star trek season 1 next generation

TNG Season 1

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A Paramount ad touting ratings success

• 3 Background information
• 4.3.1 Production companies
• 6 External links

Episodes [ ]

Summary [ ].

A hundred years after the era of James T. Kirk , Captain Jean-Luc Picard takes command of the Galaxy -class USS Enterprise -D with a hand-picked crew. They take on assignments from Starfleet as well as explore those strange new worlds , going where no one has gone before.

Background information [ ]

• Rick Berman commented: " First seasons of television shows tend to be potentially very chaotic. The first season of Next Generation certainly was ". ( The Deep Space Log Book: A First Season Companion , p. 7)
• Noted for his loyalty to co-workers he implicitly trusted, a by then ailing Gene Roddenberry was determined to bring back as many production staff members from Star Trek: The Original Series as possible (actually, this he had already intended to do, and partially did, on the ten years earlier, but ultimately abandoned Star Trek: Phase II television series). The first season staff included the following TOS veterans: Producers Robert H. Justman and Edward K. Milkis , writers D.C. Fontana and David Gerrold , who were brought in first in early October 1986 to form the core production team for The Next Generation , later to be joined by Costume Designer William Ware Theiss , Composer Fred Steiner , Assistant Director Charles Washburn , and Set Decorator John Dwyer . Cinematographer Jerry Finnerman was also invited back by Roddenberry, however he turned down the offer as he was working on Moonlighting at the time. Nevertheless, at the end of the first season all of them opted to leave the production. Justman has identified Roddenberry's uninitiated attorney and business partner, Leonard Maizlish as the main agent for them to do so, stating he "destructively" meddled with the creative decision making for the new series. Milkis, thoroughly "disgusted" by Maizlish, already left after a mere three months, before shooting of the pilot was even started, while Justman himself admitted that "For the first time in my life, I began to suffer from hypertension", because of Maizlish, even though he initially wanted to stay on. ( Inside Star Trek: The Real Story , p. 433-434) David Gerrold strongly shared the sentiment, and accused Maislizh – who occupied his own office on the studio lot, and had from the start firmly ingratiated himself with the pre-production creative staff – of "real character assassination of the worst sort.". [1]
• The series was officially announced by President Paramount Television Group Mel Harris on 10 October 1986. ( Star Trek: The Next Generation - The Continuing Mission , p. 11)
• While Maizlish was arguably too overzealous in looking after the interests of his client (who was desperately battling over the creative control of his new creation – and over his vision of Star Trek in general – with studio and writing staff alike), the eventual outcome came as a shock to Roddenberry, as Gerrold later related at the 2010 Necronomicon convention in St. Petersburg, Florida, " Gene was crying because all of his friends were gone. It was because Maizlish chased them away. " [2] (X)
• Roddenberry also brought back production people who worked on various Star Trek feature films: makeup artist Werner Keppler , illustrators and artists Andrew Probert (who also left at the end of the first season, but not on the account of Maizlish, but rather that of Rick Berman), Michael Okuda and Rick Sternbach , property master Joe Longo , and sound editor Bill Wistrom .
• The Galaxy -class Enterprise -D was designed to hold families. In subsequent seasons and other Trek series, we learn that other Federation vessels have families on board as well. ( DS9 : " Emissary "; TNG : " Hero Worship "; VOY : " The Raven ", " Dark Frontier ")
• No definite chief engineer is introduced, as a total of three officers – Logan , Argyle , and MacDougal – hold the position. Leland T. Lynch is also a senior officer in the department. Geordi La Forge serves mainly as a helmsman and does not become Chief Engineer until the second season .
• Lieutenant Commander Data 's " brother ", Lore , who shows up as a nemesis in subsequent seasons, is introduced. ( TNG : " Datalore ")
• Lwaxana Troi , Deanna Troi 's mother , portrayed by Majel Barrett-Roddenberry , is introduced. ( TNG : " Haven ")
• The holodeck , where Picard plays out a holonovel of the pulp detective Dixon Hill , is introduced. Although it is portrayed as something new on Federation vessels, the last time something similar was seen was on a Constitution -class starship. ( TAS : " The Practical Joker "; TNG : " The Big Goodbye ")
• We are introduced to the alien species called the Ferengi , although it is hinted that the Federation was already aware of this race before the start of Star Trek: The Next Generation . The Ferengi turn up in subsequent seasons of TNG, as well as in other Trek series, but featured most prominently in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine .
• Also introduced in the first season is the omnipotent being called " Q " who turns up in subsequent seasons and other Trek incarnations.
• The crew is affected by a very similar disease as James T. Kirk 's crew was afflicted with during the five-year mission of the original Enterprise . ( TOS : " The Naked Time "; TNG : " The Naked Now ")
• Susan Sackett , Gene Roddenberry 's assistant at the time, portrays an extra dressed in a blue skant . ( TNG : " The Neutral Zone ")
• Worf's cranial features changed throughout the series, as did his demeanor. Moreover, Worf became a regular in Deep Space Nine 's fourth season .
• When Crosby opted to leave the show, Yar was killed, resulting in the first 'permanent' death of a major character on Star Trek . ( TNG : " Skin Of Evil ")
• Denise Crosby returns in later seasons: first, as Natasha Yar in an alternate reality ( TNG : " Yesterday's Enterprise "), then as the voice of Yar's daughter Sela , a Romulan operative brainwashing Geordi La Forge, ( TNG : " The Mind's Eye "). She appears as Sela again in four other episodes ( TNG : " Redemption ", " Redemption II ", " Unification I ", " Unification II ") and in the final TNG episode as Yar in yet another alternate reality. ( TNG : " All Good Things... ")
• Natasha Yar and Deanna Troi are the only main characters who are ever seen wearing the skant. ( TNG : " Encounter at Farpoint ") The optional variant is seen primarily on background characters, most prominently Diana Giddings , portrayed by background actress Lorine Mendell . (In season two, Dr. Katherine Pulaski wears a long-sleeved variant of the skant with black slacks.)
• The skants (as well as the jumpsuits) were created by Trek veteran William Ware Theiss , who also designed the costumes for TOS .
• Deanna Troi appears in the skant once again for the series finale. ( TNG : " All Good Things... ")
• Fred Steiner , who composed music on TOS, scores for TNG. ( TNG : " Code of Honor ")
• Lush music, reminiscent of TOS , occurs over the course of season one, and is changed to more subtle atmospheric music in the later seasons.
• An alien takeover of Starfleet by parasitic beings occurs and is stopped, not to be followed up on in the series (or any other subsequent Trek series), even though it is hinted more aliens are on their way to Earth ; however, some Trek novels make an attempt to clear up any questions. ( TNG : " Conspiracy ")
• The Romulans make a return in the final episode of season one, after remaining quiet a number of years before the start of TNG. ( TNG : " The Neutral Zone ")
• Saucer separation of primary hull and secondary hull occurs a number of times. In the 23rd century, this action was designated for one-time emergencies. ( TOS : " The Apple ")
• Veteran Trek actors, Judson Scott and Merritt Butrick , appear in season one. ( TNG : " Symbiosis ")
• TNG introduces the position of counselor on starships.
• Deanna Troi and First Officer Commander William T. Riker are characters reminiscent of Lt. Ilia and Will Decker of the aborted Star Trek: Phase II series and Star Trek: The Motion Picture .
• Armin Shimerman , known as the Ferengi barkeep Quark from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine , portrays the Ferengi Letek as well as a Betazoid gift box . ( TNG : " The Last Outpost ", " Haven ")
• When the series premiered in the UK on the BBC in 1990 , the channel's airing order differed significantly from the original transmission order.
• Near the end of the series, actor Jonathan Frakes described the first season as a time when " we took greater chances than we do now. The shows may be better, the level of it, but " Skin Of Evil " was absurd. " He added, " that was a time first season they took chances. Some of it misses, but some were great. Like " The Naked Now ", the episode which we've never done anything quite like where everyone got drunk and horny. That was risky. All the early stuff with Brent as Sherlock Holmes . Bowman 's work, the first Klingon show [" Heart of Glory "] – those were all great. " ( Trek: The Next Generation Crew Book )
• Most episodes in the first season end with a bridge scene. The only episodes that do not are " Lonely Among Us ", " The Battle ", " Datalore ", and " Skin Of Evil ".
• Paramount Pictures ' original idea for a new Trek series for syndication was a "group of space cadets". ( TNG Season 1 DVD , special feature "The Beginning" )
• The per-episode budget eventually rose to US$1.5 million by the end of this season. ( Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion  ( ? ed., p. ? ))
• Τhe episode order does not follow the Stardate order. This results in a few discrepancies such as Yar dying at 41601.3, while having already appeared in " The Arsenal of Freedom " set in a later stardate (41798.2), and "The Big Goodbye" set in (41997.7). This doesn't happen in the later seasons where episode order corresponds to stardate order.
• The cameo appearance of DeForest Kelley as Admiral Leonard McCoy in " Encounter at Farpoint " is the only " character crossover " from the original series in this season.

