Star Trek: TNG Season 6 Episodes 21-26

Frame of Mind (6x21) May 3,1993

Riker's sanity is questioned, what does he imagine and what is real ? Is the Enterprise really a figment of the imagination of a killers mind ? Play within the Play, Dream within the Dream ? Another highly rated episode by me in this excellent season.

Suspicions (6x22) May 10,1993

A well written episode about Doctor Crusher facing an ethical crisis.

Rightful Heir (6x23) May 17,1993

A very spiritual episode as Kahless, the spiritual ancient Klingon has returned and it causes questions. I have said before the series really never took on religious and God issues. Roddenberry refused to touch the subject, here we  have faith as the central core of the episode. As this season has been written at high level, this is another of the high points of the season.

December 10th: I have 3 episodes of the sixth season and 26 episodes of the last season to go, 29 episodes in 21 days of the year to go. I know it is an artificial deadline. It is the holiday season and I find myself wanting to watch the traditional stuff. I have binged viewed this season in the last two or three weeks. The amount I have watched in the last few weeks does play into my decision. I am thrilled with the quality of this episode, finally, I am right ? I started the year by starting a season on the 1st and when ever I finished it taking a break until the 1st. I will do this with season 6 and pick up 7 on January 1st.

Second Chances (6x24) May 24,1993

The story reminded me somewhat of the first original story published as a book Spock Must Die !, in which due to a transporter accident there are two and very real Spocks. In this case the Enterprise arrives to a space station where Riker narrowly escaped. He has been living there for 8 years. Lt Riker and Commander don't seem to like each other. Lt Riker renews with passion his affair with Deanna Troi . The episode is completely engrossing. I don't think the writer could have handled this a couple of seasons ago.

Timescape (6x25) June 14,1993

A really amazing story about time. like the last episode a few years ago this story would have been totally screwed up. This episode is interesting,well written and satisfying on every level.

Descent  Part 1 (6x26) June 21,1993

Moment of Data: The opening scene has Data playing cards with Sir Isaac Newton,Albert Einstein and the real lfe Dr. Stephan Hawkings. Then comes the Red Alert and the Borg. The episodes deals with Issues of Data feeling an emotion and in the last scene Lore and Data in control of the Borg, evil laughter as they are going to take over the universe. An over acting treat for Brent Spiner fans.

Overview of the Season:
Season 6 was just phenomenal. This is when the series grows up. The stories don't fall apart in the final act, the stories seem more adult. Continuity happens. It can be argued that the appearance of a show called Babylon 5 is what made TNG raise it's game. Babylon 5 is one of the precursors to today's golden age of drama. Another syndicated sci fi show, this one demanded audience pay attention to the smallest details. In a lot of markets it was on back to back with TNG. The difference between the two shows was stark. I wonder if the writers felt like they needed to raise their games. Anyway we finally got a season that was not a pain to watch.

So It December 14th as I finished the season. Year one of  Star Trek from start to finish is over.
In 2013 I watched :
-Season 2 and 3 of Star Trek:The Original Series 50 episodes
-Star Trek: The Animated Series 22 episodes
-6 Star Trek Movies
-Seasons 1-6 of Star Trek:The Next Generation 152 episodes

I really have not yet made a dent in the franchise as a whole. Onward to Season 7 and beyond. Happy Holidays to anyone who happens to be reading this. See you in 2014.

Star Trek:TNG Season 6 Episode 12-20

December 2, 2013

I watched more episodes that I thought I would over the Thanksgiving break.I am starting to think it might be a stretch but it certainly possible to finish the series out by the end of 2013. The episodes have been better for sure but it still seems like a tall order, we will see.

Ship in a Bottle (6x12) January 24,1993
Moment of Data: Data as Sherlock Holmes, are we really back to this ?

The Rest of the episode: It is actually pretty good,other than I thought we were beyond bringing back minor episodes.Professor Moriarty is somehow real and able to walk around the ship, off the holodeck. Or Is He ???

I have decided December 10 is the line in the sand of will I go for finishing the series by the end of the year.It is December 5th and I have several entries to write, I am actually on 6x16 and it is doable to finish the season by December 10. The Question becomes do I want to give myself my an unrealistic deadline or take a break for the rest of the month.


Aquiel (6x13) February 1,1993

The episode is a mystery with no help from Data's Sherlock Holmes. It ends in another seemingly doomed romance for Geordi. It part of unraveling the mystery. of the disappearance or death of Lt. Aquiel Uhnari, Geordi listens to her logs for clues and guess what, falls in love. There is one interesting scene when a Klingon refuses to help Picard, Picard says he will ask a personal favor of Chancellor Gowron, suddenly the Klingon will help. That is why Picard is Picard.


Face of the Enemy (6x14) February 8,1993

Whoa, Troi wakes up on Romulan ship in full Romulan make up, Is it Sweeps ? Yes and another superior episode that involves spying and some great writing. I wish it was a two parter.

Tapestry (6x15) February 15,1993

Picard Dies, we discover he has an artifical heart. He is met by Q. Picard relives the events that lead to the heart and time chance the past,effect the future issues are explored. It is always good to see Q, we learn a lot of Picard at the academy.

Birthright (6x16/17) March 7,14, 1993

I have been struggle in completing this long and sometimes remarkably bad or boring series. The episode opens with the Enterprise at the space station Deep Space Nine and the introduction of Dr. Julian Bashir. There is light at the end of the tunnel.

A Klingon and an Android and lost fathers.Data resolves to take time to dream which is scary and I am glad this isn't season one. Much has been made of Worf's fathers legacy and the sin of the father being carried by the children and grandchildren. This is an effective story line, even the Data stuff.

