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 Four is chock full of story seeds that grow and blossom into wonderful arcs that span the remainder of the franchise. As character development has finally solidified, we’re firmly set into how the show will look and feel for the rest of its run. In addition to the chaos the Borg sets upon the Federation, Season Four ramps up the tension with enough Romulan espionage and Klingon dirty politics to give even the best of dramas a run for their money.
Before your Earl Grey gets cold, here is Star Trek: The Next Generation Season Four ranked.
26. S4 E10 “The Loss”
Originally aired December 31, 1990
Deanna mysteriously loses her empathic abilities, and because she’s a woman, acts hysterically and irrationally.
I thought we were over this. Once again Deanna is violated, proving that she’s not much more than a punching bag for clueless men. I can only imagine (or hope) that when Deanna flips out on Picard over his meaningless platitudes, that this was a jab the women who helped write the episode snuck in under the noses of their clueless male counterparts. “The Loss” is a forgettable filler episode with no impact on anything whatsoever. It would have been more interesting if Deanna’s powers had stayed gone. Of course, then she’d likely have had even fewer lines.
25. S4 E23 “The Host”
Originally aired May 13, 1991
Bev falls in love (again) only to have things fall apart in new and interesting ways (again).
“The Host” offers up some important lore that comes into play in a subsequent series, but unsurprisingly falls short in almost every other way. For all its positives, TNG has a knack for completely missing the mark when it comes to its female characters. They may be brilliant in their respective fields, but they’re too often reduced to lovelorn or hysterical tropes. At least with “The Host” we’re treated to what could be considered edgy subject matter when Bev says “I love you” to a woman and kisses her on the hand. An opportunity for groundbreaking TV squandered.
24. S4 E16 “Galaxy’s Child”
Originally aired March 11, 1991
Things get awkward as Geordie’s crush finds out he’s been hanging out with an idealized version of her on the holodeck. Awkward!
We first meet Leah Brahms in the Season Three episode “Booby Trap” when Geordie uses a holodeck version of the Enterprise designer to help him save the ship from an imminent disaster. Now, with the real Leah coming onboard to inspect her ship, Geordie is eerily quick to assume that a relationship is a foregone conclusion. I’m sure the intention was to paint Geordie as an “Aw shucks” everyman but seen through a modern lens, his behavior is creepy and manipulative. I love Geordie as much as the next fan, but “Galaxy’s Child” is another example of writing him like an incel who’s owed a girlfriend – and another reminder that the holodeck is a nasty, nasty place. Oops, I almost forgot the part about a giant space-baby who thinks the Enterprise is its mother.
23. S4 E4 “Suddenly Human”
Originally aired October 15, 1990
Captain Picard is put in charge of a rebellious human teenager who was orphaned and raised as the son of Talarian Commander, as per that planet’s custom.
Just about any excuse to watch Picard interact with children is worth the effort, even if the episode falls flat in other regards. This time around, grumpy Jean-Luc is in charge of a snotty teen who plays his music too loud and gets stabby when things don’t go his way. “Suddenly Human” might have a forced, unresolved ending, but the comical generational interactions make it bearable.
22. S4 E25 “In Theory”
Originally aired June 3, 1991
Another Data-centric episode in which he ponders human relationships.
When Data finds himself the object of affection for a recently single crewmate, he uses the opportunity to rather coldly study human behavior. Naturally, things don’t work out but there are enough funny bits thrown in to make “In Theory” a serviceable if unnecessary episode. The concept of Data finding lasting love is an intriguing one, but the ho-hum way in which it ends and then never brought up again (to my recollection) seems like an abrupt, wasted opportunity. And there’s a ghost or something on board who likes to make messes for some reason.
21. S4 E6 “Legacy”
Originally aired October 29, 1990
The Enterprise crew is pulled into an old civil war still waging on beloved Tasha Yar’s home planet.
