star trek tng season 5 episode 22

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Star Trek: The Next Generation – Season 5, Episode 22

Imaginary friend, where to watch, star trek: the next generation — season 5, episode 22.

Watch Star Trek: The Next Generation — Season 5, Episode 22 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. Cmdr. Geordi La Forge

Michael Dorn

Gates McFadden

Dr. Beverly Crusher

Marina Sirtis

Counselor Deanna Troi

TNG Season 5

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

Episodes [ ]

Summary [ ].

The fifth season of Next Generation starts off with the Federation exposing the secret Romulan - Duras plot explored in the previous season. (" Redemption II ") Ensign Ro Laren joins the crew of the USS Enterprise -D , and although some members of the crew, notably Commander William T. Riker , have misgivings about her presence on board, she eventually proves herself to be a valuable crew member. (" Ensign Ro ")

Picard has some memorable experiences, such as learning to communicate with the heretofore unintelligible Tamarians (" Darmok "), overcoming to some extent his dislike of children when he is trapped along with three children inside the turbolift after the Enterprise -D is struck by a quantum filament (" Disaster "), and meeting with Ambassador Spock on Romulus . (" Unification I ", " Unification II ") Most notably, he experiences 40 or so years of life as an ironweaver on an extinct alien world after an encounter with a probe launched before the destruction of that world. (" The Inner Light ")

Wesley saves the Enterprise -D from an alien game which was actually a mind-control device (" The Game "), but later at Starfleet Academy , he participates in a coverup of the circumstances surrounding the death of one of his classmates. Captain Picard, however, eventually convinces him to do the right thing. (" The First Duty ")

Worf is paralyzed after an accident in a cargo bay and wishes to commit suicide , but is convinced to undergo a risky medical procedure, which, though nearly killing him, eventually allows him to regain control of his body. (" Ethics ")

The crew of the Enterprise -D encounter a Borg drone separated from the rest of the collective, and plan to use him as a sort of time bomb that they hope will disrupt the entire Borg Collective . However, this is complicated when the drone gains individuality, and a name, Hugh . Despite this, they send him back to the collective. (" I Borg ")

The season ends with the discovery of Data 's head in a cave under San Francisco which had been sealed for around 500 years. Data, Picard, La Forge , Troi , Riker, and Doctor Crusher end up trapped in 19th century Earth . (" Time's Arrow ")

Background information [ ]

The "warp effect" logo in Season 5

Celebrating the 25th anniversary

• This is the last season of Star Trek to premiere on its own until Voyager 's sixth season in 1999. This coincides with the seven-year run of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine .
• An alternative captain 's uniform is introduced in " Darmok " consisting of a dark blue turtleneck with the captain's pips and a red jacket.
• This season includes the first occurrence within The Next Generation of a two-part episode in mid-season, " Unification I ".
• The text of Star Trek: The Next Generation in the opening credits is given blue background streaks for this season, but returns to the Season 4 theme in Seasons 6 and 7.
• Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country was released during the run of this season. The movie was filmed during the hiatus between Season 4 and 5.
• This is the only season of The Next Generation not to feature Q played by John de Lancie . Several potential Q stories were considered, but were all rejected. Q featured in two episodes in the following season, " True Q " and " Tapestry ".
• Gene Roddenberry , creator of Star Trek: The Original Series and Star Trek: The Next Generation , passed away early this season (the cast and crew found out while filming " Hero Worship ") at the age of 70, with " Unification I " dedicated to his memory. He was credited as "Executive Producer" until the last episode of this season.
• This year, Star Trek celebrated 25 years of boldly going where no one has gone before. For this anniversary, Paramount Television Executive Mel Harris held a speech and introduced the Gene Roddenberry Building on the Paramount lot.
• Besides Marina Sirtis who did not appear in " The Perfect Mate " and " The Inner Light ", all main cast members were featured in every episode of this season.
• Two characters from Star Trek: The Original Series " cross over " to The Next Generation during this season: Sarek in " Unification I " and Spock in " Unification I " and " Unification II ".

Credits [ ]

• Patrick Stewart as Captain Jean-Luc Picard
• Jonathan Frakes as Commander William T. Riker
• LeVar Burton as Lieutenant Commander Geordi La Forge
• Michael Dorn as Lieutenant Worf
• Gates McFadden as Doctor Beverly Crusher
• Marina Sirtis as Counselor Deanna Troi ("Redemption II” – “Cost Of Living", "Imaginary Friend” – “The Next Phase", "Time's Arrow")
• Brent Spiner as Lieutenant Commander Data
• Gene Roddenberry

Co-Producers

• Joe Menosky
• Ronald D. Moore
• Peter Lauritson

Line Producer

• Merri D. Howard ("Power Play")
• David Livingston
• Herbert J. Wright ("The Masterpiece Society” – “Cause And Effect")

Supervising Producer

• Jeri Taylor

Executive Producers

• Michael Piller
• Rick Berman

Associate Producer

• Wendy Neuss

Executive Script Consultant

• Peter Allan Fields ("The First Duty” – “Time's Arrow")
• Junie Lowry-Johnson , C.S.A.
• Dennis McCarthy ("Redemption II", "Ensign Ro", "Disaster", "Unification I” – “Unification II", "New Ground", "Violations", "Conundrum", "Ethics", "Cause And Effect", "Cost Of Living", "Imaginary Friend", "The Next Phase", "Time's Arrow")
• Jay Chattaway ("Darmok", "Silicon Avatar", "The Game", "A Matter Of Time", "Hero Worship", "The Masterpiece Society", "Power Play", "The Outcast", "The First Duty", "The Perfect Mate", "I Borg", "The Inner Light")

Main Title Theme by

• Jerry Goldsmith
• Alexander Courage

Director of Photography

• Marvin Rush

Production Designer

• Richard D. James
• Robert Lederman ("Redemption II", "Silicon Avatar", "Unification II", "New Ground", "The Masterpiece Society", "Ethics", "The First Duty", "The Inner Light") (credited as Bob Lederman in "Redemption II")
• Tom Benko , A.C.E. ("Darmok", "Disaster", "Unification I", "Hero Worship", "Conundrum", "The Outcast", "Cost Of Living", "I Borg", "Time's Arrow")
• J.P. Farrell ("Ensign Ro", "The Game", "A Matter Of Time", "Violations", "Power Play", "Cause And Effect", "The Perfect Mate", "The Next Phase")
• Steve Tucker ("Imaginary Friend")

Unit Production Manager

• Merri D. Howard

First Assistant Directors

• Brad Yacobian ("Redemption II", "Ensign Ro", "Disaster", "Unification II", "A Matter Of Time", "Hero Worship", "The Masterpiece Society", "Power Play", "The Outcast", "The First Duty", "The Perfect Mate", "I Borg", "The Inner Light")
• Doug Dean ("Darmok", "Silicon Avatar", "The Game", "Unification I", "New Ground", "Violations", "Conundrum", "Ethics", "Cause And Effect", "Cost Of Living", "Imaginary Friend", "The Next Phase", "Time's Arrow")

