STAR TREK - THE NEXT GENERATION SEASON 3(1989-1990)
SPACE, THE FINAL FRONTIER! THESE ARE THE VOYAGES
OF THE STARSHIP: ENTERPRISE! IT'S CONTINUING MISSION:
TO EXPLORE STRANGE NEW WORLDS, TO SEEK OUT NEW
LIFE AND NEW CIVILIZATIONS, TO BOLDLY GO WHERE NO
ONE HAS GONE BEFORE!!
The third season, with most of the main cast still here!
However, the experiment with Dr. Kate Pulaski(Diana
Muldaur) is over, and we get Dr. Crusher(Gates McFadden)
back!! This is a very welcome change, at least for me!! We
are introduced to a new semi-regular here: Lt. Reginald
Barclay!
EPISODE 1: EVOLUTION(Sept. 23, 1989):
A scientist who's obsessed with an experiment
is on the verge of completing it when the Enterprise,
which is taking him to his destination, starts malfunctioning!!
Wesley is afraid that an experiment he's working on for
school is the reason!!
This has, in order of appearance: Commander William
Riker, Ensign Wesley Crusher, Lt. Commander Data,
Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Lt. Geordi La Forge, Lt. Worf,
Dr. Beverly Crusher, Counselor Deanna Troi & Guinan!! A
EPISODE 2: THE ENSIGNS OF COMMAND(Sept. 30, 1989):
The Enterprise is contacted by the Sheliak!! They are
planning to populate a planet that's in their scope of
control, but there are humans on the planet that they
order off the planet immediately!! Problem: they don't
want to leave!!
This episode has, in order of appearance: Lt. Commander Data,
Dr. Crusher, Captain Picard, Commander Riker, Lt. Worf,
Lt. La Forge, Counselor Troi, Wesley Crusher & Cheif O'Brien
(seen but not heard)!! A
EPISODE 3: THE SURVIVORS(Oct. 7, 1989):
An entire colony has been wiped out on a planet, except
for two people, Kevin Uxbridge and his wife Rashon!! Very
strange indeed, as these two are both in their eighties, and
there are many questions as to how/why they were the only
two survivors, and who attacked the planet!!! And why, when
they are offered transport off the planet and to safety, are
they so dead set against it? And what the Hell is wrong with
Deanna???
This episode has, in order of appearance: Commander Riker,
Lt. Worf, Captain Picard, Ensign Crusher, Lt. Commander Data,
Counselor Troi, Dr. Crusher & Lt. La Forge!! A
EPISODE 4: WHO WATCHES THE WATCHERS(Oct. 14, 1989):
Shades of Star Trek IX!! The Enterprise is on the way
to help an observation post that's studying a planet's
population when there's a major accident and the
secret station has a malfuntion, and it becomes un-cloaked!
A couple of the inhabitants see the post, and this becomes
a major problem with the prime directive!!!
This is not a great episode!!
This episode has, in order of appearance: Captain
Picard, Lt. La Forge, Commander Riker, Counselor Troi
Lt. Worf, Lt. Data & Dr. Crusher!! B+
EPISODE 5: THE BONDING(Oct. 21, 1989):
On an away mission, a woman is killed!! Worf feels responsible
and wants to perform "the bonding" with her son to try and
make right her death!! Things don't go so very well with the
whole thing!!
A pretty serious, and very good, episode!!
This episode has, in order of appearance: Lt. Commander
Data, Commander Riker, Lt. Worf, Captain Picard, Counselor
Troi, Dr. Crusher, Ensign Crusher, Lt. La Forge & Chief O'Brien!! A
EPISODE 6: BOOBY TRAP(Oct. 28, 1989):
This is very similar to a TOS episode!! The Enterprise comes
across a diralect, 1000+ year old ship! After going to the ship,
the Enterprise begins to have a problem and can't move!!
In this Geordi La Forge meets up with Leah Brahms, whom
he ends up starting to get feelings for!!!
