Star Trek: The Next Generation first hit TV screens in 1987, and fans of The Original Series had widely-varying opinions of the new show and what it it meant for the franchise. After all, the last television series had been Star Trek: The Animated Series, more than a decade earlier, and this Next Generation show had a completely new cast, as well as a new Enterprise!
Fortunately, despite some tonal issues and a few shaky seasons, Next Gen found its voice and audience. For seven seasons, the show delighted many fans and created characters we still love today, so let's take a look at a few top-tier choices from the crew of the Enterprise NCC-1701-D.
And with only three slots to fill, this is going to be tough.
3. Worf
Lt. Worf stood out from the very beginning. I remember Starlog magazine parodies and fanzine articles about him asking why the writers thought we wanted a Klingon on the bridge of the Enterprise. Some even said having a familiar species on the bridge was a kind of fan service, in the manner of having DeForest Kelley appear as Admiral McCoy in the pilot episode (looking back on that now brings nothing but tender feelings). However, having Worf on the bridge isn't what made him special--it was the growth he experienced while on board.
Worf likely resonated with viewers who might have felt removed from not only their family, but their culture as well. Orphaned by war and raised by humans, he probably missed many important milestones that would have involved his Klingon family. This duality gave Worf a chance to grow aboard the Enterprise, and his duty to honor and heritage likely inspired fans all over the globe. I have to mention Michael Dorn here, as his portrayal of Worf gives the character so much richness that he's hard to ignore!
2. Data
Deciding who would take the top spot on this list wasn't easy, as the remaining two slots each hold a half of my Trek-loving heart when it comes to Next Gen. Ultimately, it was Commander Data who made me a viewer, and the top-spot character who turned me toward a writing career. I got my start writing for zines.
Why do fans love Data so much? He's a wonderful example of an ever-growing character who seeks humanity yet cannot understand that his words and actions make him more human than some flesh-and-blood beings who thrive on aggression and bloated egos.
Data claims he has no emotions but shows compassion ("Pen Pals," "Hero Worship") and builds a daughter, Lal, because he wants a child in "The Offspring." While Data's abilities to keep Lal's memories are more in a literal sense, he teaches us that holding the memories of our loved ones close keeps them alive. Data's a character full of opposite parts, but somehow they make the whole android so many fans love with a little help from actor Brent Spiner, of course!
1. Q
Who's the virtually omnipotent single-letter being who has the universe in the palm of his hand? Q! And he knows everyone digs it. Brought to life by the uber-talented John de Lancie, this brash, arrogant, annoying, yet somehow loveable forever-being was there from the beginning, judging humanity (but slaying the outfit) as he stuck his nose in Captain Jean-Luc Picard's business again and again.
What makes Q one of the best characters in Next Gen is that he's so familiar without being cliche. He's a trickster, he's mercurial, and, unfortunately for the crew of the Enterprise, ticking them all off is his favorite way to cure boredom ("Qpid," "Q Who").
Q's character adds a touch of humor and farce to the series, which can get extremely dark(Locutus of Borg, I'm looking in your direction) especially when he butts heads with Picard. Picard is the perfect foil for Q, who gets needled by absolutely everything he says and does.
Q is also relatable because don't we all have that one person in our lives who drives us mad, irritates us to to the point of distraction, yet we eventually think of as a sort-of friend or associate? Q was, for all intents and purposes, Picard's ultimate space frenemy.
Are you happy with our list? Who would you have excluded and included with only three slots to fill? It's not an easy task, is it? Share your thoughts and comments with us on the Redshirts Always Die X and Facebook pages.