Second Assistant Director

• Adele G. Simmons

Costume Designer

• Robert Blackman

Set Decorator

Visual Effects Supervisors

• Dan Curry ("Redemption II", "Ensign Ro", "Disaster", "Unification II", "A Matter Of Time", "Hero Worship", "The Masterpiece Society", "Power Play", "The Outcast", "The Perfect Mate", "I Borg", "The Inner Light")
• Robert Legato ("Darmok", "Silicon Avatar", "The Game", "Unification I", "New Ground", "Violations", "Conundrum", "Ethics", "Cause And Effect", "Cost Of Living", "The Next Phase", "Time's Arrow")
• Ron Moore ("The First Duty")
• Gary Hutzel ("Imaginary Friend")

Senior Illustrator/ Technical Consultant

• Rick Sternbach

Scenic Art Supervisor/ Technical Consultant

• Michael Okuda

Make-Up Designed and Supervised by

• Michael Westmore

Visual Effects Coordinators

• Ron Moore ("Redemption II", "Ensign Ro", "Disaster", "Unification II", "A Matter Of Time", "Hero Worship", "The Masterpiece Society", "Power Play", "The Outcast", "The Perfect Mate", "I Borg", "The Inner Light")
• Gary Hutzel ("Darmok", "Silicon Avatar", "The Game", "Unification I", "New Ground", "Violations", "Conundrum", "Ethics", "Cause And Effect", "Cost Of Living", "The Next Phase", "Time's Arrow")

Set Designer

• Gary Speckman

Assistant Art Director

• Andy Neskoromny

Original Set Design

• Herman Zimmerman

Original Starfleet Uniforms

• William Ware Theiss

Script Supervisor

• Cosmo Genovese

Special Effects

• Dick Brownfield

Property Masters

• Joe Longo ("Redemption II” – “Disaster", "Unification II", "A Matter Of Time", "The Outcast", "The First Duty", "The Perfect Mate", "I Borg", "The Inner Light")
• Alan Sims ("The Game", "Unification I", "New Ground” – “Ethics", "Cause And Effect", "Cost Of Living", "Imaginary Friend", "The Next Phase", "Time's Arrow")

Construction Coordinator

Scenic Artist

• Cari Thomas

Hair Designers

• Susan Carol-Schwary ("Redemption II” – “Ethics")
• Joy Zapata ("The Outcast” – “Time's Arrow")

Make-Up Artists

• Gerald Quist
• June Abston Haymore

Hair Stylists

• Gus Le Pre ("Redemption II” – “A Matter Of Time")
• Patty Miller ("New Ground” – “Time's Arrow")

Wardrobe Supervisor

Sound Mixers

• Alan Bernard , C.A.S. ("Redemption II” – “Violations", "The Outcast” – “Time's Arrow")
• Bill Gocke ("The Masterpiece Society” – “Ethics")

Camera Operator

• Joe Chess , S.O.C. ("The Masterpiece Society” – “Time's Arrow")

Chief Lighting Technician

• William Peets

First Company Grip

Key Costumers

• David Velasquez ("Redemption II")
• Amanda Chamberlin ("Redemption II", "Ensign Ro", "Disaster", "Unification II", "A Matter Of Time", "Hero Worship", "The Masterpiece Society", "Power Play", "The Outcast", "The First Duty", "The Perfect Mate", "I Borg")
• Kimberley Thompson ("Darmok", "Silicon Avatar", "The Game", "A Matter Of Time", "Hero Worship", "The Masterpiece Society", "Power Play", "The Outcast", "The First Duty", "The Perfect Mate", "I Borg", "The Inner Light")
• Jerry Bono ("Darmok", "Silicon Avatar", "The Game", "Unification I", "New Ground", "Violations", "Ethics", "Cause And Effect", "Cost Of Living", "Imaginary Friend", "The Next Phase")
• Mary Ellen Bosché ("Ensign Ro", "Disaster", "The Inner Light") (credited as Mary Ellen Boché in "The Inner Light")
• Maurice Palinski ("Unification I” – “Unification II", "New Ground", "Violations", "Conundrum", "Ethics", "Cause And Effect", "Cost Of Living", "Imaginary Friend", "The Next Phase", "Time's Arrow")
• David Roesler ("Conundrum")
• Phil Maldonado ("Time's Arrow")

Visual Effects Associate

• David Takemura

Music Editor

• Gerry Sackman

Supervising Sound Editor

• Bill Wistrom

Sound Editors

• James Wolvington
• Wilson Dyer

Post Production Sound By

• Modern Sound

Production Associate

• Susan Sackett ("Redemption II” – “Violations")

Production Coordinator

• Diane Overdiek

Post Production Coordinator

• Wendy Rosenfeld

Post Production Associates

• Terri Martinez ("Redemption II” – “Violations")
• Heidi Julian ("Redemption II” – “Violations")

Production Associates

• Terri Martinez ("The Masterpiece Society” – “Time's Arrow")
• Heidi Julian ("The Masterpiece Society” – “Time's Arrow")

Casting Executive

• Helen Mossler , C.S.A.

Stunt Coordinator

• Dennis Madalone ("Redemption II” – “Darmok", "Disaster", "Unification II", "New Ground” – “Violations", "Conundrum” – “The Outcast", "The Perfect Mate” – “The Next Phase")

Research Consultant

• Richard Arnold ("Redemption II” – “Conundrum")

Pre-Production Associate

• Eric A. Stillwell

Prosthetic Electronics

• Michael Westmore II ("Ensign Ro", "Cause And Effect")

Monitors By

• Sony Corp. of America ("Redemption II", "The Game", "A Matter Of Time” – “Hero Worship", "Conundrum", "Ethics", "The First Duty", "Imaginary Friend")

Filmed with Panavision ® Lenses and Cameras

Special Visual Effects By

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

Motion Control Photography By

Video Optical Effects By

• Digital Magic

Special Video Compositing

• CIS Hollywood

Editing Facilities

• Unitel Video

"Soliton Wave" Animation By

• Stokes/Kohne Assoc., Inc. ("New Ground")

Uncredited [ ]

