The cast and crew of Star Trek: The Next Generation can answer that question in a way few in Hollywood can, with the voyages of the Enterprise- D managing to step out of the considerable shadow cast by the original crew. Patrick Stewart (Picard), Jonathan Frakes (Riker), Le. Var Burton (La Forge), Michael Dorn (Worf), Gates Mc.

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Fadden (Crusher), Marina Sirtis (Troi) and Brent Spiner (Data) brought Star Trek to new heights  over seven seasons and 1. To mark the 5. 0th anniversary of Star Trek this month, The Hollywood Reporter counted down the top 1. Star Trek across all six TV series. Every day through Friday, we're breaking that list down even further — ranking the episodes by individual series.

Here, you'll find the cast and writers behind TNG sharing what makes these episodes the best of what the crew had to offer. It turns out, sometimes it pays to be paranoid.

• Season 3 episode 26, Season 4 episode 1: Directed by: Cliff Bole: Written by.
• Star Trek: The Next Generation is an American science fiction television series which aired in syndication from September 1987 through May 1994. It is the second live.

Picard and Riker discover an alien infestation, with parasites preparing to slip into the Federation by taking over officers. The episode culminates with Riker and Picard teaming up to take down the possessed Lt. Commander Remmick (Robert Schenkkan) to explosive results. It's the favorite episode of TNG property master Alan Sims, who had to use all of his talents for the hour. What an episode. Tasha Yar's death famously came from actress Denise Crosby's desire to leave Trek (though she would later return as an alternate timeline version of character and then, the character's daughter, Sela).

It's shocking for killing off a main character, and her funeral gives us an early example of Data's journey to understanding humanity. Patrick Stewart stepped behind the camera to direct TNG's Halloween episode, which saw Data begin having nightmares — and gave viewers one of the most iconic and schlocky scenes in Star Trek history: the cellular peptide Troi cake (with mint frosting!).

If Data's creator Noonian Soong could create an android — why couldn't Data do the same? Showtime Full The Verdict Online Free there. The surprisingly funny and touching episode showed Data dealing with loss after he creates — and loses — a daughter. The episode marked the directorial debut of Jonathan Frakes (Will Riker), who would go on to be among the most prolific actor- turned- directors in Trek history.

Brent Spiner gets to show off his considerable acting chops in this episode, playing Data, his brother Lore, and their creator Dr. Noonien Soong — who has called his sons home to say goodbye as he nears death. There's a real sweetness to Lore, who is genuinely upset when he learns Dr. Soong is dying, though that's undone when Lore attacks his father later in the episode, which also introduces the notion of Data's emotions chip.

The shine starts to come off Commander Riker in this episode in which he's forced to come to terms between the demands of his duty to the Enterprise, and to his former commanding officer, who is up to no good. In many ways, this episode feels like a mix between the holier- than- thou TNG and the less perfect original series, giving Riker's blind loyalty to his superiors a long overdue exploration. Of course, his former superior officer is none other than Terry O'Quinn, showing both slightly more hair and slightly more humanity than he would as Lost's John Locke. Forget going back to a period of Earth's history to hang out with Mark Twain — this Next Generation time travel story from writer Brannon Braga sees the Enterprise- D crew stuck in a loop that leads in their deaths over, and over. The teaser, showing the Enterprise being destroyed, may just be the greatest opening in Star Trek history. If David Fincher had directed a Star Trek episode in the early 9.

The episode sees reality blur as Riker is imprisoned in an alien insane asylum and told he has committed murder. Jonathan Frakes gives a stellar performance of a tortured Riker that is unlike anything viewers saw in the show before or after. The crossovers between The Next Generation and the original series were remarkably few, as if those working on the new show were fully aware of the potential that it would be overcome by nostalgia. Watch Her Best Move Online Facebook more. This late- era episode — which brought James Doohan's Scotty back from the void to deal with the fact that most of those he knew were now gone — threatened to be every bit as sentimental as that synopsis sounds, but managed to avoid that fate thanks to some nice performances from Doohan and Le.

