Star Trek: 10 Best Episodes Showcasing Female Empowerment

6. Captain Crusher Listens To Taitt

The seventh season of The Next Generation featured Jeri Taylor serving as executive producer for the second year, while simultaneously showcasing better stories with women in the central role. Descent Part 2 picks up with Dr Crusher in command of the Enterprise-D.

Beverly had one of the more interesting, and admittedly stilted, journeys through the final frontier. TNG's first year seemed poised to have her featured at least as prominently as McCoy on The Original Series before behind-the-scenes drama saw Gates McFadden exiting the show before the second year. She returned following executive producer Maurice Hurley's departure, though the momentum of the first year had dwindled for her character.

While in command of the Enterprise, she not only saves the crew from the renegade Borg, but she also makes a point of listening to her crew, regardless of the number of space hours they have logged. Ensign Taitt's suggestions may have fallen on deaf ears were even Riker or Picard in charge. Dr Crusher had the wisdom to allow her to try her theory - a theory that ends up saving the ship.

Rather than dwell on Lieutenant Barnaby's unwillingness to hear Taitt out, the episode opts to instead show Crusher's leadership, as well as the crew's comfort and growth with her in charge. It was a clear statement in the series' final season's premiere episode - something that carried on into Star Trek: Picard years later.