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Star Trek: The Next Generation: Where Silence Has Lease (1988)
What, another 'God' episode? Sheesh!
The Enterprise encounters a space phenomenon unlike anything else the Federation has discovered, a mysterious void which fails to register on any scanners. After investigating a little further, the void envelops the ship and plunges the crew into a nightmarish trap.
Yes, it's another godlike entity treating the Enterprise like a play thing but unlike Q, this one is a bit more secretive and a bit less enjoyable. Still, it at least has some of the old TOS spirit about it and seeing Worf go slightly mad in fun, if a bit beneath the character. A decent mystery that generates a bit of tension for a while but its conclusion feels a bit of a let down. Personally, I was hoping it was the monster Worf spoke about...
Star Trek: The Next Generation: The Child (1988)
In With The New & Out With... Erm, The New...
While en route to collect samples of a deadly plague in the hopes of creating a vaccine, the Enterprise encounters a mysterious pulse of energy that infiltrates the ship without detection. The pulse locates a sleeping Troi and impregnates her with a child that grows at an alarming rate.
The second season kicked off with this fairly routine episode that at least manages to feel like proper TNG - La Forge is now Chief Engineer, Worf is no longer a redshirt and we finally get Ten Forward and Guinan. But the story feels like reheated leftovers that has an intriguing premise but poor execution. And Dr Pulaski, the Enterprise's new on-board doctor, is as wooden as a stake and no replacement for Dr Crusher. And of course, Wesley has a subplot we don't care about because he always does. Fine but perfectly skippable.
Star Trek: The Next Generation: The Neutral Zone (1988)
A hotpot of ideas that fails to cook properly
The Enterprise is assigned a potentially dangerous mission to the Neutral Zone where several Federation colonies have been completely destroyed, possibly as a result of Romulan aggression. Meanwhile, Data rescues three individuals cryogenically frozen on board a derelict Earth craft and it turns out that none of them are used to life in the 24th century.
A disappointing end to season one. It can't make up its mind whether its a comedy episode or a tense stand-off with the much-missed Romulans and it ends up being neither. Yes, it does suggest a new and more powerful force out there that would be introduced later but otherwise, this is not a great episode in truth.
Star Trek: The Next Generation: Conspiracy (1988)
The first 'Dark Federation' episode
Picard's old friend Captain Walker Keel contacts him via a top secret channel, alerting him to a clandestine meeting on a remote planet to discuss a possible conspiracy within the hierarchy of the Federation itself. When evidence of unusual Federation behaviour is discovered, the Enterprise heads directly to Earth to investigate.
Possibly the most controversial episode of season one, this paranoid thriller is an excellent adaptation of 'Invasion Of The Body Snatchers' but throws in a wild surprise with an unduly excessive amount of gore at the end. It's a bit silly in places but this feels far darker to most other episodes of the show and decidedly not family-friendly.
Star Trek: The Next Generation: We'll Always Have Paris (1988)
Wake me up when it's over...
After experiencing an unexplained time loop, the Enterprise receives a series of distress signals from Dr Manheim - a largely discredited scientist conducting experiments into the space-time continuum. As the Enterprise heads to investigate, Picard struggles to contain his feelings as Manheim's wife Jenice is a former flame of the captain.
Jeez, this was slow! What might have been an intriguing story is undone by a lack of chemistry, a narrative that doesn't make much sense and the fact that it feels totally at odds with the previous episode, the rather heavy 'Skin Of Evil'. While fans might have expected a more reflective follow-up, we get a soppy 'Casablanca' knock-off story that just doesn't work. Skip!
Star Trek: The Next Generation: Skin of Evil (1988)
Well, it's certainly memorable...
While the engine room is undergoing repairs, a distress call is received from a shuttlecraft containing Troi which crashes on the inhabited world of Vagra II. Her rescue is complicated, however, by a malevolent black lifeform that prevents the away team from treating her - which leads to tragic consequences...
