Star Trek: The Next Generation, episode guide

In the main intro the Solar System is showed in a new way, the correct degrees of rank assigned the characters is showed (which should have been done from season 2), and the name of Gates McFadden is back in its old place. Hand hold lights used on missions is introduced in this season. Doctor Beverly Crusher is back onboard the USS Enterprise NCC-1701-D and Katherine Pulaski has left.

"Evolution"

(49:178)
Enterprise have the scientist Paul Stubbs aboard who has dedicated all his life in the study of the star soon to go nova. Men soon the systems on Enterprise begins to fail, and Wesley Crusher thinks he is to blame. His science project build on nano technology but a couple of nanites has apparently escaped, and in the course of his lifeworks destruction makes him a most unpleasant man. An he cannot accept, that the Enterprise slowly sees the nanites as having a will of its own.
US Air Date: 25 September 1989

"The Ensigns of Command"

(50:178)
The sheilks do not like humans and demands the removal of a colony of people on one of their planets where they will have one of their own. The Federation do not know the existence of the colony as they disappeared nearly a hundred years ago but more likely were off course. The planet has a high level of radiation dangerous to humans, so Data is sent to evacuate the colony. If Data fails the colony will be destroyed, and in the mean time captain Picard must put his trust in the contract, the Federation and the sheilks has signed, which is a complex affair demanding his experience as an negotiator. And Data gets his fights as well...
US Air Date: 2 October 1989
Data plays on a violin.

"The Survivors"

(51:178)
A remote colony has been attacked by aliens, with all the 11,000 colonists dead. All except for an old couple. Somehow they, their house and garden have survived. Meanwhile Deanna Troi cannot get a tune out of her head and it is slowly driving her mad. Is there a connection? Picard is determined to solve the mystery, but is hampered by the return of the aliens.
US Air Date: 9 October 1989

"Who Watches the Watchers"

(52:178)
Enterprise is on its way to a planet where Federation scientists observe a primitive proto-vulcan race behind a cloacking device to restore their system failure, which soon will reveal the observation post. As they arrive the damage is done and the events happens with greateer and greater consequences. The Prime Directive dictates that the Federation must not interfere in a planets natural society evolution, and it is up to Picard to correct the error. Unfortunately it results in he being worshipped as a god.
US Air Date: 16 October 1989
Doctor Pulaski is mentioned but never seen!

"The Bonding"

(53:178)
An expedition led by Worf to investigate an extinct race ends in tragedy, when an deadly explosion kills Maria Astor. Worf feels responsible for her death and for the now orphaned Jeremy. Meanwhile, unknown to the rest of the crew, Jeremy's grief is tempered by the continuing appearance of his mother enticing him to go down to the planet.
US Air Date: 23 October 1989

"Booby Trap"

(54:178)
The Enterprise is caught in a deadly trap and despite Picard's efforts the situation grows worse. Geordi tries his own approach, programming the ship's computer to simulate one of the Enterprise's designers, Leah Brahms, in the holodeck. Unfortunately for Geordi, he finds the simulation too realistic, and begins to fall in love with her.
US Air Date: 30 October 1989

"The Enemy"

(55:178)
On a distrinctly inhospitable planet in the outer rim of the Neutral Zone at the Federation side Enterprise has located a romulan craft with a single survivor. They do not find more so first officer Riker and security officer Worf wants to return to Enterprise but by then Geordi is disapeared. He is lost and because of the planets atmosphere the sensors on the Enterprise cannot penetrate and locate life. Georgi's V.I.S.O.R. failing and he is furthermore attacked by a surviving romulan whose mind is affected by conditions on the planet. As the Enterprise searches for Geordi, the romulans are on their way demanding the release of their man from the craft.
US Air Date: 6 November 1989

"The Price"

(56:178)
Wormholes in space are always unstable but a planet has announced it has a stable one and will sell the rights to use it to the highest bidder. As negotiations progress, despite the ferengi's continual bickering, Deanna Troi finds she is becomming strongly attracted to one of the negotiators. But he has more than one secret.
US Air Date: 13 November 1989

"The Vengeance Factor"

(57:178)
After many years of clan wars a planets people have realised that it is time to put aside differences and rebuild the planet. Captain Picard finds himself in the difficult role of mediator. All goes well, until a murder is commited - and then it seem the clan wars will start all over again.
US Air Date: 20 November 1989

"The Defector"

(58:178)
When a romulan of a seemingly low rank defects, he brings news of romulan battle plans. Does this mean that the romulans are preparing to attack, or are they trying to make the Federation attack in the belief that war is inevitable? Picard must tread very carefully, as every move he makes could lead the Federation into a devastating war.
US Air Date: 1 January 1990

"The Hunted"

(59:178)
The planet Angosia wishes to enter the Federation, but during negotiations a high security prisoner escapes from a top security prison. Despite his superior abilities, the prisoner is captured. However, this is no ordinary prisoner - he can even break out of a transporter beam. When Picard discovers the truth, his decision leaves the planet in a potentially catastrophic situation.
US Air Date: 8 January 1990

"The High Ground"

(60:178)
The concept for freedom is not simple: One man's law is another man's crime. On Rutia so-called terrorists are trying to overthrow a government which, in turn, imprisons anyone who sympathizes. During chief medical officer Beverly Crusher is saving lives after a terrible explosion, she is kidnapped by the terrorists with a technology known in the Federation as dangerously unstable. At once Wesley is trying to find a way to track the transportingtechnology to save his mother.
US Air Date: 29 January 1990

"Deja Q"

