| Star Trek: The Next Generation | |
|---|---|
| Season 4 | |
 Region A/1 Blu-ray cover art | |
| No. of episodes | 26 |
| Release | |
| Original network | Broadcast syndication |
| Original release | September 24, 1990 (1990-09-24) – June 17, 1991 (1991-06-17) |
| Season chronology | |
← Previous Season 3 Next → Season 5 | |
| List of episodes | |
The fourth season of the Americanscience fiction television seriesStar Trek: The Next Generation commenced airing inbroadcast syndication in the United States on September 24, 1990, and concluded on June 17, 1991, after airing 26 episodes. Set in the 24th century, the series follows the adventures of the crew of theStarfleetstarshipEnterprise-D.
This season saw the show embracing the notion of serialized storylines. A recurring theme throughout the season is the notion of a brewing Duras-Romulan plot against theFederation, coupled withWorf's effort to reclaim his family honor. Both storylines were introduced inSeason 3's "Sins of the Father". Worf's discommendation is a major theme in "Family" and "The Drumhead", while his dishonor and the Duras-Romulan plot take center stage in the episodes "Reunion", "The Mind's Eye", and "Redemption".
A second recurring storyline in the season is the growth ofMiles O'Brien as a character. His first and middle name are revealed in "Family", he marries in "Data's Day", his past is revealed in "The Wounded", and his marriage is explored in "In Theory".
Season 4 featured many family-themed episodes. The first episode following "The Best of Both Worlds" deals withPicard and Worf's family, and the second withData's. Worf's sonAlexander appears later in the season, as doesTasha Yar's sister, and theEnterprise encounters an infant alien space entity.
While a stand-alone syndicated series, the series was paired with other shows for the two night syndicated programming blockHollywood Premiere Network fromChris-Craft TV andMCA TV.[1]
In the following table, episodes are listed by the order in which they aired.
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | Prod. code | Nielsen rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75 | 1 | "The Best of Both Worlds, Part II" | Cliff Bole | Michael Piller | September 24, 1990 (1990-09-24) | 175 | 12.3[2] |
Picard is rescued from theBorg as theEnterprise races to save Earth. Data interfaces with the half-Borg Picard and finds a way to shut down the Borg ship. Guest starElizabeth Dennehy as Starfleet Commander Shelby. | |||||||
| 76 | 2 | "Family" | Les Landau | Ronald D. Moore | October 1, 1990 (1990-10-01) | 178 | 9.6[2] |
While theEnterprise is undergoing repairs at Earth, CaptainPicard visits his brother's family in France, Lt.Worf's adoptive human parents come to see him aboard the ship, and Dr.Crusher gives her sonWesley a personal holo-recording left by his late father shortly after his birth. | |||||||
| 77 | 3 | "Brothers" | Rob Bowman | Rick Berman | October 8, 1990 (1990-10-08) | 177 | 10.9[2] |
| 78 | 4 | "Suddenly Human" | Gabrielle Beaumont | Story by : Ralph Phillips Teleplay by : John Whelpley andJeri Taylor | October 15, 1990 (1990-10-15) | 176 | 10.3[2] |
Picard must help a human boy, raised by aliens, to decide his fate. | |||||||
| 79 | 5 | "Remember Me" | Cliff Bole | Lee Sheldon | October 22, 1990 (1990-10-22) | 179 | 11.4[2] |
After an apparent failure of a warp-field experiment, people begin to disappear from theEnterprise with onlyDr. Crusher remembering that they ever existed. | |||||||
| 80 | 6 | "Legacy" | Robert Scheerer | Joe Menosky | October 29, 1990 (1990-10-29) | 180 | 12.0[2] |
Tasha Yar's sister Ishara seeks to restore order on their conflict-ridden colony world. | |||||||
| 81 | 7 | "Reunion" | Jonathan Frakes | Story by : Drew Deighan andThomas Perry & Jo Perry Teleplay by : Thomas Perry & Jo Perry and Ronald D. Moore &Brannon Braga | November 5, 1990 (1990-11-05) | 181 | 12.2[2] |
| 82 | 8 | "Future Imperfect" | Les Landau | J. Larry Carroll & David Bennett Carren | November 12, 1990 (1990-11-12) | 182 | 12.0[2] |
Riker finds himself sixteen years in the future. His memory of the interim is erased by a dormant virus. | |||||||
| 83 | 9 | "Final Mission" | Corey Allen | Story by : Kacey Arnold-Ince Teleplay by : Kacey Arnold-Ince & Jeri Taylor | November 19, 1990 (1990-11-19) | 183 | 11.5[2] |
Wesley sets off on his final mission with theEnterprise accompanied byPicard. They become stranded on a desert planet. | |||||||
| 84 | 10 | "The Loss" | Chip Chalmers | Teleplay by : Hilary J. Bader and Allan J. Adler &Vanessa Greene Story by : Hilary J. Bader | December 31, 1990 (1990-12-31) | 184 | 12.2[2] |
