star trek tng episode 15

Star Trek: The Next Generation

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Star Trek: The Next Generation , often abbreviated to TNG , is the second live-action Star Trek television series, and the first set in the 24th century . Like its predecessors, it was created by Gene Roddenberry . Produced at Paramount Pictures , it aired in first-run syndication , by Paramount Television in the US, from September 1987 to May 1994 . The series was set in the 24th century and featured the voyages of the starship USS Enterprise -D under Captain Jean-Luc Picard .

The series led to four spin-offs set in the same time period: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine , which it ran alongside during its final two seasons, Star Trek: Voyager , Star Trek: Lower Decks and Star Trek: Picard . It is also the beginning of a contiguous period of time during which there was always at least one Star Trek series in production, ending with Star Trek: Enterprise in 2005 .

Main Title Theme file info (arranged by Dennis McCarthy , composed by Jerry Goldsmith and Alexander Courage )
2.1 Starring
2.2 Also starring
3.1 Season 1
3.2 Season 2
3.3 Season 3
3.4 Season 4
3.5 Season 5
3.6 Season 6
3.7 Season 7
4.1 Remastering
5.1 Performers
5.2 Stunt performers
5.3 Production staff
5.4 Companies
6 Related topics
8 External links

Summary [ ]

Star Trek: The Next Generation moved the universe forward roughly a century past the days of James T. Kirk and Spock . The series depicted a new age in which the Klingons were allies of the Federation , though the Romulans remained adversaries. New threats included the Ferengi (although they were later used more for comic relief), the Cardassians , and the Borg . While Star Trek: The Original Series was clearly made in the 1960s, the first two seasons of The Next Generation show all the markings of a 1980s product, complete with Spandex uniforms .

As with the original Star Trek , TNG was still very much about exploration, "boldly going where no one has gone before". Similarly, the plots captured the adventures of the crew of a starship, namely the USS Enterprise -D . Despite the apparent similarities with the original series, the creators of TNG were adamant about creating a bold, independent vision of the future. The public did not widely accept the show on its own terms until the airing of " The Best of Both Worlds ", which marked a shift towards higher drama, serious plot lines, and a less episodic nature. This helped pave the way for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and its two-year-long Dominion War arc and preceding build-up, as well as the third and fourth seasons of Star Trek: Enterprise . Star Trek: Voyager capitalized on the heightened crew relationships and familial bonds first seen on The Next Generation. DS9, on the other hand, balanced political intrigue, character development, and series-long plot threads with a rerun-friendly format.

As with the original Star Trek , TNG's special effects utilized miniatures, but due to great advancements in computerized effects and opticals, the show leaped ahead of its predecessor in terms of quality effects. This series marked the greatest surge in Star Trek 's mainstream popularity, and paved the way for the later televised Trek shows.

Four of the Star Trek motion pictures continued the adventures of the TNG cast after the end of the series in 1994. Star Trek Generations served to "pass the torch" from The Original Series cast, who had been the subject of the first six motion pictures, by including crossover appearances from William Shatner , James Doohan , and Walter Koenig ; it also featured the destruction of the USS Enterprise -D. Star Trek: First Contact , released two years later , was the first of the motion pictures to solely feature the TNG cast, transferred aboard the new USS Enterprise -E and engaging with one of their deadliest enemies from the television series, the Borg. Star Trek: Insurrection followed in 1998 , continuing certain character arcs from the series. In 2002 , Star Trek Nemesis brought some of these character arcs and plot threads to a seemingly definite conclusion, although some cast members expressed hope that future movies would yet pick up the story. Regardless, a new generation of actors appeared in 2009 's Star Trek , which created an alternate reality and returned the films' focus to Kirk and Spock .

On television, characters from TNG appeared in subsequent series. Recurring TNG character Miles O'Brien became a series regular on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine , as did Worf in DS9's fourth season . Jean-Luc Picard appeared in Deep Space Nine 's pilot episode , and supporting characters from TNG appeared occasionally on DS9 (specifically, Keiko O'Brien , Lursa , B'Etor , Molly O'Brien , Vash , Q , Lwaxana Troi , Alynna Nechayev , Gowron , Thomas Riker , Toral , and Alexander Rozhenko ). Reginald Barclay and Deanna Troi appeared several times each on Star Trek: Voyager , and Troi and William T. Riker appeared in the series finale of Star Trek: Enterprise , which was primarily a holographic simulation set during the TNG episode " The Pegasus ". However, Star Trek Nemesis was the final chronological appearance of the Next Generation characters for over 18 years, until Star Trek: Picard , which focused on the later life of Jean-Luc Picard. Riker, Troi, Data , and Hugh also appeared in Picard .

In 1994 , Star Trek: The Next Generation was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series. During its seven-year run, it was nominated for 58 Emmy Awards, mostly in "technical" categories such as visual effects and makeup; it won 18.

Main cast [ ]

Starring [ ].

Patrick Stewart as Captain Jean-Luc Picard
Jonathan Frakes as Commander William T. Riker

Also starring [ ]

LeVar Burton as Lt. j.g. / Lt. / Lt. Cmdr. Geordi La Forge
Denise Crosby as Lt. Tasha Yar ( 1987 - 1988 )
Michael Dorn as Lt. j.g. / Lt. Worf
Gates McFadden as Doctor Beverly Crusher ( 1987 - 1988 ; 1989 - 1994 )
Marina Sirtis as Counselor Deanna Troi
Brent Spiner as Lt. Commander Data
Wil Wheaton as Ensign Wesley Crusher ( 1987 - 1990 )

Episode list [ ]

Season 1 [ ].

