Critical Reception of Star Trek: The Next Generation
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The first season was marked by a "revolving door" of writers, with Gerrold and Fontana quitting after disputes with Roddenberry.[1] Mark Bourne of The DVD Journal wrote of season one: "A typical episode relied on trite plot points, clumsy allegories, dry and stilted dialogue, or characterization that was taking too long to feel relaxed and natural."[2] Other targets of criticism include poor special effects and plots being resolved by the deus ex machina of Wesley Crusher saving the ship.[3][4] However, Patrick Stewart's acting skills won praise and critics have noted that characters were given greater potential for development than those of the original series.[2][3]
Season two as a whole was widely regarded as significantly better than season one. The plots became more sophisticated, and began to mix drama with comic relief. Its focus on character development received special praise.[5] Six third-season episodes were nominated for eight Emmys; "Yesterday's Enterprise" won for Outstanding Sound Editing for a Series and "Sins of the Father" won for Best Art Direction for a Series.[6] After complaints of discomfort made by several cast members, new two-piece Starfleet uniforms were introduced in the third season to replace the jumpsuits worn in the first two seasons. Seven fourth-season episodes were nominated for eight Emmys; "The Best of Both Worlds, Part II" won for both Outstanding Sound Editing in a Series and Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Series.[6] Three sixth-season episodes were nominated for Emmys; "Time's Arrow, Part II" won for both Outstanding Individual Achievement in Costume Design for a Series and Outstanding Individual Achievement in Hairstyling for a Series and "A Fistful of Datas" won for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Sound Mixing for a Drama Series.[6] Five seventh-season episodes were nominated for nine Emmys, and the series as a whole was the first syndicated television series nomination for Outstanding Drama Series. To this day, The Next Generation is the only syndicated drama to be nominated in this category. "All Good Things..." won for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Special Visual Effects and "Genesis" won for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Sound Mixing for a Drama Series. "All Good Things..." also won the second of the series' two Hugo Awards.[6]
Episode by Episode
Although there were no graded episode-by-episode reviews, at the time, several reviewers after the fact have reviewed each individual episode. Among these are Zack Handlen of The A.V. Club between 2010 and 2011, Keith DeCandido of Tor.com between 2011 and 2013, and Jamahl Epsicokhan of Jammer's Reviews between 2012 and 2013.
The table below presents the grade of each episode from the three sources. The average is calculated by taking the average of number of the standard deviations from the mean of the three reviewers.
