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Awesome
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Even now it's hard for me to believe that Star Trek: The Next
Generation only ran for seven seasons. Watching the reruns on the
Sci-Fi Channel the future world we saw is as alive for me as it was
first seeing it back in the day when it was initially broadcast.<br><br>Gene Roddenberry had a boundless faith in the ability of man to
overcome his animal nature and make a better world. I've always felt
that was the real secret of the success of the first Star Trek series,
that it came out at a nasty time in our history and showed us a better
world if we're willing to make it so.<br><br>The initial series with William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy introduced us
to worlds and cultures beyond our's. But it really was only an
introduction. TNG took us deep into the politics and culture of various
alien races throughout the galaxy. We learned a whole lot about
Klingons and Romulans, their thought processes, their culture, their
politics and shifting alliances with each other and with such new alien
races like the Ferengi and the Cardassians.<br><br>Jean-Luc Picard as played by Patrick Stewart was an extraordinary man,
a really fine representative of civilization on earth. As captain of
the Enterprise I felt he was called on more than William Shatner to be
a diplomat as well as a warrior. We got to see a little bit more of
Star Fleet and the traditions of that future service with Picard and
the rest of the crew.<br><br>As befit a future where races are actually trying to live together we
had a great crew on the Enterprise. It consisted of a Klingon security
officer in Michael Dorn, a Betazoid telepath as ship's counselor in
Marina Sirtis, and even an Android lieutenant commander in Brent
Spiner. When Data was off kilter for any reason, with his capabilities
he could be dangerous foe.<br><br>My favorite on the show was young Wil Wheaton as Wesley Crusher, son of
ship's doctor Beverly Crusher played by Gates McFadden. A young friend
who is now gone envied so much the make believe world that Wesley
inhabited. His own life was not so hot, but when he watched TNG he
believed in a boundless future and would have given anything to have
been having the adventures young Mr. Crusher was having. By the way
when the series ended and Wil Wheaton's character was given a
resolution of sorts, I thought for sure he was going to come back
either in a future Star Trek film or one of the succeeding series. Make
It so.<br><br>TNG's stories and characters since we have several hundred years to see
what we make of our future and see what the universe holds offers
exciting possibilities. As far as optimism, this show boldly went where
no one has gone before.
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Star Trek The Next Generation Complete Series</pre></td></tr>
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When this show first aired in 87 I was fan instantly. And for the next
7 years I watched and loved every minute of it. Up until my purchase of
the box set DVD a couple of weeks ago, I hadn't seen the show since
1994. And I was shocked at how a show I watched religiously hasn't aged
well and seem very corny at times.<br><br>The stories are still compelling and well written, but all seems a bit
to politically correct and almost cheesy. It's like when Riker tells a
alien race that kills animals for meat that "we don't enslave our
animals, for meat" I was like what? And all that standing around the
bridge with big grins and laughing at something whimsical that Data
might have said.<br><br>And the whole federation and it's prime directive seems like it is
something that has just been spewed out from the EU parliament. It has
a idealistic, wishful thinking, outlook of the future of humanity. That
in todays terroristic climate is something that we will never archive,
let alone in 400 years time.<br><br>Thats not to say the ST:TNG is bad because it's hasn't aged well. 90%
of the episodes are amazingly fun to watch, and some even shocking. The
last few season of the show are all quality, and is worth watching just
to see Patrick Stewart's performance. And has laid the foundations for
shows like Stargate and Battlestar Galactica, and made the television
producers realise that sci-fi can be intelligent and adult.<br><br>TNG is still the best of the Startrek franchises hands down and should
be watched by all sci-fi fans.
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Star Trek The Next Generation Complete Series</pre></td></tr>
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