Star Trek: The Next Generation (TV Series) All Good Things... (1994) User Reviews

Going out with a bang

[MrRoboto55 · 10/10 · 24 May 2003]

Caution: Spoilers Ahead!!!

Like most fans of TNG I am sad to view the final episode, but happy to see that it is one of the strongest. It is right along with "the best of both worlds" and "cause and effect" as the three best TNG episodes and I consider this the pinnacle of the series. To be honest, it viewed more like a movie than a TV show and I love how they made it double length without splitting it over two different episodes.

This final chapter was superbly written, directed, and acted. I thought the love interest with Worf and Troy, although surprising, did not seem too forced and Riker's handling of it was exactly in character. It was also great for the show to remain consistent whenever it deals with the past, sporting the old uniforms and bringing back some old faces. In my personal opinion, this is one of the major strengths in the whole star trek series: the progression of uniforms, ship styles and everything is continually linked to a time period and is accurately referenced whenever an episode needs to deal with the past. I also really enjoyed the ending, with Picard finally sitting down for a poker game with the rest of the crew; his concluding line "I should have done this earlier" is a perfect last-line for the series.

Lastly, like all Star Trek episodes when they are at their best, this show made me think. The paradoxial nature of time and time travel is really interesting to contemplate; it reminds us that any of our actions, not matter how insignificant, can have profound effects. And I love how Q mentions that it is in the study of these paradoxes that science should continue, not in mapping star systems or other trivial things.

All in all this episode is a 10/10. The added appeal of being able to see what all the crew could have looked like in 25 years was a great extra touch too. A tremendous ending to a tremendous series, I am sad that TNG is over. But of course (I have to say it:) "all good things must come to an end."

Still gets me after 25 years.

[JEspina456 · 10/10 · 17 July 2019]

"I should have done this a long time ago."

"You were always welcome."

Tears.

Thank you Captain Jean-Luc Picard

[f-palma · 10/10 · 28 February 2005]

Ten years ago (i was 21 years old), studying an university exam (Diritto Pubblico), i started to watch Star Trek The Next Generation. It was a great daily meeting for me and my school-mate Loris and i still remember my delusion when we missed the second part of the "attack of Borg" cause the local Italian television transmitted it on Saturday. After 10 years i have just finished the vision of "All Good Things" and i must say i am tearing for commotion. I bought the 7 DVD-series of STTNG (i received some of them as a present too) last year and now, after one year, i saw all the movies. I have no words: WONDERFUL. I have the first three DVD series of Deep Space Nine ready, but i am certain that in the present, in the past and in the future, my only captain will be Jean-Luc Picard. (sorry for my English)

One of the best final episodes for a TV series

[gsp_me · 24 July 2004]

Your reading this for one of possibly two reasons:

A) You want to know how others feel about this final episode that you've also seen or,..

B) You have no idea about Star Trek

Given the popularity of this series, I'll assume "A" is your reason. However, if your the rare "B" person, then I recommend avoiding this episode until you've watched at least a few episodes of The Next Generation.

This wonderful 2-hour finale utilizes the history of these characters and plots beautifully and with reverence.

The lead character of the series, Jean Luc Picard, finds that he is inexplicably shifting between 3 time periods within his own liftime (past, present and future). Once he finds the reason for this, things become more complex and intriguing. His eyes are opened to an even greater threat than what he had perceived to be his own. As wonderful a premise that is, the subplots greatly enhance the characters and draw you into the story.

For example, Tasha Yar, a well regarded character in the series was killed early in the shows run. In his shift into the past, Picard once again sees her alive, accompanying him to the Enterprise for the first time (again, ironically). Once he returns to the present, he laments over having seen her again. A beautifully played little scene.

The main story combined with these subplots makes for one of the best written series endings ever in TV history.

Let's hope that future TV series (not necessarily Trek, of course) have the opportunity to do the same.

Even after 30 years since I watched this the first time, its still a 10 out of 10!

[iainscook · 10/10 · 22 December 2018]

Just spent the last few months watching every TNG episode in order from episode 1 all the way through to AGT.

Even after 30 years since I watch this as a teenager, this show still blows me away.

AGT is the culmination of 7 years of hard work from some very talented actors, writers, producers, directors, make up and visual artists and everybody else that's involved with making these excellent shows, and it doesn't disapoint.

The second time around its still hard to say goodbye to the crew one last time, but if your going to end on a high, this episode has to be one of the best series finales ever made.

Watch it uninterrupted, with friends and think of all the things you can accomplish in your future, its not written yet.........