TNG Season 1 , 25 episodes:

Season 2 [ ]

TNG Season 2 , 22 episodes:

Season 3 [ ]

TNG Season 3 , 26 episodes:

Season 4 [ ]

TNG Season 4 , 26 episodes:

Season 5 [ ]

TNG Season 5 , 26 episodes:

Season 6 [ ]

TNG Season 6 , 26 episodes:

Season 7 [ ]

TNG Season 7 , 25 episodes:

Behind the scenes [ ]

Star Trek: The Next Generation was originally pitched to the then-fledgling Fox Network . However, they couldn't guarantee an initial order greater than thirteen episodes, not enough to make the enormous start-up costs of the series worth the expense. It was then decided to sell the series to the first-run syndication market. The show's syndicated launch was overseen by Paramount Television president Mel Harris , a pioneer in the syndicated television market. Many of the stations that carried The Next Generation had also run The Original Series for a long time.

According to issues of Star Trek: The Official Fan Club Magazine from early 1987, TNG was originally planned to be set in the 25th century, 150 years after the original series, and the Enterprise would have been the Enterprise NCC-1701-G. Gene Roddenberry ultimately changed the timeline to mid-24th century, set on board the Enterprise NCC-1701-D, as an Enterprise -G would have been the eighth starship to bear the name and that was too many for the relatively short time period that was to have passed.

Star Trek: The Next Generation was billed initially as being set 78 years after the days of the original USS Enterprise . [1] (p. 16) However, after the series' first season was established as being set in the year 2364 , this reference became obsolete as dates were then able to be set for the original series and the four previous films. When this happened, it was established that the events of the original series were about a hundred years before the events of TNG. With TNG's first season being set in 2364, 78 years prior would have been 2286 . Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home partly takes place during this year along with the shakedown cruise of the USS Enterprise -A .

On the special The Star Trek Saga: From One Generation To The Next , Gene Roddenberry commented, " On the original Star Trek , I practically lost my family from working so many twelve-hour days, fourteen-hour days, seven days a week, and I told them, 'You can't pay me enough to do that.' But then they said, 'Hey, but suppose we do it in a way in which' they call syndication, 'in which we don't have a network and we don't have all those people up there?' And Paramount was saying to me, 'And we guarantee that you will be in charge of the show.' "

Andrew Probert was first hired by Roddenberry in 1978 . However, not until 1986 , when Roddenberry was preparing to launch a new show, entitled Star Trek: The Next Generation , did he call upon Probert to take a lead design role. Everything had to be rethought, imagined, planned and redesigned. As the vision evolved in the designers' minds, the evolution was charted in successive sketches and paintings.

Among Probert's creations, in addition to the new Enterprise starship and many of its interiors including the main bridge , are many other featured spacecraft. The Ferengi cruiser , and even the Ferengi species, are Probert designs.

Roddenberry originally insisted on doing a one-hour pilot and assigned D.C. Fontana to write the episode, first titled Meeting at Farpoint . However, the studio was keen on having a two-hour pilot, mainly because they wanted something big and spectacular to launch the series, especially considering first-run syndication. Roddenberry himself volunteered to extend Fontana's script to two hours, eventually adding the Q storyline to it.

Ronald D. Moore commented, " Gene did not want conflict between the regular characters on TNG. This began to hamstring the series and led to many, many problems. To put it bluntly, this wasn't a very good idea. But rather than jettison it completely, we tried to remain true to the spirit of a better future where the conflicts between our characters did not show them to be petty or selfish or simply an extension of 20th century mores. " ( AOL chat , 1997 ) Rick Berman explained, " The problem with Star Trek: The Next Generation is Gene created a group of characters that he purposely chose not to allow conflict between. Starfleet officers cannot be in conflict, thus its murderous to write these shows because there is no good drama without conflict, and the conflict has to come from outside the group. " ( Captains' Logs Supplemental - The Unauthorized Guide to the New Trek Voyages , p. 8)

Roddenberry tried to recruit many production staff members from The Original Series to work on the new series. These included producers Robert H. Justman and Edward K. Milkis , writers D.C. Fontana and David Gerrold (who served as the main creative force behind the formation of the series), costume designer William Ware Theiss , assistant director Charles Washburn , composer Fred Steiner , set decorator John M. Dwyer , and writer John D.F. Black . Roddenberry also tried to bring back cinematographer Jerry Finnerman , but he declined the offer, being busy working on Moonlighting at the time. However, all of the above people finished working on the series after or during the first season.

Unit Production Manager David Livingston was responsible for hiring Michael Westmore for the pilot episode. ( ENT Season 3 Blu-ray , " Impulse " audio commentary )

Remastering [ ]

After several months of speculation and partial confirmation, StarTrek.com announced on 28 September 2011 (the 24th anniversary of the series premiere) that The Next Generation would be remastered in 1080p high-definition for release on Blu-ray Disc and eventual syndication, starting in 2012 . The seventh and final season was released on Blu-ray in December 2014 .

Cast and crew [ ]

The following people worked on The Next Generation ; it is unknown during which season or on which episodes.

Performers [ ]

Antonio – background actor
Charles Bazaldua – voice actor
Terrence Beasor – voice actor (17 episodes, including the voice of the Borg )
Libby Bideau – featured actress
Brian Ciari – background actor: Cardassian ( TNG Season 6 or 7 )
Amber Connally – background actress: child
Phil Crowley – voice actor
Vincent DeMaio – background actor: Enterprise -D operations division officer
David Dewitt – background actor
Gregory Fletcher – background actor Borg
Dan Horton – background actor
Carlyle King – voice actress
Mark Laing – featured actor
Daryl F. Mallett – background actor
Tina Morlock – background actress
Jean Marie Novak – background actress: Enterprise -D operations division officer
Rick H. Olavarria – background actor (1988)
Jennifer Ott – background actress: Enterprise -D command division officer
Richard Penn – voice actor
Judie Pimitera – background actress: Ten Forward waitress
Paige Pollack – voice actress
Jeff Rector – background actor: Enterprise -D command division officer
Gary Schwartz – voice actor/ADR voice
Beth Scott – background actress
Steve Sekely – background actor
Andrea Silver – background actress: Enterprise -D sciences division officer
Oliver Theess – recurring background actor (around 1990)
Richard Walker – background actor
Harry Williams, Jr. – background actor
Bruce Winant – supporting actor
Stephen Woodworth – background actor

