4. Darmok
Season 5, Episode 2 written by Joe Menosky and directed by Winrich Kolbe. Over the years, the Federation has attempted several communications with the Tamarian people. Their species interfaces not only in a foreign tongue, but one structured around allegory and metaphor. The universal translator can unlock their words, but the speech still appears as gibberish. Alongside a confused Tamarian captain (Paul Winfield), Picard is stranded on a savage alien planet. The two must understand each other if they are ever to defend themselves from an invisible invading force. Things get hairy, but the moment their minds meet is as joyous as it is tragic.
3. Tapestry
Season 6, Episode 15 written by Ronald D. Moore and directed by Les Landau. Picard dies in sickbay and awakens in the afterlife…kinda. The alien space god Q (John de Lancie) greets him only to explain that the artificial heart he received after a barroom brawl during his Academy days is irrevocably damaged. If Picard had a natural heart in this scenario, he would not have perished today. Picard makes a small comment regarding regret and Q snaps his fingers. Suddenly, the captain is living It’s A Wonderful Life, given opportunities to live his history differently. Obviously, Picard discovers that some mistakes were necessary for growth and he wouldn’t be the man today without surviving the failures.
2. The Best of Both Worlds Parts 1 and 2
Season 3, Episode 26, Season 4, Episode 1 written by Michael Piller and directed by Cliff Bole. If you are already familiar with one or two episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation than most likely it’s “The Best of Both Worlds.” The series has never been more cinematic. In the previous season, Q flung the Enterprise deep into the unknown galaxies of the Delta Quadrant where they first encountered the Borg. It took them nearly a year, but the zombie-like consumers of organic matter finally catch up to the Federation in this action-packed two-parter. The third season climaxes with the Enterprise failing in their first tactical engagement and the Borg kidnapping Picard to act as their cybernetic liaison. Resistance is futile. Season 4 kicks off with Riker leading the charge to destroy his brainwashed captain and finding a plan B at the last minute. If you truly want to understand why Picard is freaking out with a holodeck Tommy gun in Star Trek: First Contact then you gotta watch “The Best of Both Worlds,” and based on the Star Trek: Picard teaser, it looks like it will be essential material for that Borg-full series as well.
1. Family
Season 4, Episode 2 written by Ronald D. Moore and directed by Les Landau. Spoilers for “The Best of Both Worlds”: Captain Jean-Luc Picard survives! Needing time to physically and mentally recover from his encounter with the Borg, Picard returns to Earth to visit with his brother on their family vineyard. Their relationship is tense with jealousies raging high on both sides. There is no action here, just character, and when people ask me to name the single best episode of Star Trek, I point to “Family.” Week after week, we come to Star Trek to explore the potential of humanity and the bright hope that there will be a future for us all to live within. The alien battles are fun, but we also know they’re a distraction from the true goal of Gene Roddenberry. Connectivity is the endgame; meeting the outsider and recognizing them as a mirror image. The same concept can and should be applied to those in our family, and it’s deeply emotional and satisfying to see Picard come to that realization in this stunning work of sci-fi television.
Related Topics: CBS, Patrick Stewart, Star Trek, Star Trek: Picard
