Our Top Ten "Star Trek The Next Generation" Moments

I feel some Top Ten Lists would be fun to do on these forums (perhaps even eventually make a namespace for them), and this is for the best moments in Star Trek The Next Generation (just the show, not the movies, as that will be for another list). The OP will be just my list. As "Our" implies in the title, this is also for posting your own.

Also, this list will contain spoilers. And it also is best you know about the show, but episodes will be listed so you can watch them for context.

Anyway, this was done by looking up episodes and noting any standout moments for me. And I mean moments, not entire episodes. Thus some of the best episodes, like "Yesterday's Enterprise", and "Elementary, Dear Data", didn't have any standout moments for me, even though they were truly good episodes overall. Conversely, this list will have moments from otherwise unremarkable episodes, because the moments were that good.

But I noted so many moments when looking at the episodes, I have some honorable mentions as well:

• Best "What is existence?" moment: "The Big Goodbye" started the trend for the series about not just holodeck malfunctions, but about looking at them more than just illusions. While the question of their existence was brought up plenty of times in this series and later ones, McNary asking what will happen to him after the program ends, and Picard admitting he doesn't know, is beautiful in both its simplicity and tragedy.
• Best "Holy shit!" moment: "Conspiracy" was an episode that was totally screwed up, but in a good way. Sure this was a major Aborted Arc, but one could say the cap to this would have been tough to follow, at least on a TV budget, and that cap was zapping the now possessed Dexter Remmick and seeing the monster pop out from his remains. That was something you just didn't see in Star Trek, even now.
• Most tragic moment: "The Defector" was about a Romulan admiral, Jarok, who defects to the Federation to warn them about what he feels is a grave mistake in setting up a war with the Federation... except it was all a test of his loyalty. If he didn't do anything, he would pass. If he failed, as he did, he would lure Starfleet into crossing the neutral zone, and humiliate them. Picard wisely catches on to this trap, but Jarok now realizes he did it for nothing. His family would think he was a traitor, and he didn't even have the means to even try to tell them the truth.
• Most heartwarming moment: While the series has plenty of these, Q giving Data a moment of laughter in "Deja Q" sticks out to me, due to the honesty of the gift. Had "The Outrageous Okona" been a better episode, this would have been a great way to cap off Data's quest to understand humor. But even without that, the moment shows that Data had given Q the gift of understanding compassion, even if it only manifested subtly later on (perhaps even being what motivated Q in "All Good Things"), so Q returned in kind.
• Best acting moment: The show had never been about exceptional acting, but still had moments anyway. The moment in "Sarek" when Picard suffers from the mind meld, to help Sarek finish his final task as an ambassador, showed just how skilled Patrick Stewart can be. The moment could easily have turned into Chewing the Scenery, which can still be fun to watch in other circumstances, but this called for doing it right.
• Best musical moment: Okay, the musical score never really stuck with me, at least in terms of any individual piece. That is, except for the moment in "The Best of Both Worlds, Part 1" when the Borg first appear. "Q Who" had made it clear this was perhaps the most dangerous enemy they had ever faced. And the subtly distorted choir in this scene captures that, and the overall feel of the Borg, perfectly.
• Scariest moment: "Night Terrors" is Star Trek trying horror, and aside from Deanna's silly dreams, it worked. None of the bullshit like jump scares or scare chords. The music just underscored the moments. They were genuinely scary on their own. And the scariest of all was when Beverly Crusher was tending to the bodies in a makeshift morgue, and she hallucinates all the bodies sitting up at once. Now imagine watching that scene when you're around ten years old. My brother and I had a genuine case of Nightmare Fuel when this aired.