All good things.....really come to an END.

[cvenk · 10/10 · 4 November 2000]

I cried at the ending of the movie, because you remember all good thing you had , all good times you had , when you watched all of the series.

Great , the BEST ending of a series that i loved and shared with the rest of the world.

The best actors,who played the best characters, did an outstanding job. Thank you.

This episode has it all

[gong-r · 10/10 · 13 February 2006]

You can watch every episode within this series, and I don't think you'll find one that runs on all cylinders like this one. I'll admit, as many have already noted, that there are technical flaws in the storyline, but that doesn't take away from the best finale I've ever seen.

Character development has evolved so much within the series, it is fantastic that the finale revolves around Picard, his crew and foes unique to STNG. I, for one, enjoyed seeing how the writers projected these characters beyond anything they had presented in any of the previous episodes.

So, if you enjoy the series, and are looking for an all encapsulating episode that contains action, thought, character relationships and a little Trek history, this is definitely the episode for you. Without spoiling this story, I felt the final scene was the best way to send this show into it's TV conclusion.

The Greatest Star Trek Episode of All Time

[devidia2 · 9/10 · 6 April 1999]

"All Good Things" easily surpassed many of the Star Trek movies in its politically intricate and emotionally charged plot. It is a tradegy that ST:TNG had to come to an end at the crest of its success since two of the three movies "Generations" and "Insurrection" didn't come close to keeping the glory and concept of Star Trek Alive. "All Good Things" will go down in the Star Trek and Sci-Fi grapevine as the most watched and defining show of its time. Kudos.

TV as good as it gets

[LBytes · 8/10 · 20 January 2004]

There is only two logical places to comment on TNG series and this is one of them. I've been watching the DVD Year sets of TNG and its great to see the show again, without commercials! I remember when I watched this last episode. Seeing it again recently, I thought then and now that it was one show that could've gone on much longer. Except for some of the Enterprise episodes, Star Trek hasn't been as good since, and its really too bad that this crew will not likely make another movie after the underrated Nemesis.

TNG had some really good performances, both by the regular cast and guests. Some actors worked for scale wages just to be a little part of the Star Trek experience. Although all of the cast were great, the standouts have to be Patrick Stewart and Brent Spiner. It is amazing that neither one garnered awards or even nominations for their work on this show. Their acting elevated the some of the scripts to another level.

True fans won't be able to resist having this show at their fingertips and this last show "All Good Things..." is reason enough to get Season 7. I'm on Season 4 and enjoying all the episodes again on my way to it...

The best episode and better than most of the movies!

[JamisonC · 10/10 · 29 September 2003]

I've seen almost every episode of STNG and all of the STAR TREK movies. This series finale is the best two hours of STAR TREK, ever. The third, fourth, sixth, and eighth movies come close. Here, finally, is the crew bonding as a family in a great story that is well executed. "Star Trekking" at its finest. Bravo!

The Final Episode Goes Where No Other TV Series Has Ever Gone Before!

[Chance2000esl · 10/10 · 12 April 2008]

This series finale goes where no other TV series has ever gone before!

First of all, for the benefit of all those who watched the series for part or all of its seven year run, the final episode shows in great detail the lives of all the main characters 25 years after the show has ended! This is a great homage to the fans -- answering the question all fans have whenever any series ends, "What happened to them?" Great makeup for every one, especially Doctor Crusher and Whorf as they age!

Second, it not only shows in detail what happened to them 25 years after the series ends, this episode also integrates that future into the story! Not only that, as we find out, it's a vital key in the puzzle of the entire episode! Kudos to the genius plotters and writers of it! It's a fanatic fan's dream come true!

Third, the pacing, editing and development are so well done -- the pace gradually increases over the two hour length until the final denouement. The whole mystery shifting between three time periods. You can't take your eyes away! Wow! So well done!

Fourth, it recycles all the characters from the series, from the beginning to the end. Sadly, Whoopi Goldberg is conspicuous by her absence. But we get Colm Meaney, Denise Crosby, and the great "Q" himself: John de Lancie!

Fifth, the 'injoke' nature of the trial-- "We've watched you for seven years," and "Your trek has ended." These are great references to the series itself. But even if you didn't watch the seven years, and this is your first introduction to 'Star Trek: The Next Generation," the trial is a winner!

Sixth, the focus of the episode is the amazing acting of Patrick Stewart, here being showcased as three differently aged Captain Jean-Luc Picards. Watching him, you know which of the three time periods he's in. He's fantastic as the old Picard, and of course, all the others!

