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In the "Star Trek: The Next Generation" episode "The Offspring", the android Data (Brent Spiner) has decided that he would like to be a father. Using his own android body as a template, he builds an android child in a positronic lab, naming the new being Lal. At first, Lal (Leonard Crofoot) is a somewhat shapeless being with sharp, metallic features. Data feels that Lal should be able to choose their own gender and appearance. Lal decides to be a young woman (Hallie Todd). The bulk of the episode involves Data, with his own limited understand of human interaction, teaching Lal everything he knows. When Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) questions the ethics of an artificial life form like Data creating another without permission, Data easily defends himself. No one else on the Enterprise requires permission to reproduce, so why should he? 

"The Offspring" was the first episode of "Star Trek: The Next Generation...

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With the possible exceptions of "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds" and the little-discussed "Star Trek: The Animated Series," none of the extant "Star Trek" shows began at their strongest. Ask any Trekkie, and they will tell you that "Star Trek: The Next Generation," "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," and "Star Trek: Voyagers" didn't really "get good" until their respective third seasons. By then, their showrunners had each zeroed in on the true nature of their characters, and knew what kind of stories could be explored. 

With "Next Generation," you can sense the shift almost immediately. The third season of that series not only changed the Enterprise officers' uniforms, but it also brought back Dr. Beverly Crusher after actress Gates McFadden had been inexplicably removed for the second season. Even more noticeably, "Next Generation" moved from wide stories about the whole...

"Star Trek: Voyager" debuted in 1995, making it the third show of the franchise's most prolific heyday. "Star Trek: The Next Generation" made a hugely successful run from 1987 to 1994, and had recently moved to the big screen with "Star Trek: Generations." In 1993, a darker counterpart to "Next Generation," "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" debuted, setting a lot of older Trek tropes on their ear. Feeling ambitious, Trek-makers Rick Berman, Michael Piller, and Jeri Taylor tried to keep the ball rolling with "Voyager," a more traditional series about, well, Trekking.

The premise was fun: a super-powerful alien reaches out across the galaxy and magically whisks the U.S.S. Voyager -- a brand-new, super-advanced vessel -- 70,000 lightyears away from Earth, depositing it in the Delta Quadrant. By Trek's own science, 70,000 lightyears would ordinarily take 75 years to traverse, so the Voyager is essentially stranded. The series follows their long journey home. To add drama,...

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In the "Star Trek: The Next Generation" episode "The Enemy", the Enterprise investigates a crashed Romulan vessel on a radioactive, storm-wracked planet called Galorndon Core. Several Enterprise crew-members are able to beam down and rescue one Romulan survivor, but the storms and radiation prevent everyone from returning. Geordi (LeVar Burton) is left behind, as is a second Romulan survivor named Bochra (John Snyder). At first, the injured Bochra claims Geordi as his hostage, but Geordi explains that the radiation will soon make them sick and that it would be wiser for them to work together to escape. 

The bulk of "The Enemy" is devoted to their rescue. Up in orbit, Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) has to do some clever negotiating with a Romulan Commander (Andrea Katsulas), while Geordi and Bochra find ways to survive below. It's an okay episode. 

It seems,...

Star Trek: The Next Generation's "The Inner Light" is sacrosanct now. Nothing could have made this episode better than it was. Before it came to be, however, there were plenty of ideas that would have made it a very different story, one that, most likely, wouldn't have been as good as the original. Let's face it. Nothing could be as good as the original.

The Star Trek: The Next Generation writer who penned the episode, along with Peter Allan Fields, Morgan Gendel, in The Fifty Year Mission The Next Twenty-Five Years From the Next Generation to J.J. Abrams by Mark A. Altman and Edward Gross, shared that at one point during the creation of "The Inner Light," Michelle Forbes' Ro Laren was going to be a part of the episode. And not just that, she was going to have to marry Patrick Stewart's Captain Picard! Gendel doesn't indicate...

Quick LinksThe Origins of Battlestar Galactica Owe a Debt to a Galaxy Far, Far AwayHow Star Trek Shaped the 2004 Battlestar Galactica RebootWhy There Was No Captain's Chair on the Battlestar Galactica VesselThere Were Bigger Differences Between Star Trek and Battlestar Galactica

The 2004 reboot of Battlestar Galacticais, in many ways, the anti-Star Trek. The universe created by Gene Roddenberry six decades ago is a hopeful, aspirational view of humanity's future. BSG was a dour, cynical view of humanity's distant past. Still, both series share the talents of writer Ronald D. Moore, and how Star Trek inspired BSG is reflected by a significant omission from the Battlestar Galactica ship.

Battlestar Galactica is arguably the most influential show to come from the era of SyFy originals. While it may not have the longevity of the Star Trek universe, it remains a well-regarded series that made miracles happen on a tight budget. Like all good science fiction,...

One entry on this list discusses domestic abuse and self-harm. If you're struggling, help is available in the US by dialing 988 or clicking here. The world is better with you in it.

