Transfigurations (⭑⭑)
Unfortunately, the last "regular" episode of season three (prior to the grand finale) is a lackluster offering. "Transfigurations" combines a nonsensical sci-fi premise with a narrative structure reminiscent of some…
Family (⭑⭑⭑⭑)
"Family" was exactly the right sort of episode with which to follow the epic-ness that was "The Best of Both Worlds": something completely different, which represented the show pausing to…
Brothers (⭑⭑⭑)
A number of questionable plot issues lurk around the perimeter of this episode, but the encounter between the three characters (all played by the same actor) at its core is…
Suddenly Human (⭑⭑)
I can understand parts of what this episode was trying to do, but I have never found "Suddenly Human" particularly effective—or enjoyable. Its main guest character, Jono/Jeremiah, never really comes…
Legacy (⭑⭑⭑)
This is a pretty routine, down-the-middle, three-star episode: not without its charms, but somewhat frustrating in some ways, and overall, kind of nothing special. Plot-wise, there's nothing particularly interesting or…
Reunion (⭑⭑⭑⭑)
I think of this episode as sort of the focal point where all the threads that make up TNG's Klingon saga meet and cross each other. It serves as a…
Future Imperfect (⭑⭑⭑)
This episode had great potential, and most of it is quite enjoyable, but its ending is a pretty big disappointment, and ultimately there's just not enough "meat" here to make…
Final Mission (⭑⭑⭑)
I'm calling this one a three-star installment for having a reasonably solid character/emotional core, surrounded by a whole lot of nonsensical plot contrivances. It's also, of course, the show's farewell…
Data’s Day (⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑)
This has always been one of my personal all-time favorite TNG episodes, and I perhaps can't really evaluate it "objectively" at this point (not that any such assessment is ever…
The Wounded (⭑⭑⭑)
"The Wounded" is very much a borderline offering, right on the line between three and four stars for me. There is a lot to like about it, but there are…
Galaxy’s Child (⭑⭑⭑⭑)
With "Galaxy's Child," season four gives us yet another episode that functions as a direct sequel to a specific episode from a previous season (in this case, season three's "Booby…
The Nth Degree (⭑⭑⭑)
As much as I like Lieutenant Barclay, I've always found "The Nth Degree" to be a mostly disappointing follow-up to "Hollow Pursuits." (Oddly, I seem to be somewhat at odds…
Qpid (⭑⭑⭑)
"Qpid," I think, is an episode that you either find enough silly humor in to make you willing to overlook its many flaws just enough to more or less enjoy…
Half a Life (⭑⭑⭑)
It has plenty of flaws, but "Half a Life" is remarkable for making Lwaxana Troi relatable and "human" (yes, I know, she's actually Betazoid, but whatever) for the first time.…
The Host (⭑⭑)
Season four has some great episodes, and I think of it as a good season of TNG overall, but there's no denying that its latter third contains a dismayingly long…
In Theory (⭑⭑⭑)
Dammit. I so, so want to love this episode. Parts of it are really good, and I do absolutely love what it is trying to do. If only it didn't…
Redemption: Part I (⭑⭑⭑⭑)
I think the standard view of the "Redemption" two-parter can be summed up as: it's good (a classic, even), but it's no "Best of Both Worlds." The thing is, I…
Darmok (⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑)
This is an episode that has, it seems to me, gradually attracted ever-increasing attention and admiration over time—and rightly so. It's not at all the sort of episode that becomes…
Ensign Ro (⭑⭑⭑)
This is a complicated, tricky episode, and teasing out the intricacies of what works and what doesn't is going to take some doing. There's a fair amount, I feel, that…
Silicon Avatar (⭑⭑)
This episode is chock-full of problems and really isn't very good, but I usually remember it somewhat more fondly than one would expect from that statement. I think one reason…
Disaster (⭑⭑⭑)
This is one of those episodes that I personally have always really enjoyed, but that seem to be surprisingly (to me) unpopular among fans in general. I mean, sure, it…
The Game (⭑⭑⭑)
"The Game" seems to be a highly divisive episode that some fans enjoy but many others heartily loathe. I can understand both reactions. Apart from the teaser, and notwithstanding some…
Unification: Part I (⭑⭑⭑⭑)
This episode easily earns four stars for its commendable mix of big ambitions, continuity nods both to multiple previous TNG episodes and to the larger legacy and history of Trek…
Unification: Part II (⭑⭑⭑)
Oof. There is some good stuff in this episode, and the whole of it is perfectly watchable, but its plot makes basically no sense, and it doesn't come close to…
New Ground (⭑⭑⭑)
I'm honestly not sure that I can muster up too terribly much to say about this episode. It's kind of just there: not bad, really, but certainly not great, either.…
Hero Worship (⭑⭑⭑⭑)
This is a rare instance of an episode that I quite like, yet don't recall making a strong impression on me "back in the day," and thus don't tend to…
Ethics (⭑⭑)
This episode is a total mess. There are some worthwhile conflicts and ideas in it, but it lacks a consistent focus, and it's full of shoddy characterization and narrative cop-outs.…
The First Duty (⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑)
The second, and hands-down the best, of the three episodes to feature Wesley Crusher subsequent to his departure back in season four, "The First Duty" is gripping character drama that…
Cost of Living (⭑)
One is almost tempted to speculate that this episode was intended as a practical joke, as in: What would happen if we paired up our show's two least compelling/palatable recurring…
The Perfect Mate (⭑⭑⭑⭑)
I have always loved this episode. My fondness for it has never blinded me to the problematic aspects of its premise, which do need to be factored into any overall…