My Top 10 Star Trek: The Next Generation Episodes (Theatrical Release)

[@dsHigsby]

Oh man I am happy I checked your channel after watching a few shorts. Next gen is my favorite on comfort shows to watch.

[@JanelleWaz]

Welcome aboard! Hope you enjoy my videos.

[@kenmcauliffe3028]

Excellent choices, Waz. 🙂

[@JanelleWaz]

Thank you!

[@LukeHoersten]

Great video and channel! I love all the obscure cuts and references. How long does it take you to find them!? My favorites are totally different than yours but it made me see these episodes in a new light. Definitely going to give them a rewatch. Thanks for the perspective!

[@JanelleWaz]

Thanks for the view! I made this video at the end of last year, but if I remember correctly, I think this video took a few weeks to put together. It was my first real KZbin video, so it was before I got the hang of making videos. At that time, I was planning on releasing videos every two weeks, but now I release videos on a weekly basis.

[@careyjohnson919]

Definitely worth the wait. Fantastic!

[@holgol00]

Huge like!!! Very well done!

[@holgol00]

So, i was thinking dilemma episodes like I, Borg, Lal, Measure of a Man, Half a Life

[@seancondon5572]

And I'm here from the Picard Collection video... and yes, a cup of Tea, Earl Grey, Hot sounds nice. I'll be paused at the 1-minute mark while I wait for it. ...damn our lack of replicators in this century.

[@hcmv007]

Well done, Janelle!

[@tilasole3252]

27:02 my ex girlfriend was not into Star Trek. She just happened to watch this scene with me and cried. She did not become a fan per say, but she respected the writing more.

[@JanelleWaz]

Family is a *really* good episode, and what's impressive is that it has minimal sci-fi elements to it, which can help make it more accessible.

[@Peaceforall20111]

I finally had a chance to watch this all the way through and it is awesome. You picked most of the same episodes I would; especially the wounded. Good call to tel peolle fo watch the episode before going to ds9.

[@seancondon5572]

Darmok. You seen those Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra concert-style T-shirts? I need to get me one o'them.

[@JanelleWaz]

Oh yes! Both as T-shirts and memes.

[@TheStarTrekApologist]

One grimmly funny note about Worf's mother, dispite saying "I am not ready for the grave" in "New Ground" the preformer died 6 months later.

[@JanelleWaz]

Oh no! I didn't know that. Now I'm sad. I really wish she had made more appearances in the show.

[@TheStarTrekApologist]

@@JanelleWaz Totally agree another not as grim funny note Picard's professor that died in "The Chase" was still alive last I checked and over 100. I think he is the oldest lived star trek actor.

[@tilasole3252]

I felt The Inner Light was a wake up call to disasters, where certain people in key positions, will refuse to believe something or do something, in order to keep getting paychecks or power, until it is too late, sacrificing their own families, friends and community in the process. If not this generation, then into the next

[@tilasole3252]

5:28 would love to see you do a video on the Sanctuary from DS9. Prejudices in that episode, among other things.

[@JanelleWaz]

I've thought about doing a video about Sanctuary, in fact the episode was just on. It's not a bad episode, but it's kinda a frustrating one.

[@tilasole3252]

@@JanelleWaz frustrating how so? Too much happening at once? Too different culture? Does not really end on a happy note?

[@JanelleWaz]

@@tilasole3252 I might want to do the video on it at some point, but I really hate the way Haneek turned on Kira, especially when Kira didn't have much say in Bajor's decision.

[@tilasole3252]

