accepts his life as Kamin, raises a family and lives a quiet life of ease on his planet. Essentially he lives a life—a whole life—that Cpt. Picard chose not to pursue in order to be a Starfleet officer.

The episode works because it takes its actors seriously. Patrick Stewart plays the role with the gravitas of a stage actor (which, of course he is). The slow pace of the episode gives the audience time to grow used to Picard-as-Kamin, to sympathize with him and follow his life’s journey. It turns out the planet is dying due to their sun’s radiation but unfortunately the people don’t have great space-faring technology. They have only just begun launching satellites. Eventually, as they near extinction, they devise a way to store the memory of their civilization into a probe that they will launch into space, in the hopes that it will encounter someone who can learn about their people, in order for them to live on in someone’s memory. That someone is Picard, who—as Kamin—finally understands his role in the world’s history. At that moment the probe stops “attacking” Picard who wakes up, fully aware of the entire experience, and the entire life he lived in the blink of an eye.

The Inner Light can’t be done justice by a couple paragraphs of summary. The episode needs to be seen to be appreciated. It won the Hugo award given to the best science fiction dramatic presentation and is hailed by fans as among the best episodes in the history of the franchise. It is TNG’s “The City on the Edge of Forever,” transcending its parent show to be something appreciated by non-fans as well.

~

After the success (largely) of the Original Series movies, it was a big gamble to take Star Trek in such a new direction, but The Next Generation—once it found its footing—thrived to become a beloved Science Fiction TV institution. The franchise is celebrating 50 years in 2016 and CBS is preparing to launch a new TV show next January. It would do well to remember the lessons learned from The Next Generation: A confident head writer, a willingness to explore the human condition with fresh story ideas, and on occasion, having a dash of action/adventure, can be the recipe for another great series.

Cookie	Description
_pxvid	This cookie is used for detection of the browser and distinguishing whether it is a real user or malicious bot.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-advertisement	The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Advertisement".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics	This cookies is set by GDPR Cookie Consent WordPress Plugin. The cookie is used to remember the user consent for the cookies under the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-non-necessary	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Non Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance	This cookie is used to keep track of which cookies the user have approved for this site.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-preferences	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Preferences".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-uncategorized	The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Uncategorized".
CraftSessionId	This cookie name is associated with the Craft web content management system, where is functions as an anonymous session identifier.
csrftoken	This cookie is associated with Django web development platform for python. Used to help protect the website against Cross-Site Request Forgery attacks
DSID	To note specific user identity. Contains hashed/encrypted unique ID.
JSESSIONID	Used by sites written in JSP. General purpose platform session cookies that are used to maintain users' state across page requests.
PHPSESSID	This cookie is native to PHP applications. The cookie is used to store and identify a users' unique session ID for the purpose of managing user session on the website. The cookie is a session cookies and is deleted when all the browser windows are closed.
viewed_cookie_policy	The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.

Cookie	Description
b30msc
btc
CMST
cref
d
gpl
i
icts
ig_did
mdata
na_rn
na_sc_e
na_sr
na_srp
session_depth
visitor-id

Cookie	Description
__gads	This cookie is set by Google and stored under the name dounleclick.com. This cookie is used to track how many times users see a particular advert which helps in measuring the success of the campaign and calculate the revenue generated by the campaign. These cookies can only be read from the domain that it is set on so it will not track any data while browsing through another sites.
__stid	The cookie is set by ShareThis. The cookie is used for site analytics to determine the pages visited, the amount of time spent, etc.
_ga	This cookie is installed by Google Analytics. The cookie is used to calculate visitor, session, camapign data and keep track of site usage for the site's analytics report. The cookies store information anonymously and assigns a randoly generated number to identify unique visitors.
_gat_gtag_UA_60765351_1	Google uses this cookie to distinguish users.
_gid	This cookie is installed by Google Analytics. The cookie is used to store information of how visitors use a website and helps in creating an analytics report of how the wbsite is doing. The data collected including the number visitors, the source where they have come from, and the pages viisted in an anonymous form.
ad-id	Provided by amazon-adsystem.com for tracking user actions on other websites to provide targeted content
demdex	This cookie is set under the domain demdex.net and is used by Adobe Audience Manager to help identify a unique visitor across domains.
DigiTrust.v1.identity	Registers data on visitors’ website-behaviour. This is used for internal analysis and website optimization.
dmvk	This cookie is set by DailyMotion who display videos, it registers statistical data of visitors' behaviour on the website.
gid	This cookie is installed by Google Analytics. The cookie is used to store information of how visitors use a website and helps in creating an analytics report of how the wbsite is doing. The data collected including the number visitors, the source where they have come from, and the pages viisted in an anonymous form.
GPS	This cookie is set by Youtube and registers a unique ID for tracking users based on their geographical location
is_unique	This cookie is set by StatCounter to determine how people are using the website
is_visitor_unique	This cookie is set by StatCounter to determine how people are using the website
sc_is_visitor_unique	This cookie is set by StatCounter to determine how people are using the website
v1st	This is set by DailyMotion to display videos.