Now the Top 10 Moments:

• #10: "Parallels" was an overall okay episode. I didn't find it particularly good or bad. Though I would have liked just plain dimension hopping instead of some parallel dimension creation. Regardless, there was a moment near the end where one of the parallels is the Enterprise having lost against the Borg invasion, and the crew shows the effects of fighting them in the years since then. It's such a haunting "But for the grace of God" moment, that it almost seems like a mercy that the ship accidentally gets destroyed.
• #09: I'm not sure if "The Most Toys" is meant to be about capitalism or not. Fajo, the villain of the episode, might have gained much of his collection through legal means, even outright dubious ones, but still legal. Yet what he did to get Data was outright kidnapping. By this point he was more analogous to a Nazi war criminal who stole artwork from places he invaded, both in terms of the collection and his willingness to commit cold blooded murder. When he finally kills Varria for betraying him (even though he caused the betrayal), Data either gets a form of anger in his programming, or a strong sense of justice, for he finds a man like Fajo cannot live, and pulls the trigger with the weapon that Fajo had used on Varria before. Fortunately for Fajo, Data is beamed out by the Enterprise at that very moment, and they detect the weapon fire and shut it off in mid transport (don't care if that's reasonable for the transporter, considering what else it has done). Then Data actually seems to lie about firing the weapon. Whether he did lie, or he subconsciously pulled the trigger and consciously thought it was an accident, this moment shows a lot of Hidden Depths to this character that was all too rarely explored later on.
• #08 "Deja Q" was mentioned before, but it also has a truly great moment for me, and my family, in one of the truly funny moments of the series. It's been noted that comedy is hard to do in Star Trek, but here they weren't trying so hard, just letting the humor flow from the characters. And when it came to the animosity between Q and the Enterprise crew, we get this little black comedy gem. Q whines that he's serious about being mortal and without his powers, and asks how he can prove it. Worf just answers, "Die".
• #07 "Sins of the Father" gives us another moment from Worf. His father was framed for betraying the Empire, but it was really the father of Duras, who's family has a lot of political power in the Empire, too much to actually let his house's name be dishonored. Thus the Klingon High Council willingly frames Worf's father to keep the Empire from being torn apart. Worf eventually realizes this as well, and accepts a form of exile to spare both him, and his long lost brother. The episode ends with the council ceremonially turning away from Worf, and then Worf tells his brother that he must do the same.
• #06 "Encounter at Farpoint" is considered an unremarkable episode at best, a really mediocre start to the series... except for when an aging Dr Mc Coy shows up. This scene flies in the face of the usual guest star logic. There was little fanfare beforehand, so it was actually a pleasant surprise to see this. Also, there wasn't anything big about the scene, merely Kelly being Bones, just a lot older. Yet this was still a touching scene, and his lines about the Enterprise having the right name, and about treating her like a lady, make this perhaps the best "passing the torch" scene in TV history.
• #05 "Tapestry" is one of my favorite episodes, showing that we truly are the sum of our past, and while we wish we could change some moments (especially those beyond our control), others are best left as they are (should you get the chance to change them). So while getting stabbed in the heart seemed to snap Picard into stop being a brash youth, it also gave him the strength to become the man he is. So instead of being reckless, but without ambition, he became wiser, and more willing to take the initiative. Thus while he spent most of the episode trying to stop that moment from happening, realizing it had to be, he then laughed at how foolish he was to see that moment at something that shouldn't have happened.
• #04 While some apparently see "I Borg" as being about prejudice, I specifically see it as about humanizing an enemy (or humanoidizing, as the case may be). Now some would confuse that for going "You're just like us! Now let's hold hands and sing!". No. I mean seeing the enemy not as a monster or a demon, just as a person who did monstrous things. This is important in showing that people who do good things aren't superior just because being human intrinsically makes them better. Their choices are what matters. In this case, simply being part of whatever species is part of the Borg didn't make Hugh bad. He was just part of a collective that was bad. Once taken out of the collective (which is clearly bad by itself), it was seen they could also be good people. Picard understandably has trouble accepting this, and when Hugh mistakes him for Locutus, Picard pretends he wants Hugh to help him assimilate the crew, to try to show that Hugh is still just an aspect of the collective, and that Picard doesn't have to think of Hugh as a person. Picard realizes this isn't so when Hugh not only refuses to help, but drops the Borg "We" and says "I will not". Picard just responds in disbelief, "What did you say?".
• #03 "The Measure of a Man" is part of a sub genre of science fiction dealing with the rights of artificial people. This started around the time of the civil rights movement, and of course that is not a coincidence. These stories acted as both parable to modern day events, and to ask the question of us giving freedom to others we create, when many couldn't truly give it to fellow human beings. As noted in the episode, the question of Data being alive is best left to saints and philosophers. But the question of him being a slave or his own person could be answered there. Of course holograms would get their own issues in Voyager, although that episode had a weak opening by abusing Stylistic Suck for the Doctor's story. Regardless, this kind of story is some of the best that science fiction as a genre has to offer. The highlight of this episode is Picard both eloquently and forcefully arguing for Data's rights. The entire scene is the number 3 moment on this list, but it in itself has a best moment when Picard proclaims, "Starfleet was founded to seek out new life, well, there it sits!"
• #02 It's little disputed that the series started off clunky, and some like Sci Fi Debris have noted how almost sanctimonious yet dry and flat this Utopian Federation seemed to be. But "The Survivors" showed this vision at its best, being both curious, but wise. The crew learns that a plot of land on a battle-scorched planet is an illusion created by Dowd, and that his real wife died in a battle. Dowd has great power, including wiping out an entire species with a thought, which is what he did to the Husnok in a flash of anger. And unfortunately, he's not as powerful as a Q and cannot bring those 50 billion people back. He's basically imprisoned himself in this illusion as both punishment and keeping him from harming others. When this is confessed to Picard, it's clear Picard doesn't know what to make of it, and it's clear Dowd is torn with grief over this. Picard then admits that they are not qualified to be his judge, either morally or legally.
• #01 "The Best of Both Words, Part 1" ends with a cliffhanger that ranks up there with 'Who shot Jr?'. Now some of you might have seen this coming, but a moment that catapults the series to the mainstream, sets TV viewers in a frenzy over the summer (including me), and made "Resistance is Futile" a chilling catch phrase, deserves the top spot. "Mr. Worf... fire."

