10 Star Trek Episodes That Seriously Deserve A Second Chance

4. We'll Always Have Paris

Star Trek The Next Generation We Ll Always Have Paris
CBS Media Ventures

To be very clear, there aren't many first-season episodes of The Next Generation that stand out for any good reason. Where stories like Encounter At Farpoint seemed to be doing everything in their power to get the show cancelled, along came a story that dared to be a little different in the show's debut year.

The title is a direct reference to Casablanca, which is arguably the most romantic movie ever released. Why would Star Trek set itself up beside such a giant, and could it pull it off?

Well, no. But, this episode offers a great performance from Patrick Stewart, and guest star Michelle Phillips of the Mamas and Papas is a great love interest for him, even if their relationship is all meaningful looks and stares.

There are some fun time travel moments to enjoy - who doesn't love three Datas and a shiny space beam? But the strength of the episode is in its longing for the past, while accepting the reality of the future. it was an early example of the heady material that The Next Generation would end up diving into, a little more skillfully, as the years went by.

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Seán is the host and head writer/presenter for TrekCulture, as well as a writer/presenter on WhoCulture and WhatCulture Horror. He has authored two novels, dozens of short stories, and hundreds of articles for WhatCulture. He holds a Master of Arts in Creative Writing from University College Dublin. As part of his work with TrekCulture, Seán has been invited to participate in collaborations with Roddenberry Entertainment, as well as contributing to several Star Trek community projects. An avid fan of Star Trek, Doctor Who, and the horror genre at large, Seán's expertise has helped develop these channels to the successes they are today. As host of the Ups & Downs series on TrekCulture, Seán has become internationally recognised for his positive yet critically informed approach to reviewing every episode of modern Star Trek, ensuring he is one of the go-to voices in the Trek community. Favourite Quote to describe himself: "I'm serious about what I do, just not always about the way that I do it"