Current Events > Is Star Trek TnG a good series to start on?

(+) Yeah! (+)

Found it on Netflix. Ive only ever watched the movie from 2010. Was always interested in the series, but just never took the dive.

Is there a general outline for whats worth watching, what series are good or badL

TNG is one of the best shows of all time BUT... the early seasons are rough. You really have to give it time to find it's footing. It's also nothing like the JJ Abrams movies, so if you're wanting a lot of action it's not the show for you.

Start at season 3 of TNG then once you like it you can loop back to some important s2 episodes like Measure of a Man

Got this advice from Red Letter Media who are huge trek fans. I tried to start at season 1 of TNG multiple times and wasn't super engaged. Season 3 is where they're fully into their groove. There are some memes about the show like "shut up Wesley" that are completely invalidated by this method because they simply fixed the writing by S3. TNG is also very episodic and took a little bit for all its characters to find their footings so you're just giving up very little by starting at S3.

The Original Series is a different era of TV. You might like it, or not. TNG is modern in formula.

After TNG you can watch Deep Space Nine, which is about equal in quality to TNG but inverts the formula so they're on a space station and ships come to them. It's darker & edgier with blackjack
and hookers. DS9 brings some characters from TNG so you will feel some continuity but the new cast is also excellent.

Once you're done with that you can try Voyager, but I couldn't get into it. Writing is not as tight from that show onwards.

You might be better off these days starting with Strange New Worlds, but if you can handle the 60sness of The Original Series or the 80sness of The Next Generation, those are both fine places to start.

If you do start with TNG, try to power through until Season 3 before you give up completely.

Shut up, Wesley

Stay dedicated to TNG if you pick it up because it's not paced like modern TV.

Cartoon_Quoter posted...

You might be better off these days starting with Strange New Worlds, but if you can handle the 60sness of The Original Series or the 80sness of The Next Generation, those are both fine places to start.

If you do start with TNG, try to power through until Season 3 before you give up completely.

In order of Timeline. Enterprise, SNW, TOS, TNG, DS9, voyager. Watching Discovery and the animated seroes is up to the TC discretion

sabin017 posted...

Stay dedicated to TNG if you pick it up because it's not paced like modern TV.

Well I was definitely born in the 80s, but what do you mean? It doesnt have ADHD style editing? Im fine with that. Or do you mean like 70s 80s stule, where characters will just stand and talk at eachother?

_____Cait posted...

Well I was definitely born in the 80s, but what do you mean? It doesnt have ADHD style editing? Im fine with that. Or do you mean like 70s 80s stule, where characters will just stand and talk at eachother?

Like most episodic TV shows, it has good episodes and bad episodes. There are a lot of discussions in TNG though. It's not an action series. The JJ.Abrams movies are very poor representations of Star Trek. It won't be anything like those.

People will say both of the first two seasons of TNG are bad, but I really don't think that's true. Season 1 is bad, yeah, but season 2 is actually pretty decent apart from the absolutely dreadful final episode. There are some really good episodes in the season.

Yes.

S1 and S2 they were still trying to find their footing, so to speak. S3 and beyond, they clearly found it.

I'll be honest, you could just watch the key episodes from those first 2 seasons if you really want to speed it up. If you do this, at least watch what the first two comments bring up in this reddit topic:

https://www.reddit.com/r/startrek/comments/awuoqu/what_episodes_of_season_12_of_tng_are_absolutely/

On a semi-related note, Most 80's/90's Star Trek is the reason I say Disney really needs to stop with the '3 seasons' only it tends to do. Because imagine if they had stopped TNG at season 3ish.

Don't skip episodes the first time through. None of them are that bad. Okay, two of them are that bad. But watch them anyway.

yes watch TNG which then goes into DS9, the two best series

PballDepot posted...

yes watch TNG which then goes into DS9, the two best series

I second this. I got into Trek a couple years ago and started with TNG. Seasons 1 and 2 are a bit rough, but I promise Season 3 is good. DS9 has a different feel, but is so good. I would stay away from the older trek unless you really have an affinity for it. The older movies are dope tho.

I would start with TOS but if you can't do it, then head to TNG. I would try to watch a few episodes of TOS to get a feel of what the show was and then what would come with TNG.

Don't skip the first 2 seasons of TNG. Just don't. That's such a weird way to watch TV.

