Watching reruns of Star Trek: The Next Generation with my parents is one of the defining memories of my childhood, along with my lack of athleticism in school making me feel like a second-class student, but that’s beside the point.
I got to see almost every episode at one point or another, but not necessarily in order, and hence lacked an appreciation for where they stand in the full context of the series. Quarantine has given me a chance to change that by binging the series on Netflix (yes, this has made me one of the few people who hasn’t seen Tiger King; sue me).
Here are some episodes I’ve deemed highlights across the show’s seven seasons:
“Skin of Evil” – Probably one of the only redeemable episodes of season one, for the exact reason you’re thinking.
“The Child” – The debut of Guinan helps soften the blow of also debuting Dr. Pulaski.
“Q Who” – All the Borg, luckily with none of the Dr. Pulaski.
“Shades of Gray” – Don’t let the transporter hit you on the way out, Dr. Pulaski.
“Who Watches the Watchers” – AKA that episode where Riker goes undercover in Flynn Rider cosplay.
“The High Ground” – Gates Mcfadden being the only TNG cast member to answer my fan mail as a kid has NO BEARING of my appreciation for Dr. Crusher.
“Deja Q” – Better known as the episode that gave us the “Exhausted Picard” meme.
“Yesterday’s Enterprise” – For redeeming season one’s most bland main character in one episode.
“Menage a Troi” – Better known as the episode that gave us the “Annoyed Picard” meme.
“The Best of Both Worlds” – This episode’s quality is as certain as Jean-Luc Picard is Locutus of Borg.
“Remember Me” – Again, Gates Mcfadden being the only TNG cast member to answer my fan mail as a kid has NO BEARING of my appreciation for Dr. Crusher!
“QPid” – The episode that taught us all that Worf is NOT a merry man!
“Disaster” – Petition to cast LaVar Burton in Pirates of Penzance, and Michael Dorn in I Didn’t Know I Was Pregnant.
“Cause and Effect” – Groundhog Day before Groundhog Day was Groundhog Day.
“The Inner Light” – Excuse me, I thought about that flute; now I need to go cry.
“Relics” – I only recently learned James Doohan was actually Canadian. Just wanted to share that.
“Rascals” – AKA that episode where Picard helped save the day by throwing a tantrum.
“A Fistful of Datas” – AKA excerpts from Brent Spiner’s Unforgiven audition.
“Tapestry” – For finally, after six seasons, letting us know what Patrick Stewart looks like in a blue uniform.
“Second Chances” – For finally, after six seasons, showing us what Jonathan Frakes looks like in a gold uniform.
“Suspicions” – NO BEARING WHATSOEVER!
“Timescape” – The answer to the question, “What if the Quicksilver mansion sequence from X-Men: Apocalypse lasted 43 minutes?
“All Good Things…” – For showing us just how off the makeup department was once Picard premiered.
