2025/07/XX
I’m already finished with the 5th season of The Next Generation, on the whole it is fun to rewatch it again. The characters are great, love them all actually, Data is definitely my favorite one but I presume I am not alone in this. The stories unfortunately vary in quality all through the season, I am a high grader, I don’t like to give an 5/10 or lower, on occasion I do and truth be told, I believe my 6/10 often perhaps are too high graded also. In any case, like with the previous seasons, a little more than a third of the episodes I have graded an 8/10 or higher. Of course, we all have different tastes, but for me I think in part this has to do with the episodic nature of The Next Generation. Little to no character growth, you could argue that Picard, after his ordeal with the Borg, has grown, but you rarely see this in the episodes, it is mentioned here and there, but I can’t say that he really is different than before.
Therefore I love story-arcs, because from story-arcs comes character growth. Just watch for example Deep Space Nine or Babylon 5. Another plus with these shows is that they are not on a ship so that you get many recurring characters which all add to the character growth because they are interacting with not only their colleagues. I just miss this on The Next Generation, again, I truly love the characters but I believe most of them grew more in the 4 movies than the in 7 years before that. But of course, it is only my opinion, my viewpoint and I know there are people who love The Next Generation unconditionally, with all its flaws.
Episodes like “Power Play”, “Imaginary Friend” or “New Ground” are not episodes I would voluntarily would tune in for. And yes, Deep Space Nine also has its mediocre to bad episodes, but in my opinion, much less and even the less episodes still can be interesting because of the story-arc, a mention here and there, an interesting recurring character. But I digress, we here to talk about season 5 of Star Trek: The Next Generation.
The TNG Klingon episodes, mainly the ones when it is related to the Klingon politics, I really like, even much more than before. So I really look forward to these kind of episodes because these ones actually follow-up from previous episodes, one of two per season and sometimes a two-parter even. Same for the Romulan episodes, too a lesser extend, but still there is some story-arc present. But usually also not more then 2-3 episodes per season.
“Redemption P2” continues from the season 4 finale where the Klingon story and the Romulan story are put together, I really enjoyed these two episodes and part two is definitely one the best episodes this season. Great to see Denise Crosby return as the daughter of Tasha after the incident of season 3’s “Yesterday’s Enterprise”. A small but poignant scene for Guinan. Yes, actually a bit of story arc and character development! And characters like Kurn, Gowron, Lursa and B’Etor return. “Darmok” is a good episode where Picard must learn to communicate with a race that speaks in metaphor under a difficult set of circumstances. Note - Never before has a language barrier been so difficult to break through in Star Trek. Although daring and well thought through, it would become very tiresome I think, if there weren’t universal translators. Guest stars: Paul Winfield and Ashley Judd had a minor role.
“Ensign Ro” is also a particular good episode, in one episode Ensign Ro has turned her own perspective of her future, but also the perspective of Picard towards her. He didn’t want to her in the beginning, now he offers her a continued position on the Enterprise. I appreciate Guinan’s presence on the Enterprise more and more. Thought this was a great episode and some nice background into the Bajoran problems regarding the Cardassians. One of the best this season! “Silicon Avatar” is an more than okay episode where the Crystalline Entity returns. Dr. Kila Mar wants revenge and destroy it, while Picard now thinks he can perhaps communicate with it. Note – Yes, Dr. Mar was wrong but still I can understand her up to a point. “Distaster” was a weak episode, a very talkie episode, would not tune in for this one.
“The Game” was a bit better than I remembered. Note - Just disappointed that someone like Picard or Worf would even be interested in a game and especially Worf is not someone who you can force it on. And from what I see, the game looked so boring, it would be off my head before the addictiveness would set in. Liked the Wesley and Lefler coupling. “Unification” two-parter is of course also very good tv, if only because of Leanard Nimoy’s guest appearance, plus another Romulan story, these are always interesting. Leanard Nimoy and Mark Lenard in one episode! Still I thought the plot to conquer Vulcan a bit farfetched with only 3 ships, but still, the politics, the sentiment, it was well worth it! “Matter of Time” was an okay episode at best, guest starring Matt Frewer, who’s character claims to be an historian from the future.
