The Most Generic TNG Episode...

[Discofan]

The Last Outpost
Lonely Among Us
Haven
The Big Goodbye
Datalore
Home Soil
Too Short A Season
Coming Of Age
We'll Always Have Paris
The Neutral Zone

Where Silence Has Lease
The Schizoid Man
A Matter Of Honor
The Dauphin
The Icarus Factor
Pen Pals
Samaritan Snare
Manhunt
The Emissary
Peak Performance

Evolution
The Ensigns of Command
The Survivors
The Bonding
Booby Trap
The Enemy
The Price
The Vengeance Factor
The Hunted
The High Ground
Deja Q
A Matter of Perspective
Sins Of The Father
Allegiance
Tin Man
The Most Toys
Menage a Troi
Transfigurations


Suddenly Human
Brothers
Legacy
Reunion
Final Mission
Devil's Due
First Contact
Galaxy's Child
Night Terrors
Identity Crisis
The Drumhead
Half a Life
The Mind's Eye
In Theory
Redemption

Redemption II
Unification I
A Matter Of Time
New Ground
Power Play
Cost Of Living

Man Of The People
Aquiel
Birthright, Part I
Birthright, Part II
Descent

Descent, Part II
Gambit, Part I
Attached
Inheritance
Firstborn
Bloodlines

"Thine Own Self" is falsified. It's not the first episode dealing with amnesia, or with Data interacting with a child, or about a counselor without any experience becoming the superior of someone with decades of it... wait! that last one could really be unique... But at any rate, it's the only one containing all these elements! One thing that's not original though is that old Sci. Fi. trope, that damages from radiations could be totally reversed by the taking of medication... Radiations burn your body!!! You can no more reverse that than turn a cooked meal into its raw ingredients!!

 

[TommyR01D]

The Last Outpost
Lonely Among Us
Haven
Datalore
Home Soil
Too Short A Season
Coming Of Age
We'll Always Have Paris
The Neutral Zone

Where Silence Has Lease
The Schizoid Man
A Matter Of Honor
The Dauphin
The Icarus Factor
Pen Pals
Samaritan Snare
Manhunt
The Emissary
Peak Performance

Evolution
The Ensigns of Command
The Survivors
The Bonding
Booby Trap
The Enemy
The Price
The Vengeance Factor
The Hunted
The High Ground
Deja Q
A Matter of Perspective
Sins Of The Father
Allegiance
Tin Man
The Most Toys
Menage a Troi
Transfigurations

Suddenly Human
Brothers
Legacy
Reunion
Final Mission
Devil's Due
First Contact
Galaxy's Child
Night Terrors
Identity Crisis
The Drumhead
Half a Life
The Mind's Eye
In Theory
Redemption

Redemption II
Unification I
A Matter Of Time
New Ground
Power Play
Cost Of Living

Man Of The People
Aquiel
Birthright, Part I
Birthright, Part II
Descent

Descent, Part II
Gambit, Part I
Attached
Inheritance
Firstborn
Bloodlines

Time to wave The Big Goodbye. It was the first of the trapped-in-the-holodeck episodes, which was a creative idea at the time even if it became a lazy cliche later on. It also featured Picard on the bridge in a disheveled suit and tie.

 

[Discofan]

The Last Outpost
Lonely Among Us
Haven
Datalore
Home Soil
Too Short A Season
Coming Of Age
We'll Always Have Paris
The Neutral Zone

Where Silence Has Lease
The Schizoid Man
A Matter Of Honor
The Dauphin
The Icarus Factor
Pen Pals
Samaritan Snare
Manhunt
The Emissary
Peak Performance

Evolution
The Ensigns of Command
The Survivors
The Bonding
Booby Trap
The Enemy
The Price
The Vengeance Factor
The Hunted
The High Ground
Deja Q
A Matter of Perspective
Sins Of The Father
Allegiance
Tin Man
The Most Toys
Menage a Troi
Transfigurations

Suddenly Human
Brothers
Legacy
Reunion
Final Mission
Devil's Due
First Contact
Galaxy's Child
Night Terrors
Identity Crisis
The Drumhead
Half a Life
The Mind's Eye
In Theory
Redemption

Redemption II
Unification I
A Matter Of Time
New Ground
Power Play
Cost Of Living

Aquiel
Birthright, Part I
Birthright, Part II
Descent

Descent, Part II
Gambit, Part I
Attached
Inheritance
Firstborn
Bloodlines

"Man Of The People" is ennobled. A man using... women (apparently) as mental trash cans... That's definitely original.

