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Essential Viewing Before TNG Movies

R

Ryan Mcleod

Cadet
Newbie
Hey folks

The girlfriend has finally watched some star trek (the new movies) and decided she wants to see the rest! RESULT!

Im currently making a list of TNG episodes she should watch before Generations through to Nemesis and was wondering if anyone would mind identifying any noteworthy episodes i may have missed?
The list concentraits on Data mostly so his death in Nemesis will have emotional context - it also focuses on The Borg for First Contact Context

Im definately missing episodes about the Romulans/Neutral Zone if theres any worth inputting? (Again, To Give Nemesis context)
Also if theres any episodes that expand on the relasionship between data and picard could you shout out?

Thanks in advance - heres my list thus far:

TNG - Encounter At Farpoint
TNG - S1E13 Datalore
TNG - S1E26 The Neutral Zone
TNG - S2E09 Measure of a man
TNG - S2E16 Q Who
TNG - S3E16 The Offspring
The Best Of Both Worlds
TNG - S4E02 Family
TNG - S4E11 Datas Day
TNG - S4E25 in Theory
TNG - S4E03 Brothers
TNG - S5E7 Unification
TNG - S5E23 I Borg
TNG - S6E24 Descent
TNG - S07E10 Inheritance
TNG - All Good Things
Generations
First Contact
Star Trek Nemesis
 
I don't think you need to watch any TNG episodes to follow or enjoy the movies. Anything about the characters or events from the show are explained in the movies. That said, I'd show her "Q Who" and "The Best Of Both Worlds" before First Contact and maybe "Family" before Generations just to add some context if you really need to.
 
Yeah, why not try it the other way round? Rather than bombard her with a whole load of watch this and watch that just watch the movies and then go back and watch the TV episodes. If she's interested she'll find it more rewarding seeing the episodes after and piecing things together.
 
I think it would be smart to see 'The Best of Both Worlds' parts 1 and 2 before the movie 'First Contact'.
 
Definitely Family before Generations.

Possibly 'Brothers' and 'Descent' too, so she can see the lead up to Data and his emotion chip in Generations/First Contact.
 
While nto totally necessary, Generations will have more emotional impact if she understood the characters better, so certainly any episode where Picard visits his family on shore leave, and certainly episodes that lead up to Data getting and emotion chip. Maybe also "Measure of a Man", so she can better understand Data more, but I don't think it's really necessary.
 
I agree with others who mention the Borg episodes (inc. "Family") but I'd be tempted to just include some other genuinely good episodes ("Yesterday's Enterprise" and so on) even if they don't tie into the movies.

Don't treat watching the great TNG series (which most people would agree is better than the TNG movies anyway) as a 'stepping stone' to enjoying the TNG movies. Introduce her to TNG in its own right!
 
Trek Survivor said:
Don't treat watching the great TNG series (which most people would agree is better than the TNG movies anyway) as a 'stepping stone' to enjoying the TNG movies. Introduce her to TNG in its own right!
Click to expand...

THIS

I don't think it would be a smart move to start TNG with the movies, they're just so different from the actual show.
 
I agree that you should just watch TNG with her, it's a fantastic series.
Why would you just pick a few episodes out of so many great ones to get to the mediocre to bad movies? The series is so much better.
 
"The Naked Now" to establish Data's "fully functional" line in FC, and "Skin of Evil" to establish the death of Tasha for when you do watch "Measure of a Man."

"Face of the Enemy" shows us a lot about Romulans.

But, yeah, I agree, the TNG the series is infinitely superior to TNG the movies.

--Alex
 
I'd suggest watching TNG. It's a fantastic series. The movies are what let it down and, aside from FC...they are nothing special.

I'd always recommend watching a tv show from start to finish, in order also. I hate dipping in here and there to anything. I know TNG is episodic but there are still important evolutions to characters.

Why not just watch a couple of episodes together on a friday night, and work your way through the seasons? If she hates it, switch to VOY or DS9 [or ENT or TOS].
 
DeepSpaceYorks said:
Yeah, why not try it the other way round? Rather than bombard her with a whole load of watch this and watch that just watch the movies and then go back and watch the TV episodes. If she's interested she'll find it more rewarding seeing the episodes after and piecing things together.
Click to expand...

Yeah I'd favor this approach. :techman:
 
I saw the movies before seeing show. Aside from the Family reference which i had no clue about, I found the movies enjoyable on their own. The show filled in the gaps since I was curious to know.
I don't think First contact needs an full introduction. It helps. but she could see it from Lilly's perspective and it could be exciting that way.
 
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