While always firmly planted in science-fiction, Star Trek: The Next Generationis essentially an anthology series. Each week a new planet, species or sci-fi problem could push the series towards other genres. In a number of Star Trek episodes, The Next Generation characters find themselves in situations that more akin to horror than sci-fi.

Ironically, when a Tng episode excelled at adapting a horror tone, fans of the series tended to not enjoy the episodes. However, looking back, these scary adventures on and off the Enterprise are worthy of respect if only for their ambition. When there was a psychological element, the Tng writers escaped "the Roddenberry box" if only briefly. Interestingly, a number of the episodes on this...

There is no replacing William Shatner's Captain Kirk. Shatner created a character that, to this day, is the embodiment of the quintessential captain. It's a hard role to fill, and that's why, to date, no one has really tried to play Captain Kirk Shatner's way. One Star Trek: The Next Generation writer, Melissa M. Snodgrass, wanted to make Data [Brent Spiner] a little more like Kirk, specifically in the episode "Ensigns of Command." [via GiantFreakinRobot]

In the episode, Data is in charge of moving colonists from a planet. Snodgrass had it in mind to "stress him and have him face a situation where logic isn’t enough, to show that in order to command you have to have charisma.” The type of charisma that Kirk had, of course. But that didn't happen because the script went through rewrites, and Snodgrass wasn't happy about it. She even used the pseudonym "H. B.

Quick Links Star Trek: Voyager's Pilot Was a Great Movie, Just on TV Voyager Boldly Reinvented the Classic Star Trek Formula Star Trek: Voyager Season 4 Introducing the Borg Was a Game-Changer Star Trek: Voyager Has More Than Overcome Fans' Initial Criticism

The importance of Star Trek: Voyager to both Gene Roddenberry's universe and Paramount can't be overstated. When the show debuted in 1995, was the subject of intense criticism and under tremendous pressure as the flagship of the United Paramount Network. 30 years later, the series and the wayward crew led by Captain Kathryn Janeway have become even more important and carved out their own place in Star Trek history.

When Voyager first arrived, Star Trek's longevity was up in the air. The Next Generation was the first-ever sequel series to outperform its predecessor. Deep Space Nine was wildly different, and it also faced fan vitriol. Voyager was the first...

When "Star Trek: Voyager" was in development in 1994, the franchise was running hot. "Star Trek: The Next Generation" was making its way to the big screen in the form of "Star Trek: Generations," and its spinoff, "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," was finding its stride at the beginning of its third season. "Deep Space Nine," however, was set on board a space station, and the franchise's head honchos felt that an additional "Trek" show should be created to incorporate more traditional star trekking. "Voyager" was set on board a Starfleet vessel, the U.S.S. Voyager, as it became stranded 75 years away from Earth.

Show creators Rick Berman, Michael Piller, and the recently late Jeri Taylor, while developing their series, decided they wanted the captain of the U.S.S. Voyager to be a woman, as all the previous lead "Star Trek" captains had been men. Captain Kathryn Janeway was created,...

(Welcome to Tales from the Box Office, our column that examines box office miracles, disasters, and everything in between, as well as what we can learn from them.)

It almost feels like an unwritten rule that if a franchise exists for long enough, a big crossover must happen. From worlds colliding on the small screen dating back to "I Love Lucy" meeting Superman in "Lucy and Superman" to massive crossovers on the big screen in comic book movies like "The Avengers," it's a tradition in Hollywood that goes back decades. So, inevitably, after nearly 30 years spanning multiple shows and movies, the time came for "Star Trek" to boldly go where it had never gone before.

1994's "Star Trek: Generations" united the two most famous Starfleet captains to ever live; William Shatner's James T. Kirk and Patrick Stewart's Jean-Luc Picard. Despite being separated by decades, science fiction shenanigans allowed...

Star Trek's first female showrunner, screenwriter and producer Jeri Taylor made many significant contributions to the franchise, including writing classic episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and Star Trek: Voyager. Taylor's Star Trek career began in 1990 when she joined the writing staff of Tng during the show's fourth season. Taylor penned several notable Tng episodes before becoming co-executive producer for the show's final season, alongside Rick Berman and Michael Piller. Jeri Taylor passed away on October 23, 2024, at the age of 86.

In her most significant contribution to Star Trek, Jeri Taylor helped develop Star Trek: Voyager and served as an executive producer and showrunner. The first Star Trek show to center on a female starship captain, Voyager followed the adventures of Captain Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) as she led the USS Voyager and its crew through the unexplored Delta Quadrant. Jeri Taylor had a...

The nearly 60-year-old storytelling universe created by Gene Roddenberry feels as eternal as the cosmos itself. A new Star Trek series is currently streaming with more shows and films soaring onto screens in the future. Yet not only was this not inevitable, its success defied the odds and conventional wisdom. With the passing of legendary storyteller Jeri Taylor, fans are reminded Star Trek would have been a dead franchise long ago without her talent and tenacity. Before Star Trek: The Next Generation, no sequel television series was ever more successful than the original. In fact, the early seasons of Tng were troubled in large part because the show couldn't keep writers.

