Episode 93
Friday 12 January 2024
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Series 4, Episode 7
Stardate: 44246.3
First broadcast on Monday 5 November 1990
After just over a season of reliable and competent, this week, Star Trek: The Next Generation goes for dramatic and surprising — with amazing results: a memorable epsiode full of good performances and the sort of direction that lets those performances shine. One of the best.
Episode 38
Friday 22 July 2022
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Series 4, Episode 12
Stardate: 44429.6
First broadcast on Monday 28 January 1991
Our Irish lad to the war has gone
On the deck of the Phoenix you’ll find him.
He’s got a song that goes on and on
And a sad backstory behind him.
Marc Alaimo’s here in a silly hat
He’s missed some bits while sha-a-ving.
And Captain Maxwell has shown us that
He’s a dick and he isn’t worth saving.
Episode 152
Friday 2 May 2025
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Series 4, Episode 21
Stardate: 44769.2
First broadcast on Monday 29 April 1991
This week, Jean Simmons strides imperiously onto the Enterprise bridge, accompanied by her executive assistant, her scary stenographer, her daddy issues, and a terrifying sense of self-righteous rage. Unmissable.
Episode 75
Friday 28 July 2023
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Series 4, Episode 23
Stardate: 44821.3
First broadcast on Monday 13 May 1991
Star Trek: The Next Generation makes another ill-judged attempt at romance this week, as Beverly Crusher has an eventful two-week relationship with an alien ambassador, Commander Riker, and an attractive young woman, who are all somehow the same person. It all goes as well as you would expect in a series where every episode returns reliably to the status quo before the credits roll.
(Warning: after the closing credits, there are some incidental spoilers for Strange New Worlds Series 2, Episode 7, Those Old Scientists.)
Episode 49
Friday 21 October 2022
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Series 5, Episode 2
Stardate: 45047.2
First broadcast on Monday 30 September 1991
They were victorious. But Enkidu fell to the ground, struck down by the gods. And Gilgamesh wept bitter tears, saying, “He who was my companion, through adventure and hardship, is gone forever.”
Now this is what Star Trek is about — kind, competent people solving a space problem, while learning about the importance of storytelling, connection and understanding. Magnificent.