30 years later, I can’t think of a better series finale than Star Trek: The Next Generation‘s. I didn’t grow up watching TNG but the show and its phenomenal ending still hold a special place in my heart. TNG came to an end on May 23, 1994, when I was not even two years old. When I finally watched “All Good Things…” many years later, I’m sure it didn’t have the same impact on me as it did for those fans who watched it live in 1994. I still had Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Voyager, and Star Trek: Enterprise in my Netflix queue to look forward to, after all.

After seven seasons, Star Trek: The Next Generation came to a close with an emotional finale that brought the series full circle. When Captain Picard finds his mind jumping between the past, present, and future, he must put the pieces together to solve a mystery that connects all three time periods. Picard’s old enemy, Q (John de Lancie), returns, but he has warmed up to the Captain over TNG’s seven seasons. Q declares that the trial for humanity never ended, but he helps Jean-Luc by causing the time jumping. Picard then reaches out to his USS Enterprise-D crew members in all three timelines to save the galaxy one final time (for now).

TNG’s “All Good Things…” Was A Perfect Conclusion

“So. Five card stud, nothing wild, and the sky’s the limit.”

I hadn’t spent my childhood with Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and his USS Enterprise-D crew, but I did spend most of my college years with them. After long, stressful days, I spent my evenings exploring the final frontier and forgetting, for a moment, about the papers I had to write and exams I had to study for. When I made it to the end of Star Trek: The Next Generation, it felt like closing a chapter of my life. I didn’t want to say goodbye to these characters. And sure, I still had four movies to watch, but, for me, the TNG films never captured the same magic as the show.

Throughout Star Trek: The Next Generation, I connected with Lt. Commander Data (Brent Spiner) more than any other character. Data plays a major role in the finale, as he’s instrumental in discovering the anti-time anomaly and finding the solution that saves the day. I also loved Data’s potential future as a Cambridge University professor. The final scene of “All Good Things…” includes one of Picard’s greatest moments, as he joins his friends for a game of poker. Data and the rest of the bridge crew have been playing poker throughout TNG, but Picard always kept himself at a distance, making his decision to finally join them the perfect series-ending note.

Star Trek: Picard Season 3 Gave TNG Another Great Finale & Redeemed The Bad Movies

“I’ve come to believe that the stars have always been in my favor.”

While I was too young to watch Star Trek: The Next Generation’s original finale when it premiered, I did get to experience the finale of Star Trek: Picard season 3 in real-time. Streaming shows operate differently than syndicated shows like TNG, but it was still fun to watch Star Trek: Picard’s “The Last Generation” as soon as it was available and then observe fans’ responses to it online. I may not have a Star Trek fan as long as some others, but I still got emotional when Admiral Picard reunited with his TNG crew on the bridge of the rebuilt USS Enterprise-D.

Thanks to Star Trek: Picard, I got to fall in love with Data all over again, as he got the perfect upgrade, complete with the ability to experience emotions. After the android’s TNG journey and tragic, unfulfilling death in Star Trek: Nemesis, Picard season 3 gave Data the perfect ending. (And I hope he pops up again in a future Trek project.) Picard season 3 also introduced a new favorite character in Captain Liam Shaw (Todd Stashwick), whose death I’m still not over. As my introduction to the Star Trek universe, Star Trek: The Next Generation will always be my comfort show, from its captivating premiere to its celebrated finale.

Star Trek: The Next Generation & Star Trek: Picard are available to stream on Paramount+.

• 

  Star Trek: The Next Generation

  Star Trek: The Next Generation is the third installment in the sci-fi franchise and follows the adventures of Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the crew members of the USS Enterprise. Set around one hundred years after the original series, Picard and his crew travel through the galaxy in largely self-contained episodes exploring the crew dynamics and their own political discourse. The series also had several overarching plots that would develop over the course of the isolated episodes, with four films released in tandem with the series to further some of these story elements.

  Cast

  Patrick Stewart
  , Marina Sirtis
  , Brent Spiner
  , Jonathan Frakes
  , LeVar Burton
  , Wil Wheaton
  , Gates McFadden
  , Michael Dorn

  Release Date

  
  September 28, 1987
  

  Seasons

  7

  Showrunner

  Rick Berman
  , Michael Piller
  , Jeri Taylor

  Where To Watch

  Paramount+

• 

  Star Trek: Picard

  After starring in Star Trek: The Next Generation for seven seasons and various other Star Trek projects, Patrick Stewart is back as Jean-Luc Picard. Star Trek: Picard focuses on a retired Picard who is living on his family vineyard as he struggles to cope with the death of Data and the destruction of Romulus. But before too long, Picard is pulled back into the action. The series also brings back fan-favorite characters from the Star Trek franchise, such as Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan), Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton), Worf (Michael Dorn), and William Riker (Jonathan Frakes).

  Cast

  Patrick Stewart
  , Jonathan Frakes
  , Jeri Ryan
  , Michelle Hurd
  , Ed Speleers
  , Gates McFadden
  , Todd Stashwick
  , Michael Dorn
  , Brent Spiner
  , LeVar Burton
  , Marina Sirtis
  , Amanda Plummer
  , Isa Briones
  , Alison Pill
  , Santiago Cabrera
  , Evan Evagora
  , Orla Brady
  , John de Lancie
  , Whoopi Goldberg

  Release Date

  
  January 23, 2020
  

  Seasons

  3

  Showrunner

  Michael Chabon
  , Akiva Goldsman
  , Terry Matalas

  Where To Watch

  Paramount+

  Expand