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The Best Episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 3

Every episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 3 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 3!

Binge this in 19h 10m•Peaking at 9.3/10

Follow the intergalactic adventures of Capt. Jean-Luc Picard and his loyal crew aboard the all-new USS Enterprise NCC-1701D, as they explore new worlds.

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 3 Episode 26 - The Best of Both Worlds (1)
    9.3/10(6744 votes)

    S3:E26

    Stardate: 43989.1 An Starfleet expert on the Borg, Lt. Cmdr. Shelby, is assigned to the Enterprise to investigate the disappearance of a Federation colony. Picard is abducted by the Borg and assimilated into the Collective, which forces Riker to attempt a rescue mission.

    Director:Cliff Bole
    Writer:Michael Piller

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  2. Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 3 Episode 15 - Yesterday's Enterprise
    9.2/10(7155 votes)

    S3:E15

    Stardate: 43625.2. A rift in the space/time continuum brings the U.S.S. Enterprise - C forward into the 24th Century, and alters the timeline. In this future, the Federation is at war with the Klingons, Tasha Yar is on the bridge, Worf did not join the Federation, and only Guinan's unique perception of reality may restore the timeline.

    Director:David Carson
    Writers:Richard Manning, Ira Steven Behr, Ronald D. Moore, Trent Christopher Ganino, Eric A. Stillwell, Hans Beimler

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  3. Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 3 Episode 13 - Déjà Q
    8.5/10(5081 votes)

    S3:E13

    Stardate: 43539.1. A Calamarian starts attacking the Enterprise while seeking revenge on a powerless Q.

    Director:Les Landau
    Writer:Richard Danus

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  4. Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 3 Episode 16 - The Offspring
    8.5/10(5470 votes)

    S3:E16

    Stardate: 43657.0. Data becomes a father when he creates a Soong-type android in the form of a daughter named Lal. Issues are complicated when Lal starts showing signs of a more evolved consciousness, including the ability to feel emotions, which attracts the attention of Starfleet scientists who want to take her away from Data and examine her advanced systems.

    Director:Jonathan Frakes
    Writer:René Echevarria

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  5. Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 3 Episode 10 - The Defector
    8.4/10(4963 votes)

    S3:E10

    Stardate: 43462.5. A defecting Romulan warns the Federation about an impending attack by the Romulans, who are secretly establishing bases within the Neutral Zone.

    Director:Robert Scheerer
    Writer:Ronald D. Moore

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  6. Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 3 Episode 17 - Sins of the Father
    8.2/10(4489 votes)

    S3:E17

    Stardate: 43685.2. Worf is reunited with his long-lost brother when their father is charged with treason for helping the Romulans. Together they make an appeal to the Klingon High Council to challenge the charges, and have them revoked.

    Director:Les Landau
    Writer:Ronald D. Moore

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  7. Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 3 Episode 23 - Sarek
    8.2/10(4539 votes)

    S3:E23

    Stardate: 43917.4. Spock's Vulcan father, Sarek, boards the Enterprise to negotiate political relations with the Legaran. However, Sarek has contract Bendii syndrome, which causes a Vulcan to gradually lose control, and become overpowered with emotions.

    Director:Les Landau
    Writer:Peter S. Beagle

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  8. Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 3 Episode 4 - Who Watches the Watchers
    8.0/10(5185 votes)

    S3:E4

    Stardate: 43173.5. An away team inadvertently breaks the Prime Directive and reveal themselves to a primitive culture on Mintaka III, causing the inhabitants believe that Captain Picard is a God.

    Director:Robert Wiemer
    Writers:Richard Manning, Hans Beimler

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  9. Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 3 Episode 7 - The Enemy
    7.8/10(4279 votes)

    S3:E7

    Stardate:43349.2. A blind Geordie is trapped on a hazardous planet with a paranoid and severely injured Romulan. In orbit, a Romulan Warbird is preventing the Enterprise from attempting a rescue mission.

    Director:David Carson
    Writers:David Kemper, Michael Piller

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  10. Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 3 Episode 3 - The Survivors
    7.7/10(4872 votes)

    S3:E3

    Stardate: 43152.4. The Enterprise discovers a planet that has had all life eradicated, except for two mysterious residents and their home, which has been left in perfect condition.

    Director:Les Landau
    Writer:Michael I. Wagner

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  11. Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 3 Episode 21 - Hollow Pursuits
    7.7/10(4279 votes)

    S3:E21

    Stardate: 43807.4. A nervous and insecure officer, Lt. Reginald Barclay, places the Enterprise in great danger when he neglects his duties in Engineering, and instead spends his time acting out his fantasies on the holodeck.

    Director:Cliff Bole
    Writer:Sally Caves

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  12. Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 3 Episode 22 - The Most Toys
    7.6/10(4272 votes)

    S3:E22

    Stardate: 43872.2. The crew are shattered by the apparent death of Data in a shuttle explosion, and are prevented from carrying out a detailed investigation when Starfleet gives them orders for a new mission elsewhere. However, the crew don't realize that he was actually abducted and placed on display as part of a collection of rare and valuable items held by a disreputable character.

