Most Powerful TNG Moments

[Chief Medical Officer]

I just finished a re-watch of 'The Inner Light', and I had forgotten how powerful this episode was....I mean how incredibly engrossing and emotionally charged it was. The scene at the end where Picard finally realizes what has happened is nothing short of magical.

This makes me think of the other, very strong and powerful TNG moments. Here are some of mine:

1. The courtroom scenes in 'The Measure of a Man'.
2. The scenes between Picard and Nuria in 'Who Watches the Watchers'.
3. The climax of 'Yesterday's Enterprise' as the Enterprise-C re-enters the temporal rift.
4. The scene with Picard and Crusher after he has mind-melded with Sarek in 'Sarek'.
5. The climax of 'The Best of Both Worlds, Part 1', where Picard reveals himself to be Locutus of Borg.
6. The scene between Picard and his brother Robert as they fought in the vineyard and Picard finally breaking down about his experience with the Borg.
7. The scene between Picard and Wesley Crusher as Picard is carried out on a stretcher in 'Final Mission'.
8. The interaction between Picard and Admiral Satie towards the end of 'The Drumhead'.
9. Worf's departure from the Enterprise at the end of 'Redemption, Part 1'.
10. The entire episode of 'Darmok'.
11. The scene where Picard visits Sarek before leaving for Romulus in 'Unification, Part 1'.
12. The scene where Soren stands accused of identifying with a gender in 'The Outcast'.
13. The torture of Picard in 'Chain of Command, Part 2'.
14. The final defection of Ro Laren in 'Preemptive Strike'.
15. The very final scene of 'All Good Things' when Picard says 'I should have done this a long time ago..'

There are probably many others, but this list is what sticks with me.

 

[STEPhon IT]

Picard and his brother in Family, when his brother allowed him to face his demons.
The Offspring, where Lal started developing feelings, and to listen to the Scientist describe how fast Data was attempting to save her life.
Lessons, Picard in complete limbo when he felt lost thinking he ordered his girlfriend, Nella Daren, to her death; closing his Inner light flute case. It was a moving moment because I thought she was dead.

 

[HIjol]

That scene in "The Offspring" is among my top scenes of anything I have viewed (and felt) in terms of excellence and emotion, and also as an example of actors and writers absolutely NAILING what it would be like, were it real and if it that situation really did happen.

One of those scenes that truly makes you forget you are watching fiction.

 

[bbjeg]

+1 for Darmok.

A few more not mentioned:
Riker ordering Picard to surrender in A Matter of Honor.
The unstoppable Borg of Q Who
Worf's discommendation in Sins of the Father.
Bones in Encounter at Farpoint, Spock in Unification, and Scotty in Relics.
Tom Riker's predicament in Second Chances.

 

[Mutai Sho-Rin]

"Fire" at the end of "BOBW1".

The scene near the end of "Lower Decks" with Worf standing in the shuttle bay door considering the loss of Sito Jaxa.

 

[RAMA]

I had a very strong reaction to part 1 of Birthright, with Data's dream sequence.

Picard seeing his grandmother in WNOHGB had such a cool atmosphere, I thought it was the central thought creation of the episode.

Riker from the Borg dominated universe in "Parallels"

 

[KhanSolo]

I'd say, at least regarding the show, when Data has to deactivate Lal due to cascade failure. Even though Data did not show any emotion, he still understood the situation for what it was and knew he was unable to feel. I think that in itself is powerful, knowing your child is dying, but not having the ability to feel it. Then of course, "All Good Things", Picard's interaction with the senior officers at the poker table and the Enterprise flying off into space, gets me every time.

Now if I may add something from the TNG movies, you didn't specify but I'm sure it's fair game lol. When you see Picard cry over the loss of Robert and Rene in Generations, that definitely made me wow because you'd never seen Picard show such raw emotion like that. Finally, the scene in the Enterprise E's observation lounge with Picard and Lily as she calls him out on his behavior towards the Borg and what not. That's a fantastic scene, and there was some good writing in that scene as well.

 

[HIjol]

Darmok is my favorite Episode, of all the iterations...even "City...".

("HIjol at Bashi")

 

[2takesfrakes]

Some great moments have already been listed, here, but another for me was in "Legacy," when Tasha's sister was onboard and everyone who knew Tasha was trying to befriend her, trusting her, instantly. She ended up betraying them all and Picard noted that they saw more than what was there, in Ishara. It's funny how we'll make someone very worthy of our trust and friendship jump through hoops, sometimes, yet instantly give it to someone who doesn't deserve it, because of snap judgments and preconceived ideas that work in their favour. If you idolise someone you don't know and didn't ask for it, you deserve to be let down, in a way.

