TNG Season 6 Recap

Introduction

Season 6 of TNG warps into Treknobabble's record books, showing a slight drop-off in quality ratings. Have Matthew and Kevin become drunk with blogging power, or do they have a solid rationale for such a result? Click through to see, if you dare...

It's time to start asking the question - have the Borg been watered down too much?

The Next Generation, Season 6: Descent Part I

The Next Generation, Season 6
"Descent Part I"
Airdate: June 21, 1993
151 of 176 produced
151 of 176 aired

Introduction


When the Enterprise responds to a distress call from the outpost Ohniaka III, the crew is shocked to discover the Borg are its attackers. But these Borg seem different than those of their previous encounters - fast, violent, and emotional. Little do they know that Lore is leading them, and that he has his sights set on the kidnap of his brother, Data.

So a Jew, an Englishman, and a drag queen walk into a bar...

The Next Generation, Season 6: Timescape

The Next Generation, Season 6
"Timescape"
Airdate: June 12, 1993
150 of 176 produced
150 of 176 aired

Introduction

Returning from a conference, Picard, Troi, LaForge, and Data encounter a strange phenomenon. Time appears to me moving at different rates in different places. Tracing the disturbances to their source, they find the Enterprise frozen in time and apparently in the middle of a battle with a Romulan warbird. Beaming to the Enteprise, what little information they can gather from the frozen crew and ship only seems to raise more questions than it answers. How will the four officers alone be able to save the Enterprise?

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

The Next Generation, Season 6: Second Chances

The Next Generation, Season 6
"Second Chances"
Airdate: May 24, 1993
149 of 176 produced
149 of 176 aired

Introduction


When the Enterprise crew visits Nervala IV in order to recover scientific data that had been lost in a storm eight years ago, Commander Riker experiences the shock of a lifetime when he discovers his perfect doppelganger living on the planet, having been castaway for those eight years. The results of this discovery throw many things into doubt for him, not the least of which is his relationship with Counselor Troi, his erstwhile Imzadi.

What is that, velvet?

The Next Generation, Season 6: Rightful Heir

The Next Generation, Season 6
"Rightful Heir"
Airdate: May 17, 1993
148 of 176 produced
148 of 176 aired

Introduction

Worf takes a leave of absence from the Enterprise to visit the Klingon monastery at Boreth. His experience with the Klingon colony on Caraya has left him questioning how sincerely he held the beliefs he was trying to teach the young Klingons. After a few weeks, Worf has not found any answers and is preparing to leave when a Klingon appears before him in a cave, claiming to be the mythic Kahless, returned to the world as he foretold more than a millennium ago. Is this man really who he says he is? What impact will this have for the Klingon Empire?

Jeez. Couldn't he have pointed to Risa when he left?

The Next Generation, Season 6: Suspicions

The Next Generation, Season 6
"Suspicions"
Airdate: May 10, 1993
147 of 176 produced
147 of 176 aired

Introduction

When Dr. Crusher works to assist a Ferengi scientist with his research, she is drawn into a web of intrigue surrounding his invention when the experiment goes fatally wrong. As scientists fall under suspicion for the deaths of their colleagues, Crusher must wrestle with her sense of medical ethics, as well as the disparate personalities of the suspects.

Dr. Crusher unveils the Spank-O-Tron 9000 for Guinan's personal enjoyment.

The Next Generation, Season 6: Frame of Mind

The Next Generation, Season 6
"Frame of Mind"
Airdate: May 3, 1993
146 of 176 produced
146 of 176 aired

Introduction


Commander Riker is performing the lead in Doctor Crusher's latest production aboard the Enterprise. Called "Frame of Mind," it's a pyschological thriller about an inmate in an insane asylum. As the play is nearing its opening, Riker is assigned to a dangerous rescue mission. While preparing for both the play and mission, aspects of the one seem to sneak into the other. Initially, he dismisses it as stress, but suddenly he finds himself in the apparently real asylum of the play, while his life aboard the Enterprise is deemed a fictional delusion. Nothing makes sense, and Riker begins to question his own sanity. What's real? What's not? Can he tell the difference any more?