 

[Armus]

The Last Outpost
Lonely Among Us
Haven
Datalore
Home Soil
Coming Of Age
We'll Always Have Paris
The Neutral Zone

Where Silence Has Lease
The Schizoid Man
A Matter Of Honor
The Dauphin
The Icarus Factor
Pen Pals
Samaritan Snare
Manhunt
The Emissary
Peak Performance

Evolution
The Ensigns of Command
The Survivors
The Bonding
Booby Trap
The Enemy
The Price
The Vengeance Factor
The Hunted
The High Ground
Deja Q
A Matter of Perspective
Sins Of The Father
Allegiance
Tin Man
The Most Toys
Menage a Troi
Transfigurations

Suddenly Human
Brothers
Legacy
Reunion
Final Mission
Devil's Due
First Contact
Galaxy's Child
Night Terrors
Identity Crisis
The Drumhead
Half a Life
The Mind's Eye
In Theory
Redemption

Redemption II
Unification I
A Matter Of Time
New Ground
Power Play
Cost Of Living

Aquiel
Birthright, Part I
Birthright, Part II
Descent

Descent, Part II
Gambit, Part I
Attached
Inheritance
Firstborn
Bloodlines

Too Short A Season is not a generic episode. Although TNG reused terrorist stories as a staple plot, and although Star Trek has featured plenty of misguided Admirals before, the show stands out for me. The episode focuses on the guest star not the main cast, which was a TNG no no. Also the music was provided by a one time composer who never returned. Too Short A Season has an intensity and energy that I don't see in every episode. The death of Admiral Jameson was one of the most vivid and painful death scenes in the history of Star Trek.

 

[Qonundrum]

The Last Outpost
Lonely Among Us
Haven
Datalore

Coming Of Age
We'll Always Have Paris
The Neutral Zone

Where Silence Has Lease
The Schizoid Man
A Matter Of Honor
The Dauphin
The Icarus Factor
Pen Pals
Samaritan Snare
Manhunt
The Emissary
Peak Performance

Evolution
The Ensigns of Command
The Survivors
The Bonding
Booby Trap
The Enemy
The Price
The Vengeance Factor
The Hunted
The High Ground
Deja Q
A Matter of Perspective
Sins Of The Father
Allegiance
Tin Man
The Most Toys
Menage a Troi
Transfigurations

Suddenly Human
Brothers
Legacy
Reunion
Final Mission
Devil's Due
First Contact
Galaxy's Child
Night Terrors
Identity Crisis
The Drumhead
Half a Life
The Mind's Eye
In Theory
Redemption

Redemption II
Unification I
A Matter Of Time
New Ground
Power Play
Cost Of Living

Aquiel
Birthright, Part I
Birthright, Part II
Descent

Descent, Part II
Gambit, Part I
Attached
Inheritance
Firstborn
Bloodlines



Putting salt on the garden of generics to prevent the idea of "Home Soil" being generic from blossoming.

Terraforming wasn't the newest of tropes, but prior to this episode I don't recall as much thought going into terraforming processes. Technobabble that feels wholly plausible. And the "labor of love" from the scientists is channeled through to the audience rather well, IMHO. The episode feels like genuine, hard sci-fi, not a typical drama o' the week with sci-fi frosting on top that TNG would become. And done right. That alone renders this episode more than merely generic.

There's also a lifeform nobody expected since the silicon-based crystal thing didn't register as "life" and it's evident both sides are acting with sentience. Which means they're not related to the big space crystals from "Silicon Avatar" and "Datalore" (which a big killing space holiday ornament in of itself renders any episode non-generic as a result). I'll admit, it's an angry tree decoration, but with its species being accidentally wiped out, one can understand its angst.

