Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and his crew aboard the USS Enterprise-D, TNG was truly at the top of its game by season 5. TNG had become so popular around this time that Paramount and Star Trek's executive producers planned a spin-off that would eventually become Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

Ensign Ro Laren (Michelle Forbes) made her debut in Star Trek: The Next Generation season 5 and was originally intended to be one of the main characters on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Although Forbes chose not to commit to starring in a weekly TV series, her character did shake up the status quo of TNG in some fun ways. Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry had already stepped away from TNG's production due to his declining health, and he sadly ed away during production of TNG season 5, episode 11, "Hero Worship."

In an all-time classic season of Star Trek: The Next Generation, here are the 10 best episodes of season 5:

10 "The First Duty"

Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 5, Episode 19

Ensign Wesley Crusher (Wil Wheaton) may not have been Star Trek: The Next Generation's most popular character, but he starred in some solid episodes as his story progressed. Wil Wheaton left TNG during the show's fourth season, and Wesley Crusher was sent off to attend Starfleet Academy. After briefly returning in TNG season 5's lackluster "The Game," "The First Duty" paid a visit to check in with Wesley at Starfleet Academy.

When one of Wesley's Nova Squadron teammates is killed during a training exercise, Wes initially lies to help cover up the truth of the incident. In a dressing down for the ages, Captain Picard convinces Wes to come clean and it that his Squadron had been attempting a dangerous and illegal flight maneuver when the accident occurred. "The First Duty" offers a fascinating glimpse into life at Starfleet Academy and sets up several storylines that will be referenced later.

9 "Ensign Ro"

Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 5, Episode 3

Introducing a new character five seasons into a show can be tricky, but "Ensign Ro" pulls it off with Michelle Forbes's compelling take on Ro Laren. Star Trek's first Bajoran to appear onscreen, Ro had been previously court-martialed and demoted after a disastrous away mission cost the lives of eight officers. Now an ensign, Ro is assigned to the USS Enterprise-D as part of a mission to investigate a supposed attack by Bajoran terrorists.

Ro eventually ed the rebel group known as the Maquis, much to Picard's disappointment. Captain Picard finally confronted Ro about her betrayal in Star Trek: Picard season 3, by which time she had returned to Starfleet.

In the end, Captain Picard and Ro discover that the Cardassians were actually behind the attack, and Picard offers Ro a position on the Enterprise. "Ensign Ro" is a strong episode in and of itself, but it also sets up conflicts and politics that will play a huge role on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Ro's combativeness contrasts nicely with the rest of the Enterprise crew , and the plight of the Bajorans remains relevant today.

8 "Disaster"

Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 5, Episode 5

"Disaster" takes a different approach than many Star Trek: The Next Generation episodes, isolating the ship's crew throughout the ship and forcing them to adapt to new situations. When an unknown force renders most of the Enterprise's main systems inoperable, Captain Picard ends up trapped in a turbolift with three children. Counselor Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis) reluctantly takes command as the highest-ranking officer on the bridge.

Meanwhile, Commander Will Riker (Jonathan Frakes) and Lt. Commander Data (Brent Spiner) try to get to engineering to regain control of the ship, while Lt. Worf (Michael Dorn) remains in Ten Forward to watch over the injured. Worf soon has to act as midwife after Keiko O'Brien (Rosalind Chao) goes into labor. Each of these stories has its moments, with Picard's storyline being particularly charming. It's fun seeing TNG's characters take on different roles, and "Disaster" remains entertaining from beginning to end.

7 "The Next Phase"

Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 5, Episode 24

When a transporter accident renders Ensign Ro and Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton) out of phase with the rest of the universe, the Enterprise crew believes them to be lost. Ro and La Forge can interact with one another, but no one else can see or hear them. Geordi realizes that he can cause chronoton emissions, leading him to try to get Data's attention, but he ultimately fails.

According to Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages, "The Next Phase" originally featured Geordi and Troi, but the writers had been trying to find more ways to incorporate Ro's character, so they altered the story to include her.

Ro and La Forge later attend their own funeral (a jazz funeral planned by Data), and they use a Romulan disruptor to alert the rest of the crew to their presence. Geordi warns the crew of a plot by the Romulans to destroy the warp core, and the funeral becomes a celebration. With a fascinating concept and strong performances, "The Next Phase" gives nearly every main character something to do, delivering a fun and entertaining story.

6 "Redemption, Part II"

Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 5, Episode 1

After Captain Picard s Gowron's (Robert O'Reilly) installation as the new Chancellor of the Klingon High Council, the duplicitous Duras sisters prepare for a civil war. The Duras sisters have allied with Commander Sela (Denise Crosby), the half-Romulan daughter of Lt. Tasha Yar (also Denise Crosby). With the Klingon civil war looming, Picard creates a blockade between Klingon and Romulan space to prevent the Romulans from aiding the Duras sisters.

