Star Trek The Next Generation: Season 1

Through the years I've discovered that people either like the series or hated it, I for one love the series.

All 25 episodes are contained on 7 disks.

1) Encounter at Farpoint - To discover how the inhabitants built Farpoint Station so quickly, the Enterprise is stopped by Q, an advanced life form that condemns humanity as a savage race. DeForest Kelly has a cameo as Dr. McCoy.

2) The Naked Now - Geordi contracts a virus from the USS Tsiolkovsky, which makes the crew seem "drunk" - Data traces the antidote back to the Enterprise under Captain Kirk.

3) Code of Honor - Tasha Yar is kidnapped by leader Lutan in a peculiar bid of "counting coup" and is forced into a death duel to be released from it.

4) The Last Outpost - The USS Enterprise and a Ferengi vessel are trapped above Delphi Ardu; the last outpost of the Tkon Empire, where they are challenges them to solve a riddle.

5) Where No One Has Gone Before - An alien traveler propels the Enterprise into an alternate universe where thought becomes reality.

6) Lonely Among Us - The USS Enterprise passes through a living cloud that infiltrates the computer and eventually takes control of Captain Picard.

7) Justice - The USS Enterprise visits Rubicam Three, whose hedonistic occupants welcome the crew with open arms but the mysterious, transparent "god" in orbit has a different attitude.

8) The Battle - A Ferengi DaiMon offers Captain Picard the derelict of his former command, the USS Stargazer, which carries aboard it a mind-control sphere, an illegal device, that puts him in the captain's seat against the Enterprise! Data uses one of the Picard tactics to stop the Stargazer.

9) Hide and Q - Q gives Riker is given the powers of the Q Continuum.

10) Haven - Deanna is faced with her arranged marriage to Wyatt Miller; a young doctor plagued by dreams of another woman, which leads him to a group of refugees, last survivors of a dead planet.

11) The Big Goodbye - Picard, Data, Beverly and Whalen, a historian, visit 1941 San Francisco via the holodeck, but an alien scan disrupts the equipment, leaving them "stranded" in the 20th Century.

12) Datalore - On Data's home world, Omicron Theta, a duplicate android is discovered, Lore, which is much more human and does not mind killing.

13) Angel One - While searching for the missing vessel SS Odin, the Enterprise finds a planet where the women are the masters and men are subservient.

14) 11001001 - The Enterprise undergoes a refit at Starbase 74 on its holodeck, and while a holographic beauty distracts Picard and Riker, the Bynars, steal the vessel. The Bynars only think in 1's and 0's.

15) Too Short a Season -The Enterprise responds to a hostage situation on Mordan IV. They take along Mark Jameson, a famous Admiral who can help the situation.

16) When the Bough Breaks - The people of Aldea capture children from the Enterprise in an attempt to repopulate the planet, because their planet is losing their ozone.

17) Homesoil - Once on board, a mysterious life form from Velara III to grow at a fantastic rate.

18) Coming of Age - On Relva 7, Wesley undergoes testing to enter Starfleet Academy while Remmick investigates Picard and his crew in an effort to determine if Picard is still loyal to Starfleet.

19) Heart of Glory - Believing in the old ways of their Empire, Klingons come aboard the Enterprise and attempt to convert Worf to their cause.

20) The Arsenal of Freedom - While searching for the USS Drake, Picard, Riker, Dr. Crusher, Data, and Tasha are stranded on a planet leaving Geordi in command of the Enterprise.

21) Symbiosis - The Enterprise mediates a trade dispute between representatives from Ornara and Brekka.

22) Skin of Evil - An evil alien being kidnaps Troi and Picard must fight for her.

23) We'll Always Have Paris - Dr. Paul Manheim's experiments trap the universe in a time loop.

24) Conspiracy - Walker Keel warns Picard of a conspiracy within Starfleet Command and Picard go to Earth and uncovers the plan by a race of parasites to conquer the Federation. It's not always easy to show up unannounced at Star Fleet Command.

25) The Neutral Zone - The USS Enterprise discovers an old Earth satellite with three frozen humans. They remain on board while the ship goes to the Neutral Zone.

