“Survivors” is also a bit of an average episode in my opinion. A couple, in their 80’s, survived an attack on their planet. Their house is the only one still standing. The husband Kevin wants the Enterprise gone as fast as possible. They don’t want to be rescued, which Picard finds very strange. Meanwhile they are attacked by a vessel 3 times their seize. Note – So yeah, okay to watch, interesting premise perhaps but it wasn’t my thing. In “Who Watches the Watchers” A proto-Vulcan culture worships Captain Picard and prepares to offer Counselor Troi as a sacrifice. Note - Not particularly an episode I favor, still, from the moment the people’s leader Nuria is beamed aboard by Picard, the episode gets more interesting. Picard trying to explain to her that he too is a mere mortal being I found interesting. Guest starting: Ray Wise. “The Bonding”, a Wesley centered episode. During an away mission on a lifeless planet, where once raged a war, Lt Marla Aster dies from a bomb that goes off from long ago. Worf is leading the away mission. Marla Aster leaves a son Jeffrey, on the Enterprise, his father died 5 years ago. Troi is trying to help him grieve, Worf wants to bond with him but then an entity comes up from the planet and is pretending to be Carla Aster and wants to take him back with her to the planet. Picard, Troi and Worf try to convince Jeffrey and the entity that this isn’t how it works. Note – Okay episode, few interesting moments, especially regarding Wesley and the loss of his father.

Quote – Strong quote when Data asks Riker if a death of a stranger or a loved one should have the same effect on a person: Lt. Commander Data: Human nature, sir? Commander William T. Riker: We feel a loss more intensely when it's a friend. Lt. Commander Data: Hm... But should not the feelings run just as deep, regardless of who has died? Commander William T. Riker: Maybe they should, Data. Maybe if we felt any loss as keenly as we felt the death of one close to us - human history would be a lot less bloody.

In “Booby Trap” the Enterprise triggers an ancient yet effective trap left by an extinct race, with a perfectly preserved derelict ship serving as cheese for Picard. Note – For me an average episode at best. It starts out interesting, with finding that ship intact, Picard all happy. But it becomes an engineer story because the ship didn’t move anymore. Few nice moments though: When Picard returns from that alien ship, he is so excited, Riker and Troi looking at him fondly, which he sees. Other moment when LaForge seeks guidance from Guinan about dating.

In “The Enemy” La Forge gets left behind on a storm-plagued planet when the rest of his team encounters a Romulan warrior. A Romulan ship is on its way to Federation space to pick up another Romulan survivor from that planet. When the Enterprise is not at the border, because LaForge is still on the planet, the Romulans decided to come into Federation space. LaForge and another Romulan Bochra, need to work together on the planet for the Enterprise to find them. Note - Definitely best episode yet, Romulan episodes are always interesting. Some great moments, Picard aggressively talks to the Romulan commander Tomalak (Andreas Katsulas) to stay out of Federation space. I enjoyed that moment because in that moment Picard was not diplomatic, as he usually is. Other moment when Worf refuses to be a doner for the heavily injured Romulan. Worf says to the captain: if you order this, I won’t refuse it, but Picard doesn’t order it and the Romulan has died already at that point. I wish this was the standard of the episodes, wish there were more Romulan episodes.

For me “The Price” is the weakest of the season. Enterprise hosts negotiations about a first stable wormhole. Troi is immediately infatuated by a opposing negotiator, the feeling is mutual but Troi is unaware that this man is also 1/5th betazoid and he uses his ‘gift’ at the negotiation table. Note - Really did not like this episode much and I immediately disliked this man Troi is fallen for. He raised some feelings of annoyance, especially around Troi. “The Vengeance Factor” definitely is stronger but still average. The Enterprise pursues a race of "gatherers" who continue to raid Federation outposts, unaware of the dangers lurking among them. Riker takes an interest in a servant, named Yuta (Lisa Wilcox) who works for Sovereign Marouk (Nancy Parsons). She has never been really free, although she isn’t owned. When someone of the Gatherers is killed, a trail leads to Yuka. Note - Average episode, these Gatherers are a bit annoying to say the least. Riker is Kirk again, he is the lucky man of the cast! His sad mood regarding Yuta’s fate, is very well done, moved me.