Stunt performers [ ]

Laura Albert – stunts
John Lendale Bennett – stunts
Richard L. Blackwell – stunts
John Cade – stunts
Chuck Courtney – Assistant Stunt Coordinator
Terry James – stunts
Gary Jensen – Assistant Stunt Coordinator
Lane Leavitt – stunts
Pat Romano – stunts

Production staff [ ]

Joseph Andolino – Additional Composer
David Atherton – Makeup Artist
Gregory Benford – Scientific Consultant
Steven R. Bernstein – Additional Music Composer/Orchestrator
Les Bernstien – Motion Control Operator
R. Christopher Biggs – Special Makeup Effects Artist
Howard Block – Second Unit Director of Photography
Stephen Buchsbaum – Colorist: Unitel Video (Four Seasons)
Alan Chudnow – Assistant Editor
Marty Church – Foley Mixer
Scott Cochran – Scoring Mixer: Advertising Music
Robert Cole – Special Effects Artist
Sharon Davis – Graphics Assistant
David Dittmar – Prosthetic Makeup Artist
Dragon Dronet – Prop Maker: Weapons, Specialty Props and Miniatures
Jim Dultz – Assistant Art Director
Shannon Dunn – Extras Casting: Cenex Casting
Chris W. Fallin – Motion Control Operator
Edward J. Franklin – Special Effects Artist
Lisa Gizara – Assistant to Gates McFadden
John Goodwin – Makeup Artist
Simon Holden – Digital Compositor (between 1989 and 1994)
Kent Allen Jones – Sculptor: Bob Jean Productions
Michael R. Jones – Makeup Artist (early 1990s)
Jason Kaufman – Prop and Model Maker: Greg Jein, Inc.
Nina Kent – Makeup Artist
David Kervinen – Visual Effects Illustrator: Composite Image Systems (4 Seasons)
Andy Krieger – Extras Casting: Central Casting
Tim Landry – Visual Effects Artist
Lisa Logan – Cutter/Fitter
Jon Macht – Post Production Vendor
Gray Marshall – Motion Control Camera Operator: Image "G"
Karl J. Martin – Digital Compositor
Belinda Merritt – VFX Accountant: The Post Group
John Palmer – Special Effects Coordinator: WonderWorks Inc.
Frank Popovich – Mold and Prop Assistant
Molly Rennie
Chris Schnitzer – Motion Control Technician/Rigger: Image "G"
Steven J. Scott – Digital Compositor
Bruce Sears – DGA Trainee
Casey Simpson – Gaffer
Ken Stranahan – Visual Effects Artist
Rick Stratton – Makeup Artist
Greg Stuhl – Miniatures: Greg Jein, Inc.
Tim Tommasino – Assistant Editor
Peter Webb – Digital Compositor
Gregory A. Weimerskirch – Assistant Art Director
Bill Witthans – Dolly Grip

Companies [ ]

Bob Jean Productions
Movie Movers
Newkirk Special Effects
WonderWorks Inc.

External links [ ]

Star Trek: The Next Generation at Wikipedia
Star Trek: The Next Generation at Memory Beta , the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
Star Trek: The Next Generation at the Internet Movie Database
Star Trek: The Next Generation at StarTrek.com
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Star Trek: The Next Generation - Episode guides, brief reviews and ratings

The truth is that, had Paramount executives not taken a chance on rebooting Star Trek in the 1980s (decades before the term “reboot” was commonly applied to the revivification of entertainment franchises, no less), Star Trek could well have died after The Undiscovered Country . Instead, TNG’s seven-year run included story lines and episodes that one-quarter century later still resonate in the public consciousness: stuff like “Darmok”, “The Inner Light” and “Best of Both Worlds.” Remind yourself of just how great TNG was with a perusal of our episode guides.

Star Trek: The Next Generation – Notable episodes

Season 1 – crew getting its feet wet; no one but Stewart is really comfortable with his/her character. Writers too are unsure … after “Encounter at Farpoint” (episode #1), the only notables are “Datalore” (#13), which introduces Data’s “brother” Lore and thus allows the great Brent Siner to flex those acting muscles a bit, and “Skin of Evil” (#23), which features the death of Lt. Tasha Yar.

Season 2 – The tone is set for the remainder of ST:TNG’s run in episode #9, “The Measure of a Man”; in this episode, a hearing is held regarding Data’s individuality as a sentient being, a hearing which often evolves into questions of existence and consciousness. Intelligent stuff here, is balanced by the excellent character development throughout the season, culminating in “Peak Performance” (#21). The real notable in this season, though, has got to be “Q Who” (#16), featuring the first appearance of the Borg.

Season 3 – The character of Guinan is introduced in season 3, as the twists and turns come fast and furious. The alternate-universe episode “Yesterday’s Enterprise” (#15) has simply got to be among any ST’s fan’s top 10 TNG stories and was among the first to truly take advantage of this wacky new continuity thing. Of course, season 3 is perhaps most remembered for its cliffhanger ending in “The Best of Both Worlds” (#26), which vaulted the Borg (and Riker) to new levels of badassery.

Season 4 – Starting tremendously strong with “The Best of Both Worlds”, “Family” and “Brothers”, season 4 kicked the “head trip” episodes, i.e throw a character into an insane situation and divulge the details slowly, into full gear with stuff like “Remember Me” (#5) “Future Imperfect” (#8) and “Clues” (#14). We also get the introduction of Romulan baddie Sela, the very embodiment of plot twist, in “The Mind’s Eye” (#24). Throughout the season, Lt. Worf and his family’s relationship with the Klingon Empire is continuously revisited until the season’s concluding episode, “Redemption, Part I.”