Even if the crystal lifeform has abilities that almost seem magical, able to interface with alien computers to control their systems rather quickly, I was able to roll with it fairly easily. (Or it took time to learn the station's and later extrapolated since the Enterprise is also built with Federation technology. Like going from 1st grade to collegiate English. Which, had it learned that before, would have meant there'd be no episode.)

More interestingly, "Microbrain" is also not used as an insult. Which is as amazing as amusing given this was made and aired after "Hide & Q" was.

Yes, the episode is cheesy in spots and the guest actor who brought us the best emotive scene in the episode also put out the most wooden scene earlier on, but that's part of season 1 in a nutshell and "Home Soil" always cracked a place in my heart. Oh, the actor who plays General Gogol from the James Bond movie series is also fun to see in this episode.

 

[Sakonna]

The Last Outpost
Lonely Among Us
Haven
Datalore
Coming Of Age
We'll Always Have Paris
The Neutral Zone

Where Silence Has Lease
The Schizoid Man
A Matter Of Honor
The Dauphin
The Icarus Factor
Pen Pals
Samaritan Snare
Manhunt
The Emissary
Peak Performance

Evolution
The Ensigns of Command
The Survivors
The Bonding
Booby Trap
The Enemy
The Price
The Vengeance Factor
The Hunted
The High Ground
Deja Q
A Matter of Perspective
Sins Of The Father
Allegiance
Tin Man
The Most Toys
Menage a Troi
Transfigurations

Suddenly Human
Brothers
Legacy
Reunion
Final Mission
Devil's Due
First Contact
Galaxy's Child
Night Terrors
Identity Crisis
The Drumhead
Half a Life
The Mind's Eye
In Theory
Redemption

Redemption II
Unification I
A Matter Of Time
New Ground
Power Play
Cost Of Living

Aquiel
Birthright, Part I
Birthright, Part II

Descent, Part II
Gambit, Part I
Attached
Inheritance
Firstborn
Bloodlines

"Descent" Part 1. Unless I'm wrong on my trivia, I think this one is unique in all of Trek in having a guest star playing themselves.

 

[Discofan]

The Last Outpost
Lonely Among Us
Haven
Datalore
Coming Of Age
We'll Always Have Paris
The Neutral Zone

Where Silence Has Lease
The Schizoid Man
A Matter Of Honor
The Dauphin
The Icarus Factor
Pen Pals
Samaritan Snare
Manhunt
The Emissary
Peak Performance

Evolution
The Ensigns of Command
The Survivors
The Bonding
Booby Trap
The Enemy
The Price
The Vengeance Factor
The Hunted
The High Ground
Deja Q
A Matter of Perspective
Sins Of The Father
Allegiance
Tin Man
The Most Toys
Menage a Troi
Transfigurations

Suddenly Human
Brothers
Legacy
Reunion
Final Mission
First Contact
Galaxy's Child
Night Terrors
Identity Crisis
The Drumhead
Half a Life
The Mind's Eye
In Theory
Redemption

Redemption II
Unification I
A Matter Of Time
New Ground
Power Play
Cost Of Living

Aquiel
Birthright, Part I
Birthright, Part II

Descent, Part II
Gambit, Part I
Attached
Inheritance
Firstborn
Bloodlines

"Devil's Due" is paid in full. A con woman uses a millennium old superstition to extort enormous wealth from a gullible populace. There are some generic, even cliché elements in this story, such as a villain who starts too smart and powerful to be vulnerable and as the story unfolds becomes so weak it's a wonder that villain was able to fool anyone, let alone so many people for so long. When Rikers yells "We're not impressed by your magic!" it really sounds pathetic! Regardless that episode is only similar in some ways with "A Matter Of Time" and that's not enough to make it generic.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

The Last Outpost
Lonely Among Us
Haven
Datalore
Coming Of Age
We'll Always Have Paris
The Neutral Zone

Where Silence Has Lease
The Schizoid Man
A Matter Of Honor
The Dauphin
The Icarus Factor
Pen Pals
Samaritan Snare
Manhunt
The Emissary
Peak Performance