My favorite is actually TOS, but season 3 is pretty bad. You should use a watch guide and just watch the good episodes.

https://www.letswatchstartrek.com/tos-episode-guide/

(That guide lists Spock's Brain as watch but rates it a 1, this is because it's legendarily bad and worth watching for the "so bad it's good" aspect)

Might as well start with TOS, it's not that long, and if you're going to like Star Trek at all, you'll like it.

I personally feel the hate early TNG gets is overblown. Yeah, the later seasons are better, and yes, there are few cringy episodes but it's still watchable.

Skip season one and pretend it starts with season two. Which is still rough but has some great episodes. Season one is the second worst season of all of Star Trek. For decades it was the worst season and was only recently dethroned by Picard Season 2.

Hospy posted...

Might as well start with TOS, it's not that long, and if you're going to like Star Trek at all, you'll like it.

I personally feel the hate early TNG gets is overblown. Yeah, the later seasons are better, and yes, there are few cringy episodes but it's still watchable.

You just use a watch guide and skip the bad episodes. That's the advantage of an episodic series.

Star Trek TNG is more traditional sci-fi. This means it's more about discussion, story and lesson, than modern sci-fi's blue lasers and explosions timed to soundtracks. If you find arguments over morality and discussion about the definition of sentience enjoyable, then it might be a good fit.
I would follow others suggestion and start at season 3. It's a recurring theme that the first season or two of Star Trek shows are usually the least enjoyable.

One thing, TNG is episodic, meaning most episodes are self contained stories, thus a different plot every episode. If you don't like that, DS9 is more serialized, meaning plot-points often reappear throughout the series and have affect on the larger story.

ssjevot posted...

You just use a watch guide and skip the bad episodes. That's the advantage of an episodic series.

Personally I feel even the bad episodes give the viewer something to think about.

I think there's only one truly pointless episode in TNG where the viewer gets absolutely nothing, and that's Shades of Gray.

https://www.whompcomic.com/comic/star-track-record

Akuryu posted...

TNG is one of the best shows of all time BUT... the early seasons are rough. You really have to give it time to find it's footing. It's also nothing like the JJ Abrams movies, so if you're wanting a lot of action it's not the show for you.

Its really one season 1 thats rough. Season 2 is mostly good IMO.

Relevant to my interests

Hejiru posted...

Its really one season 1 thats rough. Season 2 is mostly good IMO.

Season 1 is perfect to start out with, though. It *DOES* have some great episodes mixed in with the cheesy ones. Where No One Has Gone Before, Conspiracy, Skin of Evil. The pilot episodes introduce Q, who is important to the show.

I would just start with season 1 and if you want to skip episodes like "Code of Honor" then you would be excused. It's not a horrible episode, it just feels like a bad ToS script reused for TNG.

Started TNG on Netflix. First episode has them surrendering to some group of.. Somethings. I had to stop and go to work. The style is very nostalgic and definitely reminds of late 80s and early 90s dramas that used to come on at Grandmas house. Slow, thoughtful, and sometimes just letting things breathe.

I agree with the advice to start with season 3. S2 is pretty good and there are even a few S1 episodes I like but the 3rd season is where you really start to see what made TNG such a great show. And it's such an episodic show that watching it out of order isn't going to leave you confused.

If you decide you want something with slick modern production values then Strange New Worlds is good.

It's the best, watch it from the beginning though, it's rough but has some important episodes to know, also while many are uncomfortable for how bad they are conceptually, watching them means you can discuss the problems with others. Don't let yourself be ignorant of aspects of the show simply because somebody has a "best watch" list.

Doe posted...

Start at season 3 of TNG then once you like it you can loop back to some important s2 episodes like Measure of a Man

Got this advice from Red Letter Media who are huge trek fans. I tried to start at season 1 of TNG multiple times and wasn't super engaged. Season 3 is where they're fully into their groove. There are some memes about the show like "shut up Wesley" that are completely invalidated by this method because they simply fixed the writing by S3. TNG is also very episodic and took a little bit for all its characters to find their footings so you're just giving up very little by starting at S3.

The Original Series is a different era of TV. You might like it, or not. TNG is modern in formula.

