TNG fans please identify yourselves ...

[Tribble Threat]

Hi! I've watched about have of TNG so far, and enjoyed most of it.

Time Squared sure was good. And so was Measure of a Man. I don't think I know what The Inner Light is, though. What's it about?

 

[Batai]

Hi! I've watched about have of TNG so far, and enjoyed most of it.

Time Squared sure was good. And so was Measure of a Man. I don't think I know what The Inner Light is, though. What's it about?

"The Inner Light" is, IMO, the best episode of the entire Star Trek franchise, ever. Just watch it. All I will tell you is that in terms of a dividing line in Picard's life between everything that came before it and everything that came after, it is the equivalent of his assimilation by the Borg. Revealing any of the plot would cheat you of the enjoyment of discovering the whole episode for yourself.

 

[Mr_Sloan]

when i watched TNG as a kid, i loved data. even had that nickname in my class for a couple of years...

But in the end there where no characters i didn´t like. Okay.. Pulaski... no i never liked her.

later i loved DS9, especially Garak and.. well a Section 31 operative...

 

[B’Elanna]

Forgive me for not putiing out much personal info (Im paranoid like that), but I'll be glad to talk about TNG till kingdome come . Ill post just some (pseudo)random thoughts on TNG in general:

People say TNG has aged badly, I stare at them at disbelief, TNG feels very real to me (as I was a teen when I first started watching, and TNG was my first trek show, this might influence my judgement). I think its 'over optimism' is a good thing, especially when you are a hormoned up and disillusioned teenager.

Character wise, Ive always had a soft spot for the Geordi Data friendship, the strongest on the show (next to maybe Guinan-Picard, but we dont see it much). Two very different people (both from each others perspective, and relative to 'normal' in society) forming such a strong bond; plus I always root for the engineer.

Although I dont like the early seasons very much, I enjoy seasons 6 and 7 more than others, I don't see why 7 gets bashed so much. I also want to add, I thinkForce of Nature is a pretty good episode *ducks*.

The biggest mistake I feel TNG made was keeping itself so episodic. True that there were some serialized elements that carried and developed through the series, too many times did characters not really change when they should have, that is part of the appeal of DS9, but thankfully TNG didnt resort to the bigblinkingredreset button like VOY has done.

Finally, how can you talk about TNG with out talking about Picard, IMO the best role model in all of trek. The character represents the height of integrity and morality in my view, while at the same time, hes never perfect, and has made many mistakes in life (its nice to see someone who is capable of becoming a great person, whilst having a slightly checkered past). 'Picard speeches' are TNG at its best. No other trek show (or practivally any other tv show in general) can quite reach that level imo.

Oh, I agree - the Geordi-Data and Picard- Guinan relationships appealed to me as a kiddo watching the show. You’re making me want to go back and rewatch the show from this lens to try to unpack my connection to those relationships.

 

[TripleG58]

Hello,
My trek experience is unorthodox. I first got into Enterprise because of Netflix & Scott Bakula's recurring guest role in my favorite show - Chuck. I enjoyed the first two seasons, then the 3rd/4th I would leave on while studying in college. Strangely, the much-critisised finale episode is what got me into TNG. I also was intrigued because I remembered my dad watching reruns on cable while I was growing up. The episode where Wesley got stabbed by one of Q's alien soldiers gave me nightmares!
Anyway, I jumped through the hoops of making an account here so that I could ask if anyone else noticed Riker dropped his phasor in the alien dimension in S6E5, "Schisms." While googling, I realized those aliens haven't been brought back because Braga thought they looked too much like monks. So sad, because the phasor falling around 42:10 could be the basis for a major threat to the federation!

 

[Qonundrum]

I've been around the Lit board for about a week now because I actually took a really weird way into this part of the timeline and I've read a couple of novels before watching any Trek outside of TOS but I've recently started watching TNG, DS9, VOY through netflix and also just reruns I saw on TV and I really enjoy it, I still think TOS is my favourite but now I've watched a good amount of TNG thought I'd introduce myself here.

Howdy, and welcome!

