TV Show - Star trek TNG (part 1)

A few years after I'd started watching Star Trek the original series, a then-small tv station bought a few episodes of several shows, and tried them out on an audience voting system. One of these shows was Star Trek : The next generation. It was the first spin-off series to the original 1966 Star Trek and was also created by Gene Roddenberry, and first aired in the USA .. back in 1987. 
 As the original show had been candled after only 3 years, not fulfilling its 5 year mission, The Next generation remained vague as to its possible duration... Just like the original show, the Captain narrated its introduction, thus : 


Space, the final frontier. These are the voyages of the star ship Enterprise. Its continuing mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilisations, to boldly go where no one has gone before! 

TV show - Star Trek the next generation

Score 9/10

Multiple directors. 
Music : Jerry Goldsmith & Alexandre Courage
Country : USA
Language : English

Duration : 7 seasons, each comprised of 26 episodes, except for the second which counted 22. Total 178 episodes X roughly 44 minutes 
Original airdates : 1987-1994

The writing staff pursued with the original premise, with its many social comments, now expanded and told with more boldness and a grown maturity - especially starting at the fourth season. That isn't to say that the first 3 had no merit nor sophistication, but they had the distinct late 1980's flavour which included a certain naivete. 

Nonetheless, the entire show is quite enjoyable, entertaining and in spite of the lamey costuming and maybe a lack in number of really alien-looking races, it was a largely superior show (with all due respect to the original Star Trek) with its strong dramatic presence of many wonderful actors and actresses, some of which with stage background. 

Star Trek TNG for the intimate brought in a whole new crew, unto a new Enterprise ship freshly built and ready for space exploration lasting from 2364 to 2370, about a century after the Original Star Trek show from 1966. 

It again dealt with family, cooperation between races, a topic which still needed addressed after all those years ; diplomacy as a first answer to political crisis, in an eternal quest for peace. 
Some of the alien races first met in the original show had shifted from foe to friend, whilst others remained steady enemies.

Right from the pilot ''encounter at Farpoint'' which was supposed to be a routine mission turns out quite a menacing situation as a skeleton crew meets the Q, an omnipotent, powerful alien being who puts humanity on trial for its savagery, and shows the crew the dangers that awaits them if they continue in their space travels : a new, very aggressive alien races called the Borg and who's sole purpose is to assimilate all cultures and civilisations they run into, and have no compunction is exterminating everything that stands in its way... These formidable Borgs are off course a metaphor the writers came up with to represent humanity's growing dependency on technology. They, and many other alien races will hold your attention on the vast majority of TNG's episodes which had a tremendous success in story telling, dramatic performances and many social comments.




The crew : 

Patrick Stewart as Captain Jean-Luc Picard, of French origin, is the best diplomat in the galaxy ; a perfect example of a talented negotiator, who's dialogue is aimed at diffusing a tense situation and reach peace, although he's also a very capable soldier if and when needed. He's a wonderful leader, in spite of a certain uneasiness around children, and his biggest passion is archaeology. 
Far less of a woman chaser than  Kirk ever was, he's the embodiment of leadership and dedication to his crew, and his ship. 

Jonathan Frakes as his first officer, one William T. Riker, is a very eager young man who matures over time and learns to be more patient ; yet, he won't take second guesses when he sees fit to disregard the chain of command. A man of the people, he's always close by to talk with his fellow shipmates, and is also very hands on kinda guy - not to mention, his passion for jazz, his appreciation of women's company and... his growing beard!

Brent Spiner as Data, an android with, a mostly human appearance, except for his eyes and circuitry which is sometimes revealed (ok, many a-sometimes!). He's the Pinocchio character, this android with super mental and physical capacities, who'd give it all up to be human. Many episodes revolve around his quest and answer existential, philosophical questions. 

Levar Burton as Geordi La Forge, who quickly becomes the ships chief engineer is gifted as his craft and desperately romantic, seeking love. The actor had to portray his character most of the time with his eyes hidden behind a visor as Geordi was born blind. One can wish the writers had come up with something to treat his blindness and thus offer his tremendous look as he's a very strong actor with his eyes... nonetheless, it gave very interesting plots and a comment that even though he was blind, the future humanity still had a prominent position for him on the ship - a statement full of its own merits, off course - just like the fact that he's black.

Marina Sirtis as the ships concilor, Deanna Troi who's half human, half Betazoid,  she is an empathe which allows to sense other's emotions and help them heal from various trauma, but also to advise the captain of possible treats during alien encounters. A personnlification of both beauty and compassion, Deanna's stories often revolves around her mind, with both its breaks from the usual mental path... 

Gates McFadden as the ship's doctor Beverly Crusher (except season 2) is wholy envelopped in her call to heal others - she won't take a rest until she finds the cause and cure to any odd illness the crew members suffer from and those are many. 

Contrary to ''Bones'' McCoy, she has no acerbic, racially prejudiced dialogs. She's more serene, and throws herself at her two jobs: being the doctor, and a mother to Wesley, also onboard. Some episodes deal with her romantic life.

Michael Dorn as Worf, a Klingon who was raised by humans. He switches positions on the ship during the show. He's taciturn and likes his solitude ; he's a fierce warrior, always eager to protect through violent actions. Luckily, he's also very loyal... Many episodes revolve around him and showcase a very complex political writing by the staff.














Recurring and not so recurring characters include :

Diana Muldaur as Doctor Pulaski- during the second season. She was more outing than Beverly had been in the first season, but also quite vocal at her disdain of Data. As the doctor, she pushed the envelope further but being posted on the enterprise for only a short time didn't give anyone the chance to develop her character.












Wil Wheaton as Wesley Crusher,  a boy genius, whose father died and is now raised on the ship, surrounded by several mothers, including his natural birth one, Beverly Crusher.
Mixed fan reception drove to disembark him and bring him back more sporadically to the show.

Denise Crosby as Tasha Yar : it's really amazing that someone would actually ask to be written out of Star Trek... like, hello ?! don't you feel lucky to be here and should remain and have the time to truly develop your personna? The fans seem to have forgiven her as they adore her just as if she hadn't left the show quite early... Tasha's the first security officer, always ready to show her strength as a woman, equal to any man - and that is a progressive character for 1987 to say the least.

Whoopey Golberg as Guinan, an El-Aurian, a race now almost exint. Like them, she's a listener, lending her ear and advice to anyone coming to Ten Forward, the ship's Bar. Much older than she appears, Guinan has a very close friendship with someone and all the hints and innuendos during her appearances will make you think that there is a lot than meets the eye...







 
John Delancy as the delightfully annoying Q... 

Majel Barret-Roddenberry as... Deanna Troi's mother : Lwaxana. She's an eccentric woman, who'll make you laugh quite often, although some of her episodes are more dramatic and where Majerle's acting versatile talents can be shown.
 












Actors/ Characters from other Star Trek shows appeared, to help transition from one show to another, but I'll let you discover whom they are when they arrive on board...