    Director:Timothy Bond
    Writer:Shari Goodhartz

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  13. Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 3 Episode 2 - The Ensigns of Command
    7.4/10(4419 votes)

    S3:E2

    Stardate: 43133.3. A human colony is forced to evacuate a planet when the original inhabitants return and threaten the colonists with annihilation if they do not leave within four days.

    Director:Cliff Bole
    Writer:Melinda M. Snodgrass

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  14. Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 3 Episode 6 - Booby Trap
    7.4/10(4262 votes)

    S3:E6

    Stardate: 43205.6. While investigating an ancient ship left adrift in space, the Enterprise accidentally trips the ancient booby trap that disabled the old vessel over 1000 years ago.

    Director:Gabrielle Beaumont
    Writers:Michael I. Wagner, Michael Piller

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  15. Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 3 Episode 11 - The Hunted
    7.4/10(4186 votes)

    S3:E11

    Stardate: 43489.2. A potentially new member of the Federation enlists the help of the Enterprise to track down a wanted criminal who has a reputation for his excessive violence. However, the fugitive's actions may not be of his own will.

    Director:Cliff Bole
    Writer:Robin Bernheim Burger

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  16. Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 3 Episode 18 - Allegiance
    7.4/10(4113 votes)

    S3:E18

    Stardate: 43714.1. Picard is secretly abducted and switched with an alien double. The crews' suspicions are raised when he starts exhibiting unusual behaviour, and is relieved of command.

    Director:Winrich Kolbe
    Writers:Richard Manning, Hans Beimler

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  17. Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 3 Episode 19 - Captain's Holiday
    7.2/10(4304 votes)

    S3:E19

    Stardate: 43745.2. While on vacation on Risa, Captain Picard encounters two Vorgons from the 27th Century who claim they are searching for a powerful weapon hidden somewhere on the planet.

    Director:Chip Chalmers
    Writer:Ira Steven Behr

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  18. Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 3 Episode 20 - Tin Man
    7.2/10(4061 votes)

    S3:E20

    Stardate: 43779.3. The Enterprise encounters a 'living' ship in the Neutral Zone, and risks breaking the Romulan Federation alliance in order to bring it into contact with a Betazoid emissary.

    Director:Robert Scheerer
    Writers:David Bischoff, Dennis Bailey

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  19. Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 3 Episode 25 - Transfigurations
    6.9/10(3725 votes)

    S3:E25

    Stardate: 43957.2. Dr. Crusher becomes attracted to an injured alien with mysterious powers, who is being tracked down by his government like a wanted criminal.

    Director:Tom Benko
    Writer:René Echevarria

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  20. Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 3 Episode 12 - The High Ground
    6.8/10(3996 votes)

    S3:E12

    Stardate: 43510.7. Dr. Crusher is abducted by a group of terrorists while delivering crucial medical supplies to a planet ravaged by civil war.

    Director:Gabrielle Beaumont
    Writer:Melinda M. Snodgrass

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  21. Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 3 Episode 5 - The Bonding
    6.7/10(4080 votes)

    S3:E5

    Worf and Wesley must help a 12 year old boy cope with the death of his mother; an archaeologist killed during an away mission to a deserted planet.

    Director:Winrich Kolbe
    Writer:Ronald D. Moore

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  22. Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 3 Episode 14 - A Matter of Perspective
    6.7/10(3969 votes)

    S3:E14

    Stardate: 43610.4. Riker is accused of murder when a scientist is killed in an explosion. Picard must recreate the recent events in the holodeck to prove his commander's innocence.

    Director:Cliff Bole
    Writer:Ed Zuckerman

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  23. Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 3 Episode 1 - Evolution
    6.5/10(4130 votes)

    S3:E1

    Stardate: 43125.8. A system-wide computer malfunction places the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise in grave danger while they are escorting a scientist to a star in the process of exploding.

    Director:Winrich Kolbe
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 3 Episode 9 - The Vengeance Factor
    6.5/10(3856 votes)

    S3:E9

    Stardate: 43421.9. The Enterprise crew tries to mend the relationship between a race known as the Acamarians and a faction known as the Gatherers.

    Director:Timothy Bond
    Writer:Sam Rolfe

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  25. Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 3 Episode 24 - Ménage à Troi
    6.5/10(3829 votes)

    S3:E24

    Stardate: 43930.7. Riker and Deanna, both on shoreleave, are unexpectedly joined by Deanna's mother, Lwaxana, on Betazed. Shortly, all three are kidnapped by the Ferengi who want to study Lwaxana's telepathic abilities.

    Director:Robert Legato
    Writers:Susan Sackett, Fred Bronson

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Season 3 Ratings Summary

"The Best of Both Worlds (1)" is the best rated episode of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" season 3. It scored 9.3/10 based on 6744 votes. Directed by Cliff Bole and written by Michael Piller, it aired on 6/18/1990. This episode is rated 0.1 points higher than the second-best, "Yesterday's Enterprise".