Credits [ ]

• Patrick Stewart as Captain Jean-Luc Picard
• Jonathan Frakes as Commander William T. Riker
• LeVar Burton as Lieutenant junior grade Geordi La Forge
• Denise Crosby as Lieutenant Natasha Yar ("Encounter at Farpoint" – “Symbiosis")
• Michael Dorn as Lieutenant junior grade Worf ("Encounter at Farpoint” – “The Naked Now", "Where No One Has Gone Before” – “The Neutral Zone")
• Gates McFadden as Doctor Beverly Crusher
• Marina Sirtis as Counselor Deanna Troi ("Encounter at Farpoint” – “The Battle", "Too Short A Season” – “The Big Goodbye", "Angel One", "Home Soil" – “Coming of Age", "The Arsenal of Freedom” – “The Neutral Zone")
• Brent Spiner as Lieutenant Commander Data
• Wil Wheaton as Acting ensign Wesley Crusher ("Encounter at Farpoint” – “Code of Honor", "Where No One Has Gone Before", "Lonely Among Us” – “Hide and Q", "The Big Goodbye” – “Coming of Age", "Skin Of Evil” – “Symbiosis")

Executive Producer

• Gene Roddenberry

Co-Executive Producers

• Rick Berman ("Coming of Age” – “The Neutral Zone")
• Maurice Hurley ("Coming of Age” – “The Neutral Zone")

Co-Producers

• Robert Lewin
• Herbert Wright ("Encounter at Farpoint” – “Skin Of Evil")
• Maurice Hurley ("The Naked Now” – “When the Bough Breaks")

Supervising Producers

• Robert H. Justman ("Encounter at Farpoint” – “When the Bough Breaks")
• Rick Berman ("Encounter at Farpoint” – “When the Bough Breaks")

Associate Producers

• Peter Lauritson
• D.C. Fontana ("Encounter at Farpoint” – “The Big Goodbye")

Consulting Producer

• Robert H. Justman ("Coming of Age” – “The Neutral Zone")

Line Producer

• David Livingston ("Coming of Age” – “The Neutral Zone")

Program Consultant

• David Gerrold ("The Naked Now” – “Lonely Among Us")

Creative Consultant

• Greg Strangis ("The Big Goodbye” – “Angel One")

Story Editors

• Johnny Dawkins ("The Naked Now” – “Code of Honor", "Where No One Has Gone Before", "Too Short A Season")
• Hans Beimler ("Coming of Age” – “The Neutral Zone")
• Richard Manning ("Coming of Age” – “The Neutral Zone")

Executive Story Editors

• Hannah Louise Shearer ("When The Bough Breaks” – “The Neutral Zone")
• Tracy Tormé ("Heart of Glory” – “The Neutral Zone")
• Junie Lowry
• Dennis McCarthy ("Encounter at Farpoint", "The Last Outpost", "Justice", "Hide and Q", "The Big Goodbye", "Angel One", "Home Soil", "Coming of Age", "The Arsenal of Freedom", "Symbiosis", "Conspiracy") (credited as Dennis McCarthey in "The Last Outpost")
• Ron Jones ("The Naked Now", "Where No One Has Gone Before", "Lonely Among Us", "The Battle", "Datalore", "11001001", "When The Bough Breaks", "Heart of Glory", "Skin Of Evil", "We'll Always Have Paris", "The Neutral Zone")
• Fred Steiner ("Code of Honor")
• George Romanis ("Too Short A Season")

Main Title Theme by

• Jerry Goldsmith
• Alexander Courage

Director of Photography

• Edward R. Brown , A.S.C.

Production Designer

• Herman Zimmerman
• Tom Benko ("Encounter at Farpoint", "The Last Outpost", The Battle", "The Big Goodbye", "11001001", "Coming of Age", "Skin Of Evil", "Conspiracy")
• J.P. Farrell ("The Naked Now", "Where No One Has Gone Before", "Justice", "Too Short A Season", "Angel One", "When The Bough Breaks", "The Arsenal of Freedom", "We'll Always Have Paris")
• Randy Roberts ("Code of Honor")
• William Hoy ("Lonely Among Us", "Hide and Q", "Datalore", "Home Soil", Heart of Glory", "Symbiosis", "The Neutral Zone")
• David Berlatsky ("Haven")

Unit Production Managers

• David Livingston ("Encounter at Farpoint” – “When the Bough Breaks")
• Kelly A. Manners ("Coming of Age")
• Bruce A. Simon ("Heart of Glory")
• Sam Freedle ("The Arsenal of Freedom” – “The Neutral Zone")

First Assistant Directors

• Les Landau ("Encounter at Farpoint", "Code of Honor", "Where No One Has Gone Before", "Lonely Among Us", "The Battle", "Datalore", "11001001", "When The Bough Breaks", "We'll Always Have Paris", "The Neutral Zone")
• Charles Washburn ("The Naked Now", "Haven", "The Last Outpost", "Justice")
• Babu (T.R.) Subramaniam ("Hide and Q", "The Big Goodbye", "Angel One", "Home Soil", "Coming of Age", "The Arsenal of Freedom", "Symbiosis", "Conspiracy") (credited as Babu Subramaniam from "Angel One" on)
• Bruce A. Simon ("Heart of Glory", "Skin Of Evil")

Second Assistant Directors

• Babs Subramaniam ("Encounter at Farpoint” – “The Battle") (credited as Babu Subramaniam from "Justice" on)
• Brenda Kalosh ("Justice” – “Datalore")
• Bruce A. Simon ("Hide and Q” – “When the Bough Breaks")
• Larry M. Davis ("Angel One” – “11001001", "When The Bough Breaks” – “Skin Of Evil")
• Ron Kinwald ("Coming of Age” – “Skin Of Evil")
• Robert J. Metoyer ("Symbiosis” – “The Neutral Zone")
• Adele G. Simmons ("Symbiosis” – “The Neutral Zone")

2nd Second Assistant Director

• Brenda Kalosh ("Encounter at Farpoint")

Costumes Created by

• William Ware Theiss , Executive Consultant

Art Director

• Sandy Veneziano ("Encounter at Farpoint” – “Justice", "Coming of Age” – “The Neutral Zone")

Assistant Art Director

• Gregory Pickrell ("The Battle” – “When the Bough Breaks")

Visual Effects Coordinators

• Robert Legato ("Encounter at Farpoint” – “The Big Goodbye", "11001001", "When The Bough Breaks", "Heart of Glory", "Skin Of Evil", "We'll Always Have Paris", "The Neutral Zone")
• Dan Curry ("Too Short A Season", "Datalore” – “Angel One", "Home Soil", "Coming of Age", "The Arsenal of Freedom", "Symbiosis", "Conspiracy")

Post-Production Supervisor

• Brooke Breton

Set Decorator

Make-Up Supervisor

• Michael Westmore

Make-Up Artist

• Werner Keppler

Hair Supervisor/Hair Designer

• Richard Sabre

Hair Stylists

• Joy Zapata ("Encounter at Farpoint” – “Haven")
• Carolyn Ferguson ("The Last Outpost” – “Hide and Q", "The Big Goodbye” – “The Neutral Zone")

Production Associate

• Susan Sackett

Consulting Senior Illustrator

• Andrew Probert

Illustrator

• Rick Sternbach

Scenic Artist

• Michael Okuda

Set Designers

• Richard McKenzie ("Encounter at Farpoint” – “Skin Of Evil")
• Louis Mann ("Symbiosis” – “The Neutral Zone")

Script Supervisor

• Cosmo Genovese

Special Effects

• Dick Brownfield

Costume Supervisors

• Janet Stout ("Encounter at Farpoint” – “The Naked Now", "Haven", "Where No One Has Gone Before")
• Elaine Scheideman ("The Last Outpost” – “11001001")
• Ed Sunley ("Home Soil” – “The Neutral Zone")

Key Costumers

• Phil Signorelli ("Datalore” – “11001001")
• David McGough ("When The Bough Breaks", "Coming of Age", "The Arsenal of Freedom", "Skin Of Evil", "Conspiracy” – “The Neutral Zone")
• Richard Butz ("Home Soil", "Heart of Glory", "Skin Of Evil", "We'll Always Have Paris")

Camera Operator

• Lowell Peterson ("Encounter at Farpoint")

Chief Lighting Technician

• Richard Cronn

First Company Grip

• Brian Mills

Property Masters

• Joe Longo ("Encounter at Farpoint", "Code of Honor", "Where No One Has Gone Before", "Lonely Among Us", "The Battle", "Datalore", "11001001", "When The Bough Breaks", "Heart of Glory", "Skin Of Evil", "We'll Always Have Paris", "The Neutral Zone")
• Alan Sims ("The Naked Now", "Haven", "The Last Outpost", "Justice", "Hide and Q", "The Big Goodbye", "Angel One", "Home Soil", "Coming of Age", "The Arsenal of Freedom", "Symbiosis", "Conspiracy")