Another good episode!!
This episode has, in order of appearance: Lt. La Forge, Ensign
Crusher, Lt. Commander Data, Commander Riker, Captain Picard,
Lt. Worf, Chief O'Brien, Guinan, Couselor Troi & Dr. Crusher!! A
EPISODE 7: THE ENEMY(Nov. 4, 1989):
While an away team is on a planet for research, they find
the remains of a Romulan ship!! A little more searching
turns up a Romulan!! Unfortunately, Geordi falls into a
pit and gets left behind on the planet that's experiencing
heavy storm activity!! To make matters worse, a Romulan
ship is headed toward them to find their missing craft!
This takes their story almost directly from the movie
Enemy Mine!!
This episode has, in order of appearance: Commander Riker,
Lt. La Forge, Lt. Worf, Dr. Crusher, Chief O'Brien, Captain
Picard, Ensign Crusher, Lt. Commander Data & Counselor Troi!!
Guest starring Andreas Katsulas(Babylon 5)!!! A
EPISODE 8: THE PRICE(Nov. 11, 1989):
A down on their luck planet has a predictable worm hole
near by and are offering it up to the highest bidder!
This brings all kinds of scum and villainy to the Enterprise
which includes a man who's quite attractive to Troi!!!
This episode has, in order of appearance: Counselor Troi,
Captain Picard, Commander Riker, Chief O'Brien, Lt. Commander
Data, Dr. Crusher, Ensign Crusher, Lt. Worf & Lt. La Forge!! A
EPISODE 9: THE VENGEANCE FACTOR(Nov. 18, 1989):
Two warring factions from the same planet are brought
together to try to pound out an agreement to bring an
end to the friction!! One of the "good guys" is a servant
to the other, and she and Will forge a relationship!! What
Will doesn't know is that this young lady is responsible for
the death of one of the other side, who's ancestors had
been responsible for the death of her ancestors!!
Starring, in order of appearance: , Commander Riker,
Lt. Worf, Lt. Commander Data, Dr. Crusher, Captain
Picard, Counselor Troi, Ensign Crusher & Lt. La Forge!!
An excellent episode!!! A+
EPISODE 10: THE DEFECTOR(Jan. 1, 1990):
While cruising along to another assignment, the Enterprise
encounters a small Romulan ship being chased by two other
Romulan warships!! The dude aboard the smaller ship asks
for help, and the Enterprise beams him aboard, just before
his ship explodes!! The dude says he's trying to prevent a war
between the Romulans and the Federation, and has information
about an impending attack!!
This episode has, in order of appearance: Lt. Commander Data,
Captain Picard, Commander Riker, Lt. Worf, Dr. Crusher,
Lt. La Forge & Dianna Troi!!
Another great episode!!
Andreas Katsulas appears again as Commander Tomalak!! A
EPISODE 11: THE HUNTED(Jan. 6, 1990):
Another very good episode!! In this we have Picard and
Riker on a planet who's put in an application to join the
Federation when a prisoner escapes from their penal
colony on one of their moons! The Enterprise gives chase
to re-capture the prisoner, but the real story starts when
they have the prisoner on the Enterprise and begin to
discover disturbing information about him and the reason
he was locked up to begin with!!
This episode has, in order of appearance: Captain Picard,
Commander Riker, Lt. Commander Data, Lt. Worf, Ensign Crusher,
Lt. la Forge, Chief O'Brien, Counselor Troi & Dr. Crusher!!
Guest starring James Cromwell(who had the enviable luck
to be the most revered person in all of Star Trek - Zefram
Cochran in the movie Star Trek VII: First Contact which
he reprised in Star Trek: Enterprise!! He was also on an
episode of Star Trek: DS9, "Starship Down" and four
episodes on Star Trek: TNG)!! A+
EPISODE 12: THE HIGH GROUND(Jan. 27, 1990):
While on a planet that the Federation has a trade agreement
with, there's an attack by rebel forces that injures several
people, and Dr. Crusher feels obligated to help!! But her
generosity is repaid by being kidnapped by the dissidents
for help on their injured!!