Season 5 – Season 5 of TNG saw the introduction of Ensign Ro Laren (in episode #3) and the return of some guy named Spock (“Reunification,” #s 7-8). Again typically strong stuff, this season contains several popular favorites, including “Darmok” (#2) and “The Inner Light” (#25)

Season 6 – With Jeri Taylor joining the production team as co-producer (and presumably the principals’ salaries getting raised), seasons 6 and 7 of TNG tended to focus on smaller-scale stories ranging from the incredibly dark “Chain of Command” (#s 10-11) to the laugh-a-minute “Tapestry” (#15), the latter of which is dominated by scenes featuring only Picard and Q. The season-ending cliffhanger concludes with part one of an intriguing-sounding team-up of Lore and a group of Borg in “Descent.”

Season 7 – The conclusion to “Descent” may have been anticlimactic, but the conclusion to the TNG series sure wasn’t. ST:TNG finished strong, closing out with the excellent “Preemptive Strike” and “All Good Things”, three episodes’ worth of twisty character development and head trip, respectively.

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Star Trek: The Next Generation – Season 5, Episode 15

Where to watch, star trek: the next generation — season 5, episode 15.

Watch Star Trek: The Next Generation — Season 5, Episode 15 with a subscription on Paramount+, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV.

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Cast & crew.

Patrick Stewart

Capt. Jean-Luc Picard

Jonathan Frakes

Cmdr. William Riker

LeVar Burton

Lt. Cmdr. Geordi La Forge

Michael Dorn

Gates McFadden

Dr. Beverly Crusher

Marina Sirtis

Counselor Deanna Troi

Episode Info

The 15 Best Star Trek: The Next Generation Episodes, Ranked

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If you're even remotely interested in science fiction and television, chances are pretty good that someone has recommended you watch Star Trek: The Next Generation .

Unless you've seen it and are sure you don't like it, that person was right: you should watch it!

But we don't blame you if you find it somewhat daunting—considering Star Trek: The Next Generation has hour-long episodes and lasted for seven seasons.

If you're not sure where to start, or if you're a longtime fan looking to rewatch a few excellent episodes, here are the best Star Trek: The Next Generation episodes you should definitely watch.

How to Watch Star Trek: TNG

Anyone who isn't a die-hard fan of Star Trek should probably stick to streaming episodes on Amazon Prime or Hulu. The show may not always be available in the future on either platform, but if you're already subscribed, you can watch while you can.

But any die-hard fan should seriously consider getting the entire series on DVD or Blu-ray. A vintage series like this may not always be around, in which case you'll thank yourself for owning a physical copy rather than being beholden to streaming services.

1. "Measure of a Man"

The Next Generation was still finding its feet in the second season, but "Measure of a Man" was one of the first truly great episodes of the series.

This episode focuses on Lt. Commander Data, specifically his rights as an android, when a scientist who wants to dismantle him to create copies of him.

2. "Q Who?"

Q made his debut in the series debut episode "Encounter at Farpoint," but this episode is where John de Lancie really begins to shine in his role. Q tries to prove that the crew of the Enterprise needs him as an ally. How? By putting them in incredible danger.

3. "Manhunt"

Normally, episodes of The Next Generation that feature Deanna Troi's mother Lwaxana are groan-worthy—and this one is too, but in a way that works.

Lwaxana is on the prowl for a mate (hence the episode title), and Captain Picard is doing his best to avoid her. This episode also features a cameo from Fleetwood Mac drummer Mick Fleetwood.

4. "The Defector"

If you're a fan of the recent The Next Generation follow-up show Star Trek: Picard , this season three episode is a must see. It gives excellent background on the Romulans, and also just happens to be a great episode on its own merits.

5. "Deja Q"

Yep, another Q episode. This one is unusual, as Q spends most of the episode without his powers aside from his intellect.

After seeing him as a near-omnipotent antagonist in other episodes, seeing Q dealing with human problems is strangely satisfying, even if he does regain his powers by the end.

6. "Yesterday's Enterprise"

Whenever time travel pops up out of nowhere in a sci-fi show, you know it's probably going to be a good episode. This is especially true with "Yesterday's Enterprise," a fan and cast favorite that features a new take on the death of a character from season one.

7. "The Offspring"

This is another episode that ties well into Star Trek: Picard . It's also the first episode of the episode directed by a cast member, in this case Jonathan Frakes, whose directorial touch makes this episode (in which Data creates a daughter for himself) a favorite of numerous cast members.

8. "Captain's Holiday"

As the title implies, this episode begins with Captain Picard taking a vacation, only to be drawn into an almost Indiana Jones -style adventure. It also happens to feature time travel—which, again, almost always makes for a great episode.

9. "Best Of Both Worlds"

"Best Of Both Worlds" is more or less legally required to be on any list of the best episodes of this show. This two-parter that spans season three and season four sees Picard captured and assimilated by the Borg...

...and a cliffhanger that had fans impatiently waiting for season four to begin. This two-part episode is so good that it was released as a standalone Blu-ray disc.

10. "Brothers"

This episode isn't the first episode to feature Data's brother, Lore, but it's the best. If you're a fan of Data (is it possible to watch this show and not become one?), this is a must-watch for the background the episode gives to his character.

11. "Data's Day"

Speaking of Data, "Data's Day" is about, well, Data's day. This is one of the funnier episodes of the show, as well as essential viewing if you plan to watch Star Trek: Deep Space Nine thanks to its focus on Miles and Keiko O'Brien.

12. "I, Borg"

Here's another episode that provides great background for Picard . "I, Borg" sees the Enterprise crew find an injured Borg and initially decide to use him as a weapon against the Borg. Instead, he starts to develop free will and even takes a name: Hugh.

13. "The Inner Light"

While "Captain's Holiday" lets us see a slightly different Picard we don't normally see on the show, "The Inner Light" shows us a radically different Picard. The Captain literally lives another life while only a few minutes pass for the rest of the crew.

14. "Tapestry"

Another Q episode, but with a much different tone than normal. After Picard dies (yes, you read that right), Q gives him a chance to go back in time and change events, It's A Wonderful Life -style.

Of course, nothing goes as planned. Writer (and later Battlestar Galactic creator) Ronald D. Moore told fans this was one of the best episodes he'd written.