Caught in a Trek-themed fantasy world. We can relate, Frakesy.

The Next Generation, Season 6: The Chase

The Next Generation, Season 6
"The Chase"
Airdate: April 26, 1993
145 of 176 produced
145 of 176 aired

Introduction

When Captain Picard is approached by a mentor from his past, he is swept up into a galaxy-spanning mystery over the very basis of humanoid life. But he must carefully negotiate with his rivals for the prize, the Klingons and the Cardassians. He must also balance his responsibility to Starfleet with his desire to fulfill the dream of his intellectual father figure.

Unfortunately, the Chia have all long since died.

The Next Generation, Season 6: Lessons

The Next Generation, Season 6
"Lessons"
Airdate: April 5, 1993
144 of 176 produced
144 of 176 aired

Introduction

Captain Picard begins a romance with Nella Daren, the new head of Stellar Sciences. They bond of a shared love of playing music, and Nella begins to draw Picard out from his normally reserved demeanor. Picard is understandably worried about the pitfalls of dating someone under his command, but seems prepared to work through them. Matters are complicated with a dangerous firestom threatens a nearby colony, and Picard must order Daren to to risk her life to save the colony.

If looks could kill... 

The Next Generation, Season 6: Starship Mine

The Next Generation, Season 6
"Starship Mine"
Airdate: March 29, 1993
143 of 176 produced
143 of 176 aired


Introduction


While the Enterprise gets scrubbed of built up baryon particles, the crew enjoys the hospitality of the planetary base below. But when Picard returns to the ship to retrieve a personal item, he is shocked to discover a plot to steal a dangerous byproduct from the ship's engines. It is up to him to stop it, at whatever cost.

Shut down all the garbage mashers on the detention level!

The Next Generation, Season 6: Birthright, Part II

The Next Generation, Season 6
"Birthright, Part II"
Airdate: March 1, 1993
142 of 176 produced
142 of 176 aired


Introduction

While his father did die at Khitomer, Worf finds other surviving Klingons at a hidden colony. They were captured and held prisoner - voluntarily. To protect their families' honor, they stayed so no one would know they had been captured. Further, Worf discovers that the Klingons here have started new families, and that the Klingon children know nothing of their heritage, believing their parents came to the planet to escape war with the Romulans. Will Worf be able to leave? What effect with will his presence have on the colony?

A real Klingon does not wear deodorant, Toq. Inhale my musky odors and rejoice!

The Next Generation, Season 6: Birthright, Part 1

The Next Generation, Season 6
"Birthright, Part 1"
Airdate: Febraury 22, 1993
141 of 176 produced
141 of 176 aired

Introduction

When Commander Data is hit by an errant energy beam, he experiences strange visions. Meanwhile, Worf is approached by a mysterious stranger trying to sell information about his father, Mogh.

Orange you glad I didn't say banana?

The Next Generation, Season 6: Tapestry

The Next Generation, Season 6
"Tapestry"
Airdate: Febraury 15, 1993
140 of 176 produced
140 of 176 aired

Introduction

Captain Picard is gravely injured on an away mission, and his artificial heart is severely damaged. He wakes to find himself surrounded by white light and face to face with Q, claiming that Picard is dead, this is heaven, and Q himself is God. Q offers the captain a unique chance: to go back and correct the mistake in his youth that caused him to need an artificial heart in the first place, and save his life now. Will Picard take it? What will the consequences be?

"I've only got an hour left on my medication, baby. Let's get bizz-aay."

The Next Generation, Season 6: Face of the Enemy

The Next Generation, Season 6
"Face of the Enemy"
Airdate: February 8, 1993
139 of 176 produced
139 of 176 aired


Introduction



When Counselor Troi wakes up on a Romulan Warbird and discovers that she has been surgically altered to look like a Romulan, she must piece together her situation, improvise in front of hostile Romulan soldiers, and simply try to survive.

