Star Trek: The Next Generation season 7 may not be as highly regarded as the previous seasons, but it still includes some solid episodes. After six seasons with over twenty episodes each, many shows would have run out of steam, but TNG delivered some of its most unique episodes in its final season. Not all of the risks taken in TNG season 7 paid off, but Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and the USS Enterprise-D crew still made even the mediocre episodes watchable.
In its final season, Star Trek: The Next Generation continued developing its characters, revealing more about their backstories and exploring their relationships to one another. Several episodes throughout the season dove into the family histories of TNG's characters, and many of the stories were more personal than those of previous seasons. While TNG season 7 had its ups and downs, the series ultimately ended on a high note, beautifully bringing the story of the USS Enterprise-D and its crew full circle.
10"Phantasms"
Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 7, Episode 6
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"Phantasms" manages to be both funny and genuinely disturbing, making it one of Star Trek: The Next Generation's most memorable episodes. Whether or not the technobabble of it all makes sense, it's hard to forget the image of Data with a rotary phone in his stomach or of Counselor Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis) as a "cellular peptide cake, with mint frosting."
9"Inheritance"
Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 7, Episode 10
By Star Trek: The Next Generation's final season, Data had already met his evil twin brother Lore (Brent Spiner), his creator/father Noonien Soong (also Brent Spiner), and his self-proclaimed grandpa Ira Graves (W. Morgan Sheppard). "Inheritance" adds another leaf to Data's family tree by introducing his "mother," Juliana (Fionnula Flanagan), who was once married to Noonien Soong.
e ship. Data plays through the rest of his dream on the holodeck to discover how to kill the strange creatures.Data eventually discovers that Juliana herself is an android built by Soong after the human Juliana was fatally wounded, but that she does not know she's an android. Fionnula Flanagan is wonderful as Juliana, and she makes a great scene partner for Brent Spiner. "Inheritance" builds on Data's story in interesting ways, once again highlighting the android's obvious humanity.
8"Gambit"
Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 7, Episodes 4 & 5
Star Trek: The Next Generation perfected the two-part episode early with the spectacular "The Best of Both Worlds," and while "Gambit" doesn't live up to those soaring heights, it's still a fun diversion. The episode begins with Commander Will Riker (Jonathan Frakes) and the Enterprise-D crew searching for Captain Picard in a bar, only to be told that he's dead.
Riker then retraces Picard's steps, eventually finding him posing as a rogue archaeologist among a group of mercenaries. "Gambit" leans into action and adventure more than many TNG episodes, providing some incredibly fun moments for Picard and Riker as they infiltrate the mercenary ship. Data also gets some great scenes while in command of the Enterprise, including a particularly strong moment with Lt. Worf (Michael Dorn).
7"Attached"
Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 7, Episode 8
Star Trek: The Next Generation started teasing a romance between Captain Picard and Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden) in its first season, but abandoned the storyline quickly. "Attached" revives this romance when Jean-Luc and Beverly escape from an alien prison to find they can hear each other's thoughts. Beverly learns that Jean-Luc was once in love with her, but suppressed his feelings because of her marriage to his friend, Jack Crusher (Doug Wert).
Although the TNG films dropped any romance between Picard and Crusher, Star Trek: Picard season 3 revealed they conceived a son, Jack Crusher (Ed Speleers), sometime after the events of Star Trek: Nemesis.
After the Enterprise rescues them, Picard and Crusher enjoy a date night and share a kiss, but Beverly puts an end to their talk of romance. While I wish Jean-Luc and Beverly had begun a true romance after the events of "Attached," the episode still delivers some great moments between the two. Patrick Stewart and Gates McFadden have obvious chemistry, and "Attached" offers interesting insight into both characters and their shared history.
6"Preemptive Strike"
Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 7, Episode 24
Ensign Ro Laren (Michelle Forbes) made a memorable entrance in Star Trek: The Next Generation season 5's "Ensign Ro," and she returns for one last hurrah in "Preemptive Strike." The episode follows Ro as she infiltrates the Maquis for Starfleet, only to find herself relating to the resistance members. Ro comes to see Macias (John Franklyn-Robbins), the leader of this Maquis cell, as a father figure, and she is devastated when he is killed during a mission.
Ro was originally going to become a main character on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, but Michelle Forbes turned down the role. The character eventually became Kira Nerys, portrayed by Nana Visitor.
In the end, Ro cannot go through with the plan to cripple the Maquis, and she defects from Starfleet to alert the rebels of the Federation's plans. Ro's betrayal deeply affects Picard, and he holds onto that grudge for thirty years, until the two finally confront one another in Star Trek: Picard season 3. With strong performances from Michelle Forbes and John Franklyn-Robbins, "Preemptive Strike" gives Ro a solid send-off and offers a nice exploration of the Maquis and their motivations.