Sound Mixer

• Alan Bernard , C.A.S. ("Encounter at Farpoint” – “The Big Goodbye", "Angel One", "Home Soil” – “The Neutral Zone") (credited as Sound Mixer, C.A.S. from "The Battle" on)
• Dean Gilmore ("Datalore", "11001001")

Music Editors

• John LaSalandra , S.M.E. ("Encounter at Farpoint” – “Angel One")
• Gerry Sackman ("11001001", "Home Soil” – “The Neutral Zone")

Supervising Sound Editors

• Bill Wistrom
• James Wolvington ("Encounter at Farpoint")

Sound Editors

• James Wolvington ("The Naked Now” – “The Neutral Zone")
• Mace Matiosian ("The Naked Now” – “The Neutral Zone")
• Wilson Dyer ("Haven” – “The Neutral Zone")

Re-Recording Mixers

• Chris Haire , C.A.S. ("Encounter at Farpoint")
• Doug Davey , C.A.S. ("Encounter at Farpoint")
• Jerry Clemans , C.A.S. ("Encounter at Farpoint")

Computer Graphics by

• Prime Computer, Inc. ("Where No One Has Gone Before")

Casting Executive

• Helen Mossler

Casting Associate

• Elisa Goodman ("Skin Of Evil” – “The Neutral Zone")

Production Coordinator

• Diane Overdiek

Construction Forepersons

• Steven Monroe ("Encounter at Farpoint")
• John Clayton ("Encounter at Farpoint")

Construction Coordinator

• Al Smutko ("The Naked Now” – “The Neutral Zone")

Transportation Coordinator

• Stewart Satterfield ("Encounter at Farpoint")

Special Visual Effects by

• Industrial Light and Magic , A Division of Lucasfilm Ltd.

Video Optical Effects by

• The Post Group

Special Video Compositing

• Composite Image Systems

Editing Facilities

• Unitel Video

Post Production Sound by

• Modern Sound , Hollywood, CA

Lenses and Panaflex® Cameras by

• Panavision ®

Uncredited [ ]

• Patric J. Abaravich – Electrician ("Encounter at Farpoint” – “The Neutral Zone")
• Barbara Affonso – Model Maker: ILM ("Encounter at Farpoint")
• Chris Alsop – CGI Artist: The Post Group ("Datalore")
• Allan A. Apone – parasitic being fabricator: Makeup & Effects Laboratories ("Conspiracy")
• Tom Barron – Motion Control Supervisor: Image G ("The Naked Now” – “The Neutral Zone")
• John Beasley – Composer: Additional Score ("Encounter at Farpoint")
• David Bernard – Sound Cable Person ("Angel One", "Too Short A Season")
• Keith Bilderbeck – Sound Editor ("11001001")
• Patricia Blau – Visual Effects Manager: ILM ("Encounter at Farpoint")
• Cha Blevins – Extra Costumer for Females ("Angel One", "Too Short A Season")
• Tom Boyd – Musician: Oboe ("The Naked Now", "Code of Honor", "Where No One Has Gone Before", "Heart of Glory", "Skin Of Evil", "The Neutral Zone")
• Edward Brown, Jr. – First Assistant Camera Operator ("Too Short A Season")
• John Earl Burnett – First Assistant Camera Operator: Additional Photography/VFX Unit ("Encounter at Farpoint” – “The Big Goodybe", "11001001", "When The Bough Breaks", "Heart of Glory", "Skin Of Evil” – “We'll Always Have Paris", "The Neutral Zone")
• Burza – Extra Costumer for Males ("Too Short A Season")
• Lloyd A. Buswell – Construction Foreman
• Richard E. Butler – Stunt Coordinator ("Encounter at Farpoint")
• David Carson – Visual Effects Supervisor: ILM ("Encounter at Farpoint")
• Sean Casey – Model Maker: ILM ("Encounter at Farpoint")
• Ed Charnock – Painter ("Angel One", "Too Short A Season")
• Jesse Chavez – Crab Dolly Grip ("Angel One", "Too Short A Season")
• Ray Clarke – DFX Paint FX Artist: The Post Group
• Jerry Clemans – Sound Mixer ("Where No One Has Gone Before")
• Bill Concannon – Model Maker: ILM ("Encounter at Farpoint")
• Armando Contreras – 2nd Grip ("Too Short A Season")
• Erik Cord – Stunt Coordinator ("Encounter at Farpoint", "Conspiracy")
• Chuck Courtney – Stunt Coordinator ("Datalore")
• James Crawford – Set Security ("Angel One", "Too Short A Season")
• Kerrie Cullen – Stunt Coordinator ("The Last Outpost")
• Doug Davey – Sound Mixer ("Where No One Has Gone Before")
• Helen Davis – Quantel Harry Artist: The Post Group
• Demuth – Extra Costumer for Males ("Angel One")
• Syd Dutton – Matte Artist ("Code of Honor", "Angel One", "Home Soil")
• Huey Duval – Swing Gang ("Angel One", "Too Short A Season")
• Evangelatos – Craft Service ("Angel One", "Too Short A Season")
• John E. Ferraro – Development Executive ("Encounter at Farpoint")/Production Executive ("The Naked Now” – “The Neutral Zone")
• Marian Fife – Studio Teacher ("Angel One", "Too Short A Season")
• Sandy Fries – Story Editor ("Angel One", "Too Short A Season")
• Hala Gabriel – Production Accountant
• Gage – Extra Grip ("Angel One", "Too Short A Season")
• Steve Gawley – Supervising Model Maker: ILM ("Encounter at Farpoint")
• Bill George – Model Maker: ILM ("Encounter at Farpoint")
• Ray Gilberti – Assistant Lighting Camera Operator: ILM ("Encounter at Farpoint")
• Ken Gildin – Assistant to Writers and Producers ("Encounter at Farpoint” – “The Neutral Zone")
• David Ginsberg – Executive Producer: Rick Zettner & Associates, Inc.
• Adam Glick – Lamp Operator ("Angel One", "Too Short A Season")
• Chris Haire – Sound Mixer ("Where No One Has Gone Before")
• Christine Heinz – Extra Costumer ("Angel One")
• Gail Helm – Casting Assistant
• Robert Hill – Assistant Camera Operator: ILM ("Encounter at Farpoint")
• Dennis Hoerter – Motion Control Technician: Image G ("The Naked Now” – “The Neutral Zone")
• Gary Hutzel – Visual Effects Coordinator
• Nancy J. Hvasta Leonardi – Makeup Artist ("Encounter at Farpoint” – “The Neutral Zone")
• Gregory Jein – Model Maker: ILM ("Encounter at Farpoint")/ Greg Jein, Inc. ("The Last Outpost” – “The Neutral Zone")
• Brenda Kalosh – 2nd Second Assistant Director ("The Naked Now” – “Lonely Among Us", "Haven")
• Alan Kaminsky – Driver Generator Operator ("Encounter at Farpoint” – “The Neutral Zone")
• Stan Kellam – Visual Effects Editor: The Post Group
• Rolf John Keppler – Make-Up Artist ("Coming of Age")
• Arthur Klein – Editor
• John Knoll – Enterprise warp effects artist: ILM ("Encounter at Farpoint")
• Les Landau – Director ("Code of Honor")
• Kenneth A. Larson – Special Effects Technician ("Encounter at Farpoint")
• Stephen Lebed – Model Maker ("Conspiracy")
• Norman Ludwin – Musician: Bass ("Encounter at Farpoint” – “The Neutral Zone")
• Greg Luntzel – Second Assistant Camera Operator ("Angel One", "Too Short A Season")
• Jill MacKay – Jewelry Designer
• Jeff Mann – Model Shop Supervisor: ILM ("Encounter at Farpoint")
• Elaine Maser – Costumer: Women ("Angel One", "Too Short A Season")
• Mike May – Assistant Property Master ("Encounter at Farpoint” – “The Neutral Zone")
• McKane – Lamp Operator ("Angel One", "Too Short A Season")
• Kim McLaren – First Assistant Accountant
• Betty Mcneeley – Production Secretary ("Encounter at Farpoint” – “The Neutral Zone")
• Edward K. Milkis – Producer ("Encounter at Farpoint")
• Mills – Extra Grip ("Angel One", "Too Short A Season")
• John Moio – Stunt Coordinator ("The Arsenal of Freedom")
• Ron B. Moore – Visual Effects Coordinator
• Arthur Morton – Orchestrator ("Encounter at Farpoint")
• Lisa Morton – Model Maker: Greg Jein, Inc. ("The Last Outpost")
• Peter W. Moyer – Visual Effects Editor: The Post Group (2 episodes)
• Steve Neill – Makeup Artist ("Encounter at Farpoint")
• Michael Olague – Visual Effects Technician: ILM ("Encounter at Farpoint")
• Ease Owyeung – Lead Model Maker: ILM ("Encounter at Farpoint")
• Greg Papalia – Set Designer ("Encounter at Farpoint")
• Dean Parks – Set Designer ("Encounter at Farpoint")
• William Perry – Stunt Coordinator ("Justice")
• Lowell Peterson – Camera Operator ("The Naked Now” – “The Neutral Zone")
• Steve Price – Quantel Harry Artist: The Post Group
• Gerald Quist – Sculptor ("Skin Of Evil"), Make-Up Artist ("Coming of Age", "Conspiracy")
• Fred Raimondi – Visual Effects Compositor ("11001001” – “The Neutral Zone")
• Maricella Ramirez – Key First Assistant Camera Operator ("Encounter at Farpoint” – “Lonely Among Us", "Hide and Q")
• Ed Reilly – Assistant Chief Lighting Technician ("Angel One", "Too Short A Season")
• Malcolm "Mel" Rennings – Mike Operator ("Angel One", "Too Short A Season")
• Gene Roddenberry – Creator
• Rory Romero – DGA Trainee ("Angel One", "Too Short A Season")
• Stewart Satterfield – Transportation Coordinator ("The Naked Now" – "The Neutral Zone")
• Schiavone – Extra Grip ("Angel One")
• Scott Schneider – Model Maker: Greg Jein, Inc.
• Schultz – Lamp Operator ("Angel One", "Too Short A Season")
• Wesley Seeds – Model Maker: ILM ("Encounter at Farpoint")
• Charles Sertin – Swing Gang ("Angel One", "Too Short A Season")
• Phil Signorelli – Costumer for Males ("Too Short A Season")
• Bruce A. Simon – First Assistant Director ("Encounter at Farpoint")
• Alan Sims – Property Master ("Too Short A Season")
• Eric Stillwell – Production Assistant ("The Big Goodbye” – “The Neutral Zone")
• David Stipes – Stop Motion Control Artist ("Conspiracy")
• Greg R. Stone – Special Effects Technician ("The Naked Now", "Lonely Among Us", "The Battle", "Haven", "Datalore", "11001001", "When The Bough Breaks", "Coming of Age", "The Arsenal of Freedom", "Skin Of Evil", "Conspiracy")
• Janet Strnad – Script Coordinator
• Babu Subramaniam – First Assistant Director ("Code of Honor")
• Barton M. Susman – Art Department Lead Person ("Angel One", "Too Short A Season")
• Pat Sweeney – Visual Effects Director of Photography: ILM ("Encounter at Farpoint")
• Wes Takahashi – Opening Title Sequence Animator: ILM
• David Takemura – Pre-Production Associate/Post Production Assistant (Visual Effects Associate)
• Larry Tan – Model Maker: ILM ("Encounter at Farpoint")
• James Thatcher – Musician: French Horn ("The Big Goodbye", "11001001", "Conspiracy")
• Rich Thorne – Chief Operating Officer: The Post Group
• Monte Thrasher – Designer & Illustrator Romulan insignia and Romulan language
• Tony L. Torino – VFX Motion Control Director: The Post Group
• Tracy Tormé – Executive Story Editor ("Encounter at Farpoint” – “Coming of Age")
• Elaina M. Vescio – Set Security ("Angel One", "Too Short A Season")
• Jana Wallace – Secretary to Gene Roddenberry /Script typist
• Howie Weed – Model Maker: ILM ("Encounter at Farpoint")
• Michael Westmore, Jr. – Prosthetic Electronics ("Datalore")
• Dana White – Pre-Production Associate
• Ray Wilbar – First Assistant Camera Operator ("Angel One", "Too Short A Season")
• Glenn R. Wilder – Stunt Coordinator ("Code of Honor")
• Murphy Wiltz – Lamp Operator ("Angel One", "Too Short A Season")
• Unknown – Stunt Coordinator ("Lonely Among Us", "Justice” – “Hide and Q", "The Big Goodbye", "Too Short A Season", "Home Soil", "Heart of Glory", "Skin Of Evil” – “Conspiracy")