Any particular favourites? I've got a general idea of episodes that are supposed to be good, I'm probably going to move to "Yesterday's Enterprise" "Measure of a Man" "The lower decks" and "Q Who"

For my own tastes, the episodes I'd rate as "good" to "classic" (with rating # in a 7-to-10 format) so check out the higher #s first, in chronological order are, and YMMVVWLACA*, noting many 5 and 6 star entries not listed are still watchable-to-good:

Where No One Has Gone before 8.5 (I did a full review on this one too)
Lonely Among Us 7
The Battle 8
Hide & Q 7
Big Goodbye 8
Datalore 7
11001001 10
Too Short a Season 7
When the Bough Breaks 7.75
Home Soil 8.25
Coming of Age 8.25
Heart of Glory 8.5
Arsenal of Freedom 8.5
Conspiracy 8.25

Where Silence Has Lease 8
Elementary Dear Data 9.5
Loud as a Whisper 8
Schizoid Man 8
Unnatural Selection 7
Matter of Honor 9.5
Measure of a Man** 8
Dauphin 7
Contagion 9.5
Royale 7
Time Squared 8
Pen Pals 8
Q Who 10
Samaritan Snare 7.5
Up the Long Ladder 7.5
Peak Performance 9.5
Shades of Gray 8 (Oh yes, do fast forward the clip show nonsense, but prior to that the episode has one of the most authentic "strange and dangerous alien landscape" motif modern sci-fi has convincingly sold (modern = 1985 to present). The episode started incredibly well but nose-dived. The writer's strike was the underlying reason.

Evolution 8.5
Ensigns of Command 8
Survivors 9.5
Booby Trap 9
Enemy 9.25
Defector 9
Deja Q 9
Yesterday's Enterprise 9.5
Sins of the Father 9
Tin Man 10
Hollow Pursuits 9
Most Toys 8.5
Menage a Troi 7 (mostly for some great villainous acting, those scenes are must see IMHO, YMMVVWLACA*)
The Best of Both Worlds 9.5 (more visceral than intellectual but it's a home run hitter)

BOBW pt 2 9.25 (not much of a hit compared to most 2-part stories in general regarding their concluding segments)
Remember Me 8.5
Legacy 7.5
Data's Day 9.5
The Wonded 8.25
Devil's Due 7.25 (lighthearted fun)
First Contact 9
Galaxy's Child 8
Nth Degree 9
QPid 7.5
Drumhead 7
Mind's Eye 9
Redemption pt 1 9

Redemption pt 2 5 (it's disappointing and forced, but you may as well see the end of it)
Ensign Ro 9.5
Disaster 7.5
The Game 8.75
Violations 7.5
Conundrum 8
Power Play 9
Cause and Effect 9 (esp. for first-ever viewing)
Imaginary Friend 7
Inner Light 7 (overrated but not bad, YMMVVWLACA*)
Next Phase 9.5

True Q 8.5
Rascals 7.25
Chain of Command 8.5
Ship in a Bottle 8
Lessons 7
Chase 8
Timescape 9

Liaisons 7.5 (fun, OTT silliness, as usual YMMVVWLACA)
Gambit 7
Phantasms 8.5
Attached 7 (silliness but watchable)
Parallels 9
Pegasus 9.5
Masks 8
Thine Own Self 8
Genesis 8.5
Preemptive Strike 7.5
All Good Things... 10 (a great bookend for sure)




* Your mileage may vary very wildly, like any coffee addict's
** IMHO*, it's melodramatic and subsequent stories engaging in the same plot point of "a machine is a sentient person" don't begin to match the same level of intrigue or depth. By season 6 it's so worn out it has the opposite effect of what they were intending. Flanderization to the max, for sure.

 

[BetaHazard]

Hey everyone! TNG has always been tied with DS9 for my favorite Star Trek series, and I like them both for different reasons. TNG has the best lighthearted and inspirational stories, which is my favorite part of the show. My favorite episodes include The Best of Both Worlds, All Good Things, Deja Q, and Who Watches the Watchers.

 

[Alexander Corrino]

Hey everyone! TNG has always been tied with DS9 for my favorite Star Trek series, and I like them both for different reasons. TNG has the best lighthearted and inspirational stories, which is my favorite part of the show. My favorite episodes include The Best of Both Worlds, All Good Things, Deja Q, and Who Watches the Watchers.

Hi there... and yay, another TNG fan! I like "Who Watches The Watchers" a lot as well.

 

[Sparkle Fabulosa]

Just popping in to say I’m giving TNG a second chance. I watched a handful of episodes a few years ago but stopped due to boredom with the first season.

I have seen the movies (really liked First Contact) and the episodes Q Who, I, Borg, Best Of Both Worlds, Sarek, and Reunification.

So I know it gets better but getting through the first season is a CHORE.

It’s also super weird seeing Riker without a beard.