5"Thine Own Self"
Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 7, Episode 16
When Data is sent to Barkon IV to recover the remains of a crashed space probe, he suffers an injury that causes him to lose his memory. With his mission forgotten, Data wanders into a nearby village, unaware that he's carrying radioactive material. Data forms a sweet friendship with a young villager and her father, but other villagers mistrust the strange android, believing him to be the cause of their radiation poisoning.
Meanwhile, Counselor Troi earns a promotion to Commander by completing the bridge officers' test. Commander Riker and Dr. Crusher eventually retrieve Data, who regains all of his memories except those from the time on the planet. "Thine Own Self" has some great moments for Data as he navigates his memory loss, and his interactions with the villagers make for compelling storytelling. Plus, Brent Spiner is wonderful as always, and it's great to see Troi get promoted.
4"The Pegasus"
Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 7, Episode 12
"The Pegasus" offers a look into Commander Riker's life before he became First Officer of the Enterprise-D. When Admiral Erik Pressman (Terry O'Quinn) comes aboard the Enterprise to recover the wreckage from the USS Pegasus, Riker is faced with a complicated moral dilemma. While in command of the Pegasus, Pressman was involved in experimentation with an illegal cloaking device that led to a tragic accident and mutiny.
"The Pegasus" was directed by LeVar Burton, his second turn in the director's chair, after season 6's "Second Chances."
Terry O'Quinn brings a certain gravitas to Admiral Pressman, making it easier to see why Riker had so much loyalty to his former captain. The dilemma Riker faces in "The Pegasus" is an interesting one that eventually comes to a head when he reveals the truth about the cloaking device to help the Enterprise. By this point in TNG's run, Jonathan Frakes knows Riker well, and his performance is a big part of why "The Pegasus" works as well as it does.
3"Parallels"
Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 7, Episode 11
"Parallels" opens with Lt. Worf returning from a Bat'leth tournament to find that Commander Riker and the Enterprise crew have thrown him a surprise birthday party. While at the party, Worf notices sudden small changes that no one else seems to be aware of. As the changes become more significant, they also become more difficult to ignore, and it's fascinating watching Worf adapt as he tries to uncover the truth.
With its reality-jumping and compelling mystery, "Parallels" is an incredibly fun episode that nicely showcases Michael Dorn's comedic timing. The various universes also offer glimpses into different paths Star Trek: The Next Generation could have taken, including a universe where Captain Picard died during the events of "The Best of Both Worlds" and one where Wesley Crusher (Wil Wheaton) remained on the Enterprise as a young lieutenant.
2"Lower Decks"
Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 7, Episode 15
In its seventh season, Star Trek: The Next Generation offered a glimpse into the lives of the lower-ranking officers serving on the USS Enterprise-D. "Lower Decks" centers around Ensign Sito Jaxa (Shannon Fill) and her friends, as they vie for promotions and interact with the ship's senior officers. Sito, who had previously appeared in TNG season 5's "The First Duty," gets chosen for an important mission to help a Cardassian Federation operative return to Cardassia.
The animated Star Trek: Lower Decks was inspired by this TNG episode, although it takes a more light-hearted approach.
When Sito fails to return, Captain Picard learns that the Cardassians destroyed her escape pod. When Picard announces Sito's death over ship-wide intercom, "Lower Decks" focuses on the reactions of her devastated friends. While many episodes of Star Trek: The Original Series and early TNG glossed over the deaths of so-called redshirts, "Lower Decks" grapples with the real dangers of life on a starship, making it one of the franchise's most heartbreaking episodes.
"All Good Things..."
Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 7, Episodes 25 & 26
Star Trek: The Next Generation's series finale is one of its best episodes, beautifully wrapping up the series while also leaving room for Captain Picard and his crew to return in feature films. The story centers on Captain Picard, who finds himself jumping through the past, present, and future thanks to John de Lancie's always welcome Q. Picard works with his Enterprise-D crew members in three timelines to solve the mystery surrounding an anomaly that defies causality.
"All Good Things..." firmly cements Star Trek: The Next Generation as one of the best science fiction shows of all time.
Not only does "All Good Things..." tell a classic Star Trek story that celebrates humanity at its best, but it also offers a glimpse into a possible future for Picard and his crew. At the end of the episode, Picard finally sits down to join his friends for a game of poker, lowering the walls he has built around himself for much of his life. It's a lovely ending that feels right for the show and its beloved characters, and "All Good Things..." firmly cements Star Trek: The Next Generation as one of the best science fiction shows of all time.
