Star Trek: The Next Generation season 6

The sixth season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation commenced airing in broadcast syndication in the United States on September 21, 1992, and concluded on June 21, 1993, after airing 26 episodes. Set in the 24th century, the series follows the adventures of the crew of the Starfleet starship Enterprise-D.

Star Trek: The Next Generation
Season 6
Region A/1 Blu-ray cover art
No. of episodes26
Release
Original networkBroadcast syndication
Original releaseSeptember 21, 1992 (1992-09-21) –
June 21, 1993 (1993-06-21)
Season chronology
← Previous
Season 5
Next →
Season 7
List of episodes

The season begins with the successful rescue of Data from the nineteenth century, and we learn just how long Guinan has actually known Picard. ("Time's Arrow")

Picard is temporarily assigned away from the Enterprise for a dangerous espionage mission against the Cardassians, but is captured and subjected to torture, nearly succumbing before being released ("Chain of Command"). Deanna Troi engaged in a similarly risky mission of espionage against the Romulans ("Face of the Enemy").

Picard also underwent significant personal development during this season. He formed an intense and troubled romantic relationship with the Enterprise's head of stellar cartography, Nella Daren ("Lessons"). After his artificial heart is nearly destroyed, Q helps Picard experience a vision of the unremarkable life he could have led, giving him a better understanding of his mortality and his reasons for living ("Tapestry").

Riker also experiences a deeply personal conflict, making a gripping personal battle with his own sanity ("Frame of Mind"), and later discovers an accidental transporter-copy of himself that had been abandoned on a desolate planet for nearly a decade ("Second Chances").

Several well-known recurring characters make appearances this season, the most famous among them being Montgomery Scott. The Enterprise engineer from the Original Series is discovered alive, and after an awkward period adjusting to the twenty-fourth century, sets out to explore the galaxy on his own ("Relics"). The sentient hologram Professor Moriarty returns, holding the ship captive in a complex game that he hopes will grant him freedom to live outside the holodeck ("Ship in a Bottle"). Reginald Barclay continues to develop, overcoming his fear of transporters ("Realm of Fear"). Q, in addition to his appearance in Picard's counterfactual vision, returns earlier in the season ("True Q").

We are left with the rediscovery of Lore, leading a group of rogue Borg, who with the influence of an emotional stimulant for androids, successfully seduced Data to become a willing participant in his violent plans in the cliffhanger that ends the season ("Descent").

Cast

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Recurring and Guest Characters

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Episodes

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In the following table, episodes are listed by the order in which they aired.

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateProd.
code
Nielsen rating
1271"Time's Arrow, Part II"Les LandauStory by : Joe Menosky
Teleplay by : Jeri Taylor
September 21, 1992 (1992-09-21)22713.8[1]
The Enterprise crew follow Data to San Francisco of the 1890s. The crew deals with Samuel Clemens and runs into Jack London while trying to find a way to prevent aliens from interfering with 19th century Earth. Guest star: Jerry Hardin as Samuel Clemens.
1282"Realm of Fear"Cliff BoleBrannon BragaSeptember 28, 1992 (1992-09-28)22813.2[1]
Barclay must overcome his fear of the transporter to solve a mystery.
1293"Man of the People"Winrich KolbeFrank AbatemarcoOctober 5, 1992 (1992-10-05)22913.2[1]
A psychic ambassador uses Deanna's mind to influence the outcome of his mission, endangering her life in the process.
1304"Relics"Alexander SingerRonald D. MooreOctober 12, 1992 (1992-10-12)23013.9[1]
The Enterprise investigates a vessel that crashed on the surface of a Dyson sphere 75 years ago. A pattern is found in the transporter buffer that turns out to be Montgomery Scott. He is released from the buffer and later agrees to return to the vessel with Geordi to help restore the logs. They become the only hope when the Enterprise is accidentally pulled inside the sphere. Guest Star: James Doohan as Montgomery Scott
1315"Schisms"Robert WiemerStory by : Jean Louise Matthias & Ronald Wilkerson
Teleplay by : Brannon Braga
October 19, 1992 (1992-10-19)23113.2[1]
Several members of the crew are abducted and experimented on while they sleep, including Riker, Worf, La Forge and Data, and become sleep deprived.
1326"True Q"Robert ScheererRené EchevarriaOctober 26, 1992 (1992-10-26)23213.7[1]

Q reveals a secret about a young woman from Kansas who is visiting the Enterprise. She is a Q, and so were her parents.