In “The Defector” a Romulan officer defects to the Federation with a warning of a impending invasion, Captain Picard struggles to decide if he is to be believed. The officer (James Sloyan) first lies about his name and rank, he is in fact a general, he was censured because he had different opinions too many times. The Romulan government set him up, to test his loyalties. He realizes he will never see Romulus and his children again, so he takes the action he feels necessary. A great stand-off at the end between Picard and Tomalak (Andreas Katsulas). Note - Certainly one of the best episodes this season. This little story-arc with the Romulans is the extra juice, shame there only are a couple of episodes per season of these kind of episodes. Next “The Hunted”, Investigating a planet applying for membership into the Federation, the crew of the Enterprise finds a group of inhabitants who used to be soldiers, but now fight for their very existence. These men are made into super soldiers, the government made them like they are and don’t do anything to help them. Note - Wasn’t particularly an episode I really loved, okay at best. “The High Ground” was an okay episode. The Enterprise is visiting a world who is at civil war. They are bringing medicine and other goods. When a bomb explodes, Crusher is taking care of the people lying there, when she is kidnapped by an opposing faction of the planet’s ruling government. Note - This episode brings to light the horrors of terrorism. They feel they are out of options, so that violence is the only option, and willing to go so far to destroy the Enterprise, killing hundreds of people beside the ones on their planet, to be heard, so that something changes. Gates MacFadden does a great job here.

Yes, a fun Q episode again! In “Deja Q” Q is being punished, taken away all of his powers and in a blink of an eye he chooses to be human and put on the Enterprise. Enterprise is trying to do the impossible, to put a moon back where it belongs and of course they blame Q when it goes wrong. Note - This is a fun Q episode, really enjoyed it, one of the better Q episodes I think. The gift he gives Data, to be able to laugh out loud was fun to see. “A Matter of Perspective” The widow of respected scientist Dr. Nel Apgar accuses Riker of seducing her and killing her husband. Rather than turn Riker over for unfavorable trial, the Enterprise reconstructs the facts. Note - Average episode at best, same kind of story has been told on DS9 (Jadzia Dax) and Voyager (Tom Paris) also. Few fun Data moments, like when Data is trying to spare Picard’s feelings when describing what he sees on Picard’s canvas. For me the Dax episode was the best the three, just different enough.

“Yesterday’s Enterprise” is definitely one of the best of perhaps even the best episode of the season! The Enterprise C enters the Enterprise D's time and space continuum, where they find Picard and crew in a constant state of war with the Klingons, and only Guinan knows it. Note - As said, this is one of the very best episodes this season or even the entire series. Guinan gives me chills in this episode with her feelings. Really loved her in this episode. Tasha Yar gets a decent sent off, the scenes between her and Guinan where also very powerful. These kind of episodes are the icing on the cake! This is the 3rd episode this season I graded an 8 or higher, in this case (9+/10).

Also a brilliant episode “The Offspring”. After returning from a cybernetics conference to the Enterprise, Data creates his own child named Lal, much to the chagrin of his captain, and without unintentional regards to the ramifications with Starfleet. Note - Lal goes even further than Data’s own programming, she does use abbreviations and she did perceive feelings. Adm. Anthony Haftel is acting like a real putz, but he does regroup himself when he witnesses Data’s love for this daughter. Another brilliant episode. Nice to see Picard stands his ground in his support for Data. Makes you wonder if what Data went through with the Measures of a man, has actually helped him.. .

Yet another strong episode, “Sins of a Father”, During the Starfleet-Klingon exchange, Worf learns that he has a brother, Kurn, because he is the older brother, he comes to ask him to defend their father’s honor, who has been charged with treason. Worf accepts and Picard brings the enterprise to stand with him. Note - If you follow this website, you know I am usually not fond of Klingon episodes. But this one, is definitely one of the best Klingon episodes. Great to get a closer look, which hadn’t been done till this time. A people that barks out the word ‘honor’ whenever they can, but still, their government is no different then what we have today in current times.

After 3 really strong episodes, the level drops significantly with the episode “Allegiance”. Picard is being kidnapped with 3 other random people it seems, they are locked in a room and there is no communication from their captors. Picard wants to try and escape but there is a lot of distrust amongst each other. Meanwhile on the Enterprise a Picard double is replacing the genuine Picard and it is obvious to the crew that he behaves a bit differently. Note – An average episode at best, after 3 strong episodes this one feels a bit of a dud. I thought the B-story with the fake Picard was more interesting than the A-story. In “Captain’s Holiday” After mediating a difficult trade agreement, Captain Picard is encouraged to take a much needed rest on a vacationing planet, where he's visited by 2 strange aliens from the future, in search of a dangerous weapon. He also meets a woman named Vash who is looking for this same object for 5 years now and she is pursued by a Ferengi named Sovak (Max Grodénchik). Note - It is a lighthearted episode, Captain Picard on the pleasure planet Risa, it certainly has some humor, like the scheme to get Picard to go on holiday, but other than that it was an average episode. I much rather see another Romulan story.