edited 20th Sep '10 3:12:42 AM by DragonQuestZ

"I saw her broken body. I went insane; and in an instant of grief, I destroyed the Husnok."

"Why did you try to hide this from us? Was it out of guilt for not helping Rishon and the others?"

"No, no, no no, no, no. You don't understand the scope of my crime. I didn't kill just one Husnok, or a hundred, or a thousand. I killed them all. All Husnok...everywhere.

edited 20th Sep '10 1:01:26 PM by Hankage

Picard's laugh in Tapestry was a stroke of genius, an amazing twist on a four year old, practically throwaway piece of dialogue from Samaritan Snare.

I like the episode where they're celebrating "Captain Picard Day," complete with little Captain Picard dolls. Then Admiral Bitchayev calls Picard on the hyperspace phone. "It's for the children," Picard insists. Sure it is, you egomaniac!

"The Best of Both Worlds" is going to be #1 on just about everyone's list. Hell, I was six when that episode aired and it's what got me into Star Trek to begin with.

I will always remember "The Enemy" (Geordi is stranded on planet hell with a Romulan and they have to work together because the atmosphere is frying their brain waves). The second half of the story had an injured Romulan taken to the Enterprise for treatment. Crusher found that he needed a particular enzyme to recover and Worf was the only person on board who could save him. He refused to help a Romulan because his parents were killed by a Romulan sneak attack and the basic structure of the episode makes you think Worf will overcome his prejudice and help him. But he stood by his conviction and even Picard couldn't convince him otherwise. It was a brutal refusal of Character Development, that was ultimately still in character. —>Crusher: "If you don't help him he will die." —>Worf: (stands up) "Then he will die."

Actually, my next list is on why that is a bad moment.

Damn, I forgot about "The Inner Light". Picard playing the flute at the end is moment 11.

Also this is for listing the top ten weakest moments (not Complaining thought).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_eSwq1ewsU

Picard is unbreakable.

even in his moment of his greatest weakness, he is at his strongest. Who would want this man as his foe?

edited 6th Oct '10 12:17:44 AM by anathame

It's true "Best Of Both Worlds" was some the highest grade win ever put on television.

But for me the moment was when Riker gets himself together after Whoopi's talk. This is after the Picard-led Borg have absolutely WRECKED Starfleet and it looks like they're going to do the same to rest of the Federation.

After moping for a bit, Riker tells Shelby to prep their plan to catch the cube. Shelby says "Sir, I have to remind you, Picard was briefed on that plan". Translation - they'll kick our butts again. Riker simply smirks and says, "I'm aware of that Commander. In fact, I'm counting on it."