Guest stars: Olivia d'Abo as Amanda Rogers, and John de Lancie as Q.
1337"Rascals"Adam NimoyStory by : Ward Botsford & Diana Dru Botsford and Michael Piller
Teleplay by : Allison Hock
November 2, 1992 (1992-11-02)23313.5[1]
A transporter malfunction turns Picard, Keiko, Ro and Guinan into children who become the ship's only hope when they are left aboard while the adult crew are forced to perform dangerous labor by Ferengi pirates.
1348"A Fistful of Datas"Patrick StewartStory by : Robert Hewitt Wolfe
Teleplay by : Robert Hewitt Wolfe and Brannon Braga
November 9, 1992 (1992-11-09)23413.4[1]
Data's mind is connected to the ship's computer, which creates unforeseen effects on the holodeck.
1359"The Quality of Life"Jonathan FrakesNaren ShankarNovember 16, 1992 (1992-11-16)23513.2[1]
Data observes that mining tools have become sentient beings and fights for their preservation. Based upon material by L.J. Scott.
13610"Chain of Command, Part I"Robert ScheererStory by : Frank Abatemarco
Teleplay by : Ronald D. Moore
December 14, 1992 (1992-12-14)23610.2[1]
Captain Jellico is assigned command of the Enterprise while Picard is sent on a covert mission into Cardassian territory. Guest star: Ronny Cox as Edward Jellico.
13711"Chain of Command, Part II"Les LandauFrank AbatemarcoDecember 21, 1992 (1992-12-21)23712.9[1]
Picard, having been captured, is tortured by a sadistic Cardassian interrogator (played by David Warner).
13812"Ship in a Bottle"Alexander SingerRené EchevarriaJanuary 25, 1993 (1993-01-25)23811.3[1]
Barclay accidentally awakens Professor Moriarty on the holodeck who uses the powers at his disposal to coerce the crew into finding a way to allow him to leave the holodeck. Guest star: Daniel Davis as Professor Moriarty.
13913"Aquiel"Cliff BoleStory by : Jeri Taylor
Teleplay by : Brannon Braga & Ronald D. Moore
February 1, 1993 (1993-02-01)23914.1[1]
Geordi falls for an alien Starfleet officer who is suspected of murder. Guest star Renée Jones as Aquiel Uhnari.
14014"Face of the Enemy"Gabrielle BeaumontStory by : René Echevarria
Teleplay by : Naren Shankar
February 8, 1993 (1993-02-08)24013.1[1]
Deanna is involuntarily recruited to assist in the transport of Romulan defectors across the border.
14115"Tapestry"Les LandauRonald D. MooreFebruary 15, 1993 (1993-02-15)24113.8[1]
An accident kills Picard. He finds an afterlife with Q analyzing his past choices.
14216"Birthright, Part I"Winrich KolbeBrannon BragaFebruary 22, 1993 (1993-02-22)24213.2[1]
Worf is told on Deep Space Nine that his father is alive and is being held prisoner by the Romulans. Meanwhile an engineering experiment accidentally results in Data's first dream. Guest star: James Cromwell as Jaglom Shrek.
14317"Birthright, Part II"Dan CurryRené EchevarriaMarch 1, 1993 (1993-03-01)24313.4[1]
Worf, now a prisoner, tries to teach the Klingon refugees the ways of the warrior.
14418"Starship Mine"Cliff BoleMorgan GendelMarch 29, 1993 (1993-03-29)24413.0[1]
Thieves attempt to steal trilithium from the Enterprise during a Baryon sweep at the Remmler Array and Picard alone must thwart them.
14519"Lessons"Robert WiemerRonald Wilkerson & Jean Louise MatthiasApril 5, 1993 (1993-04-05)24512.2[1]
Picard becomes involved with a woman who is serving on the Enterprise but he must send her into a dangerous mission.
14620"The Chase"Jonathan FrakesStory by : Ronald D. Moore & Joe Menosky
Teleplay by : Joe Menosky
April 26, 1993 (1993-04-26)24611.2[1]
Picard tries to solve an ancient genetic mystery uncovered by his archaeological mentor and faces stiff competition. Guest star: Norman Lloyd as Richard Galen.
14721"Frame of Mind"James L. ConwayBrannon BragaMay 3, 1993 (1993-05-03)24711.4[1]
Riker finds himself prisoner in an alien mental institution that resembles scenes from Crusher's play.
14822"Suspicions"Cliff BoleJoe Menosky & Naren ShankarMay 10, 1993 (1993-05-10)24811.3[1]
Dr. Crusher risks her career to solve the murder of Ferengi scientist Dr. Reyga and vindicate his research.
14923"Rightful Heir"Winrich KolbeStory by : James E. Brooks
Teleplay by : Ronald D. Moore
May 17, 1993 (1993-05-17)24910.6[1]
Worf experiences a crisis of faith and travels to a Klingon holy site where the mythic figure Kahless returns to lead the Klingon people.
15024"Second Chances"LeVar BurtonStory by : Michael A. Medlock
Teleplay by : René Echevarria
May 24, 1993 (1993-05-24)2509.7[1]
Riker encounters a duplicate of himself, Thomas Riker, created by a transporter malfunction. Thomas vies for Deanna's affections.
15125"Timescape"Adam NimoyBrannon BragaJune 14, 1993 (1993-06-14)25111.6[1]
The Enterprise is caught in temporal stasis and on the brink of destruction by a Romulan Warbird.
15226"Descent, Part I"Alexander SingerStory by : Jeri Taylor
Teleplay by : Ronald D. Moore
June 21, 1993 (1993-06-21)25211.7[1]
The crew encounter a group of Borg acting individually and Data briefly experiences emotions. Professor Stephen Hawking makes a guest appearance.

Reception

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In 2019, CBR rated Season 6 of Star Trek: The Next Generation as the fifth best season of all Star Trek seasons up to that time.[2]

Footnotes

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z "Star Trek: The Next Generation Nielsen Ratings – Seasons 5–6". TrekNation. Archived from the original on October 5, 2000. Retrieved December 22, 2013.
  2. ^ "Every Star Trek Season of TV Ever, Ranked from Worst to Best". January 4, 2019.
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