Top 10 Star Trek: The Next Generation Episodes
Star Trek: The Next Generation is the second series in the Star Trek franchise. It was what many fans considered to be the best series of the Star Trek franchise. Its premiere television run was from 1987 to 1994, with 178 episodes made. Through all seven seasons of the series, there were quite a few good episodes.
#10 – The Arsenal of Freedom (Season 1)
Beginning the list at #10 is the 21st episode of Season 1, “The Arsenal of Freedom.”
In the episode, an away team is trapped on the surface of a planet, becoming unwitting participants in the demonstration of an advanced planetary defense system. In orbit, the Enterprise battles with a small
self-cloaking probe.
#9 – Timescape (Season 6) / Parallels (Season 7)
Continuing the list at #9 is a tie between “Timescape,” which debuted as the second-last episode of Season 6, and “Parallels,” which debuted in Season 7. I found it hard to pick only one of these two episodes for the 9th position on the list, so I placed both of them there.
In “Timescape,” the Enterprise is caught in temporal stasis, and on the brink of destruction by the Romulans. In “Parallels,” Worf finds himself randomly shifting between alternate realities. Both episodes involve time-travel, have well-written storylines, and are packed with action and special effects.
#8 – Yesterday’s Enterprise (Season 3)
At #8 is the episode “Yesterday’s Enterprise,” where the Enterprise-D meets its predecessor.
In the episode, an encounter with the Enterprise-C causes a shift in reality – and the return of the deceased Tasha Yar.
#7 – All Good Things…, Part I and II (Season 7)
In the top ten episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation, the two-part series finale “All Good Things…” comes in at #7 on the list.
In Part 1 of the episode, Picard finds himself alternating between three time periods thanks to Q, with a space-time distortion that threatens to destroy humanity growing larger in the past. In Part 2, Picard has all three versions of the Enterprise-D enter the anomaly and create a static warp shell, which collapses the anomaly the returns the timeline to normal.
#6 – Q Who? (Season 2)
The 6th best episode of the series is the Season 2 episode, “Q Who?”
In the episode, Q fires the ship 7,000 light-years away from Federation space and introduces the crew of the Enterprise to the deadly Borg.
#5 – The Nth Degree (Season 4)
Kicking off the top five episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation is “The Nth Degree.”
In the episode, after an encounter with an alien probe, Lieutenant Barclay experiences great leaps in confidence and intelligence.
#4 – Relics (Season 6)
Sitting at #4 on the list is the 4th episode of Season 6, “Relics.”
In the episode, the Enterprise investigates a shuttle that crashed on the surface of a Dyson Sphere 75 years ago. An un-degraded pattern is found in the transporter buffer, that of Mr. Scott (played by James Doohan from the original Star Trek cast). Starting to feel out of place and obsolete, Scotty agrees to return to his shuttle with Geordi, and they become the only hope when the Enterprise is accidentally pulled inside the sphere!
This episode was the #1 choice for the “Space Salutes James ‘Scotty’ Doohan” Viewers Choice Marathon, which debuted on the Space channel shortly after Doohan’s passing away in 2005.
#3 – Descent, Part I and II (Seasons 6 and 7)
Holding on to a #3 position on the list is the two-part episode “Decent,” which is the Season 6 finale and Season 7 premiere, respectively.
In Part 1 of the episode, the crew encounter a group of Borg acting individually, and Data briefly experiences emotions. In Part 2, the audience discovers that the Borg are being led by Lore, Data’s evil “brother,” who is controlling Data by feeding him negative emotions.
#2 – Redemption, Part I and II (Seasons 4 and 5)
The second best Star Trek: The Next Generation episode on my Top 10 Episode List is the two-part episode, “Redemption.” This Season 4 finale and Season 5 premiere, respectively, depict a major battle between the Federation and Klingons, against the Romulans and Duras family.
In Part 1, Worf leaves the Enterprise to fight on behalf of Gowron in a Klingon civil war. In Part 2, a fleet of 23 Federation ships cut off Romulan support to the Duras family, resulting in Gowron’s installation as Chancellor.
#1 – The Best of Both Worlds, Part I and II (Seasons 3 and 4)
Finally, we come to the best episode of the entire series of Star Trek: The Next Generation! Sitting pretty at #1 on our Top 10 Episode List is the two-part Borg episode we’ve all come to know and recognize, “The Best of Both Worlds.”
In Part 1 of the episode, which was the Season 3 finale, Picard is kidnapped by the Borg, who begin their invasion of Federation space. In Part 2, the Season 4 premiere, Picard is rescued from the Borg, as the Enterprise races to save Earth.
Other Good Episodes
In particular, many fans of the series might wonder why I’ve left out a couple of other good episodes on this Top 10 Episodes List. I’ve tried my best to write a list incorporating what I believe are the best episodes of the series, based upon action, storyline and amount of special effects used. If you believe there was another good episode of the series that’s worth being mentioned, feel free to post a comment to my article and let everyone else know.
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What about Time’s Arrow and Cause and Effect? In my opinion, they would take #1(Time’s Arrow) and #2(Cause and Effect). Your choice isn’t bad, but these two would make it even better.
I’m glad to see Best of Both Worlds in your number one spot. I’ve converted many a Star Trek sceptic to ST:TNG by showing them Best of Both Worlds and First Contact back to back! That’s a great evening’s viewing!