Cookie	Description
__asc	This cookie is used to collect information on consumer behavior, which is sent to Alexa Analytics.
__auc	This cookie is used to collect information on consumer behavior, which is sent to Alexa Analytics.
__qca	This cookie is associated with Quantcast and is used for collecting anonymized data to analyze log data from different websites to create reports that enables the website owners and advertisers provide ads for the appropriate audience segments.
_cc_aud	The cookie is set by crwdcntrl.net. The purpose of the cookie is to collect statistical information in an anonymous form about the visitors of the website. The data collected include number of visits, average time spent on the website, and the what pages have been loaded. These data are then used to segment audiences based on the geographical location, demographic, and user interest provide relevant content and for advertisers for targeted advertising.
_cc_cc	The cookie is set by crwdcntrl.net. The purpose of the cookie is to collect statistical information in an anonymous form about the visitors of the website. The data collected include number of visits, average time spent on the website, and the what pages have been loaded. These data are then used to segment audiences based on the geographical location, demographic, and user interest provide relevant content and for advertisers for targeted advertising.
_cc_dc	The cookie is set by crwdcntrl.net. The purpose of the cookie is to collect statistical information in an anonymous form about the visitors of the website. The data collected include number of visits, average time spent on the website, and the what pages have been loaded. These data are then used to segment audiences based on the geographical location, demographic, and user interest provide relevant content and for advertisers for targeted advertising.
_cc_id	The cookie is set by crwdcntrl.net. The purpose of the cookie is to collect statistical information in an anonymous form about the visitors of the website. The data collected include number of visits, average time spent on the website, and the what pages have been loaded. These data are then used to segment audiences based on the geographical location, demographic, and user interest provide relevant content and for advertisers for targeted advertising.
_kuid_	The cookie is set by Krux Digital under the domain krxd.net. The cookie stores a unique ID to identify a returning user for the purpose of targeted advertising.
_px2	This cookie is set by PerimeterX who provide security analyst oversight.
_pxff_tm	This cookie is set by PerimeterX who provide security analyst oversight.
_pxhd	This cookie is set by PerimeterX who provide security analyst oversight.
ab	This cookie is generally provided by agkn.com and is used for advertising purposes.
ad-privacy	Provided by amazon-adsystem.com for tracking user actions on other websites to provide targeted content to the users.
ayl_visitor	This cookie registers data on the visitor. The information is used to optimize advertisement relevance.
bafp	This cookie is from Media.net and is used to deliver targeted advertising across their network sites ensuring users see relevant advertising.
bafp_t	This cookie is from Media.net and is used to deliver targeted advertising across their network sites ensuring users see relevant advertising.
bfp_sn	This cookie is from Media.net and is used to deliver targeted advertising across their network sites ensuring users see relevant advertising.
bfp_sn_pl	This cookie is from Media.net and is used to deliver targeted advertising across their network sites ensuring users see relevant advertising.
bfp_sn_rf_8b2087b102c9e3e5ffed1c1478ed8b78	This cookie is from Media.net and is used to deliver targeted advertising across their network sites ensuring users see relevant advertising.
bfp_sn_rt_8b2087b102c9e3e5ffed1c1478ed8b78	This cookie is from Media.net and is used to deliver targeted advertising across their network sites ensuring users see relevant advertising.
bfp_sn_t_8b2087b102c9e3e5ffed1c1478ed8b78	This cookie is from Media.net and is used to deliver targeted advertising across their network sites ensuring users see relevant advertising.
bfp_sn_td_2d31c94105a0aa6d1ceaea0c86c6b656	This cookie is from Media.net and is used to deliver targeted advertising across their network sites ensuring users see relevant advertising.
bito	This cookie is generally provided by bidr.io and is used for advertising purposes.
bitoIsSecure	This cookies are generally provided by bidr.io and is used for advertising purposes.