When Michael Piller showed up in Season 3 as the showrunner, the USS Enterprise-d went where no television series had gone before. Along with Piller, veteran television writer from series like Quincy, M.E., Magnum Pi and other 1980s classics, Jeri...

Jeri Taylor, an influential television producer and writer known for her work shaping the acclaimed sci-fi franchise Star Trek, has died at the age of 86. Brannon Braga, a friend and former colleague of Taylor’s, announced the news on social media.

Taylor’s career helping develop Star Trek spanned several decades. She first joined the popular series Star Trek: The Next Generation in its fourth season as a writer and eventually led the creative team as showrunner for the final season. This work on Next Generation received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Drama Series. Taylor then co-created Star Trek: Voyager with Rick Berman and Michael Piller, serving as executive producer and driving the creative vision in the first four seasons.

Perhaps Taylor’s most enduring contribution was creating the character of Captain Kathryn Janeway for Voyager. Janeway became known as a groundbreaking lead in television as the first female captain...

On Facebook, longtime "Star Trek" production designers Mike and Denise Okuda announced the passing of Jeri Taylor. She was 88.

Jeri Taylor was one of the key producers and writers throughout the 1990s "Star Trek" heyday, having joined the staff of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" in its fourth season. Trekkies will tell you that "Next Generation," having already hit its stride, broke into a sprint in its fourth season, producing multiple capital-g great episodes at that time. Taylor's impeccable writing contributions to "Next Generation" were so widely recognized that she was promoted to the role of co-executive producer of the series in its sixth season, overseeing most of the production alongside head honchos Rick Berman and Michael Piller. In the show's seventh season, Taylor became the full-bore showrunner.

Taylor wrote multiple scripts for "Next Generation" and is credited for co-creating the Cardassians, a fascistic species that would go on to...

"Star Trek" fans really had it all in the mid-1990s. The "Star Trek: The Next Generation" movies carried on the adventures of the Enterprise at the cinemas, while "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" and "Star Trek: Voyager" told new stories of Starfleet on the television each week. It was truly an amazing time to be a "Star Trek" fan, although occasionally it could feel like "The Next Generation" got preferential treatment above the other two series. That was especially true when it came to how the events of "Deep Space Nine" were depicted in the "Next Generation" movies.

You see, the events of "Star Trek: Insurrection" take place during the Dominion War, which is the main arc of the final few seasons of "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine." Lieutenant Commander Worf (Michael Dorn) went from serving on the Enterprise to the space station Deep Space Nine when "The Next Generation" went off the air,...

For the uninitiated, "Star Trek: Enterprise" debuted in late September 2001, shortly after "Star Trek: Voyager" ended its seventh and final season. "Voyager" ended a 14-year hot streak for "Star Trek," beginning in 1987 with the debut of "Star Trek: The Next Generation." That show, set in the 24th century, was such a hit that the curators of "Star Trek" — Rick Berman, Michael Piller, Jeri Taylor, and Brannon Braga highest among them — created two spinoffs that continued within the same timeline. They debuted "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" in 1993, and "Voyager" was added in 1995. At the same time, the franchise continued its run on the big screen, seeing the release of four feature films in that same 14-year release window. It was a long road, getting from there to here.

"Enterprise," however, was met with skepticism. The new series was set in 2151, a full century before the events of the original "Star Trek,...

Star Trek: Voyager sent its titular ship 70,000 light years from home, but the show still found ways to incorporate characters and concepts from Star Trek: The Next Generation. Following the adventures of Captain Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) and the USS Voyager's journey through the Delta Quadrant, Star Trek: Voyager was the true successor to Tng. Although Star Trek: Deep Space Nine began airing 2 years before Voyager, DS9's space station setting and darker tone made it a different kind of Star Trek show. Voyager, on the other hand, followed a structure that was more similar to that of Tng.

Like Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Voyager followed a singular starship as it explored strange new worlds and new civilizations. The USS Voyager literally went where no Federation starship had gone before, as the ship found itself far from home in the unexplored Delta Quadrant. Captain Janeway and her...

Season 4 was an important moment for "Star Trek: The Next Generation" — we've even named it the best "Tng" season. With the fourth season, the show had officially gone for more years than "The Original Series" had and even reached 100 episodes with its season finale. That season finale was "Redemption, Part 1," scripted by prolific "Star Trek" writer (and future "Battlestar Galactica" re-creator) Ronald D. Moore.

The episode tilted its eye away from the Federation and towards the Klingons, capping off a running subplot about discontent in the empire. In the season 3 episode "Sins of the Father," the Klingon Duras (Patrick Massett) accuses Worf's (Michael Dorn) father M'ogh of having been a traitor to the Romulans. Due to Duras' political power, Worf is forced to accept the dishonor. Season 4 episode "Reunion" was a sequel, following Duras competing with the rival Gowron (Robert O'Reilly) to become the empire's chancellor. Worf kills Duras and Gowron wins the chancellorship.