Next two episodes are mediocre at best: “New Ground” and “Hero Worship”. The first one is about Worf and his son Alexander who comes to live on the Enterprise, 2nd one is about a boy, Timothy, who Data have saved from a damaged ship. Timothy begins to mimic Data's personality. Note - Usually I like Data stories, this one not so much. Another mediocre episode is “Violations” where Troi gets violated. Note - This type of story has been done to death, granted, TNG was perhaps one of the first but it is not the best, I think T’Pol episode on Enterprise. Three weak episodes in a row! Slightly better is “The Masterpiece Society” Overall an average episode but still, the dilemma that was created by helping them evade destruction, because of people wanted to leave afterwards, which was interesting.
“Conundrum”, When an approaching alien ship wipes their memory, the crew struggles to put back together what happened. The life of me why this episode gets an 8.2 on IMdB! The only thing that was worth waiting for was when the alien lifeform Kieran was going to reveal himself. In “Powerplay” 3 crew members come back differently from an away mission. Note - Really was annoyed with the new character traits 3 of our heroes got when they returned to the Enterprise. Especially Data was the most annoying one. Couldn’t enjoy the episode because of this. The creators / writers apparently want so much friction among the crew and this is a way I guess. Keiko is a hero herself, being able to be around Miles after this happened, don’t think it would be so easy for me. But she does this later in DS9 on Miles!
“Ethics” After an accident that leaves him no longer able to walk, Worf asks Riker to help him commit suicide. Note – Again, an okay episode but fairly mediocre in my opinion. And why not show a bit more of his progress in the next one or two episodes? I thought “The Outcast” was a pretty decent episode, where Riker actually falls in love but ultimately it becomes an unrequited love. Riker is so much in love that he risks his career! “Cause and Effect” is one of the better episodes, with a cameo of Kelsey Grammer as Captain Morgan Bateson of the Starship Bozeman. The Enterprise gets caught in a time loop which always has one result: total destruction of the ship itself. A quote I love, during a card game from Data to Worf: Lt. Commander Data: [dealing cards] Still no help for the Klingon.
“The First Duty” we learn that Wesley Crusher's team has an accident at Starfleet Academy. His commander (Robert Duncan McNeill) wants Wesley to lie during an Starfleet investigation, but Wesley in the nick of time tells the truth. Okay episode. “Cost of Living” is one of the weaker ones this season. Lwaxana visits the Enterprise, usually I like her episodes but this one was a bit too bland. Note - Really like the character Lwaxana (Majel Barret), she always makes me smile, but the episode itself was not as strong as her last visit to the enterprise, season 4’s “Half A Life”. Mr Woof! 😊”The Perfect Mate” was an entertaining episode, guest starring the beautiful Famke Janssen, Max Grodénchick and Tim O’Connor(Buck Rogers). Famke’s character is an empathic perfect mate, ready to bond with any male around her and she has an interest in captain Picard who is really struggling with this. “Imaginary Friend” is another dull episode about a girl and her (alien) imaginary friend. For me, season 5 turns out to be a very uneven season with a number of highlights as well as many disappointing episodes.
“I, Borg” is a very good TNG episode, Watched The Orville’s “Domino” on the same night and the moral of the story is somewhat similar to I, Borg. When even Guinan begins to wonder about the implications! Very interesting story and note in the final moment Hugh does look at Geordie, even though he already reconnected to the Hive. “The Next Phase” is also a strong episode, of course, it involves the Romulans! A transporter malfunction, combined with a Romulan ship under stress and a damaged cloaking device, creates the illusion that Ensign Ro and Geordi are dead, but Geordi doesn't believe it to be so, and he acts accordingly. “The Inner Light”, a beautiful and moving story, where Picard as Kamin lives a full life, gets grandkids in 20, 25 minutes lying unconscious on the bridge. Just don’t understand the 9.4 on IMdB, an 8.0 is also a good enough number. “Time’s Arrow” is also one of the better episodes this season where the crew is called back home and they find Data’s head, 500 years old! Guinan is again important to the story. Note - Nice elevator scene between, Troi and Riker and also a fun impersonation if Troi who does Data.
Final Word:
All in all an enjoyable 5th season but again, too uneven, 9 episodes I graded an 8 or higher, 7 episodes which I thought were well below okay and bunch of them in between. I will never stop loving these characters but I truly wish the stories’ quality would be more consistent, but yes, 26 episodes per season is quite a lot, and yes there is a difference in taste, but as I see it, at least half of a season should be excellent, this is not the case in all TNG’s seasons.
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