Starship Mine is such a fun episode! Getting to see Picard sort of go commando onboard his own ship to thwart the people stealing (something) from the engine core was really cool. I also love how Data is learning to make small talk and the opening sequence showing how annoying it would be to be the captain of a starship would be with everyone constantly asking you for something, The energy beam slowly making its way across the ship was also a cool sci-fi device that added a layer of tension which kept the episode always moving forward. I’m not sure about ending the episode with a Mr. Ed reference, but overall this is a fantastic episode.

Excellent conclusion to this story. I realized while watching this that TNG is basically three distinct story lines: 1) Data’s story of becoming human, 2) Worf’s story of becoming (more) Klingon, and 3) the over-arching Q story of humanity on trial which everyone takes part in. In this story it’s all Worf, and what’s really well done is that while there is a love story here, what’s more central is Worf’s relationship with the young Klingon man, Toq. The story wisely allows Worf to influence Toq in hopes he will discover his Klingon’ness rather than just make it some silly love story of a half Klingon, half Romulan girl. This was a very well thought out episode, and I loved the touch at the end when Worf lies to Picard and Picard says “I understand” with a look that means he really does. THere was also the philosophical issue of allowing these Roumlans and Klingons to live in peace away from their centuries of hatred and war with each other and having Worf disrupt that raises issues of whether its possible for old hatreds to truly die. The episode doesn’t give an answer, but it seems to imply that they can’t be put aside so easily.Excellent episode.

This was a very interesting episode. I really liked the idea of Data having grown enough to now be able to dream and I loved that this was, in many ways, actually a DS9 episode. Too bad only Dr. Bashir is in the crossover, but he’s a good fit with Data and Georidi. Worf’s story is straight out of a DS9 episode, we even get to see him in his sneaking around black outfit that he would wear when he and Dax would do something dangerous. Of course this is part 1 or a 2 part-er TNG has a checkered past with finishing multi-part stories as well as they start them, but I’m genuinely intrigued to see how this plays out. Also, I love that James Cromwell was such a trekkie / trekcer.

Holy shit, what an episode! It’s remarkable how Stewart can carry this whole show just by himself when he has to. So many times he’s been the main focus of an episode and he just kills it every single time. I also love how the show has stuck with the framing device Q sets up from the very first episode of putting humanity on trial, even in an instance like this when it’s just one person’s experiences and the choices they make when young. And to have Q really get the better of Picard was great, especially when Picard is just a lowly Lt. being told by Troi and Riker that he’ll never be in command because he just plays it too safe. Great episode about life, about choices, and about Picard’s character as someone who, though he tries to be a reserved and deliberate person, is really, at heart (pun intended) a far more interesting person than he lets on. That’s why the end of the episode is great with him telling Riker a story in the ready from from his wild youth. Brilliant episode!

Face of the Enemy could have been, with some tweaks to the script, a feature film. While initially seeing Troi altered to look Romulan seemed like a gimmick, the plot was really clever, exciting, and aside from the convenient character, DeSeve who knew all the answers to help Picard, this was a well thought out thriller. Best of all was Carolyn Seymour playing the Romulan captain, Toreth. She was Picard’s equal in every way and also gave us a sympathetic look at the Romulans, especially their unease with their own government. Toreth is an honest captain doing her best for her ship and her crew and had this been a film it would have been fascinating to see two great captains go up against each other. Troi was excellent this episode, too; she really owned the part of playing a Romulan and she really had fun this episode. Nice to see her get to do something more than ask people about their feelings.

Aside from it wrapping up a little too quickly, this is a very good episode with a good mystery at the center of it and some good tension between Riker and Laforge. I love how this episode plays off Laforge’s previous relationships with women and how that adds an extra layer to the tension, especially when she learns he real all her personal files. Had this episode been maybe just 10 minutes longer it would have had the time to wrap up better, but overall I really liked this and can see how DS9 has slightly influenced the storytelling to be a but more realistic concerning personal conflicts between the crew.

Another holodeck episode, but this one was pretty good, especially since they brought back Moriarty from 4 years ago. Nice that we get more Barclay, too. The best part was Barclay saying “end program” just to be sure they weren’t in the simulation, and with Barclay’s history with the holodeck it had a little extra meaning.

Chain of Command II is an all-time classic episode, not only because how how chilling it is, or how great the acting of Stewart and David Warner (as Madred), but also because it sets the tone for the Cardassians as brutal, cold, militaristic, and beyond any ability for empathy. They are perhaps the best villains in all of Trek outside of the Borg – in fact they might be better since they actually have a personality whereas the Borg are more insect-like. It’s also refreshing to see an actor play a bad guy as someone who seems to be a good guy. Warner doesn’t yell or scream, he’s methodical and cold in his cruelty and somehow that’s far more cruel than if he yelled and screamed all over the place. Brilliant episode and there really are only four lights.

The most interesting aspect of this episode is Picard being relieved of command and Jellico, who nobody likes, takes over. But I just can’t understand why Starfleet would send a veteran captain to do commando work. Worf? Absolutely. Dr. Crusher? Most likely not. But absolutely not Picard. I’m hoping that part two explains this plot with the Cardassians better, and I do believe the next episode is the great “there are 4 lights” episode, but so far part I, while pretty good, is not great.

Quality of Life is the first truly excellent episode of the season (other than the Barclay one maybe). This is also the first time Trek doesn’t cheat when determining a possible new life form by allowing it to communicate, all we have to go on are the Exocomp’s actions and so the question of if they are alive or not is left open somewhat. Tying this episode into Measure of a Man was a good decision too because it gave Data great motivation to explore the Exocomps as well as refuse Riker’s orders. Rock solid episode.