15. "Genesis"

It was tough not to round out this list of episodes with "All Good Things," the final episode of the show, but that's kind of a bummer.

Instead, we'll go with "Genesis," one of the weirdest episodes of the show, which sees most of the crew turned into primitive beings including a spider, a venom-spraying mega-Klingon, and cavemen.

Can't Get Enough Star Trek?

Narrowing down the entire run of Star Trek: The Next Generation to the best episodes is effectively impossible, because it means leaving out a ton of great episodes.

If you're really looking to get into the series, start from the beginning and watch it all. Yes, the first two seasons can be a little rough, but the plot points they set up will pay off seasons later.

Our episode database profiles every episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation . Each episode features background information (plot • trivia • interviews • behind the scenes info • shooting script) and Blu-ray screencaps.

Jump to Season : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

Kids On Star Trek: TNG? Here Are The 9 Best

Discover how child characters added cuteness and fun to Star Trek: The Next Generation episodes, enhancing the storyline.
See how various young characters like Wesley Crusher and Alexandra influenced main crew members and contributed to the plot's success.
Trek through different episodes showcasing children like Timothy, Clara, and Molly, who bring unique perspectives and charm to the series.

Despite Captain Jean-Luc Picard's (Patrick Stewart) dislike of children, the USS Enterprise-D encountered its fair share of kids in Star Trek: The Next Generation . Unlike the Starship Enterprise of Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner), Captain Picard's ship had families aboard, including many young children. Although these kids do not appear in most episodes, some storylines allow the children of the Enterprise to take center stage. As the youngest member of the main cast, Wil Wheaton's Wesley Crusher featured in many episodes, often helping the senior staff find unconventional solutions to problems.

In a couple of instances on Star Trek: The Next Generation , the Enterprise-D and its crew encounter alien children, who prove crucial to the story of the week. Besides Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden), most of the main Enterprise-D crew members don't have children until later in TNG's run or until Star Trek: Picard. In TNG season 4, Lt. Worf (Michael Dorn) learns of a son he didn't know he had, and secondary character Chief Miles O'Brien (Colm Meaney) has a daughter later in TNG season 5. The kids of TNG often added an element of cuteness and fun to the show, and here are 9 of the best child characters who appeared in Star Trek: The Next Generation .

10 Best Star Trek: TNG Episodes For Kids To Watch

Star trek: tng season 1, episode 17 - "when the bough breaks".

In the first Star Trek: The Next Generation episode to feature children other than Wesley Crusher, the residents of the planet Aldea kidnap several children from the Enterprise, as they can no longer bear children of their own. Alexandra (Jessica & Vanessa Bova) is the youngest of the children taken and she's also the most adorable. Soon after arriving on Aldea, Alexandra and an Aldean named Rashella (Brenda Strong) form a quick bond, but the kids soon begin to miss their parents.

"When the Bough Breaks" reinforces Captain Picard's dislike of children.

As the oldest of the children taken, Wesley steps up to look out for the kids as he works to find a way back to the Enterprise. After the children are rescued, Alexandra offers a flower and a hug to Captain Picard as a thank you, which Picard awkwardly accepts. "When the Bough Breaks" reinforces Captain Picard's dislike of children , although he would eventually come to change his mind.

Star Trek: TNG Season 5, Episode 11 - "Hero Worship"

When Lt. Commander Data (Brent Spiner) rescues a young boy named Timothy (Joshua Harris) from a damaged research ship called Vico, the boy begins to mimic Data as a way to suppress his own grief. Counselor Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis) urges Data to share with Timothy why he wants to be human, and Data says he would take the negative aspects if it meant he got the good parts, too. Eventually, Timothy reveals that he believes he accidentally killed his crew by leaning against a control panel, but Data assures him this was not the case.

The Enterprise soon gets hit with the same shock waves that destroyed the Vico, and Timothy's memories of the event help the Enterprise avoid the same fate . In the end, Timothy begins to move past his grief and joins the other children at school. Timothy is not the first or the last child who connects with Data, and these TNG stories set up Data's eventual friendship with a Ba'ku boy in Star Trek: Insurrection .

Marissa, Jay Gordon, & Patterson

Star trek: tng season 5, episode 5 - "disaster".

When the Starship Enterprise suddenly shuts down, Captain Picard finds himself trapped in a turbolift with three children, Marissa (Erika Flores), Jay Gordon (John Christian Graas), and Patterson (Max Supera). The turbolift suddenly dropping causes Picard to injure his ankle, and the kids begin to panic. Jay Gordon announces that everyone must be dead and proclaims that they are going to die, too, which certainly does not help matters.

Watching Picard slowly warm up to the kids is at turns funny and charming.

Picard's first attempt to calm the kids results in more crying, but he eventually grants them honorary command roles and encourages them to work together. Picard talks the kids through climbing out of the turbolift and they refuse to leave him behind. As they climb, Picard leads the kids in an adorable rendition of “Frère Jacques," and they all make it out safely. Watching Picard slowly warm up to the kids is at turns funny and charming, and Jay Gordon's constant pessimism never gets old.

Star Trek: TNG Season 5, Episode 22 - "Imaginary Friend"

In Star Trek: The Next Generation 's "Imaginary Friend," a young girl named Clara (Noley Thornton) creates an imaginary friend for herself due to her loneliness on the Enterprise. Clara names her imaginary friend Isabella (Shay Astar), and she is surprised one day when Isabella comes to life. As the two girls get into mischief on the ship, Clara eventually grows fearful of Isabella and her abilities.

When Isabella attacks Counselor Troi, the Enterprise crew discovers that the girl is actually an energy-based life form who lives in a nearby nebula. Although Isabella wishes to get rid of the adults on the ship, Captain Picard explains the roles of adults and children to her. Like many of the children on this list, Clara is adorable, and actress Noley Thornton brings a lot of personality to the role.

