One of the great things about Star Trek: The Next Generation is that you never quite knew what kind of adventure you were going to get. One week, the Enterprise might be facing an enemy capable of destroying the Federation. The next, Captain Picard could be living an entire lifetime on an alien planet.
And occasionally, Worf would find himself dressed as one of Robin Hood's Merry Men, looking like he'd rather be anywhere else in the galaxy. That variety was part of the show's appeal. Over seven seasons, The Next Generation could deliver thrilling science-fiction adventures, tackle complicated moral questions, and occasionally make viewers laugh out loud.
But what made the series special wasn't just the stories. It was the characters and the relationships that developed among them, giving even the most far-fetched adventures a human connection. Nearly 40 years after its premiere, the best episodes remain just as enjoyable to revisit.
Some are remembered for their ambitious ideas, others for a particular performance, a heartbreaking moment or a perfectly delivered line. Not every episode on this list is flawless, but each has something that makes it unforgettable. And that's a pretty good measure of great Star Trek.
Few Star Trek episodes grab your attention like "Cause and Effect," which opens with the Enterprise exploding. The crew is trapped in a temporal loop that repeatedly ends in the ship's destruction, with each cycle offering clues that something isn't right. The episode is a wonderfully constructed science-fiction mystery, cleverly using the crew's regular poker game to help solve it.
When Data begins dealing threes, the cards become a crucial clue to breaking the cycle. And just when the Enterprise finally escapes, Kelsey Grammer makes a surprise appearance as the captain of another Starfleet vessel. It's a terrific final twist in an episode that rewards repeat viewings.
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