The introduction of Tasha’s “sister” is an interesting turn in theory, but is ultimately a failed attempt at depth and nostalgia. “Legacy” isn’t a terrible episode, but its big swerve doesn’t pan out, and I’m not buying that the entire crew could be duped so easily. Ishara (Beth Toussaint) is a cool character, though – one I wish they’d brought back in some capacity later on.
20. S4 E17 “Night Terrors”
Originally aired March 18, 1991
This creepy episode with strong Lovecraftian overtones isn’t much liked by critics, but what do they know?
Stories about nightmares and dreams are an area I’ve always had a strong fascination with. With “Night Terrors,” we’re treated to a decent exploration of said subject matter with a nod to the dream stories of H.P. Lovecraft, sci-fi horror films like Solaris (1972), and an obvious influence on 1997’s Event Horizon. The growing tension and mystery are compelling, and when you add in that 34 members of a Federation Starship all murdered each other, you get one of TNG’s most unsettling episodes.
19. S4 E18 “Identity Crisis”
Originally aired March 25, 1991
When the members of an away mission from Geordi’s past begin to desert their posts, an investigation is launched
“Identity Crisis” is one of those episodes that begins with a solid mystery and then solved through good old-fashioned investigation. There’s plenty of creepiness and traditional fear of the “other” as Geordi painstakingly determines what’s happening to him and his former crewmates. Part deductive reasoning, part evolutionary horror, “Identity Crisis” is an overlooked spine-tingler.
18. S4 E13 “Devil’s Due”
Originally aired February 4, 1991
A God-like entity returns to a superstitious planet, claiming that doomsday is around the corner unless they honor a thousand-year-old pact. Captain Picard, naturally will have nothing to do with that bullshit.
There are many things I love about Star Trek, with taking pot-shots at religion and structured legal proceedings being two of them. In “Devil’s Due” we get both in spades. It’s a goofy episode, but when you have Data – who’s been appointed as an impartial judge in a Scopes-like trial – uttering with the utmost sincerity lines like “The advocate will refrain from making her opponent disappear,” I for one cannot object. The idea that a con-artist would pose as a literal Satan figure in order to fleece an entire planet is so absurd that it can’t be anything but entertaining.
17. S4 E11 “Data’s Day”
Originally aired June 7, 1991
Once again Data tries to understand human emotion by observing their relationships, but this time some Vulcan/Romulan politics is thrown on the back burner.
I often get bored with the numerous episodes dedicated to Data’s quest to understand human emotion, but “Data’s Day” has a certain charm that sets it apart from the others. As Data bumbles through the wedding of Miles and Keiko, he absorbs advice from all the usual suspects – even inexplicably asking Worf for advice about a wedding gift. In his attempt to help the future O’Briens (the only successful long term romantic relationship in the franchise), Data very nearly derails the entire ceremony, all while uncovering a Romulan deception. I love any excuse to insert Romulan espionage into an episode, but in the case of “Data’s Day,” it exists mostly as a replacement for the main plot’s lack of conflict. Still, it all works more than it doesn’t.
16. S4 E9 “Final Mission”
Originally aired December 2, 1990
A standard survival by ingenuity episode that’s made better by the uncomfortable relationship between Captain Picard and Wesley Crusher.
By now you should know that I have a great deal more sympathy for the Wesley Crusher character than many fans have. I fully recognize the complaints of the others, but I dismiss them. I make no apologies. That kid has saved as many lives on the Enterprise as any other character. Give him a break already. In “Final Mission,” he gets to save Picard – and solve a cool riddle/mystery in the process. Well, the riddle is a bit trite, but watching Wes figure it out as Picard lays dying in a cave while they bond over near-death is both entertaining and touching. There’s an unnecessary storyline happening on the Enterprise about radiation leaks or something but the meat is in the Picard/Wes dynamic.
15. S4 E 19 “The Nth Degree”
Originally aired April 1, 1991
When hapless sad-sack Reg Barclay is bestowed with immeasurable intelligence, it doesn’t take long for him to put the Enterprise in some serious trouble.