Evolution
The Ensigns of Command
The Survivors
The Bonding
Booby Trap
The Enemy
The Price
The Vengeance Factor
The Hunted
The High Ground
Deja Q
A Matter of Perspective
Sins Of The Father
Allegiance
Tin Man
The Most Toys
Menage a Troi
Transfigurations

Suddenly Human
Brothers
Legacy
Final Mission
First Contact
Galaxy's Child
Night Terrors
Identity Crisis
The Drumhead
Half a Life
The Mind's Eye
In Theory
Redemption

Redemption II
Unification I
A Matter Of Time
New Ground
Power Play
Cost Of Living

Aquiel
Birthright, Part I
Birthright, Part II

Descent, Part II
Gambit, Part I
Attached
Inheritance
Firstborn
Bloodlines

Removing Reuinion, for the revenge murder at the end.

 

[Farscape One]

The Last Outpost
Lonely Among Us
Haven
Datalore
Coming Of Age
We'll Always Have Paris
The Neutral Zone

Where Silence Has Lease
The Schizoid Man
A Matter Of Honor
The Dauphin
The Icarus Factor
Pen Pals
Samaritan Snare
Manhunt
The Emissary
Peak Performance

Evolution
The Ensigns of Command
The Survivors
The Bonding
Booby Trap
The Enemy
The Price
The Vengeance Factor
The Hunted
The High Ground
Deja Q
A Matter of Perspective
Sins Of The Father
Allegiance
Tin Man
The Most Toys
Menage a Troi
Transfigurations

Suddenly Human
Brothers
Legacy
Reunion
Final Mission
Devil's Due
First Contact
Galaxy's Child
Night Terrors
Identity Crisis
The Drumhead
Half a Life
The Mind's Eye
In Theory
Redemption

Redemption II
Unification I
A Matter Of Time
New Ground
Power Play
Cost Of Living

Aquiel
Birthright, Part I
Birthright, Part II

Descent, Part II
Gambit, Part I
Attached
Inheritance
Firstborn
Bloodlines

"Descent" Part 1. Unless I'm wrong on my trivia, I think this one is unique in all of Trek in having a guest star playing themselves.

There was other instance, in "DEATH WISH" from VOYAGER, Maury Ginsberg played himself, though a different profession since he was actually an actor.

One other thing of note... this is the ONLY episode in the franchise where the credits were put on screen before the theme song.

 

[Sakonna]

Lonely Among Us
Haven
Datalore
Coming Of Age
We'll Always Have Paris
The Neutral Zone

Where Silence Has Lease
The Schizoid Man
A Matter Of Honor
The Dauphin
The Icarus Factor
Pen Pals
Samaritan Snare
Manhunt
The Emissary
Peak Performance

Evolution
The Ensigns of Command
The Survivors
The Bonding
Booby Trap
The Enemy
The Price
The Vengeance Factor
The Hunted
The High Ground
Deja Q
A Matter of Perspective
Sins Of The Father
Allegiance
Tin Man
The Most Toys
Menage a Troi
Transfigurations

Suddenly Human
Brothers
Legacy
Final Mission
First Contact
Galaxy's Child
Night Terrors
Identity Crisis
The Drumhead
Half a Life
The Mind's Eye
In Theory
Redemption

Redemption II
Unification I
A Matter Of Time
New Ground
Power Play
Cost Of Living

Aquiel
Birthright, Part I
Birthright, Part II

Descent, Part II
Gambit, Part I
Attached
Inheritance
Firstborn
Bloodlines

"The Last Outpost", for the BERSERK characterization of the Ferengi. And only TNG appearance of the energy whips!

 

[Farscape One]

Lonely Among Us
Haven
Datalore
Coming Of Age
We'll Always Have Paris
The Neutral Zone

Where Silence Has Lease
The Schizoid Man
The Dauphin
The Icarus Factor
Pen Pals
Samaritan Snare
Manhunt
The Emissary
Peak Performance

Evolution
The Ensigns of Command
The Survivors
The Bonding
Booby Trap
The Enemy
The Price
The Vengeance Factor
The Hunted
The High Ground
Deja Q
A Matter of Perspective
Sins Of The Father
Allegiance
Tin Man
The Most Toys
Menage a Troi
Transfigurations

