Top 10 Star Trek: the Next Generation Episodes

Star Trek: The Next Generation is the second series in the Star Trek franchise. It was what many fans considered to be the best series of the Star Trek franchise. Its premiere television run was from 1987 to 1994, with 178 episodes made. Through all seven seasons of the series, there were quite a few good episodes.

#10 - The Arsenal of Freedom (Season 1)

Beginning the list at #10 is the 21st episode of Season 1, “The Arsenal of Freedom.”

In the episode, an away team is trapped on the surface of a planet, becoming unwitting participants in the demonstration of an advanced planetary defense system. In orbit, the Enterprise battles with a small
self-cloaking probe.

#9 - Timescape (Season 6) / Parallels (Season 7)

Continuing the list at #9 is a tie between “Timescape,” which debuted as the second-last episode of Season 6, and “Parallels,” which debuted in Season 7. I found it hard to pick only one of these two episodes for the 9th position on the list, so I placed both of them there.

In “Timescape,” the Enterprise is caught in temporal stasis, and on the brink of destruction by the Romulans. In “Parallels,” Worf finds himself randomly shifting between alternate realities. Both episodes involve time-travel, have well-written storylines, and are packed with action and special effects.

#8 - Yesterday’s Enterprise (Season 3)

At #8 is the episode “Yesterday’s Enterprise,” where the Enterprise-D meets its predecessor.

In the episode, an encounter with the Enterprise-C causes a shift in reality - and the return of the deceased Tasha Yar.

#7 - All Good Things…, Part I and II (Season 7)

In the top ten episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation, the two-part series finale “All Good Things…” comes in at #7 on the list.

In Part 1 of the episode, Picard finds himself alternating between three time periods thanks to Q, with a space-time distortion that threatens to destroy humanity growing larger in the past. In Part 2, Picard has all three versions of the Enterprise-D enter the anomaly and create a static warp shell, which collapses the anomaly the returns the timeline to normal.

#6 - Q Who? (Season 2)

The 6th best episode of the series is the Season 2 episode, “Q Who?”

In the episode, Q fires the ship 7,000 light-years away from Federation space and introduces the crew of the Enterprise to the deadly Borg.

#5 - The Nth Degree (Season 4)

Kicking off the top five episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation is “The Nth Degree.”

In the episode, after an encounter with an alien probe, Lieutenant Barclay experiences great leaps in confidence and intelligence.

#4 - Relics (Season 6)

Sitting at #4 on the list is the 4th episode of Season 6, “Relics.”

In the episode, the Enterprise investigates a shuttle that crashed on the surface of a Dyson Sphere 75 years ago. An un-degraded pattern is found in the transporter buffer, that of Mr. Scott (played by James Doohan from the original Star Trek cast). Starting to feel out of place and obsolete, Scotty agrees to return to his shuttle with Geordi, and they become the only hope when the Enterprise is accidentally pulled inside the sphere!
This episode was the #1 choice for the “Space Salutes James ‘Scotty’ Doohan” Viewers Choice Marathon, which debuted on the Space channel shortly after Doohan’s passing away in 2005.

#3 - Descent, Part I and II (Seasons 6 and 7)

Holding on to a #3 position on the list is the two-part episode “Decent,” which is the Season 6 finale and Season 7 premiere, respectively.
In Part 1 of the episode, the crew encounter a group of Borg acting individually, and Data briefly experiences emotions. In Part 2, the audience discovers that the Borg are being led by Lore, Data’s evil “brother,” who is controlling Data by feeding him negative emotions.

#2 - Redemption, Part I and II (Seasons 4 and 5)

The second best Star Trek: The Next Generation episode on my Top 10 Episode List is the two-part episode, “Redemption.” This Season 4 finale and Season 5 premiere, respectively, depict a major battle between the Federation and Klingons, against the Romulans and Duras family.

In Part 1, Worf leaves the Enterprise to fight on behalf of Gowron in a Klingon civil war. In Part 2, a fleet of 23 Federation ships cut off Romulan support to the Duras family, resulting in Gowron’s installation as Chancellor.

#1 - The Best of Both Worlds, Part I and II (Seasons 3 and 4)

Finally, we come to the best episode of the entire series of Star Trek: The Next Generation! Sitting pretty at #1 on our Top 10 Episode List is the two-part Borg episode we’ve all come to know and recognize, “The Best of Both Worlds.”

In Part 1 of the episode, which was the Season 3 finale, Picard is kidnapped by the Borg, who begin their invasion of Federation space. In Part 2, the Season 4 premiere, Picard is rescued from the Borg, as the Enterprise races to save Earth.

Other Good Episodes

In particular, many fans of the series might wonder why I’ve left out a couple of other good episodes on this Top 10 Episodes List. I’ve tried my best to write a list incorporating what I believe are the best episodes of the series, based upon action, storyline and amount of special effects used. If you believe there was another good episode of the series that’s worth being mentioned, feel free to post a comment to my article and let everyone else know.