Denise Crosby, unhappy with her role of Lt. Tasha Yar on Star Trek: The Next Generation, asked to be let out of the series in its first season. While the other actors decided to wait to see what would happen with their characters, she didn't want to be stuck on the bridge of the Enterprise just saying "aye-aye" all the time. In a recent interview by IGN, Crosby noted that her decision to leave threw things into a bit of a tailspin for the freshman sci-fi series.

Gates McFadden, who portrayed Dr. Beverly Crusher, during the first season of The Next Generation as well as seasons three throughseven, was fired at the end of the first season, and Marina Sirtis thought she was going to be fired as well. That would have left The Next Generation with no female characters. So Sirtis remained, and Diana Muldaur was hired as the second season's doctor,...

When it comes to Star Trek, many people hold creator Gene Roddenberry up as this end-all-be-all figure. They celebrate him and lean on his beliefs when defending or criticizing shows or films. It's always been a fascinating thing to behold, as many of these fans have no idea just how much Roddenberry hated his own creation.

When he had complete control over the franchise, this wasn't the case. It was when the franchise started to leave him behind that Roddenberry grew resentful of the series that he started. Maybe the most famous story of Roddenberry's own juvenile hatred was that of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. A film that is universally beloved by Star Trek fans, yet reviled by Roddenberry.

So much so that the series creator tried to ruin the film while doing the convention circuit prior to the film. Roddenberry would ruin the reveal that Spock died at the end,...

Star Trek has a fascinating world of its own, brought to life by the iconic Gene Roddenberry. It was his work in the original series that made Star Trek the bankable franchise it’s known today. While Roddenberry introduced several notable races in his storyline, from the Ferengi to the Klingons.

A still from Star Trek: The Next Generation || Credits: First-run syndication

One Reddit user believes that the Cardassians are the most iconic race in the Star Trek universe, created by the trio of Stuart Charno, Sara Charno, and Cy Chermak.

Reddit User Details Why the Cardassians Are the Most Fascinating Race in the Star Trek Universe A still from Star Trek: The Next Generation || Credits: First-run syndication

Star Trek has now expanded into a huge universe, with several characters and alien races being added to the roster every now and then. On the same topic, the genius behind this world,...

The fourth season of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" began with a bang. The first episode was "The Best of Both Worlds, Part II", the tense, high-stakes conclusion to the season-three finale wherein Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) was assimilated by the Borg. The episode contained attacks on the Borg, a deathly attack on Earth that left thousands dead, and a clever solution to the Borg threat that few Trekkies could have predicted. The final shot of the episode was of Picard, staring out his window, still sporting surgical plating where his Borg implants were only recently removed. His face is ashen. He experienced damage that he could barely describe. 

In the following episode, "Family" (October 1), Picard has been in therapy for several months, talking to Counselor Troi (Marina Sirtis) about his trauma. He claims to have worked through the worst of it. 

The Enterprise-d is undergoing repairs and a retrofit,...

When actor Denise Crosby was first auditioning for "Star Trek: The Next Generation" back in 1986, she was more interested in the role of Counselor Deanna Troi -- the half-Betazoid psychiatrist on the Enterprise-d -- than in chief security officer Tasha Yar. The story goes that Crosby landed the role of Troi and Marina Sirtis was cast as Tasha Yar. Show creator Gene Roddenberry, however, swapped their roles at the last minute, and both actors took to their new roles incredibly well.

Crosby projected a steely toughness as Yar, easily fitting into the new show's ensemble. Yar was even given prominent roles in the episodes "The Naked Now" and "Code of Honor." She also delivered a notorious antidrug PSA in the episode "Symbiosis" and seemed interested in the matriarchal planet seen in "Angel One." There was no reason for Yar not to continue on the series indefinitely. As such, when Yar...

Patrick Stewart has often spoken about his favorite episode in Star Trek: The Next Generation. While many episodes have become iconic in fans’ minds, the fifth season episode ‘The Inner Light’ has often been regarded as the best episode of Tng and on some occasions, the entire franchise.

The episode won the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation. However, its deep philosophical ruminations and Picard’s solo act have received much fanfare. Writer Morgan Gendel was reportedly brought in as a freelance writer and had to go above and beyond to make his pitch come to life.

Patrick Stewart’s Favorite Star Trek: The Next Generation Episode Was Written By A Freelancer A still from Star Trek: The Next Generation | Credits: Paramount

While the original Star Trek series focused on the Golden Trio Kirk, Spock, and McCoy, the spinoff show The Next Generation focused on the ensemble crew of the USS Enterprise-d,...

At the end of the third season of "Star Trek: Voyager," ratings were flagging and Paramount was concerned. The show was competent enough, but it simply wasn't drawing the numbers that "Star Trek: The Next Generation" did before it. To shake up the series, the writers ejected the gentle character of Kes (Jennifer Lien) and replaced her with Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan), a Borg babe in a skintight catsuit. The show's writers loved Seven of Nine, and the series was restructured to be almost entirely about her. It also didn't hurt that Ryan looked like a magazine cover model and was cinched up in a bust-enhancing corset. Ratings, needless to say, went up.