• Terry Ahern – 2nd Unit Craft Service ("The Masterpiece Society” – “Power Play", "The Outcast” – “Cause And Effect", "Cost Of Living")
• Dayton Anderson – Extra Costumer ("Ensign Ro")
• Dolores Arce – Assistant Accountant
• Dave Archer – Artwork Provider: Paintings ("New Ground")
• Camille Argus – Costumer ("Ensign Ro", "Silicon Avatar", "The Masterpiece Society", "Power Play", "The First Duty")/2nd Unit Costumer ("Hero Worship” – “Violations", "Power Play")
• Richard Balder – Special Effects Labor Artist ("Redemption II” – “I Borg")
• Michael Baxter – Second Assistant Director ("Ensign Ro” – “Silicon Avatar")
• Beebee – Generator Van Operator ("Darmok” – “Ensign Ro", "The First Duty")
• Alan Bernard – Sound Mixer ("The Masterpiece Society” – “Conundrum")
• David Bernard – Sound Cable Person ("Redemption II” – “I Borg")
• Steve Birkett – Mike Operator ("The Masterpiece Society” – “The Outcast")
• Rob Bloch – Animal Trainer: Critters of the Cinema ("Time's Arrow")
• Mitchell S. Block – Extra Camera Assistant ("Darmok” – “Silicon Avatar", "The Game", "Unification II")/Blue Screen Unit First Assistant Camera Operator ("Darmok")/2nd Unit First Assistant Camera Operator ("Redemption II” – “Darmok", "Silicon Avatar” – “Disaster")/First Assistant Camera Operator ("Ensign Ro", "The Game” – “Unification II")
• T. Blue – 2nd Unit Playback Machine Operator ("Redemption II” – “Darmok", "Silicon Avatar” – “Disaster", "The Masterpiece Society” – “Conundrum", "Ethics")/Playback Machine Operator ("Unification II")/2nd Unit Sound Cable Person ("Power Play")/2nd Unit Sound Recorder ("The Outcast” – “Cause And Effect", "Cost Of Living")
• Jerry Bono – Set Costumer ("Redemption II", "Ensign Ro", "Disaster", "Unification II", "A Matter Of Time", "Hero Worship", "THe Masterpiece Society” – “Power Play", "The Outcast", "The First Duty", "The Perfect Mate", "I Borg")
• Mary Ellen Bosché – Extra Costumer ("Redemption II” – “Darmok", "Cost Of Living” – “The Perfect Mate")
• Susan Boyd – Hair Stylist ("Darmok” – “Silicon Avatar")
• Brannon Braga – Staff Writer ("Redemption II” – “Time's Arrow")
• Michael D. Brown – Extra Camera Assistant ("Ensign Ro", "Unification I")
• Christian H. Burton – 2nd Unit Second Assistant Camera Operator ("Hero Worship” – “Violations")
• Mark Bussan – Makeup Artist ("Violations")
• Lloyd A. Buswell – Construction Foreman
• Rick Byrum – Location Manager ("Ensign Ro” – “Silicon Avatar")
• Little C – Blue Screen Unit Costumer ("Darmok")/2nd Unit Costumer ("Redemption II” – “Darmok", "Silicon Avatar” – “Disaster")
• Campbell – Extra Costumer ("Silicon Avatar", "Power Play")
• Amanda Chamberlin – Set Costumer ("Darmok", "Silicon Avatar", "The Game", "Unification I", "New Ground", "Violations", "Conundrum", "Ethics", "Cause And Effect", "Cost Of Living", "Imaginary Friend")
• Ed Charnock – Painter
• Joe Chess – Camera Operator ("Darmok” – “Violations")
• Ian Christenberry – Lamp Operator ("New Ground” – “I Borg")
• Richard Chronister – Special Effects Artist ("Redemption II” – “I Borg")
• Patrick Clancy – Visual Effects Compositor ("Conundrum")
• Paul Clark – Greensperson ("The Masterpiece Society", "Cost Of Living")/2nd Unit Greensperson ("The Outcast” – “Cause And Effect", "Cost Of Living")
• Ray Clarke – DFX Paint FX Artist: The Post Group
• Craig Cleaver – Post Production/Visual Effects Assistant
• Caryl Codon – Hair Stylist ("Unification II", "Violations", "Power Play")
• Cooke – Extra Grip ("Cost Of Living")
• Tom Conley – Crab Dolly Grip ("Redemption II” – “New Ground")
• Laura Connolly – Hair Stylist ("Cost Of Living” – “The Perfect Mate")
• Ruth Ann Crudup – Teacher ("Ethics", "Cost Of Living", "Imaginary Friend")
• Diane Cummings – Body Makeup Artist ("Cost Of Living")
• Dick D'Angelo – Swing Gang ("Redemption II” – “I Borg")
• Darryl – Greensperson ("Imaginary Friend")
• Doug Davey – Re-Recording Mixer ("The Next Phase")
• Ron Dempsey – DGA Trainee ("The Outcast” – “I Borg")
• Thomas F. Denove – Cinematographer ("Darmok")/2nd Unit Cinematographer ("Redemption II” – “Darmok", "Silicon Avatar” – “The Game", "Unification II", "A Matter Of Time", "Hero Worship” – “Cost Of Living", "Imaginary Friend")
• Frank Del Boccio – Extra Camera Assistant ("Disaster")
• Ken Diaz – Makeup Artist ("Cost Of Living")
• Jon Djanrelian – 2nd Unit Craft Service ("Disaster” – “The Game")
• Rose Dolfi – DGA Trainee ("I Borg", "Imaginary Friend")
• Doug Drexler – Makeup Artist ("Unification II", "Violations", "Conundrum” – “Power Play", "Time's Arrow")/Special Effects Makeup Artist ("The Inner Light")
• Syd Dutton – Matte Artist ("Redemption II", "Unification II", "Unification I", "A Matter Of Time", "The Masterpiece Society", "Conundrum")/Matte Supervisor ("The First Duty")
• Hank Edds – Makeup Artist ("Cost Of Living")
• Carolyn Elias – Hair Stylist ("Silicon Avatar")
• Lennie Evans – Extra Camera Operator ("Darmok” – “Silicon Avatar", "The Game", "Cost Of Living")/Camera Operator ("Conundrum")
• Lolita Fatjo – Assistant to the Executive Producers
• Alfred T. Ferrante – ADR Mixer ("Darmok” – “The Game", "A Matter Of Time” – “Time's Arrow")
• L. Fife – Welfare Worker/Teacher ("Disaster", "New Ground” – “Hero Worship", "The Masterpiece Society", "Power Play")
• Marian Fife – Welfare Worker ("Ensign Ro” – “Silicon Avatar")
• Kim Fitzgerald – Production Associate
• Frank – Makeup Artist ("Violations")
• Edward French – Makeup Artist ("Darmok", "Disaster", "Unification II” – “New Ground", "Conundrum” – “Power Play")/Blue Screen Unit Makeup Artist ("Darmok")
• Arlene Fukai – Second Assistant Director ("Redemption II” – “I Borg")
• Hala Gabriel – Accountant
• Rusty Geller – Steadicam Operator ("Ensign Ro", "Unification I")
• Gary Gero – Animal Handler ("Ensign Ro")
• Dean Gilmore – 2nd Unit Sound Mixer ("Hero Worship” – “Violations", "The Outcast” – “Cause And Effect", "Cost Of Living")
• Cheryl Gluckstern – Production Associate
• Bill Gocke – Mike Operator ("Redemption II” – “Conundrum", "The Outcast” – “I Borg")/Sound Mixer ("The Outcast")
• Gold – Extra Camera Operator ("Disaster")/2nd Unit Camera Assistant ("Disaster")
• Green – Hair Stylist ("New Ground")
• Gene Green – Tillman Water Reclamation Plant Coordinator ("The First Duty")
• Lynn Greenberg – 2nd Unit Teleprompter Operator ("Hero Worship” – “Violations")
• Morton Greenspoon – Contact Lens Consultant ("Conundrum")
• Peter Greenwood – Special Effects Artist: Monster Suit ("Time's Arrow")
• Chris Haire – Re-Recording Mixer ("The Next Phase")
• John Hanna – Animal Trainer: Critters of the Cinema ("Time's Arrow")
• D. Harrington – Sound System Operator ("Darmok")
• Paul Hill – Visual Effects Compositor: Digital Magic
• Dennis Hoerter – Motion Control Technician ("Redemption II” – “Time's Arrow")
• Michael Hood – Costume and Character Designer and Fabricator: Devidians ("Time's Arrow")
• Adam Howard – Digital Compositor ("Redemption II” – “Unification II", "New Ground” – “Violations")/Visual Effects Animator ("A Matter Of Time")/Visual Effects Compositor ("The Masterpiece Society", "Power Play” – “Time's Arrow")/Animation Supervisor ("Conundrum")
• Adrian Hurley – Motion Control Operator ("Conundrum")
• Frederick Iannone – Camera Operator ("Redemption II” – “Darmok")
• Nick Infield – Extra Camera Assistant ("Silicon Avatar", "Unification I", "Hero Worship")/First Assistant Camera Operator ("Disaster", "Unification II")
• Phil Jacobson – Assistant Chief Lighting Technician ("Redemption II” – “I Borg")
• Gregory Jein – Model Maker ("Redemption II” – “Time's Arrow")
• Mark Jennings – 2nd Unit Playback Machine Operator ("Disaster” – “The Game")/2nd Unit Sound Cable Person ("Unification II", "A Matter Of Time")
• M. Johnson – 2nd Unit Costumer ("The Outcast” – “Cause And Effect", "Cost Of Living")/Extra Costumer ("Unification II")
• Norma Johnson – Extra Costumer ("Cost Of Living")
• Ralph Johnson – Assistant Chief Lighting Technician ("Redemption II” – “I Borg")
• Brian Q. Kelley – Electronical Editorial ("The Outcast")
• Wayne Kennan – Blue Screen Unit Cinematographer ("Darmok")/Cinematographer ("Ensign Ro")/2nd Unit Cinematographer ("Ethics")
