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Could the sequel be better than the original? Some say that the jury is still out, while others think that it’s a done deal. Either way, Star Trek: The Next Generation might have been the rare case where the second version of the show was better than the first.

Under the guidance of Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, this new version of Trek raised the bar for science fiction on television everywhere. Set about 90 years after the events of The Original Series, the story of TNG follows the Enterprise-D, designed by Andrew Probert, and a new crew of adventurers and scientists.

It is widely known that Roddenberry did not want British actor Patrick Stewart to land the leading role of Captain Jean-Luc Picard. Eventually, Roddenberry and all science fiction fans took notice of this incredible talent, who made Picard an iconic role.

Rounding out the crew were Riker (Jonathan Frakes), Geordi (LeVar Burton), Troi (Marina Sirtis), Dr. Crusher (Gates McFadden), Wesley (Wil Wheaton), Yar (Denise Crosby), and Worf (Michael Dorn). Much of the way the crew interacted was based on ideas that Roddenberry had in place for the scuttled Star Trek: Phase II.

Gene Roddenberry, the creator of Star Trek and its sequel, The Next Generation. Courtesy of CBS / Paramount
Gene Roddenberry, the creator of Star Trek and its sequel, The Next Generation. Courtesy of CBS / Paramount

After two rocky seasons, TNG found its footing in Season 3, thanks to the addition of showrunner Michael Piller. Among the greatest episodes created through Seasons 3-7 are “Yesterday’s Enterprise,” “Sins of the Father,” “The Best of Both Worlds, Parts I & II,” “Data’s Day,” and many more.

The Next Generation would run from 1987 to 1994, and delivered 178 episodes. The show immediately spawned two series sequels (Deep Space Nine and Voyager), four films, and a show that centered around the captain of the Enterprise, 25 years later (Picard).

Season 1Season 2Season 3Season 4Season 5Season 6Season 7
No. Episode Title Air Date
1 + 2 Encounter at Farpoint Sept. 28, 1987
3 The Naked Now Oct. 5, 1987
4 Code of Honor Oct. 12, 1987
5 The Last Outpost Oct. 19, 1987
6 Where No One Has Gone Before Oct. 26, 1987
7 Lonely Among Us Nov. 2, 1987
8 Justice Nov. 9, 1987
9 The Battle Nov. 16, 1987
10 Hide and Q Nov. 23, 1987
11 Haven Nov. 30, 1987
12 The Big Goodbye Jan. 11, 1988
13 Datalore Jan. 18, 1988
14 Angel One Jan. 25, 1988
15 11001001 Feb. 1, 1988
16 Too Short a Season Feb. 8, 1988
17 When the Bough Breaks Feb. 15, 1988
18 Home Soil Feb. 22, 1988
19 Coming of Age Mar. 14, 1988
20 Heart of Glory Mar. 21, 1988
21 The Arsenal of Freedom Apr. 11, 1988
22 Symbiosis Apr. 18, 1988
23 Skin of Evil Apr. 25, 1988
24 We’ll Always Have Paris May 2, 1988
25 Conspiracy May 9, 1988
26 The Neutral Zone May 16, 1988

No. Episode Title Air Date
27 The Child Nov. 21, 1988 
28 Where Silence Has Lease Nov. 28, 1988 
29 Elementary, Dear Data Dec. 5, 1988 
30 The Outrageous Okona Dec. 12, 1988 
31 Loud as a Whisper Jan. 9, 1989 
32 The Schizoid Man Jan. 23, 1989 
33 Unnatural Selection Jan. 30, 1989 
34 A Matter of Honor Feb. 6, 1989 
35 The Measure Of A Man Feb. 13, 1989 
36 The Dauphin Feb. 20, 1989 
37 Contagion Mar. 20, 1989 
38 The Royale Mar. 27, 1989 
39 Time Squared Apr. 3, 1989 
40 The Icarus Factor Apr. 24, 1989 
41 Pen Pals May 1, 1989 
42 Q Who May 8, 1989 
43 Samaritan Snare May 15, 1989 
44 Up the Long Ladder May 22, 1989 
45 Manhunt June 19, 1989 
46 The Emissary June 26, 1989 
47 Peak Performance July 10, 1989 
48 Shades of Gray July 17, 1989 

No. Epsiode Title Air Date
50 Evolution Sept. 25, 1989
49 The Ensigns of Command Oct. 2, 1989
51 The Survivors Oct. 9, 1989
52 Who Watches the Watchers Oct. 16, 1989
53 The Bonding Oct. 23, 1989
54 Booby Trap Oct. 30, 1989
55 The Enemy Nov. 6, 1989
56 The Price Nov. 13, 1989
57 The Vengeance Factor Nov. 20, 1989
58 The Defector Jan. 1, 1990
59 The Hunted Jan. 8, 1990
60 The High Ground Jan. 29, 1990
61 Déjà Q Feb. 5, 1990
62 A Matter of Perspective Feb. 12, 1990
63 Yesterday’s Enterprise Feb. 19, 1990
64 The Offspring Mar. 12, 1990
65 Sins of the Father Mar. 19, 1990
66 Allegiance Mar. 26, 1990
67 Captain’s Holiday Apr. 2, 1990
68 Tin Man Apr. 23, 1990
69 Hollow Pursuits Apr. 30, 1990
70 The Most Toys May 7, 1990
71 Sarek May 14, 1990
72 Ménage à Troi May 28, 1990
73 Transfigurations June 4, 1990
74 The Best of Both Worlds, Part I June 18, 1990