Best Star Trek: TNG Episode From Each Of The Shows 7 Seasons

Jean-luc picard, ro lauren, keiko o'brien, & guinan, star trek: tng season 6, episode 7 - "rascals".

After a transporter accident turns them into children, Captain Picard (David Tristan Birkin), Guinan (Isis Carmen Jones), Ensign Ro Laren (Megan Parlen), and Keiko O'Brien (Caroline Junko King) must work together to save the Enterprise from Ferengi pirates. The twelve-year-old Picard has difficulty convincing his crew to take him seriously, and Keiko struggles to connect with her adult husband, Chief Miles O'Brien .

The child actors in TNG 's "Rascals" do an admirable job embodying their adult counterparts.

Guinan convinces Ro to embrace their temporary return to childhood, and they spend their time playing. When Ferengi pirates take over the Enterprise, the kids help Commander William Riker (Jonathan Frakes) retake the ship. After the ship is secure, the children use the transporter to return to their adult selves, but Ro decides to remain a little girl for just a bit longer to make up for her unpleasant childhood. The child actors in TNG 's "Rascals" do an admirable job embodying their adult counterparts, and it's fun seeing them all run around the ship.

Star Trek: TNG Season 2, Episode 15 - "Pen Pals"

In TNG's "Pen Pals," Data answers the plea of a young alien girl named Sarjenka (Nikki Cox), drawing the Enterprise into a mission that violates the Prime Directive . On the planet Drema IV, Sarjenka used her family's radio to send out a message asking: "Is anyone out there?" When Data answered, the two became fast friends, and their friendship would later be responsible for saving Drema IV and its entire population.

When Data brings Sarjenka up to the Enterprise, she refuses to leave his side, even trying to hold his hand while he works on the bridge. Sarjenka's friendship with Data is endearing and adorable, and the young girl's curiosity is infectious. "Pen Pals" marks an important step in Data's journey to explore his humanity, and Sarjenka is one of Star Trek's best child guest stars.

In non-canon Star Trek tie-in fiction, Drema IV eventually makes contact with the Federation and Sarjenka goes on to attend Starfleet Academy.

Molly O'Brien

Star trek: tng season 6, episode 7 - "rascals".

The daughter of Miles and Keiko O'Brien (Rosalind Chao) , Molly (Hana Hatae) was born in Star Trek: The Next Generation 's "Disaster," with Lt. Worf (Michael Dorn) acting as midwife. Molly made her first appearance as a toddler in TNG's "Rascals," when she struggled to see the twelve-year-old version of Keiko as her mother. Molly only had one brief scene in "Rascals," but she remains one of the most adorable Star Trek kids.

When Miles and Keiko transferred from the USS Enterprise-D to space station Deep Space Nine, Molly, of course, went with them, and she appeared in more episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine than TNG . Molly occasionally traveled with her mother while Miles was working as Chief of Operations on the station. From reading bedtime stories to coloring pictures to throwing up on her father, Molly had some delightfully charming and funny moments on DS9 , and her family is one of Star Trek's most realistic.

Alexander Rozhenko

Various episodes of star trek: tng seasons 4 through 7.

Worf's son, Alexander Rozhenko (Jon Paul Steuer), first appeared in Star Trek: The Next Generation season 4, episode 7, "Reunion," when Worf's former flame, K'Ehleyr (Suzie Plakson) , showed up with the young boy in tow. After K'Ehleyr was tragically killed, Worf sent Alexander to live with his own adoptive parents on Earth. Alexander (Brian Bonsall) later moved back to the Enterprise to live with Worf in TNG season 5, episode 10, "New Ground."

Alexander remained with Worf and the adorable young Klingon appeared in six more episodes of TNG . Having been raised around humans, Alexander initially wanted little to do with Klingon culture, but Worf helped introduce him to his heritage. Not always the best father, Worf wanted to change Alexander, but began to accept his son when he was visited by an adult Alexander (James Sloyan) from the future in TNG season 7, episode 21, "Firstborn."

Alexander later appeared in two episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine , having joined the Klingon Defense Forces to fight in the Dominion War.

"Worf Is A Terrible Father": Michael Dorn Hopes Star Trek: Picard Spinoff Brings Back Worf's Son

Wesley crusher, series regular until star trek: tng season 4, episode 9, "final mission".

Wesley Crusher began Star Trek: The Next Generation as a teenager, and ended his tenure on the show as a former Starfleet cadet turned celestial Traveler. Having lost his father at a young age, Wesley lived with his mother, Dr. Beverly Crusher, on the Enterprise-D. Wes was considered a genius and knew just as much about the Enterprise's systems as many of the officers.

After dropping out of Starfleet Academy, Wesley joined the mysterious group known as the Travelers to explore space and time. He made a brief appearance in the Star Trek: Picard season 2 finale as a more experienced Traveler.

TNG's writers did not always know how to write for Wesley , too often having him come up with solutions that had eluded the more experienced officers around him. Still, Wesley served as an entry point for young viewers of TNG , and many could relate to Crusher's journey. Wesley grew a lot throughout his time on Star Trek: The Next Generation , experiencing normal teenage things like first crushes while also going on extraordinary space adventures.

Star Trek: The Next Generation is streaming on Paramount+.

Star Trek: The Next Generation

Cast Michael Dorn, LeVar Burton, Brent Spiner, Wil Wheaton, Jonathan Frakes, Patrick Stewart, Marina Sirtis, Gates McFadden

Release Date

Franchise(s)

Showrunner Jeri Taylor, Michael Piller, Rick Berman

Where To Watch Paramount+

Kids On Star Trek: TNG? Here Are The 9 Best

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Why ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Built Season 5 Around a Classic Episode From a Legacy Series

By Adam B. Vary

Adam B. Vary

Senior Entertainment Writer

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Why ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Built Season 5 Around a Classic Episode From a Legacy Series 1 week ago

Sonequa Martin-Green as Burnham of the Paramount+ original series STAR TREK: DISCOVERY. TM & © 2022 CBS Studios Inc. All Rights Reserved. **BEST POSSIBLE SCREENGRAB**

SPOILER ALERT: This story discusses major plot developments in Season 5, Episode 1 of “ Star Trek : Discovery,” now streaming on Paramount+.