This episode has, in order of appearance: Dr. Crusher,
Lt. Commander Data, Lt. Worf, Captain Picard, Commander
Riker, Counselor Troi & Ensign Crusher!!
Not one of my favorite episodes!! B+
EPISODE 13: DEJA Q(Feb. 3, 1990):
Q is back - oh yea!!! In this one he has been kicked out
of the Q continuum, and his only way back is to prove his
worth without his powers! Add that to the fact that there's
a moon falling into a planet that the Enterprise is trying to
stop, and there's all kinds of "fun" here!!!
This episode has, in order of appearance: Lt. Commander
Data, Captain Picard, Lt. La Forge, Commander Riker, Lt. Worf,
Q, Dr. Crusher, Guinan & Counselor Troi!! A-
EPISODE 14: A MATTER OF PERSPECTIVE(Feb. 10, 1990):
Another story taken from the Original Series!! Commander
Riker is leaving a space station when it explodes! The sole
inhabitant is a man whom Riker had words with prior to
his leaving!! Riker is then put under arrest and tried for
murder!! Except for a few details, this is the same episode
as TOS episode "Court Martial"!!
This episode has, in order of appearance: Lt. Commander Data,
Captain Picard, Lt. La Forge, Commander Riker, Chief O'Brien,
Lt. Worf, Ensign Crusher & Dr. Crusher!!
I would have probably rated this higher had it not been
for the fact that it ripped off the story mostly from an
episode of TOS that was far better!!! B+
EPISODE 15: YESTERDAY'S ENTERPRISE(Feb. 17, 1990):
The Enterprise encounters - The Enterprise!!! The Enterprise D
is by a temporal rift in which the Enterprise C comes through!
This changes history all over the place, people not where they're
suppose to be, and a war that's going on that shouldn't be!!
This episode has, in order of appearance: Guinan, Lt. Worf,
Commander Riker, Captain Picard, Lt. Commander Data,
Ensign Crusher, Lt. Yar(yep, they brought her back for
this episode!!), Dr. Crusher, Lt. La Forge & Dianna Troi(seen
but not heard!!)!! A
EPISODE 16: THE OFFSPRING(Mar. 10, 1990):
Data has created another cybernetic being, and it calls him
father!! This becomes a female, and Data calls her Lal!!
Problems start arising, and this causes much grief for
Data!!
This episode has, in order of appearance: Ensign Crusher,
Counselor Troi, Lt. La Forge, Lt. Commander Data, Captain
Picard, Deanna Troi, Dr. Crusher, Lt. Worf, Guinan & Commander
Riker!!
The ending of this is the only reason that I gave it an A!!
EPISODE 17: SINS OF THE FATHER(Mar. 17, 1990):
The Enterprise is welcoming a new member aboard, a
Klingon commander!! It's part of the officer exchange
program that had Riker aboard a Klingon ship in the
same capacity! This commander seems to ride hard
on everyone on the ship except Worf, who gets quite
offended by it! Turns out that the commander is Worf's
brother, whom Worf had no idea existed!! He brings
Worf news that their father, who died at Kitomer,
is being brought up on charges of abetting the enemy
during the battle, and thus Worf and his brother are
now responsible for defending the honor of the family
which may be the death of both of them!!
This episode has, in order of appearance: Captain Picard,
Commander Riker, Ensign Crusher, Lt. La Forge, Lt. Worf,
Dr. Crusher, Lt. Commander Data & Counselor Troi. A-
EPISODE 18: ALLEGIANCE(Mar. 24, 1990):
Captain Picard is spirited away from the ship and locked
in a holding room with three other beings!! In his place is
another looking just like him taking command of the
Enterprise and acting non-Picard like!!