In “Tin Man” The Enterprise reaches out to an alien being, while dancing around with the Romulans, who want to attack it in an act of vengeance. Tam Elbrun, a troubled Betazed, is on the Enterprise, on a mission to learn more about this alien who lives in space. Note - One of my favorite episodes of the season. Tragic character Tam, who always hears everybody’s thoughts, 24/7. He feels a connection towards the alien and he gets a special bond with Data from whom he feels nothing. In the final moments of the episode, I could not keep it dry when Data told Troi he now knew where he belonged, on the Enterprise. Also a strong episode “Hollow Pursuits” Lt. Barclay, a shy member of the "Enterprise" crew has become addicted to the holodeck, where relationships are easier than in real life. When his knowledge is needed in engineering, he keeps fleeing into the holodeck. At first Geordie barely can be in the same room with him, but when Guinan nudges him and Picard orders him, he forms a connection with him and tries to help him in the real world. Note - Dwight Schultz is a terrific actor, that you could see on the A-Team, thought it was good to also show someone not so confident of his social skills, being very shy, really have issues being around these confident colleagues around him!

And yes, another strong episode “The Most Toys”! When transporting a dangerous material to the Enterprise, Data is kidnapped and the crew is led to believe he is dead when the shuttlecraft he was piloting explodes en route. Data has become a museum piece for this Fajo character (Saul Rubinek), but Data is not going to accept his fate, even though Fajo is a dangerous man who would sacrifice anyone in order for Data to do as he says. Note – Another great Data episode, Saul Rubinek as Fajo did a splendid job too. When the crew believes Data is dead, it is obvious that he was very well liked among the crew, a true friend. “Sarek”, one of best episodes this season! Legendary Federation ambassador Sarek visits the Enterprise to conclude peace talks with a race called the Legarans. His arrival is accompanied with a rash of unusual emotional outbursts among the crew. Picard and the others become to realize that Sarek is ill, that these outbursts of anger somehow come from him. Perrin, his wife says there is a solution, a mind-meld between Sarek and Picard. Note - Star Trek at its core, an emotional episode with a Vulcan at the center. The scene where Picard is feeling Sarek’s emotions after the mind-meld is very intense. Final moment when Sarek leaves the Enterprise, he takes Perrin’s hand, was also quite poignant.

“Menage a Troi" is an average story, a Ferengi named Damon Tog is infatuated with Lwaxana Troi. When she dismisses his advances, he kidnaps her, and with her Riker and Deanna. To save her daughter, she goes along with him, pretending to want to be his woman. Meanwhile, Wesley is supposed to conclude his Starfleet exam with an oral test but in trying to find Lwaxana, Riker and Deanna, he is too late to go with the Braxbury. He’ll has to reapply next year. Picard thinks it is time to promote Wesley to ensign! Note - A watchable episode, I usually like Lwaxana Troi episodes, this one is a bit more mediocre, still some funny moments with her and the Ferengi. Also a inspiring speech of Picard to prove his love for her, so much that Tog would get scared. Also nice moment for Wesley Crusher, him being promoted. “Transfigurations” is also an average episode at best. The Enterprise finds a deserted planet where a ship has crashed, and, with it, the lone survivor with no memory, but extraordinary healing powers.

“The Best of Both Worlds” is a fantastic season finale, first time it is a part one of a two-parter! Admiral J. P. Hanson personally boards the Enterprise to join the investigation of a destroyed Federation-colonized planet, suspecting the feared Borg. Before this is confirmed, he points out Commander William T. Riker has for the third time refused a command, preferring the Enterprise. Shortly after an enormous Borg ship is found, it engages in battle with the Enterprise, which draws it away. Novel tactics are conceived. Captain Jean-Luc Picard is ordered to come aboard for unprecedented discussions, and kidnapped when he refuses. He finds they tolerate no resistance, and intend to turn him into a Borg. Riker suddenly finds himself acting captain... Note - Icing on the cake, 2nd best episode of the season, for me Yesterday’s Enterprise is just a tad better. Nice conflicts between Riker and Shelbey. Look at her face anytime she ‘wins’ an argument, that smug grim. Great TV.

Final Word:

The 2nd part of season 3 is definitely stronger, it ends on a high note of course with “The Best of Both Worlds”, which hadn’t been done like that in the past, just fantastic. Even TNG’s earlier season finales where not much to speak of, BOBW started something! I said it before, for me the 3rd season is my favorite, at least, that is what I believe right now, looking forward to the coming 4 seasons, see if I will change my opinion regarding my favorite season(s)!

Written with help from IMdB, screencaps taken from TrekCore