This Season 4 entry fleshes out Data’s backstory with a one-man show for Brent Spiner as he plays three different characters: Data, his very old creator, Dr. The tension therein makes for one hell of an episode. For the first time on Star Trek, you don’t know how or if the crew will get out of this one. Our introduction to the Borg is both bleak and dark, which gives the episode a slow burn, almost haunted house movie-type feel thanks to future X-Files director Rob Bowman’s dread-filled visual style. The moment their cube vessel cuts out a section of the D’s saucer as easily as one would carve a roast, the Borg instantly shot past the Klingons as Star Trek’s most lethal adversary. There, Picard encounters - and barely escapes - the Borg and their relentless pursuit of perfection by means of assimilation.

When Q is denied a spot amongst Picard’s crew, he punishes the captain’s perceived short-sightedness by snapping his fingers and sending the Enterprise to the unexplored reaches of the Delta Quadrant. The Borg have never been more scary than they are in “Q Who?”, their first appearance in Star Trek. With everyone coming up Star Trek: The Next Generation lately, as well as the franchise itself celebrating its 55th anniversary this year, SYFY WIRE scrolled through our databanks to rank and file the 25 greatest episodes of TNG. Spock's return to television prior to the theatrical release of 1991's Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, and Star Trek: First Contact recently turned 25. In 2021, TNG celebrate some significant milestones: The 30th anniversary of the Season 5 episode 'Disaster,' Trek's take on disaster movies like The Poseidon Adventure, the 30th of 'Unification, Parts I and II, which marked Mr. Trek’s legacy would endure and spawn 13 feature films and several series, most notably Star Trek: The Next Generation, which is as popular now (or more) than it has ever been, thanks to streaming.

But what it lacked in spectacle it made up for with ideas a thematically-rich exploration of heady sci-fi concepts bolstered by occasional space-based action and some of the finest TV characters ever assembled.

No one expected Star Trek to last longer than the original series’ first three seasons, let alone 55 years.Įven by 1960s standards, the classic show suffered from low-budget sets and, at times, cheesy effects.

Life on top season 2 eps