It's reported in the oral history book "The Fifty-Year Mission: The Next 25 Years: From The Next Generation to J. J. Abrams," edited by Mark A. Altman and Edward Gross, that the cast of "Voyager" initially resented Ryan,...

Tng's "The Best of Both Worlds" has some fascinating behind-the-scenes details. The cliffhanger was tense for fans over the summer of 1990. The two-parter's impact on future Star Trek stories solidified Tng's place in sci-fi history.

Star Trek: The Next Generation's iconic "Best of Both Worlds" two-parter remains a highlight of the Star Trek franchise, but it's even better when you know the behind-the-scenes details. Tng season 3 ended with Star Trek's first major cliffhanger, the words "to be continued" appearing on screen for the first of what would become many times. Even today, "The Best of Both Worlds, Part I" is one of television's best cliffhangers and it works for several reasons. But the context of what was going on behind the scenes makes the success of the two-parter even more impressive.

When the USS Enterprise-d goes to investigate a potential Borg attack, they find themselves facing off against a Borg cube.

Captain Picard's Enterprise faced 4 evil villains in Star Trek: The Next Generation's movies,. Tng's movie villains were mostly attempts to recapture the menace of Khan in Star Trek II. Soran, the Borg Queen, Ru'afo, and Shinzon are all major leage Star Trek movie villains, but here's who is best.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) faced four major league villains in Star Trek: The Next Generation's movies, and here they are ranked worst to best. Starting with 1994's Star Trek Generations, directed by David Carson, the cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation took over the Star Trek movie franchise. Three more films followed; 1996's Star Trek: First Contact and 1998's Star Trek: Insurrection, directed by Jonathan Frakes, and 2002's Star Trek: Nemesis, directed by Stuart Baird.

Khan Noonien Singh (Ricardo Montalban), the eponymous villain of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, looms over the cinematic adversaries Captain...

Ira Steven Behr brought a more realistic, character-driven approach to Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, distinct from The Next Generation. Behr's focus on friendships and downtime activities, like O'Brien and Bashir getting drunk, set DS9 apart from Tng's formality. Behr's influence on modern Star Trek shows, like Discovery and Strange New Worlds, highlights the enduring impact of DS9's character-driven storytelling.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine showrunner Ira Steven Behr identified a "breath of reality" that defined the Star Trek: The Next Generation spinoff from its parent show. Deep Space Nine was specifically designed by Rick Berman and Michael Piller to stand out from Tng; DS9's cast of characters included both Federation and non-Federation officers, and it was set on a space station instead of a starship. However, when Ira Steven Behr took over the running of DS9 in season 3, he made an effort to further establish a very...

Michael Dorn shocked Star Trek fans by rocking out on stage with The Action Figures at Stlv: Trek to Vegas. Known as Captain Worf, Dorn has appeared in the most Star Trek episodes of any actor - a total of 284. Fans were surprised to see the opera-loving Klingon perform Mark Morrison's "Return of the Mack" with the band.

Star Trek fans know Michael Dorn as the stoic Captain Worf, but they've never seen Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Picard's Klingon warrior quite like this. As Worf, Dorn has appeared in more episodes of Star Trek than any other actor - a combined 284 episodes across Tng, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and Star Trek: Picard, as well as appearances in five Star Trek movies, which includes Dorn's cameo in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. Dorn is synonymous with the prune juice-drinking, opera-loving Klingon, but who...

Patrick Stewart’s name is prominent in the sci-fi genre having played a significant part in the Star Trek and X-Men universes. Talking about Star Trek, the franchise has built itself a name over the years and is known as one of the best entries into the sci-fi world. Patrick Stewart plays the role of Jean-Luc Picard, the captain of the Federation starship USS Enterprise (Nvv-1701-d).

Patrick Stewart in Star Trek: Insurrection | Paramount Pictures

Needless to say, Patrick Stewart has a huge hand in making Star Trek what it is today. Therefore, when he vetoed the involvement of a certain group of villains in his third film, screenplay writer Michael Piller had no choice but to adhere to his harsh criticism.

How Patrick Stewart Stopped the Romulans from Entering Star Trek: Insurrection

The Romulans in Star Trek universe | Paramount Pictures

The primary villains in Star Trek: Insurrection were the Son’a,...

Patrick Stewart vetoed the involvement of the Romulans in Star Trek: Insurrection, pushing for new villains like Admiral Dougherty, the Son'a. Michael Piller's original concept for Insurrection drew inspiration from Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness. Stewart's Romulan veto led to the Son'a as villains in Insurrection, reducing Insurrection's impact on the wider Star Trek universe.

Star Trek: Insurrection almost had more compelling villains than the Son'a, but they were turned down by Patrick Stewart. Released in 1998, Insurrection was conceived by Rick Berman and Michael Piller as a lighter movie, following the dark tone of Star Trek: First Contact. However, the development of the third Star Trek: The Next Generation movie was a somewhat tortured process.

