Synopsis:  Riker, jealous that Worf discovered that he was a father in the last episode, finds out he’s a father in this one.

Memory Alpha Summary:  And captain, without a chance to turn it down!

Review:  A dynamite concept, and Riker shines.  Stumbling through his new life is fun yet realistic.  The boy who plays his son does a pretty decent job and just feels like a Riker.  The plot twists are also well-done, though the last one isn’t as fun.

Money Quote:  I said shut up!  As in close your mouth and stop talking.

Synopsis: Stewart finally gets to sing a march and kiss McFadden without it ruining his character’s reputation.

Memory Alpha Summary: A brain, an athlete, a basket case, a criminal…

Review: I’m a huge fan of “stuck in a room” plots and this one doesn’t disappoint.  Jumping back and forth between real Picard and doppelganger Picard is a bit awkward, but there aren’t any wasted scenes, which helps things move along.  Plus, we get to see Stewart’s incredible acting range in full force (without it feeling forced).  He truly is a remarkable actor.  When Crusher glares at him at episode end and he chokes up while saying “engage,” I can’t help but giggle.

I couldn’t help but wonder what the rest of the bridge crew were thinking when Crusher told them that she and the captain had a “very unusual evening.”  All they did was dance and kiss once, but her phrasing would certainly make my mind race.

Money Quote:  Your names all mean surrender!

Synopsis: Picard and Riker face off in a battle simulation, while crew members get sucked into the seedy underworld of Stratagema.

Memory Alpha Summary: The best episode featuring the Ferengi

Review: Considering the story’s real conflict doesn’t happen until there’s about ten minutes left, this script is consistently engaging.  Kolrami is perfectly smug without being over-the-top.  Pulaski officially starts identifying with Data.  Wesley has perhaps his best episode yet as he cheats to help out Riker’s crew in the simulation (and nobody glorifies him at the end).  The battle simulation and confrontation with the Ferengi is written very well, though I question how Worf was able to deceive the Ferengi sensors without access to their security codes.  Finally, the Stratagema rematch between Data and Kolrami is delightful, ending with Data forcing a stalemate and one of his awesomest quotes:

“In the strictest sense, I did not win.”

(beat)

“I busted him up!”

Synopsis: Riker flew over the cuckoo’s nest.

Memory Alpha Summary: Juicy fruit!

Review: Frakes here is superb.  It’s probably his best episode in the series.  It’s hard not to be in each moment with him as he feels he is losing his sanity.  The writing itself has a David Lynch feel to it in that even when it ends it’s hard to exactly parse what the fuck was happening, but the ride is enjoyable all the same.  It’s dark.  It’s intense.  Love it.

Synopsis:  McCarthyism, circa 2367.

Memory Alpha Summary:  With the first link, the chain is forged.

Review:  I am so glad they waited until season four to do something like this.  Had this been set in season one, the preachy factor would have been through the roof.  As it stands, Picard realizes that humans are still capable of yielding to their most destructive fears, even in the 24^th century.  Jean Simmons is an awesome guest star.  And while Earl Billings doesn’t even get a line as Admiral Henry, his role is awesome as well.  Courtroom scenes can be so gauche, yet the writers here pull out another gem, partly because they knew to give all the best lines to Picard.  It’s not quite as emotional as in Measure of a Man, but it’s more realistic and perhaps more relevant to our times.

Synopsis: Wesley finally gets his ass handed to him.

Memory Alpha Summary: He had to kill someone to do it, but still.

Review:  Not coincidentally, it is easily the best Wesley episode out there.  He actually acts like a real kid who fucks up instead of Superboy.  He doesn’t act like he’s in authority when he’s not.  In fact, he’s Tom Paris’s Nicolas Locarno’s bitch.  He gets appropriately punished.  Picard’s admonishment is fantastic, his anger terrifying. Beverly still feels her son is Superboy up until he admits the truth, but she’s probably still got the guilt complex over not being home enough, so hey.

One thing that felt off to me is that Picard was notified of Crusher’s near death before his mother was.  In fact, Picard was essentially told to tell Beverly what happened.  That’s just weird.

Synopsis:  Picard has to impress a McGuffin by greeting them in their difficult language.  Naturally, he’s trapped on the holodeck.

Memory Alpha Summary: In the 20th century no less!

Review:  This is the first great episode of TNG, and other than nitpicking the vagaries of the universal translator, I can’t find anything negative to say about it.  The pulp environment that’s created is great fun, and I like the character of Cyrus Redblock.  I also love it every time his stooge says, “I really really want to shoot him!” The sheer joy on Picard’s face while interacting with this environment is a similar joy to see, as we’ve been mainly privy to him being stressed and demanding.  Crusher is simultaneously gorgeous and adoringly awkward in her 1930’s attire.  Wesley manages to be helpful but in a self-conscious, realistic fashion.  Just wonderful, and a harbinger of things to come.