Star Trek: The Next Generationisn’t just one of the best installments in theStar Trekfranchise, but one of thegreatest drama shows of all time. While the originalStar Trekseries was sadly canceled after the end of its third season,Star Trek: The Next Generationwas given the chance to keep pushing the story forward for over seven years.
Although there are many beloved characters inStar Trek: The Next Generation,Patrick Stewart’s performance as Captain Jean-Luc Picard turned him into the greatest hero in the history of theStar Treksaga. Stewart crafted a complex, vulnerable hero who was defined by his dedication, principles, and willingness to hear both sides of any given dispute; he’s simply a character that everyone should aspire to be like. Here are the ten best Captain Picard episodes ofStar Trek: The Next Generation.
Star Trek: The Next Generation
10“The Measure of a Man”
Season 2, Episode 9 (1989)
There are fewrelationships in theStar Trekfranchisethat are more profound than the dynamic between Picard and Data (Brett Spiner), the android who serves as one of the most important officers on the U.S.S. Enterprise. “The Measure of a Man” featured Picard serving as Data’s defender in a legal case in which he must defend his right to exist. The discussion about the merits of artificial intelligence is just as relevant today as they were when the episode first aired in 1989.
“Measure of a Man” showed that Picard was willing to stand up for the rights of those that were mistreated, asStar Trekhas always been an incredibly progressive franchise when compared to other science fiction properties. This episode solidified the fact that Picard was willing to risk his own livelihood if the safety of one of his crew members was ever placed in danger.
9“The Best of Both Worlds”
Season 3, Episode 26 & Season 4, Episode 1 (1990)
“The Best of Both Worlds” is one of the most importantepisodes of anyStar Trekseries, as the first installment of the two-parter that ended the third season had a massive cliffhanger that had viewers screaming at their televisions. The episode featured Picard being captured by the Borg, with his replacement Captain William T. Riker (Jonathan Frakes) put in a position that could end his life.
“The Best of Both Worlds” was the first instance in which Picard felt completely vulnerable, as it was feasible that he could get killed off and replaced by Riker for the rest of the show. Although Picard ended up surviving the incident, his feud with the Borg as a result of his torture left him with a severe case of post-traumatic stress disorder that he continued to deal with for the rest of the series.
Season 4, Episode 2 (1990)
“Family” was a critical episode that helped to humanize Picard and showed what his family life looked like for the first time. Although Picard rarely discussed his personal motivations and background with members of his crew during the first three seasons of the show, “Family” saw him returning to visit his family farm after his traumatic encounter with the Borg in “The Best of Both Worlds.”
“Family” was an important shift in tone forStar Trek: The Next Generationthat helped follow up the action of “The Best of Both Worlds,” and did a great job at showing how Picard was dealing with his personalmental health in the seriesafter such a frightening incident. Stewart is arguably at his most profound and emotional in “Family,” as the episode strips away all the duties of command from Picard and examines what it is like for him to live a normal life outside of Starfleet.
Season 4, Episode 21 (1991)
Star Trekhas always been a very political franchise that touches on hot-button issues, and “The Drumhead” explores a scary situation about the denial of truth that has proven to be just as relevant today in an era of political divisiveness and fake news. After a member of his crew is accused of being a traitor, Picard is forced to prevent a representative of Starfleet from badgering everyone under his command and impeding their civil liberties.
“The Drumhead” plays out like a legal thriller, and feels just as exciting asthe courtroom dramas that dominated the 1990s. While it is relatively light on action compared to some of the more intense episodes ofStar Trek: The Next Generation,“The Drumhead” proved that the series was capable of developing nuanced ideas about what the future would look likeunderGene Roddenberry’s vision.
Season 5, Episode 2 (1991)
“Darmok” is perhaps the most intimate episode ofStar Trek: The Next Generation, as it sees Picard being trapped in a primitive world where he can only communicate with the native species using rudimentary language. The episode shows just how effective of a hero Picard can be, even if he seems to enjoy being in the company of a crew that supports him.
