7 Underrated Star Trek: The Next Generation Episodes That Are Perfect From Start to Finish

by

Even after all these years, Star Trek: The Next Generation still surprises and delights. While many remember the big, iconic episodes, what truly made the show special was its consistently strong, smaller stories. These often-overlooked episodes are what make rewatching the series so rewarding – you can rediscover forgotten gems. A show needs more than just huge events to remain popular, and Star Trek: The Next Generation excelled at delivering quality in every episode, proving its enduring appeal.

Many people involved with Star Trek: The Next Generation have talked about how the show had a rocky start. The first season, in particular, has been criticized for being inconsistent and sometimes lacking a clear focus. It took time for the series to emerge from the shadow of the original Star Trek. Eventually, the writers found their rhythm, and the actors became comfortable in their roles. It’s easy to overlook these early difficulties when looking back at the show’s success, but they’re important to remember when considering its best episodes. Here are a few of the most overlooked gems from Star Trek: The Next Generation after it hit its stride.

Dr. Crusher Shines in the Season 4 Episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation “Remember Me”

One of my favorite episodes is “Remember Me” from Star Trek: The Next Generation. It really centers on Dr. Beverly Crusher, and it starts with her feeling like something’s just… wrong. People start disappearing from the ship, but the really unsettling part is that everyone else insists they were never there to begin with! It gets terrifying when members of the main crew start vanishing too. It’s also the first time we see The Traveler since the first season. Dr. Crusher figures out she’s trapped in this alternate reality – a kind of pocket universe – that was accidentally created by one of Wesley’s experiments with the warp field. He didn’t mean for it to happen, but his powers caught the attention of The Traveler, who comes back to help Wesley understand what’s going on.

The episode “Remember Me” is often likened to The Twilight Zone because it centers on a single character and their feelings. It came about when the writers were looking for ways to give Dr. Crusher more prominent storylines, following efforts to better utilize her character after Season 3. The episode is unique in that it puts Dr. Crusher at the heart of the story, allowing actress Gates McFadden to showcase her talent. While The Next Generation is known for its large-scale stories, “Remember Me” demonstrates that some of the most engaging episodes can be those that focus solely on character development. It’s an episode that might be easy to miss when watching the series as a whole, but it’s well worth revisiting on a rewatch.

“The Drumhead” is a Witch Hunt in Star Trek: The Next Generation

The Star Trek: The Next Generation episode “The Drumhead” is a gripping story told mostly through dialogue and small actions. When an explosion occurs on the Enterprise, an investigation into possible sabotage begins. Admiral Norah Satie, a well-known and strict investigator, arrives to lead the inquiry. While it starts as a legitimate investigation, it quickly turns into a paranoid and unfair pursuit, with Satie accusing loyal crew members of betrayal. This episode is a prime example of the show’s growing storytelling ability, demonstrating that a compelling story doesn’t always require big special effects.

Originally penned by Ronald D. Moore and adapted for television by Jeri Taylor, the episode “The Drumhead” was instantly recognized by the cast as something special. Michael Dorn has even called it one of his favorites. The entire story unfolds aboard the ship, relying solely on conversation and mood to build tension. The episode explores potential weaknesses within Starfleet’s leadership, demonstrating that even in the 24th century, the dangers of unfounded accusations and paranoia still exist.

Season Was Crucial to the Future of Star Trek: The Next Generation

The episode “The Wounded,” written by Robert and Rebecca Weisberg, introduced the Cardassians – a significant addition to the Star Trek universe. Created to be a nuanced and challenging adversary, the Cardassians appeared in this Star Trek: The Next Generation episode long before becoming central characters in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. “The Wounded” offered the first look at their culture and established the complex relationship between the Cardassians and Starfleet.

The episode centers on Captain Benjamin Maxwell, a well-regarded Starfleet officer who unexpectedly starts attacking Cardassian ships without authorization. The crew of the Enterprise is then assigned to track down Maxwell and stop him, fearing his actions could ignite a war. Unbeknownst to the writers at the time, this episode established key elements for the future series, Deep Space Nine. Even just the introduction of the Cardassians makes “The Wounded” a landmark episode, not only for The Next Generation but for the entire Star Trek franchise.

Star Trek: The Next Generation Explores the Multiverse in “Parallels”

The Star Trek: The Next Generation episode “Parallels,” directed by Jonathan Frakes, is a thought-provoking story centered around Worf. It explores the idea of alternate universes and follows Worf as he unexpectedly jumps between them, finding subtle differences in each reality.

The episode started with the writers wanting to focus on Worf and explore the idea of alternate realities. Written by Brannon Braga, Worf’s internal struggle feels genuine and drives the story. It wasn’t designed as a whodunit, but rather a direct look into the character’s experience. Coming near the end of the series, the episode proved there were still interesting stories to tell, even with the show’s conclusion approaching.

Star Trek: The Next Generation’s Riker and Picard Uncover a Conspiracy in “Pegasus”

The episode “Pegasus” starts with the unexpected return of a ship Riker once served on. He thought the Pegasus had been lost years ago, but he’s stunned to discover what really happened to it. The ship was secretly testing a cloaking device – technology forbidden by the Treaty of Algeron. This treaty prevents the Federation from developing cloaking devices to avoid conflict with the Romulans.

This episode explores the conflict between doing one’s duty and staying true to personal values. Riker struggles to balance following Starfleet orders with what he believes is right, creating internal tension. It’s a notable episode because it reveals more about Riker’s complicated history. The writer of this episode…

“Lower Decks”

As a huge Star Trek: The Next Generation fan, I always loved the episode “Lower Decks” from Season 7. It was such a clever idea to focus on the everyday lives of the junior officers, the people who actually run the Enterprise day-to-day. It’s the episode that eventually inspired the fantastic animated series, which just proves how strong the concept was. Honestly, it’s easy to miss if you’re expecting a big, universe-ending threat, but that’s exactly what makes it so special. It’s a quiet episode, and I think that’s why it’s one of the most underrated gems of the whole series.

“Lower Decks” demonstrates how much The Next Generation had grown creatively by its final season. As the show neared its conclusion, this episode offered a unique and welcome glimpse behind the scenes of the Enterprise. It shifted the focus from the main characters to the often-overlooked junior officers, giving them a chance to shine. The episode highlights the hard work of the crew members who keep the ship running, showing the smaller, everyday tasks that contribute to the crew’s successes but usually happen out of view.

“Darmok” Is One of the Best Episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation

When people talk about the best Star Trek episodes, a few titles always come up: “The Inner Light,” “The Best of Both Worlds,” and “Yesterday’s Enterprise,” among others. But the Season 5 episode “Darmok” deserves more credit. While already well-regarded, many dedicated fans believe it represents the peak of what Star Trek can achieve. The episode features a first contact scenario with the Tamarians, a species whose language is initially impossible for the Enterprise crew to understand. What follows is a brilliantly written story that emphasizes the power of communication and the importance of finding common ground.

The episode features a unique challenge: Captain Picard and a Tamarian captain are transported to a planet where they must cooperate to overcome a common threat, forcing them to find a way to understand each other despite vastly different communication styles. Interestingly, “Darmok” was considered a bold and risky installment for the show.

Read More

2025-11-17 05:19