Aside from Patrick Stweart, Dwight Schultz may be TNG’s best actor. His portrayal of Reginald Barclay – the perpetual loser who can’t seem to catch a break no matter how hard he tries – is among the best side characters the franchise has to offer. In a perfect follow-up to his debut in the Season Three episode “Hollow Pursuit,” Barclay once again finds himself in the bad graces of his fellow shipmates. This time, however, it isn’t his fault, but try telling that to an irate Captain Picard. It’s funny, it’s awkward, and it gives Schultz a chance to show us what he’s got while letting us get to know our favorite lost cause a little better.
14. S4 E8 “Future Imperfect”
Originally aired November 12, 1990
Riker awakens in sickbay sixteen years in the future with no memory of the interim.
“Future Imperfect” is a wonderful episode all the way up to its extremely anti-climactic ending. It hits all the right beats for a compelling Romulan espionage tale but undoes itself with a lame, pointless finish that adds nothing to the mythology of the series. If you can get past that (and all the grey hair and pointy goatees), “Future Imperfect” offers almost enough to make up for its poor decisions.
13. S4 E3 “Brothers”
Originally aired October 8, 1990
Data abandons a rescue mission by hijacking the Enterprise and diverting it to a destination that holds a mysterious secret.
I don’t recall ever enjoying the Lore character. In “Brothers,” we not only get Spiner as Data’s annoyingly diabolical sibling, but also as his overacted “father,” Dr. Noonien Soong. More, the introduction of Data’s “emotion chip” is, in my opinion, a complete betrayal of his character arc up to this point. Data’s quest to understand human emotion is meant to be a journey. Shortcuts shouldn’t be allowed. For better or worse, “Brothers” does do a decent job of furthering the Data/Lore dynamic, and its first act is an amazing example of how to set up a story, even if that story fizzles out later on.
12. S4 E22 “Half a Life”
Originally aired May 6, 1991
The indelible Lwaxana Troi finds herself in the middle of a moral and ethical quandary as her new love struggles with his planet’s views on aging.
Lwaxana Troi is garish and brash, yes, but through this, she’s capable of interjecting some often needed levity and level-headed criticism of the Enterprise and its crew. Sometimes, writers even let her character develop past the overbearing mother-hen she’s so often portrayed as. In “Half a Life,” we see Lwaxana at her most vulnerable, as she allows herself to fall in love with an honest and decent man (played wonderfully by character actor David Ogden Stiers). The only problem is that her new man is reaching an age in which those in his culture commit ritual suicide. “Half a Life” could easily be seen as a comment on American nursing home banishment and the nature in which we view and interact with the elderly, but mostly it’s a heartfelt tale of loss and letting go.
11. S4 E20 “Qpid”
Originally aired April 22, 1991
Season 4’s “Q” episode is perhaps the goofiest and most entertaining yet.
When Q is curious about how love works, he kidnaps the crew and whisks them away to Sherwood Forest to participate in a Robin Hood role-playing exercise – which seems perfectly sane and logical to me. Also along for the fun – and much to the captain’s extreme embarrassment – is Vash, Jean-Luc’s fling from Season Three’s “Captain’s Holiday.” It’s weird and it’s uncomfortable at times, but it’s oh so much fun. Let’s be honest, when you have Worf dressed head to toe in hot pink angrily declaring “I am not a merry man,” it’s hard to find much fault.
10. S4 E24 “The Mind’s Eye”
Originally aired May 27, 1991
Geordi becomes the victim of a Romulan “Manchurian Candidate” plot to assassinate a Klingon official.
“The Mind’s Eye” is one of those episodes that perfectly weaves intrigue and character together into a successful and compelling mystery. Watching Geordi unwittingly go against character to implement a deviously planned assassination is as entertaining as it is unsettling. As his mind fractures, he’s powerless to stop himself from fulfilling his handler’s plans, and the toll it takes on him is evident. At the end of the episode – and as Picard did after his Borg assimilation earlier in the season – Geordi sits with Counselor Troi, trying to put the pieces back together. These final moments are touching and disturbing in their implication.