| EP | S | Title | AV Club[7] | TOR[8] | Jammer[9] | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Encounter at Farpoint | B- | 4/10 |   |
-0.550 |
| 3 | 1 | The Naked Now | D- | 2/10 |  |
-1.479 |
| 4 | 1 | Code of Honor | C- | 2/10 | |
-1.829 |
| 5 | 1 | The Last Outpost | C- | 3/10 | |
-1.112 |
| 6 | 1 | Where No One Has Gone Before | B- | 8/10 | |
0.181 |
| 7 | 1 | Lonely Among Us | C- | 3/10 | |
-1.112 |
| 8 | 1 | Justice | C | 2/10 | |
-1.492 |
| 9 | 1 | The Battle | C+ | 6/10 | |
-0.230 |
| 10 | 1 | Hide and Q | C- | 5/10 | |
-0.454 |
| 11 | 1 | Haven | D | 3/10 | |
-1.202 |
| 12 | 1 | The Big Goodbye | B- | 7/10 | |
-0.147 |
| 13 | 1 | Datalore | B- | 4/10 | |
-0.161 |
| 14 | 1 | Angel One | F | 2/10 | |
-2.204 |
| 15 | 1 | 11001001 | B | 7/10 | |
0.773 |
| 16 | 1 | Too Short a Season | C+ | 5/10 | |
-0.753 |
| 17 | 1 | When the Bough Breaks | B | 6/10 | |
-0.528 |
| 18 | 1 | Home Soil | B+ | 7/10 | |
0.526 |
| 19 | 1 | Coming of Age | C | 5/10 | |
-0.506 |
| 20 | 1 | Heart of Glory | B+ | 4/10 | |
0.123 |
| 21 | 1 | The Arsenal of Freedom | C+ | 6/10 | |
-0.035 |
| 22 | 1 | Symbiosis | B | 4/10 | |
-0.408 |
| 23 | 1 | Skin of Evil | C- | 3/10 | |
-1.306 |
| 24 | 1 | We'll Always Have Paris | B- | 4/10 | |
-0.550 |
| 25 | 1 | Conspiracy | B | 4/10 | |
0.175 |
| 26 | 1 | The Neutral Zone | C- | 4/10 | |
-1.172 |
| 27 | 2 | The Child | D+ | 5/10 | |
-0.986 |
| 28 | 2 | Where Silence Has Lease | B | 4/10 | |
-0.019 |
| 29 | 2 | Elementary, Dear Data | B+ | 7/10 | |
0.526 |
| 30 | 2 | The Outrageous Okona | C- | 5/10 | |
-1.037 |
| 31 | 2 | Loud as a Whisper | B- | 4/10 | |
-0.550 |
| 32 | 2 | The Schizoid Man | C- | 8/10 | |
-0.246 |
| 33 | 2 | Unnatural Selection | C+ | 3/10 | |
-0.827 |
| 34 | 2 | A Matter of Honor | A- | 8/10 | |
0.997 |
| 35 | 2 | The Measure of a Man | A- | 9/10 | |
1.326 |
| 36 | 2 | The Dauphin | B | 3/10 | |
-0.348 |
| 37 | 2 | Contagion | B+ | 4/10 | |
0.123 |
| 38 | 2 | The Royale | B | 5/10 | |
-0.662 |
| 39 | 2 | Time Squared | A- | 2/10 | |
0.191 |
| 40 | 2 | The Icarus Factor | C+ | 3/10 | |
-0.438 |
| 41 | 2 | Pen Pals | B- | 9/10 | |
0.510 |
| 42 | 2 | Q Who | A- | 10/10 | |
1.460 |
| 43 | 2 | Samaritan Snare | B- | 2/10 | |
-0.624 |
| 44 | 2 | Up the Long Ladder | C | 4/10 | |
-1.029 |
| 45 | 2 | Manhunt | C | 2/10 | |
-1.492 |
| 46 | 2 | The Emissary | B+ | 8/10 | |
0.466 |
| 47 | 2 | Peak Performance | B+ | 7/10 | |
0.526 |
| 48 | 2 | Shades of Gray | F | 0/10 | |
-2.862 |
| 49 | 3 | Evolution | B | 5/10 | |
0.115 |
| 50 | 3 | The Ensigns of Command | B+ | 7/10 | |
0.332 |
| 51 | 3 | The Survivors | A | 9/10 | |
1.468 |
| 52 | 3 | Who Watches the Watchers | A | 3/10 | |
0.080 |
| 53 | 3 | The Bonding | B+ | 9/10 | |
0.406 |
| 54 | 3 | Booby Trap | B | 4/10 | |
-0.019 |
| 55 | 3 | The Enemy | A- | 7/10 | |
0.863 |
| 56 | 3 | The Price | B- | 6/10 | |
-0.087 |
| 57 | 3 | The Vengeance Factor | B | 5/10 | |
-0.273 |
| 58 | 3 | The Defector | A | 9/10 | |
1.468 |
| 59 | 3 | The Hunted | A | 6/10 | |
0.483 |