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Kovich’s explanation evokes the classic “ Star Trek: The Next Generation ” episode “The Chase” from 1993 in which Capt. Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) — along with teams of Romulans, Klingons and Cardassians — learn that all humanoid life in the galaxy was created by a single species that existed billions of years earlier, and seeded thousands of planets with the DNA to pass along their legacy. (Along with presenting a profound vision of the origins of life, the episode also provided an imaginative explanation for why almost all the aliens in “Star Trek” basically look like humans with different kinds of forehead ridges.)

Kovich tells Burnham that the Romulan scientist was part of a team sent to discover exactly how these aliens — whom they call the Progenitors — made this happen; the object they’re seeking winds up being one part of a brand new “chase,” this time in the 32nd century, to find the Progenitors’ technology before it can fall into the wrong hands.

“I remember watching that episode and at the end of it just being blown away that there was this huge idea where we all come from,” Paradise says. “And then they’re going to have another mission the next week. I found myself wondering, ‘Well, then what? What happened? What do we do with this information? What does it mean?’”

Originally, Paradise says the “Discovery” writers’ room discussed evoking the Progenitors in Season 4, when the Discovery meets an alien species, the 10-C, who live outside of the galaxy and are as radically different from humans as one could imagine. “As we dug deeper into the season itself, we realized that it was too much to try and get in,” Paradise says.

Instead, they made the Progenitors the engine for Season 5. “Burnham and some of our other characters are on this quest for personal meaning,” Paradise says. Searching for the origins of life itself, she adds, “feels like a big thematic idea that fits right in with what we’re exploring over the course of the season, and what our characters are going through.”

That meant that Paradise finally got to help come up with the answers to the questions about “The Chase” that had preoccupied her when she was younger. “We had a lot of fun talking about what might’ve happened when [Picard] called back to headquarters and had to say, ‘Here’s what happened today,’” she says. “We just built the story out from there.”

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Star trek: discovery season 5, episode 1 ending & tng treasure explained.

Star Trek: Discovery season 5's premiere dropped a bombshell that ties all the way back to Star Trek: The Next Generation. We break it down.

Warning: SPOILERS for Star Trek: Discovery Season 5, Episode 1 - "Red Directive"

Star Trek: Discovery season 5 reveals a bombshell treasure hunt that ties back to Star Trek: TNG "The Chase."
Mysterious villains Moll and L'ak create chaos, leaving behind a trail of destruction on Kumal.
Captain Saru to become a Federation Ambassador, leading to the first Kelpien-Vulcan wedding in Star Trek history.

The ending of Star Trek: Discovery 's exhilarating season 5 premiere dropped a jaw-dropping bombshell that the treasure Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) is hunting for comes from Star Trek: The Next Generation season 6, episode 20, "The Chase." Written by Discovery showrunner Michelle Paradise and directed by Olatunde Osunsanmi, Discovery 's season 5 premiere, "Red Directive," introduces three new major characters, the villains Moll (Eve Harlow) and L'ak (Elias Toufexis), and Starfleet Captain Rayner (Callum Keith Rennie), and sets up Discovery season 5 as a sequel to the classic TNG episode about who created humanoid life in the galaxy - and how .

Moll and L'ak escaped the clutches of Captain Burnham, Captain Rayner, and Cleveland Booker (David Ajala) on the desert world of Q'Mau. After a synthetic merchant named Fred (J. Adam Brown) opened a Romulan puzzle box Moll and L'ak stole from an 800-year-old Romulan starship , Fred double-crossed Moll and L'ak and was killed by the renegade lovers. L'ak and Moll then detonated an explosive in the mountains, creating an avalanche. The combined shields of the USS Discovery and the USS Antares protected the people of Kumal, but Moll and L'ak escaped with the Romulans' journal. However, Captain Burnham knows more than the rogues do about the treasure thanks to Discovery's crew. And, as Lt. Sylvia Tilly (Mary Wiseman) said, the answers are wild.

Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 - Everything We Know

Star trek: discovery season 5's treasure & progenitors explained, who were the progenitors in star trek: tng's "the chase".

"The greatest treasure in the known galaxy" in Star Trek: Discovery season 5 is the technology Ancient Humanoids used to create sentient humanoid life. A hologram of an Ancient Humanoid (Salome Jens) was encountered by Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart), members of the USS Enterprise-D crew, as well as a group of Romulans, Klingons, and Cardassians in Star Trek: The Next Generation 's "The Chase". The Ancient Humanoid revealed that her long-dead race seeded the galaxy billions of years ago to create humanoid life forms in their image, and that the humanoid species in Star Trek 's galaxy share a common ancestry.

"The Chase" was Star Trek: The Next Generation 's attempt to explain why so many aliens in Star Trek are essentially humans with bumpy foreheads and physical variations.

Star Trek: Discovery season 5's premiere reveals that the United Federation of Planets and Dr. Kovich (David Cronenberg) dubbed the Ancient Humanoids "The Progenitors". 800 years ago, a Romulan scientist named Dr. Vellek (Michael Copeman) found and hid the Progenitors' technology, which can literally create life and would be catastrophic if it fell into the wrong hands . However, Moll and L'ak (and, logically, whoever hired them) learned about the Progenitors' technology. The ability to create, and possibly destroy, humanoid species is an existential threat to the galaxy, which is why the Federation needs Captain Burnham to find it first.

In Star Trek: Discovery season 5's premiere, President T'Rina (Tara Rosling) said the Tholian Republic and the Breen Imperium are rising, and they could be looking for the Progenitors' technology.

Moll & L'ak Keep Escaping, But Who Are They?

Star trek: discovery's new villains are a mystery..

