Top 25 Episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation

[MrCrystalm8]

where's all the misterious episodes like cause and affect or clues and other ones like them..?

[mokwella]

@MrCrystalm8 Well - the problem with Clues (that came out in 1991) is that it is a complete rip off of the 1989 Red Dwarf episode "Thanks for the Memory." So for that reason alone it doesn't make the top 25. If Cause and Effect had actually had Kirstie Alley as Saavik in it, as originally planned, it might have crossed over into the top 25. My personal ranking for Cause and Effect is #57 (out of 737 episodes/movies).

[mokwella]

@MrCrystalm8 Reading that back I realize I didn't actually answer the question. I terms of TNG episodes, Cause and Effect is #26 and Clues is #30 imho.

[MrCrystalm8]

@mokwella does it really matter if they copied, i mean cmmoooonnn , look how ridiculas that episode 'Q-PID' was and that made it in the top 25 and some other classic episodes diden't :(

[mokwella]

@MrCrystalm8 totally matters that they copied. i mean c'monnnnnnnn.

[MrCrystalm8]

@mokwella ok just forget about clues, but what about all the other classic episodes like cause and affect or masks or the episode where the enterprise's sistership gets blown up due to a virus..?

[mokwella]

@MrCrystalm8 The one where the Enterprise's sister ship is blown up, "Where Silence Has Lease" I rate as the 145th best episode of Star Trek which make is average. Evil aliens experiment on humans. Been There Done That. Masks is #177 from the top or second from the bottom. Only "Shades of Gray" was worse. imho it was pretensious, self conscious and boring. "Moosaka awakens." Bleah! And like I said in the prior post, I think Cause and Effect almost makes the cut for top 25.

[mokwella]

@MrCrystalm8 Ah wait -- I think you were referring to "Contagion" and not "Where Silence Has Lease" (the USS Pheonix explodes in both). I rank that episode #70 -- which is to say its better than average.

[desiduds]

I Absolutely agree 100%

[mokwella]

cool!

[Kunglao63]

I loved this show so much! even the bad episodes had 1 or 2 things good about them! and the acting and casts were phenomenal

[mrjjking77]

I thought at first this might have been mistitled and was an actually a worst of list. Second Chances, Q Pid, Captain's Holiday, and First Contact? Those are some of the worst, and First Contact wasn't an episode. Oh, and Yestday's Enterprise as #1? I liked it, but #1?

[jalowitz]

I'm particularly fond of the anthropology/mythology episodes...so, I love Darmok, Who Watches the Watchers, The Chase, and Masks.

[mrjjking77]

@jalowitz I wasn't too crazy about The Chase or Masks, but Darmok would make my top ten.

[Orca8472]

In general, I agree with you. Some thing's I'd change, but still. The only thing I really don't agree with is captain's holiday - I think it sucked donkey balls.

[pw8987]

It's a good list, nice variety of episodes. The only glaring omission I see is "Who Watches the Watchers" as it was a wonderfully written story about the prime directive and the reason it exists. Seeing the Mintakans treating Picard as a god because he had technology that was beyond them was pretty powerful (in the TNG way). Kinda surprised QPid is so high, but I suppose it was just a bit of fun.

[ScottyJ1624]

I, Borg? Data's Day? Remember me? Cmon man. And why are people so obsessed with Yesterdays Enterprise? It was really good, but the best episode of TNG is one where theyre in an alternate reality? I dont "dislike" many things but I dont agree with this list AT ALL.

[harpiyon]

good list with good episodes. you are brave to offer such a list.

there is of course much dispute going on which was really the best episode. i think TNG had many excellent episodes, some were not in your list but that´s OK.

i personally would put "Darmok" no. 1, but no. 6 is also very OK. i´m sure ranking the episodes was very difficult.

[GregMonster17]

first contact was on the list but that was one of the films, and definantly a good one that if your going to include deserved a higher spot

[mrjjking77]

@GregMonster17 What? That movie sucked. Granted, not as bad as Generations, Insurrection, or Nemesis (the "Batman and Robin" of Star Trek movies, far worse than ST V), but still pretty bad.

[GregMonster17]

@mrjjking77 W/E lol I liked First Contact if you didn't fair enough everyone has their own opinion

[mrjjking77]

@GregMonster17 I'd be interested to know why you think it was good. I could give more detailed reasons why it sucked, or you could watch Red Letter Media's review of it which says pretty much everything I thought...in a funnier way.

[GregMonster17]

@mrjjking77 why do you feel the need to slag it off so much I honestly don't care if you don't like it thats your fair opinion i'm just saying that I DO lol

[mrjjking77]

@GregMonster17 Yes, so you said, and I asked why. If you don't want to say, or don't know why, then fine. Leave it at that.

[GregMonster17]

@mrjjking77 you don't have to break down an analyse a film you can just enjoy it ya know

[SDCondon86]

Yesterday's Enterprise, at it's rightful #1 position.

