10 Star Trek Episodes That Seriously Deserve A Second Chance
4. We'll Always Have Paris
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.