@@JanelleWaz Apparently Deborah May who plays Haneek on DS9's The Sanctuary, also played Lyris on VOY's Favorite Son. They caked her with a lot of makeup to make her look as she did on DS9. Regardless, apparently Deborah does an hour or so interview video on KZbin and talks about her role as Haneek on DS9. I have not watched it myself yet, but if I do not tell you now, I will forget. My thing with the episode, hinges on many factors. They were too different, much like certain religions or people's to another, yet similar. An uneasiness. They were a desperate people looking for their "Promised Land" and Bajor was still trying to recover from their devastation from the Cardassians. If it had just been a few families, I am sure they would have still been welcomed. But a whole population of people? Much like the Jews were not welcomed in the Old Testament in many lands, as they traveled around, not allowed to even stop and drink at wells. And Bajorans themselves are thought of as Jews in Star Trek, so it is an interesting conundrum. But if Bajor takes in too many, especially those too different, clashes will occur. Either Bajorans not happy or the new comers. You heard what the one teenage alien boy said he was going to do to Nog for playing the practical joke, which admittedly Nog should not have done, but there we are. Plus their skin were peeling, as I recall, which is repulsive to many. Was polygamous as well, with many spouses, which is odd to most others. And females being the leaders. (Less an issue, just not equal, since males were not in charge at all, as I recall.) Had their own religion that was not Bajoran, and the list goes on. We hardly even know the people, so who knows what else could be totally backwards to most others at that time. They were desperate for a new land, so she (they) felt crushed when they could not stay at Bajor, even with others were offered. I also felt that Haneek was being mean spirited to Kira. They also were interpreting their scrolls or religious prophecies to their liking. Would have been interesting if Starfleet and Bajor were still trying to help, Dominion War broke out and Haneek and her people came to fight in their own way or at least provided support with food or (wo)man power. Would make for good conversation for the channel I believe. I do not hear or see a lot about that episode in my normal KZbin wanderings. Anyway, how is/was the family's stay, if I may ask? Everything alright?

[@joshuaweston6531]

Interesting list! Here's my thoughts on your episode choices: 10. The Bonding: This episode in your top ten? I feel like this is a very unique pick, to the point that I'm pretty sure you're the only Trek fan to have it this high. I personally barely remember anything from this episode. I just remember there's a child and...I've already fallen asleep... 09. Darmok: Oh God, you're one of those people...I will never understand the fascination with this episode. You're not alone though. A lot of fans seem to love it. To me, it's just another humans trying to understand aliens and what they want episode, which is not very unique at all within the series. It's not the worst piece of Trek by any means, but hardly the classic so many believe it to be. 08. Sarek: While I wouldn't put this episode in my top ten, it is an important episode for the return of a Trek veteran, and the payoff is worth the slow burn of the episode. Seriously though, it's a SLOW burn. Sarek himself doesn't even feature prominently until well into the third quarter of the episode, but again, it's worth it for that emotions scene with Picard. Patrick Stewart's acting really elevated TNG if you ask me. 07. The First Duty: The funny thing is that I liked Wesley when watching TNG as a child. Now as a grown man, I find him annoying, but he does eventually get better. This has to be one of, if not his best episode, and it shows some much needed maturity and growth for him. 06. The Drumhead: Okay, here's an episode I am with you on! This episode is definitely battling Measure Of A Man for best courtroom drama episode! Jean Simmons does an excellent job of portraying Nora Satie. The tension between her and Picard is palpable! Plus it all culminates in those final moments where she loses it! I love that moment when the Admiral just up and walks off. Doesn't say a word... 05. Tapestry: Another excellent pick that deserves to be on anyone's top ten list. It's a great episode for both Q and Picard. Q in particular, gets some of his most humorous material in this episode. Plus the idea of Q playing God is so on the nose that it's kind of surprising it didn't happen sooner. 04. The Wounded: I don't love this episode, but it's still a good one. Plus, it is as you mentioned, the episode to introduce us to the Cardassians and Marc Alaimo as one of them. It's also an O'Brien episode, which I appreciate seeing as DS9 is my favorite Trek series. 03. Unification: This one is definitely in my top 10! Of course that's likely true of most of TNG's two parters. This episode has SO much to offer. The returns of Sarek, Sela, and the ever beloved Spock! As a big fan of the TOS episode The Enterprise Incident, I thoroughly enjoyed watching Picard and Data going undercover. The episode also gives us perhaps the most in depth look at Romulus and the Romulan people in all of Star Trek. As you mentioned, I too dug the idea that there were some Romulans who actually wanted to reunite with the Vulcans. It's not only reasonable, but adds another dimension to the Romulans, who are generally little more than antagonists. Good antagonists to be sure, but my point remains. Excellent episode all around! 02. The Inner Light: Another solid choice for your list! A fascinating look at Picard living a very different life, from his current age all the way to his twilight years. All within the span of not quite an hour for us viewers. Considering what this episode was trying to accomplish within that time, I'd argue the pacing is very well handled. Especially when you consider that this could have easily been a two part affair. 01. Family: While I wouldn't put it in my top ten, (unless you count it as a sort of third part to The Best Of Both Worlds) I nonetheless share your fondness for this episode. The tension between Picard and his brother just grows until that moment of release, wherein Picard let's it all out. The guilt, the pain and the shame. While the episode is plenty enjoyable on it's own, the reason I like this episode so much is because it did something that I wish more Trek episodes did. It showed the recuperation process after one of it's characters experienced massive trauma. Not only that, but a slower, more dramatic episode is just the sort of breath the season needed to take after the explosive events of The Best Of Both Worlds. In a way, having this quieter moment, only adds to the weight and impact of the prior episodes...