This episode has, in order of appearance: Lt. Commander Data,
Commander Riker, Lt. Worf, Captain Picard, Ensign Crusher,
Counselor Troi, Lt. La Forge & Dr. Crusher!! A
EPISODE 19: CAPTAIN'S HOLIDAY(Mar. 31, 1990):
Captain Picard is acting very irritable and is strongly urged
to take a vacation to unwind!! He's totally against it, but
finally relents, going down to a planet called Risa, known
for its peaceful and relaxing properties, and its women!!
He's there no longer than a few minutes when a woman
comes up to him and plants a kiss on him, which ends up
the start of his involvement with some future dudes and
a very important relic!!
This episode has, in order of appearance: Commander Riker,
Counselor Troi, Captain Picard, Dr. Crusher & Lt. Worf A
EPISODE 20: TIN MAN(Apr. 21, 1990):
A Betazoid comes aboard the Enterprise to help out with
a first contact with a creature that lives in space!! His superior
telepathic abilities are to be used to try to communicate with
the creature! Problems: His name is Tam Elbrun and he was at
another such contact where many people were killed, including
some of Riker's friends; and Troi had contact with him as her
patient; oh, and the Romulans are also trying to make contact
with this new life form!!!
This episode has, in order of appearance: Lt. Commander
Data, Captain Picard, Commander Riker, Lt. Worf, Counselor
Troi, Chief O'Brien, Lt. La Forge, Dr. Crusher & Ensign Crusher!! A
EPISODE 21: HOLLOW PURSUITS(Apr. 28, 1990):
Here we have the introduction of Lt. Reginald Barclay!!
He has security issues, and stutters, and makes up
scenarios in the halo-deck that make him feel like
more of a man!! But everyone sees him as a mouse
of a man who's not reliable and incredibly hard to
like!! Here we see how he starts his growth to being
a viable member of the Enterprise's crew!!
This episode has, in order of appearance: Guinan, Lt. La
Forge, Lt. Barclay, Commander Riker, Counselor Troi,
Chief O'Brien, Captain Picard, Ensign Crusher, Lt.
Commander Data & Lt. Worf!! A
EPISODE 22: THE MOST TOYS(May 5, 1990):
Introducing Kevis Fajo, a man who buys and sells goods
to those who will pay his prices!! He's also quite a collector,
having many very rare objects of great value, and it appears
that the Enterprise has one that he wants - Data!!
This episode has, in order of appearance: Lt. Commander
Data, Captain Picard, Lt. Worf, Commander Riker, Lt. La Forge,
Ensign Crusher & Dr. Crusher!!
Guest starring Saul Rubinek(Warehouse 13, Frasier)! A
EPISODE 23: SAREK(May 12, 1990):
One of the best episodes of all of Star Trek!! Guest starring
Spock's father, Mark Leonard as Sarek, this is about the
fact that Sarek is deteriorating in health, and that his
new wife is doing her best to hide this fact from everyone!
This really has desasterous effects!!
This episode has, in order of appearance: Commander Riker,
Captain Picard, Ensign Crusher, Lt. La Forge, Counselor Troi,
Lt. Commander Data, Dr. Crusher, Chief O'Brien & Lt. Worf!
Guest starring the great Mark Leonard as Serak!! A+
EPISODE 24: MENAGE A TROI(May 26, 1990):
This is a far cry from the seriousness of the last few episodes!!
Deanna mother, Lwaxana, is Hell bent on her daughter to get
married, and it turns out that a Ferengi has the same determination
for Lwaxana!! So much so that he kidnaps Lwaxana, Deanna and
Will!!
A side story is that Wesley Crusher has passed his entrance
exams and is getting ready to go to Starfleet Academy, but
is starting to have some doubts!!
This episode has, in order of appearance: Commander Riker,
Ensign Crusher, Captain Picard, Lt. Commander Data, Counselor
Troi, Lwaxana Troi, Lt. Worf, Lt. La Forge & Dr. Crusher!!