9. S4 E14 “Clues”
Originally aired February 11, 1991
After briefly losing consciousness due to the effects of a wormhole, the crew of the Enterprise begins to suspect they were out for more than just a few seconds.
“Clues” represents one of the most entertaining mysteries TNG ever produced. From its Dixon Hill introduction (which includes Guinan getting in on the fun) to its unconventional ending, “Clues” reveals itself layer by mysterious layer. There’s a lot to love, but what I find most striking is the never-before-seen Data/Picard dynamic that necessitates the episode’s puzzle. Watch as Data gives cryptic, yet truthful answers to Picard’s questioning, and then notice the frustration turn to understanding when the pieces begin falling into place. Even Deanna being violated – again – can’t ruin the good time or a great, tense ending.
8. S4 E5 “Remember Me”
Originally aired October 22, 1990
Bev is the only one who remembers the crew members when they start mysteriously disappearing from the Enterprise one by one.
For whatever reason, the fates have determined that “Remember Me” shall remain one of my most-seen TNG episodes. I’ve always enjoyed it (it’s probably the best Bev episode out there), but on this most recent viewing, I noticed something I’d never noticed before – something that makes it an important episode to understand. “Remember Me” centers around crew members who begin to vanish off the Enterprise. Oddly, Bev (and us, of course) are the only ones who remember that they ever existed. Here’s the interesting part: when the good doctor brings her concerns to the Captain, he believes her without question. This is important. Even though the evidence she presents is contrary to his understanding of the situation, he accepts her claims and opens an investigation. No one accuses her of making it up or being hysterical. Wow. This is monumental TV writing, especially taken in today’s context of #metoo and our long-overdue cultural shift towards believing women. Once again, TNG sets the curve.
7. S4 E12 “The Wounded”
Originally aired January 28, 1991
In what could be considered the first episode of Deep Space Nine, we’re introduced to the Cardassians and get to know everyone’s favorite transporter chief a little better.
“The Wounded” is easily TNG’s first truly great exploration of racism and its effects. In stark contrast to the racial whipping-boys they made out of the Ferengi and other races in earlier seasons, “The Wounded” approaches prejudice from a very deliberate angle. We learn that Chief O’Brien has a deeply traumatic history with Cardassians – the Federation’s newest allies. He’s torn between his allegiance to his former commanding officer and what he knows deep down to be right, but the unprocessed rage he feels boils up in unhealthy ways. “The Wounded” is what I would call a very responsible episode, with enough earned emotion and real-world application to make it important viewing.
Personal Log: When I was in 10th grade (1993/’94), I wrote a song for my TNG-themed hardcore band, Tiberious, called “Cardassians are Mean.” I don’t recall if the band ever played a live show, but the thought of me sitting down to teach a song about the surly nature of Cardassians to a selected few schoolmates brings a smile to my face.
6. S4 E15 “First Contact”
Originally aired February 18, 1991
Riker inadvertently sends a developing planet into a tizzy when he’s uncovered as an “alien” invader during a standard first contact investigation. It’s as funny as it sounds.
One thing TNG loves to do is point out the shortcomings of organized religion – especially when it conflicts with the possibility of scientific advancement. In addition to a sobering and logical look at the battle between science and religion, “First Contact” is also very funny. This is mostly due to the hilarious inclusion of Bebe Neuwirth as an attention-starved alien trying to get some Riker love. Number One’s status as a ladies man doesn’t seem as creepy when the tables are turned and he’s the one being aggressively wooed. In the end, the combination of humor and planetary introspection (Malcor III’s fundamentalism is, of course, a stand-in for bible-thumping, science-denying Earthlings) makes “First Contact” both entertaining and timely in these times of scientific necessity.
5. S4 E21 “The Drumhead”
Originally aired April 29, 1991
Conspiratorial paranoia rips through the Enterprise when a visiting Admiral begins a McCarthyist investigation.