• Kenney – Crab Dolly Grip ("New Ground” – “I Borg")
• Hermine Kosta – Teacher ("Power Play")
• Bob Krivak – Tillman Water Reclamation Plant Coordinator ("The First Duty")
• Kruzelock – Extra Grip ("Redemption II” – “Ensign Ro")
• Don Lee – Visual Effects Editor ("A Matter Of Time", "Conundrum")
• Laura Lee – Hair Stylist ("Cost Of Living")
• Robert Legato – Visual Effects Supervisor ("Imaginary Friend")
• Mike Little – Blue Screen Unit Camera Operator ("Darmok")/Extra Camera Operator ("The Game", "Unification II", "The Masterpiece Society” – “Conundrum")
• Joe Longo – Property Master ("The Game", "Hero Worship")
• Bill Loranger – Extra Camera Assistant ("The Game", "Unification II", "Hero Worship", "The Masterpiece Society” – “Power Play", "Cause And Effect” – “I Borg")/First Assistant Camera Operator ("Unification I", "A Matter Of Time", "Hero Worship", "The Masterpiece Society” – “Conundrum", "The First Duty")/2nd Unit First Assistant Camera Operator ("Unification II” – “New Ground", "The Masterpiece Society” – “Cost Of Living", "Imaginary Friend")
• Jill MacKay – Jewelry Designer
• Bruce MacRae – Model Maker ("Unification II", "Unification I", "Hero Worship")
• Jim Magdaleno – Scenic Art Assistant
• Phil Maldonado – Extra Costumer ("Silicon Avatar", "Unification II", "New Ground", "The Masterpiece Society” – “Conundrum")/2nd Unit Costumer ("Disaster” – “The Game", "Unification II” – “A Matter Of Time", "The Outcast” – “Cost Of Living", "Imaginary Friend")
• Joseph Markham – Extra Costumer ("Unification II")
• Jeff Mart – Extra Camera Operator ("The First Duty")
• Marvellen – Extra Costumer ("Ensign Ro")
• Elaine Maser – Extra Costumer ("Ensign Ro")
• Chris McBee – Hair Stylist ("Hero Worship” – “I Borg")
• Tania McComas – 2nd Unit Makeup Artist ("The Outcast” – “Cause And Effect", "Cost Of Living")/Makeup Artist ("Cost Of Living” – “The Perfect Mate")
• Frank McEldowney – Greensperson ("Darmok", "Cost Of Living")
• Thomas McEnery – Studio Teacher ("Disaster")
• Scott McKnight – Lamp Operator ("Redemption II” – “I Borg")/Blue Screen Unit Chief Lighting Technician ("Darmok")/2nd Unit Chief Lighting Technician ("Redemption II” – “Darmok", "Silicon Avatar” – “The Game", "Unification II", "A Matter Of Time", "Hero Worship” – “Cost Of Living", "Imaginary Friend")
• David McWhirter – DGA Trainee ("Unification I", "A Matter Of Time” – “Ethics")
• Joe Menosky – Writer ("Conundrum")
• Ed Miarecki – Prop Maker ("Redemption II” – “Time's Arrow")
• Patty Miller – Hair Stylist ("Ensign Ro” – “A Matter Of Time")
• Michael Mills – Makeup Artist ("Unification II")
• Monica – Hair Stylist ("The Game", "Unification II")
• Tom Moore – Extra Grip ("Redemption II” – “I Borg")
• Richard L. Morrison – Re-Recording Mixer ("The Next Phase")
• Erik Nash – Motion Control Photographer ("Redemption II", "A Matter Of Time")
• Danny Nero – Extras Casting: Central Casting
• John Nesterowicz – Swing Gang ("Redemption II” – “I Borg")/2nd Unit Property Master ("Unification II", "A Matter Of Time")/Set Dresser ("The First Duty")
• Vincent Niebla – Sculptor ("Cost Of Living")
• Louise Nielsen – Set Designer
• Peter Norkus – 2nd Unit First Assistant Camera Operator ("Disaster” – “The Game", "Hero Worship” – “Violations")/Extra Camera Assistant ("A Matter Of Time” – “New Ground")/2nd Unit Second Assistant Camera Operator ("The Outcast” – “Cause And Effect", "Cost Of Living")
• Daniel O'Brien – Composer: Additional Music ("Cause And Effect")
• Ernie Over – Assistant to Gene Roddenberry
• Mark Overton – 2nd Unit Playback Machine Operator ("Ethics” – “Cost Of Living", "Imaginary Friend")
• Maurice Palinski – Costumer ("Disaster")
• Francisco X. Perez – Makeup Artist ("Violations") (listed as Francisco Carassosa )
• Janna Phillips – Makeup Artist ("Unification II")
• Daniel R. Purinton – Rigging Gaffer/Lot Best Boy
• Tom Purser – Construction Worker
• Maricella Ramirez – First Assistant Camera Operator ("Redemption II” – “I Borg")
• László Regos – Extra Camera Operator ("Unification II")
• Robbie Robinson – Still Photographer ("Darmok", "Unification I", "A Matter Of Time", "Conundrum", "The First Duty", "I Borg")
• Jill Rockow – Makeup Artist ("Unification II", "Imaginary Friend", "The Inner Light")
• David Roesler – Extra Costumer ("Disaster” – “The Game", "Violations", "Power Play", "Cost Of Living")
• John Frank Rosenblum – Writer ("Time's Arrow")
• David Rossi – Production Associate
• Rick Rowe – Craft Service ("Redemption II” – “I Borg")
• Jan Rudolph – 2nd Unit Script Supervisor ("The Outcast” – “Cause And Effect", "Cost Of Living")
• Charlie Russo – Assistant Property Master ("Redemption II” – “I Borg")/2nd Unit Property Master ("Redemption II” – “Darmok", "Silicon Avatar” – “The Game", "The Masterpiece Society” – “Cost Of Living", "Imaginary Friend")
• Stewart Satterfield – Transportation Coordinator ("Redemption II” – “I Borg")
• Scott Schneider – Model Maker ("Unification I")
• Bob Scribner – Makeup Artist ("Cost Of Living")
• Fernando Sepulveda – Property Lead Person ("Redemption II” – “I Borg")
• Naren Shankar – Writing Staff Intern
• Suzie Shimizu – Production Accountant
• Phil Signorelli – Extra Costumer ("Redemption II")
• Charmaine Nash Simmons – Extra Costumer ("Redemption II")
• Alan Sims – Property Master ("Darmok", "Silicon Avatar")
• Joseph Smith – Orchestrator
• Mike Smithson – Makeup Artist ("Unification II")
• Waverly Smothers – Second Grip ("Redemption II” – “I Borg")
• Richard Snell – Makeup Artist ("Cost Of Living")
• B. Stanley – Steadicam Assistant ("The First Duty")
• Peter Sternlicht – Visual Effects Editor ("A Matter Of Time")
• Steward – Hair Stylist ("Redemption II")
• Mark Stimson – Special Effects Artist ("Redemption II” – “I Borg")
• Michael Stradling – Second Assistant Camera Operator ("Redemption II” – “I Borg")
• Robert Stromberg – Matte Artist ("A Matter Of Time")
• George Stuart, Jr. – Painter ("Redemption II” – “I Borg")
• Rick Talmadge – Video Playback Operator ("I Borg")
• Jeri Taylor – Writer ("I Borg")
• Wil Thoms – Special Effects Artist ("Redemption II” – “I Borg")
• Rich Thorne – Creative Director: Digital Magic
• Jim Thorpe – Lamp Operator ("Redemption II” – “A Matter Of Time")
• Monte Thrasher – Designer & Illustrator Romulan insignia and Romulan language ("Unification I", "Unification II")
• Jerry Trent – Foley Artist ("Redemption II” – “Time's Arrow")
• David Trotti – 2nd Unit DGA Trainee ("The Outcast” – “Cause And Effect", "Cost Of Living")/DGA Trainee ("The First Duty")
• Richard Turner – Extra Camera Operator ("Silicon Avatar", "Unification I", "A Matter Of Time” – “Hero Worship", "Power Play", "Cause And Effect” – “The Perfect Mate", I Borg")/2nd Unit Camera Operator ("The Outcast” – “Cause And Effect", Cost Of Living")
• Elaina M. Vescio – Set Security ("Redemption II” – “I Borg")
• Julia L. Walker – Hair Stylist ("Ensign Ro", "Imaginary Friend” – “I Borg")
• Jana Wallace – Secretary to Gene Roddenberry /Script Typist
• Ron Walters – Makeup Artist ("Cost Of Living")
• L.Z. Ward – Set Security ("Redemption II” – “I Borg")
• Karen Westerfield – Makeup Artist ("Cost Of Living", "The Inner Light")
• Michael Westmore II – Prosthetic Makeup Artist ("The Game", "Disaster", "Time's Arrow")
• Lisa White – Location Manager ("The First Duty")
• Richard Wicklund – Welfare Worker ("Disaster")
• Troy Wilcox – 2nd Unit Mike Operator ("Hero Worship” – “Violations")
• Williams – DGA Trainee ("Redemption II” – “Unification II")
• Murphy Wiltz – Lamp Operator ("Redemption II” – “I Borg")
• Glen Woodmansee – Studio Teacher ("Disaster")
• Edmond Wright – Blue Screen Unit Key Grip ("Darmok")/2nd Unit Key Grip ("Redemption II” – “Darmok", "Silicon Avatar” – “The Game", "Unification II", "A Matter Of Time", "Hero Worship” – “Cost Of Living", "Imaginary Friend")/Extra Grip ("Ensign Ro” – “I Borg")
• Isabell Yale – Set Nurse ("Power Play")
• G. Young – Electrical department ("Disaster")
• Susan Zietlow-Maust – Hair Stylist ("The First Duty” – “Cost Of Living", "Imaginary Friend” – “I Borg")
• Zimmerman – Extra Costumer ("The Masterpiece Society")