Guest starring Ethan Philips(Star Trek: Voyager)!!
This is a wonderful episode!!! A+
EPISODE 25: TRANSFIGURATIONS(June 2, 1990):
The Enterprise picks up a crashed escape pod on a planet
and an away team beams down to discover a being in critical
condition!! Dr. Crusher asks for a volunteer to link to the
alien, and Lt. La Forge comes to the aid! When they are linked
to each other, La Forge gets hit with a surge of power, and
the ensuing repercussions to Geordi are quite interesting!!
This episode has, in order of appearance: Lt. La Forge,
Lt. Worf, Commander Riker, Dr. Crusher, Captain
Picard, Lt. Commander Data, Chief O'Brien, Ensign
Crusher & Counselor Troi!! A
EPISODE 26: THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS, PART 1(June 16, 1990):
I cannot express enough at my hatred for this, and the
next, episodes!! I don't like the Borg: they are illogical,
they should never be defeated, and they should control
the whole universe!! There should be no way to overcome
them, and once a being is added to the hive, should never
be able to come back!! Therefore, I give the next two episodes
my lowest ratings for any Star Trek!!
The story, if you're still reading, is that the Borg attack
the Enterprise and assimilate Captain Picard to the hive!
This episode has, in order of appearance: Commander Riker,
Lt. Worf, Chief O'Brien, Captain Picard, Ensign Crusher, Lt.
Commander Data, CounselorTroi, Lt. La Forge, Guinan & Dr.
Crusher!! F
SPECIALS ON DISC 7
MISSION OVERVIEW: YEAR THREE:
A review of the third year, with input from: Peter Lauritson
(Associate Producer), Michael Pillar(Executive Producer),
Rick Berman(Executive Producer), Denise Crosby(Lt. Yar),
Patrick Stewart(Captain Picard), Gates McFadden(Dr. Crusher),
Wil Wheaton(Ensign Crusher), Jonathan Frakes(Commander
Riker), Brent Spiner(Lt. Commander Data), Marina Sirtis
(Counselor Troi), Whoopi Goldberg(Guinan), La Var Burton
Lt. La Forge), Dan Curry(Visual Effects Supervisor), Eric
Stillwell(Production Associate)!! A+
SELECTED CREW ANALYSIS: YEAR THREE
With input from Patrick Stewart(Captain Picard), Gates
McFadden(Dr. Crusher), Wil Wheaton(Ensign Crusher),
Jonathan Frakes(Commander Riker), Marina Sirtis
Counselor Troi), Ira Steven Behr(Writer/Producer), Michael
Pillar(Executive Producer), LaVar Burton(Lt. La Forge)! A
DEPARTMENTAL BRIEFING - YEAR THREE:
PRODUCTION:
With input from: Michael Pillar(Executive Producer),
Eric Stillwell(Production Assistant), Dan Curry(Visual
Effects Supervisor), Mike Okuda(Scenic Art Supervisor)
Richard James(Production Designer), Greg Jein(Model
Maker), Rick Sternbach(Senior Illustrator), Jay Chattaway
(Music Composer)! A
DEPARTMENTAL BRIEFING - YEAR THREE:
MEMORABLE MISSIONS:
Input from: Patrick Stewart(Captain Picard), Michael
Westmore(Make-up Designer), Garry Sackman(Music
Editor), Michael Pillar(Executive Producer), Marina Sirtis
(Counselor Troi), LeVar Burto(Lt. La Forge), Ethan Phillips
(played a Ferengi on TNG, more known for being Nelix
on Voyager)! A
From an IMDb.com customer:
This show continues the excellence provided by the
original Star Trek. Set some 75 years after Kirk's adventures,
The Next Generation was an excellent show and provided
state-of-the-art special effects. I recommend it to any science
fiction fan. - mattkratz