Star Trek: The Next Generationseason 5

Star Trek: The Next Generation
Season 5
Region A/1 Blu-ray cover art
No.of episodes	26
Release
Original network	Broadcast syndication
Original release	September 23, 1991(1991-09-23)– June 15, 1992(1992-06-15)
Season chronology

The fifth season of the Americanscience fiction televisionseriesStar Trek: The Next Generationcommenced airing inbroadcast syndicationin the United States on September 23, 1991, and concluded on June 15, 1992, after airing 26 episodes. Set in the 24th century, the series follows the adventures of the crew of theStarfleetstarshipEnterprise-D.

The premiere episode resolves the cliffhanger from the previous season, revealing the mysterious Romulan commander to be the daughter of the Lt.Tasha Yarfrom the alternate universe created in the third season episode "Yesterday's Enterprise".

This season sees Picard have some of the more memorable experiences of the series, such as learning to communicate with the heretofore unintelligible Tamarians ( "Darmok"), overcoming his dislike of children when he is trapped along with three children after theEnterprise-D is struck by a quantum filament ( "Disaster"), and meeting with AmbassadorSpockonRomulusin "Unification".Most notably, in"The Inner Light",he experiences 40 or so years of life as an iron weaver on an extinct alien world after an encounter with a probe launched before the destruction of that world.

Michelle Forbesjoined the cast as EnsignRo Laren,a Bajoran officer who was initially conceived to be one of the main characters in the upcoming spin-offDeep Space Nine.Wesley also makes a few appearances in this season when he saves theEnterprisefrom an alien game which was actually a mind-control device ( "The Game"), and later atStarfleet Academywhen he participates in a coverup of the circumstances surrounding the death of one of his classmates ( "The First Duty").

The season ends with the discovery of Data's head in a cave underSan Franciscowhich had been sealed for 500 years, and eventually with Data, Picard, La Forge, Troi, Riker and Doctor Crusher trapped in 19th century Earth ( "Time's Arrow").

The logo as seen in the opening credits has a minor change this season only, as it has rear shadows. During production of this season,Star TrekcreatorGene Roddenberrydied of cardiac arrest. Production on the episode "Hero Worship",directed by Patrick Stewart, was halted when news reached the set.

Cast

• Patrick Stewartas CaptainJean-Luc Picard
• Jonathan Frakesas CommanderWilliam T. Riker
• Brent Spineras Lt. Cmdr.Data
• Gates McFaddenas Dr. (Cmdr.)Beverly Crusher
• LeVar Burtonas Lt. Cmdr.Geordi La Forge
• Marina Sirtisas Counselor (Lt. Cmdr.)Deanna Troi
• Michael Dornas Lt.Worf

Recurring characters

• Majel Barrett– Computer voice (7 episodes)/Lwaxana Troi(1 episode)
• Michelle Forbes– EnsignRo Laren(6 episodes)
• Patti Yasutake– EnsignAlyssa Ogawa(5 episodes)
• Colm Meaney– Transporter Chief (Lt.)Miles O'Brien(4 episodes)
• Sheila Franklin – Felton (4 episodes)
• Brian Bonsall–Alexander Rozhenko(4 episodes)
• Whoopi Goldberg–Guinan(4 episodes)
• Rosalind Chao–Keiko O'Brien(3 episodes)
• Denise Crosby– CommanderSela(3 episodes)
• Wil Wheaton–Wesley Crusher(2 episodes)
• Ashley Judd– EnsignRobin Lefler(2 episodes)
• Leonard Nimoy– AmbassadorSpock(2 episodes)

Episodes

See also:List ofStar Trek: The Next Generationepisodes

In the following table, episodes are listed by the order in which they aired.