A Fistful of Datas is on the one hand another corny holodeck episode, but on the other it is a lot of fun and quite funny, especially seeing Data in a dress (and resurrecting his Night Court drawl). I also really loved seeing Picard playing the flute since it’s SUCH an important part of his character.

When the episode began with Keiko, Picard, Guinan, and Ro turned into children I immediately assumed this would suck. However, this was actually a very fun episode and all 4 kids did a great job, especially young Guinan and Picard. 12 year old Picard stamping his feet and yelling “now” over and over again is exactly how you would expect adult Picard to assume a 12 year old would act. The side story with the Ferrengi was not bad either, but Ferengi stories never get good until DS9. I also loved Riker speaking in pure technobabble to solve a problem. I feel like this episode was a lot better than it should have been given how much of a poor start season 6 is off to, but I’m hoping this marks a turnaround. We’ll see.

True Q is pretty good, mostly because the actor playing Amanda does a really good job of making the most of a sort of weak script. She does a good job of exploring what it’s like to be a Q, and DeLance is sufficiently creepy and inevitable in this episode. He also has a great line about Picard’s wonderful speeches. Still, this wasn’t anything amazing; I’m curious why this season is so far below the standards of season 5 (and 4). The show just feels… off somehow, like something is missing.

Not a terrible episode, but only because I’m hoping they revisit the aliens they were abducted by, otherwise this was sort of silly. And just imagine getting a job as the props person for Star Trek and then being asked to buy a park bench and a pair of scissors. I feel like the budget for this episode was only in the tens of dollars.

Relics could have been a lot better. First of all they discovered a friggin Dyson Sphere, that alone should have been the main attention of the episode, but it was somehow abandoned and we never learn why. Then Scotty making an appearance should also have been it’s own episode, but while there were some very good moments with him and Burton and Stewart, the story felt flat. Season 6 is not off to a good start.

This episode must have come about when one of the writers came up with one good idea while all the other writers thought up ways in which to make everything else about the episode stupid. And then the director decided to make sure everyone gives a terrible performance. This is a BAD episode, like really bad, like season 1 bad. It’s dumb, too.

Realm of Fear makes up for the bad season opener, Arrow of Time part II, with a really fun Barclay episode. This might be the best Barclay episode because it doesn’t make fun of Barclay or put him in some bizarre situation, it only explores his fear of the transporter which allows him to solve the mystery. I love how you can see him trying harder to interact with the rest of the main crew by taking a deep breath before speaking. Very fun.

What a harebrained plot these aliens cooked up to go back in Earth’s time to steal people’s energy. What was the point? Who were these aliens? What was the snake thing all about? How did Picard wind up renting that room? Where did everyone get their period correct clothes? What a goofy episode. And the whole Mark Twain thing (and Jack London) was mostly idiotic except for when Troi taught him about how much better the future is. All around waste of a two part series finale / starter. Ugh.

Strange season ending cliffhanger but it’s a really fun episode with a genuine mystery. I have no idea where this is leading since I’ve never seen this one before. I love the moment when Data looks first at Troi then at Riker as he tries to figure out why the are acting strange around him. It’s amazing how human Data feels over these past 5 seasons without Spiner having to overact it, it’s so subtle that you almost don’t realize he’s acting.

I’d argue this might be the greatest science fiction story ever told. I mean, this episode is perfection in every way, especially Stewart’s acting. It’s not a flashy episode or epic or grand, it’s just the simple story of a civilization that didn’t want to be forgotten. Heartbreaking episode.

Michelle Forbes really kicked ass in her few episodes and she would have been phenomenal on DS9. This was a fun episode, though the Romulan plot to blow up the Enterprise sort of gets forgotten in the end. Also the science in this one is pretty bad: they can’t interact with any physical object, but their feet are firmly planted on the ground?

I remember when First Contact came out and while everyone loved the movie, a lot of people complained about their being a Borg queen, but I always considered her to be a result of this episode. Individually would not destroy the Borg, they would adapt it somehow while still remaining mostly Borg. The really interesting aspect of this episode is the ethical concern of using a living being as a means to kill its entire species. Is killing every mosquito on earth ethical because they spread malaria? This episode side steps giving an answer by allowing Hugh to rejoin the Borg in hope that individuality will infect them, but the question remains: is killing an entire species ethical?

Imaginary Friend is really good, though a bit odd since it mostly revolves around 2 kids, both of whom are good good little actresses. I like the premise of an imaginary friend becoming real as well as how family life on a starship would be tough on a kid, but the point if view the alien takes is kinda dumb since it just assumes the grownups are just a bunch of meanies and deserve to die. Still, a solid scifi story and it’s nice to see Guinan again – she’s been gone all season.

The Perfect Mate isn’t the worst Star Trek episode, but it is the dumbest.

Yea, another Lwaxana episode! These are always my favorite. This one had a particularly bittersweet moment when Majel Barrett (as Lwaxana) talks about being alone and you could tell she was thinking of her husband, Gene Roddenberry who had passed away not long before. The episode itself was not great with the b story of a metal eating parasite nearly destroying the Enterprise and even the reason for Lwaxana to be on board was a silly story, but her scenes with Worf’s son, Alexander, were very charming.

The First Duty is an actually good Wesley episode, but mostly because of Robert Duncan MacNeill (pre Mr. Paris) and Ray Walston as the fabled Boothby we’ve heard so much about. The episode does a nice job of showing how high pressure a Starfleet commission can be and the insanely high standards for all cadets. It was also nice to see how those expectations broke Wesley since his desire to fit in outweighed his better judgment (at least till he finally; predictably) confessed.