The BEST episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation season 2

Every episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation season 2, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation season 2!

A century after Captain Kirk's five year mission, the next generation of Starfleet officers begins their journey aboard the new flagship of the Federation. Commanded by Captain Jean-Luc Picard the Galaxy class starship Enterprise NCC-1701-D will seek out new life and new civilizations - to boldly go where no one has gone before.

Last Updated: 8/28/2024Network: Status: Ended
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The Measure of a Man
star
8.12
2442 votes

#1 - The Measure of a Man

Season 2 - Episode 9 - Aired 2/13/1989

Stardate: 42523.7 When Data's rights as a sentient individual are placed under trial, Starfleet forces Riker into a position where he must prove that Data is only an Android.

Directors: Robert Scheerer
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Q Who?
star
7.83
2516 votes

#2 - Q Who?

Season 2 - Episode 16 - Aired 5/8/1989

Stardate: 42761.3 Q hurls the Enterprise into the Delta Quadrant and introduces the Federation to a powerful new enemy that may destroy the Alpha Quadrant: The Borg.

Directors: Rob Bowman
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Contagion
star
7.58
2556 votes

#3 - Contagion

Season 2 - Episode 11 - Aired 3/20/1989

Stardate: 42609.1 A strange power source disables the Enterprise's computer systems, damages Data's programming and leaves the ship and crew vulnerable to a Romulan attack.

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Peak Performance
star
7.55
2286 votes

#4 - Peak Performance

Season 2 - Episode 21 - Aired 7/10/1989

Stardate: 42923.4 Trouble begins when a Ferengi warship stumbles over a war simulation between Riker and Picard, each on different ships, and begins attacking them.

Directors: Robert Scheerer
Writer: David Kemper
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Elementary, Dear Data
star
7.55
2237 votes

#5 - Elementary, Dear Data

Season 2 - Episode 3 - Aired 12/5/1988

Stardate: 42286.3 Data and Geordi become involved with a holodeck program about Sherlock Holmes and his investigations, when they create Sherlock's arch nemesis, Moriarty; however, modifications to the Moriarty character include the capability of out-smarting Data, which leads to some unexpected consequences.

Directors: Rob Bowman
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
A Matter of Honor
star
7.39
2025 votes

#6 - A Matter of Honor

Season 2 - Episode 8 - Aired 2/6/1989

Commander Riker participates in an officer's exchange program which lands him an assignment on a Klingon Bird-of-Prey. Meanwhile, a Benzite ensign has trouble assimilating to the routines of the Enterprise.

Writer: Burton Armus
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Time Squared
star
7.30
2257 votes

#7 - Time Squared

Season 2 - Episode 13 - Aired 4/3/1989

Stardate: 42679.2 Picard encounters his double from six hours in the future, whose Enterprise had been destroyed.

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The Emissary
star
7.21
2154 votes

#8 - The Emissary

Season 2 - Episode 20 - Aired 6/29/1989

Stardate: 42901.3 Worf is re-united with his former lover, K'Ehleyr, while the Enterprise is ordered to intercept a Klingon ship whose crew has been in stasis for a century.

Directors: Cliff Bole
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Where Silence Has Lease
star
7.12
2230 votes

#9 - Where Silence Has Lease

Season 2 - Episode 2 - Aired 11/28/1988

Stardate: 42193.6 A mysterious life form known as the 'Nagilum' threatens the life of the crew in his attempt to understand humanity.

Directors: Winrich Kolbe
Watch Now:Apple TV
The Outrageous Okona
star
7.06
2192 votes

#10 - The Outrageous Okona

Season 2 - Episode 4 - Aired 12/12/1988

Stardate: 42402.7 The Enterprise is placed in a compromising situation when the captain of a disabled starship places the crew in the middle of a love triangle.

