Family Ties (1987) – A, My Name is Alex, and ‘D’ is for Date

Michael J. Fox gets to really show his range in A, My Name is Alex. A special hour-long episode that was first broadcast on 12 March, 1987. It was written by Alan Uger and series creator Gary David Goldberg. Alex (Keaton) isn’t dealing well with the death of his friend Greg (Brian McNamara). With a…

Star Trek: Picard (2022) – Hide and Seek, and Farewell

The penultimate episode of season two has some solid action beats, and some nice emotional arcs, and reminds us that these characters are flawed and human, and that is why we relate to them. There’s also a nice line that explains the appearance of Picard’s (Patrick Stewart) mother in The Next Generation episode Where No…

Star Trek: The Next Generation (1994) – Genesis, and Journey’s End

Captain’s log: stardate 47653.2 Brannon Braga pens this episode that was directed by Gates McFadden. It first aired on 21 March, 1994. Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) and Data (Brent Spiner) take a shuttle into an asteroid field to retrieve a torpedo that uses a new (malfunctioning) guidance system. Back on the Enterprise, a medical treatment…

Star Trek: The Next Generation (1992) – The First Duty, and Cost of Living

Captain’s log: stardate 45703.9 Airing on 30 March, 1992, and written by Ronald D. Moore and Naren Shankar, The First Duty is a superior episode, and it’s just unfortunate that Robert Duncan McNeill’s character wouldn’t be the same one he played in Star Trek: Voyager. That would have made for some great continuity connecting the…

Star Trek: The Next Generation (1991) – Disaster, and The Game

Captain’s log: stardate 45156.1 Airing on 21 October, 1991, Ronald D. Moore penned the teleplay for this episode from a story created by Ron Jarvis and Philip A. Scorza. Disaster plays much like an Irwin Allen version of a Star Trek episode. Attempting to push characters outside of their comfort zones, or put them in…

Star Trek: The Next Generation (1990) – Final Mission, and The Loss

Captain’s log: stardate 44307.3 This episode was penned by Kasey Arnold-Ince and Jeri Taylor from a story by Arnold-Ince. Airing on 19 November, 1990 this Picard (Patrick Stewart) and Wesley (Wil Wheaton) story. Wesley is preparing to leave for Starfleet Academy, but before that happens, he ends up going on one last mission with his captain….

Star Trek: The Next Generation (1990) – Remember Me, and Legacy

Captain’s log: stardate 44161.2 Gates McFadden gets a long overdue Crusher-centric episode that was written by Lee Sheldon. This episode first aired on 22 October, 1990. The Enterprise arrives at Starbase 133, where Dr. Crusher meets up with an old friend, who is catching a ride home with them. Unfortunately, he disappears, and seemingly has…

Star Trek: The Next Generation (1990) – Sarek, and Menage a Troi

Captain’s log: stardate 43917.4 Airing on 14 May, 1990, Star Trek: The Next Generation began formal relations with the Original Series when it debuted the episode Sarek. Written by Peter S. Beagle based on an unpublished story by Marc Cushman and Jake Jacobs. Sarek (Mark Lenard returning to the role) at the age of 202,…