The Mission: To watch, review, and rank every episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, and Voyager.
The Protocol: 1. Watch every episode in the order they aired 2. Review and rank each episode within each of the 21 seasons 3. Rank the episodes within each series 4. Rank all 526 episodes
The Purpose: To gain Q-like knowledge of a television franchise that has had a monumental impact on my life. This is my tribute to Star Trek and what it has done for me.
Season Five not only continues developing TNG characters and furthers its lore, but also boasts some of the very best episodes in franchise history. It is arguably the best season of Star Trek ever made, and that is not something I say lightly.
Buckle up, because here is Star Trek: The Next Generation Season Five ranked.
26. S5 E22 “Imaginary Friend”
Originally aired May 4, 1992
This somewhat throwaway episode concerns a young girl’s imaginary friend, who, of course, turns out to be much more than a simple childhood coping mechanism.
One-off episodes that don’t further the Star Trek universe or exemplify its spirit are hard to get excited about. “Imaginary Friend” isn’t without its charms (for some reason I’m always mildly fascinated by the lives of children on the Enterprise), but it fails to live up to the unnerving potential it sets up with the manipulative Isabella (Shay Astar) and the naive Clara (Noley Thornton). “Imaginary Friend” does manage a few creepy moments as Isabella’s actions grow increasingly violent (including blasting poor Deanna with an energy beam); I only wish they were followed through with in a way that’s a bit more compelling and tense.
25. S5 E21 “The Perfect Mate”
Originally aired April 27, 1992
TNG bumbles an opportunity to showcase a progressive attitude towards women’s rights in favor of a tired arranged marriage story.
“The Perfect Mate” may not undo nearly five seasons of progress TNG had made in establishing itself as a premiere source of humanist storytelling, but that doesn’t make it okay. Aside from its superior production design and acting, “The Perfect Mate” is much more in line with Season One sensibilities, or even, dare I say, those of The Original Series, than with what we’ve grown to appreciate about it. What’s most frustrating is that it flirts with progressive ideas, even mentioning certain human rights by name (seeing Bev get pissed about the whole thing is pretty great), but then fails to act on any of them in any meaningful way. Guest star Famke Janssen, though, is fantastic, and it’s interesting to see her act alongside Patrick Stewart a full eight years before the pair would play Jean Grey and Professor Xavier in the X-Men movies.
24. S5 E20 “Cost of Living”
Originally aired April 20, 1992
Lwaxana and Alexander bond by sharing an inappropriate mud bath while a naked alien rainbow woman dances seductively around them, and then things get weird.
Worf episodes always get extra points from me, but “Cost of Living” pushes the boundaries of acceptable entertainment. While watching my favorite grumpy Klingon barely tolerate Lwaxana’s outgoing and pushy nature has a certain appeal (she continuously calls him “Woof”), his understandable disdain isn’t enough to save this awkward, uninteresting episode. The tacked-on subplot about space dust turning the Enterprise’s systems to goop doesn’t help much either. But watching Worf slap the shit out of an annoying floating clown head and the look on everyone’s face when Lwaxana walks in the room wearing a traditional Betazoid wedding outfit make the whole affair much more bearable.
23. S5 E13 “The Masterpiece Society”
Originally aired February 3, 1992
A genetically engineered society grapples with extinction when their civilization is threatened by a passing stellar core fragment.
Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World is on the table in this cautionary tale of eugenics in the 24th century. Surprisingly, most of the crew seem to admire these “perfect” humans created through generations of selective breeding, looking at them with a combination of awe and sympathy. Naturally, Picard and Geordi question their Übermensch philosophies from the beginning (for obvious reasons) and predictably, Counselor Troi falls in love with one of them. Ultimately, “The Masterpiece Society” is a rather forgettable episode, but its themes of genetically eliminating disease and perceived flaws have become hot button issues in certain scientific circles in the last few years, indicating once again that TNG has always been ahead of the curve.
22. S5 E12 “Violations”
Originally aired January 27, 1992
A rogue Ullian telepathic historian uses his power to manipulate members of the crew to villainous effect.
