Back in College, I watched The Original Series and I fell in love with Star Trek through it along with the first six films. I was building my anticipation for TNG through the TOS films and as I finished the original series era with Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, I started TNG later in my career, and slowly watched all of it within about two and a half years. I feel a sense of accomplishment, positivity, and sadness after finishing The Next Generation series along with the films.
I know that everyone has nothing but praise for this show so I’ll be basically singing to the choir, but these are my thoughts on the show that took Star Trek to the next level and became another one of my favorite TV Series of all time. During the first two seasons, it was slow but had great potential, the character development was completely different from The Original Series and the tropes that I saw in TOS were there but in a different way. Easily the two characters that stood out to me were Captain Jean-Luc Picard and Lieutenant Commander Data. Data is obviously the counterpart to Spock, but this character is devoid of emotions but is very keen on learning about human feelings and emotions. The other characters, I felt were just there and I had no connection to them for a while until future episodes.
For me, the series got really good during Season 2 Episode 16, “Q Who,” as that is when I was introduced to the Borg and how frightening they could potentially be which of course eventually happens in the Season 3 finale, “The Best of Both Worlds.” During the period between those two key episodes, I had became invested in almost all of the main characters and I found that the development was much better than the original series cast. I still love The Original Series characters, but The Next Generation had more freedom and gave a sense of depth to all of the main cast, even some of the minor characters. The Original Series had great stories and imaginative potential through the creator, Gene Roddenberry, but The Next Generation perfected that formula as well as adding to the universe and lore of the franchise.
Sir Patrick Stewart was born to play Captain Picard and he is my favorite Captain with Kirk being second. Picard is very stern but inspirational, very kind but very strict, and he is one person that you do not want to mess with. Picard is very loyal to the United Federation and will do anything to uphold their beliefs and laws throughout the galaxy. Most important of all, Jean-Luc Picard just has more charisma and charm than James T. Kirk. Let me repeat myself, I love Captain Kirk, but the depth of that character is small and his emotions aren’t always clear. Picard is what Kirk could’ve been if he had more time to develop as a character.
The other characters, Data, William Riker, Deanna Troi, Geordi La Forge, Worf, and Beverly Crusher are just as good as Picard. Throughout all seven seasons, each character has more depth and they became more memorable as it went on. All of them are my favorite characters, along with Picard, but if I had to pick one that stuck out to me the most, it would be Data. The character of Data starts out as an artificial being that desires to be human, but as the show goes on, he becomes more human than the other characters. Brent Spiner was also born to play Data as he brings a sense of quirkiness, joy, confidence, and feeling to a character that was artificially made to evolve. If I also had to pick my favorite reoccurring character, it would Q, played marvelously by John de Lancie. Q is an omnipotent being that likes to toy with the crew of the Enterprise and unlike the other characters, Q has an intentional sense of humor that always made me chuckle.
Some of my favorite episodes would be: Q Who, Yesterday’s Enterprise, The Offspring, The Best of Both World’s Part 1 and 2, Family, Brothers, Reunion, Final Mission, Galaxy’s Child, First Contact, Redemption Part 1 and Part 2, Unification, The First Duty, I Borg, Time’s Arrow Part 1 and 2, Relics, Chain of Command Part 1 and 2, Birthright, Descent Part 1 and 2, All Good Things…, and other countless episodes.
Star Trek: The Next Generation is essential for any new Star Trek fan, this was the show that made Star Trek into what it is today, it’s spun-off decently made Star Trek series, and is the best I’ve seen in the franchise so far, it takes awhile to get through the first season and half of the second season, but after that, it’s all gold from there. Take my word for it, this series took us where no one has gone before.
A+