Star Trek: Discovery season 5's version of Bonnie and Clyde, the villainous Moll and L'ak are mysterious former couriers who have had several past encounters with Captain Rayner of the USS Antares. Moll is human but L'ak is an unknown species with no known information in the Federation database. They are also hired guns, so they must have an employer yet to be revealed.

While little is revealed about Moll and L'ak, what is clear is they are lovers with deep affection for each other. Cleveland Booker doesn't know Moll and L'ak from his years as a courier, but he could tell by the way they escaped from the USS Discovery and USS Antares that L'ak and Moll are in love and are having fun together. In a way, Moll and L'ak are an echo of what Book and Michael Burnham were like when they were couriers traveling the galaxy together in the year before the USS Discovery arrived in the 32nd century.

Saru Will Become A Federation Ambassador & Marry T'Rina

Wedding bells are coming to star trek: discovery..

Captain Saru accepts Federation President Laira Rillak's (Chelah Horsdal) offer to become a Federation Ambassador. Saru has been serving as First Officer of the USS Discovery despite his higher rank since Star Trek: Discovery season 4, but being Captain Burnham's Number One is not really a role that utilizes the Kelpien's skills and potential. Saru also chose to leave Discovery and become an Ambassador to be closer to his love, President T'Rina.

Star Trek: Discovery season 5 will soon have the first Kelpien-Vulcan wedding and the first wedding between 2 major Star Trek characters in 22 years.

Originally, T'Rina told Saru not to factor her into his decision to take the Ambassador position, but she actually wanted Saru to leave Discovery, which would allow them to spend more time together. And T'rina went a step further and proposed to Saru in a very Vulcan-like fashion, suggesting they "codify our mutual agreement in a more official capacity". Saru seemed to say yes, which means Star Trek: Discovery season 5 will soon have the first Kelpien-Vulcan wedding and the first wedding between 2 major Star Trek characters in 22 years since Will Riker (Jonathan Frakes) married Deanna Tro i (Marina Sirtis) in Star Trek: Nemesis.

Burnham & Book Are Still Broken Up

They should have called each other..

Star Trek: Discovery 's top love story, Michael Burnham and Cleveland Booker , didn't quite heat up in season 5's premiere. Burnham and Book have been separated (but with no hard feelings) ever since Book commenced his penance for the Federation after breaking multiple laws to destroy the Dark Matter Anomaly in Star Trek: Discovery season 4. Burnham turned to Book for his courier expertise to help her catch Moll and L'ak , and if she's honest, because she wanted to see Book again.

Michael and Book agreed not to restart their relationship.

Book remains penitent and is committed to righting his wrongs with the Federation and with Michael, but there is now an understandable awkwardness between them. Book has a role to play on the USS Discovery as long as Moll and L'ak are at large , but on Kumal, Michael and Book agreed not to restart their relationship. However, this isn't the end of Burnham and Booker's love story, and it's hard to imagine they won't get back together at some point in Star Trek: Discovery season 5.

Captain Rayner Is No Fan Of Burnham

What is rayner's problem.

Star Trek: Discovery season 5 introduced Callum Keith Rennie's Captain Rayner of the USS Antares as a new series regular character, and he brings a new dynamic to the show. Gruff, impatient, and no-nonsense, Rayner evokes previous hardliner Star Trek Captains like Captain Edward Jellico (Ronny Cox) in Star Trek: The Next Generation. Rayner is also resentful of Captain Burnham for some reason , and he finds humor in mocking Michael, asserting his command authority, and countermanding her orders.

Rayner seems jealous of the USS Discovery's spore drive, and he mentions his displeasure that he doesn't have a Pathway Drive on the USS Antares.

Although it wasn't mentioned or factored into Star Trek: Discovery season 5's premiere, Captain Rayner is a Kellerun , a species first introduced in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 2's "Armageddon Game". Rayner's interest in Star Trek: Discovery season 5 is fulfilling his Red Directive mission objective, which is retrieving the treasure, as well as capturing Moll and L'ak, whom he has tangled with before. There is plenty more to learn about Captain Rayner in Star Trek: Discovery season 5.

Star Trek: Discovery Now Has Their Own Data

Fred could be good for commander paul stamets..

Star Trek: Discovery season 5's premiere introduced Fred, a Soong-type synthetic who is a merchant and fence on the planet Q'Mau. Fred obviously evokes the most famous Soong android, Data (Brent Spiner), which is another link between Star Trek: Discovery season 5 and Star Trek: The Next Generation , L'ak and Moll killed Fred after he double-crossed them, but after Fred's body was beamed onto the USS Discovery's medical bay, Commander Paul Stamets (Anthony Rapp) determined from his serial number, AS-7502Y, that Fred was built from the design of Dr. Altan Inigo Soong (Brent Spiner) from Star Trek: Picard .

In Star Trek: Discovery season 5's premiere, Stamets lamented the Federation's scuttling the spore drive program in favor of the Pathway Drive . Although Fred was "killed", it's possible Stamets and his husband, Dr. Hugh Culber (Wilson Cruz), can reactivate Fred. The 600-plus-year-old android may contain other secrets and answer many questions about events between Star Trek: Picard and Star Trek: Discovery 's era. There are intriguing possibilities for Fred in Star Trek: Discovery season 5 , and it would be odd if Fred really is dead after his lone appearance.

The USS Discovery is now "one of a kind" since it has the only working spore drive in existence.

The Next Clue In Discovery's Treasure Hunt

Discovery is going to a planet with twin moons..

The USS Discovery's next stop on the treasure hunt in Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 2, "Under the Twin Moons," is Lyrek, a planet in the Vileen system, on the outer sector of the Beta Quadrant, that has 3 moons, 2 of which move in perfect sync. Captain Burnham figured this out after seeing images of Dr. Vellek's Romulan diary pages retrieved from Fred's database. One of the pages had a circular image which could be a literal treasure map, and the clues point to the Vileen system and the planet with twin moons . What Burnham will find on Lyrek remains to be seen in Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 2, but the chase is on to answer one of the biggest questions left behind by Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Star Trek: Discovery season 5 is streaming on Paramount+