If there is a more trauma-prone character in Star Trek history than Deanna Troi, I’d like to know who it is. At least this time, though, she’s not the only one who succumbs to the mental assaults—in the form of memory-induced comas—plaguing the crew of the Enterprise. “Violations” lacks TNG’s usual mastery of compelling mysteries by all but revealing the antagonist before the opening credits even roll, but even this starts to make sense by the time Picard delivers the episode’s final thoughts. It’s not exactly earth-shattering stuff, but for a “Deanna gets violated” episode, it could be a hell of a lot worse. In fact, seeing the ship’s counselor physically beat the shit out of her psychic aggressor makes up for a lot of the episode’s shortcomings.
21. S5 E4 “Silicon Avatar”
Originally aired October 14, 1991
An away team encounters the Crystalline Entity, the same being responsible for the deaths of the colony on Omicron Theta and thus the discovery of Data.
Using the dreaded Crystalline Entity as a “White Whale” is an interesting concept, but the being itself leaves a lot to be desired. Undefined monstrosities described with rather unintelligible technobabble fail to inspire any real sense of dread, but this is forgivable considering the genre. What’s less compelling about “Silicon Avatar,” though, is that the guest scientist and expert on the entity (or Ahab stand-in, if you will) typically mistrusts Data and refuses to see any humanity in him until he proves useful to her. However, the zeal and vigor with which this scientist (played terrifically by Ellen Geer) pursues her obsession is a sight to behold—and devastating when Data tells her like it is in the episode’s final moments.
20. S5 E19 “The First Duty”
Originally aired March 30, 1992
Wesley Crusher makes a welcomed appearance, this time finding himself in hot water at Starfleet Academy after an accident claims the life of a fellow cadet.
“The First Duty” may not be the most exciting episode of the series, but it does offer a rare and interesting look into the inner workings of Starfleet Academy, located in terrestrial San Francisco. The meat of the story involves a courtroom procedural (something TNG has always been good at) and the survivor’s guilt felt by those who made it out of the crash alive. All told, it’s a good episode, made better by a commanding speech delivered by Picard and the appearance of the great Ray Walston as Boothby, the groundskeeper, who offers a cryptic glimpse into the Captain’s past.
19. S5 E10 “New Ground”
Originally aired December 31, 1991
It’s finally time for Worf’s estranged son Alexander to come live with his father on the Enterprise. Predictably, things do not go well.
Anything that lays further groundwork in the saga of Worf is worth a look, and “New Ground” does just that. As I’ve said many times before, Worf is by far the most interesting and well-rounded character in the history of the franchise, and his son Alexander (Brian Bonsall) is a big part of that. The dynamic the two share might be typical in a classic father-son kind of way, but TNG has a special knack for making the pair believable and relatable despite the show’s setting and the character backgrounds. “New Ground” is a warm and endearing (and sometimes uncomfortable) look at fatherhood, understanding, and reconciliations.
18. S5 E15 “Power Play”
Originally aired February 17, 1992
Data, Troi, and O’Brien are possessed by an alien intelligence after the crew discovers a long-lost Daedalus-class starship.
Well, Deanna gets possessed once again. I’ve lost count of how many times the most unfortunate of counselors has had her mind and body taken over, but it’s got to be in the double digits by now. Putting that aside, “Power Play” is a damn exciting episode. The trio of mind-swapped crew members are a ruthless bunch, phaser-blasting anyone who gets in their way. Deanna is especially menacing as she leads her mutineers towards their cause, with Data and O’Brien not far behind (Data attempts to goad Worf into a fight while Miles threatens his wife Keiko and their infant son with a phaser—good stuff). It’s always fun to see actors step out of their usual roles and stretch their legs a little, even if it’s obvious the episode was built entirely around that concept.
17. S5 E24 “The Next Phase”
Originally aired May 18, 1992
A fun and semi-creepy episode that explores the common fear of being forgotten after you’re gone and the frustration of feeling unseen and ignored.