Production companies [ ]

• Central Casting – Extras Casting
• Greg Jein, Inc. – Models, miniatures and props ("The Last Outpost" – "The Neutral Zone")
• Image G – Motion Control Photography ("The Naked Now" – "The Neutral Zone")
• Makeup & Effects Laboratories – Fabricator: parasitic beings ("Conspiracy")
• Rick Zettner & Associates, Inc. – Production company: Transporter Effects

See also [ ]

• TNG Season 1 performers
• TNG Season 1 UK VHS
• TNG Season 1 US VHS
• TNG Season 1 DVD
• TNG Season 1 Blu-ray

External links [ ]

• Star Trek: The Next Generation season 1 at Memory Beta , the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
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Star Trek: The Next Generation - Episode Guide - Season 1

In September 1987, the most eagerly anticipated TV series of all-time was finally broadcast. With a cast filled out by a group whose only kinda sorta recognizable actor was Levar Burton, known for his role in the massive mini-series Roots of 10 years previous. This was, of course, Star Trek: The Next Generation and anyone would tole you back then that he/she believed this experiment would last seven years and four feature films -was lying!

Little evidence of The Next Generation’s future success could be seen in that first season of 1987-88; on the whole, the 26 episodes were, let’s say, a mixed bag. The two-hour debut was strong enough, ticking off the boxes in introducing characters and smoothly explaining the “generational” differences which had occurred between the original series and the new. Toward the end of the season, TNG actually had a member of the bridge crew die in action, as though to emphasize that TNG was a new kind of Star Trek.

When the final episode of ST:TNG season 1 finished, however, there was no doubt about one thing: This was definitely a worthy successor to the Star Trek universe. The episodes are as followed:

1-2. Encounter at Farpoint – Essentially everything and everyone in the new ST universe is introduced in this premiere episode, which also includes the first appearance of pan-dimensional trickster Q and the only instance of Captain Jean-Luc Picard muttering “merde.” ***

3. The Naked Now – In what today might be called a reboot of the original series episode “The Naked Time,” an Enterprise away team boards a ship, contracts a disease whose symptoms resemble drunkenness and infects the crew. Said crew goes on to act very silly indeed, and not very much like drunk people at all, really. *

4. Code of Honor – The “fight to the death” tope and Lt. Yar’s badassery both get a workout in this one, wherein Yar is abducted by some insignificant planet’s warlord. **

5. The Last Outpost – This introduction to the hypercapitalist Ferengi shows us a completely different (and way lamer) bunch of aliens than we’d eventually expect. Oddly cool whip laser guns, though… *

6. Where No One Has Gone Before – Recalling the original series pilot “Where No Man Has Gone Before,” the Enterprise somehow warps out and ends up in a bizarre bit of universe in which inane thoughts take on physical form. Luckily, the mysterious Traveler shows up to get them back (gee, the Voyager folks sure would’ve appreciated his help, eh?) *

7. Lonely Among Us – As the Enterprise passes through a nebula, a disembodied alien enters the ship, takes corporeal possession of a few crew members in turn and induces a murder. This latter bit elicits Lt. Commander Data’s first emulation of his fictional hero, Sherlock Holmes. ***

8. Justice – On a neo-hippie utopia planet, Wesley is given the death sentence for a very minor crime. The focus on Wesley is a minus for the episode, but Patrick Stewart does nice work with his lectures on notions of crime and justice. ***

9. The Battle – A Ferengi captain seeks vengeance against Picard for a battle in which Picard’s previous ship Stargazer destroyed a Ferengi ship in battle. In the second appearance by the Ferengi, they’re still shadows of what they’ll become, but the Picard backstory is good stuff. ***

10. Hide and Q – The intergalactic Loki is back in a rather simplistic tale: Commander Riker is offered the powers of the Q, which works out well for a while but nearly turns the earnest first officer into an Insane God! of the original series. **

11. Haven – Majel Barrett plays her fifth different character in the Star Trek mythos, Counselor Troi’s flamboyant Betazoid mother Lwaxana Troi. In this episode, Lwaxana arrives with her peers, the Millers, whose son Wyatt will be wed to Troi in an arranged marriage. And there’s something here about a virus as well. **

12. The Big Goodbye – Setting a trend that would be stupidly continued throughout this series and way too much of Star Trek: Voyager, this episode introduces the malfunctioning holodeck trope Some nice bits about the nature of existence, but not much else. **

13. Datalore – Brent Spiner in a double role? Now we’re talking! An Enterprise away team discovers a disassembled android on Data’s former homeworld. Once rebuilt, the android identifies itself as Lore, basically the 1.0 to Data’s 1.1 (this was years before the B4-related nonsense in Star Trek: Nemesis and Star Trek Guide is ignoring that BS, anyway). ****