Possibly the most famous episode of season one, this drama features some of the most emotional scenes TNG would ever produce. The story is a bit light on detail and the effects can't match the ambition of the script but it remains one of the most important shows in the show's history. It also demonstrates that this iteration of Trek was not afraid of killing its main cast off, giving it more of an edge over the original series.
Star Trek: The Next Generation: Symbiosis (1988)
TNG says "Don't do drugs, kids!"
While studying an unusually active star, the Enterprise receives a distress call from a badly damaged freighter. Rescuing the passengers and its cargo, it soon emerges that the ship is transporting medicine from one world to another to combat a deadly plague and ownership of the medicine is being fiercely contested by parties from both planets.
An intriguing storyline quickly falls apart when it becomes apparent that this episode is little more than a clumsily handled PSA on the dangers of drugs and addiction. It has all the subtlety of a photon torpedo to the face, undermining the good work done by the guest stars. Riker's "I'm being electrocuted face" also undermines the episode because it's hilarious.
Star Trek: The Next Generation: The Arsenal of Freedom (1988)
Too many subplots ruin the episode
The Enterprise receives a message from a long-dead planet, that continues to act as a showroom for self-sustaining advanced weapon systems. With the away team cut off after being attacked, the Enterprise itself comes under attack which forces La Forge to step up as commanding officer.
Despite a humorous cameo from Schiavelli, this episode feels a bit of a disappointment. The floating weapons look like golden hairdryers, there are too many subplots in play and the latest chief engineer Logan (Vyto Ruginis) is perhaps the most unprofessional and unlikeable officer in the whole of the galaxy! It feels like it couldn't decide whether to be a comedy, an action episode or a dramatic story and sorta ends up being none of these things.
Star Trek: The Next Generation: Heart of Glory (1988)
Finally, Worf has something to do!
A disturbing report from the Neutral Zone reaches the Enterprise, suggesting a battle between unknown forces. Responding, the Enterprise manages to rescue three Klingons from a damaged Talerian freighter who take a deep personal interest in Worf. But it soon appears that his fellow Klingons know more than they let on.
At last, Dorn finally gets a chance to do something other than growl in the background. A good episode that addresses one of TNG's best characters, as well as linking the series to the more familiar Trek universe including the peace treaty that served as the catalyst for the then-forthcoming Star Trek VI movie. One of season one's stronger episodes.
Star Trek: The Next Generation: Coming of Age (1988)
A glimpse of the series' future
While Wesley Crusher attempts to pass the entry exam for Starfleet Academy, the Enterprise crew are grilled by administrative douchebag Commander Remmick on the orders of Picard's friend Admiral Quinn who is conducting a serious investigation into the captain's behaviour on ship. Also, someone nicks a shuttlecraft for some reason.
A busy episode with three stories in one episode, even if only two of them gain any traction. Wesley's exam fears aren't especially memorable but the investigation on board the ship is far more intriguing and sets up many future narratives including the Federation perhaps not being as squeaky clean as we think. But the nonsense with Wesley's friend going for a joyride felt pointless and is never explained.
Star Trek: The Next Generation: Home Soil (1988)
It's a lifeform, dummy!
Visiting a small settlement of terraformers on Velara III, the group's leader Kurt Mandl arouses suspicion. When the away team witness an improbable murder of one of the terraformers, the Enterprise must play detective to uncover the killer's identity.
An interesting blend of sci-fi and whodunnit, this episode benefits from Gotell's guest appearance and some not-bad effects. The story has a good deal of mystery about it and serves as a good allegory about the increasing cost on the environment by man's industrialisation. Plus, "ugly giant bags of mostly water" is probably one of the most iconic lines in TNG history!
Star Trek: The Next Generation: When the Bough Breaks (1988)
Interesting but hardly a classic
The Enterprise makes contact with Aldea, a near-mythical world that has cloaked itself from the rest of the quadrant and developed extraordinary technological advancement. However, when the Aldeans abduct several children including Wesley from the Enterprise, Picard is forced to outwit a foe with far greater capabilities than he possesses.