[tahitiantreats]

whaaaa? Yesterday's enterprise #1? Cause and Effect didn't even make the list?? Oh well, at least I got me some TNG nostalgia.

[hoolerboris]

remember me was one of the greatest episodes. how is it not there?

[colonelgork]

Seeing Tasha Yar in "Yesterday's Enterprise" was haunting, if not heart-breaking.

[iceman4785]

i find it interesting you rated The Inner Light so low.

[mokwella]

You found me out! I actually wasn't going to put it in the top 25 but was encouraged to include it by my friends. The ranking is a compromise.

[Lava91point0]

Reunion was quite a sweet episode, bittersweet and tragic and warm all at the same time

[CmdrTobs]

I'd swap one of those out for the one with "TNG: The Survivors" - An excellent episode. Nice meaning, quite dramatic... has a warp chase. Has it all.

[coker10]

What "Qpid" over "Measure of a man?"

[mokwella]

Yep. Main reason: Captain Phillipa Louvois.

[PipBoy5555]

You could have at least explained why you liked each video, or maybe an episode overview

[mokwella]

Then it would have been 10 minutes long. : ) I recommend sfdebris if you want well thought out reviews. 

[PipBoy5555]

@mokwella I'm not after a review, just your opinion as to why you like them.

[FCM415]

@DanielJackson91 The idea yes, the annoying presentation and the fact that Date and Laforge were researching the language was really annoying. I expect more people are gonna defend this episode, whatever, it's got a good message and a good idea and everything but Listening to them for the entire episode was bad. Next.

[ugothereur]

Where's Unification, or did I miss it?

[mokwella]

It's not on here. I didn't find Unification a particularly solid episode, especially the Riker B-plot where he argued with bureaucrats.

[barneysplashie]

Hello,

I like your list, must re-visit some of those episodes. My list would feature: The Pegasus, Premptive strike, starship mine,

the quality of life,

Data's day

[polgarfan]

I think Marina Sirtis did her best performance in "Face of the Enemy". But insofar as #1, "Let's make sure history never forgets the name: ENTERPRISE"

[polgarfan]

I think Marina Sirtis did her best performance in "Face of the Enemy"

[OriginalMrsCullen]

Picard drawing a smiley face in smoke = why I love TNG.

[DarthMauldaLego]

DARMOK RULES!!!!!!

[writerjoel]

What in the hell has happened to Star Trek loving that I can't find a single best-of-list with SHIP IN A BOTTLE in it? You can hate on holodeck eps in general but this one was not only an exception, but for a time considered in the top 3!

[mokwella]

Hmm.. well, it's a good episode for a low budget one, but to me the show sets up low expectations when it reveals it is a "bottle episode" in the title. Sort of like entitling your episode "This is the one where we jump the shark." The butler from the Nanny was good in it, but the ending was really cheap -- sort of "we put him in a pumpkin shell and there we kept him very well."

[writerjoel]

@mokwella I have to say, the bottle critique seems too insider for its own good. I suspect the relative cost of the episode and its bottle-ness wasn't the reason for the shows title! And who says a bottle episode can't be the best episode? Funny addition: I remember this episode being called moriarty returns. What happened there?

[mokwella]

Well, let's just say I think it's one of the top 40, but not the top 25. Have a look at GEOS (geos.tv/index.php/list?sid=17­0&collection=all). After 300 fan votes in comes in at #28.

[FCM415]

I agree with most, but DARMOK EPISODE WAS COMPLETE CRAP

[mokwella]

Shaka, when the walls fell.

[FCM415]

People really seem to like it, and I know theres inner meaning and all that (just like alot of the other episodes), but I just can't stand this one.

The Beast at Tanagra

Mirab, his sails unfurled.

HORRIBLE.

[ThePurpleman21]

@FCM415 If I may offer my oppinion non-agressively, I personally think it encapsulates a lot of what Star Trek is all about, exploring new cultures, finding new ways of communicating with new people, simply expanding horizons beyone what we ourselves know, like I say it's just my oppinion, but I think it is something that the episode does very well.

[FCM415]

@ThePurpleman21 Yeah I know, and I'm watching TNG even nowadays (thanks to netflix streaming) often and I'm quite a Trek fan. There are alot of what people call "bad" episodes but I tend to appreciate even the "difficult" ones (Alexander, Lwaxanna, Wes etc.), but I just can't stand Darmok. "finding new ways of communicating"? I guess without the universal translator yeah, and I get it trust me, but Darmok when the walls fell his butt unfurled jesus for a whole hour whatever I hate it.

[FCM415]

@ThePurpleman21 What I'm trying to say is, watching them talk like that for a whole hour just really got to me and my wife we were like wtf is that. If you really think that episode encapsulates what Star Trek is all about please show it your kids and anyone you know who isn't into Trek and see how they react to it. They'll be like yeah I'm not missing much lol. I appreciate your response but your telling me nothing new, that is probably the only episode I cant stand in all of TNG.