Seventh, the meaning of the episode. When the aged Q touches noses with the aged Picard talking about how the beginning (of your life) shapes the future, that's the truth!

Eighth, John de Lancie with Q's great delivery of lines like "You obtuse piece of flotsam!" and that mankind came from the proto-soup he calls "goo," which he pronounces "goo -- ooo."

I've watched this episode half a dozen times, and even read the novelization, but I still keep forgetting what causes the anomaly. But so what? Time versus anti-time being triggered by a tachyon pulse? Hey, I love it because it's so well done, well written, well acted and respectful to all the fans of the program. Yes. I'll give it a 10.

The Greatest last ever adventure to a series ...Ever.

[cosmorados · 9/10 · 6 September 2008]

We start the episode with a distraught Picard being bounced around through time, unaware why as the episode starts, going from his first day on the Enterprise as Captain of the federation flagship, the present as a Captain older and wiser and twenty years time as a retired wine maker back in his beloved France. To wrap things up even more Q appears and has apparently placed humanity back on trial as a savage warlike race. However this time it is Picard himself who has caused the destruction and unravelling of the universe itself, although he has no idea how?

When I first saw this double episode adventure I was a major fan of the series and having been largely disappointed with series 7 was hoping I would get a big finish to the series and I was not disappointed. The story is great and continues very much in the vain of the last Q episode "Tapestry" arguably up there as one of the best Q episodes ever.

The performances by the cast are verging on perfect as they have got to the point where the characters are like a favourite suit that you were with pride and panache, because you know that whatever happens, you're gonna look great in it. The effects are great and there are some truly fantastic images and moments that are so well written that it brings home everything that we love about trek. The direction is flawless and the ending is so amazing that it almost makes me cry.

Better than all the next gen films out together and so sad that they couldn't do it on the big screen. However for non-next gen aficionados check out the best eps from the first seven series before you see this one, as you have to get the meaning from the other shows before you can appreciate this.

It was the best series ending till "Doctor Who's Army of Ghosts and Doomsday" but it's the best finale to a series that wraps everything up beautifully. Happy Days!

I liked seeing the past, present and future but I didn't enjoy this nearly as much as the other reviewers.

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 8 December 2014]

This is the final episode of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and it was a double-length one at that. It begins with Picard having SERIOUS problems. It seems that he's been bouncing back and forth in time. But why? Why do we see three different Picards at three different points (seven years ago, the present and in the more distant future)? All of this is explained, to a degree, when Picard realizes Q is behind all this in this episode that clearly seems to have been inspired by "A Christmas Carol".

While I did enjoy seeing the past, present and futures for the Enterprise crew, this is once again a time travel episode which is jam-packed full of scientific nonsense and solutions that are made up of lots of meaningless buzzwords (temporal inversions, anti-time and much more). If you like this sort of stuff, it's a great episode. As for me, I thought it had its moments but called for way too much in the way of pulling answers out of thin air.

Fairly Mindless really

[stevenaaus · 2/10 · 13 July 2022]

TNG wasn't a bad outing for the Star Trek franchise, but make no mistake, the omnipresent Q always felt a little sour. So having a finale inundated by Picard's Q induced ramblings, and the dreaded Time-Travel.. is a little hard to take. But i guess that's what you get from milking Star Trek to death. "Boldy Go" becomes more than a little brain dead as bizarre plots become the norm.

All Good Things must come to an end...

[Op_Prime · 27 June 1999]

The final episode of Star Trek: TNG is my absolute favorite episode of the series. In my opinion it is better than "Best of Both Worlds". The series ended where it began, in more ways than one. It went back to the first mission of the Enterprise-D and scored the No. 1 position in the ratings. A masterpiece.

One of the best series endings of all time!

[lukeshulver · 10/10 · 21 July 2018]

I recently watched the whole series from start to finish and it brought back a lot of nostalgia. But felt the need to leave a comment on this episode as it was a terrific tribute to a much loved series. The best of the TV franchises by far.

Going out in style.

[thevacinstaller · 10/10 · 29 May 2021]

There are better episodes of star trek but I cannot fathom a better ending episode to a star trek series. This is a 1 hour and 30 minute tribute to the past/present/future of these characters and the universe that they inhabit. I found it fitting that TNG ends with a Picard episode as he is the locking pin that holds the show together.

Every character gets a moment to shine and contribute in this episode and to top it all off ---- We have a fascinating sci fi concept to illuminate the potentialities possible if we think outside our linear box.