Ensign DeSeve would have stayed with the Romulans, but he wanted to go back to his neighborhood barber in Scranton.

The Next Generation, Season 6: Aquiel

The Next Generation, Season 6
"Aquiel"
Airdate: February 1, 1993
138 of 176 produced
138 of 176 aired


Introduction

The Enterprise is sent to resupply a subspace relay station on the Klingon border. When they arrive, they find the station abandoned and evidence that at least one of the station's two crew members met with foul play. Trying to gain any insight into what happened, Geordi begins reading through the crew members personal logs. He discovers a charming, if not eccentric woman. When she is discovered alive in a shuttle in Klingon space, Geordi must face the possibility that woman he has started to fall for is a murderer.

Aquiel hopes her irresistible allure will counteract the ugliest bedspread in the quadrant.

The Next Generation, Season 6: Ship In A Bottle

The Next Generation, Season 6
"Ship In A Bottle"
Airdate: January 25, 1993
137 of 176 produced
1367of 176 aired


Introduction


When the holodeck malfunctions and Lt. Barclay investigates the cause, he stumbles upon a piece of old data - the Moriarty program from Data's last holodeck masquerade as Sherlock Holmes. Moriarty is miffed and demands satisfaction - release from the confines of the holodeck world and the freedom to determine his own destiny in the real world. And he will stop at nothing to get it...

Dr. Crusher remains unimpressed by Barclay's cube.

The Next Generation, Season 6: Chain of Command, Part II

The Next Generation, Season 6
"Chain of Command, Part 2"
Airdate: December 21, 1992
136 of 176 produced
136 of 176 aired


Introduction

Captain Picard is being held in Cardassian custody, facing torture. Captain Jellico is staring across the negotiating table at Gul Lemec and the prospect of war seems increasingly more likely. So, just another lazy, kicking-back-with-a-Samarian-Sunset kind of a day on the Enterprise.

Yep. Four!

The Next Generation, Season 6: Chain of Command, Part 1

The Next Generation, Season 6
"Chain of Command, Part 1"
Airdate: December 14, 1992
135 of 176 produced
135 of 176 aired


Introduction

While Picard, Crusher and Worf are called away to a commando mission on the Cardassian world Seltris III, the Enterprise is turned over to a new Captain, Edward Jellico. But the tension caused by his abrasive command style soon seems like small potatoes when the commando mission goes awry, and questions soon abound over whether the participants are dead, wounded, or perhaps worse.

Captain Jellico prefers a certain formality on the bridge. So do we, Counselor, so do we.

The Next Generation, Season 6: The Quality of Life

The Next Generation, Season 6
"The Quality of Life"
Airdate: November 16, 1992
134 of 176 produced
134 of 176 aired


Introduction

The Enterprise is at Tyrus VIIa investigating a new mining technique, the particle fountain. The project has been plagued by delays and setbacks. The lead scientist, Dr. Farallon hopes another invention of hers, the Exocomp, will speed up the process. When one of the Exocomps overrides its programming to avoid being destroyed, Data begins to suspect the devices are more than merely intelligent, but possibly alive and sentient. Is it possible Data has found a kindred spirit, or is it the android equivalent of wishful thinking?

Let's talk about beards, gentlemen. Surely this will segue nicely into whatever our adventure is this week!

The Next Generation, Season 6: A Fistful of Datas

The Next Generation, Season 6
"A Fistful of Datas"
Airdate: November 9, 1992
133 of 176 produced
133 of 176 aired


While the Enterprise awaits a rendezvous with a cargo vessel, the crew has a chance to unwind. Alexander, Worf, and Troi run into trouble, however, when their holodeck program of the Ancient American West is disrupted by the unannounced presence of numerous bizarre facsimiles of Commander Data.

Oh, that wacky Brent Spiner. He can do no wrong... right?