Production companies [ ]

• Birds & Animals Unlimited – Animal Handler (Guinea Fowls) ("Ensign Ro")
• Central Casting – Extras Casting
• Cogswell Video Services, Inc. – Video Playbacks ("Darmok")
• Critters of the Cinema – Animal Casting and Training ("Time's Arrow")
• Cynthia's Distinctive Catering – Catering Service ("The First Duty")

See also [ ]

• TNG Season 5 performers
• TNG Season 5 UK VHS
• TNG Season 5 US VHS
• TNG Season 5 DVD
• TNG Season 5 Blu-ray

External links [ ]

• Star Trek: The Next Generation season 5 at Memory Beta , the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
• Star Trek: The Next Generation Season Five Credits at StarTrek.com
• The Next Generation Season 5 episode reviews  at Ex Astris Scientia
• 1 Abdullah bin al-Hussein
• 3 John Paul Lona

Star Trek: The Next Generation - Season 5

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In season five, Starfleet becomes involved in a vast conspiracy amidst a Klingon civil war which forces the Enterprise to become an unwilling pawn against the Romulans as Starfleet's motives are unknown. This leads Picard and Data to undertake a journey to seek out a mysterious member who is trying to make peace between the Romulans and the Vulcans. Meanwhile, a visitor from the future arrives on the Enterprise as Wolf struggles with his own handicap. The crew becomes even more conflicted as an injured enemy arrives. Peace is seen on the horizon but at what cost?