Michael Piller's posthumously published book Fade In: From Idea to Final Draft details the various treatments he wrote for Star Trek: Insurrection, many of which sound better than the finished film. Piller's...

In the "Star Trek: The Next Generation" episode "Yesterday's Enterprise", the Enterprise-d is flying merrily through space when it encounters a colossal negative space-wedgie in its path. They crew finds it is a portal through time, leading to a point in history 22 years in the past. A ship flies out of the portal. It's the Enterprise-c, commanded by the stalwart Rachel Garrett (Tricia O'Neill).

When it does, however, everything about the Enterprise-d's timeline shimmers and shifts. All of a sudden, the Enterprise-d is a combat ship. The crew all become weapons-toting soldiers, now embroiled in a year-long war. It seems that the Enterprise-c exited its own timeline at a crucial point in galactic history, when it was facing a losing battle at the hands of the Romulans. When it vanished into the future, the battle never ended, and a full-scale war broke out. 22 years later, the Enterprise-d is still fighting the same war.

This one season of Star Trek: The Next Generation is so wild that even Captain Picard couldn’t save the chaos. Despite Patrick Stewart’s mind-boggling performance, Star Trek fans agree that this season was a hot mess of weirdly executed storylines and strange plot twists.

William Shatner and Patrick Stewart in Star Trek Generations | Paramount Pictures

Gene Roddenberry’s vision seemed to unravel as episodes took some bizarre turns, leaving fans scratching their heads. Let’s dive into the quirks and flops of this infamous Tng season!

Star Trek: Tng Season 1 had a rocky start with off dialogues, characters, and overall vibe A still from the Violations episode in Tng. | Paramount Domestic Television

Star Trek: The Next Generation is a classic sci-fi TV show, but its first season is a bumpy ride even for the most die-hard Trekkie. Fans agree: it’s like the cast got tossed without a manual,...

Guinan, played by Whoopi Goldberg, is a centuries-old El-Aurian who provides wisdom and listens to Captain Picard on the USS Enterprise-d. Guinan is a valuable asset to the Enterprise crew and has appeared in different Star Trek eras, including 19th-century San Francisco and 21st-century Los Angeles. Guinan's deep connection with Picard goes beyond friendship, offering advice and unique insights to help him navigate challenges in different time periods.

Since her introduction on Star Trek: The Next Generation, Guinan (Whoopi Goldberg) has popped up in different eras throughout Star Trek's timeline. As an El-Aurian, Guinan comes from an extremely long-lived race of listeners and enjoys sharing her wisdom with those around her. Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) personally requested Guinan's presence on the USS Enterprise-d, and she took on the role of bartender in Ten Forward. A long-time friend of Captain Picard, Guinan spent her time on Tng offering a...

If Star Trek is a representative of the sci-fi space genre, Sir Patrick Stewart is its face. Stewart’s role as Captain Jean-Luc Picard has established him as a revered figure among Trekkies worldwide, but there’s something about the character that bugs even the most stalwart of them.

Jean-Luc Picard and his crew| Paramount

In Star Trek: The Next Generations, Picard has been vehemently described as French. However, we see him speak English with a perfect British accent. Why is that?

Jean-Luc Picard might actually be speaking French

Jean-Luc Picard’s choice of language has always been a bit of a mystery to fans. Though many would assume the accent we hear on the show might be the result of his education and constant practice, or his parents moving to the UK from France in his early years, there’s one more theory that uses a Star Trek element to explain the issue.

Numerous Trekkies were heavily disappointed when Brent Spiner’s Data faced his end in Star Trek: Nemesis. Fans were united on the point that a character like him deserved a more respectable death. Interestingly, the makers had a more bizarre plan to show the character’s end even before Nemesis in the ninth film Star Trek: Insurrection.

Data in Star Trek: Insurrection | Paramount Pictures

After the massive popularity of Star Trek: The Next Generation series, the makers decided to give four theatrical flicks to Patrick Stewart and his co-stars. Among the four films, Star Trek: Insurrection is often counted as the worst one on the list. However, the writers of the film later revealed that their initial plans for the film were much different and darker than what we saw in the final cut.

Why was Star Trek: Insurrection‘s story changed?

A still from Star Trek: Insurrection | Paramount Pictures...

Star Trek and Babylon 5 had multiple crossovers of actors like Walter Koenig, Tracy Scoggins, and Majel Barrett Roddenberry. Despite accusations of plagiarism, DS9 and B5 shared similar serialized space station themes with unique stories and characters. Actors like Bill Mumy, Jeffrey Combs, and Robin Curtis appeared in both Star Trek and Babylon 5, showcasing a collaborative spirit in sci-fi.

Despite the apparent rivalry between them, multiple actors from Star Trek have crossed over into Babylon 5, and vice versa. Created by J. Michael Straczynski, Babylon 5 premiered in 1994, and ran for five seasons. A much-loved series from the 1990s heyday of science fiction drama on network television, Babylon 5 was never quite as big as their contemporary Star Trek TV shows, but B5 had major crossover appeal for fans, not least among the various Trek alumni connected with the show. For example, Star Trek: The Original Series writers D.C. Fontana,...

