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Season 5 – Star Trek: The Next Generation

Play trailer Poster for Season 5 – Star Trek: The Next Generation Sep 1991 Sci-Fi Fantasy Adventure Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 6 Reviews 96% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
Featuring a bigger and better USS Enterprise, this series is set 78 years after the original series -- in the 24th century. Instead of Capt. James Kirk, a less volatile and more mature Capt. Jean-Luc Picard heads the crew of various humans and alien creatures in their adventures in space -- the final frontier.
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Star Trek: The Next Generation — Season 5

Critics Reviews

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Duncan Barrett Guardian Oct 3, 2017
In many ways, Darmok is the quintessential Star Trek episode: it's about cooperation, cross-cultural understanding and it embodies the utopian ethos that has always been at the heart of this seemingly bottomless franchise. Go to Full Review Zack Handlen AV Club Oct 2, 2017
B+
After an increasingly self-assured third season, TNG upped its game in impressive fashion with one of the best cliffhangers in the history of genre TV. Go to Full Review Chris Gardner The Post NZ Oct 3, 2017
It's full of great moments as Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and Lt Cmdr Data (Brent Spiner) shanghai a Kilingon ship to go undercover on Romulas in a search for Spock. Go to Full Review Juliette Harrisson Den of Geek Oct 2, 2017
The Inner Light, another of the series' top episodes, once again shows off Patrick Stewart's acting range. Go to Full Review Michael Simpson SciFiNow Oct 2, 2017
5/5
It's a far cry from the current cinematic vision of the franchise, which puts spectacle before substance and gives characters little time to pause and reflect. Go to Full Review Jeremy Conrad IGN Movies Oct 2, 2017
9/10
Season Five of TNG is probably best described as the 'deep' season, due to some of the great stories that were told in this year Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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leos not L @scott73 Jul 5, 2026 this season has 3 very good episodes . darmok , i borg and i forget the name of the other but like others years it has its misfires . i though like this year the best it is one the strongest imo but can’t really go beyond my 4 out 5 the filler episodes hold it back See more Marco L @decatur555 Jan 7, 2026 Star Trek: The Next Generation isn’t just science fiction—it’s a deeply human series built on ethical questions rather than spectacle. Instead of relying on action or shock, it trusts dialogue, doubt, and moral complexity. Decisions matter here, and every choice carries consequences. Jean-Luc Picard leads through empathy and reason, not force, making the show feel quietly radical even today. Themes often labeled "modern" were already present: racism, authoritarianism, identity, and individual rights—handled with intelligence instead of slogans. Through characters like Data, the series explores dignity and humanity with rare depth. The Federation itself is imperfect, constantly questioning its own values, which keeps the show honest and relevant. TNG hasn’t aged poorly because it never chased trends. It focused on ideas that still challenge us—and still ask whether we’re willing to live up to them. See more Andrew S @Malasita Oct 27, 2025 Peak Star Trek. I use to watch this when I was a kid and started watching it again. It’s still great and entertaining. See more David K @RT03452373 Oct 10, 2024 One of the best science fiction shows in the history of TV! My favorite heroes, my favorite series and my favorite franchise! See more George T @RT99527408 Mar 17, 2024 Hey! Writers of new Trek! Watch this! It will teach you about Star Trek. See more Eddy C @EddyDarkstar Mar 29, 2022 The most overrated Trek series in history, not a patch on TOS or the New DISCO. Some good episodes but way too much filler and plot hole weird episodes. Poor season See more Read all reviews
Star Trek: The Next Generation — Season 5

