Good evening.
Do you begin with Season 1 ("Warts and all.")? Do you instead opt for a Season 2 beginning? Do you pick a peculiar episode that really sells The Next Generation...and then kick off with Season 1?
Finally, do you caution them on those early bumps in the road or do you allow them to form their own impressions absent your opinion(s)?
In 1987, the world was replete with Trek fans. 15 million people tuned into this "world premiere" episode. Without the same context in which TNG was borne in, especially if said sci-fi newbie hasn't seen or bathed in TOS in the way most of those 15 million had
at the time... heck, chances are that if the show was picked up by one of the big three networks it wouldn't have lasted a full season...
Also, a show that had no concrete ideas to start with doesn't need to be seen so stringently too. DS9 is arguably the only exception.
No matter how obstinate and/or obstreperous one may be, fight back and explain why this is a show that bucks the rule of "must see every episode in order". First off, fans are more likely able to know if a show really needs such treatment or not - and to hopefully explain, not matter how high level and/or clunkily, the issues with the production teams were and how the show got better - then circle back to older ones. If they don't believe you, one can go any number of directions. Just be grateful "Code of Honor" wasn't the premiere episode. But if they really want this routine, show them "Encounter at Farpoint" and then reiterate with some more anecdotes and tangents.
Unless you think the person would really enjoy "The Naked Now" and "Code of Honor" - both have interesting set pieces, but as entire stories they're messes. Indeed, if such a person is unaware of TOS, then one is really daring to be shoving "The Naked Now" in their face.
Heck, I'd be inclined to start with season 2 and say that if they like the show by the time they're in mid-season 3, then go back to show season 1. By then you can say "that story where they equate a walking toaster to a living organism with cod 'LA Law style drama' opted to refer to this one scene in this one appallingly bad story and probably because someone dared them to give that horrid scene an improvised legacy, so let's watch it - don't worry if I step out, I'm getting you a tranquilizer juuuuuuuuuust in case."
That said, I just looked up.
@STEPhon IT is right. The cast, especially Stewart, made most episodes watchable no matter how bad.
But it's not 1987 any longer. A sampling of random highlights and almost-highlights and even a middling entry might not hurt to show where this show can go. I'd still avoid the known stinkers until later and just say "most of fandom hates these, some may like individual scenes or moments but still agree that the stories are bad, but make up your own mind".
