Star Trek: The Next Generation

Set 78 years after the original Star Trek missions, these are the new voyages of the USS Enterprise, now upgraded to Galaxy Class and with a new captain and crew onboard.

The new Enterprise has eight times the interior space of the original ship and while Captain Kirk's crew numbered 430, the new captain, Jean-Luc Picard has 1,012 under his command!

Picard is far less inclined to heroic actions than his predecessor, James T Kirk. Picard prefers to let the "Away Teams" deal with a crisis, usually led by Commander William Riker (better known as 'Number One').  This probably makes much more sense - why would you put the commanding officer's life at risk at every sniff of danger? You listening, Shatner?!

Other prominent ships officers are the half-Betazoid telepath, Counselor Deanna Troi; A pasty faced android called Data ; Lieutenant Worf the Klingon security officer (The Federation have made peace with the Klingons since the first series); Lt Commander Geordi Le Forge, the blind helmsman with VISOR glasses (which look like a banana wrapped around his head); Chief Medical Officer Beverly Crusher; Her son, Ensign Wesley Crusher and Engineering Chief Miles O'Brien (played by ex Z Cars actor, Colm Meaney). Comedienne Whoopi Goldberg plays Guinan, the mysterious barmaid in the Enterprises Ten Forward Lounge. The new bad guys of the universe are the big, bald Ferengi

 The sexist attitudes of the original series are gone, with many of the new 1000 strong crew being women, many of them in positions of command. 

However, the cast are more earnest, less interesting and less humorous than the original cast - The Politically Correct Gestapo may have actually killed off elements of what was so great about the original show. 

Make it so, Number One . . .