[ThePurpleman21]

@FCM415 I can see your point too, ah well, each to their own eh? Live long and prosper

[Seantorky3]

like the soundtrack also.



[SurfingTX]

A pretty good list.  I disagree with a few of them but I'm not going to squabble over them.

[iamhoth]

q-pid was a letdown, and I love Q. I would've replaced it with Deja Q, which showed de Lancie at his full comic potential. Glad to see Face of the Enemy, my favorite use of Troi in the entire series. I still remember watching that one for the first time and being pleasantly surprised. Nice picks, overall.

[NotJames1]

unusual choices. Even stranger that a film is part of the list and that you've included Qpid and Captains Holiday (fun to make fun of, but crappy)

[starwarstrekkie]

I cant believe y.e. is 1st

[Marz10]

All Good Things had a HUGE plot hole in it that I never have been able to get past.

[soopafreak24]

@Marz10

which was?

[Rotarrin]

Well I don't necessarily agree with the order in which they're ranked (I still think "Best of Both Worlds" should be #1 & 2, for example), but I will concur that most of the episodes mentioned do belong in the top 25.

[CuttlefishPi]

Number 1 should be "All good things" thumbs up if you agree.

[paulstang]

Shaka... When the walls fell!

[CountryHotStuff]

number 7 was a movie

[MoviesinMaking]

Where is Attached? That would at least be in my top five.

[senatorvreenak33]

I'll agree with all those being in a top 25 except Family. Family? Really? come on that episode was boring

[farrell360]

I agree with some.... 1. Cause and Effect -S5 episode 18 2.Darmok -S5 episode 2 3. All good things -S7 2 part finale 4.Parallels -S7 episode 11 5. The inner Light -S5 episode 25 6. Future imperfect -S4 episode 8 7. Genesis -S7 episode 19 8. Clues -S4 episode 14 9. A matter of time -S5 episode 9 10. Schisms -S6 episode 5 :)

[TheDaddyCokes]

Good list, thanks. I'd have included Cause and Effect in there (replacing any lower-list episode featuring Wesley Crusher or Troi).

[masere]

Did you mean the episode First Contact 'cos the movie is...well not an episode lol. And surprised The Defector and Cause and Effect were not in there.

[rowdy8888]

@masere Pegasus ? 

[donfolstar]

Great list with a few notable exceptions-

-Darmok wasn't that good, certainly not better than the Inner Light or Tapestry

-First Contact was not an episode and was also terrible

-Parallels is possibly the best-worst episode of Trek ever, or is it worst-best...

-The Drumhead features what is probably the best Picard speech in all of TNG, it should probably be higher

-The Measure of a Man is not on this list?! Neither is Data's Day or any 'Data episodes', which is silly.

[kainronin1]

Good choices! Inner light would be #1 on mine.. I do really like Yesterday's Enterprise though..

[MusicJustin15]

Why is First Contact on the list?  It is a movie.

[80smusicfanNO1]

First Contact was an episode of Star Trek? I never knew...

[MoviesinMaking]

@80smusicfanNO1 There was an episode of The Next Generation called First Contact. But, what you see here is the 2nd Star Trek: The Next Generation movie First Contact.

[80smusicfanNO1]

I was being sarcastic. The list is called "Top 25 episodes", so why are movies there.....

[MoviesinMaking]

@80smusicfanNO1 I don't know i didn't make the video. I was just trying to be helpful.

[Barneystudioz]

Yesterdays Enterprise and Best of Both Worlds should be the other way round, but people like what they like everyone has their own opinion

[cwright1982]

top choice for number 1

[gprime2622]

good list

[fredrika27]

What I find interesting is that episodes that featured Troi heavily made the cut. As Spock would say, "Interesting."

[otherjr]

Qpid and Captains Holiday? Really? Why???

[ShawnRavenfire]

I'm going to have to object to #7. Technically, that's not an episode.

Love the music from Inner Light, by the way. :-)

[CptKirk377]

@ShawnRavenfire If your talking about 'First Contact' it's an episode in season 4.  I think he put the picture from the movie.

[osmark0]

measure of man, darmok.

[kakashi76767]

timescape, sace of the enemy, q pid, relics, and captians holiday are all suspect for the best of the best. yesterdays enterprise shouldnt be in the top 10, let alone 1. Where are the inner light, conspiracy, frame of mind, and brothers?

[mokwella]

Inner Light is #8.

[thetshirtblog]

@kakashi76767 Conspiracy is stuck somewhere in the bottom ten.

[aqwaman]

@kakashi76767 Conspiracy is terrible!! it has to be the most un-trek episdoe written. They kill a man and his head and chest explodes!

[DataTasha4Ever]

@aqwaman I feel like it could have been great if they'd followed up on it as they intended to, but then they left a cliffhanger they never solved.

[alexbaxthedarkside]

nice selection of episodes, i did like how picards resican was playing in the background. good stuff :)