In command of one of the ships, Data faces a prejudiced and insubordinate officer but proves to be a great commander. Data ultimately reveals the Duras sisters' alliance with the Romulans, which brings the Klingon civil war to an end. "Redemption, Part I" focused on Klingon politics and Worf's role in it, setting up the tense finale in "Part II," which has great moments for Worf, Picard, and Data.

5 "Unification, Parts I & II"

Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 5, Episodes

In "Unification, Part I," Starfleet orders Captain Picard to search for Ambassador Spock (Leonard Nimoy), who has gone missing and was last seen on Romulus. Picard and Data disguise themselves as Romulans and travel to Romulus in search of Spock. They find him in the caves beneath the planet, working with an underground group to achieve reunification between the Vulcans and the Romulans.

By the 32nd century of Star Trek: Discovery, the Romulans and Vulcans have reunited and live together on Ni'Var (formerly Vulcan).

Picard, Data, and Spock work together in "Unification, Part II" to stop a Romulan invasion, and Spock continues on his "personal mission of peace." It's a thrill seeing Spock interact with Picard and Data, and TNG is smart to focus on these three characters. Picard had previously shared a mind meld with Spock's father, Ambassador Sarek (Mark Lenard), and Data wants to find his humanity, something Spock has long tried to suppress.

4 "I, Borg"

Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 5, Episode 23

When the USS Enterprise-D finds a single surviving Borg drone, Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden) insists on bringing the drone aboard and treating his injuries. Because of his experience as Locutus of Borg, Captain Picard does not even want to meet the drone, who comes to call himself Hugh (Jonathan Del Arco). Hugh begins to develop his own individual identity, a profound enough change that Picard offers him asylum in the Federation.

Hugh, however, understands that the Borg will come looking for them, and he does not want to endanger his new friends. In the end, Hugh returns to the Collective with the hope that his newfound individualism will affect the other drones. While "I, Borg" may have made the Borg less scary, it's still a powerful story that humanizes one of Star Trek's most memorable villains. Plus, it's a very Star Trek idea that even the Borg can be redeemed, and the story forces Picard to confront his own feelings about the cybernetic drones.

3 "Cause And Effect"

Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 5, Episode 18

"Cause and Effect" begins with one of Star Trek's most memorable cold opens, as Captain Picard orders the crew to abandon the USS Enterprise-D just before the entire ship explodes. When the episode resumes, however, the Enterprise is whole again, until the ship encounters a distortion in space-time. When a ship emerges from the distortion, the Enterprise cannot avoid a collision with an emerging ship, which leads to another explosion.

Cheers actor Kelsey Grammer portrayed Captain Morgan Bateson of the Bozeman. Grammer was offered the role because he was a Star Trek fan, and Cheers was filmed on the Paramount lot near TNG.

Eventually, the crew begin experiencing déjà vu and realize that they are caught in a time loop. Data devises a plan to send a message to himself, hinting at how to avoid the collision. The Enterprise manages to break out of the loop and discovers that the other ship is the USS Bozeman, which has been missing for over 90 years. The time-loop story has become a sci-fi classic, and "Cause and Effect" is a particularly good example that's wonderfully directed by Jonathan Frakes.

2 "Darmok"

Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 5, Episode 2

In one of Star Trek: The Next Generation's finest hours, the USS Enterprise-D encounters the Tamarians, a species that communicates entirely in metaphors only they understand. Because of this, the Federation has not been able to establish formal communications with the Tamarians, and Captain Picard and his crew encounter similar problems. The Tamarian captain, Dathon (Paul Winfield), then beams himself and Picard to a nearby planet.

In Star Trek: Lower Decks, a Tamarian named Kayshon (Carl Tart) serves as a Starfleet officer aboard the USS Cerritos. By this time, the universal translator can (mostly) translate the Tamarian language.

As the two starship captains try to find ways to communicate with one another, they must work together to defend themselves against the planet's predators. Tragically, the beast fatally wounds Dathon, but Picard learns enough to communicate with the other Tamarians and avoid a battle. "Darmok" is a near-perfect episode of Star Trek that offers a fascinating character study of Captain Picard and includes stellar performances from Patrick Stewart and Paul Winfield.

1 "The Inner Light"

Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 5, Episode 25

There's a reason "The Inner Light" often ranks as one of the best Star Trek episodes of all time — it really is that great. The episode follows Captain Picard as he experiences an entire lifetime after being struck by a mysterious probe. Although Picard is only unconscious for 25 minutes, his life as Kamin feels like 40 years to him. He grows old with his wife, Eline (Margot Rose), watches his children grow up, and tries to find a way to save his doomed planet.

Patrick Stewart delivers an incredible performance throughout "The Inner Light," and the experience is one that sticks with Captain Picard for the rest of his life. The Ressikan flute found within the probe becomes one of Picard's most prized possessions even decades later in Star Trek: Picard. In some ways, "The Inner Light is an atypical episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, but it nevertheless serves as a shining example of how great the show could be.