This Geordi and Ro episode is better than it has any right to be, despite some fiddly “science” and some unusually compliant Romulans. I’ve never understood how transporter accidents aren’t on the minds of more Starfleet personnel, but apparently it isn’t something many of them give much thought to (more about this concept in season six, episode two). Regardless, they obviously happen, as Geordi and Ro find out when their transporter signals are lost while answering a Romulan distress call and they find themselves “out of phase” with the world. Putting transporter safety issues aside, what “The Next Phase” is really exploring is how one is remembered after death. As the phased pair discovers, much to their dismay, life very quickly goes on without them. It’s an eerie and uncomfortable concept, but one that TNG addresses with the kind of care we’ve come to expect. Except when Ro “shoots” Riker in the head with a Romulan disruptor. That’s just weird.
16. S5 E11 “Hero Worship”
Originally aired January 6, 1992
After rescuing a young boy orphaned by an accident, Data inadvertently steps in as a parental figure.
Data-centric episodes are often formulaic exercises in “I have observed” this and “human emotion” that, but “Hero Worship” breaks this mold by showing that for some, Data’s sometimes cold demeanor can be an enviable way to process trauma. The way in which Timothy (Joshua Harris) latches onto Data, mimicking his mannerisms and personality, is an example of how TNG excels at telling nuanced and emotional stories grounded in humanism and understanding. “Hero Worship” might not be flashy, but it has heart, and its ability to explore loss, grief, and fear is admirably sad and compelling.
15. S5 E17 “The Outcast”
Originally aired March 16, 1992
A unique departure from the typical “sexy Riker” formula as our favorite bearded ladies man tackles LGBTQ issues in the 24th Century.
It’s common knowledge that Gene Roddenberry was a committed defender of and advocate for marginalized Earthlings. With this in mind, it should come as no surprise that he fought to have LGBTQ characters included in the Star Trek cannon. In “The Outcast,” a member of an androgynous race called the J’naii (Melinda Culea) bucks their culture’s tradition by falling in love with Riker and, by extension, manages to challenge contemporary gender norms, the use of conversion therapy, and preferred pronouns well before Republicans and other bigots would pounce on chance to use these issues as a political wedge. Interestingly, Johnathan Frakes (who plays Riker) thought the episode would have been more effective (and likely more controversial) if his love interest had been played by a male actor instead of a female one. Big kudos to Frakes for taking such a bold stance, even if that’s not how things wound up in the end. “The Outcast” has plenty of flaws and is more than a bit robotic in its presentation, but remains a worthy attempt at tackling issues very few people were talking about thirty years ago.
14. S5 E6 “The Game”
Originally aired October 28, 1991
Wesley Crusher returns to the Enterprise to save everyone’s asses—this time from a strange addictive game that turns the crew into programmed automatons.
On the off chance you’ve missed the subtext behind the premise of “The Game,” it was only a matter of time before Riker the perv brought back something nasty from Risa to spread around the Enterprise. If you can get past the allusions to STDs, though, “The Game” is a decent little non-arc romp, and one that finally lets Wesley truly shine as the underrated hero he is. I know the young Crusher gets a lot of flack from fans, but, as I’ve said many times before, I believe this is undeserved, despite his often unfortunate wardrobe. “The Game” proves itself a solid mystery/adventure story that resembles survival horror (albeit on a much watered-down scale), but it also has a certain charm that shows a level of comfort sometimes missing from the show. The return of Ashley Judd as Ensign Lefler is a nice addition as well. Now, let us never again speak of the pleasure-inducing shame device Riker has brought aboard the ship or all the implied masturbation going on. Ewww.
13. S5 E9 “A Matter of Time”
Originally aired November 18, 1991
While investigating a temporal distortion, the Enterprise encounters an energetic historian from the 26th century who claims to be on an observational research mission.
The always entertaining Matt Frewer guest stars as Professor Berlinghoff Rasmussen, a time-traveling history expert from the future, in this comical and lighthearted episode. I don’t mind saying that the first time I saw “A Matter of Time,” I did not in any way see the twist ending coming. Sure, I knew something was off about Professor Rasmussen (Frewer’s off-kilter acting style almost guarantees that), but the specifics remained a mystery to me until the very end. “A Matter of Time” might not add much to the Star Trek canon, but it is a fun respite that raises some intriguing questions about the ethical use of technology and the existence of free will.
12. S5 E26 “Time’s Arrow Part 1”
Originally aired June 15, 1992
In the Season Five finale, archeologists make a mysterious and seemingly impossible discovery beneath 24th-century San Francisco.