 

[May 20]

I'm glad you're giving it another shot. There are some real clunkers in the first season, but there are some good ones, too. One of my favorite episodes is "Arsenal of Freedom". I hope you enjoy it.

And, yeah, Riker looks very different without the beard.

 

[Alexander Corrino]

I used to be meh towards the first season myself but what helped me was to just not take most of it too seriously and laugh at the unintentional hilarity at times (like when Jean-Luc casually shrugs off that his delegates are literally eating each other and is like “eh Imma take a nap, Riker, you take care of this” - lmfao!). Nowadays it’s my second favorite season of the show. It does have a few REALLY awful episodes and some REALLY awful sexism I cringe massively at tho, therefore I can see how it’s a chore to get through for someone who’s trying it for the first/second time. But it also establishes a lot of things that are later picked up again (Worf’s backstory, Jean-Luc’s love for Dixon Hill, etc) so it’s also interesting to look at as a foundation for the rest of TNG.

 

[Sparkle Fabulosa]

So what was the general consensus among fans when TNG was announced as a new Trek show, with it being the first spinoff?

 

[Alexander Corrino]

So what was the general consensus among fans when TNG was announced as a new Trek show, with it being the first spinoff?

A lot of them were outraged because “they’re trying to replace Kirk”. Some actively distributed flyers at conventions that asked people to boycott TNG. Fans didn’t want a bald captain who was completely unlike their hero Kirk. They also didn’t want a Klingon on the bridge. They also disliked the ship. And so on and so on. (Sooooomehow this sounds familiar... I just can’t put my finger on how/why....lol.) Even some of the TOS cast chimed in with anti-TNG statements.

And it wasn’t just the fans - there was a general consensus in Hollywood that “you can’t revive an iconic series”. This caused Sir Patrick to sign a six year contract (it was six years originally, it seems) for the show despite him having theater plans in his near future - everyone, including his agent, assured him TNG would fail and wouldn’t last beyond its first season and he’d be “back in the UK in a few months”.

So I’d say the general expectations were... cautious at best. Of course there were also fans who were excited but I guess, as always, the Negative Nellies were the loudest.

 

[Mutai Sho-Rin]

^^^^^^^. I was one of those “Negative Nellies.” The name, “Next Generation” seemed so hopelessly derivative that I refused to even give it a try. A friend convinced me to watch “just one episode” with him so I reluctantly sat down to be swept away by The Measure of a Man. Here I am today and the rest is history.

 

[Sparkle Fabulosa]

Wow. I’ll never understand people’s reasoning with making judgements on media they haven’t seen. Though I do agree with not liking the (interior) of the Enterprise D. It’s boring 80’s beige!

I loved Worf on DS9 so I’m excited to see his development on TNG.

 

[Mutai Sho-Rin]

Wow. I’ll never understand people’s reasoning with making judgements on media they haven’t seen. Though I do agree with not liking the (interior) of the Enterprise D. It’s boring 80’s beige!

I loved Worf on DS9 so I’m excited to see his development on TNG.

That experience taught me a lesson about preconceived notions. I approached ENT, DSC and Picard with A completely open mind And enjoyed them all. Watched Lowed Decks this week and wasn’t immediately excited but it’s not an animation style I have experienced before (I’m old). I’ll certainly rewatch this first ep and give it a fair shot.

 

[Mike McDevitt]

Long time TNG fan, first week on a BBS. Great to see all these ideas exchanged! Thanks for having me.

 

[Alexander Corrino]

Long time TNG fan, first week on a BBS. Great to see all these ideas exchanged! Thanks for having me.

Welcome aboard, fellow TNG fan!

 

[Almost Human]

Wow. I’ll never understand people’s reasoning with making judgements on media they haven’t seen. Though I do agree with not liking the (interior) of the Enterprise D. It’s boring 80’s beige!

It's fun (for me, anyway) to sort through what "futuristic" has meant to various cohorts--comparing what designers chose for TOS to TNG/VOY/DS9 to the movies that came out in each era... The tech in the JJ Abrams movies just looks like iPhones to me. And I guess TNG looks like early Windows OS, so... It all adds up.

 

[TrekTee]

Hi All,

Long time fan here. I remember watching episodes on Space during my university days. I've just been watching the new Picard series and just felt I needed to watch the whole TNG series again which makes me appreciate how great the quality of writing was. I have my issues with the new trek but lol there are some things I did like seeing (Data). Reading some of the threads here has really sparked my interest again! Looking forward to more discussions here and sharing my thoughts!

Trektee