Star Trek: The Next Generation
1 9 8 7- 1 9 9 4 (USA)
178 x 60 minute episodes
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 . . .
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Capt. Jean-Luc Picard
Patrick Stewart
Lt Cmdr
Data
Brent Spiner
Cmdr William T
Riker
Jonathan Frakes
Lt Worf
Michael Dorn
Lt Cmdr Geordi La Forge
Levar Burton
Ensign Wesley Crusher
Wil Wheaton
Dr Beverly Crusher
Gates McFadden
Counselor Deanna Troi
Marina Sirtis
Dr Kate Pulaski
Diana Muldaur
Chief Miles O'Brien
Colin Meaney
Guinan
Whoopie Goldberg
Q
John Delancie

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