14. Angel One – It’s the Enterprise crew versus the Lady Land trope ! Or, alternatively, it’s Commander Riker versus the Amazons! Something like that. And oh yea- there’s a bit in here about a virus as well…**

15. 11001001 – Weird little computer-specialist alien dudes the Bynars seemingly sabotage the ship while Picard and Riker are, in most unlikely fashion, distracted for several hours by a holodeck character which has – get this – somehow exceeded her programmed parameters. A half-clever script that would set the tone for later twisty-turny single-episode TNG plots. ***

16. Too Short a Season – And here’s a crack at the reverse-aging trope: A legendary admiral ages himself young due to some pharmaceutical/chemical/genetic tomfoolery. And, yeah, really not very much to this one. *

17. When the Bough Breaks – Years before Children of Men, there was this episode. The planet of Aldea is a world long thought lost but in actuality was merely kept from detection via massive cloaking device. It is revealed to the Enterprise, whose denizens soon find out that the Aldeans are sterile and interested in stealing all children aboard the Enterprise to keep their culture alike. (How about just Wesley Crusher, guys? Will you settle for that…?) *

18. Home Soil – A silicon-based lifeform appears to be offing Federation scientists looking to ready a planet for settlement. And you can pretty much guess how things unravel from there … **

19. Coming of Age – A character-driven episode: Each of the Enterprise bridge officers is investigated by Federation officials while Wesley takes the Starfleet Academy entrance exam (he fails, dammit). A conspiracy within the Federation is presented, a tantalizing hint which would pay dividends in future episodes. ***

20. Heart of Glory – Klingon fans get what they want in this episode, as a ship of the galactic bad boys seek to relive the glory days of the Empire – like when they were at war with the Federation – by taking the Enterprise. ***

21. The Arsenal of Freedom – A bit of a one-note story about most of the bridge crew trapped into use as pawns for weapons-testing systems. **

22. Symbiosis – One of the first of the post-TOS stories to annoy viewers with intricacies of the Prime Directive, which was really given way too much respect by the likes of Picard and Janeway in particular. As for Lt. Yar’s “Just Say No” speech, well, she gets her karmic payback for that silliness in the next episode, doesn’t she? **

23. Skin of Evil – Most of the senior officers beam down to a TOS-looking planet, where Lt. Yar is iced by a living embodiment of evil impulses (or “a pool of Metamucil,” as Brent Spiner once referred to it). **

24. We’ll Always Have Paris – “Forget Paris” might have been a better title for this rather empty story of Picard, a former love and her husband’s dangerous scientific experimentation. About the best that can be said for this episode it that at least there’s no holodeck. *

25. Conspiracy – The unfortunately incredibly generic title hides an interesting story that would pave the way for many a Federation-based conspiracy storyline in TNG. “Conspiracy” also feels a bit rushed; had this run in a later season, much more screen time would certainly have been devoted to this subplot. Bonus points for the best line of dialogue in season 1: “We seek … peaceful co-existence.” ***

26. The Neutral Zone – Enter the Romulans, who come off more badass in TNG than any other Star Trek series. The Enterprise is sent to the titular galactic area to deduce why Romulan ship or ships are destroying Federation outposts. ***

Star Trek: The Next Generation Had Multiple Chief Engineers in Season 1

Before Geordi La Forge took over Engineering in Season 2, at least three Chief Engineers appeared in Season 1 of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

The debut of Star Trek: The Next Generation represented a resurgence for the venerable science-fiction franchise. While the series eventually found its stride, the first season was definitely a lot different from where the show ended up. And a huge difference was the lack of a consistent Chief Engineer, so much so that at least three different ones appeared in Season 1.

Star Trek: The Next Generation debuted in 1987, a follow-up to the original series of the 1960s. It chronicled the adventures of the USS Enterprise NCC-1701-D under the command of Captain Jean-Luc Picard . At first, the series struggled to distance itself from the classic series, though it did eventually find its own voice. And once the series got to that point, it started churning out some absolutely incredible television and genre-defining scifi.

RELATED: Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' Christina Chong Gets Personal About Playing La'an

Keeping that in mind, there were some huge inconsistencies in the first season . It went through some subtle but drastic changes between Season 1 and Season 2, with a big one being the promotion of Geordi La Forge to Chief Engineer. From that point on, Geordi held the position for the rest of the series and did an admirable job in it. But this was a far cry from what was happening in Season 1.

Each time the Chief Engineer appeared, it was a completely different character. The weird thing was that there was no explanation provided for why this happened with such frequency. Given that this was a Galaxy Class starship, not to mention the flagship of Starfleet, the Chief Engineer position would seem to be absolutely key. As such, it makes no sense that the person holding down Engineering kept changing over and over again for seemingly no reason.

RELATED: Strange New Worlds: Why Do Star Trek Fans Love the Gorn?

In Season 1, Episode 3, Chief Engineer Sarah MacDougal made her one and only appearance. She helped Riker break into Engineering after the precocious Wesley Crusher locked them out. After that, Chief Engineer Argyle made appearances in two episodes, including Season 1, Episode 13 which was notable as the debut of Data's brother Lore . Then Lieutenant Junior Grade Geordi La Forge was left in charge of the Enterprise-D in Season 1, Episode 21, his authority challenged by Chief Engineer Logan.

La Forge's promotion to Chief Engineer between Seasons 1 and 2 was the first time the ship had a consistent person in that important role. The odd thing was there was little to indicate he was on this path in Season 1. Geordi was a redshirt working as a helmsman on the bridge of the Enterprise-D. He definitely showed the inclination to work in Engineering but seeing him suddenly in the role of Chief Engineer was more than a little jarring. That being said, it was the right call .

As Chief Engineer, La Forge's character grew by leaps and bounds. Prior to the promotion, he didn't really seem to have a place on the ship. Putting him in charge of Engineering gave him focus and direction. Having consistency in that key role did the same for the series. Fans of The Original Series were used to seeing Scotty in the role of Chief Engineer on Kirk's Enterprise . Chief Engineer Geordi La Forge brought that consistency to the Enterprise-D and the series was so much better for it.

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The Neutral Zone

• Episode aired May 14, 1988

While assigned to investigate missing outposts in the Neutral Zone, the Enterprise revives three cryogenically frozen people found aboard a wayward derelict Earth vessel. While assigned to investigate missing outposts in the Neutral Zone, the Enterprise revives three cryogenically frozen people found aboard a wayward derelict Earth vessel. While assigned to investigate missing outposts in the Neutral Zone, the Enterprise revives three cryogenically frozen people found aboard a wayward derelict Earth vessel.

• James L. Conway
• Gene Roddenberry
• Maurice Hurley
• Deborah McIntyre
• Patrick Stewart
• Jonathan Frakes
• LeVar Burton
• 24 User reviews
• 10 Critic reviews

• Captain Jean-Luc Picard

• Commander William Thomas 'Will' Riker

• Lieutenant Geordi La Forge

• Lieutenant Natasha 'Tasha' Yar
• (credit only)

• Lieutenant Worf

• Doctor Beverly Crusher

• Counselor Deanna Troi

• Lieutenant Commander Data

• Wesley Crusher

• Cmdr. Tebok

• Sub-Cmdr. Thei

• L.Q. 'Sonny' Clemmons
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• Maurice Hurley (showrunner)
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Did you know

• Trivia In the writers and directors' guide for the series, written by Gene Roddenberry prior to the first season, Romulans were covered by one of the main writing rules which stated "No stories about warfare with Klingons and Romulans and no stories with Vulcans. We are determined not to copy ourselves and believe there must be other interesting aliens in a galaxy filled with billions of stars and planets." Following the perceived failure of the Ferengi as the main villains of TNG by the production staff, the Romulans became the main villains during the early years of the series. This was in addition to the Borg, who were originally developed as an insectoid race for this episode but became a race of cyborgs by the time they first appeared in Q Who (1989) .
• Goofs Riker shows little interest in the ancient Earth ship they encounter, which is a somewhat peculiar attitude considering he and the rest of the Enterprise crew are usually fascinated by all manner of things from Earth's past.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard : This is the 24th century. Material needs no longer exist.

Ralph Offenhouse : Then what's the challenge?

Captain Jean-Luc Picard : The challenge, Mr. Offenhouse, is to improve yourself. To enrich yourself. Enjoy it.

• Connections Featured in Mr. Plinkett's Star Trek 2009 Review (2010)
• Soundtracks Star Trek: The Next Generation Main Title Composed by Jerry Goldsmith and Alexander Courage

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• planktonrules
• Nov 11, 2014
• May 14, 1988 (United States)
• United States
• Official site
• Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA (Studio)
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• Runtime 46 minutes
• Dolby Digital

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Star Trek: Discovery is cracking open a box Next Gen closed on purpose

The USS Discovery is on a mad chase across the galaxy for one of Star Trek’s biggest secrets

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Calling back to a single 30-year-old episode of television is a time-honored Star Trek tradition , one that’s led the franchise to some of its most fascinating detours. And in its two-episode season premiere, Star Trek: Discovery seems to be kicking off an entire season calling back to one particular episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation .

And not just any episode! The 1993 installment of Next Gen in question delivered a revelation so seemingly earth-shaking that it should have rewritten galactic politics on a massive scale. But then, as was the way in the 1990s era of episodic TV, nobody ever mentioned it again.

At least until now.

[ Ed. note: This piece contains spoilers for the first two episodes of Star Trek: Discovery season 5.]

Writer Michelle Paradise and director Olatunde Osunsanmi lay out the connection at the end of the first of two episodes released this week, “Red Directive.” Discovery’s mission is to follow a series of ancient clues leading to a cache of ancient technology, and to get there before a couple of professional thieves, Moll (Eve Harlow) and L’ak (Elias Toufexis), do.

The technology, as Doctor Kovich (David Cronenberg) explains, belongs to the so-called Progenitors, a barely understood ancient spacefaring species that “created life as we know it […] every humanoid species in the galaxy.” Presumably such tech holds the key to understanding how the Progenitors did that, and how that power could be used again.

The Progenitors are from the Star Trek episode “The Chase”

Kovich also calls up a helpful video presentation of the moment the Progenitors were discovered by an assembled group of Federation, Klingon, Romulan, and Cardassian captains, including Jean-Luc Picard. But you don’t have to be a Star Trek lore nerd to know you’re actually just looking at clips from an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation .

Specifically, from the 20th episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation ’s sixth season, “The Chase,” in which Picard and crew discover pieces of a computer program hidden inside the DNA of species from dozens of different planets. Questions abound: What does the program do? And what kind of entity could have been so ancient and powerful that it had determined the genetic legacy of most of the known galaxy before sentient life had even evolved here — and then left no trace of its existence except the genetic codes themselves?

In a nutshell, the mysterious death of Captain Picard’s old archeology professor (did you know that if he hadn’t gone into Starfleet, Jean-Luc was studying to be a space archeologist? Well, now you do) sets the captain and the Enterprise on a search for the missing DNA fragments necessary to complete his unfinished work.

The action of the episode becomes a grand chase, as Klingon and Cardassian captains come to believe the program must be a great weapon or dangerous secret. Eventually Picard and his rivals all discover the lonely planet with the final DNA strain — and when they get there, some Romulans who’ve been secretly following all of them show up, too, just to make things even more tense.

In the end, the program isn’t a weapon or a secret, but a message from an ancient race of humanoids that apparently created sentient life in our galaxy as we know it.

Actor Salome Jens appears as a Progenitor hologram, and delivers a speech that’s stirring by any standard of Star Trek monologues, telling the story of a race of sentients that took to the stars and found them empty. They had evolved too early to meet other forms of sentient life, and knew that their time was too limited to ever expect to.

“We knew that one day we would be gone; that nothing of us would survive, so we left you,” Jens’ Progenitor explains. The Progenitors seeded humanoid life across the galaxy in their own image; life that tended to evolve into bipedal, tailless, largely hairless creatures with two eyes and two arms and five fingers on each hand. And they left clues in the genetic signature of their work, broken up among the stars.

Wait, was this really all about lampshading the limits of Star Trek’s alien design?

Kinda, yes! The writers of “The Chase,” Ron Moore and Joe Menosky, were inspired by elements of Carl Sagan’s Contact , but also by Menosky’s pet fascination creating an in-universe explanation for why all the common alien species in Star Trek are basically shaped like humans (albeit with latex on their faces).

In other hands, it would be hokey and trite, but even under heavy makeup, Jens sells the hell out of her single scene on voice and stance alone — it’s no wonder she was asked back to the Trek fold to play a major antagonist role in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine .

“It was our hope that you would have to come together in fellowship and companionship to hear this message, and if you can see and hear me, our hope has been fulfilled,” the Progenitor hologram concludes, with gentle compassion. “You are a monument, not to our greatness, but to our existence. That was our wish: That you, too, would know life. [...] There is something of us in each of you, and so something of you in each other.”

But though “The Chase” carried a sweeping revelation, nothing ever really panned out from it. You’d think that a message of togetherness that fundamentally rewrote the origin of life in the universe would have to have tweaked Star Trek’s galactic politics a bit, right? Seems like this would give the Star Trek setting a radically different understanding of the origins of life than we have in the real world — this is literally intelligent design! At the very least there’d be some other characters talking about how humans and Vulcans, Klingons and Romulans and Ferengi and Cardassians and Trill and Bajorans, all share the same genetic ancestor.

But nope: The Pandora’s box of Progenitor lore remained closed. Gene Roddenberry’s successor and Trek producer Rick Berman seems to have been disenchanted with the episode’s reveal — and you can’t really blame him for not wanting to rock the whole cosmology of Star Trek in an episode that’s mostly about explaining how if you turn the DNA snippets like this they make a cool spiral. Now look at this computer screen with the spiral :

Except now, Star Trek: Discovery is opening the box and rocking the boat. This new mad, puzzle-box chase around the galaxy promises to expand on the Progenitors, an idea so big that not even The Next Generation was willing to touch it. It’s a tall order, but Discovery has never been more free to shake up Star Trek continuity than it is right now — we’ll have to wait for more episodes of the show’s final season to find out how free it intends to be.

Star Trek: Discovery is finally free to do whatever it wants

The 10 horniest episodes of star trek, ranked by cultural impact, the picard legacy collection puts one of the greatest remasters of all time in sprawling context, loading comments....

Star Trek: Discovery’s TNG Connection Explained - "The Chase" & Who Are The Progenitors?

WARNING: This article contains SPOILERS for Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episodes 1 & 2!

• Star Trek: Discovery season 5 continues the story of the Progenitors discovered by Captain Picard 800 years ago.
• Captain Burnham embarks on a treasure hunt to uncover the Progenitors' technology with potential for peace or conflict.
• The legacy of the Progenitors in Star Trek: Discovery raises questions of power, unity, and morality in the 32nd century.

Star Trek: Discovery season 5 is a surprising sequel to the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "The Chase", continuing the story of the enigmatic Progenitors 800 years after they were discovered by Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart). As Discovery is set 800 years after the TNG era, it can often feel forced when the show tries to marry up these two ends of the Star Trek timeline . However, the magnitude of Picard's discovery about the Progenitors justifies the secret being hidden for centuries, and it could have fascinating implications for the future of Star Trek 's 32nd century.

Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 1, "Red Directive" opens with Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) exploring an 800-year-old Romulan scout ship at the behest of Dr. Kovich (David Cronenberg). Kovich was less forthcoming than usual with information about the USS Discovery's "Red Directive" mission , forcing Burnham to seek help from Lt. Sylvia Tilly (Mary Wiseman) in learning more. Tilly uncovered recordings left by the Romulan scientist Dr. Vellek (Michael Copeman), revealing Discovery 's links to Star Trek: The Next Generation 's original Progenitor treasure hunt, led by Captain Picard.

Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 Returning Cast & New Character Guide

Picard’s original progenitor treasure hunt in tng explained.

In Star Trek: The Next Generation season 6, episode 20, "The Chase", Picard's former archeology teacher, Professor Galen (Norman Lloyd) asked the Enterprise captain to join him in solving a 4.5 billion-year-old mystery. Picard initially declined Galen's offer, but circumstances forced him to reconsider when his mentor's shuttle was attacked. Galen left behind files that contained huge blocks of numbers that were indecipherable without further information . Picard had the Enterprise retrace Galen's journey in the hope of finding out more about the archeology professor's strange code.

"The Chase" was directed by Jonathan Frakes, who returned to direct the penultimate episode of Star Trek: Discovery season 5.

Eventually, Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden) discovered that the numbers refer to DNA strands of multiple different alien species. The combined strands form a shape that resembles an algorithm, a program implanted in the DNA of multiple species, for reasons unknown . It quickly became clear that Picard was not the only person seeking answers about Galen's mystery, as the Cardassians and Klingons also sought to understand what this ancient program could be. Negotiating a truce between the two factions, Picard and Crusher gained enough information to lead the Enterprise, Cardassians, Klingons, and Romulans to the planet Vilmor II, where they make a monumental discovery.

TNG’s Progenitors Created All Humanoid Life In The Star Trek Universe

The treasure on Vilmor II was knowledge about life itself, delivered via a holographic message left behind by an ancient humanoid species. The sole humanoid species in the universe, these aliens wanted to leave a lasting legacy after their own extinction. And so, 4.5 billion years earlier, the ancient humanoids seeded their DNA across multiple planets in the Star Trek universe , influencing the evolution of countless species. Star Trek: Discovery reveals that since Picard revealed his findings, Starfleet have been calling the ancient humanoid species The Progenitors.