It’s Data’s severed head. They find Data’s severed head in a cave below San Francisco. The trouble is, Data is alive and well, and the head is nearly 500 years old. This rather goofy episode (which ends on a cliffhanger that leads to Season Six) is actually pretty enjoyable. Yes, it’s a bit ridiculous and really only exists to give the crew an opportunity to interact with Mark Twain (Jerry Hardin), but if we can’t have fun with our favorite shows, then what’s the point? As everyone fears for Data’s headless future, the android himself philosophically ponders mortality with his usual clinically emotionless logic, something that puts his friends on edge and turns them into overprotective teenage emo kids. The episode’s set-up ensures a nearly irresistible mystery, and I specifically remember counting the days until the Season Six premiere would finally reveal just what the hell was going on. “Time’s Arrow Part One” might be on the silly side, but the crew’s genuine concern for the android they’ve come to love, along with their forced analysis of their own mortality and the prospect of losing a friend, are just as well-written and touching as you might think.
11. S5 E3 “Ensign Ro”
Originally aired October 7, 1991
When the Enterprise takes on a new ensign, we finally get our first glimpse of the Bajorans—a culture that would go on to have great importance within the franchise.
The decades-long occupation of Bajor by the Cardassians is now firmly planted within the mythology of Star Trek, but it wasn’t always so. The political allegory just under the surface of Bajor’s fight for freedom against the occupying forces of Cardassia may be a thinly disguised comment on humanity’s history of colonialism and imperialism, but that doesn’t make it any less compelling. In this first look at Bajoran politics, history, and culture, we meet Ensign Ro Laren (the wonderful Michelle Forbes), who proves a perfect introduction to the rebellious and indomitable spirit of the Bajoran people.
10. S5 E16 “Ethics”
Originally aired February 24, 1992
After Worf is paralyzed in an accident, he and the crew contemplate the ramifications of culture and personal choice as they apply them to such heavy moral quandaries as experimental medical procedures and assisted suicide.
Once again, it’s Worf who provides the series with some of its most insightful, thought-provoking, and, oddly enough, human explorations of contemporary issues. This time, Worf asks Riker to help him commit a form of Klingon ritual suicide when he feels an injury will prevent him from living a full Klingon life. That Riker refuses to assist or that Dr. Crusher won’t accept Worf’s morbid resolution is no surprise, but Picard’s measured, philosophical, and culturally sensitive response to the issue further proves why he’s the very best captain we’ve ever had. Adding to the drama is the presence of Alexander (who, as Worf’s son, is also expected to assist in the ritual) and a visiting genetic expert with questionable ethics (Caroline Kava), who insists Worf be the first to try her new experimental medical procedure, much to the ire of Dr. Crusher.
9. S5 E5 “Disaster”
Originally aired October 21, 1991
When the Enterprise is struck by an unknown force, the ship is rendered nearly inoperable, and the crew is forced into unfamiliar tasks.
“Disaster” is an example of how good TNG was at thinking outside the box. We’ve got Picard stuck in an elevator with a bunch of kids (it’s always fun to watch the Captain squirm), Deanna as the senior officer on the bridge (with O’Brien and Ensign Ro vying for control), Worf hilariously delivering babies and setting bones in Ten Forward (and uttering spectacular lines like “Good, you bore that well,” and “Congratulations. You are fully dilated to ten centimeters. You may now give birth!” YES!), Riker decapitating Data, and Bev and Geordi in the cargo bay logically working out a dire situation. In essence, it’s a shipwide fish-out-of-water story that, even after all these years, helps us get to know our favorite characters even better and forces together those who don’t ordinarily interact. Not to mention, the different yet connected subplot format makes for some really great TV.
8. S5 E1 “Redemption Part 2”
Originally aired September 23, 1991
In the Season Five premiere, a Klingon civil war has erupted, with Gowron and Worf battling Lursa and B’Etor for control of the Empire.