[@JanelleWaz]

Glad you enjoyed the video! I also like that as the list went on, you liked my picks more and more.

[@joshuaweston6531]

@@JanelleWaz I did! You had some really good choices near the top, but it's no fun to share if I'm not being honest. I'm sure you have episodes you don't care for. You should totally do a list like that! Anyways, looking forward to your top 10 DS9 episodes!

[@JanelleWaz]

@@joshuaweston6531 Of course! I always welcome differing opinions here, and I enjoyed reading your input on my lower ranked episodes. I kinda want to do a "10 More Great TNG Episodes" list, because I remember having a bunch of great runner-up episodes. Enjoy the Top 10 DS9 Episodes video! kzbin.info/www/bejne/f4u3mpt_oLZ9jc0

[@joshuaweston6531]

@@JanelleWaz Will do, and I would totally watch a list of more great TNG episodes!

[@johnsieverssr8288]

Good vid.

[@chainsawsubtlety9828]

In no particular order... Pen Pals The Drumhead The Measure of a Man The Offspring The Survivors The Defector Brothers The Inner Light A Matter of Honor The Wounded

[@JanelleWaz]

Some really great episodes!

[@tilasole3252]

3:49 and the kid is never heard from ever again 😅

[@jameslane2326]

Hey look its the MEME! 14:59

[@JanelleWaz]

Picard Facepalm Version 2.0.

[@sethmaki1333]

I'm very much hoping you do one of these for DS9. I'd like to see your opinions and am interested in contrasting and comparing in the comments section. Also, I would like to point out that Unification is a three part episode, the third part being an episode of Discovery, taking place 835 years after the first two parts.

[@JanelleWaz]

I'd love to do a video like this for DS9. Weirdly enough, there are a couple of episodes that people love that I'm kinda meh on, so the comments section would be interesting in that video. I haven't watched Discovery (or much of the new Star Trek shows), so I was purely sticking to TNG.

[@arturbb]

Family is incredible, one of my favorites too, and I absolutely HATE what they did with Picard's family in Generations. That was done in seriously bad taste, and I almost wish I'd never seen the movie because it retroactively really messed with how I see Family now.

[@JanelleWaz]

I did like Generations but what they did to Robert and Rene was awful. I get why that was in there (to juxtapose Picard's and Soren's situations and how they handled the loss of their families differently), but I really hated that Robert and Rene were killed off. Dang it! Rene should have gone into Starfleet like he wanted to!

[@arturbb]

@@JanelleWaz I liked a lot of things about Generations, but the way it retconned and/or messed with established lore just to enhance its own new ideas bugs me a lot, especially what they did with Picard's family and the nature of Guinan. I also really think Kirk's "original" death at the start of the film was a much more satisfying and fitting end to the character than his actual final scene.

[@tilasole3252]

3:28 you did not mention an alien taking the form of his mother

[@bennym8218]

Instead of saying prune juice you should have used that clip of quark when worf firsts asks for it on ds9

[@JanelleWaz]

That was when Quark laughed about it, right? Maybe in Way of the Warrior?

[@bennym8218]

@JanelleWaz I think so, it was the first episode where worf was on ds9. Also the one where you could tell there was gonna be something between Dax and worf

[@kenmcauliffe3028]

So that's what you sound like! 🙂

[@JanelleWaz]

Yeah... That's... that's what I sound like. 😆