To Boldly Go...Part 1

This will be the first in a four part post about modern Star Trek, all of which is conveniently available on Netflix.

Let's start chronologically with Star Trek: The Next Generation.

This is a marquee show for Netflix. It was very popular during its initial run, has a large number of episodes, and is remembered fondly by both twenty-somethings who saw latter seasons as kids and by older audiences for its many strong episodes. This is precisely the type of show that Netflix should be looking at to draw in subscribers.

That is not to say the show is beyond reproach. The first two seasons are, to put it nicely, terrible, with a few exceptions (Measure of a Man, for example). If you're skeptical about science fiction in general or Star Trek in particular, I would recommend skipping the first two seasons and starting with the generally better 3rd season. The only real item of importance you miss is the introduction of Q, a nigh omnipotent being who pops up over the later seasons, mostly to annoy Captain Picard.

One thing to note is that many of the special effects have not aged well. Most of the big ships are done with models, rather than CGI, which has let them age gracefully, but many smaller effects on away missions or involving non-humanoid aliens really show off the poor quality of cutting edge of early 90's technology.

A final negative aspect is that, mostly because of the creator's wishes, there is very little in the way of character development. Some actors grow into their roles a little bit better as the series progresses, but there are very few changes in the personalities and motivations of the main cast. To an audience used to Battlestar Galactica or other character heavy shows, this can be very disappointing.

I'd suggest looking at the show as a tour of the Federation and the universe of Star Trek and appreciating some of the very interesting ideas the show suggests about humanity and our future. Episodes focused on the Prime Directive, first contact with new species, and recognition of artificial life tend to be though prevoking, while episodes focused on the Klingons, Romulans, and Borg generally deliver tense stand-off and good action.

What The Next Generation does exceptionally well is provide a very optimistic view of the future of humanity. Indeed, the first and last episodes of the series turn on humanities ability to transcend the crimes of our past and prove ourselves worthy of living among the stars. It's a very uplifting vision of the future and one I personally find inspiring.

The series is generally well acted and Patrick Stewart, no surprise, does a fantastic job throughout the series' run.

I suggest watching it like a prime-time soap opera, playing one episode every weeknight, with the exceptions of the two-parters, which I suspect you'll want to watch together. It'll last a while and hopefully propel you into watching Deep Space Nine or Voyager.

Availability: All 7 seasons on Watch Instantly.

Running time: 133 hours. It's a major commitment.
When to Watch: You want a hopeful view of the future that's light on petty personal conflicts and heavy on ideas.