The Season Five premiere starts with a bang. Worf has resigned his commission to fight in the burgeoning Klingon Civil War under the command of his brother Kurn (Tony Todd). As is usual in episodes about Klingon strife, Shakespearean tropes are common, building plenty of drama, backstabbing, and double-dealings. Add to that Captain Picard’s attempts at exposing Romulan interference in internal Klingon affairs and the prejudice Data faces when he takes command of a fledgling starship, “Redemption pt. 2” easily goes from good to great. As Romulan espionage deepens and tensions rise in the Federation—not to mention the dramatic reveal of Tasha Yar’s daughter—Season Five gets off to a wonderful start.
7. S5 E7 “Unification: Part 2”
Originally aired November 11, 1991
Romulan intrigue is afoot as Picard and Data discover Spock on Romulus, who reveals that he’s on a mission of peace. Meanwhile, Riker and the Enterprise uncover the mystery of the destroyed Vulcan ship.
With the potential for bogged-down Romulan/Vulcan/Federation political minutiae (something I personally enjoy but understand that it may be tedious for others), “Unification: Part 2” never quite gets there due to a well-put-together subplot and the chemistry between its principle cast. For me, the opportunity to see Spock and Data have a simple conversation is irresistible, even if it is brief and has the same talking points that Data has with everyone (“more human” this, “emotions” that). In addition, as powerful as Sarek’s mind-meld with Picard is in “Sarek” from Season Three, the one between Spock and Picard at the end of “Unification: Part 2” is even more endearing. Plus, the disgust on Spock’s face when Picard accuses him of using “Cowboy Diplomacy” is priceless and a worthy way to bring generational fans together. (Not to mention, any appearance of Sela, the devious Romulan operative and inter-timeline daughter of Tasha Yar, is a welcomed one.)
6. S5 E7 “Unification: Part 1”
Originally aired November 4, 1991
When Spock is suspected of defecting to Romulus, Picard and Data go undercover to find the truth. Meanwhile, the Enterprise crew investigates the destruction of a Vulcan ship.
I remember watching this episode on the edge of my seat at my grandmother’s house when it aired in 1991. Seeing Spock in a Federation surveillance photo in the opening scene was enough to drive me completely bonkers. How could Spock defect to the hated Romulans? I knew there had to be more to the story (and, of course, there was), but the mystery behind the premise had me hooked from the start. I don’t mind saying that it still gives me goosebumps to watch it all these years later. While it’s very easy for “crossover” episodes to go horribly wrong, TNG unsurprisingly manages a seamless blend of nostalgia and invention. The reveal of Spock at the end of the episode is a simple one, but one that carries a hell of a lot of weight for a nerd like me. In addition, “Unification” marks a TNG milestone in that its subplot, concerning an investigation into a Vulcan ship destroyed under mysterious circumstances, is a well-defined story that enhances the main plot rather than detracting from it.
Personal Log: Gene Rodenberry died shortly before the episode aired. His positive influence on me is something I will always cherish. Peace and long life.
5. S5 E18 “Cause and Effect”
Originally aired March 23, 1992
The Enterprise is destroyed over and over again as it finds itself locked in a lethal time loop.
“Cause and Effect” is perhaps TNG’s most experimental episode. The events leading up to the ship’s destruction are repeated over and over again, similar to Groundhog Day, but in this case, no one is aware of the repetition. As each day starts anew, we begin to notice minor differences in the crew’s actions while they experience acute occurrences of déjà vu. These small deviations help to build a fantastic mystery that gets better with each instance and culminates in one of the best surprise guest appearances in franchise history. “Cause and Effect” is a terrific example of the kind of bold and creative storytelling that helped pave the way for groundbreaking shows like Lost, The Leftovers, and Yellowjackets. It’s also another example of the crew of the Enterprise unquestioningly believing Bev (a woman, gasp!) as she posits ideas that on lesser shows would have had her dismissed as “hysterical.” Once again, TNG is well ahead of the curve.
4. S5 E14 “Conundrum”
Originally aired February 10, 1992
A top-notch mystery that will always hold a special place in my heart because of where I was and who I was with when I watched its premiere.
Right out of the gate, “Conundrum” hits us with an intriguing premise. After the Enterprise is scanned by an unknown vessel, everyone loses their memory yet still knows how to perform their duties. The mystery builds as the crew attempts to understand their roles both on ship and in the greater context of galactic politics, leading to some spectacular and surprising role-reversals. It’s a tense, funny, and informative episode that gives our favorite characters a chance to show us their full potential for better and, in some cases, worse. “Conundrum” is often overlooked in the grand scheme of things but remains among the best of what TNG has to offer.
