3.01 – Evolution: B-

After the disappointing and inconsistent second season, season three starts off promisingly enough with Evolution. Indeed, this episode represents a significant evolution of the series itself. The acting, special effects, costumes, and, especially, the writing all see a significant overall improvement. While not the most exciting season opening episode, Evolution sets a new standard for TNG.

3.02 – The Ensigns of Command: B+

The Ensigns of Command is a solid episode of TNG. This episode has two storylines. The first, and most prominent, centers on Data, while the second involves Picard. Both stories are similar in that each deals with the challenges involved in overcoming a seemingly irrational conflict.

3.03 – The Survivors: B-

The Survivors is a good episode that, ultimately, makes a few choices that sacrifice the overall story for a “gotcha” moment. Admittedly, the big reveal at the end of the episode is as fascinating and profound as it is horrific and disturbing. Unfortunately, in order to protect that moment, the sacrifices to the story are just too great.

3.04 – Who Watches The Watchers?: A-

Who Watches The Watchers? is very good episode that successfully explores the law, and philosophy, behind the Prime Directive. Indeed, it succeeds where other episodes, such as Pen Pals, have failed.

3.05 – The Bonding: B-

The Bonding is an emotional, yet slightly uneven episode. It begins ominously enough with the death of an away team member and the rest of the episode is left to dealing with the emotional consequences of that loss.

3.06 – Booby Trap: A-

Booby Trap is a seemingly simple story that just happens to be one of the best crafted episodes of the series. The writing, story, acting and even the music are all extremely well-done. The episode suffers only from a lack of profound morality and a slight overdose of tech-talk. But aside from those minor criticisms, this is an absolutely enjoyable episode.

3.07 – The Enemy: A

The Enemy is very successful episode on many levels, including character, theme, humor and drama. The story weaves these elements together seamlessly and there are very few criticisms that can be leveled at this particular episode.

3.08 – The Price: D

Following its most successful episode thus far, season three stumbles pretty badly with The Price. Any episode that focuses on the Ferengi tends to be dragged down by their hyper-annoying presence. And Troi-centered episodes tend to overdose in overacting. So combine the two, add in a cheesy soap opera romance and you get the very near failure that is The Price.

3.09 – The Vengeance Factor: C

The Vengeance Factor is an episode with a worthy premise that happens to misfire on many different levels.

3.10 – The Defector: A

Season three returns to form with The Defector — a high energy character-driven episode that incorporates drama, suspense, and intellectual warfare from the Romulans. The episode is so strong that it barely misses a beat anywhere.

3.11 – The Hunted: B

The Hunted presents us with a deeply profound theme, and is written fairly well. However, flaws in its execution prevent it from being an exceptional episode.

3.12 – The High Ground: B+

The High Ground is an exceptionally powerful episode that is a notable departure for the series. It is a violent, dark, and complex story that has no true resolution to the conflict within which it is framed. The fact that it is both emotional and profoundly relevant over 17 years after its initial airing is a testament to the writing and vision of this episode.

3.13 – Déjà Q: B+

Déjà Q is an incredibly entertaining episode that is sure to be a fan favorite. The brilliance of the episode comes from its humor and the fact that Q, while a constant nuisance, is also exceptionally likable. You can credit Q’s acting performance for successfully managing to walk that fine line.

3.14 – A Matter of Perspective: C

A Matter of Perspective gives us an interesting enough premise that is poorly executed. The notion of examining an event from several points of view, in order to determine the truth, is certainly a worthy enough topic. But the episode becomes mired in the details and the execution leaves a lot to be desired.

3.15 – Yesterday’s Enterprise: A

Yesterday’s Enterprise is, by any definition you want to apply, a classic episode. The premise, the writing, the acting, the action all play their parts. But it is the human drama above all that makes this episode truly outstanding.

3.16 – The Offspring: A

The Offspring is a superb, emotional episode and is, in many ways, a natural progression from season two’s The Measure of a Man. In this installment, Data literally creates his own offspring, a female named Lal. The story then, is about how Data brings Lal into this world and begins to teach her and instruct her to function in and contribute to society. The conflict arises when Starfleet decides it wants Lal’s development to take place on a Starbase, without Data.

3.17 – Sins of the Father: A-

Sins of the Father is an exceptionally dramatic installment that gives us an inside look into the corrupt world of Klingon politics. There is a lot of ground to cover, but the episode does so with a briskness and sincerity that manages to avoid any feelings of contrivance.

3.18 – Allegiance: C+

Allegiance is a mediocre episode that is too disjointed to be able to experience any real measures of success. The best that can be said for this episode is that it has one exceptionally memorable scene. Otherwise, the plot, the themes, the storylines are not woven together particularly well and we get very minor character development.

3.19 – Captain’s Holiday: B-

Captain’s Holiday is a fun romp that takes us out of the usual Enterprise crisis-of-the-week story and gives us at least a different setting for this installment’s crisis. There isn’t anything particularly outstanding or ground-breaking in this episode, and it does have a few missteps, but on the whole, it is both enjoyable and entertaining.

3.20 – Tin Man: B

Tin Man is an ethereal installment of TNG, bringing together such themes as isolation, longing, and purpose. The characterizations, plotline, and especially the music transcend TNG and speak to a deeper, more profound sensibility. Unfortunately for the episode, the performance of its pivotal character, the brilliantly gifted and flawed Tam Elbrun is nearly critically distracting.

3.21 – Hollow Pursuits: B-

Hollow Pursuits is an installment that is just good enough, but doesn’t exactly excel in any particular area. Add in some cringe-worthy mistakes and you have an episode that has all the making for what could have been a true classic but instead ends up being a bit … well … hollow.

3.22 – The Most Toys: B+

The Most Toys leaves the viewers with perhaps one of the most profound, and difficult to answer, moral questions of the series. Along the way, it evokes a wide variety of powerful emotions. And its two central characters, Data and his captor, Kivas Fajo, become locked in a battle of wills that has deadly consequences.

3.23 – Sarek: B-

In many ways, Sarek is a dream come true for Star Trek fans. It is an explicit connection between the original series and TNG. And it heralds the return to prominence of Vulcans who, up until now, had been largely neglected by TNG. The results are mixed. The themes are compelling, but the story often distracts us from those themes.

3.24 – Ménage à Troi: D

Ménage à Troi is a trainwreck. You have Troi, you have the Ferengi, you have Lwaxana, and you have a truly boneheaded attempt at a comedy that only becomes enjoyable in its final scene. And let’s not even bother discussing the title.

3.25 – Transfigurations: B

Transfigurations is a solid, classic installment of TNG. It has all the major themes present: search for new life, helping those in need, standing up against the oppressed and so on. It builds a wonderfully relaxed and intimate mood. And it’s an opportunity for both Dr. Crusher and LaForge to develop as characters.

3.26 – The Best of Both Worlds: A+

The Best of Both Worlds isn’t just the height of Star Trek. It is, simply, one of the finest hours of science fiction. This is it. This is the moment Star Trek: The Next Generation broke out of its cocoon and rewrote the standard for drama, science fiction and episodic television. Considering individual taste, fans might actually find an episode or two that they like better than this one. But no one can deny the power, craft, and impact that The Best of Both Worlds had on not only TNG, but pop culture as well.