With the Picard series ready to go into production, it’s the perfect time to look back at what originally made Captain Jean-Luc Picard so awesome.

Image: Paramount Pictures

It’s hard to believe that when Sir Patrick Stewart was first cast as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in The Next Generation, the only thing fans could seem to discuss was his lack of hair.

Now remember, this was way back in 1987. Twitter, Facebook and social media in general were only a germ of an idea. Back then there was no way for fans to bitch and moan anonymously. If you wanted to complain about something you had to do it in person at a Star Trek convention, of which there were still lots and lots at that time.

And fans did complain. About how can there still be baldness in the 24th century? Why was the new captain of the Enterprise French? How come he wasn’t more similar to Captain Kirk?

Amazing how things haven’t changed all that much in Star Trek fandom.

In any event, over the course of seven seasons and four movies, Stewart won over Trekkers everywhere with his portrayal of Captain Picard. The character has since become an icon and many fans will readily name him as their all-time favorite captain in Star Trek, something that seemed unthinkable back in 1987.

Much of the credit for that can go to Stewart and his amazing ability to bring the character to life. Even in that first season, which everyone can agree was not the best example of great storytelling, Stewart shinned as Captain Picard. He quickly made the bridge of the Enterprise his own and took Star Trek as a franchise to another level.

Now fans are going to get something they never in a million years would have thought was possible. Later this year we will get new adventures of Picard as Patrick Stewart returns to a character everyone, himself included, thought he was done with.

The new series, which picks up sometime after Star Trek: Nemesis (exactly when has been up for some debate) and if the producers get their wish will run for three seasons. Star Trek: Picard is being marketed as something between an ongoing and limited series and Stewart will be executive producing as well as starring.

With the show getting ready to go into production, it seemed like the perfect time to look back at what exactly made Picard such a fan favorite. These are the five episodes (give or take) of The Next Generation that took Picard and made him a legend. The episodes that, if you are new to Star Trek, you have to watch before Picard arrives later in 2019.

These are Captain Picard’s greatest hits. And they start with the episode that changed everything.