| 60 | 3 | The High Ground | B- | 7/10 | |
0.241 |
| 61 | 3 | Déjà Q | B+ | 8/10 | |
0.855 |
| 62 | 3 | A Matter of Perspective | B- | 1/10 | |
-0.564 |
| 63 | 3 | Yesterday's Enterprise | A | 9/10 | |
1.468 |
| 64 | 3 | The Offspring | A- | 9/10 | |
0.937 |
| 65 | 3 | Sins of the Father | A | 8/10 | |
1.140 |
| 66 | 3 | Allegiance | B | 5/10 | |
-0.273 |
| 67 | 3 | Captain's Holiday | B | 3/10 | |
-0.736 |
| 68 | 3 | Tin Man | B+ | 7/10 | |
0.526 |
| 69 | 3 | Hollow Pursuits | B | 8/10 | |
0.518 |
| 70 | 3 | The Most Toys | A- | 8/10 | |
0.803 |
| 71 | 3 | Sarek | A | 7/10 | |
1.006 |
| 72 | 3 | Ménage à Troi | B | 3/10 | |
-0.736 |
| 73 | 3 | Transfigurations | B- | 7/10 | |
0.047 |
| 74 | 3 | The Best of Both Worlds | A | 10/10 | |
1.603 |
| 75 | 4 | The Best of Both Worlds: Part II | A | 6/10 | |
1.066 |
| 76 | 4 | Family | A | 10/10 | |
1.214 |
| 77 | 4 | Brothers | B+ | 6/10 | |
0.586 |
| 78 | 4 | Suddenly Human | A- | 3/10 | |
-0.257 |
| 79 | 4 | Remember Me | B | 6/10 | |
0.444 |
| 80 | 4 | Legacy | B | 3/10 | |
-0.348 |
| 81 | 4 | Reunion | B+ | 10/10 | |
1.124 |
| 82 | 4 | Future Imperfect | A- | 5/10 | |
0.400 |
| 83 | 4 | Final Mission | B+ | 4/10 | |
-0.071 |
| 84 | 4 | The Loss | C+ | 5/10 | |
-0.558 |
| 85 | 4 | Data's Day | B- | 7/10 | |
0.241 |
| 86 | 4 | The Wounded | A- | 7/10 | |
0.669 |
| 87 | 4 | Devil's Due | B+ | 2/10 | |
-0.923 |
| 88 | 4 | Clues | B+ | 5/10 | |
0.063 |
| 89 | 4 | First Contact | B+ | 5/10 | |
0.646 |
| 90 | 4 | Galaxy's Child | C+ | 3/10 | |
-0.633 |
| 91 | 4 | Night Terrors | B | 3/10 | |
-0.348 |
| 92 | 4 | Identity Crisis | B+ | 6/10 | |
0.198 |
| 93 | 4 | The Nth Degree | B | 8/10 | |
0.907 |
| 94 | 4 | Qpid | B- | 5/10 | |
-0.804 |
| 95 | 4 | The Drumhead | A | 3/10 | |
0.468 |
| 96 | 4 | Half a Life | B+ | 8/10 | |
0.272 |
| 97 | 4 | The Host | B+ | 4/10 | |
0.123 |
| 98 | 4 | The Mind's Eye | A | 8/10 | |
1.140 |
| 99 | 4 | In Theory | B | 2/10 | |
-0.482 |
| 100 | 4 | Redemption I | A- | 6/10 | |
0.534 |
| 101 | 5 | Redemption II | B | 4/10 | |
-0.019 |
| 102 | 5 | Darmok | A | 9/10 | |
1.080 |
| 103 | 5 | Ensign Ro | A- | 8/10 | |
0.803 |
| 104 | 5 | Silicon Avatar | B+ | 2/10 | |
-0.340 |
| 105 | 5 | Disaster | B+ | 7/10 | |
0.138 |
| 106 | 5 | The Game | C | 3/10 | |
-0.775 |
| 107 | 5 | Unification I | B | 6/10 | |
0.250 |
| 108 | 5 | Unification II | B | 4/10 | |
-0.213 |
| 109 | 5 | A Matter of Time | B | 4/10 | |
-0.213 |
| 110 | 5 | New Ground | B- | 4/10 | |
-0.356 |
| 111 | 5 | Hero Worship | B+ | 5/10 | |
-0.325 |
| 112 | 5 | Violations | C+ | 3/10 | |
-0.633 |
| 113 | 5 | The Masterpiece Society | B- | 3/10 | |
-0.684 |
| 114 | 5 | Conundrum | B+ | 6/10 | |
0.392 |
| 115 | 5 | Power Play | B | 7/10 | |
0.190 |
| 116 | 5 | Ethics | B- | 5/10 | |
-0.027 |
| 117 | 5 | The Outcast | A | 2/10 | |
-0.249 |
| 118 | 5 | Cause and Effect | A | 9/10 | |
1.468 |
| 119 | 5 | The First Duty | A | 6/10 | |
1.066 |
| 120 | 5 | Cost of Living | C | 4/10 | |
-1.224 |
| 121 | 5 | The Perfect Mate | B+ | 2/10 | |
-0.145 |
| 122 | 5 | Imaginary Friend | B- | 4/10 | |
