6 TNG S1 Episodes to Skip: Code of Honor & More

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Season 1 of “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” set a century after the original series, is often seen as the show’s most challenging season. Certain episodes from this season can be safely skipped. Despite eventually becoming one of the best science fiction TV shows ever made, “TNG” had its stumbling blocks during its first season, as it was finding its rhythm.

Season 1 of “Star Trek: The Next Generation” wasn’t all subpar; it introduced fantastic characters and set the foundation for later seasons. However, some season 1 episodes are best forgotten as they echoed the flaws of the original series, often being dull, illogical, or even distasteful. Despite Patrick Stewart’s consistently captivating portrayal of Captain Picard, the weakest episodes of “TNG” couldn’t be salvaged. Yet, the finest episodes from season 1 hinted at the greatness that was yet to unfold.

6. “Code Of Honor”

Star Trek: The Next Generation – Season 1, Episode 4

In a different phrasing, numerous actors from “Star Trek: The Next Generation” have often criticized the episode titled “Code of Honor” as being their least favorite. And it’s not hard to see why. During a visit to Ligon II, the Enterprise encounters a leader named Lutan (Jessie Lawrence Ferguson), who develops an obsession with Lt. Tasha Yar (Denise Crosby) and abducts her. The episode features questionable gender roles and a fight-to-the-death, which unfortunately relies on many tired Star Trek tropes.

Although an episode focusing on Tasha Yar might have been interesting, “Code of Honor” doesn’t add anything fresh to her character. Most parts of the episode fail to impress, and choosing to portray only Black actors as the primitive Ligonians gives off a racially insensitive vibe. Apart from a brief moment where Lieutenant Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton) attempts to explain humor to Lieutenant Commander Data (Brent Spiner), there isn’t much in this episode that you’d regret missing.

5. “Lonely Among Us”

Star Trek: The Next Generation – Season 1, Episode 7

The title “Lonely Among Us” might not stand out as one of the worst episodes among this collection, but it’s surprisingly unmemorable and lacks compelling reasons to watch it. This episode revolves around an ethereal extraterrestrial entity that infiltrates various crew members on the Starship Enterprise during their journey to a conference. When Assistant Engineer Singh (Kavi Raz) is found dead, Captain Picard initiates a murder investigation.

In this scenario, two extraterrestrial envoys on board are chief suspects, but Data, in a manner reminiscent of detective Sherlock Holmes, deduces that they are not culprits. At a certain juncture, Captain Picard combines with the entity and momentarily transforms into pure energy, followed by Data reviving him using the transporter. Essentially, “Lonely Among Us” is primarily filler, and beyond Data’s growing fondness for Sherlock Holmes, it doesn’t offer fresh insights or intriguing character development.

4. “Justice”

Star Trek: The Next Generation – Season 1, Episode 8

In the series “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” Wil Wheaton’s character, Wesley Crusher, wasn’t particularly well-liked by many fans. Episodes like “Justice” didn’t make him more popular either. A situation in the episode “Justice,” where Wesley unintentionally destroys a garden on Rubicun III, led to his sentencing to death by the native Edo people. Captain Picard then had to navigate a solution to save Wesley without blatantly violating Starfleet’s Prime Directive.

In the episode titled “Justice,” there’s a thought-provoking ethical dilemma hidden within, but it struggles to maintain its relevance. The plot is somewhat absurd (and the Edo characters’ costumes don’t exactly enhance the seriousness), and the application of the Prime Directive appears haphazard at best. Although Picard gives a passable speech, future episodes will feature more powerful ones from Captain Picard, making “Justice” an episode that can be comfortably overlooked.

3. “Angel One”

Star Trek: The Next Generation – Season 1, Episode 14

Among the many episodes of “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” “Angel One” is often cited as one of the most controversial. The plot revolves around Commander William Riker (Jonathan Frakes) who gets involved romantically with a female society’s leader. Although it aimed to challenge traditional gender roles, the final outcome appears to be highly discriminatory towards women, offering little in the way of positive aspects.

The show titled “Angel One” took aspects from “Star Trek: The Original Series” that were less than appealing, resulting in an episode that was both dull and upsetting. Despite its supposed feminist themes, the final speech and rescue mission were handled by Riker, which weakens the message of empowerment. Additionally, apart from introducing Romulans for the first time on “TNG,” this episode has minimal links to the broader “Star Trek” universe, making it a good choice to pass over.

2. “Too Short A Season”

Star Trek: The Next Generation – Season 1, Episode 16

In “Too Short a Season,” there are some intriguing aspects, however, the overall content leaves little impact. When Admiral Mark Jameson (Clayton Rohner) joins the Enterprise crew for a hostage situation, he starts using a drug that rewinds his age. Unfortunately, the storyline focuses more on Admiral Jameson instead of Captain Picard and his team, and despite Clayton Rohner’s efforts, the admiral fails to captivate as a lead character, leaving his performance insufficient to sustain the episode.

In the series, Jameson’s interactions with Karnas and the citizens of Mordan IV could have made an interesting narrative, but instead, viewers find him extremely hard to like during the episode. Regrettably, since Jameson dominates the screen time in “Too Short a Season,” there are few favorable character developments among the main cast that would justify watching it. We assure you, there’s not much to lose by giving this one a pass.

1. “We’ll Always Have Paris”

Star Trek: The Next Generation – Season 1, Episode 24

Although “We’ll Always Have Paris” isn’t terribly bad, it’s an episode that doesn’t leave much of an impact on the larger narrative of Star Trek: The Next Generation. The storyline revolves around the return of one of Captain Picard’s past loves, Jenice (portrayed by Michelle Phillips), who is now married to scientist Dr. Paul Manheim (played by Rod Loomis). As Manheim’s scientific experiments start causing unusual temporal disruptions, Data and the crew embark on a mission to find a resolution.

It’s intriguing to catch a peek into Captain Picard’s past beyond the Enterprise, yet “We’ll Always Have Paris” doesn’t give us many details, and the character Jenice is never mentioned again. The episode’s time jumps are entertaining, but overall, “We’ll Always Have Paris” disappoints and concludes weakly. Not every episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation needs to be thought-provoking about human nature, but some fail to provide much content and can be easily passed over.

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2025-04-28 02:18