Personal Log: I can’t talk about “Conundrum” without mentioning one of my very best friends. By the time “Conundrum” debuted in February of 1992, I’d already been friends with Justin for a few years (along with our small group of nerd friends, we played a lot of Dungeons & Dragons and Heroes Unlimited together), but we hadn’t done much hanging out when it was just the two of us. To remedy that, he invited me over to his house to watch the new TNG episode and spend the night. In preparation for the latest installment of our favorite show, Justin made us tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches. To this day, that is still the best grilled cheese I have ever eaten.
Justin and I fell in and out of contact several times over the years that followed, but always fell right back into our long friendship, hearty laughs, philosophical debates, and genuine appreciation of each other’s company at a moment’s notice. We lost Justin to cancer a while back, and I feel like the world is a decidedly shittier place without him. I have millions of amazing memories about Justin to hold onto, but the night he made us those sandwiches and we settled in to watch Star Trek is my absolute favorite. I miss you terribly, old friend.
3. S5 E23 “I, Borg”
Originally aired May 10, 1992
A fantastic episode that tackles deep concepts such as genocide, prejudice, and forgiveness, all wrapped up in a lone Borg’s quest for free will.
The way Captain Picard’s face changes the moment Riker mentions his away team has found an unconscious Borg speaks volumes about where this superb episode is headed. As victims of the Borg, both Picard and Guinan are forced to reconcile the hatred they feel for the Federation’s greatest threat and must come to terms with the fact that, underneath all the indoctrination and machinery, a real person may still exist. The hostility felt by almost everyone onboard toward a Borg survivor (Jonathan Del Arco) is palpable and demonstrates with true TNG integrity that even our most stoic heroes are far from perfect. As the story deepens, questions about genocide and autonomy come into play as many of the Enterprise crew struggle to rationalize their moral compass against their lived experience. Ultimately, “I, Borg” becomes one of TNG’s most emotionally charged think pieces.
2. S5 E25 “The Inner Light”
Originally aired June 1, 1992
After discovering a mysterious probe, Picard is transported to a dying Earth-like world that he eventually comes to call home.
Throughout my first watch of “The Inner Light” so many years ago, I found myself continually struck by its melancholy and somber tone. I also found myself so invested in its story that I nearly forgot that Captain Picard ever even had a life back on the Enterprise. His full experiences on Kataan are at times wonderful and at others disheartening, but the pure joy he comes to know is something he would never have allowed himself in his previous life. The climax of “The Inner Light” sees perhaps the most devastating and thoughtful writing in franchise history and earns it a place near the top of almost every “best of” list ever made (and only missed the number one spot on mine by a nearly imperceptible margin). Personally, the ending of “The Inner Light” is one of my favorite moments in TV history, and that is not something I say with any measure of frivolity.
1. S5 E2 “Darmok”
Originally aired September 30, 1991
When the Enterprise encounters an alien race whose language is so complex that the universal translator can’t even decode it, extreme measures are taken to establish communication. It’s also the first appearance by Ashley Judd as Ensign Lefler, which is always a plus.
More than any episode, “Darmok” embodies the essence of Star Trek: The Next Generation. The dangerous gamble the Tamarians undertake in order to establish a dialogue with the Federation (or anyone else for that matter) is a risky one, but rooted in an innate longing for peace. Their mysterious language is not only fascinating to listen to but also forces us to examine our own myths and what kinds of truths and fables are, or should be, most important to us. A deep longing for allyship and connection is at the heart of “Darmok,” and it’s this that gives it much of its heart. Watching Picard and Dathon (the always wonderful Paul Winfield) come to understand each other at last is a kind of sincere joy one rarely sees on TV and perfectly sums up the generosity of spirit Gene Rodenberry had always envisioned.
James is a writer, record collector, wrestling nerd, and tabletop gamer living with his family in Asheville, North Carolina. He is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association, the North Carolina Film Critics Association, and contributes to The Daily Orca, Razorcake Magazine, Mountain Xpress, and Asheville Movies.