Var Burton's Geordi La. Forge, and a great script from future Battlestar Galactica showrunner Ronald D. I know — like every night! Admiral Norah Satie (Oscar nominee Jean Simmons) conducted a trial, and makes it into an indictment of Picard himself. Constantly. On the face of it, audiences had seen the basic concept of ?

As the series headed towards its conclusion, it was a surprisingly graceful, and fun, way to provide fan service without ruining the show as a whole. Having successfully defined the Borg as an almost unbeatable hive mind of destructive force, . The result is something that speaks as much to Star Trek's inherent humanist outlook, as one Borg is given his individuality back while Picard and Guinan are forced to overcome their own prejudices against the enemy that in some ways ruined both of their lives. More ethically tricky than a lot of TNG, it's to be lauded for showing how flawed the leads can be — and also raising the specter of the many deaths the Enterprise was responsible for in . Next Generation celebrated its 1. Worf's story, examining a family dishonor that has plagued him. It's a complicated and undeniably badass arc, seeing Worf resign from Starfleet, Picard navigate the tricky waters of a Klingon civil war, and the Enterprise bridge crew temporarily commanding their own ships.

For good measure, there's the return of Denise Crosby as Sela, Tasha Yar's half- Romulan daughter, born after the . The emotional touchstone of Next Generation was Data's quest to understand humanity, and there's no more poignant example than the android's very sentience being put on trial — with Picard and Riker finding themselves on opposite sides of a trial for Data's rights and life. Geordi asks the computer to create an adversary who could beat Data, and the computer grants that wish in the form of the sentient Moriarty (Daniel Davis). It was a brilliant script that combined the Sherlock Holmes and Star Trek mythologies. But it was mostly Star Trek, and presaged the questions of reality vs. The holodek program is initially able to outsmart the likes of Data and Picard — who ultimately grants Moriarty his wish to live in the real world, though he in fact will continue to live in a holographic simulation in a Matrix- level twist that predates the 1. And thanks to the world of conventions, I'm able to enjoy reunions with them from time to time.

Cogito Ergo Sum! Happy Anniversary, Live Long and Prosper. Moore pulled off the near- impossible with a story that doesn't just send Picard spinning through time into the past of the series and the future of the characters, but goes all the way back to the pilot of the series to reveal that everything really had been leading up to this moment, but no- one had realized it just yet. Add in some fond farewells from familiar faces and great performances from the regular cast, clearly relishing their last chance to play on TV together, and you have arguably the best series finale of any of the Star Treks. Parting is such sweet sorrow, ad veteran Trek producer Ronald D. Moore recalls his first meeting with Patrick Stewart years earlier on set of the writer's first episode, . Just bear in mind that the Captain doesn’t do nearly enough screwing and shooting in this show,' and then he walked away.! The two- part . A victory lap from when the show was at its peak.

No alien race in Star Trek history has been as terrifying as The Borg — and it all began with Q flinging the Enterprise to the other side of the galaxy. The hive mind villain's terror would only increase with . But it all begins here, where the Borg is at the height of its mystique.

Emergency repairs shouldn't take too long to make the appointment with Admiral J. Hanson, who announces Klingons coming to the rescue, but Picard seems lost forever: Riker is granted full command. Technology is adapted to render it unpredictable, such as randomized phaser settings. Hanson's communications are cut, the war must be going badly. To avoid musical chairs, Borg expert Lieutenant Commander Elizabeth Paula Shelby is acting XO.

Locutus refuses to come to terms, separation and fire are engaged, including anti- matter spread. Data and Worf beam into the Borg ship, overpower and get Locutus into a shuttle and beam aboard before it's shot down. If Crusher can awake Picard, he may now have decisive Borg info, but meanwhile declares himself Borg spokesman. While earth's own solar system is .. For an inexplicable reason, Data has disappeared from the scene. The proper abbreviation for her rank is Commander or the rank is said in full.

Then let me just say that.. And I *will* let him go. And you must do the same. There can only be one Captain. Riker. It's not that simple.

This was his crew. He wrote the book on this ship. You *must* let him go, Riker.

It's the only way to beat him. The only way to save him.