No. overall	No.in season	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date	Prod. code	Nielsen rating
101	1	"Redemption, Part II"	David Carson	Ronald D. Moore	September 23, 1991(1991-09-23)	201	Unknown
The Klingon Civil War comes to a conclusion.
102	2	"Darmok"	Winrich Kolbe	Story by :Philip LaZebnikandJoe Menosky Teleplay by : Joe Menosky	September 30, 1991(1991-09-30)	202	Unknown
Picardmust learn to communicate with an alien captain who speaks in metaphors before a dangerous beast kills them both. Guest starPaul Winfieldas Dathon.
103	3	"Ensign Ro"	Les Landau	Story by :Rick Berman&Michael Piller Teleplay by : Michael Piller	October 7, 1991(1991-10-07)	203	11.6
After an attack on a Federation outpost,Picardis sent to locate aBajoranterrorist with the help of EnsignRo Laren.
104	4	"Silicon Avatar"	Cliff Bole	Story by : Lawrence V. Conley Teleplay by :Jeri Taylor	October 14, 1991(1991-10-14)	204	12.0
With the help of a scientist whose son lived on Data's homeworld, the crew attempt to communicate with theCrystalline Entity.
105	5	"Disaster"	Gabrielle Beaumont	Story by :Ron Jarvis& Philip A. Scorza Teleplay by : Ronald D. Moore	October 21, 1991(1991-10-21)	205	12.3
TheEnterpriseis heavily damaged after being hit by a space anomaly, trapping Picard in a turbolift with three children and others in various locations. Command of the bridge falls toCounselor Troiwho feels ill-prepared, more so when the threat of a warp core breach endangers the Enterprise.
106	6	"The Game"	Corey Allen	Story by :Susan Sackett&Fred BronsonandBrannon Braga Teleplay by : Brannon Braga	October 28, 1991(1991-10-28)	206	13.4
Wesleyvisits theEnterpriseand finds the crew addicted to a mind-altering computer game. Guest starAshley Juddas Robin Lefler.
107	7	"Unification, Part I"	Les Landau	Story by : Rick Berman & Michael Piller Teleplay by : Jeri Taylor	November 4, 1991(1991-11-04)	208	15.4
Spockis reported to have defected to the Romulans. Picard and Data travel to Romulus in a cloaked Klingon vessel to investigate.
108	8	"Unification, Part II"	Cliff Bole	Story by : Rick Berman & Michael Piller Teleplay by : Michael Piller	November 11, 1991(1991-11-11)	207	15.4
Spock attempts to unify theVulcansandRomulansin peace but falls into a Romulan trap.
109	9	"A Matter of Time"	Paul Lynch	Rick Berman	November 18, 1991(1991-11-18)	209	13.9
An apparent historian from the 26th century visits theEnterprisewhile they help a planet prevent anuclear winter.Guest starMatt Freweras Berlinghoff Rasmussen.
110	10	"New Ground"	Robert Scheerer	Story by : Sara Charno &Stuart Charno Teleplay by :Grant Rosenberg	December 30, 1991(1991-12-30)	210	11.9
Worftries to be a father to his son, Alexander, while theEnterprisehelps to test a new propulsion technology.
111	11	"Hero Worship"	Patrick Stewart	Story by : Hilary J. Bader Teleplay by : Joe Menosky	January 6, 1992(1992-01-06)	211	12.7
Datasaves the life of an orphaned boy who begins to emulate him.
112	12	"Violations"	Robert Wiemer	Story by : Shari Goodhartz & T. Michael and Pamela Gray Teleplay by : Pamela Gray & Jeri Taylor	January 27, 1992(1992-01-27)	212	12.1
A telepathic alien traveling aboard theEnterprisetelepathically assaultsTroiand invades the minds ofBeverly CrusherandWilliam Riker.
113	13	"The Masterpiece Society"	Winrich Kolbe	Story by :James Kahnand Adam Belanoff Teleplay by : Adam Belanoff and Michael Piller	February 3, 1992(1992-02-03)	213	12.0
TheEnterprisehelps a far-flungeugenichuman colony avoid destruction but upsets its delicate balance by ending 200 years of isolation.
114	14	"Conundrum"	Les Landau	Story by :Paul Schiffer Teleplay by : Barry Schkolnick	February 10, 1992(1992-02-10)	214	12.2