ENCOUNTER AT FARPOINT: As a pilot, this episode does what it's supposed to: introduce us to the series and characters. The actors are initially stiff and robotic in their roles except-ironically-Data the android. Storywise, the episode is weak, but there is a fun cameo by an aged Dr. McCoy. Grade: B-

THE NAKED NOW: The crew is infected with an alien virus which causes them to lose their inhibitions. This contrivance allows us to learn more about their characters' personalities and past lives. Grade: B

CODE OF HONOR: Tasha Yar is kidnapped by the chief of a visiting delegation and the crew must win her back through contests of honor. Dull performances abound-the characters show little emotion in the face of dire circumstances. Grade: D

THE LAST OUTPOST: The crew's first encounter the Ferengi, who are effectively dislikable and disgusting. However, the climactic battle falls flat. Grade: C

WHERE NO ONE HAS GONE BEFORE: The first engaging episode of the season. A warp drive accident sends the Enterprise to the far side of the galaxy and the crew has to figure out how to get back. Grade: B+

LONELY AMONG US: The crew must deal with feuding alien races that are guests on the ship while a mysterious energy force takes control of various officers. These two unrelated storylines seem crammed together, neither one satisfying. Grade: C

JUSTICE: The worst episode of the season. The crew visit a planet where Wesley is sentenced to death for a trivial offense. Picard inexplicably agonizes over having to defy the society's ridiculous rules. Take Wesley and go already! Grade: F

THE BATTLE: A Ferengi captain offers Picard his old ship as a gift, but it turns out to be a revenge plot to discredit Picard. Some interesting glimpses into Picard's former life, but ultimately an uninvolving episode. Grade: B-

HIDE AND Q: Nemesis Q returns and gives Riker god-like power to see what he will do with it. Riker is reluctant to use these abilities and once again the melodramatic Q fails in his ploy to trip up the "unworthy" humans. Grade: C-

HAVEN: Troi's Betazoid mother Lxawana arrives aboard the Enterprise with plans to immediately carry out Troi's arranged marriage. Lxawana's eccentric behavior is intended to be the source of much comedy but it mostly comes across as dumb. Grade: C

THE BIG GOODBYE: Picard uses the holodeck's imaging capability to insert himself and others into a 1940's-era detective story. What could have been a lame premise gains poignance as the holodeck characters come to question their own reality. Grade: B+

DATALORE: The Enterprise returns to the planet where Data was "discovered" years before. There they find Data's identical counterpart, Lore, who turns out to be an evil twin. This disappointing episode gives short shrift to Data's origins. Grade: C+

ANGEL ONE: The Enterprise goes in search of crewmembers from a long-lost ship believed to have sought refuge on Angel One, a planet governed by women. The story is basically a commentary on social change and gender politics, but has some humorous moments. Grade: B-

11001001: While in spacedock for a routine computer upgrade, the Enterprise is hijacked by a race of aliens with only Picard and Riker aboard. An above average episode with good character development, particularly Riker. Grade: B+

TOO SHORT A SEASON: The Enterprise is called upon to chauffer an aged admiral to a hostile planet to conduct negotiations. The story focuses on unfamiliar and unsympathetic characters and virtually ignores the regular characters. Grade: C-

WHEN THE BOUGH BREAKS: An advanced but barren race kidnaps some of the Enterprise's children and the crew must figure out how to retrieve them. A dull episode with more "aliens" that don't seem alien. Grade: C-

HOME SOIL: While visiting a terraforming station on a desolate planet, the crew discovers a previously unknown life form--a grouchy blinking light. There is much scientific jargon tossed about, but it can't disguise a flimsy story. Grade: C-

COMING OF AGE: Wesley takes the entrance exams for Starfleet Academy while Picard undergoes an administrative interrogation. There is enough character development to make this episode better than most. Grade: B-

HEART OF GLORY: Arguably the best episode of the first season. The Enterprise rescues fugitive Klingons from a battle-ravaged ship who try to convert Worf to their cause. An intriguing look at the warrior nature of Klingons. Grade: A-

ARSENAL OF FREEDOM: The Enterprise away team beams down to a planet of arms merchants to determine why there are no life signs and are attacked by a machine that wiped out its creators. Ho hum. Grade: C

SYMBIOSIS: After saving the crew of an imperiled freighter, Picard and Co. discover two societies who have an unhealthy dependence on each other. An obvious anti-drug message is the moral of a disjointed story. Grade: C-

SKIN OF EVIL: While rescuing Troi from a crashed shuttle, the Enterprise crew encounter an oily black snowman of pure evil. This creature kills a main character, whose death is quick and undramatic. Despite losing their colleague, hardly a tear is shed among the crew, even during the final eulogy scene. Grade: B-

WE'LL ALWAYS HAVE PARIS: Answering a distress call at a remote outpost, Picard runs into an old flame. The plot involves some techno-malarkey about a rip in the time continuum, but this is secondary to the soapy, unrequited love story. Grade: B-

CONSPIRACY: Picard discovers a conspiracy at the highest levels of Starfleet Command. The story starts strong, but the ending is rushed and disappointing. Low-budget special effects diminish the impact. Grade: B+

THE NEUTRAL ZONE: The Enterprise crew rescue people from the 20th century frozen on a derelict capsule while investigating the destruction of several federation outposts. The episode has litle action, but features the return of the Romulans. Grade: B+