This troper saw that and thought "I don't know how the hell they're gonna pull this one off, but if ole' Billy Riker's smiling again, then dammit, they're gonna do it."

And they didn't disappoint!

Um, it seems a lot of you read "top ten", and saw "top one".

I'm re-watching the series right now, actually. This is the first time since I was a kid that I've seen most of it, so that's pretty sweet. I'll be sure to have my own top ten list ready once I finish.

Right now, though, I think I'm going to have to tentatively put Lore's Large Ham-ness from "Datalore" on the list. Lore was one of my favourite Star Trek villains when I was a kid*, even though he was sadly underused in the series. He makes a good contrast to Data, plus Brent Spiner's acting is just awesome with that character.

Footnote*: That said, my Trek tastes are questionable even at the best of times. I mean, I liked Voyager and Enterprise and thought Nemesis was mediocre at worst, rather than horrible. That's not even going into the opinions I've changed since I was a kid; hell, Wesley was one of my favourite characters when I was ten years old.

^If it's any help, you're not alone. My dad likes Enterprise as well, and I rather like Voyager.

Picard: "Return that moon to its orbit."

Q: "I HAVE NO POWERS! Q the Ordinary!"

Picard: "Q the Misanthrope! Q the Liar!"

Q: "Q the Desperate. Q the Miserable. What must I do to convince you people?"

Worf: "Die."

Q: "Oh very clever, Worf. Eat any good books lately?"

edited 16th Oct '11 12:41:12 PM by invisibleman

I will agree with your assertion and raise you "about six".

I agree with most of this. I found Enterprise mediocre when I was watching it, and then when I stopped watching regularly because it was never on and the channel was hard to tune anyway, they started giving canon the rubber hose treatment.

I recently realized the reason I never disliked Wesley is probably because I saw the episodes out of order, and he got all of his terribleness out of the way by the second season (you can argue that his nanites were bad, but it's a normal geeky kid thing instead of his brash wunderkindness of the first season).

Data and Barclay were always my favorite story-focus characters, but my favorite character in general was Riker. Riker was the cool uncle I wanted to be.

Picard recounting the tale of Gilgamesh to Dathon is such a great moment for the character, demonstrating his intelligence and warmth in such well done way.

Reading the OP's top 10, I mostly agree or at least understand, though I dispute the inclusion of Bones' scene from Encounter at Farpoint. Don't get me wrong, I love Bones, and his scene is by far the high point of the pilot, bot it's really just non-sexual fanservice. He's got no bearings to the plot, and it's almost little more than a Cameo. It's GREAT Fanservice, but clear and simple fanservice nonetheless.

Heck, I'd say that the episode "Relic" featuring Scotty is actually better if you wanted to include a TOS/TNG crossover moment in the list. Scotty is actually relevant to the plot, he doesn't steal the spotlight from the regulars (Geordie and Picard's interactions with him are crucial to the plot), it's a GREAT piece of character development for a character who, let's be honest, didn't really get all that much in TOS. Not only that, but putting Scotty with the TNG crew allows us to see facets of his personality you could never explore with the TOS crew. Relics is about as good as a spinoff/sequel series making an episode to include a previous series' character as a guest star can be, there's little that could be improved.

edited 16th Oct '11 11:42:15 PM by Ghilz

I would have liked to see an appearance by Lt. Uhura - and having her be an active part of the story instead of just sitting/standing around looking pretty.

"Relics" wasn't only a love letter to TOS but a tribute to all of those miracle workers who make the hero look good. Scotty's work is what allowed Kirk to be the legendary captain he became, Kirk was the strategist but Scotty tinkering with the machines is what saved the day more than once (The Naked Now and The Doomsday Machine in particular). Here you finally got to see a little bit into his mind and how he works. I heard it best explained that Geordi goes to bed reading a novel and listening to maybe soft jazz, Scotty goes to bed reading a tech manual and listening to the engine rumble.

Geordi: "That door will crush this ship like an egg!" Scotty: "I have spent my LIFE trying to figure out ways to do the impossible. Trust me, the shields will hold."