TNG Actors Reveal Their Favorite Star Trek Episodes

TNG Actors Reveal Their Favorite Star Trek Episodes

Key Takeaways

  • Michael Dorn’s favorite TNG episode is “The Drumhead,” widely acclaimed and directed by Jonathan Frakes.
  • Dorn’s DS9 faves are “Soldiers of the Empire” and “Once More Unto the Breach” – top Klingon episodes.
  • Frakes’ favorite TNG episode is “The Offspring”; both actors disliked & avoided discussing “Code of Honor.”

As a long-time fan of Star Trek, I can’t help but feel like I’ve stumbled upon a secret council of wisdom when it comes to all things Trek. Recently, at Rhode Island Comic Con, two esteemed members of this council – Jonathan Frakes and Michael Dorn – shared their favorite (and least favorite) episodes from the Star Trek universe.


Delighting in the perks of being a die-hard Star Trek enthusiast is all about attending conventions and getting insights directly from the actors who breathed life into our beloved characters. They share tales ranging from hilarious backstage escapades to their heartfelt opinions on the franchise. At Rhode Island Comic Con, Jonathan Frakes and Michael Dorn reminisced about their cherished Star Trek moments, with Dorn even disclosing his most favored, as well as least favored, episodes of the series.

As a devoted Star Trek fan myself, I’ve been thrilled to see Jonathan Frakes, who brought William Riker and Thomas Riker to life in various Star Trek series, staying deeply connected to the Star Trek universe since his debut as Riker on TNG. He’s re-entered the contemporary Trekverse not just as an actor in Star Trek: Picard and Star Trek: Lower Decks, but also as a director for Star Trek: Discovery and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. In contrast, Michael Dorn, who played both Worf and Colonel Worf, took a break from the Star Trek universe after his role in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, only to return more recently for Star Trek: Picard. Both actors are staples on the Star Trek convention scene, gracing events like Rhode Island Comic Con across the nation.

At Rhode Island Comic Con, as per TrekNews.net’s report, Frakes and Dorn reminisced about their early days on the Star Trek: The Next Generation set first, before moving on to discuss the series itself. They delved into their opinions about which episodes were particularly strong or weak.

The Favorites

TNG Actors Reveal Their Favorite Star Trek Episodes

When inquired about his preferred TNG episodes, Dorn expressed affection for “The Drumhead,” a standout from the fourth season. It’s not just Dorn who appreciates this episode; it was also directed by Frakes, his fellow performer on that particular day. “The Drumhead” is often praised as one of the finest TNG episodes ever produced. This episode was among the first scripts penned by Jeri Taylor, who later became a key figure in Star Trek: Voyager’s production.

Given that Dorn devoted a significant amount of his time to the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine series, fans were curious about which episodes he particularly enjoyed from it. In response, he named “Soldiers of the Empire” from season 5 and the seventh season’s “Once More Unto the Breach” as his favorites. While these two episodes may not typically make it onto lists of DS9’s top episodes, they are considered among the best Klingon-centric stories in the Star Trek franchise.

During the panel discussion, Frakes didn’t mention any favorite episodes. However, in an interview with StarTrek.com, he revealed that his top pick is “The Offspring,” as it was his inaugural directorial effort on Star Trek: The Next Generation and is often ranked among the series’ best episodes. Interestingly enough, while “The Offspring” is his personal favorite, Frakes believes that the two-part episode “Best of Both Worlds” showcased the finest television work they produced.

The Least Favorite

TNG Actors Reveal Their Favorite Star Trek Episodes

In addition, Dorn shared his dislike for a particular episode that coincidentally ranks low for Frakes too. He mentioned the season 1 episode “Code of Honor” as his least preferred Star Trek episode. On numerous occasions, Frakes has echoed this sentiment, labeling it racist and advocating for its removal from streaming platforms.

Many fans share this viewpoint, and it’s often ranked as one of the bottom five episodes in TNG (The Next Generation).

In the series Star Trek: Picard, Frakes and Dorn talked about potentially rejoining the Enterprise’s bridge and their prospective roles within the Star Trek universe moving forward.

Sources: TrekNews.net, StarTrek.com

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2024-11-25 01:25