Star Trek: The Next Generation holds a special place in the hearts of the fans of the sci-fi franchise that comes second after the original series. Although the series had massive problems, it soon became one of the series that hooked the attention of the viewers and showcased the ethical themes of the franchise, which made it so distinct.

A still from Star Trek: The Next Generation. Credits: Paramount Pictures

During its seven-season run, the show became so popular that it was regarded as one of the greatest television series, with each episode receiving high praise from both audiences and critics. The final episode was titled All Good Things.

The two-hour finale had initially decided to include an unwanted Borg plot featuring Patrick Stewart’s Jean-Luc Picard. However, Ronald D. Moore, one of the writers of the series, explained that they decided to skip the storyline that would have bounced between four different events,...

Erick Avari has made three appearances in the Star Trek franchise, playing different characters in the iconic sci-fi series between 1991 and 2001. Avari started with a minor role as B'iJik in Star Trek: The Next Generation, moving on to more substantial roles in Deep Space Nine and Enterprise. Despite the size of the role, Avari's acting ability always shines through, making his appearances memorable in the Star Trek universe.

Best known for his roles in movies like Stargate and Mr. Deeds, Erick Avari has also played three different characters in the Star Trek franchise. Born in Darjeeling, West Bengal, India in 1952, Erick Avari became a well-known face on network television in the 1990s and 2000s, thanks to a number of guest roles in hit shows like Seinfeld, The X-Files, 24, and Heroes. One of Erick Avari's best-known roles is Dr. Terrence Bey in The Mummy, which also starred Star Trek: Discovery...

One Star Trek: Voyager cast member is ready for a reunion movie. Robert Picardo, who portrayed The Doctor in the sci-fi television series, has expressed interest in reuniting with his old co-stars for a follow-up project.

Speaking with Screen Rant about his return as The Doctor in Star Trek: Prodigy Season 2, Picardo shared that he would love to appear in a Voyager reunion movie, although he doesn't expect one to materialize anytime soon. "You know, of course, that would be great. I think it's unlikely considering the cost and the lead time for those projects. It's unlikely but anything's possible in the world of Star Trek," he said. "And it was so successful with the Next Gen cast and who knows? Maybe we'll get the shot."

Related Wolf Pack Star Among New Recruits for Starfleet Academy Series

Wolf Pack's Bella Shepard is one of the new additions to Star Trek: Starfleet Academy,...

There is little doubt that Star Trek: Insurrection remains one of the most poorly-arted movies across the entire Star Trek franchise. The movie currently has a 6.4 IMDb rating and a 55% Tomatometer score, and fans consistently view it amongst the most irrelevant projects that have featured in the franchise.

Star Trek: The Next Generation | Paramount Television

Boasting little narrative depth or progress, Insurrection was more akin to a longer television episode, and may as well have resulted in a catastrophic loss for the franchise in itself. Both Brent Spiner and Patrick Stewart, the faces behind the iconic characters of Data and Captain Jean-Luc Picard, considered quitting during the filming of Insurrection.

Patrick Stewart and Brent Spiner considered quitting their characters during filming of Star Trek: Insurrection

Brent Spiner in Star Trek: Insurrection | Paramount Pictures

Both Brent Spiner and Patrick Stewart went on to play their roles for multiple projects after Insurrection.

Star Trek has a mixed record when it comes to introducing new alien races. Sure, even non-hardcore Trek fans can list off facts about Vulcans, Klingons, and the Borg, but there are many, many more aliens that fall into obscurity. Mostly because they’re one-off guest aliens used to set up the ethical dilemma of the week. But every so often, the makers of Star Trek bet Big when it on a new alien species, confident they’ll become a major recurring element of the Trek franchise. And then they faceplant in spectacular fashion.

The most well known disaster was the Ferengi, the money-obsessed culture that was introduced as major recurring (and “imposing”) new threat for Star Trek: The Next Generation. But what was supposed to be a critique of capitalism just came off as silly at best and actively offensive at worst. Yet even with that horrid intro, the...

The character of Jadzia Dax (Terry Farrell) on "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" belongs to a species called the Trill. Many Trills are capable of conjoining with long-lived, surgically implanted, worm-like symbionts that live in their abdomens. The symbionts get passed from host to host during their lifetimes, sharing a consciousness with each one. Dax is partially a 22-year-old woman, but, thanks to her symbiont, also possesses the memories and personalities of seven previous hosts, including — most recently — a rowdy old man named Curzon. Captain Sisko (Avery Brooks) was friends with Curzon and was thrilled to meet Jadzia, the next incarnation in his friend's life. He affectionately called her "old man."

When "Deep Space Nine" began, the writers focused heavily on Dax's relationship with the young, idealistic Dr. Bashir (Alexander Siddig), an insufferably flirt. Dr. Bashir would frequently proposition Dax, and she, with the patience of a centuries-old sage, would rebuff him.

