Below is a rated list of every episode of The Next Generation, letting you know which episodes we think are worth checking out if you are new to Star Trek. **BUT** if you’d like to do a quicker watch-through, hitting only the essential episodes of the series, we’ve provided a 20 episode list to brush up on TNG in the least amount of time possible.

If you are totally new to Star Trek or Next Generation, we recommend a “taste test” before a chronological viewing. Get an idea of a typical episode of The Next Generation before taking the dive.

Watch any or all of the following episodes. They’re fun, thoughtful stand alone stories from across the run of TNG, and you don’t need to know anything about the series to enjoy them. They aren’t necisarily the best episodes, because those tend to build from the viewer’s understanding of the characters and previous incidents, but they’ll give you a good idea if you want to continue.

The Taste Test:

The Defector (Season 3, episode 10)

Take a glimpse at the political intrigue in the world of The Next Generation via this dramatic espionage focused story concerning a Romulan requesting sanctuary aboard the Enterprise, claiming his people are planning a horrible attack that will plunge the two powers into war.

Data’s Day (Season 4, episode 11)

Looking for something with lower stakes? Data’s Day showcases what it might be like aboard the Enterprise when there isn’t something crazy going down. It’s funny, lighthearted, and a great introduction to the main cast. Timescape (Season 6, episode 25)

This is the episode to watch if you want to see some weird sci-fi stuff. Picard, Data, Geordi and Troi are returning from a conference only to find The Enterprise frozen in time, and seemingly locked in battle with an enemy ship!

Now, if you watched one or all of those and liked what you saw, but aren’t sure you have the time to watch *every* good episode of Next Generation, here are 20 bare-minimum episodes. This is also not necessarily our top twenty favorite episodes. We started by selecting the most consequential episodes (Chain of Command, for instance) as well as some episodes that are so good they can’t be missed. We also tried to include episodes that are considered classics, even if they rate a little lower for us, (Darmok and Measure of A Man, for instance) so you can be in on the Trek conversation. Lastly, we tried to sculpt the overall viewing experience, so there is a balance between types of episodes, and you don’t get a block of heavier episodes in a row. Happy watching!

One other note – it gets off to a rocky start, but Encounter at Farpoint is vital to the arc of the show, so start there. They should be watched in the listed order:

The Essentials:

1. & 2.) Encounter at Farpoint (Season 1, episode 1)

3.) The Measure of A Man (Season 2, episode 9) 4.) Q Who (Season 2, episode 16) 5.) Yesterday’s Enterprise (Season 3, episode 15) 6. & 7.) The Best of Both Worlds, parts 1 and 2 (Season 3, episode 26 & Season 4, episode 1) 8.) Family (Season 4, episode 2) 9.) The Drumhead (Season 4, episode 21) 10.) Darmok (Season 5, episode 2) 11.) Ensign Ro (Season 5, episode 3) 12.) Conundrum (Season 5, episode 14) 13.) The Inner Light (Season 5, episode 25) 14. & 15.) Time’s Arrow (Seasons 5 & 6, episodes 26 & 1) 16. & 17.) Chain of Command, Parts 1 & 2 (Season 6, episodes 10 & 11) 18.) The Chase (Season 6, episode 20) 19. & 20.) All Good Things… (Season 7, episode 25 & 26)

If you just want to see what we think of an episode, or if you want to spend a little more time with the show (without watching all 176 episodes) below are all our ratings. Each one links to a (spoilery) review of the episode. (We’re working our way through reviews currently, but we’ll be done soon!)

