“Preemptive Strike” (7×24)
The penultimate TNG story, and the last Ro Laren story for over a quarter of a century, feels more like a DS9 episode: The Cardassians...
“Rascals” (6×07)
It’s kind of a ridiculous lark of a concept, but the writers mine it for some good character work and a satisfying resolution to the...
“Cause and Effect” (5×18)
This episode starts with a literal bang. Ensign Ro plays a very minor role, only appearing in one scene—albeit a scene that repeats many, many...
“Ensign Ro” (5×03)
This episode represents one of the boldest contraventions in the series to date of Gene Roddenberry’s edict about evolved 24th century humanity working in perfect...
“Power Play” (5×15)
This episode is centered around a creepy premise that feels more like a “Doctor Who” story than a TNG story. But it gives Marina Sirtis...
“The Next Phase” (5×24)
A deeply flawed science fiction story, but a strong character-driven story. It’s basically Tom and Huck attending their own funeral, allowing Geordi to hear what...
“Conundrum” (5×14)
The premise of the episode, with the entire crew of the Enterprise suffering from amnesia, is an engine to explore who these people are innately...
“Disaster” (5×05)
The only thing I remembered about this episode from when it originally aired is Picard leading the children in singing “Frère Jacques” to keep them...