Star Trek: The Next Generationis well known for making interesting genre deviations, and“Darmok” feels like the closest that the series ever got to a Western adventure story. Although some viewers may have felt the same exact confusion and frustration that Picard did when the premise was first established, “Darmok” ends with one of the most powerful emotional revelations about the ability that Picard has to inspire others in all seven seasons ofStar Trek: The Next Generation.
5“Conundrum”
Season 5, Episode 14 (1992)
“Conundrum” is one of themost imaginative episodes ofStar Trek: The Next Generation, as it takes place after a mysterious alien virus forces the entire crew to forget their memories, leaving them helpless in the middle of space. This was an episode that essentially showed how theEnterprisecrew could be built again from the ground up, as Picard is the first one to assess the parameters of the mystery and start developing a solution to keep everyone safe.
“Conundrum” was one of the best episodes that showed Stewart’s generosity as an actor, as even though it is Picard’s moment to shine as a leader, every single member of the cast is given a standout moment. The success of “Conundrum” in combining the emotional with the practical is a major reason why the fifth season is often cited as the best thatStar Trek: The Next Generationever aired.
4“Cause and Effect”
Season 5, Episode 18 (1992)
Time travel is notoriously a concept that is very difficult to capture on screen in a compelling way, as it is very easy to get so confusing that viewers struggle to understand what the stakes are supposed to be. However, “Cause and Effect” presenteda brilliant time travel storylinein which Picard and the crew of theEnterpriseare trapped in a recurring loop that could doom them for eternity.
“Cause and Effect” was a great example ofStar Trek: The Next Generationshowing Picard’s abilities as a strategist. While many of the captains established in other shows and films in theStar Trekfranchise earned their rank through military conquest, it’s Picard’s intelligence and ability to make rational decisions while under pressure that make him such an all-time great character. “Cause and Effect” succeeds because Stewart understands this fundamental truth about the character.
3“The Inner Light”
Season 5, Episode 25 (1992)
“The Inner Light” is perhaps the most emotional episode of the entireStar Trekfranchise, and would have earned Stewart a Primetime Emmy Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series had the Television Academy not been so notoriously biased against science fiction and other genre shows. The episode takes place entirely in Picard’s mind, as he begins to live out different fantasies about what an alternate life could look like when he is unconscious.
“The Inner Light” revealed truths about Picard as a character, showing how his unflinching willingness to perform his duty against mitigating circumstances put a severe detriment on his ability to start a family. There isn’t another episode more tear-jerking as “The Inner Light,” as Stewart reveals how Picard is dealing with the burdens of his sacrifices, and how it has been taken for granted by those who serve under him.
2“Tapestry”
Season 6, Episode 15 (1993)
“Tapestry” was an integral episode that revealed that Picard himself was flawed, as his encounter with Q (John de Lancie) allows him to travel back to moments from his past and reflect on the mistakes that he made as a young man. Essentiallyserving as a coming-of-age storyabout Picard’s youth, “Tapestry” showed that even someone that noble had elements of their past that they had buried deep within their minds.
The dynamic between Q and Picard is one of the show’s most interesting, as the two have completely different outlooks on humanity and its potential. While Q uses the mistakes that humanity has made as evidence that they are beyond reason, Picard argues that humans are capable of being empathetic, compassionate, and willing to redeem themselves. It’s Picard’s faith in others and general optimism about the future that makes him such an inspiring character.
1“All Good Things…”
Season 7, Episode 25 (1994)
There aren’t many shows that end on a perfect note, as many acclaimed programs likeGame of Thrones,House of Cards,Killing Eve, andBattlestar Galacticahad such underwhelming series finales that fans questioned why they were ever loyal to the shows in the first place. However,Star Trek: The Next Generationended on a perfect note with “All Good Things…,” an episode that featured a profound moment where Picard was able to thank every member of the crew for their dedication to theEnterprise.
“All Good Things…” showed thatStar Trek: The Next Generationwas more interested in developing great charactersthan overwhelming the viewers with action, as it takes a far more philosophical approach to a series finale than some may have expected. A final shot of Picard playing cards with various crew members was the perfect way to wrap up the show.
