One of the most successful iterations of Star Trek has been The Next Generation. Captained by the poised and diplomatic Jean-Luc Picard, the adventures of the crew of the Enterprise-D were in no doubt popular with viewers due to the interplay between the interesting and well-developed characters.
Conflicted Klingons and androids yearning for human emotions aside, Star Trek: The Next Generation featured some notable guest characters that had recurring roles, such as the sheepish Lieutenant Barclay, flamboyant Lwaxana Troi, and the enigmatically omnipotent Q. However, not all guest characters of the show received follow-up episodes, though some really deserved it.
Professor Burlinghoff Rasmussen
Time travel has figured into many a science fiction story, and Star Trek: The Next Generation was not any different. One of the more notable episodes sported a memorable guest character by the name of Professor Burlinghoff Rasmussen, a mysterious time traveler with a hazy past.
Claiming to be a 26th-century historian sent to observe the Enterprise on a mission of planetary aid, it is revealed he was actually a failed 21st-century inventor who killed a 26th-century historian and stole his time machine. Discovered to be a fraud and a thief, a follow-up episode could have explored life in his time period, or his potential revenge against the Enterprise crew.
Armus
In many ways, Armus was a one-note villain who seemed to have been written into an episode solely to fulfill the function of killing Tasha Yar. As the only main cast member to die during the series, the origins and motivations of Tasha’s murderer were never fully explored and could have proven interesting to delve into in a subsequent episode.
Who were the race of “titans” Armus referred to? How long had he existed on Vagra II? Were there others of his kind on other planets? Considering the impact Tasha’s death had on the main crew and subsequent storylines, these loose threads may have been interesting to tug on.
Nagilum
Starfleet’s entire existence is predicated on the notion of “seeking new life” in the vastness of space, however, they should heed the old adage that “when you stare into an abyss, the abyss also stares into you.”
In the second season episode, “Where Silence Has Lease,” the Enterprise is lured into a trap by a being who wishes to study humanity akin to how humans used to study rats in a maze. Going by the name Nagilum, the entity eventually released the ship, but a verbal exchange with Captain Picard left a tease for a second encounter that was never realized.
Dr. Pulaski
An opportunity at Starfleet medical and some behind-the-scenes issues for actress Gates McFadden saw Doctor Crusher replaced in Season 2 by Diana Muldaur’s Doctor Katherine Pulaski. Gruff, passionate, and not too fond of synthetic life forms like Data, Dr. Pulaski’s character seemed to harken back to the days of the loveable curmudgeon Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy.
For whatever reason, the character did not seem to resonate with fans, and Dr. Crusher returned to the Enterprise at the beginning of Season 3. Yet, a return visit for Pulaski or a meeting with Dr. Crusher would have made for an interesting episode.
Kivas Fajo
As Lore was disassembled and B-4 undiscovered, Data was considered the only functional Soong-type android for a time. For those who did not look on him as a sentient being and saw him as an object, that made him extremely valuable, almost a collectible.
The rare items hoarder Kivas Fajo once captured Data in an attempt to make him part of his collection, alongside the Mona Lisa and some Varon-T disrupters. Date eventually escaped, and Fajo was not only arrested but had his entire collection confiscated. Ruthless and vengeful, having Fajo return for some revenge on Data could have proved entertaining.
Lal
Considering the amount of attention given to Soong-type androids in the series, movies, and now, with Star Trek: Picard, a return of Data’s daughter, Lal, would have been welcome. Granted, the continuation of Dr. Soong’s work by Bruce Maddox and the creation of Dahj, Soji, and an entire race of sentient androids can be seen as the propagation of Data’s species, but a return of the specific entity he, himself, created on the Enterprise would have cushioned the loss of Data a little more.
With the advancement of artificial life-forms and Lal’s memories and programs having been transferred to Data, there could have been an opportunity to revive her through B-4’s memory and the remnants of Data’s personality.
Ardra
Gene Roddenberry was noted for not being a fan of organized religion and considered himself a staunch humanist. Aside from Deep Space Nine exploring the subject with messianic undertones, most of Star Trek has avoided validating the idea of a supreme being one way or another.
In the episode “Devil’s Due,” Captain Picard encounters not God, but a woman claiming to be The Devil. Taking a claim to the planet Ventax II as part of an ancient arcane agreement, the being known as Ardra was revealed to be a con artist. Her nefarious nature and infatuation with Picard were intriguing and could have extended themselves to another episode.
Commander Shelby
When the classic first part of “The Best of Both Worlds” aired at the end of Season 3, it looked like Commander Riker was ready to assume the role of captain of the Enterprise, as Captain Picard had been assimilated by the Borg. Taking the role of First Officer was not Data or Worf, but Commander Elizabeth Shelby, an expert in the Borg.
Ambitious and gutsy, Shelby and Riker didn’t exactly hit it off when they first met, but their initial antagonism eventually gave way to mutual respect. Fleshing out that character, as well as her relationship with Riker, would have been a welcome story to tell.
The Outrageous Okona
Star Trek has never shied anyway from infusing humor in their episodes, and the second season episode, “The Outrageous Okona,” was no different. Here, Data’s exploration of humor was juxtaposed with the arrival of Captain Thaddiun Okona to the Enterprise.
Played by William Campbell, the loveable and irreverent rogue sported a fun-living and jovial demeanor while dragging the Enterprise into a potential interplanetary war. Although this was avoided through diplomacy in a Shakespearean-like conclusion, any character who could stand toe-to-toe with Worf and put Riker to shame in his luck with the ladies deserved another episode.
Conspiracy Aliens
The first season of The Next Generation was extremely uneven, with characterization and dialogue that was somewhat interchangeable and plots that were seemingly recycled from the original series. One of the more notable episodes was “Conspiracy,” which illustrated a clandestine attempt to take over the Federation by a parasitic race of aliens who invaded the bodies of high-ranking Starfleet personnel.
The episode was uncharacteristically visceral for a Star Trek episode, capped off with an exploding human head and torso that ended the alien threat. It was revealed that before the mother alien died, a homing signal was sent to an unknown section of the galaxy. Despite this teaser, the aliens never returned, which was a shame, considering how successful a threat they were.