Suddenly Human
Brothers
Legacy
Final Mission
First Contact
Galaxy's Child
Night Terrors
Identity Crisis
The Drumhead
Half a Life
The Mind's Eye
In Theory
Redemption

Redemption II
Unification I
A Matter Of Time
New Ground
Power Play
Cost Of Living

Aquiel
Birthright, Part I
Birthright, Part II

Descent, Part II
Gambit, Part I
Attached
Inheritance
Firstborn
Bloodlines

"A Matter Of Honor" has been honorably discharged. First time we see a human on a Klingon ship.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

Lonely Among Us
Haven
Datalore
Coming Of Age
We'll Always Have Paris
The Neutral Zone

Where Silence Has Lease
The Schizoid Man
The Dauphin
The Icarus Factor
Pen Pals
Samaritan Snare
Manhunt
The Emissary
Peak Performance

Evolution
The Ensigns of Command
The Survivors
The Bonding
Booby Trap
The Enemy
The Price
The Vengeance Factor
The Hunted
The High Ground
Deja Q
A Matter of Perspective
Sins Of The Father
Allegiance
Tin Man
The Most Toys
Menage a Troi
Transfigurations

Suddenly Human
Brothers
Legacy
Final Mission
First Contact
Galaxy's Child
Night Terrors
Identity Crisis
The Drumhead
Half a Life
The Mind's Eye
In Theory
Redemption

Redemption II
Unification I
A Matter Of Time
New Ground
Power Play
Cost Of Living

Aquiel
Birthright, Part I
Birthright, Part II

Gambit, Part I
Attached
Inheritance
Firstborn
Bloodlines

Descent falls. Major villain dies, the majority of the crew beams to the surface and Beverly commands the bridge.

 

[Sakonna]

Lonely Among Us
Haven
Datalore
Coming Of Age
We'll Always Have Paris
The Neutral Zone

Where Silence Has Lease
The Dauphin
The Icarus Factor
Pen Pals
Samaritan Snare
Manhunt
The Emissary
Peak Performance

Evolution
The Ensigns of Command
The Survivors
The Bonding
Booby Trap
The Enemy
The Price
The Vengeance Factor
The Hunted
The High Ground
Deja Q
A Matter of Perspective
Sins Of The Father
Allegiance
Tin Man
The Most Toys
Menage a Troi
Transfigurations

Suddenly Human
Brothers
Legacy
Final Mission
First Contact
Galaxy's Child
Night Terrors
Identity Crisis
The Drumhead
Half a Life
The Mind's Eye
In Theory
Redemption

Redemption II
Unification I
A Matter Of Time
New Ground
Power Play
Cost Of Living

Aquiel
Birthright, Part I
Birthright, Part II

Gambit, Part I
Attached
Inheritance
Firstborn
Bloodlines

"The Schizoid Man" We actually see Dr. Selar!

 

[captainkirk]

Lonely Among Us
Haven
Datalore
Coming Of Age
We'll Always Have Paris
The Neutral Zone

Where Silence Has Lease
The Dauphin
The Icarus Factor
Pen Pals
Samaritan Snare
Manhunt
The Emissary
Peak Performance

Evolution
The Ensigns of Command
The Survivors
The Bonding
Booby Trap
The Enemy
The Price
The Vengeance Factor
The Hunted
The High Ground
Deja Q
A Matter of Perspective
Allegiance
Tin Man
The Most Toys
Menage a Troi
Transfigurations

Suddenly Human
Brothers
Legacy
Final Mission
First Contact
Galaxy's Child
Night Terrors
Identity Crisis
The Drumhead
Half a Life
The Mind's Eye
In Theory
Redemption

Redemption II
Unification I
A Matter Of Time
New Ground
Power Play
Cost Of Living

Aquiel
Birthright, Part I
Birthright, Part II

Gambit, Part I
Attached
Inheritance
Firstborn
Bloodlines

Sins of the Father: The beginning of serialized stories on TNG.