Writer: Burton Armus
Watch Now:Apple TV
Unnatural Selection
star
7.03
2051 votes

#11 - Unnatural Selection

Season 2 - Episode 7 - Aired 1/30/1989

Stardate: 42494.8 A mysterious hyper-ageing sickness kills the crew of a Federation cargo ship, and Dr. Pulaski must race against time to find a cure.

Directors: Paul Lynch
Watch Now:Apple TV
Loud as a Whisper
star
6.96
1887 votes

#12 - Loud as a Whisper

Season 2 - Episode 5 - Aired 1/9/1989

Stardate: 42477.2 A deaf-mute mediator meets with disaster while being escorted by the Enterprise.

Directors: Larry Shaw
Watch Now:Apple TV
The Child
star
6.94
2124 votes

#13 - The Child

Season 2 - Episode 1 - Aired 11/21/1988

Stardate: 42073.1 Troi undergoes a mysterious pregnancy when the Enterprise tries to escape from a system that has recently fallen victim to a deadly plague.

Directors: Rob Bowman
Watch Now:Apple TV
The Schizoid Man
star
6.89
1944 votes

#14 - The Schizoid Man

Season 2 - Episode 6 - Aired 1/23/1989

Stardate: 42437.5 Data is possessed by the consciousness of a brilliant scientist. However, it has a disturbing impact on Data's personality.

Writer: Tracy Torme
Watch Now:Apple TV
The Royale
star
6.87
1871 votes

#15 - The Royale

Season 2 - Episode 12 - Aired 3/27/1989

Stardate: 42625.4 An away team is trapped in an alien environment based around a novel entitled 'The Hotel Royale.'

Directors: Cliff Bole
Writer: Keith Mills
Watch Now:Apple TV
Samaritan Snare
star
6.85
1944 votes

#16 - Samaritan Snare

Season 2 - Episode 17 - Aired 5/15/1989

Stardate: 42779.1 A race known as the Pakleds kidnap Geordi La Forge. Picard must face surgery when he is left in a near-dead state.

Directors: Les Landau
Watch Now:Apple TV
Pen Pals
star
6.83
1983 votes

#17 - Pen Pals

Season 2 - Episode 15 - Aired 5/1/1989

Stardate: 42695.3 Wesley must investigate the causes of strange tectonic activity on the planet where Data's pen pal lives.

Watch Now:Apple TV
Up the Long Ladder
star
6.78
2006 votes

#18 - Up the Long Ladder

Season 2 - Episode 18 - Aired 5/22/1989

Stardate: 42823.2 Picard must convince two dying civilizations that they must co-exist on the same planet to survive, however, they have other plans to ensure their survival: in the form of clones of the Enterprise crew.

Directors: Winrich Kolbe
Watch Now:Apple TV
The Icarus Factor
star
6.78
1981 votes

#19 - The Icarus Factor

Season 2 - Episode 14 - Aired 4/24/1989

Stardate: 42686.4 Riker is promoted to Captain of another Federation ship. Worf must confront his past and his Klingon heritage.

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The Dauphin
star
6.78
2064 votes

#20 - The Dauphin

Season 2 - Episode 10 - Aired 2/20/1989

Stardate: 42568.8 Wesley falls in love with a passenger the Enterprise is escorting, who has the secret ability to shape-shift.

Directors: Rob Bowman
Watch Now:Apple TV
Manhunt
star
6.78
1918 votes

#21 - Manhunt

Season 2 - Episode 19 - Aired 6/19/1989

Stardate: 42859.2 While being escorted to a Federation conference by the Enterprise, Lwaxana hunts for a man to satisfy her needs when her sex-drive is quadrupled during a natural mid-life cycle.

Directors: Rob Bowman
Watch Now:Apple TV
Shades of Gray
star
5.76
1831 votes

#22 - Shades of Gray

Season 2 - Episode 22 - Aired 7/17/1989

Stardate: 42976.1 Riker is infected with an alien organism that takes over his mind. Dr. Pulaski must force Riker's mind back to a state where it can access primitive survival skills.

Watch Now:Apple TV