10 Crossover Events In The Star Trek Universe (Pre-Star Trek Picard)

5. Spock, Star Trek: The Next Generation

When: TNG, S5, Eps 7&8, ‘Unification’

This was the granddaddy of all TNG/TOS crossovers during the seven-year run of The Next Generation. Although we would see other cast and crew appear in other moments, this was the moment that had die-hard fans salivating.

Since the arrival of Sarek, we knew that Spock was certainly ‘young’ enough to still be aliv

e and in the service of Starfleet. The clock started counting down. However, it took five years, promotion for Star Trek IV and the death of Gene Roddenberry for it to come to fruition.

Why It Was Great

‘And you have found him’. With those words, Spock walked into the frame and Unification pt. 1 finished, leaving many screaming at the television set. Where other TOS cast appearances lent continuity to TNG, the appearance of Spock handed Trek legitimacy. This crossover may have been a promotional ploy for then-upcoming Star Trek IV, but it didn’t matter, Spock was back!

As Data and Spock speak on the Klingon vessel, discussing the merits of humanity and their opposing views on its appeal, we saw finally what made TNG and TOS so different and yet so similar. Two beings possessed of cold logic, side by side, one eschewing the humanity he was born with, one desperate to achieve it.

Unification may have been a ratings plug on a promotional tour but it was the greatest shared moment of TNG and TOS, dipping below the next few entries by a tiny margin.