-0.744 |
| 123 | 5 | I, Borg | A- | 8/10 | |
1.192 |
| 124 | 5 | The Next Phase | A- | 8/10 | |
0.803 |
| 125 | 5 | The Inner Light | A+ | 10/10 | |
1.745 |
| 126 | 5 | Time's Arrow | B- | 4/10 | |
-0.356 |
| 127 | 6 | Time's Arrow, Part II | D+ | 3/10 | |
-1.060 |
| 128 | 6 | Realm of Fear | B- | 5/10 | |
-0.416 |
| 129 | 6 | Man of the People | C | 1/10 | |
-1.238 |
| 130 | 6 | Relics | A | 8/10 | |
0.946 |
| 131 | 6 | Schisms | B | 4/10 | |
-0.019 |
| 132 | 6 | True Q | B+ | 6/10 | |
0.392 |
| 133 | 6 | Rascals | B- | 2/10 | |
-0.819 |
| 134 | 6 | A Fistful of Datas | B+ | 5/10 | |
-0.131 |
| 135 | 6 | The Quality of Life | B+ | 3/10 | |
-0.205 |
| 136 | 6 | Chain of Command, Part I | B+ | 7/10 | |
0.721 |
| 137 | 6 | Chain of Command, Part II | A | 8/10 | |
1.334 |
| 138 | 6 | Ship in a Bottle | A- | 9/10 | |
1.132 |
| 139 | 6 | Aquiel | C | 3/10 | |
-1.358 |
| 140 | 6 | Face of the Enemy | B+ | 8/10 | |
0.661 |
| 141 | 6 | Tapestry | A | 9/10 | |
1.274 |
| 142 | 6 | Birthright, Part I | B+ | 9/10 | |
0.795 |
| 143 | 6 | Birthright, Part II | B | 10/10 | |
0.398 |
| 144 | 6 | Starship Mine | B | 6/10 | |
0.055 |
| 145 | 6 | Lessons | B+ | 9/10 | |
0.795 |
| 146 | 6 | The Chase | B+ | 4/10 | |
0.123 |
| 147 | 6 | Frame of Mind | A | 9/10 | |
1.468 |
| 148 | 6 | Suspicions | B- | 2/10 | |
-1.013 |
| 149 | 6 | Rightful Heir | A | 10/10 | |
1.214 |
| 150 | 6 | Second Chances | B+ | 7/10 | |
0.721 |
| 151 | 6 | Timescape | B | 6/10 | |
0.250 |
| 152 | 6 | Descent | B | 4/10 | |
-0.213 |
| 153 | 7 | Descent, Part II | B- | 2/10 | |
-0.819 |
| 154 | 7 | Liaisons | B- | 2/10 | |
-0.819 |
| 155 | 7 | Interface | C+ | 4/10 | |
-0.304 |
| 156 | 7 | Gambit, Part I | B | 6/10 | |
0.055 |
| 157 | 7 | Gambit, Part II | B- | 6/10 | |
-0.087 |
| 158 | 7 | Phantasms | B+ | 4/10 | |
0.123 |
| 159 | 7 | Dark Page | B- | 6/10 | |
-0.476 |
| 160 | 7 | Attached | B+ | 6/10 | |
0.392 |
| 161 | 7 | Force of Nature | B | 2/10 | |
-0.676 |
| 162 | 7 | Inheritance | B- | 4/10 | |
-0.161 |
| 163 | 7 | Parallels | A- | 10/10 | |
1.266 |
| 164 | 7 | The Pegasus | A- | 10/10 | |
1.460 |
| 165 | 7 | Homeward | C+ | 1/10 | |
-1.290 |
| 166 | 7 | Sub Rosa | D | 3/10 | |
-1.980 |
| 167 | 7 | Lower Decks | A | 10/10 | |
1.603 |
| 168 | 7 | Thine Own Self | B+ | 5/10 | |
-0.131 |
| 169 | 7 | Masks | C | 4/10 | |
-1.224 |
| 170 | 7 | Eye of the Beholder | C- | 5/10 | |
-0.649 |
| 171 | 7 | Genesis | C- | 2/10 | |
-1.635 |
| 172 | 7 | Journey's End | C | 6/10 | |
-0.372 |
| 173 | 7 | Firstborn | C+ | 5/10 | |
-0.364 |
| 174 | 7 | Bloodlines | C+ | 3/10 | |
-0.633 |
| 175 | 7 | Emergence | B- | 1/10 | |
-1.147 |
| 176 | 7 | Preemptive Strike | A | 6/10 | |
0.871 |
| 177 | 7 | All Good Things... | A | 9/10 | |
1.468 |
Wil Wheaton
Wil Wheaton, who played Wesley Crusher in Star Trek: The Next Generation, reviewed and graded 13 Season 1 episodes for the TV Squad in 2007-08. The reviews were discontinued after TV Squad was bought by AOL,[10] and because they are incomplete, they are not included in the above table. Wheaton's episode reviews are listed below:
| Episode Title | Grade |
|---|---|
| Encounter at Farpoint | C- [11][12] |
| The Naked Now | D+ [13] |
| Code of Honor | C [14] |
| The Last Outpost | C [15] |
| Where No One Has Gone Before | B+ [16] |
| Lonely Among Us | D+ [17] |
| Justice | B+ [18] |
| The Battle | C+ [19] |
| Hide and Q | B- [20] |
| Haven | B [21] |
| The Big Goodbye | A [22] |
| Datalore | D [23] |
| Angel One | D [24] |
References
- ↑ Dillard, J. M. (1994). Star Trek: "Where No One Has Gone Before" : A History in Pictures (Star Trek (Trade/hardcover)). Pocket Books. pp. 130–131. ISBN 0-671-51149-1.
The writers were being rewritten by Gene, and there was a lot of tumult because people didn't know where they stood.
Search this book on
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "DVD Journal: Star Trek: The Next Generation: Season One". Retrieved June 29, 2013.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "DVD Verdict: Star Trek: The Next Generation, Season One". Retrieved June 29, 2013.
- ↑ "Sci Fi Weekly: Star Trek: The Next Generation—Season One DVD". Retrieved June 29, 2013.
- ↑ "DVD Verdict: Star Trek: The Next Generation, Season Two". Retrieved June 29, 2013.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Nemeck, Larry (2003). Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion. Pocket Books. ISBN 0-7434-5798-6. Search this book on
- ↑ Star Trek: The Next Generation | TV Club | The A.V. Club. Retrieved June 29, 2013.
- ↑ Star Trek: The Next Generation Rewatch - Series | Tor.com. Retrieved June 29, 2013.
- ↑ Star Trek: The Next Generation | Jammer's Reviews. Retrieved June 29, 2013.
- ↑ TV Tropes: Wil Wheaton
- ↑ "Wil Wheaton reviews 'Encounter at Farpoint, part I". Archived from the original on August 31, 2011. Retrieved December 25, 2013.
- ↑ Wil Wheaton reviews 'Encounter at Farpoint, part II
- ↑ Wil Wheaton reviews 'The Naked Now
- ↑ Wil Wheaton reviews 'Code of Honor
- ↑ "Wil Wheaton reviews 'The Last Outpost". Archived from the original on August 31, 2011. Retrieved December 25, 2013.
- ↑ "Wil Wheaton reviews 'Where No One Has Gone Before". Archived from the original on June 14, 2015. Retrieved December 25, 2013.
- ↑ "Wil Wheaton reviews 'Lonely Among Us". Archived from the original on August 31, 2011. Retrieved December 25, 2013.
- ↑ "Wil Wheaton reviews 'Justice". Archived from the original on January 3, 2014. Retrieved December 25, 2013.
- ↑ "Wil Wheaton reviews 'The Battle". Archived from the original on September 7, 2011. Retrieved December 25, 2013.
- ↑ "Wil Wheaton reviews 'Hide and Q". Archived from the original on September 10, 2012. Retrieved December 25, 2013.
- ↑ Wil Wheaton reviews 'Haven
- ↑ "Wil Wheaton reviews 'The Big Goodbye". Archived from the original on May 27, 2012. Retrieved December 25, 2013.
- ↑ "Wil Wheaton reviews 'Datalore". Archived from the original on February 25, 2012. Retrieved December 25, 2013.
- ↑ Wil Wheaton reviews 'Angel One
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