 

[Discofan]

Lonely Among Us
Haven
Datalore
Coming Of Age
We'll Always Have Paris
The Neutral Zone

Where Silence Has Lease
The Dauphin
The Icarus Factor
Pen Pals
Samaritan Snare
Manhunt
The Emissary
Peak Performance

Evolution
The Ensigns of Command
The Survivors
The Bonding
Booby Trap
The Enemy
The Price
The Vengeance Factor
The Hunted
The High Ground
Deja Q
A Matter of Perspective
Allegiance
Tin Man
The Most Toys
Menage a Troi
Transfigurations

Suddenly Human
Brothers
Legacy
Final Mission
First Contact
Galaxy's Child
Night Terrors
Identity Crisis
The Drumhead
Half a Life
The Mind's Eye
In Theory
Redemption

Redemption II
Unification I
A Matter Of Time
New Ground
Cost Of Living

Aquiel
Birthright, Part I
Birthright, Part II

Gambit, Part I
Attached
Inheritance
Firstborn
Bloodlines

"Power Play" is out. Three main characters are possessed by as many thugs who can't hide their thuggish nature for very long. The O'Brien thug seems to know everything O'Brien knows, except when he doesn't. I am not fond of scenarios that self-contradict like that.

 

[Armus]

Lonely Among Us
Haven
Datalore
Coming Of Age
We'll Always Have Paris
The Neutral Zone

Where Silence Has Lease
The Dauphin
The Icarus Factor
Pen Pals
Samaritan Snare
Manhunt
The Emissary
Peak Performance

Evolution
The Ensigns of Command
The Survivors
The Bonding
Booby Trap
The Enemy
The Price
The Hunted
The High Ground
Deja Q
A Matter of Perspective
Allegiance
Tin Man
The Most Toys
Menage a Troi
Transfigurations

Suddenly Human
Brothers
Legacy
Final Mission
First Contact
Galaxy's Child
Night Terrors
Identity Crisis
The Drumhead
Half a Life
The Mind's Eye
In Theory
Redemption

Redemption II
Unification I
A Matter Of Time
New Ground
Cost Of Living

Aquiel
Birthright, Part I
Birthright, Part II

Gambit, Part I
Attached
Inheritance
Firstborn
Bloodlines

Eliminating The Vengeance Factor. The episode begins with dead corpses and a mystery and ends with the resolution of an ancient fued between warring clans and a dead blonde. It stands out.

 

[Discofan]

Lonely Among Us
Haven
Datalore
Coming Of Age
We'll Always Have Paris
The Neutral Zone

Where Silence Has Lease
The Dauphin
The Icarus Factor
Pen Pals
Samaritan Snare
Manhunt
The Emissary
Peak Performance

Evolution
The Ensigns of Command
The Survivors
The Bonding
Booby Trap
The Enemy
The Price
The Hunted
The High Ground
Deja Q
A Matter of Perspective
Allegiance
Tin Man
The Most Toys
Menage a Troi
Transfigurations

Suddenly Human
Brothers
Legacy
Final Mission
First Contact
Galaxy's Child
Night Terrors
Identity Crisis
The Drumhead
Half a Life
The Mind's Eye
In Theory
Redemption

Redemption II
Unification I
A Matter Of Time
New Ground
Cost Of Living

Aquiel
Birthright, Part I
Birthright, Part II

Gambit, Part I
Attached
Firstborn
Bloodlines

"Inheritance" is bequeathed. Data meets his mother (sort of) who happens to be younger than him and also a robot. A better robot since she doesn't have (unnaturally) yellow skin and can make contractions... You don't see that every day!

 

[Qonundrum]

onely Among Us
Haven
Datalore
Coming Of Age
We'll Always Have Paris
The Neutral Zone

Where Silence Has Lease
The Dauphin
The Icarus Factor
Pen Pals
Samaritan Snare
Manhunt
The Emissary
Peak Performance

Evolution
The Ensigns of Command
The Survivors
The Bonding

The Enemy
The Price
The Hunted
The High Ground
Deja Q
A Matter of Perspective
Allegiance
Tin Man
The Most Toys
Menage a Troi
Transfigurations

Suddenly Human
Brothers
Legacy
Final Mission
First Contact
Galaxy's Child
Night Terrors
Identity Crisis
The Drumhead
Half a Life
The Mind's Eye
In Theory
Redemption