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Cast & Crew

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Patrick Stewart

Capt. Jean-Luc Picard

Jonathan Frakes

Cmdr. William Riker

LeVar Burton

Lt. Cmdr. Geordi La Forge

Michael Dorn

Lt. Worf

Gates McFadden

Dr. Beverly Crusher

Marina Sirtis

Counselor Deanna Troi

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Sep 23, 1991 Redemption II Believing the Romulans are behind the Klingon civil war, Picard involves Starfleet; a Romulan commander reveals a startling relationship. Details Episode 2 Aired Sep 30, 1991 Darmok The Enterprise encounters a civilization which communicates only in metaphor; in an effort to foster understanding, their leader transports himself and Picard onto the surface of a planet where they are hunted by a beast. Details Episode 3 Aired Oct 7, 1991 Ensign Ro A Starfleet admiral, unwittingly being used by outside forces, involves the Enterprise crew in a deadly conspiracy. Details Episode 4 Aired Oct 14, 1991 Silicon Avatar When the Crystalline Entity reappears, Picard and Data try to establish communication with it before it is destroyed by a vengeful scientist. Details Episode 5 Aired Oct 21, 1991 Disaster A natural force damages the Enterprise, trapping Picard in a turbolift and forcing Troi to act as captain. Details Episode 6 Aired Oct 28, 1991 The Game A vacationing Wesley returns to the Enterprise to find the crew slowly becoming addicted to a new electronic mind game. Details Episode 7 Aired Nov 4, 1991 Unification I Picard and Data travel to Romulus to investigate an unauthorized mission undertaken by a legendary Federation representative -- Ambassador Spock. Details Episode 8 Aired Nov 11, 1991 Unification II Spock proceeds with his quest for the reunification of Vulcan and Romulus even though he and Picard are suspicious of Romulan motives. Details Episode 9 Aired Nov 18, 1991 A Matter of Time A man claiming to be from the future appears on the Enterprise bridge; Picard considers a risky plan to save a dying planet. Details Episode 10 Aired Jan 6, 1992 New Ground Worf is faced with taking a more active part in his son's life; the Enterprise prepares to test a new propulsion method. Details Episode 11 Aired Jan 27, 1992 Hero Worship A traumatized boy rescued from a wrecked ship is drawn to Data; Picard attempts to discover the cause of the vessel's destruction. Details Episode 12 Aired Feb 3, 1992 Violations Troi, Riker and Dr. Crusher fall into unexplained comas while the Enterprise is transporting a group of telepathic historians. Details Episode 13 Aired Feb 10, 1992 The Masterpiece Society The delicate stability of a genetically engineered society hangs in the balance when the Enterprise tries to prevent a planet's destruction. Details Episode 14 Aired Feb 17, 1992 Conundrum Amnesia leaves the crew with the ability to run the ship but no memory of becoming involved in a war they find themselves fighting. Details Episode 15 Aired Feb 24, 1992 Power Play Troi, Data and O'Brien are enveloped by a strange cloud that affects changes in their personalities and causes them to take over the ship. Details Episode 16 Aired Mar 2, 1992 Ethics Dr. Crusher and a colleague disagree over an experimental operation for Worf, who is paralyzed after an accident and considering a Klingon suicide ritual. Details Episode 17 Aired Mar 16, 1992 The Outcast Riker enters into a dangerous liaison with a member of the androgynous J'naii race, who considers herself to only have one gender, a crime in J'naii society. Details Episode 18 Aired Mar 23, 1992 Cause and Effect The ship is trapped in a time warp that forces the crew to endlessly repeat the same experiences, and could ultimately lead to their destruction. Details Episode 19 Aired Mar 30, 1992 The First Duty Wesley Crusher allows himself to become involved in a cover-up of a Starfleet Academy accident that cost the life of one of his friends. Details Episode 20 Aired Apr 20, 1992 Cost of Living As the ship encounters mechanical problems, Lwaxana Troi takes Worf's son under her wing while she prepares for her wedding. Details Episode 21 Aired Apr 27, 1992 The Perfect Mate Picard finds himself attracted to a beautiful woman being given as a gift to promote reconciliation between two warring systems. Details Episode 22 Aired May 4, 1992 Imaginary Friend While exploring a rare nebula around a neutron star, the Enterprise's safety is threatened by a little girl's imaginary playmate. Details Episode 23 Aired May 11, 1992 I, Borg An encounter with an injured adolescent Borg affords Picard the opportunity to remove the Borg threat forever. Details Episode 24 Aired May 18, 1992 The Next Phase Geordi and Ro disappear and are presumed dead after a transporting maneuver from a disabled Romulan science ship goes awry. Details Episode 25 Aired Jun 1, 1992 The Inner Light Picard awakens after being hit by a mysterious particle stream to find he is living another life on a strange planet. Details Episode 26 Aired Jun 15, 1992 Time's Arrow Data is transported back in time to 19th-century San Francisco, where he hopes to solve the mystery of his death. Details

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Star Trek: The Next Generation — Season 5

Star Trek: The Next Generation Star Trek: The Next Generation Star Trek: The Next Generation Star Trek: The Next Generation View more photos

Season Info

Director
Les Landau, Winrich Kolbe, David Carson, Paul Lynch, Cliff Bole, Robert Scheerer, Gabrielle Beaumont, Jeri Taylor
Executive Producer
Gene Roddenberry, Rick Berman, Michael Piller
Screenwriter
Brannon Braga, Jeri Taylor, Michael Piller, Peter Allan Fields, Barry M. Schkolnick, Morgan Gendel, Rene Balcer, Ronald D. Moore, Joe Menosky
Network
Syndicated
Rating
TV-PG
Genre
Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Adventure, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date
Sep 23, 1991
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