 

[tomalak301]

I had a very strong reaction to part 1 of Birthright, with Data's dream sequence.

I loved the final dream sequence. There's just those special moments that stick with you and that was one of them.

Other powerful moments

-Picard joining the Poker Game in All Good Things...
-Mr. Worf, Fire - Best of Both Worlds
-There Are Four Lights - Chain of Command
-Lwaxana and Timicin's final conversation in Half a Life
-Deanna finding out about Kestra - Dark Page
-Remmeck's Head exploding - Conspiracy

Tryed to get some episodes in there that probably don't get a mention, like Dark Page. I really loved that that episode actually did feature a tender mother/daughter moment between Lwaxana and Deanna.

 

[f14peter]

The scene near the end of "Lower Decks" with Worf standing in the shuttle bay door considering the loss of Sito Jaxa.

Oooooh, good one. In fact, that episode (in my top-10) has more ...

- Jaxa: "I'm Bajoran, nobody knows better than I do ..."
- Joret: "I didn't realize she would be so... young..."
- After she's shackled in the faux-stolen shuttle, the way Jaxa draws a deep breath and seems to shiver as she girds herself
- This exchange between Riker and Lavelle:

- Lavelle: "Sir... it would help if I knew what kind of life-signs to look for"
- Riker: "You're scanning for Bajoran lifesigns, Ensign"​

- Picard: "To all Starfleet Personnel, this is the Captain ..."
- Ogawa's gasp and quickly covering her mouth listening to Picard's announcement

In the context of the entire series, not so big a deal but within the scope of the episode, intense moments.

 

[Tracy Trek]

In Measure of a Man, when Picard and Guinan talk in 10-Forward about the truth of what an army of androids would be.

A big thumbs-up for all the other ones mentioned.

 

[Kilana2]

Tasha's memorial, where she adresses her friends left behind..

 

[JirinPanthosa]

In The Defector when Jarok realizes he betrayed his people for no reason.

In Q Who: "You wanted to frighten us, we're frightened. You wanted me to say I need you? I NEED YOU!"

 

[Beta-Z]

Tasha's memorial, where she adresses her friends left behind..

Oh yes, this memorial is still one of the toughest moments to watch of all TV shows and movies that i've ever seen!
I can't help it, but tears are running down my face every time then, worst moment is when she is talking to Data.
I watched "Skin of evil" the first time shortly after a good friend of mine had died because of cancer, he got only 16 years old.
I'm sure that experience has a lot to do with my reaction.

Second to me is the end of "The offspring", that's very powerful and moving too.
There are many on the same level, most of them already mentioned in the above posts, but one comes to mind that hasn't been mentioned before.
It's the scene in "I, Borg", when Picard talks to Hugh for the first time and at the end says "But you are Borg!" and then Hugh replies "No, I am Hugh!" - then this intense music and Picards facial reaction to that - whoa, gives me thousands of goose bumps every time.

 

[Nordique]

In The Bonding, I have always liked the emotions showed by Beverly and Wesley when he asks her if she thinks of Jack sometimes. Mother and son grieving over the loss of a husband and father. A nice simple touching scene.

 

[Admiral Shran]

The Klingon ships decloaking while the Klingon Theme plays in "The Defector".

 

[Scotchy]

When Riker brings Picard the box containing his flute at the end of The Inner Light. When Picard opens that box and sees what is in it, there isn't even any need for words between them - when Riker sees Picard's expression he simply leaves him alone.
Also when Picard's wife appears to him at the end of that episode. When his daughter reveals the truth, Picard is fascinated that he is the person that the probe encountered in the future. But when his wife appears, all that is cast aside and the only word he can say is her name.

 

[INACTIVEUSS Einstein]

Paraphrasing from memory:

"We. Are. Back."

"They left my people scattered, destroyed our culture. Defend yourself captain, or they will destroy you."

"Inform Admiral Hansen and Starfleet Command. We have engaged the Borg."

"We we display the Enterprise's broken hull in the center of the capital on Romulus, as a inspiration for generations to come."

"Starfleet's mandate is to seek out new life. Well there it sits!"

"The sky's the limit."

And many more

 

[Vandervecken]

"If you can't take a little bloody nose, maybe you ought to go back home and crawl under your bed. It's not safe out here. It's wondrous, with treasures to satiate desires both subtle and gross; but it's not for the timid."




The following moment from In Theory always gets me; how it shows just how different Data is and how it can be dangerous for humans to make assumptions about him:


JENNA: No, that's alright, Data. I'd better go now.
DATA: As you wish. Jenna. Are we no longer a couple?
JENNA: No, we're not.
DATA: Then I will delete the appropriate program.
JENNA: I'll see you later.
(she leaves, sad, and the cat comes to his lap)
DATA: Hello, Spot.