Star Trek TNG Season 4 Episodes That Broke The No-Serialization Rule You Never Noticed

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In my exploration through the galaxy, I found that Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG) generally avoided long-running story arcs during its seven seasons. However, certain episodes in season 4 served as a continuation of earlier narratives, much like how Star Trek: The Original Series (OSTS) used to do. Initially, TNG followed the same pattern as OSTS, delivering standalone stories that were self-contained within each episode. This approach remained prevalent throughout TNG’s journey, but occasionally, episodes deviated from this norm by revisiting stories initiated in previous episodes. Despite these occasional narrative threads, TNG usually restored the status quo by the end of each episode.

By the conclusion of Star Trek: The Next Generation, Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and his crew onboard the USS Enterprise-D were largely similar to their initial selves. Lt. Commander Data (Brent Spiner) had the most significant character development, with his pursuit of humanity being a main focus, though this aspect was left unresolved at the end of the series (disregarding the movie’s emotion chip storyline). However, TNG occasionally granted its characters more opportunities for growth, as demonstrated in season 4 episodes such as “Family” and “Data’s Day.

Star Trek: The Next Generation’s “Family” Is A Sequel To “The Best Of Both Worlds”

Picard Faces His Borg Trauma In TNG Season 4, Episode 2, “Family”

Season 3 of Star Trek: The Next Generation concluded with a dramatic impact, setting a trend for season-ending cliffhangers that carried over into both Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager. In “The Best of Both Worlds, Part I,” Captain Picard was assimilated by the Borg and morphed into Locutus. As Locutus, he served as the Borg’s spokesperson during the Battle of Wolf 359, where he was compelled to watch the devastation of 39 Starfleet starships at the hands of the Borg. The final moments of “The Best of Both Worlds, Part II” show a troubled Picard, but TNG provided him with another episode to grapple with his emotional turmoil.

In “Family,” I, Jean-Luc, paid a visit to my brother Robert (Jeremy Kemp). The harrowing ordeal I faced as Locutus left me contemplating a shift from the Enterprise to a role on Earth. After an intense mud wrestling encounter, I eventually shared my ordeal with my brother. He listened patiently as I vented, then gently reminded me that I would need to come to terms with my experience, regardless of where I served – either on the Enterprise or on Earth. It was heartening to see “Family” acknowledge and address my visible distress, rather than swiftly transitioning to a new adventure without acknowledging the changes brought about by my experiences.

Star Trek: The Next Generation’s “Data’s Day” Is A Sequel To “The Measure Of A Man”

Data Builds A Friendship With Dr. Bruce Maddox In TNG Season 4, Episode 11, “Data’s Day”

One of the standout episodes from Star Trek: The Next Generation’s fourth season, titled “Data’s Day,” serves as a continuation of the events from season 2’s “The Measure of a Man.” In “The Measure of a Man,” Dr. Bruce Maddox (played by Brian Brophy) arrives on the Enterprise with the intention to disassemble Data for further examination. Captain Picard defends Data, and their ensuing trial conclusively determines that Data possesses the autonomy to make his own decisions. Initially regarding Data as an object, Maddox undergoes a change of perspective by the episode’s conclusion.

In “Data’s Day,” it is disclosed that Data has initiated a dialogue with Maddox, who wishes to delve deeper into Data and his coding. Throughout the episode, Data recounts his experiences and shares his observations about humans, acknowledging he has much more to understand. While “Data’s Day” doesn’t explicitly tie into “The Measure of a Man,” the episode concludes with Data reinforcing his wish to uncover his own humanity. Shows like “Star Trek: The Next Generation” demonstrated their prowess in serialized storytelling when given the opportunity.

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2025-04-28 23:59