(61:178)
Enterprise is in an attempt to save a planet from a catastrophic clash if the moon of the planet is falling from its orbit. The arrival of a naked and powerless Q on board the Enterprise bridge is undoubtably cause for concern and bad timing. Captain Picard has to weigh his natural distrust of Q against Q's plea for sanctuary. Q has great difficulty adjusting with the big ego of his resulting in a lot of work for Data being the officer keeping an eye on him. An alien race is after the now mortal Q with a wish of revenge, while the planetary catastrophic event is worsen and the conflict prevents an rescue.
US Air Date: 5 February 1990

"A Matter of Perspective"

(62:178)
An orbiting spacestation explodes moments after Riker has transported from it to the Enterprise. The scientist Apgar dies and his widow accuses Riker of murdering her husband and seducing her. The holodeck is the ideal location for the inquest, displaying the evidence in all its confusing dimension. What really happened...?
US Air Date: 12 February 1990

"Yesterday's Enterprise"

(63:178)
An earlier Enterprise, USS Enterprise NCC-1701-C, has arrived through a hole i space and change history. The Federation is now at war with the klingon empire and is losing. Worf is no longer on the Enterprise and Natasha Yar is back at her post as security chief. With time altered - can anyone help Picard save the future?
US Air Date: 19 February 1990

"The Offspring"

(64:178)
Data furthers the experiments of doctor Noonien Soong and the result is a new android, Lal, which he calls his child. But some federation scientists want to take Lal to the Daystrom Institute for experimentation. Picard risk his career trying save this new family.
US Air Date: 12 March 1990
Directed by: Jonathan Frakes

"Sins of the Father"

(65:178)
The exchange programme for officers, which first officer Riker participated in ("A Matter of Honor" (34)), replaces Riker for a while as first officer in favour of the klingon Kurn. He is hard on the crew as it were a klingon bird of prey, but is real intend is soon revealed to Worf: Kurn is the brother of Worf and the family stands to loose all honor as the klingon council will judge their father as a traitor. This brings Worf back to the klingon home world and a confrontation with K’Mpec, leader of the high council. Worf must clear the accusations against his father being a traitor, but he must do so without tearing the empire apart.
US Air Date: 19 March 1990

"Allegiance"

(66:178)
Picard is transported to a strange sealed room with three aliens. Any attempt to leave the room is met with punishment. But Picard is determined to get out before one of them dies. Meanwhile, on the Enterprise, Picard is apparently taking the ship far off its scheduled course, and his style strikingly different – totally stripped off the private person the captain used to be.
US Air Date: 26 March 1990

"Captain’s Holiday"

(67:178)
Under some protest captain Picard is persuaded to take some leave. At the holiday resort Risa he encounters a ferengi and the devious Vash. They are both on the trail of a treasure, which to aliens from the future also is interested in. Picard teams up with Vash, but can she be trusted?
US Air Date: 2 April 1990

"Tin Man"

(68:178)
A new lifeform, code-named "Tin Man", has been detected in romulan space. The Enterprise aims to reach it before the romulans and has on board a specialist in first contact with aliens, Tam Elbrum from Betazed. Unfortunately his empathic mind cannot tolerate the intrusive thoughts of those around him and is, and his sanity is slowly being eroded. Meanwhile, "Tin Man" provides some surprises.
US Air Date: 23 April 1990

"Hollow Pursuits"

(69:178)
Reginald Barclay is a competent engineer on the Enterprise but finds it hard to cope with the social side of life. His escape is the fantasy worlds be creates in the holodeck. There, he is in full controll. Soon it becomes addictive, while the real world becomes less and less important to him.
US Air Date: 30 April 1990

"The Most Toys"

(70:178)
Fajo is a collector whose speciality is anything unique and Data is going to be his prized exhibit. Staging a fake accident Fajo kidnaps Data, while the crew of the Enterprise mourn their lost friend. However, Data does not respond to Fajo's attempts at controlling him, and soon Fajo's life is at risk... from Data!
US Air Date: 7 May 1990
Tasha Yar is mentioned.

"Sarek"

(71:178)
Sarek's career as ambassador for Vulcan is one of the most distinguished in the Federation. Now, as old age finally takes its toll, he has arrived on the Enterprise for his last mission: A meeting with a highly volatile race. However strange things are happening to the crew, and Sarek's wife, a human, holds a secret which may cause disaster.
US Air Date: 14 May 1990

"Ménage à Troi"

(72:178)
Captain Picard heaves another heavy sigh when Lwaxana Troi visits the Enterprise once more, still interested in Picard. Her availability does not go unnoticed by the ferengi Damon Tog, who kidnaps her, Deanna and Riker. Tog believes Lwaxana's mindreading ability will be a great asset in deals, but he has not reckoned with Picard, who declares his undying love for Lwaxana!
US Air Date: 28 May 1990
Wesley Crusher is to attend entrance examination to Starfleet Academy, but does not make it during his keen of helping. Captain Picard appoints him from acting ensign to ensign with full rank and privileges.

"Transfigurations"

(73:178)
A crashed space ship has just one survivor and he has lost his memory. Doctor Crusher does her best to heal him, but something strange is happening to his body. He is even starting to display most unusual powers. Then other members of his race arrive, and reveal that he is a wanted criminal.
US Air Date: 4 June 1990

"The Best of Both Worlds" (Part 1)

(74:178)
The destruction of a colony alerts the Federation, that the dangerous borg's has arrived. As soon as they show themselves, their human target is captain Picard and then the Federation! Meanwhile Riker must face awesome responsibilities and a rival contender for his job.
US Air Date: 18 June 1990