Imagine Patrick Stewart’s Jean-Luc Picard fighting against Brent Spiner’s Data in the Star Trek franchise. The fight is not some casual or lightweight training but a fight to the death! Well, that was one of the ideas for a Star Trek film that didn’t make it past the producers!

Colm Meaney and Patrick Stewart in Star Trek: The Next Generation | Paramount Domestic Television

The ever-expanding franchise started in 1966 with Star Trek: The Original Series. The series received a sequel titled Star Trek: The Next Generation in 1987 and it was after this show that an idea for a film was made for the franchise.

Patrick Stewart’s Jean-Luc Picard Was Going To Kill Data!

In the show, Patrick Stewart portrayed the role of Captain Jean-Luc Picard, the captain of the ship USS Enterprise. Alongside the captain, an ensemble cast of characters and actors worked and the show ran for 7 seasons.

Warning: Contains Spoilers for Star Trek: Prodigy season 2!

In the Star Trek universe, the Treaty of Algeron is a fictional agreement that bars Federation member worlds from developing cloaking technology. The USS Defiant and alternate future USS Enterprise-d didn't need to worry about the Treaty of Algeron due to larger political circumstances. By the 32nd century, Starfleet are allowed to have cloaking technology but uses it sparingly.

Despite them being illegal under Federation law, several Star Trek ships have been fitted with a cloaking device. Star Trek's creator Gene Roddenberry objected to Starfleet using the cloaking technology that was utilized by their enemies, the Romulan and Klingon Empires. Star Trek: The Next Generation provided an in-universe explanation for this, in the form of the Treaty of Algeron. The Treaty was signed following the Tomed Incident, and barred Federation member worlds from developing cloaking technology. However, several Starfleet ships have defied this treaty,...

Star Wars and Star Trek share similar storytelling elements, such as opening chase scenes and planet-killing superweapons. There are intentional or unintentional parallels between the two franchises, from similar-sounding names to nearly identical plotlines. Recent Star Wars and Star Trek projects, Skeleton Crew and Star Trek: Prodigy, show similarities in plot and themes.

While Star Wars and Star Trek are very different franchises despite their similar names, there have inevitably been many times when they have told the same story. This may seem unlikely at first glance, as Star Wars and Star Trek fans have been rivals for as long as anyone can remember. Star Wars leans more into space fantasy, telling a story about another galaxy in the distant past and creating new mythology to captivate modern audiences. Star Trek, meanwhile, is science fiction, offering humanity a glimpse of an optimistic future of exploration and technological innovation.

Of course,...

Star Trek has long sparked a divided conversation among the people. While some view the saga as profoundly progressive and liberating, others including actress Denise Crosby, who has been a part of the saga, criticize its perceived sexism.

Sir Patrick Stewart as Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: Picard [Credit: Paramount+]Despite this, Patrick Stewart, a prominent advocate for the LGBTQ community, remains a staunch supporter of the franchise. Crosby, despite acknowledging its liberal and progressive themes later in the years, felt the show fell short in its portrayal of women.

Denise Crosby Found Star Trek to Be Deeply Sexist

The original Star Trek series was notorious for its unabashed and thoughtless sexism. Female characters were often scantily dressed, portraying either submissive, air-headed sex symbols or conniving, manipulative ones. Unfortunately, these portrayals have persisted throughout much of the franchise’s evolution.

Suggested“It was mainly his request”: Patrick Stewart Personally...

Alien species in Star Trek have evolved in appearance and culture over the franchise's 58-year history. Not all changes have been well-received by fans, as some retroactively added depth to alien species. Characters like Quark, Seven of Nine, and Saru have revolutionized our understanding of traditional Trek aliens.

Star Trek has introduced numerous alien species that have changed throughout the franchise's 58-year existence. After all, Star Trek: The Original Series in the 1960s simply did not have the same level of prosthetic magic that makeup artists have today. The aliens of Tos were much simpler in design, but as prosthetics, make-up, and CGI improved, many alien species got significant upgrades regarding their appearance. Star Trek has not always offered an in-universe explanation for these changes, and some have been met with more positive reactions than others.

Many Star Trek aliens have changed in more than just appearance, as elements of...

Tricia O'Neill played multiple Star Trek characters, including the memorable Captain Rachel Garrett in Tng. She auditioned for other Tng roles before landing the captain role, showcasing her dedication to appearing in Star Trek. O'Neill also portrayed a Klingon scientist in Tng and a Cardassian spy in DS9, highlighting her versatility.

Best known for playing Captain Rachel Garrett in Star Trek: The Next Generation, Tricia O'Neill has actually played three characters in the Star Trek franchise. An actress with a prolific career as a stage performer and TV guest star, Tricia O'Neill has appeared in hit 1980s TV shows like Dynasty, Murder, She Wrote, and The A-Team. When O'Neill later appeared in two episodes of Tng, she didn't have any scenes with her former A-Team co-star Dwight Schultz as Lt. Reginald Barclay. However, Tricia O'Neill did share scenes with her The Fall Guy co-star, Marc Alaimo, in her one-and-only appearance...