bsc	The cookies is set by ownerIQ for the purpose of providing relevant advertisement
CMID	This cookie is linked to advertising and tracking the products users were looking at.
CMPRO	This cookie is linked to advertising and tracking the products users were looking at.
CMPS	This cookie is linked to advertising and tracking the products users were looking at.
dc_id	This cookie is used to deliver adverts more relevant to you and your interests. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advertisement as well as help measure the effectiveness of the advertising campaign. They are usually placed by advertising networks with the website operator's permission. They remember that you have visited a website and this information is shared with other organisations such as advertisers.
did	The purpose of the cookie is to identify a visitor to serve relevant advertisement.
didts	The purpose of the cookie is to identify a visitor to serve relevant advertisement.
dpm	The cookie is set by demdex.net. This cookie assigns a unique ID to each visiting user that allows third-party advertisers target that users with relevant ads.
eud	This cookie is from Rocket Fuel and is used to deliver targeted advertising across their network sites ensuring users see relevant advertising.
euds	This cookie is from Rocket Fuel and is used to deliver targeted advertising across their network sites ensuring users see relevant advertising.
everest_g_v2	The cookie is set under eversttech.net domain. The purpose of the cookie is to map clicks to other events on the client's website.
evo5_popin_instance	Prevents an interaction from reoccurring for visitors not accepting 3rd party cookies.
id	This cookie is set by DoubleClick (which is owned by Google) to build a profile of the website visitor's interests and show relevant ads on other sites.
IDE	Used by Google DoubleClick and stores information about how the user uses the website and any other advertisement before visiting the website. This is used to present users with ads that are relevant to them according to the user profile.
io.narrative.guid.v2	This cookie is generally provided by io.narrative.io and is used for advertising purposes.
KADUSERCOOKIE	This cookie is generally provided by pubmatic.com and is used for advertising purposes.
KTPCACOOKIE	This cookie is generally provided by pubmatic.com and is used for advertising purposes.
matchliveramp	This cookie is provided by w55c.net and is used for advertising purposes.
mc	This cookie is associated with Quantserve to track anonymously how a user interact with the website.
mxpim	This cookie is generally provided by mxptint.net for advertising purposes.
na_tc	This is a Social Media sharing tracking cookie.
NID	This cookie is used to a profile based on user's interest and display personalized ads to the users.
nnls	The purpose of the cookie is to identify a visitor to serve relevant advertisement.
pxrc	The purpose of the cookie is to identify a visitor to serve relevant advertisement.
pxvid	This cookie is set by PerimeterX who provide security analyst oversight.
rlas3	The cookie is set by rlcdn.com. The cookie is used to serve relevant ads to the visitor as well as limit the time the visitor sees an and also measure the effectiveness of the campaign.

Cookie	Description
__jid	Cookies set on the website by the third-party commenting platform Disqus.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional
disqus_unique	These cookies are set by Disqus so that users can comment on website/platform.
G_ENABLED_IDPS	The cookie is used by Google and is used for Google Single Sign On.
mid	The cookie is set by Instagram. The cookie is used to distinguish users and to show relevant content, for better user experience and security.
na_id	This cookie is set by Addthis.com to enable sharing of links on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter
ouid	The cookie is set by Addthis which enables the content of the website to be shared across different networking and social sharing websites.
ov	This is a generic functional cookie that provides enhanced functionality and personalisation.
ts	This cookie is generally provided by PayPal and supports payment services in the website.
vuid	These cookies are used by the Vimeo video player on websites.

After finding its footing, Star Trek TNG was the best thing going

MEASURE OF A MAN

THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS

THE INNER LIGHT

~

You might also like

FIND THE TOPICS YOU WANT...

Recommended for you