An unknown force captures theEnterprise and causesDeanna to lose her empathic powers. | |||||||
| 85 | 11 | "Data's Day" | Robert Wiemer | Story by : Harold Apter Teleplay by : Harold Apter and Ronald D. Moore | January 7, 1991 (1991-01-07) | 185 | 11.7[2] |
Data gets dancing lessons from Dr. Crusher in preparation ofChief O'Brien's wedding as theEnterprise brings Ambassador T'Pel to theRomulans for negotiations. | |||||||
| 86 | 12 | "The Wounded" | Chip Chalmers | Story by :Stuart Charno & Sara Charno and Cy Chermak Teleplay by : Jeri Taylor | January 28, 1991 (1991-01-28) | 186 | 12.1[2] |
| 87 | 13 | "Devil's Due" | Tom Benko | Story by :Philip LaZebnik &William Douglas Lansford Teleplay by : Philip LaZebnik | February 4, 1991 (1991-02-04) | 187 | 13.0[2] |
A powerful mythic figure from a millennium ago returns to enslave a planet in accordance with a contract. However,Picard is convinced she is an opportunistic charlatan. Guest starMarta DuBois as Ardra. | |||||||
| 88 | 14 | "Clues" | Les Landau | Story by : Bruce D. Arthurs Teleplay by : Bruce D. Arthurs and Joe Menosky | February 11, 1991 (1991-02-11) | 188 | 12.3[2] |
| 89 | 15 | "First Contact" | Cliff Bole | Teleplay by : Dennis Bailey[a] &David Bischoff and Joe Menosky & Ronald D. Moore and Michael Piller Story by : Marc Scott Zicree | February 18, 1991 (1991-02-18) | 189 | 11.4[2] |
Riker is hospitalized during a botched pre-first contact mission.Xenophobia results in increasing hostility toward his presence. | |||||||
| 90 | 16 | "Galaxy's Child" | Winrich Kolbe | Story by : Thomas Kartozian Teleplay by :Maurice Hurley | March 11, 1991 (1991-03-11) | 190 | 11.7[2] |
TheEnterprise accidentally kills a space creature, and the crew rush to save its unborn offspring. Meanwhile, Geordi meets the engineer he fell in love with and finds to his shock that she is nothing like the woman he encountered on theholodeck. Guest star:Susan Gibney as Dr. Leah Brahms. | |||||||
| 91 | 17 | "Night Terrors" | Les Landau | Story by : Shari Goodhartz Teleplay by : Pamela Douglas & Jeri Taylor | March 18, 1991 (1991-03-18) | 191 | 11.2[2] |
TheEnterprise is trapped in a rift, the crew succumbs to REM sleep deprivation, andDeanna has a recurring nightmare. | |||||||
| 92 | 18 | "Identity Crisis" | Winrich Kolbe | Story by : Timothy DeHaas Teleplay by : Brannon Braga | March 25, 1991 (1991-03-25) | 192 | 10.9[2] |
Geordi transforms into an alien creature with a strong instinct to return to its planet of origin. | |||||||
| 93 | 19 | "The Nth Degree" | Robert Legato | Joe Menosky | April 1, 1991 (1991-04-01) | 193 | 11.0[2] |
After an encounter with an alien probe,Barclay experiences great leaps in confidence and intelligence. | |||||||
| 94 | 20 | "Qpid" | Cliff Bole | Story by : Randee Russell andIra Steven Behr Teleplay by : Ira Steven Behr | April 22, 1991 (1991-04-22) | 194 | 10.8[2] |
| 95 | 21 | "The Drumhead" | Jonathan Frakes | Jeri Taylor | April 29, 1991 (1991-04-29) | 195 | 10.5[2] |
A witchhunt ensues for suspectedRomulan spies aboard theEnterprise. Guest starJean Simmons as Rear Admiral Norah Satie. | |||||||
| 96 | 22 | "Half a Life" | Les Landau | Story by :Ted Roberts andPeter Allan Fields Teleplay by : Peter Allan Fields | May 6, 1991 (1991-05-06) | 196 | Unknown[2] |
Lwaxana Troi finally finds love but discovers her man must undergo a ritualistic suicide. Guest starDavid Ogden Stiers as Timicin. | |||||||
| 97 | 23 | "The Host" | Marvin V. Rush | Michel Horvat | May 13, 1991 (1991-05-13) | 197 | 11.3[2] |
Dr. Crusher falls in love with Odan, a peace negotiator, only to discover that he is a symbiont. When his original host dies, he is implanted into Riker temporarily to finish his negotiations. | |||||||
| 98 | 24 | "The Mind's Eye" | David Livingston | Story by : Ken Schafer andRené Echevarria Teleplay by : René Echevarria | May 27, 1991 (1991-05-27) | 198 | 10.1[2] |
| 99 | 25 | "In Theory" | Patrick Stewart | Joe Menosky & Ronald D. Moore | June 3, 1991 (1991-06-03) | 199 | 9.8[2] |
Data participates in a romantic relationship with a fellow crew member. | |||||||
| 100 | 26 | "Redemption, Part I" | Cliff Bole | Ronald D. Moore | June 17, 1991 (1991-06-17) | 200 | 10.9[2] |
| Star Trek: The Next Generation – Season 4 | |||
| Set details | Special features | ||
| DVD and Blu-ray
| ||
| Release dates | |||
| DVD | Blu-ray | ||
| Region 1 | Region 2 | United States (Region free) | United Kingdom (Region free) |
| Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
In 2019,CBR rated Season 4 ofStar Trek: The Next Generation as the 12th best season of allStar Trek seasons up to that time.[3]