This is a perfect ending to TNG and it truly elevates S7 and leaves me satisfied yet wanting more.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SEASON 7 IN GENERAL:

• Overall score of 6.68 makes this season the 6th best ... or 2nd worst of the series. That seems fair to me. It had a strong opening thirteen episodes but when it got bad --- it got really bad. It is important to remember that I generally still find enjoyment in bad star trek episodes and would rather watch a bad episode of star trek then a good episode of another franchise.

SERIES OVERALL:

• The highpoint of the series was season 3. Seasons 3/4/5/7 all managed to have at least one 10/10 episode. Picard is my pick for the best character and best performed character. I was surprised with how much I enjoy Michael Dorn's acting throughout the run of the series ---- he was great throughout the run. I would have liked for Geordi to have more episodes as I find him to be one of the better actors in the ensemble.

Overall Series Score based on previous season reviews = 7.2

My general close thoughts are that TNG is generally good throughout but from time to time it is spectacular and those masterclass episodes really stick in my mind and wash away the stinkers.

Mindblowing Finale

[gritfrombray-1 · 10/10 · 20 February 2007]

Of all Sci Fi shows I've seen in the past twenty years not one has had a finale like this. It brings all who were necessary back into the fold for one last (tv) time. Patrick Stewart is at his very best in past, present and future. Having Q in this and his involvement with the story is perfect. Brings the series seven seasons to a full circle. The entire cast is at an all time best in this as a matter of speaking. Seeing other regulars like Tomalak, Admiral Nakamura, O'Brien and Tasha was really heartwarming. The danger in all three time periods was a good story and a brilliant riddle for Picard, who the story is really about, to figure out. The sense of family and friendship, not seen in Voyager or DS9, is really present in this and the closing scene has to be one of the series all time best, if not the very best. If only the movies with this cast could have been this good... Trivia note, the only cast member in tears when 'Cut' was yelled was poor Michael Dorn! One last word, THIS should have been Next Generation's first movie not the awful mess Generations spewed...

The end of an era

[Tweekums · 10/10 · 5 October 2015]

Much like Kurt Vonnegut's Billy Pilgrim Captain Picard has become unstuck in time. For no obvious reason he finds himself twenty five years in the future where he is tending the vines in his vineyard in France; then he is back in the present and later he finds himself back in time, to the day he first stepped foot on the Enterprise. As he moves between the time periods he notices certain similarities; in the present and then in the past the Enterprise is ordered to investigate a spatial anomaly in the Romulan Neutral Zone; in the past he ignores this order and continues towards Farpoint Station. Here Q informs him that the 'trial of humanity' is ongoing and that he, Jean-Luc Picard, will be responsible for the destruction of humanity. With this knowledge Picard heads to the site of the anomaly in all three time periods; in the future this involves contacting many old friends. Strangely the anomaly is larger in the past and non-existent in the future. Knowing the he is to blame he must decide whether the anomaly was caused by his action or his inaction and take the appropriate action.

This episode gave 'The Next Generation' a great send-off (till they returned on the big screen)… in fact in many ways it feels like an unofficial film; it is double the length of other episodes and has a more cinematic scope. By featuring three different time lines we are given an insight into the crew's future… or a possible future; Picard has married and divorced Dr Crusher, Riker is an admiral and Data lectures at Cambridge. Likewise the scenes in the past remind us of how the Enterprise was when the series started with both Tasha Yar and Miles O'Brien featuring. It was great seeing these characters again. Q's presence also serves to link back to the opening episode and while he can be irritating at times here his presence was welcome. The story is gripping with a good sense of mystery; just why is Picard moving through time and how will he save humanity? The entire cast do a fine job playing their characters at different ages; this is particularly true of Patrick Stewart who also has to portray his character's confusion and frustration with the situation. Overall this is one of the best TNG stories; it gives the series the send-off it deserves.

All Good Things Must Come to an End--Even Star Trek

[Dionysus-7 · 10/10 · 27 June 1999]

Excellent writing by two "homegrown" Star Trek producers, Brannon Braga and Ronald D. Moore. This episode marks the final mission undertaken by the USS Enterprise as commanded by Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart). Some familiar faces stop by for the last ride--John de Lancie as Q and Andreas Katsulas as Tomalak. It seems as though each individual working on the hit TV series put one final jolt of energy into creating the best ending to a series. It's not M.A.S.H.'s final episode but it takes a nice slice of the cake.

A Good Way to Say Goodbye... to the TV show anyway

[johnboyvkg · 9/10 · 27 December 2004]

Wow, what great twists and turns through the storyline. Jumping from the first TNG episode to the future and of course Q is involved.

