Part II, Chapter XX: "Milestones"
“The release of season four was much more relaxed for me. It had taken a little while to properly settle in to the cast, but by the end of my second season, I had been completely accepted, by both the cast and the fans. While there was the revelation of my character’s sexuality to come, I was at least secure that the fans seemed to like the character.”
- Stephanie Beacham, taken from
Where None Had Gone Before.
The fourth season of
Star Trek: The Next Generation would continue the success of the third season. Having “found its feet”, the show would not undergo any drastic changes over the previous one, despite speculation that there could be a major change in cast.
The season began with the end of the “Best of Both Worlds” story that had been set up at the end of the third season. The cliffhanger ending of the first part had generated a large amount of discussion in fan circles following its airing. Following on from this, the fourth season was to end with the first part of another two part story, this time focussing on the Klingons.
The fourth season would, like the third season, be met with critical acclaim, with it many calling it the best season so far. Following three seasons of change, the stability seemed to be treating the show well.
List of Episodes of Season 4 of Star Trek: The Next Generation:
- The Best of Both Worlds (Part II)
- Family
- Reconstruction [1]
- Brothers
- The Empath [2]
- Suddenly Human
- The Dreamscape [3]
- Legacy
- Generations [4]
- Data’s Day
- Future Imperfect
- Reunion
- Chronology [5]
- The Wounded
- Clues
- Genius is Pain [6]
- The Nth Degree
- Galaxy’s Child [7]
- After All [8]
- The Drumhead
- Qpid
- The Host [9]
- The Mind’s Eye
- Beyond [10]
- Half a Life
- Redemption (Part I) [11]
Main Cast of Season 4 of Star Trek: The Next Generation:
- Captain Julien Picard – Patrick Stewart
- Commander William Riker – Jonathan Frakes
- Lt. Cmdr. Data – Brent Spiner
- Dr. Amelia Henderson – Stephanie Beacham
- Lt. Cmdr. Geordi La Forge – LeVar Burton
- Counselor (Lt. Cmdr) Deanna Troi – Marina Sirtis
- Lt. Worf – Michael Dorn
- Ensign Andrew Kelly – Christian Slater
- Ensign Leslie Crusher – Carla Gugino
During the release of the fourth season, a fifth would be ordered by Paramount. Shortly after this, production would begin, in part due to the large number of scripts that the show had.
[1] This story focusses on the state of the Federation after the thwarting of the Borg decapitation strike.
[2] Another script that never got produced, it's a Geordi story.
[3] A more Trek-y story than some of the other stories in this season. It would be har to say what it is without just telling the entire story, si I'll leave it for now.
[4] This is a story that focusses on Dr Henderson and Leslie Crusher. Dr Henderson's wife comes aboard as part of a project, and Leslie has to deal with one of her grandparents that doesn't want her in Starfleet.
[5] A backwards episode.
[6] Another undeveloped script. Has a very John Cleese-y character.
[7] Similar to OTL, but Geordi is written less sympathetically.
[8] Another Borg aftermath episode. Focusses on a conference between Starfleet and the KDF, and involves the Romulans.
[9] Similar to OTL, but with the DS9 Trill makeup.
[10] Starfleet are contacted by an alien species from just outside the galaxy, which they cannot meet due to the galactic barrier. There is a plan to try to break through, but as you may guess, it goes awry.
[11] This part is mainly the same, but the arc will take longer.