20 Episodes

S5 e1 - redemption (2), s5 e2 - darmok, s5 e3 - ensign ro, s5 e4 - silicon avatar, s5 e5 - disaster, s5 e6 - the game, s5 e7 - unification (1), s5 e8 - unification (2), s5 e9 - a matter of time, s5 e10 - new ground, s5 e11 - hero worship, s5 e12 - violations, s5 e13 - the masterpiece society, s5 e14 - conundrum, s5 e15 - power play, s5 e16 - ethics, s5 e17 - the outcast, s5 e18 - cause and effect, s5 e19 - the first duty, s5 e20 - cost of living, where does star trek: the next generation rank today the justwatch daily streaming charts are calculated by user activity within the last 24 hours. this includes clicking on a streaming offer, adding a title to a watchlist, and marking a title as 'seen'. this includes data from ~1.3 million movie & tv show fans per day..

Streaming charts last updated: 9:29:56 PM, 04/16/2024

Star Trek: The Next Generation is 3619 on the JustWatch Daily Streaming Charts today. The TV show has moved up the charts by 601 places since yesterday. In the United States, it is currently more popular than Archer but less popular than Science of Stupid.

Streaming Charts The JustWatch Daily Streaming Charts are calculated by user activity within the last 24 hours. This includes clicking on a streaming offer, adding a title to a watchlist, and marking a title as 'seen'. This includes data from ~1.3 million movie & TV show fans per day.

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Star Trek: The Next Generation - Episode Guide - Season 5

By season 5, the Star Trek: The Next Generation creative team began stretching their wings a bit, extending upon ideas which had been slowly evolving through seasons 2 through 4: Data’s progression to humanity, Worf’s place in Federation society, and of course the bad ol’ Borg.

One or two clunkers (e.g. the inexecrable Violations) aside, ST:TNG season 5 is show-for-show one of the best Star Trek seasons of the lot, with typically strong scripts and a couple of bona fide classics (Darmok, The Inner Light) mixed in. Ohhhh, and about midway through the season are a pair of episodes devoted to some old dude named Spock…

1. Redemption, Part II – After starting with perhaps the best cold open in TNG history (it’s either this or “Cause and Effect”) featuring Captain Kurn acting as a totally insane badass, we get more space warfare and Captain Jean-Luc Picard getting the Federation involved – after all, if the Federation’s Romulan enemies are attempting to overthrow the Federation-based government, that’s of interest to the ol’ UFP.

The Duras clan-backing Romulan leader is revealed to be a half-human named Sela, whose mother is Tasha Yar – more paradoxically, a Tasha Yar who was captured from the USS Enterprise-C decades earlier (cf. “Yesterday’s Enterprise”). Sela’s tale of Yar’s final fate is even more grisly than her backstory or the alternate death of “Skin of Evil”.

Picard’s plan has been organized and put into operation: 23 Federation starships (two of which are helmed by Riker and Data) at the Klingon-Romulan border have formed a net of sorts that will reveal anything which attempts to cross, namely the cloaked Romulan ships carrying weapons, supplies and information to Duras’s troops. The Romulans find a way to sneak through the invisible barricade, but acting captain Data saves the day with some amazing tactics. As Picard says later, “Nicely done.”

This could be said for the entire episode. *****

2. Darmok – An all-time fan favorite, which is amazing in that “Darmok” is centered on language and linguistic concepts. Perhaps it’s down to the acting, with Patrick Stewart’s Picard playing off Paul Winfield’s Dathon, a member of an alien species that not even those handy universal translators can handle (aside from the pronouns and conjunctions, that is), just brilliantly. *****

3. Ensign Ro – The title character temporarily – then permanently with regular guest appearances – joins the Enterprise crew in order to help track down a Bajoran terrorist. ***

4. Silicon Avatar – Dr. Kila Marr, a scientist specializing in the study of the heretofore purely destructive “Crystalline Entity” once encountered on Data’s home world (cf. “Datalore”), now seeks to communicative with the being – but she holds a grudge. Considering the predictability of this episode, Picard et al really should have seen the rather obvious conclusion coming from a light-year away. **

5. Disaster – Most functions in the Enterprise are disrupted or worse when the Enterprise takes a couple hits from a “quantum filament.” O’Brien and Troi are the only officers left on the bridge; Dta, Riker, Worf and Guinan are stuck in Ten Forward; LaForge and Dr. Crusher are in the cargo bay, where highly explosive plasma threatens disaster to the entire ship; and Picard is trapped in an elevator with three crying children- epic stuff... ***

6. The Game – Sure, the video game of discs and cones that addicts essentially everyone on the Enterprise except the visiting Wesley Crusher and a friend seemed pretty lame in 1991, but tell me you couldn’t market that as a premium app for your iPhone 25 years later… **

7. Unification, Part I – Federation officials receive word that a certain Ambassador Spock has gone Romulan. Picard first meets with the not-yet-dead Sarek, who advises Picard as to whom Spock might be contacting on Romulus. Picard and Data are disguised as Romulans and take a cloakable Klingon ship to get to Romulus in another “Search for Spock.” (Spoiler They find him in the last minute of screen time.) ****

8. Unification, Part II – Talk about your clash of generations: As it turns out, Spock is seeking to reunify the Romulan and Vulcan people (though we should admit that ultimately he’s not very successful, given his exposition in Star Trek XI). When he is presented with an officer from a high-ranking Romulan official, Spock falls for the trap set by Sela. But, of course, not for long. ***

9. A Matter of Time – A historian from some 200 years in the future boards the Enterprise to witness some upcoming historical events. In the end, he turns out to be – repeat after me – not what he seems. Some very good bits turned in by guest star Matt Frewer. (Dude, he was Max Headroom!) ***

10. New Ground – Worf plays single parent, as his own foster parents return his son to him, explaining that young Alexander is not adapting to life on Earth. Meanwhile, LaForge’s experiment with the transporter causes a natural disaster. **

11. Hero Worship – Data rescues a boy from a nearly destroyed ship, and the boy emulates his new hero to the nauseating point of acting like a cute android. Meanwhile, a mysterious shock wave continuously hits the Enterprise and hey isn’t this episode a bit like the last one…? **

12. Violations – Now here’s one way to cleans the viewer’s metaphorical palate after two young boy-centered show: Do one about Counselor Troi getting mentally raped by a member of the privileged class. Seriously, with a “mystery” and “suspense” dumped by the end of the first half of this one, what’s the point of finishing it…? 0

13. The Masterpiece Society – A colony on Moab has been isolated for 200 years and has enjoyed the advantages of selective breeding, but must accept Federation help in diverting a potential planet-killing phenomenon. **

