.
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.

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).
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 |
News from TNG:
We’ll bring you the latest updates and headlines from The Next Generation shows, cast, films, and related news here:
- David and Scott Tipton on their new series — “Star Trek: The Mirror War”
- An update on the status of Star Trek 4K
- REVIEWED: Get assimilated with ‘The Borg and the Delta Quadrant’
- EXCLUSIVE: Gates McFadden on her new podcast and a return for Dr. Crusher
- Star Trek author Jeanne Kalogridis on her novels, Nimoy, and dinner with Patrick Stewart
- EXCLUSIVE: Michael Dorn on his new Western film and the Captain Worf show mystery
- Brent Spiner says there should be a revival: Here’s our TNG reboot cast
- She’s appeared in over 100 Star Trek episodes and three films — meet Tracee Cocco
- REVIEW: Michael Dorn shines in sci-fi/action film, Agent Revelation
- We now know why Captain Jean-Luc Picard was so comfortable on the Enterprise’s bridge