The crew's memories are mysteriously erased. They soon discover that they are being manipulated into taking part in a war.
115	15	"Power Play"	David Livingston	Story by : Paul Ruben andMaurice Hurley Teleplay by :René BalcerandHerbert Wright& Brannon Braga	February 17, 1992(1992-02-17)	215	13.2
Troi,O'Brien,andDataare possessed by entities who want control of the ship.
116	16	"Ethics"	Chip Chalmers	Story by : Sara Charno & Stuart Charno Teleplay by : Ronald D. Moore	February 24, 1992(1992-02-24)	216	12.6
Worfbecomes paralyzed, possibly for life, and asks Riker to assist him in the Hegh'bat ceremony, a Klingon suicide ritual.Dr. Crusherconsults a risk-taking researcher to save his life.
117	17	"The Outcast"	Robert Scheerer	Jeri Taylor	March 16, 1992(1992-03-16)	217	12.3
Rikerfalls in love with anandrogynousalien during their efforts to rescue others of the same race who were trapped in "null space".
118	18	"Cause and Effect"	Jonathan Frakes	Brannon Braga	March 23, 1992(1992-03-23)	218	13.0
TheEnterprisebecomes stuck in atime loopbut the crew retain some memory of previous instances. Guest starKelsey Grammeras Morgan Bateson.
119	19	"The First Duty"	Paul Lynch	Ronald D. Moore &Naren Shankar	March 30, 1992(1992-03-30)	219	12.1
Wesleyis questioned over aStarfleet Academyflight training accident. Guest starRay Walstonas Boothby.
120	20	"Cost of Living"	Winrich Kolbe	Peter Allan Fields	April 20, 1992(1992-04-20)	220	11.7
Deanna's mother,Lwaxana,arrives to marry a man she has never met. Worf has difficulty rearing Alexander, which is exacerbated when Lwaxana takes the boy under her wing.
121	21	"The Perfect Mate"	Cliff Bole	Story by :René Echevarriaand Gary Perconte Teleplay by : Gary Perconte and Michael Piller	April 27, 1992(1992-04-27)	221	10.8
Picardforces himself to resist the charms of a female empathic metamorph who is sent to marry an alien leader as a peace offering. Guest starFamke Janssenas Kamala.
122	22	"Imaginary Friend"	Gabrielle Beaumont	Story by : Jean Louise Matthias & Ronald Wilkerson and Richard Fliegel Teleplay by : Edithe Swensen and Brannon Braga	May 4, 1992(1992-05-04)	222	12.1
A child's imaginary playmate takes on a physical form and threatens the well-being of theEnterprise.
123	23	"I, Borg"	Robert Lederman	René Echevarria	May 11, 1992(1992-05-11)	223	12.8
TheEnterpriserescues aBorgsurvivor, whomGeordinames 'Hugh'.Picardplans to upload a destructive computer virus to Hugh so the virus will spread throughout the collective when Hugh is sent back.
124	24	"The Next Phase"	David Carson	Ronald D. Moore	May 18, 1992(1992-05-18)	224	11.7
Atransporteraccident trapsGeordiandEnsign Roout of phase with normal space. While the others plan their funeral, Geordi and Ro must find a way to reverse the process and save theEnterprisefrom destruction.
125	25	"The Inner Light"	Peter Lauritson	Story by :Morgan Gendel Teleplay by : Morgan Gendel and Peter Allan Fields	June 1, 1992(1992-06-01)	225	11.1
A space probe creates a telepathic tether toPicardand causes him to experience, in twenty-five minutes, a lifetime as a married man on a world that was destroyed a millennium ago.
126	26	"Time's Arrow, Part I"	Les Landau	Story by : Joe Menosky Teleplay by : Joe Menosky & Michael Piller	June 15, 1992(1992-06-15)	226	11.8
A 500-year-old artifact is uncovered on Earth:Data's severed head. TheEnterpriseinvestigates alien involvement in Earth's past and Data fulfills his destiny.

Reception

In 2019,CBRrated Season 5 ofStar Trek: The Next Generationas the third best season of allStar Trekseasons up to that time, and the most highly ranked season ofStar Trek: The Next Generation.

External links

• Episode guideArchived2012-03-09 at theWayback Machineat Star Trek