Starship Mine (6x18) March 29,1993

Moment of Data: At the beginning of the episode Data is on a lift with Picard and engages in small talk, so he wants to learn the art of Small talk. The gag is repeated throughout the episode. This is so season one and two,it is kinda of shocking that they do this so late in the series.

The rest of the episode is brilliant. The ship is goin through a Baryon sweep and everyone has to leave the ship. Picard is given a chance to ride a horse and returns to the ship to get a saddle. He encounters terrorist who capture him and he says he is "Mr. Mott, the ships barber". Yes Patrick Stewart the action hero. Hand to Hand combat. The twists and turns are well done. The episode,minus the Data scenes becomes one of the best of the series.

Lessons (6x19) April 5,1993

Picard: A Love Story. This is a Sad,Romantic,Melodramatic. It is so well acted by Patrick Stewart and Wendy Hughes. Really everyone gave great acting performances in this episode.I was impressed reference was made to the episode where Picard lived an alternate life with wife,kids and grand kids. As every episode is basically self contained and continuity has been rare it was nice to have a past episode mentioned.

The Chase (6x20) April 26,1993

Humans,Klingons,Romulans and  Cardassians all appear this episode. After ripping most of the first half of the series, I am thrilled to be writing how good this episode is. Smart and philosophical,the episode deals with issues of we are all the same.It is also a religious episode in some ways.

ST:TNG Season 6 Episodes 1-11

Time's Arrow,Part 2 (6x1) September 21,1992

Lack luster as was the first episode. They really don't do time travel well. It is impossible to watch time travel stories with comparison to Doctor Who. I did like the scenes between Guinan and Picard. Yes she is that old apparently. I did not have a feeling this was the beginning of the relationship, I am sure they met earlier in Picard's life, unfortunately that took up very little. Let us hope the season picks up.

Realm of Fear (6x2) October 11,1992

The Yearly visit from Lt. Barclay. This is a well done throwback episode that recalls peoples fear of the Transportor. In this case it is Barclay, I noticed Barclay has the most ill fitting suit on the ship, I thought that was an interesting device for Barclay. I enjoyed the episode quite a bit. The 128th episode of the series.

Man of the People (6x3) October 18,1992

Psychic Vampires basically.

Relics (6x4) October 12,1992

Wiki is getting weird with the date of the episode airing again. This is the return of James Doohan as Scotty. It is really well done. The scene with Picard and Scotty on the holodeck of the original series is one of the best moments of this series. The episode is heavy on sentimentally,which is wonderful.

Schims (6x5) October 19,1992

Moment of Data: I had hoped the series was beyond this,apparently not. The episodes opens with Data holding a poetry reading. Riker for reasons we see as the story unfolds is half awake and practically ruins the reading by applauding in mid poem.

Data has a long reading about his Cat, which has been alluded to,but the series have not gone into cat detail with this potential comedic devise.

Oh, but there is a plot, in spite of the opening it ends up being a good episode as aliens are using members of the Enterprise at night. Kinda like an X-Files in Space type story.



True Q (6x6) November 1,1992

Any Q episode is probably going to be a highlight of the season. It contains a reference to my hometown Topeka,Kansas which is always a plus. An intern played by Olivia d'Abo arrives followed by Q. Could she be a Q ? Yes. She is given the choice to join the Q or never using her ability. Naturally the Enterprise is in peril and will she use her powers to save the ship ?

Rascals (6x7) November 15,1992

This starts with a horrible premise, Picard,Guinan,Ro and O'Brien's wife are on a shuttle craft. They are beamed back to the ship and are 10 years old. The episode ends up wousrking on several levels. Comedy parts include Ro whining about how she hated her childhood. Guinan is planning to enjoy the childhood, Picard eventually turns the ship over to Riker.  The ends up being an interesting and strong episode. This shows the writers are better or have grown up. 2 or 3 seasons ago this episode would have been torture.

A Fistful of Datas (6x8) November 9,1992

Patrick Stewart directs this episode. The crew has some down time, Picard is taking flute lessons, Worf, his son and Troi use a holodeck program finding themselves in the Ancient West.Geordi and Data are running some tests to basically make Data the back up for the whole ship. Crusher is casting a play and tries to get Picard to take a role, he says "I'm not much of an Actor", one of the best lines in the series.

As the title implies,It is a very Data heavy episode, one I am probably not going to enjoy, I was intrigued by what when wrong. The conclusion is predictable. The episode is mixed at best. There was a reference to Data's poetry reading and his cat is used for Comedy. <smh>

The Quality of Life (6x9) November 16,1992

Occasionally the show gets pretty deep into Science, and frankly I have no idea if it is real or made up science, then or now.I would tend to vote for made up. Sooooo it hard for me to take an episode about exocomps seriously.

Chain of Command (6x10/11) December 14/21,1992

The 136th and 137th episodes may be the best story of the series. Picard is relieved of Command,the new Captain (Ronny Cox) is not getting along well with the crew Riker in particular.  Capt Jellico is to lead negotiations with the Cardassians. Picard,Worf and Crusher are on a top secret mission to destroy a piece of Cardassian weapons. Picard is captured and introgated by David Warner. I realize toward the end of the first episode that for as much as I don't like the makeup, the Cardassian may be the villain of the series. The Show had trouble creating a big bad. Yes we have the Borg, but they disappear for long periods of time. Feringee, not really, there was something comedic about that. Romulans, again they appear so rarely, I can't buy them as the big bad.

The tortures of Picard is unreal,brilliantly done. David Warner as always is an incredible villain. It is easily to love this episode. I really don't want to downplay Ronny Cox and the scenes with Jonathan Frakes. This easily top 10 of the whole series.