Upon airing, I’m certain “The Drumhead” writer Jeri Taylor had the Joseph McCarthy-led House Un-American Activities Committee of the 1950s in mind as the backbone of her stirring episode. However, in true TNG fashion, time has proven “The Drumhead” to be a prophetic tale of paranoia, coercion, and the exertion of unchecked power. With jingoistic “America First” sentiment and the scapegoating politics of dog-whistling racism on the rise, organizations like ICE and others have run rampant on both our justice system and our moral center. Science Fiction is at its best when combating the failings of uncritical thinking but rarely proves so on-the-nose and so eerily cautionary.
4. S4 E26 “Redemption pt. 1”
Originally aired June 17, 1991
In this continuation of Worf’s saga of discommendation, the plot thickens as new players emerge in the fight for the future of the Klingon Empire.
I will scream it until my lungs hurt: Worf is the most dynamic and developed character in all of Star Trek! In addition, Klingon politics are somehow more established and interesting than they are on any planet in the galaxy. Maybe it’s all the Shakespeare they read, who knows. At any rate, “Redemption pt. 1,” the season finale, not only involves the ever-evolving political climate on the Klingon homeworld of Q’onoS but introduces some of the best recurring villains in the franchise – Lursa and B-Etor (Barbara March and Gwynyth Walsh) – Klingon sisters bent on world domination. Plus we get the return of Worf’s brother Kurn, the always-grumpy Gowron, and Picard performing some serious political maneuvering. Throw in the possibility of a Klingon Civil War funded and manipulated by Romulans and “Redemption pt. 1” becomes too irresistible to bear. I can’t wait to see what happens in Part 2!
3. S4 E2 “Family”
Originally aired October 1, 1990
The follow-up to “The Best of Both Worlds” finds the Captain visiting his estranged family in France. It might not sound like much on paper, but it serves as an important emotional release from the carnage that preceded it.
After the nail-biting Season Three finale and the devastating Season Four premiere, where to go next is something writers could easily have fouled up. Thankfully for us, they didn’t. “Family” is an endearing look at Picard’s life outside of Starfleet (if such a thing can exist) as he readjusts back to humanity and begins to put the pieces of his Borg experience behind him. Masked as a sibling rivalry story, “Family” plumbs much deeper than it lets on, with our favorite captain showing emotion rare for his character. His outpouring is both cathartic and long-awaited, and it’s handled with the utmost care and understanding. There’s a parallel plot involving Worf that isn’t as successful, but heartwarming all the same. “Family” is great TV, and is essential viewing for any serious fan.
2. S4 E7 “Reunion”
Originally aired November 5, 1990
The tragedy of Worf grows ever stronger when a surprise visit from his estranged wife introduces a host of new and important characters. Shakespeare couldn’t have written it better himself.
With the surprising – and ultimately heartbreaking – return of Worf’s love interest K’Ehleyr, we are treated to the odd and somewhat creepy introduction of Alexander, the big guy’s son (yet another example of why the Worf character was able to gain a level of complexity that the others weren’t). And who could forget the first appearance of the much-loved and forever-grumpy Gowron? (does that surly Klingon know how to light up a room or what?) Anyway, blood feuds and backdoor political maneuverings within the Empire’s grand halls set the stage for Shakespearean tragedy only the Klingons can produce in this truly great and dramatic entry into the canon.
1. S4 E1 “The Best of Both Worlds pt. 2”
Originally aired September 24, 1990
The conclusion to Season Three’s finale is perhaps TNG at its grimmest and most mournful. Astounding television.
“The Best of Both Worlds pt.2” concludes the Locutus of Borg saga but is far from the end of its implications. In the years since it has aired, the scars Picard carries with him have now traveled through the remainder of TNG, the subsequent movies, and into the newly aired Picard series. The death and destruction leveled on the Federation at the hands of Locutus also famously influences the future commander of Deep Space Nine, who loses his wife in the conflict. The idea that one of Starfleet’s most decorated and respected officers could be “responsible” for so much carnage is a disturbing notion, and one that bleeds into the cannon for years to come. Both episodes of “The Best of Both Worlds” are action-packed, tense, and unsettling on top of being some of the most engaging TV to ever air.
James is a writer, skateboarder, 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.