After TNG you can watch Deep Space Nine, which is about equal in quality to TNG but inverts the formula so they're on a space station and ships come to them. It's darker & edgier with blackjack
and hookers. DS9 brings some characters from TNG so you will feel some continuity but the new cast is also excellent.

Once you're done with that you can try Voyager, but I couldn't get into it. Writing is not as tight from that show onwards.

This is some good advice. I would throw Strange New Worlds into contention cause I do enjoy it a lot. My only complaint is bringing in young Kirk

Watch all episodes.

Syfe posted...

It's the best, watch it from the beginning though, it's rough but has some important episodes to know, also while many are uncomfortable for how bad they are conceptually, watching them means you can discuss the problems with others. Don't let yourself be ignorant of aspects of the show simply because somebody has a "best watch" list.

For someone who's gotten into the show and wants to watch more then yes they should go back and watch from the beginning at some point. But if someone is just sampling the show to see if it's their thing or not then watching the 1st season is not the best way to do that.

I started with TNG but there were a few things they referenced from TOS and the movies, so I went back and watch them first. If you have the time I would recommend starting from the beginning, but it's not for everyone.

I don't think skipping season 1 entirely is a good idea.

Farpoint, Datalore, and Neutral Zone are ok. Maybe add in the binary one as well and one other.

Unfortunately Lore is just never that good in TNG

Voyager is alright if you go in already forewarned that the mood of the captain is dictated by the writer of that episode.

It's fine. Start on Season 1 even though it's bad. It sets up a lot of recurring themes you'll see in later episodes including the finale.

Also had to check, but especially don't miss Season 2's 16th episode for the intro of THE de facto boogeyman alien race, the Borg.

A lot of season one is garbage though. Stuff that you should really have disclaimers on as being products of their time or not even meeting the standards of the time. There is no earthly reason to watch Code of Honor.

Starks posted...

A lot of season one is garbage though. Stuff that you should really have disclaimers on as being products of their time or not even meeting the standards of the time. There is no earthly reason to watch Code of Honor.

Like I said earlier, it totally feels like a recycled ToS plot except it's Tasha Yar in a dual to the death instead of Kirk. Even the alien world set design screams ToS. It's bad but I think the cries that it's "racist" because the Ligonians are cast with black actors is stretching it.

It's not inherently racist, but the entire cast hated every second of it.

After watching only the os for years i was excited for tng but i quit after a couple episodes i didnt like the characters

TNG and DS9 are two of the best TV series of all time. I rewatched TNG recently before Picard Season 3 (AKA the only good season of Picard), and it is still great. Seasons 1 and 2 have some rough episodes, but I highly recommend pushing through it. The vast majority of the rest is gold.

There are a lot of episodes about the importance of the truth and fighting corruption that are sadly very relevant today. I just re watched the Drumhead a couple of days ago. Lets just say that, sadly, it retains its relevance all these years later.

I get that feeling at the beginning of most shows and try to stick it out through the entry phase to when they start adding depth to characters. It can take awhile, but the character growth is very satisfying in most shows. Most recent Trek version of this for me was that I found Lower Decks very hard to get into, and I am ultimately sad it's over. Th first episode felt incredibly ADHD and I had to pause it several times feeling motion sickness at the pacing. They eventually learned pacing and the show grew with the characters. It was nice.

leonkr41138 posted...

After watching only the os for years i was excited for tng but i quit after a couple episodes i didnt like the characters

That changes drastically. I think an argument can be made that Captain Picard and Data are two of the best characters in modern fiction. The whole crew grows and becomes great to go on adventures with.

People always say to skip season 1 and 2 but I disagree. They do a lot of character building and whatnot. I enjoyed them and it was my second series because Ive been watching in chronological order. TNG has some rough episodes, but some of the better episodes are really great. Its close to my favorite one behind Deep Space Nine.

Starks posted...

A lot of season one is garbage though. Stuff that you should really have disclaimers on as being products of their time or not even meeting the standards of the time. There is no earthly reason to watch Code of Honor.

During my re-watch I mentioned above, Code of Honor was the only one I stopped watching. Started it, Couldnt get through it.

I did a similar re watch of DS9 during Covid. I only skipped one episode there: Profit and Lace. No way in hell either of those episodes get made today. Thank goodness.

Maybe the only redeeming value of season 1 is the heavy synth. They should have kept that.

"We seek peaceful COEXISTENCE."