12 Streaming Era Star Trek Episodes We're Adding To 'The Classics'

3. The Next Generation

Star Trek Picard The Next Generation Captain Shaw
CBS Media Ventures
No.

With one word and one syllable, we knew what kind of character Captain Liam Shaw was. What we didn't expect was where his arc would take him.

Much like The Star Gazer a season before, The Next Generation served as a soft reboot of Star Trek: Picard. The show's third season placated many long-term Trek fans out there, bringing back more familiar settings and themes, though this first episode established a darker tone from the jump. Speaking of the jump, the opening scene saw the fiery return of Dr Beverly Crusher.

With her ship under attack, she grabs a phaser rifle and hides someone behind a locked door. Then she proceeds to go full Sarah Connor on the intruders, before taking a shot to the side. From there, the episode barely pauses for breath. 

Picard gets her message, Riker is recruited, Seven is now the first officer of the Titan-A, and Raffi is deep undercover on M'Talas Prime. It was a shame to lose characters like Rios, Juratti, and Elnor, but this episode doesn't allow the viewer a moment to spare them. By the time the ship arrives in the Rytan System, we are invested. By the time Jack Crusher reveals himself at the end, we are confused and ready to know more. 

Once again, Picard delivers a strong episode, one ready to join the ever-growing list of classics. 

Contributor
Contributor

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"