A good story here and finally a show that gives Wheaton something better to do than handily solve every situation for once. But the story meanders quite a bit and I had plenty of questions at the end of the episode, which doesn't help. An alright episode but not an essential one.
Star Trek: The Next Generation: Too Short a Season (1988)
Just... weird.
The Enterprise escorts the elderly Federation negotiator Admiral Jameson to Persephone V to handle a delicate hostage situation. But the admiral is behaving very strangely and it soon turns out that he is far much involved in the situation than it first appears.
A story that doesn't make a great deal of sense is not helped by some really bad makeup which undermines the narrative. Rohner's performance is decent enough but a bit abrasive compared to the main cast so he doesn't fit in. He also takes up far too much of the story, meaning we don't spend much time with our favourites. There are some interesting ideas here but the execution here is poor.
Star Trek: The Next Generation: 11001001 (1988)
Horny Riker plays his 'bone
The Enterprise docks at Starbase 74 for routine maintenance on its computers, led by a strange alien race known as the Binars. While the rest of the crew indulge in some R&R, Riker finds himself on the holodeck and falling for yet another enigmatic woman.
A bit less successful than 'The Big Goodbye', this holodeck episode works well alongside a decent narrative involving the Enterprise being taken over. The Binars are an intriguing species that deserved to be revisited in future but the subplot involving Horny Riker never really works as well as it should. After all, it's fairly obvious to the viewer what's going on so why does it take the characters so long to figure it out?
Star Trek: The Next Generation: Datalore (1988)
It's Data's evil twin!
The Enterprise visits the remote scientific colony where Data was found only to discover the planet is now a lifeless wasteland. They also recover another android that resembles Data but his brother Lore is nothing like the Data we know and love.
Credit to Spiner for pulling double duty on this episode, which wasn't as good as I remembered. Another crystalline entity feels a bit disappointing but the episode has plenty of jeopardy, danger and bad stunt doubles. A good introduction for what would become a recurring character in TNG but one that fails to establish the character's true motivations.
Star Trek: The Next Generation: The Big Goodbye (1988)
Brilliant!
While preparing for an intricate diplomatic mission, Picard takes some time to relax in the holodeck as his favourite literary character, private eye Dixon Hill. Of course, things go wrong which threatens not only the captain, Data, Crusher and a 'redshirt' but also the mission.
Finally, the series explores the potential of the holodeck by delivering a story that blends sci-fi Trek silliness with countless film noir homages. Great support from Tierney and Miller and plenty of comedy courtesy of Spiner's Data imitating every gangster movie you've ever seen. Not only does it ask questions as good sci-fi should but it's also a huge amount of fun.
Star Trek: The Next Generation: Haven (1987)
Borrr-ing!
Troi's mother Lwaxana arrives on the Enterprise ahead of Deanna's unexpected arranged marriage to a complete stranger, the somewhat drippy artist Wyatt who has been having dreams of a different woman. Meanwhile, the Enterprise must intervene when a ship loaded with plague sufferers approaches the heavenly planet of Haven.
A rather bland episode that feels like a cheap Mills & Boon novel with a sci-fi twist. The plot has no surprises and the supporting cast are weak but at least we get Barrett and Struycken, who are great fun as Lwaxana and her mute companion. Plus, watching horny Riker in a bad mood is hilarious!
Star Trek: The Next Generation: Hide and Q (1987)
Q returns with some animal... things...
Q returns and manages to tempt Riker by sharing his limitless power with the Enterprise's First Officer during a surreal game on an alien world. Will Riker accept his new gifts and what will it mean for the rest of the crew?
De Lancie's welcome return as the larger-than-life Q always makes an episode worth watching, especially when he engages Stewart in a Shakespeare-off in Picard's ready room. The episode harks back to the more introspective moments of TOS but makes it more exciting and dangerous for modern viewers. A good effort and this is one of the first season's strongest episodes, in my opinion.
Star Trek: The Next Generation: The Battle (1987)
Better but still not great
The Ferengi are back, this time with DaiMon Bok returning Picard's old ship - the Stargazer - which was presumed lost. Despite suffering from headaches, Picard's excitement gets the better of him when he realises too late that it's a trap.