The Ancient Humanoid in Star Trek: The Next Generation was played by Salome Jens, who would go on to play the Female Changeling in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine .

Not unlike the broken treasure map from Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 2, "Under the Twin Moons" , the Progenitors' message was broken into fragments and contained within multiple alien species' DNA. The Progenitors' intention was that, upon coming together to piece the fragments together, the disparate alien races would unite under their common origins. Sadly, this wasn't the case in Star Trek: The Next Generation , as the Klingons and Cardassians refused to believe that they could possibly originate from the same species . However, the Romulans were more thoughtful, setting up Discovery 's season 5 premiere.

Star Trek: Discovery's Huge Season 5 TNG Connection Explained By Showrunner

Discovery’s romulan scientist and his tng link explained.

At the end of Star Trek: The Next Generation 's "The Chase", Captain Picard discusses the Progenitors' message with a surprisingly open-minded Romulan commander. The message has had an effect on the Romulan, who tells Picard that he hopes to one day stand alongside humanity as friends. Star Trek: Discovery reveals that one of the members of TNG 's Romulan landing party, Dr. Vellek, continued to research the Progenitors and eventually found where their ancient technology was hidden. However, Vellek was very aware that such technology could be as deadly as it is profound, and went to extraordinary lengths to hide his findings .

Both the crew of the USS Discovery and intergalactic outlaws Moll (Eve Harlow) and L'ak (Elias Toufexis) have access to Vellek's journals. However, both parties have very different intentions for the Romulan scientist's life's work. Captain Burnham hopes that recovering the Progenitors' technology will provide a sense of meaning, while Moll and L'ak are attracted by the price tag . Vellek remained hidden for 800 years, until his corpse was discovered in Star Trek: Discovery season 5, which proves just how desperate he was to keep the location of the Progenitors' technology a secret.

What Does Star Trek: Discovery’s Progenitor Link Mean For Its Final Season?

In Star Trek: The Next Generation , the Progenitors had hoped the truth about humanoid life in the galaxy would bring a new era of peace and understanding . However, rather than become inspired by their commonality, the Klingons and Cardassians instead feud with each other, disgusted that they could be somehow genetically related. 800 years later, and in the wake of the hostilities caused by The Burn, the Progenitors' message could be the very thing that finally unites the galaxy in Star Trek: Discovery 's finale . However, it may not be that simple.

For one thing, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy will continue the story of the 32nd century, and the Progenitors' message of commonality will dramatically reduce any sense of conflict in the universe. More interestingly, Dr. Kovich seems to want to get his hands on the technology, not the message. The Progenitors' technology would allow Starfleet to influence the evolution of other species , power that would set them up among the gods. This feels like too much power for a shifty character like Kovich to possess.

Whoever possesses the Progenitors' tech in Star Trek: Discovery season 5 has the very building blocks of life itself. In the right hands, that could lead to profound discoveries that lead to renewed peace and prosperity for the Federation in the 32nd century. In the wrong hands, enemies of the Federation could use those building blocks for their own nefarious purposes. That's a huge concern as Burnham and the crew of the USS Discovery continue their treasure hunt. Sooner or later, Captain Burnham will have to make a choice about how she deals with the legacy of Star Trek: The Next Generation 's Progenitors.

Star Trek: Discovery streams Thursdays on Paramount+

Star Trek: Discovery

Star Trek: Discovery is an entry in the legendary Sci-Fi franchise, set ten years before the original Star Trek series events. The show centers around Commander Michael Burnham, assigned to the USS Discovery, where the crew attempts to prevent a Klingon war while traveling through the vast reaches of space.

Star Trek: The Next Generation

Star Trek: The Next Generation is the third installment in the sci-fi franchise and follows the adventures of Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the crew members of the USS Enterprise. Set around one hundred years after the original series, Picard and his crew travel through the galaxy in largely self-contained episodes exploring the crew dynamics and their own political discourse. The series also had several overarching plots that would develop over the course of the isolated episodes, with four films released in tandem with the series to further some of these story elements.

Why ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Built Season 5 Around a Classic Episode From a Legacy Series

By Adam B. Vary

Adam B. Vary

Senior Entertainment Writer

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SPOILER ALERT: This story discusses major plot developments in Season 5, Episode 1 of “ Star Trek : Discovery,” now streaming on Paramount+.

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Kovich’s explanation evokes the classic “ Star Trek: The Next Generation ” episode “The Chase” from 1993 in which Capt. Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) — along with teams of Romulans, Klingons and Cardassians — learn that all humanoid life in the galaxy was created by a single species that existed billions of years earlier, and seeded thousands of planets with the DNA to pass along their legacy. (Along with presenting a profound vision of the origins of life, the episode also provided an imaginative explanation for why almost all the aliens in “Star Trek” basically look like humans with different kinds of forehead ridges.)

Kovich tells Burnham that the Romulan scientist was part of a team sent to discover exactly how these aliens — whom they call the Progenitors — made this happen; the object they’re seeking winds up being one part of a brand new “chase,” this time in the 32nd century, to find the Progenitors’ technology before it can fall into the wrong hands. 

“I remember watching that episode and at the end of it just being blown away that there was this huge idea where we all come from,” Paradise says. “And then they’re going to have another mission the next week. I found myself wondering, ‘Well, then what? What happened? What do we do with this information? What does it mean?’”

Originally, Paradise says the “Discovery” writers’ room discussed evoking the Progenitors in Season 4, when the Discovery meets an alien species, the 10-C, who live outside of the galaxy and are as radically different from humans as one could imagine. “As we dug deeper into the season itself, we realized that it was too much to try and get in,” Paradise says.

Instead, they made the Progenitors the engine for Season 5. “Burnham and some of our other characters are on this quest for personal meaning,” Paradise says. Searching for the origins of life itself, she adds, “feels like a big thematic idea that fits right in with what we’re exploring over the course of the season, and what our characters are going through.”

That meant that Paradise finally got to help come up with the answers to the questions about “The Chase” that had preoccupied her when she was younger. “We had a lot of fun talking about what might’ve happened when [Picard] called back to headquarters and had to say, ‘Here’s what happened today,’” she says. “We just built the story out from there.”

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‘Star Trek: Discovery’s Connection to ‘The Next Generation’ Explained

...And it involves a new crew.

The Big Picture

• The USS Discovery embarks on a red directive mission with ties to Star Trek lore, focusing on the Progenitors' technology.
• New faces join the crew on a mission to uncover an artifact related to the Progenitors in the Next Generation era.
• The technology to create life poses a powerful threat if misused, as Moll and L'ak aim to sell the artifact to the highest bidder.

The first two episodes of Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 are finally available on Paramount+, putting Captain Michael Burnham ( Sonequa Martin-Green ) and the crew of the U.S.S. Discovery back on the boldly going business. This time, they're not going another 800 years into the future, but instead, their mission has a connection to another time: the Star Trek: The Next Generation era. Back then, Captain Jean-Luc Picard ( Patrick Stewart ) once led the U.S.S. Enterprise-D on a mission that uncovered the secrets of life itself as we know it . It may have been a one-episode story, but it's now getting the proper arc it deserves; the time has finally come to learn the secrets of the Progenitors.

Star Trek: Discovery

Taking place almost a decade before Captain Kirk's Enterprise, the USS Discovery charts a course to uncover new worlds and life forms.

The Discovery Is Given a Red Directive Mission by Dr. Kovich

The final season of Discovery starts off with its foot on the door, with ties to past Star Trek lore and the return of Dr. Kovich ( David Cronenberg ), which always means business for the Discovery crew. This time, his mission is so important that it interrupts a Starfleet event, but can't be disclosed because it's a red directive (a mission of a highly classified and dangerous nature that takes precedence over all other tasks) . Captain Burnham doesn't like the idea of keeping secrets from her crew, but since the Discovery is the only ship that can take this mission thanks to its spore drive, she accepts it.

The secretive mission introduces some new faces to Discovery , including couriers, Moll ( Eve Harlow ) and L'ak ( Elias Toufexis ), as well as U.S.S. Antares Captain Rayner ( Callum Keith Rennie ). The mission was to retrieve an artifact from a Romulan science ship that had been adrift for 800 years, but Moll and L'ak beat them to it, then take the artifact to the planet, Q'mau, where the synthetic antique dealer, Fred ( J. Adam Brown ), opens it up and reveals a diary written by the Romulan scientist, Vellek ( Michael Copeman ). Even though Moll and L'ak have escaped Starfleet in Q'mau, Admiral Charles Vance ( Oded Fehr ) helps officer Sylvia Tilly ( Mary Wiseman ) obtain information on Vellek.