Redemption II
Unification I
A Matter Of Time
New Ground
Cost Of Living

Aquiel
Birthright, Part I
Birthright, Part II

Gambit, Part I
Attached
Firstborn
Bloodlines


Releasing "Booby Trap" from this fate. Not often do we see exploration of a derelict like this, there's some halfway decent exploration and intrigue, and the trap itself is fairly ingenious. The escape at the end was legitimately gripping, though despite a few seconds from lethal exposure nobody showed any worse for wear or needed any decontamination, but that's an off-screen scene. And best of all, it's the ship's AI that decided Geordi wanted the backrub, possibly because it believes everyone's like horndawg Riker because Riker is a human, all humans like backrubs, therefore Geordi must like a backrub in the same way as nobody uses the holodeck for research purposes therefore the fact the ship is going to succumb to a big problem causing them all to die is just another example of "thrill" to it. Best of all, Geordi realized it's not in good taste (not just because the ship was going to run out of power thanks to the assimilators in a matter of time) and rejected it.

 

[Discofan]

Lonely Among Us
Haven
Datalore
Coming Of Age
We'll Always Have Paris
The Neutral Zone

Where Silence Has Lease
The Dauphin
The Icarus Factor
Pen Pals
Samaritan Snare
Manhunt
The Emissary
Peak Performance

Evolution
The Ensigns of Command
The Survivors
The Bonding

The Enemy
The Price
The Hunted
The High Ground
Deja Q
A Matter of Perspective
Allegiance
Tin Man
The Most Toys
Menage a Troi
Transfigurations

Suddenly Human
Brothers
Final Mission
First Contact
Galaxy's Child
Night Terrors
Identity Crisis
The Drumhead
Half a Life
The Mind's Eye
In Theory
Redemption

Redemption II
Unification I
A Matter Of Time
New Ground
Cost Of Living

Aquiel
Birthright, Part I
Birthright, Part II

Gambit, Part I
Attached
Firstborn
Bloodlines

"Legacy" is passed on. Tasha Yar's Sister turns out not to be what everyone thought she was... Poor Tasha will not have more luck with her daughter either...

 

[Qonundrum]

Lonely Among Us
Haven
Datalore
Coming Of Age
We'll Always Have Paris
The Neutral Zone

Where Silence Has Lease

The Icarus Factor
Pen Pals
Samaritan Snare
Manhunt
The Emissary
Peak Performance

Evolution
The Ensigns of Command
The Survivors
The Bonding

The Enemy
The Price
The Hunted
The High Ground
Deja Q
A Matter of Perspective
Allegiance
Tin Man
The Most Toys
Menage a Troi
Transfigurations

Suddenly Human
Brothers
Final Mission
First Contact
Galaxy's Child
Night Terrors
Identity Crisis
The Drumhead
Half a Life
The Mind's Eye
In Theory
Redemption

Redemption II
Unification I
A Matter Of Time
New Ground
Cost Of Living

Aquiel
Birthright, Part I
Birthright, Part II

Gambit, Part I
Attached
Firstborn
Bloodlines

"The Dauphin" morphs out of vying for the mantle of "most generic". For reasons withing TNG and within culture of the time. Looking at most 1980s "coming of age" stories involving, well, "hubba bubba", they're all rather crude. This TNG story is a refreshing breath of maturity - which for the genre of teenager-themed stories is anything but generic.

TNG brings in the trope and combines it with others, using even clever practical effects to show morphing before CGI came along. The characters are strong and believable and well-acted by all, and while the ending reveals yet another "glowing ball of light" to pass the natural look for Salia's species, since making her look like a ginormous human-eating lizard was out of the question (I suppose ), the scene with Guinan that follows more than makes up for the weak reveal of Salia as a glorified flashlight. This is another episode of TNG mixing sci-fi with other genres and being successful. Loved the bit of science with lines like "Those can rip the iron right out of your blood cells." as well. It's a small scene, but a really nice touch and reminding us that keeping a ship operational can be dangerous. Something one rarely sees in TNG, TOS, et al. Especially as the technobabble is kept to a minimum - there's virtually none, letting us wonder what ship component might make use of the magnet - and telling only what's needed to achieve an effect from the audience.