Essential TNG episodes (for a full Trek experience)

[Elemental]

This is a follow-up on my General Trek thread (http://trekbbs.com/showthread.php?t=77024) trying to determine the 100 essential Star Trek episodes by roughly proportionate representation from each series.

Note: "Essential episodes" are not the same as "the best" or "your personal favourite" episodes. So, please don't vote as such. By "essential" I mean: What episodes would a newbie Trekker need to see in order to get the fullest possible experience of the Star Trek franchise?

So, that would mean that any episodes with MAJOR plot or main character advancement would need to be included (this means including most series premieres/finales, many season premieres/finales, episodes containing main character introductions/deaths, episodes with developments which are pivotal to understanding most of what comes later). I think each season should also be represented by at least one episode.

Below, are all the TNG episodes that were nominated in my other thread. Proportinately, TNG represents about 25% of the total number of episodes so please choose the essential 25 from the list.

If you feel very strongly that an episode should be included that is not on this list, please mention it along with an explanation. Thanks!

 

[GalaxyX]

Seems like you skipped a lot of the 1st Season episodes. I think "Where no one has gone before" should definitely be on that list.

 

[Elemental]

Yeah, unfortunately no one nominated it. To me, it's a little iffy whether it should make a top essential 25 episodes of TNG. The only big thing in it I believe is the introduction of the Traveler. Any other good reasons for including it?

 

[TheGodBen]

^^^ Shades of Grey made the list. If that did then every other episode deserves to be on there.

 

[GalaxyX]

Yeah, unfortunately no one nominated it. To me, it's a little iffy whether it should make a top essential 25 episodes of TNG. The only big thing in it I believe is the introduction of the Traveler. Any other good reasons for including it?

It's one of the few episodes that deals with "Exploring the unknown", and one of the few that actually feels like it's living to it's premise.

 

[Elemental]

^^^ Shades of Grey made the list. If that did then every other episode deserves to be on there.

I included it because it was a season finale (I included others too which weren't nominated) and it's clip show aspect sort of served as a summary of the first 2 years. I actually liked it when I first saw it.

 

[Elemental]

I'm a bit surprised by some of the results. For example, Descent only has 2 votes so far and I, Borg is low as well.

Is there anyone else who would include "Where No One Has Gone Before" in their top 25?

 

[BillJ]

I'm a bit surprised by some of the results. For example, Descent only has 2 votes so far and I, Borg is low as well.

Is there anyone else who would include "Where No One Has Gone Before" in their top 25?

Me.

It introduces the Traveler and also lays down the character arc for Wesley Crusher. Plus, it's a damn fine science-fiction concept.

"Space and time and thought are not the separate things we believe them to be.", kind of summed up the running theme on TNG.

 

[GalaxyX]

Is there anyone else who would include "Where No One Has Gone Before" in their top 25?

I include it as my favorite TNG episode

But I'll be happy if it's in other people's top 25 lol

 

[Red Ranger]

Is there anyone else who would include "Where No One Has Gone Before" in their top 25?

I include it as my favorite TNG episode

But I'll be happy if it's in other people's top 25 lol

Yes, me too! I really like the ep and I can't believe it didn't make this list but the abominable clip show Shades of Grey did! Yikes! -- RR

 

[trekkerguy]

Yo ucan only have a full TNG experience if you watch all the TNG episodes.

 

[cultcross]

Is there anyone else who would include "Where No One Has Gone Before" in their top 25?

I include it as my favorite TNG episode

But I'll be happy if it's in other people's top 25 lol

Yes, me too! I really like the ep and I can't believe it didn't make this list but the abominable clip show Shades of Grey did! Yikes! -- RR

I suspect 'Shades of Grey' made the list as its a clip show - and for new viewers they're a good way to get a flavour of the show while only watching one episode. I know the first time I saw 'Shades of Grey' when I was young, it highlighted some episodes I'd actually missed on first run. 'Skin of Evil' for example.
Of course, to a regular viewer, I quite agree, it is abominably bad. But to a new viewer, it's a handy 40 minute 'Previously On...'

 

[Vanyel]

Why are Encounter at Farpoint and All Good Things..., not considered one episode even though they were originally aired as 2 hour episodes?

 

[cultcross]

Why are Encounter at Farpoint and All Good Things..., not considered one episode even though they were originally aired as 2 hour episodes?

A long standing argument, sadly. Both were originally aired as single episodes but were split in two for syndication so have two episode numbers apiece.
(Is that the sound of a can of nerdy worms opening...?)