14. Conundrum – Nothing like a good head trip episode to the season back on track! Within seconds of opening the episode, the memory of every crew member (including Data) has been erased. Luckily, the bridge crew (including the prominent Commander Kieran MacDuff) are soon ready to rejoin their forces in the midst of the massive war they’re fighting. But something just isn’t right…****

15. Power Play – Disembodied aliens take possession of Data, Troi and O’Brien, mostly because these three are by far the most likely to be mentally taken over than any other characters in the entire Star Trek pantheon (well, except Kes, but we don’t need to talk about her here). ***

16. Ethics – A Worf-centric episode that may also be some sort of comment on euthanasia. Worf is paralyzed in an accident and requests that Riker help him perform an honorable ritual suicide; Dr. Crusher seeks medical alternatives. **

17. The Outcast – In a story probably about 20 years ahead of its time, Riker falls in love with an androgynous alien, who is ultimately brainwashed back to her society’s norms into believing that distinct gender identification (not to mention wanting to roll around in the sack with a very hirsute male male such as Riker) is a twisted aberration. **

18. Cause and Effect – The Enterprise explodes before the theme music comes up, then again before each of the commercial breaks. How can the crew get out of one hell of a time loop? Very cleverly. Stick around to the very end for an excellent cameo appearance. ****

19. The First Duty – All it took to make a good, solid Wesley-based script was to boot him out of the regular cast. In “First Duty,” Wesley is held accountable for a stunt he and some other cadets pulled at Starfleet Academy which left one dead. ****

20. Cost of Living – Now here’s a match made in Sto'Vo'Kor: Lwaxan Troi and Alexander Son of Worf. Such happens when Deanna’s mother makes her annual visit to the Enterprise to marry, what, her ninth potential fourth husband? ***

21. The Perfect Mate – An ambassador traveling to make trade negotiations has his cargo broken into by a pair of Ferengi also temporarily aboard the Enterprise. Among this crew is a pheromone-gushing woman set for arranged marriage (so like a 24th-century mail-order bride, then), who wreaks havoc on every male on the ship before getting off – I mean, disembarking. ***

22. Imaginary Friend – The Enterprise plays host to yet another disembodied alien, this one from a nebula (come to think of it, they’re always finding weird stuff in Nebulas; best steer clear next time, Mr. Crusher) who takes on the form of a young girl’s imaginary friend. **

23. I, Borg – A well-acted and decently suspenseful episode is marred by the wussification of the Borg (who wouldn’t truly recover their in badassery until Star Trek: First Contact film) and the fine tradition – carried on by Janeway throughout the last half of the Voyager series – of not utterly destroying the scary cybernetic menace when given a clear chance … ***

24. The Next Phase – LaForge and Ensign Ro’s head trip A bizarre accident seems to make LaForge and Ensign Ro noncorporeal, with Ro ultimately believing they’ve entered the Bajoran afterlife. ***

25. The Inner Light – A high-concept episode that’s an all-time favorite of Wil Wheaton and innumerable Star Trek fans. Picard finds himself living an ordinary life on a long-dead world. A simple, wonderful story that might have been made even better if the cutting back to scenes of the Enterprise crew hovering concernedly over Picard’s body were removed. *****

26. Time’s Arrow, Part I – “Time’s Arrow” certainly isn’t the best ST:TNG season-enders, but it’s gotta be the weirdest. A dandy grabbag of a story includes a temporal paradox involving a decapitated Data (!), Guinan’s first meeting with Picard, ominous aliens who drain humans of lifeforce, and Mark Twain. ***

Our episode database profiles every episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation . Each episode features background information (plot • trivia • interviews • behind the scenes info • shooting script) and Blu-ray screencaps.

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'Star Trek: Discovery' season 5 episode 2 sows the seeds of seasonal plot threads (Under the Twin Moons recap)

Warning: Spoilers ahead for "Star Trek: Discovery" season 5, episode 2

So, as you will have gathered from watching Star Trek: Discovery's episode 1 of season 5 ,  it would appear that the primary plot is based on a past episode of "The Next Generation" (TNG). Yes indeed, no new "Star Trek" show is safe from nostalgia — and very specifically — TNG-era nostalgia. Any storyline, from any previous incarnation of " Star Trek " could've been used, but it cannot denied that it feels like we're being given what Terry Matalas and the other executive producers who are still obsessed with living in the past want, which is to relive their teens. 

The thing is, there's nothing wrong with TNG and if you watch the episode that all of this seems to be stemming from, "The Chase" (S06, E20) it's actually a pretty good installment. And in fact, it has a " Babylon 5 " quality and uses dialogue and straightforward set pieces to tell an interesting, nuanced story. (Aside from at least from one significant plot hole that is not explained.) But that was then — April 1993, to be precise — and this is now. And while it might have been fun to revisit this in a TNG-era movie for example, this ship really has passed. If you're need a refresher on how to watch Star Trek: Discovery, you can check out our Star Trek streaming guide for Paramount Plus .

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The episode "The Chase" is a fun explainer as to why all the humanoid aliens look the same. Obviously, it's all to do with budget in the real world, but in the Star Trek universe it's because a super-advanced race of aliens — unofficially referred to as Progenitors — opted to scatter different parts of our DNA across the galaxy, which when fully evolved over millions of years time, came to form humans, Klingons, Cardassians, Romulans and the rest. When DNA strands from all of these races are combined, it unlocked a ancient holographic message. 

Related: 5 things Star Trek: Discovery season 5 needs to fix

"Life evolved on my planet before all others in this part of the galaxy. We left our world, explored the stars, and found none like ourselves. Our civilization thrived for ages, but what is the life of one race, compared to the vast stretches of cosmic time?" the unnamed humanoid alien said. "We knew that one day we would be gone, that nothing of us would survive. So, we left you. Our scientists seeded the primordial oceans of many worlds, where life was in its infancy ... The seed codes also contained this message, which we scattered in fragments on many different worlds. It was our hope that you would have to come together in fellowship and companionship to hear this message."

The potential of this was pretty big, but it was never followed up. It was rumored there might even be a connection to the Changling race and it was talked about in chat groups ... 15 years ago . And while this was a certainly an opportunity left open-ended, ready to be revisited after having been found by writers scrambling for ideas, it's also interesting to note that "The Chase" was directed by Jonathan Frakes, who as we know, is still very much involved with Nu-Trek.

Back to "Discovery" season 5, episode 2 and possibly the biggest single, burning question is, will Captain Rayner (Callum Keith Rennie) met a death as utterly pointless as Captain Shaw, Huw and Cristóbal Rios? And now with Captain Saru (Doug Jones) leaving the USS Discovery and Raynor taking his place as first officer, Captain Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) now at least has an antagonist close by for this adventure.

This second episode feels a little less lost than the season premiere, although it relies rather heavily on the classic bureaucracy trope, something, you'd have to believe we'd really been able to get past in the 32nd century. Guess not. Staying with Rayner though, if his appointment to become the new First Officer of the USS Discovery just turns out to be another underused, Tarka-style antagonist, it will be a spectacular missed opportunity. But, "Discovery" does keep us guessing, that much is certain. Who'd have thought an socially awkward alien would cause all the dilithium in the galaxy to explode ? 

