# Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)

> Captain Jean-Luc Picard leads the crew of the USS Enterprise NCC-1701D on optimistic voyages of exploration into unknown space.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/619

## Facts

- Seasons: 7
- Episodes: 176
- Episode runtime: 45 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: science fiction, adventure
- Created by: Gene Roddenberry
- Network: Syndication
- Cast: Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, Brent Spiner, LeVar Burton, Michael Dorn, Marina Sirtis, Gates McFadden, Diana Muldaur
- TMDB rating: 8.7/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092455/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: measured
- Intensity: mild
- Complexity: accessible
- Violence: mild
- Tone: hopeful, cerebral, warm, wondrous, optimistic

## What critics say

Acclaimed for its optimistic, thoughtful take on exploration, with strong ensemble chemistry and philosophical episodes that grew stronger as the series matured.

## Synopsis

Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987-1994) is an American syndicated science fiction series created by Gene Roddenberry. Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) commands the starship USS Enterprise NCC-1701D, a Federation vessel whose crew includes first officer William T. Riker (Jonathan Frakes), the android Data (Brent Spiner), and chief engineer Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton). Their engine is curiosity and diplomacy: each week the crew answers distress calls, maps unknown systems, and faces alien civilizations, rival powers, and ethical dilemmas that a single starship is not built to solve. Most episodes are self-contained case-of-the-week adventures across seven seasons, with recurring threads that give the ensemble continuity. The mood is hopeful, cerebral and warm, with a utopian sense that humanity has outgrown scarcity and prejudice. Episodes lean on thoughtful talk, moral puzzles and wonder at strange new worlds. Fans of the original Star Trek, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Battlestar Galactica will find the same blend of exploration and humanist ideals here, with an optimistic vision that rewards patient viewers.

## Shows like Star Trek: The Next Generation

- [Star Trek: Discovery (2017)](https://ember.film/tv/59153)
- [Star Trek: Picard (2020)](https://ember.film/tv/72995)
- [Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993)](https://ember.film/tv/547)
- [Andromeda (2000)](https://ember.film/tv/2838)
- [Battlestar Galactica (2004)](https://ember.film/tv/1864)
- [Other Space (2015)](https://ember.film/tv/55476)
- [Star Trek (1966)](https://ember.film/tv/235)
- [seaQuest DSV (1993)](https://ember.film/tv/2170)
- [Star Trek: Voyager (1995)](https://ember.film/tv/1751)
- [Space Battleship Yamato (1974)](https://ember.film/tv/12444)

---

Site overview: https://ember.film/llms.txt