Star Trek: The Next Generation is not only one of the best parts of the Star Trek franchise, but one of the greatest drama shows of all time. While the original Star Trek The series was unfortunately canceled after the end of the third season, Star Trek: The Next Generation was given the chance to move the story forward for over seven years.

Although there are many popular characters in Star Trek: The Next Generation, Patrick Stewart’s portrayal of Captain Jean-Luc Picard made him the greatest hero in the history of Star Trek saga. Stewart created a complex, vulnerable hero who was defined by his devotion, his principles and his willingness to listen to both sides of an argument; he is simply a character everyone should emulate. Here are the ten best Captain Picard episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

10 “The measure of a man”

Season 2, Episode 9 (1989)

There are few relationships in the Star Trek Franchise that are more profound than the dynamic between Picard and Data (Brett Spiner), the android who serves as one of the most important officers on the USS Enterprise. In “Who Owns Me?”, Picard acts as Data’s defense attorney in a legal battle in which he must defend his right to exist. The discussion about the benefits of artificial intelligence is as relevant today as it was when the episode first aired in 1989.

“I like it” showed that Picard was willing to stand up for the rights of those who were mistreatedas Star Trek has always been an incredibly progressive franchise compared to other science fiction properties, and this episode reinforced the fact that Picard was willing to risk his own livelihood if the safety of one of his crew members was ever in danger.

9 “The best of both worlds”

Season 3, Episode 26 & Season 4, Episode 1 (1990)

“The Best of Both Worlds” is one of the most important episodes of all Star Trek series, as the first part of the two-parter that ended the third season had a massive cliffhanger that had viewers screaming in front of their TVs. In the episode, Picard was captured by the Borg, while his replacement Captain William T. Riker (Jonathan Frakes) into a situation that could end his life.

“The Best of Both Worlds” was the first case in which Picard felt completely vulnerableas it was possible that he was killed and replaced by Riker for the rest of the series. Although Picard survived the incident, his torture from his feud with the Borg left him with a severe case of post-traumatic stress disorder, which he struggled with for the rest of the series.

8 “Family”

Season 4, Episode 2 (1990)

“Family” was a pivotal episode that helped humanize Picard and showed for the first time what his family life was like. Although Picard rarely discussed his personal motivations and background with members of his crew during the series’ first three seasons, in “Family” he returned to visit his family farm after his traumatic encounter with the Borg in “The Best of Both Worlds.”

“Family” was an important change of tone for Star Trek: The Next Generation which helped continue the storyline of “The Best of Both Worlds” and was an excellent depiction of how Picard dealt with his personal mental health in the series after such a frightening incident. Stewart is arguably at his most profound and emotional in “Family,” as the episode strips Picard of all command duties and explores what it’s like for him to live a normal life outside of Starfleet.

7 “The eardrum”

Season 4, Episode 21 (1991)

Star Trek has always been a highly political franchise that tackles sensitive issues, and “The Drumhead” explores a frightening situation about denial of the truth that has proven just as relevant today in an era of political division and fake news. After a member of his crew is accused of treason, Picard must stop a Starfleet representative from harassing everyone under his command and restricting their civil liberties.

“The Drumhead” plays out like a legal thriller and feels just as gripping as the courtroom dramas that dominated the 1990s. Although there is relatively little action compared to some of the more intense episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation, “The Drumhead” proved that the series was capable of developing nuanced ideas about what the future might look like under Gene Roddenberry‘s vision.

6 “Darmok”

Season 5, Episode 2 (1991)

“Darmok” is perhaps the most intimate episode of Star Trek: The Next Generationas Picard is trapped in a primitive world where he can only communicate with the native species using a rudimentary language. The episode shows how effective Picard can be as a hero, even as he seems to enjoy the company of a supportive crew.

Star Trek: The Next Generation is known for interesting genre deviations and “Darmok” is the closest thing to a Western adventure story. Although some viewers may have felt exactly the same confusion and frustration as Picard when the premise was introduced, “Darmok” ends with one of the most powerful emotional revelations about Picard’s ability to inspire others in all seven seasons of. Star Trek: The Next Generation.

5 “Puzzle”

Season 5, Episode 14 (1992)

“Conundrum” is one of the most imaginative episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generationas it takes place after a mysterious alien virus forces the entire crew to forget their memories and leaves them helpless in the middle of space. This was an episode that essentially showed how the Pursue The crew could be rebuilt from scratch, with Picard being the first to assess the parameters of the mystery and begin to develop a solution to ensure everyone’s safety.

“Conundrum” was one of the best episodes that showed Stewart’s generosity as an actorbecause even though it is Picard’s big moment as a leader, every single member of the cast gets a standout moment. The success of “Conundrum” in combining the emotional with the practical is a major reason why the fifth season is often cited as the best yet. Star Trek: The Next Generation ever broadcast.

4 “Cause and effect”

Season 5, Episode 18 (1992)

Time travel is notoriously a difficult concept to capture convincingly on screen, as it can easily become so confusing that viewers have trouble understanding what it is all about. However, “Cause and Effect” presented a brilliant time travel story in which Picard and the crew of the Pursue are trapped in an endless loop that condemns them for eternity.

“Cause and Effect” was a great example of Star Trek: The Next Generation shows Picard’s skills as a strategist. While many of the captains in other shows and movies in the Star Trek The franchise has earned its rank through military conquest, but it’s Picard’s intelligence and ability to make rational decisions under pressure that make him an all-time great character. Cause and Effect succeeds because Stewart understands this fundamental truth about the character.

3 “The inner light”

Season 5, Episode 25 (1992)

“The Inner Light” is perhaps the most emotional episode of the entire Star Trek franchise and would have earned Stewart a Primetime Emmy Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series had the Television Academy not been so notoriously biased against science fiction and other genre shows. The episode takes place entirely in Picard’s head as he begins to act out various fantasies about what an alternate life might look like while he is unconscious.

“The Inner Light” revealed truths about Picard as a characterand shows how his unwavering willingness to do his duty despite extenuating circumstances severely affects his ability to raise a family. There is no other episode as tear-jerking as “The Light Within,” in which Stewart reveals how Picard deals with the burden of his sacrifices and how it is taken for granted by those who serve under him.

2 “Tapestry”

Season 6, Episode 15 (1993)

“Tapestry” was an important episode that revealed that Picard himself had flawsas his encounter with Q (John de Lancie) has him travel back in time and reflect on the mistakes he made as a young man. Essentially a coming-of-age story about Picard’s youth, “Tapestry” shows that even someone so noble has elements of his past buried deep in his memory.

The dynamic between Q and Picard is one of the most interesting in the series, as the two have starkly different views on humanity and its potential. While Q uses humanity’s flaws as proof that they are beyond reason, Picard argues that humans can be empathetic and compassionate, and willing to redeem themselves. It’s Picard’s trust in others and his general optimism about the future that make him such an inspiring figure.

1 “All good things…”

Season 7, Episode 25 (1994)

There are not many shows that end on a perfect note, like many acclaimed programs like game of Thrones, House of Cards, KillingEveAnd Battlestar Galactica had such disappointing series finales that fans wondered why they ever stuck with the shows in the first place. Star Trek: The Next Generation ended perfectly with “All Good Things…”, an episode that contained a profound moment in which Picard thanked each member of the crew for their dedication to the Pursue.

“All Good Things…” showed that Star Trek: The Next Generation was more interested in developing great characters than overwhelming viewers with action, as it offers a far more philosophical approach to a series finale than some may have expected. A final shot of Picard playing cards with various crew members was the perfect way to end the show.

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