This episode does a better job of making the Ferengi feel like a threat but its predictable story and unsatisfactory conclusion make this a fairly average episode, in truth. But it's good that Picard finally gets some personality given to him, exploring his past and his standing within Starfleet. It needed a bit more jeopardy and a more convincing villain to address their comical appearance in their first appearance.
Star Trek: The Next Generation: Justice (1987)
Horny Roddenberry strikes again!
The Enterprise arrives at the seemingly perfect world of Edo, a world where its resident wear as little as possible and run everywhere for some reason. While the away team try to contain Riker's frothing loins, Wesley falls foul of their stringent laws which places him under plenty of death.
Another episode that feels needlessly sexualised thanks to Roddenberry, the episode is little more than people wearing costumes so ridiculous that I felt sorry for them while trying to say something about the relationship between the law and justice. But it's impossible to take seriously and undermines its own story-telling by being simply ludicrous.
Star Trek: The Next Generation: Lonely Among Us (1987)
Hello, Chief O'Brien! Goodbye, Mr Singh!
While transporting ambassadors from two warring races hoping for Federation membership, the Enterprise encounters a mysterious energy cloud that houses a powerful entity capable to possessing man and machine that threatens everyone on board.
A decent-ish story that is undone by some clunky makeup and effects. I know the show perhaps didn't have the funding and stature at this point in its existence - in fact, I imagine this episode would have been much better if it was done in a later season. Still, it's gripping enough and Picard using Force Lightning (TM) is oddly cool to see. Oh and Chief O'Brien makes his first appearance in TNG, credited as the anonymous Security Guard 1.
Star Trek: The Next Generation: Where No One Has Gone Before (1987)
Easily the best of the first series so far
The Enterprise's engines are tested by a Federation expert and his assistant in order to boost the ship's engines. When the initial test run goes wrong, the ship finds itself marooned in an area of space far beyond what has previously been explored.
The first episode to really expose Wesley Crusher's role on the ship as a "solve-all", this episode feels far closer to the spirit of the original series than the previous episodes as it explores the human condition as well as the perils of deep, deep space. The effects are a little clunky but the script makes up for it and is easily one of the best season one episodes thus far.
Star Trek: The Next Generation: The Last Outpost (1987)
It's Quark!
The Enterprise make their first contact with the Ferengi, a capitalist and many-eared alien species hostile to the Federation. When both ships are caught in an apparent stablemate above a supposedly dead planet, it turns out both ships must work together to free themselves.
If the Ferengi were intended to be TNG's resident baddies then this was not the way to go about it. The Ferengi - led by Shimerman as a pre-Quark character - look rather silly with their odd poses and unconvincing energy whips (which were never seen again). Gives the impression that nobody really knew how to portray them or even what they were. Not a bad episode but not a classic.
Star Trek: The Next Generation: The Naked Now (1987)
Welcome to Horny Trek!
Shamelessly borrowing a story from the original series, the Enterprise falls prey to a powerful virus that causes the crew to act and behave as if heavily intoxicated. This results in characters behaving goofily and, for the first time in this series, wanton lust and desires.
Feeling very much like a Roddenberry episode, this is far more comical than most episodes. Spiner makes the most of his character displaying genuine progression but generally speaking, this is a fairly weak episode that exposes the lack of depth the characters possess at this point, especially Yar. Trek can do comedy better than this.
Star Trek: The Next Generation: Encounter at Farpoint (1987)
A solid start
Roddenberry's popular franchise was revived for a more modern audience with this epic two-parter.
During the Enterprise's very first mission, Picard encounters a powerful omnipotent being calling themselves Q who threatens to condemn humanity as a savage, war-like race. After Picard pleads for humanity, Q agrees that their forthcoming mission at the remote Farpoint station offers a stern test to prove mankind's worth.
De Lancie's debut as Q makes an instant impact and the show takes its time introducing the main players. The episode feels like two stories crudely shoved together but it's a solid start to the series and one of the highlights of season one.