If You Only Watch One Star Trek Episode In Your Entire Life, Make It This One

In its nearly 60-year history, Star Trek has delivered some incredibly brilliant and powerful episodes of television, and this Star Trek: The Next Generation episode encapsulates everything Trek stands for in the best way. Following the adventures of Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and the USS Enterprise-D, TNG ushered in a golden era for the Star Trek franchise.

Combining humor and heart with clever social commentary, TNG beautifully explored what it means to be human and introduced some of Star Trek's most beloved characters. Captain Picard and his crew became just as beloved as Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and his crew had been, and characters like Lt. Commander Data (Brent Spiner) and Lt. Worf (Michael Dorn) joined the likes of Spock (Leonard Nimoy) and Dr. McCoy (DeForest Kelley) among the Star Trek greats. However, TNG season 2's "The Measure of a Man" reached another level of storytelling quality.

Why Star Trek: The Next Generation's "The Measure Of A Man" Is So Good

The Episode Has Moments Of Humor, Heart, Wit, & Compassion

Star Trek TNG Measure of a Man Captain Picard Data trial Maddox

"The Measure of a Man" revolves around the android Data and whether he has the right to make his own choices. When cyberneticist Dr. Bruce Maddox (Brian Brophy) comes aboard the Enterprise, he immediately declares his intentions to dismantle Data for further study. Maddox does not see Data as an individual but rather as a machine who belongs to Starfleet. Data, of course, objects to being dismantled, and Captain Picard quickly comes to the android's defense. This leads to a riveting trial, the consequences of which will reverberate throughout the Federation and the Star Trek franchise.

Although Data is at the heart of "The Measure of a Man," the episode also boasts incredible performances from Patrick Stewart as Captain Picard and Jonathan Frakes as Commander Will Riker. Forced to defend Maddox's position, Riker delivers a devastating argument that rattles even Picard. After an enlightening conversation with Guinan (Whoopi Goldberg), however, Picard delivers one of the most powerful speeches in Star Trek history. Truly, everything about the episode works, from the stellar performances to the sharp dialogue to the moral philosophizing.

"The Measure Of A Man" Is A Great Representation Of What Star Trek Should Be

There's Nothing More Star Trek Data's Fight In This Episode

Star Trek TNG Measure of a Man Data poker

Data became my favorite Star Trek: The Next Generation character before the end of the show's first season, so I may be a bit biased in that regard. But, "The Measure of a Man" represents everything I love about Star Trek. The episode delivers a solid story in its own right while also managing to have a powerful message and genuine heart. It's clever and profound, but none of it would work if it wasn't built around such great characters.

"The Measure of a Man" was the television debut for author Melinda M. Snodgrass, who had previously been an attorney. Snodgrass went on to write four more episodes of TNG.

Up until this point, TNG and Brent Spiner have done such a great job of making the android likable that it hurts a little every time Maddox refers to Data as an "it." The same holds true for Picard, and it's hard not to be affected watching the Enterprise captain wrestle with the possibility that he may not be able to save his friend. In his conversation with Guinan, she points out that establishing Data as property could lead to the creation of a slave race. This brilliant scene in Ten Forward puts things into perspective for Picard.

Data deserves "the freedom to explore" life's biggest questions.

In most of its best episodes, Star Trek explores the question of what it means to be human, often through the lens of its non-human characters like Spock and Data. Perhaps no episode explores this question better than "The Measure of Man," which also underscores the importance of every life, no matter how different they may be from our own. In the end, Captain Phillipa Louvois (Amanda McBroom) rules that Data deserves "the freedom to explore" life's biggest questions (like whether he has a soul) for himself.

"The Measure Of A Man" Still Holds Up When Rewatching It Today

The Arguments In The Episode Feel Equally Relevant Today

While some early episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation have become dated (mostly in season 1), the outing works just as well today as it did in 1989. Those who have watched every previous episode of TNG may get a bit more out of it, but "The Measure of a Man" stands on its own as a brilliant piece of television outside of Star Trek. It's a great representation of everything that Star Trek can be at its best, and its message feels just as relevant today as ever.

There may be more exciting episodes of Star Trek, with intense drama and epic space battles, but only a handful of scenes are as powerful as Data's trial. There's something so quintessentially Star Trek about the episode even as it touches on topics far bigger than the beloved science fiction franchise. Many Star Trek offerinhs have withstood the test of time, but if you only watch one, it should be Star Trek: The Next Generation's "The Measure of a Man."