It was great to see how it can twist the time line into reverse and keep you guessing right along to the end, as in true Star Trek style. It finished neatly with the Captain joining into a card game, something he had never done in any other episode, and of course, the Enterprise D sails off into the 'sunset'.

In a way, you sort of wish that the final episode said goodbye to TNG as it appears Voyager has done. However, I do appricate the later films in their quality and they just pick up the life of the crew of the Enterprise.

May Star Trek live long and prosper.

"The Finest Crew in the Fleet"

[tekawiz · 10/10 · 21 November 2009]

I would like to pay tribute to Star Trek the Next Generation, having just finished watching this great episode on TV. It is a masterful ending to a masterpiece of a TV series. The episode was just as good as when I first viewed it 15 years ago. The last scene at the poker table where each cast member say their final lines, always chokes me up.

I was an American living in Germany in early 1987 when I heard the news about a new Star Trek series. Of course I thought this was nuts and thought there was no way it was going to be better than TOS.

I came back to the US during the 3rd year of the show. At a dinner at my friend's house the opening music played on the TV in the background. He said "It's STtNG, check it out, it's really good." That was an understatement... I've been hooked ever since.

In my opinion, Star Trek The Next Generation was, and still is, the best show ever on television.

Excellent to say the least!

[russem31 · 9/10 · 6 May 2006]

ST:TNG:178 - "All Good Things . . ." (Stardate: 47988) - this is the 26th and last episode of the 7th and last season of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

In this 2-part episode, Captain Picard still finds himself unwillingly moving back and forth through time - one minute he's on the Enterprise in the present, next he's an old man 25 years into the future, and then he's the new captain again of the Enterprise right before it's first mission to Farpoint station (we see certain scenes from that episode here).

As the crew from all 3 timelines suspects Picard is suffering from a mental disease that will become debilitating over time, he must convince all of them to investigate a temporal anomaly in the Neutral Zone, even though he doesn't know exactly why himself.

As they do so, Picard is suddenly visited by Q, who has set this time anomaly in motion . . . but for what purpose? Watch this great last episode of The Next Generation, an episode that I consider one of the best of the series (and would have made a better first movie than Star Trek: Generations).

Trivia note: Denise Crosby reprises her Tasha Yar role, Andreas Katsulas returns as Commander Tomalak, Clyde Kusatsu as Admiral Nakamura, Patti Yasutake as Nurse Alyssa Ogawa, and Colm Meaney as Chief Miles O'Brien.

Also, the Worf-Troi romance continues here and is one of the focal points for this episode. Geordi no longer needs the VISOR, and is married to Leah (could this be Dr. Leah Brahams from "Galaxy's Child"?). Data is now the head of Cambridge, a position held by Sir Isaac Newton and Stephen Hawking (whom he played poker with in "Descent"). Admiral Norah Satie ("The Drumhead") is mentioned. We see Picard taking care of the family vineyard (which we last saw in "Family") in France. We see that the Federation has cloaking technology in the future. And, we the see the crew poker game, one last and very fitting time.

Rare to see such a great finale

[jesusofchicago-54175 · 7/10 · 22 August 2021]

I can't think of many, if any, finales that were so confidently and brilliantly written. This should be the blueprint for how to conclude a series.

If you haven't seen The Next Generation, I'd suggest, as others have, watching some highlight shows over the 7 year span, including the first episode of the show. The first episode isn't one of my favorite, but it's necessary for getting some of the references in the finale.

Even looking at the title "All Good Things..." referring to "All Good Things Must Come to an End" which is both a reference to the show ending, along with a reference to the plot itself, which manages to be both incredibly epic and intensely personal at the same time.

I agree with the people who say this can be considered one of the best Star Trek movies made. I wasn't a huge Next Generation fan, but there were between 10-15 episodes that I thought were excellent, and then this finale just hit me exactly how a show should. It takes every single thing from the previous 7 seasons and encapsulates them in one final adventure.

Finales just don't get better. 10/10.

Old rambling man gets confused for two hours

[ajrepairman · 4/10 · 22 March 2023]

A problem that causes itself, but is really caused by the problem causing the problem which needs to get solved by reversing the problem- but that's actually the problem. But only one crazy old man sees the problem for what it is, while talking to a god who blames the crazy old man and not himself. Has to be the most convoluted bucket of mediocrity praised as greatness I have ever seen in Star Trek history.

It's a giant tribute episode to the whole series, with a "what if in the future", combined with past set recycling and a bunch of obvious "final episode screen shots" of dramatic events that do yet don't happen. Trope city.