No. Episode Title Air Date
75 The Best of Both Worlds, Part II Sept. 24, 1990
76 Family Oct. 1, 1990
77 Brothers Oct. 8, 1990
78 Suddenly Human Oct. 15, 1990
79 Remember Me Oct. 22, 1990
80 Legacy Oct. 29, 1990
81 Reunion Nov. 5, 1990
82 Future Imperfect Nov. 12, 1990
83 Final Mission Nov. 19, 1990
84 The Loss Dec. 31, 1990
85 Data’s Day Jan. 7, 1991
86 The Wounded Jan. 28, 1991
87 Devil’s Due Feb. 4, 1991
88 Clues Feb. 11, 1991
89 First Contact Feb. 18, 1991
90 Galaxy’s Child Mar. 11, 1991
91 Night Terrors Mar. 18, 1991
92 Identity Crisis Mar. 25, 1991
93 The Nth Degree Apr. 1, 1991
94 Qpid Apr. 22, 1991
95 The Drumhead Apr. 29, 1991
96 Half a Life May 6, 1991
97 The Host May 13, 1991
98 The Mind’s Eye May 27, 1991
99 In Theory June 3, 1991
100 Redemption, Part I June 17, 1991

No. Episode Title Air Date
101 Redemption, Part II Sept. 23, 1991
102 Darmok Sept. 30, 1991
103 Ensign Ro Oct. 7, 1991 
104 Silicon Avatar Oct. 14, 1991 
105 Disaster Oct. 21, 1991 
106 The Game Oct. 28, 1991 
107 Unification, Part I Nov. 4, 1991 
108 Unification, Part II Nov. 11, 1991 
109 A Matter of Time Nov. 18, 1991 
110 New Ground Jan. 6, 1992 
111 Hero Worship Jan. 27, 1992 
112 Violations Feb. 3, 1992 
113 The Masterpiece Society Feb. 10, 1992 
114 Conundrum Feb. 17, 1992 
115 Power Play Feb. 24, 1992 
116 Ethics Mar. 2, 1992 
117 The Outcast Mar. 16, 1992 
118 Cause and Effect Mar. 23, 1992 
119 The First Duty Mar. 30, 1992 
120 Cost of Living Apr. 20, 1992 
121 The Perfect Mate Apr. 27, 1992 
122 Imaginary Friend May 4, 1992 
123 I, Borg May 11, 1992 
124 The Next Phase May 18, 1992 
125 The Inner Light June 1, 1992 
126 Time’s Arrow, Part I June 15, 1992 

No. Episode Title Air Date
127 Time’s Arrow, Part II Sept. 21, 1992
128 Realm of Fear Sept. 28, 1992
129 Man of the People Oct. 5, 1992
130 Relics Oct. 12, 1992
131 Schisms Oct. 19, 1992
132 True Q Oct. 26, 1992
133 Rascals Nov. 2, 1992
134 A Fistful of Datas Nov. 9, 1992
135 The Quality of Life Nov. 16, 1992
136 Chain of Command, Part I Dec. 14, 1992
137 Chain of Command, Part II Dec. 21, 1992
138 Ship in a Bottle Jan. 25, 1993
139 Aquiel Feb. 1, 1993
140 Face of the Enemy Feb. 8, 1993
141 Tapestry Feb. 15, 1993
142 Birthright, Part I Feb. 22, 1993
143 Birthright, Part II Mar. 1, 1993
144 Starship Mine Mar. 29, 1993
145 Lessons Apr. 5, 1993
146 The Chase Apr. 26, 1993
147 Frame of Mind May 3, 1993
148 Suspicions May 10, 1993
149 Rightful Heir May 17, 1993
150 Second Chances May 24, 1993
151 Timescape June 14, 1993
152 Descent, Part I June 21, 1993

No. Episode Title Air Date
153 Descent, Part II Sept. 20, 1993
154 Liaisons Sept. 27, 1993
155 Interface Oct. 4, 1993
156 Gambit, Part I Oct. 11, 1993
157 Gambit, Part II Oct. 18, 1993
158 Phantasms Oct. 25, 1993
159 Dark Page Nov. 1, 1993
160 Attached Nov. 8, 1993
161 Force of Nature Nov. 15, 1993
162 Inheritance Nov. 22, 1993
163 Parallels Nov. 29, 1993
164 The Pegasus Jan. 10, 1994
165 Homeward Jan. 17, 1994
166 Sub Rosa Jan. 31, 1994
167 Lower Decks Feb. 7, 1994
168 Thine Own Self Feb. 14, 1994
169 Masks Feb. 21, 1994
170 Eye of the Beholder Feb. 28, 1994
171 Genesis Mar. 21, 1994
172 Journey’s End Mar. 28, 1994
173 Firstborn Apr. 25, 1994
174 Bloodlines May 2, 1994
175 Emergence May 9, 1994
176 Preemptive Strike May 16, 1994
177 + 178 All Good Things… May 23, 1994

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