As it turns out, Vellek was once part of a group that—under the leadership of Captain Jean-Luc Picard —attempted to solve the mystery of the planet Vilmor II. There, they found out about a race of humanoid aliens known only as the Progenitors , who have created life in its humanoid form and are the common link between all present humanoid species in the galaxy. The Discovery's mission, however, isn't about the Progenitors themselves, but rather about the technology they used to do what they did.

The Progenitors’ Story Comes From a Single Episode in ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’

Season 6, Episode 20 of The Next Generation , "The Chase," is one of the wildest in the entire series. For the first time ever, a Star Trek episode shows Humans, Klingons, Romulans, and more together in the same scene. That's all thanks to one of the most interesting plots in the franchise, which sees these races coming together to discover the secret of their common origin. Unfortunately, The Next Generation didn't carry on with this plotline, but Discovery is finally giving it the sequence it deserves.

"The Chase" starts off with Captain Picard meeting his old mentor, Professor Galen ( Norman Lloyd ), aboard the Enterprise-D. The scholar is there to recruit Picard for a long-term mission that will result in the most important scientific discovery of their time, but Picard can't give up his post on Starfleet. Picard decides to take the Enterprise-D and finish what Galen started. He begins by analyzing the data his mentor had gathered (large blocks of numbers laid out in a sort of sequence). Following this trail, he eventually discovers that the numbers are actually a DNA sequence. On the planet, Loren III, Picard intervenes and mediates their conflict upon learning that both of them are there for the same reason the Enterpreise-D is, calling for them to analyze the combined DNA strands they have. They learn that those are all part of a puzzle, with each sequence complementing one another, but that there are still missing pieces.

The Enterprise-D follows the Cardassians to Vilmor II with the Klingon emissary on board, and they find out the planet has lichen growing on the dried-up ocean floor. Discreetly, Dr. Beverly Crusher ( Gates McFadden ) inserts all the DNA samples they now have onto her tricorder, which then projects the recording of a humanoid woman ( Salome Jens ). Thankfully, everyone stops arguing to listen to the projection, as the woman explains that she belonged to a race of ancient aliens from 4.5 billion years earlier. Her species eventually came to terms with their extinction, but they sowed pieces of their own DNA on many planets where life could grow across the galaxy as a way of ensuring a lasting legacy . Their intention was for all those future species to come together upon discovering their shared ancestry . Cardassians and Klingons immediately resume their bickering, unable to accept that they have anything in common. Later, Picard ponders with the Romulans that one day, in the future, perhaps all species will learn to coexist for the sake of their shared ancestry.

Where Does This Leave Captain Burnham and the Discovery Crew?

The race of ancient humanoids is never named onscreen, but they are referred to as the Progenitors from then on. With Discovery finally finishing this loose thread in Star Trek lore, it's important to ponder that the Progenitors must have used powerful tech to sow their DNA across the galaxy, which is what the overall plot of the season is going to be. The technology to create life is powerful by definition , and can be used for terrible things if it falls in the wrong hands. Right now, Moll and L'ak have the diary, but they're unwilling to cooperate with the Federation after a failed negotiation attempt by Cleveland "Book" Booker ( David Ajala ). However, they're looking to sell the diary to the highest bidder.

After the events of the first part of the season premiere , "Red Directive," Captain Rayner has been discharged from his command of the U.S.S. Antares. As sad as it is to see an officer of 30-plus years being discharged, it's also very serendipitous, as Captain Burnham is in need of a new number one for the Discovery as Saru ( Doug Jones ) is about to take a new diplomatic post for the Federation. During their chase on Q'mau, Rayner mentions that he has history chasing Moll and L'ak, which will surely come in handy . Also, Book finds out he has a past connection to Moll that makes them all but family, which is another potential lead to finding her.

Star Trek: Discovery is available to watch on Paramount+ in the U.S.

Watch on Paramount+

Screen Rant

Star trek: discovery season 5's new planet has two deep cut tng connections.

Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 2 has some more subtle connections to Star Trek: The Next Generation that you may have missed.

WARNING: This article contains SPOILERS for Star Trek: Discovery, season 5, episode 2, "Under the Twin Moons"

• Discovery hunts for Progenitor tech on Lyrek, linking TNG's Promellians & Minosians in a treasure hunt.
• Burnham & Saru evade ancient automated weapons on Lyrek akin to Picard's encounter on Minos.
• Discovery's season 5 references TNG big & small, with connections to past episodes & extinct civilizations.

Lyrek, the new planet in Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 2, "Under the Twin Moons," has connections to two different episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation . Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and the USS Discovery are hunting for clues to the Progenitors' technology that can create life itself. Racing to catch up to couriers Moll (Eve Harlow) and L'ak (Elias Toufexis) , Discovery's hunt in "Under the Twin Moons" leads to a planet in the Vileen system where 24th century Romulan scientist Dr. Vellek (Michael Copeman) hid the next clue.

In Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 2 , “Under The Twin Moons," Captain Burnham and her crew travel to the planet Lyrek, following a clue referencing twin moons. Located at the edge of the Beta Quadrant in the Vileen System, Lyrek is an uninhabited planet home to a large necropolis built by the Promellians, a species first mentioned in TNG. When Michael and Saru (Doug Jones) beam down to the planet, they find signs that Moll and L'ak have already been there. As they investigate the ruins, they are fired upon by an automated security system much like the one encountered by the USS Enterprise-D in the Star Trek: The Next Generation season 1 episode "The Arsenal of Freedom."

Star Trek: Discovery’s TNG Connection Explained - "The Chase" & Who Are The Progenitors?

Discovery name drops the promellians from star trek: tng's "booby trap", the promellians were first mentioned in tng season 3, episode 6, "booby trap.".

In Star Trek: The Next Generation's "Booby Trap," Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and the USS Enterprise-D come across a Promellian battlecruiser surrounded by debris from a battle that took place centuries ago. Although little is known about the Promellians, they were extremely advanced for their time. The Promellians had been in a war with the Menthars for years, and the two species eventually destroyed one another in the 14th century at the Battle of Orelious IX. As Picard and his crew investigate the battlecruiser, they find dead Promellian crewmembers and realize that the ship was caught in a Menthar trap.

Despite their extinction, the Promellians' presence continues to be felt even in the 32nd century. When the USS Discovery investigates Lyrek, they discover that the planet was used as a burial site for the Promellians. On the surface, Captain Burnham and Saru navigate the crumbled statues and ruins, and soon find themselves at the mercy of an ancient automated weapons system. Aboard Discovery, Ensign Adira Tal (Blu del Barrio) and Lt. Sylvia Tilly (Mary Wiseman) search for a way to disable the weapons system, when Captain Rayner (Callum Keith Rennie) pops in to remind them to think like ancient Promellians.

Picard's Enterprise Fought Automated Weapons Like Burnham & Saru

Picard and his crew encounter a similar weapons system in tng season 1, episode 21, "the arsenal of freedom.".

The automated weapons system on Lyrek is similar to the one encountered by Captain Picard and the USS Enterprise-D crew in Star Trek: The Next Generation 's "The Arsenal of Freedom." As they investigated a planet called Minos, the away team was attacked by drone devices that tracked and fired at them. Like the Promellians, the Minosians were an advanced humanoid race who were extinct by the 24th century of TNG . Eventually, the away team realized that they had inadvertently triggered a demonstration of the weapons system meant to entice buyers. Picard got the system to shut down by convincing the automated salesman that he would purchase the system.

As its first line of defense, the weapons system on Minos traps Commander William Riker (Jonathan Frakes) in some kind of personal containment field. In Discovery season 5, episode 1, "Red Directive," Moll and La'k use a similar weapon to trap Lt. Commanders Joann Owosekun (Oyin Oladejo) and Gen Rhys (Patrick Kwok-Choon).

After Captain Burnham and Saru trigger the weapons system on Lyrek, they struggle to hide from the drones long enough for Tilly and Adira to find a way to shut down the system. After Tilly realizes the electromagnetic field on the planet powers the weapons, Saru draws the drones away so that Michael can trigger an electromagnetic pulse using their phasers. This temporarily disrupts the system, allowing Michael and Saru to find the next clue to the treasure they are hunting. Based on its first two episodes, Star Trek: Discovery season 5 has references to Star Trek: The Next Generation big and small.

Star Trek: The Next Generation & Star Trek: Discovery are streaming on Paramount+.

Star Trek: Discovery

Star trek: the next generation.

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Star Trek: The Next Generation – Season 1, Episode 16

Too short a season, where to watch, star trek: the next generation — season 1, episode 16.

Watch Star Trek: The Next Generation — Season 1, Episode 16 with a subscription on Paramount+, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV.

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Cast & crew.

Patrick Stewart

Capt. Jean-Luc Picard

Jonathan Frakes

Cmdr. William Riker

LeVar Burton

Lt. Geordi La Forge

Denise Crosby

Lt. Tasha Yar

Michael Dorn

Gates McFadden

Dr. Beverly Crusher

Episode Info