Season One

Encounter at Farpoint Rating: 3 – Watch

The Naked Now Rating: 1 – Skip

Code of Honor Rating: 1 – Skip

The Last Outpost Rating: 2 – Skippable

Where No One Has Gone Before Rating: 2 – Skippable

Lonely Among Us Rating: 2 – Skippable

Justice Rating: 1 – Skip

The Battle Rating: 2 – Skippable

Hide and Q Rating: 2 – Skippable

Haven Rating: 1 – Skip

The Big Goodbye Rating: 2 – Skippable

Datalore Rating: 2 – Skippable

Angel One Rating: 1 – Skip

11001001 Rating: 2 – Skippable

Too Short a Season Rating: 2 – Skippable

When the Bough Breaks Rating: 2 – Skippable

Home Soil Rating: 2 – Skippable

Coming of Age Rating: 3 – Watch

Heart of Glory Rating: 2 – Skippable

The Arsenal of Freedom Rating: 3 – Watch

Symbiosis Rating: 3 – Watch

Skin of Evil Rating: 2 – Watch for continuity

We’ll Always Have Paris Rating: 2 – Skippable

Conspiracy Rating: 4 – Watch

The Neutral Zone Rating: 3 – Watch

Season Two

The Child Rating: 2 – Watch: new characters are introduced

Where Silence Has Lease Rating: 2 – Skippable

Elementary, Dear Data Rating: 3 – Watch

The Outrageous Okona Rating: 1 – Skip

Loud as a Whisper Rating: 2 – Skippable

The Schizoid Man Rating: 2 – Skippable

Unnatural Selection Rating: 2 – Skippable

A Matter of Honor Rating: 4 – Watch

The Measure of a Man Rating: 3 – Watch

The Dauphin Rating: 1 – Skip

Contagion Rating: 4 – Watch

The Royale Rating: 2 – Skippable

Time Squared Rating: 3 – Watch

The Icarus Factor Rating: 2 – Skippable

Pen Pals Rating: 3 – Watch

Q Who Rating: 4 – Watch

Samaritan Snare Rating: 2 – Skippable

Up the Long Ladder Rating: 2 – Skippable

Manhunt Rating: 2 – Skippable

The Emissary Rating: 2 – Watch for continuity

Peak Performance Rating: 4 – Watch

Shades of Gray Rating: 0 – Skip

Season Three

Evolution Rating: 2 – Skippable

The Ensigns of Command Rating: 3 – Watch

The Survivors Rating: 2 – Skippable

Who Watches the Watchers Rating: 2 – Skippable

The Bonding Rating: 4 – Watch

Booby Trap Rating: 2 – Skippable

The Enemy Rating: 3 – Watch

The Price Rating: 1 – Skip

The Vengeance Factor Rating: 3 – Watch

The Defector Rating: 5 – Watch

The Hunted Rating: 3 – Watch

The High Ground Rating: 3 – Watch

Deja Q Rating: 3 – Watch

A Matter of Perspective Rating: 3 – Watch

Yesterday’s Enterprise Rating: 5 – Watch

The Offspring Rating: 2 – Skippable

Sins of the Father Rating: 4 – Watch

Allegiance Rating: 3 – Watch

Captain’s Holiday Rating: 3 – Watch

Tin Man Rating: 2 – Skippable

Hollow Pursuits Rating: 2 – Watch: new character introduced

The Most Toys Rating: 3 – Watch

Sarek Rating: 2 – Skippable

Menage a Troi Rating: 1 – Skip

Transfigurations Rating: 2 – Skippable

The Best of Both Worlds Rating: 5 – Watch

Season Four

The Best of Both Worlds, Part II Rating: 4 – Watch

Family Rating: 3 – Watch

Brothers Rating: 3 – Watch

Suddenly Human Rating: 2 – Skip

Remember Me Rating: 3 – Watch

Legacy Rating: 2 – Skippable

Reunion Rating: 4 – Watch

Future Imperfect Rating: 3 – Watch

Final Mission Rating: 2 – Watch for continuity

The Loss Rating: 1 – Skip

Data’s Day Rating: 3 – Watch

The Wounded Rating: 3 – Watch

Devil’s Due Rating: 3 – Watch

Clues Rating: 3 – Watch

First Contact Rating: 3 – Watch

Galaxy’s Child Rating: 2 – Skippable

Night Terrors Rating: 2 – Skippable

Identity Crisis Rating: 2 – Skippable

The Nth Degree Rating: 2 – Skippable

Qpid Rating: 3 – Watch

The Drumhead Rating: 3 – Watch

Half A Life Rating: 3 – Watch

The Host Rating: 2 – Skippable

The Mind’s Eye Rating: 3 – Watch

In Theory Rating: 3 – Watch

Redemption, Part I Rating: 3 – Watch

Season Five

Redemption, Part II Rating: 4 – Watch

Darmok: 3 – Watch

Ensign Ro: 4 – Watch

Silicon Avatar: 2 – Skippable

Disaster: 4 – Watch

The Game: 3 – Watch

Unification I: 4 – Watch

Unification II: 3 – Watch

A Matter of Time: 3 – Watch

New Ground: 2 – Skippable

Hero Worship: 3 – Watch

Violations: 1 – Skip

The Masterpiece Society: 2 – Skippable

Conundrum: 4 – Watch

Power Play: 3 – Watch

Ethics: 3 – Watch

The Outcast: 2 – Skippable

Cause and Effect: 3 – Watch

The First Duty: 3 – Watch

Cost of Living: 1 – Skip

The Perfect Mate: 1 – Skip

Imaginary Friend: 1 – Skip

I Borg: 3 – Watch

The Next Phase: 3 – Watch

The Inner Light: 4 – Watch

Time’s Arrow, Part I: 4 – Watch

Season Six

Time’s Arrow, Part II: 3 – Watch

Realm of Fear: 3 – Watch

Man of the People: 1 – Skip

Relics: 4 – Watch

Schisms: 3 – Watch

True Q: 2 – Skippable

Rascals: 1 – Skip

A Fistful of Datas: 2 – Skippable

The Quality of Life: 2 – Skippable

Chain of Command, Part I: 4 – Watch

Chain of Command, Part II: 5 – Watch

Ship in a Bottle: 3 – Watch

Aquiel: 2 – Skippable

Face of the Enemy: 3 – Watch

Tapestry: 4 – Watch

Birthright, Part I: 2 – Watch for continuity

Birthright, Part II: 3 – Watch

Starship Mine: 3 – Watch

Lessons: 2 – Skippable

The Chase: 3 – Watch

Frame of Mind: 2 – Skippable

Suspicions: 2 – Skippable

Rightful Heir: 2 – Skippable

Second Chances: 2 – Skippable

Timescape: 4 – Watch

Descent, Part I: 2 – Watch for continuity

Season Seven

Descent, Part II: 2 – Watch for continuity

Liaisons: 2 – Skippable

Interface: 2 – Skippable

Gambit, Part I: 3 – Watch

Gambit, Part II: 3 – Watch

Phantasms: 3 – Watch

Dark Page: 2 – Skippable

Attached: 2 – Watch for continuity

Force of Nature: 2 – Skippable

Inheritance: 2 – Skippable

Parallels: 3 – Watch

The Pegasus: 4 – Watch

Homeward: 3 – Watch

Sub Rosa: 1 – Skip

Lower Decks: 4 – Watch

Thine Own Self: 4 – Watch

Masks: 1 – Skip

Eye of the Beholder: 2 – Skippable

Genesis: 3 – Watch

Journey’s End: 1 – Watch for continuity? Ugh its lame tho

Firstborn: 2 – Skippable

Bloodlines: 2 – Skippable

Emergence: 2 – Skippable

Preemptive Strike: 3 – Watch

All Good Things…: 5 – Watch