Good list, nice to see season 1 being recognised with Arsenal of Freedom, and Q Who is too often overlooked so happy to see it at #6. I think other great episodes worthy of mention include Measure of a Man, Cause and Effect, Data’s Day, Family, Chain of Command, The Wounded, The Defector, Tapestry, Darmok and my personal favourite, The Inner Light.
Tapestry is not on this list. It is by far the best Q episode and arguably the best written episode TNG has.
My two personal favorites are Darmok and The Inner Light. They are not the most action packed, but both are amazing.
Darmok is a shining example of the crews primary mission “to seek out new life and new civilizations”.
The Inner Light just makes you glad to be alive.
I am a very big Star Trek fan, and I think you left very big episodes out. First of all, Yesterday’s Enterprise should be number one, although Best of Both Worlds does put up a very good fight. All Good Things should’ve been higher up.
Tapestry certainly does deserve a spot on this list, and I think it could certainly replace Q Who?. The Inner Light was also very excellent.
No sins of the father? What a weighty, noble, almost shakesperian tale of honor, duty, family, and the beginning of one of the coldest dishes of revenge being served
I think “The Chase” is worth honorable mention. Its good old sci-fi that doesn’t require tachyons or time-travel paradoxes. The punchline at the end is great and makes you think at bit. The Inner Light is still #1 on my list however. I am also glad to see Q-who on the list.
I think The Inner Light should definately be #1.
It’s fairly obvious The Inner Light should be on the list, more than half of the people who commented believe so.And why don’t I see Sins of the father on here?
Good list, obviously it’s hard to list a top 10 that will favor everyone. My favorite episodes are ‘All Good Things’ and ‘Genesis’ they rock!!! And any episode with Q is always lots of fun!!!
Without a doubt, The Inner Light should be number 1.
Didn’t really like Yesterday’s Enterprise. Hopefully “bad-assery” wasn’t the reason why the episode was so well received, because the appeal of TNG was never about wars and battles, but exploration. Some of the holodeck episodes were my favourite because they were the most creative and atmospheric, and not just about blowing things up. Similarly, Enterprise’s ‘In a Mirror Darkly’ was one of the better received episodes of ENT’s run, but I failed to see the appeal apart from the amusing first scene of Zephram Cochrane taking out a shotgun and blasting a Vulcan with it during first contact.
INNER LIGHT – No.1
The Inner Light belongs on this list.
I like episodes where the ship is hyjacked or there is battles fought on board the ship ect. I am unsure of what episodes to watch, if anyone can tell me which episodes I might like, please tell me. Thanks!
I’m sure everyone would love to have their top ten listed above but this isn’t a bad representation.
I agree that ‘Yesterday’s Enterprise’ and ‘All Good Things’ should be higher. Especially above the cliffhanger season finalee’s of ‘Descent’ and ‘Redemption’.
And yes, ‘The Inner Light’ should be listed, maybe even ‘Defector’. But I’m surprised ‘Chain of Command’ is not here or perhaps, one that hasn’t been mentioned – ‘Sarek’. Maybe these last two I would choose because they really tested the character of Picard.
Oh – and one more – ‘Data’s Child’ – excellent.
Where’s DARMOK????
Shaka, when the walls fell
Honorable mentions:
Inner Light
Starship Mine
Data’s Child
Brothers
Relics
The Defector, etc.
hey where’s a fistful of datas? its my fav episode =P its really good. Really good list otherwise though.
Inner Light should be there. And “All Good Things” should be in the top three. The latter episode was Picard’s greatest challenge, as he had to confront the same crisis from three different time periods.
Inner Light is great. Meage a Troi is also pretty good, maybe 9 or 10. Starship Mine is another notable choice for top 5.
WHY is everyone so infatuated with The Inner Light? It was a decent episode, but it’s by far the most over-rated. I like it less now just because I’m sick of seeing everyone rate it at number 1. It’s a pretty good list. Impossible to name the 10 best in a way that will please everyone.
Inner light IS a good episode, as is Tapestry, bu tI have to go for Times Arrow 1&2 myself for number 1. I respect your list, and am just spo pleased we have all enjoyed such a high quality show that we can each probably list 10 different top 10 episodes and each go ‘yeah, actually those were pretty good too” about eachother’s faves. Not so many shows that can do that I reckon.
good to see the arsenal of freedom on here, it often gets overlooked. I’m shocked that measure of a man isn’t on this list, but the most grievously overlooked is skin of evil who doesn’t love to watch that tar monster backhand Tasha Yar to death, no more rapegangs where your going tasha.
i totally agree with brandon skin of evil was my favorite. was shocked first time i watched it and creature has to be one of cruelest all-time. will watch it every time it is on.
This list really stunk it up.
WHERE IS DA ONE WHERE PICARD AND VOSH HANG OUT ON RISA????
“You … are.. outRAAAAGEOUS”
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As a big fan of those shakespearean moments, I think ‘Sarek’ (mindmeld scene is unreal), ‘Chain of Command’ and ‘Measure of a Man’ have to be included in best-of discussions
Good list but noone has mentioned Tin Man? Brill Episode that
My top 10 (in no particular order):
-The Defector
-Who Watches the Watchers
-The Most Toys
-Best of Both Worlds (Parts 1 and 2)
-Preemptive Strike
-The Pegasus
-Chain of Command (Parts 1 and 2)
-The Inner Light
-Tapestry
-I, Borg
@nerd: Thanks. I was going to put my own list, but yours is close enough.
I respect your opinion, Dialga, but I have to admit I was shocked to see Descent on there. Not a bad episode, per se, but nowhere near my top 10.