There are some interesting set pieces in this episode, but let's hope we don't dwell on the whole breadcrumb-trail to alien artifacts theme too long. Also, where the blazes does the energy and the matter come from to instantly form replacement phasers? Just wonderin' like. But, on the plus side, Grudge is back and so is Zora.  

In other "Star Trek" news, production on the new "Star Trek: Section 31" television movie starring Michelle Yeoh has started principal photography. Paramount Plus posted a pic on Instagram and Variety released a still. In addition to Yeoh, the cast includes Omari Hardwick ("Powers"), Kacey Rohl ("Hannibal"), Emmy Award winner Sam Richardson ("Ted Lasso"), Sven Ruygrok ("One Piece"), Robert Kazinsky ("Pacific Rim"), Humberly Gonzalez ("Ginny & Georgia") and James Hiroyuki Liao ("Barry").

However, the most interesting news is that the story appears to be set in the "lost era" of "Star Trek" — between the events of the Kirk-era movie, "Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country" and the TV series TNG. Arguably the most underused and interesting field of opportunity within the "Star Trek" franchise...and Kacey Rohl ("Arrow") has also joined the project as a young Rachel Garrett, the future captain of the USS Enterprise-C, from the epic TNG episode "Yesterday's Enterprise" (S03, E15) where the character was previously portrayed by Tricia O’Neil.

The fifth and final season of "Star Trek: Discovery" and every episode of every "Star Trek" show — with the exception of "Star Trek: Prodigy" — currently streams exclusively on Paramount Plus in the US while "Prodigy" has found a new home o n Netflix.  

Internationally, the shows are available on Paramount Plus in Australia, Latin America, the UK and South Korea, as well as on Pluto TV in Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Switzerland on the Pluto TV Sci-Fi channel. They also stream on Paramount Plus in Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland and Austria. In Canada, they air on Bell Media's CTV Sci-Fi Channel and stream on Crave.

‘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.

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Star trek: discovery finally reveals what happened after tng’s “the chase”.

Star Trek: Discovery season 5 provides new details on what happened after Captain Picard saw the Progenitor in Star Trek: TNG's "The Chase."

Warning: SPOILERS for Star Trek: Discovery Season 5, Episode 3 - "Jinaal"

• Discovery season 5 continues the chase for Progenitors' technology, introduced in TNG's "The Chase".
• Janaal reveals how Federation handled Progenitor discovery, keeping technology hidden for peace.
• The Federation's past missteps led to hesitation in trusting Starfleet with powerful technology.

Star Trek: The Next Generation's "The Chase" introduced some big ideas to the Star Trek universe that Star Trek: Discovery season 5 is finally following up on. Discovery season 5 involves a literal chase in Star Trek 's 32nd century, as Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and the crew of the USS Discovery race to find the Progenitors' treasure before the villainous Moll (Eve Harlow) and L'ak (Elias Toufexis). Although unnamed at the time, the Progenitors were first introduced in TNG season 6, episode 20, "The Chase," when Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) helped uncover a message left by one of the ancient humanoids.

In Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 3 , "Jinaal," written by Kyle Jarrow and Lauren Wilkinson and directed by Andi Armaganian, Captain Burnham and her crew continue to gather the puzzle pieces that will presumably lead them to the Progenitors' technology. This journey takes the USS Discovery to the planet Trill, where Dr. Hugh Culber (Wilson Cruz) acts as a host for the consciousness of an 800-year-old Trill named Jinaal Bix. Jinaal reveals more information about what happened after Picard received the Progenitors' message in the 24th century. While "The Chase" explained why many Star Trek aliens are humanoid, the implications of Picard's discovery were never fully explored.

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

Star trek: discovery finally updates what happened after tng’s “the chase”, the federation didn't ignore captain picard's discovery..

When Captain Picard unlocked the Progenetors' message in Star Trek: The Next Generation's "The Chase," the Cardassians, Klingons, and Romulans also had representatives present. In the message, the ancient humanoid (Salome Jens) revealed that Progenitor "scientists seeded the primordial oceans of many worlds," meaning all humanoid life originated from a single ancestor. The Progenitors hoped this information would bring peace among humanoid species, but the Cardassians and Klingons reacted negatively to the message. Nevertheless, the United Federation of Planets and many other species would undoubtedly be interested in these Progenitors and the technology that allowed them to create all humanoid life.

The Federation President during Star Trek: Deep Space Nine was Jaresh-Inyo (Herschel Sparber), and he may have been who oversaw finding the Progenitors' technology.

Star Trek: Discovery season 5 is finally addressing this mystery, and Janaal reveals more about how the Federation responded to the discovery of the Progenitors. The Federation President secretly assembled a team of six scientists from different Federation and non-Federation worlds, including Janaal and the Romulan Dr. Vellek (Michael Copeman) , to research the Progenitors and the message Picard found. This team eventually found a technology "beyond anything [they had] ever seen," but one of the scientists was horribly killed when he tried to activate it. The scientists then made a pact that they would do everything in their power to keep the Progenitors' technology hidden until some future date when the galaxy was at peace.

Janaal does not reveal the names of the other scientists, and he says that they removed their names from "every database [they] could access." This explains why these characters and their mission have never been mentioned in Star Trek before.

How “The Chase” Tied Into DS9’s Dominion War & Star Trek: Insurrection

Why didn't jinaal give the progenitor technology to the federation.

After Jinaal reveals how he and his fellow scientists hid the Progenitor technology, Captain Burnham asks why they didn't give it to the Federation. Jinaal responds that Star Trek: Deep Space Nine 's Dominion War was raging at the time, so "everyone saw an enemy in everyone else." Despite the trust Michael places in the Federation and Starfleet, these organizations have not always been above reproach. During the Dominion War, there were fears that Changelings could infiltrate the Federation even at the highest levels, but it wasn't just Changelings that posed a threat. In Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 4, episode 11, "Homefront," and episode 12, "Paradise Lost," for example, Admiral Leyton (Robert Foxworth) staged a coup against Federation President Jaresh-Inyo.

Starfleet could not be trusted with technology as powerful as the Progenitors'.

Leyton's plan to initiate a military takeover of Earth ultimately failed, but it proved that Starfleet could not be trusted with technology as powerful as the Progenitors'. In Star Trek: Insurrection , another Starfleet flag officer, Admiral Dougherty (Anthony Zerbe), attempted to forcibly move the peaceful Ba'ku people in order to access the healing properties of the area of space known as the Briar Patch. The Federation of the 32nd century in Star Trek: Discovery seems better prepared to safeguard the Progenitors' technology, but the high-stakes treasure hunt still has everyone on edge.

New episodes of Star Trek: Discovery air Thursdays on Paramount+.

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