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(written from a Production point of view)

Episodes[]

Title Episode Production number Stardate Original airdate
"Evolution" 3x01 40273-150 43125.8 1989-09-25
"The Ensigns of Command" 3x02 40273-149 Unknown 1989-10-02
"The Survivors" 3x03 40273-151 43152.4–43153.7 1989-10-09
"Who Watches The Watchers" 3x04 40273-152 43173.5–43174.2 1989-10-16
"The Bonding" 3x05 40273-153 43198.7 1989-10-23
"Booby Trap" 3x06 40273-154 43205.6 1989-10-30
"The Enemy" 3x07 40273-155 43349.2 1989-11-06
"The Price" 3x08 40273-156 43385.6 1989-11-13
"The Vengeance Factor" 3x09 40273-157 43421.9 1989-11-20
"The Defector" 3x10 40273-158 43462.5–43465.2 1990-01-01
"The Hunted" 3x11 40273-159 43489.2 1990-01-08
"The High Ground" 3x12 40273-160 43510.7 1990-01-29
"Deja Q" 3x13 40273-161 43539.1 1990-02-05
"A Matter of Perspective" 3x14 40273-162 43610.4–43611.6 1990-02-12
"Yesterday's Enterprise" 3x15 40273-163 43625.2 1990-02-19
"The Offspring" 3x16 40273-164 43657.0 1990-03-12
"Sins of The Father" 3x17 40273-165 43685.2 1990-03-19
"Allegiance" 3x18 40273-166 43714.1 1990-03-26
"Captain's Holiday" 3x19 40273-167 43745.2 1990-04-02
"Tin Man" 3x20 40273-168 43779.3 1990-04-23
"Hollow Pursuits" 3x21 40273-169 43807.4–43808.2 1990-04-30
"The Most Toys" 3x22 40273-170 43872.2 1990-05-07
"Sarek" 3x23 40273-171 43917.4–43920.7 1990-05-14
"Ménage à Troi" 3x24 40273-172 43930.7 1990-05-28
"Transfigurations" 3x25 40273-173 43957.2–43960.6 1990-06-04
"The Best of Both Worlds" 3x26 40273-174 43989.1–43998.5 1990-06-18

Summary[]

Season 3 is marked by a string of abductions, with six people being kidnapped, and Captain Picard being abducted no less than three times. Captain Picard is abducted by aliens, takes a vacation which eventually gets him caught up in the search for a weapon from the future, mind melds with the legendary Vulcan Sarek, and is mistaken for a god by a primitive culture. He was again kidnapped with Doctor Crusher by Ansata terrorists. Data was abducted by Kivas Fajo, a collector of rare objects. He also continued to learn about Humanity, and constructed his own daughter, Lal. Worf adopts as his brother a young boy whose mother was killed under his command, and later meets with his real brother as his family is discommended because of the lies of Duras, a storyline which would continue into the next season, and onward. Commander Riker, Counselor Troi, and her mother Lwaxana Troi are all abducted by the Ferengi.

This season also features a loose story arc involving political tension between the Federation and the Romulan Star Empire, and the latter's attempts to destabilize the Federation-Klingon alliance. This story line continues into season four, and is closely linked to the Worf/Duras story arc.

The USS Enterprise-D encounters the USS Enterprise-C which emerges from a time vortex, causing significant alterations to history. This is eventually resolved and removed from everyone's memories, though it had the side effect of creating a duplicate Lieutenant Natasha Yar in the past, who went on to become the mother of Sela before being killed by Romulans.

Additionally, Reginald Barclay comes on board the USS Enterprise-D and slowly begins to learn how to become a better officer, and Wesley Crusher is promoted to the rank of full ensign by Captain Picard after successfully discovering the key to rescuing Commander Riker, Counselor Deanna Troi and her mother Lwaxana, at the expense of his own entry into Starfleet Academy.

The season ends with the Borg entering Federation space, assimilating Captain Picard, and proceeding on a course to Earth, leaving Riker with the choice of whether or not to attempt to save Captain Picard.

Background information[]

TNGS3 Class Photo

A Season 3 "class photo"

  • Gates McFadden returns to the cast as Doctor Beverly Crusher. Her first episode back is "The Ensigns of Command", although "Evolution" would air first.
  • In the first episode of Season 3, La Forge has been promoted from lieutenant to lieutenant commander and Worf from lieutenant j.g. to full lieutenant.
  • Cinematographer Edward R. Brown retires and is replaced by Marvin Rush, who continues to work on Star Trek for the next sixteen years. Rush's preference for a bright, vibrant color scheme (as opposed to the more subdued lighting used by Brown) heavily alters the look of the series from this season onwards.
  • The Starfleet uniforms are redesigned twice. Initially, they are still made of a spandex-like material, but are looser fitting with a raised collar and no striping on the shoulders. Later in the season, the main characters receive uniforms manufactured with wool gabardine. The redesign was to relieve back pain caused by the spandex uniforms. Background extras continue to use the original uniforms until the following season.
  • The type 2 phasers are redesigned by Rick Sternbach. Later in the season, the tricorder props are reconstructed with greater detail by Ed Miarecki.
  • A new four-foot model of the USS Enterprise-D is built by Greg Jein. It makes its debut in "The Defector". Although it is incapable of saucer separation, it has more surface detail and accurately-lit Ten Forward windows.
  • Head writer Maurice Hurley left after the second season, citing exhaustion from the in-fighting so prevalent among the writing staff in the early seasons. (Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages, p. 171) Michael Wagner initially took over the writing staff, but stepped down after only four episodes. According to regular director Cliff Bole, "I just don't think it was his cup of tea as far as the way the show worked, and the way Rick and everybody knows the show so well that they all rely on each other. Input even comes in from the technical guys, who have almost been in space. I just don't think it was the way he'd been operating in other places." (Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages, p. 183) Wagner was in turn replaced by Michael Piller, who had impressed Berman and Gene Roddenberry with the script for "Evolution". (Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion (2nd ed., p. 98))
  • This is the first season to conclude with a cliffhanger: "The Best of Both Worlds". From here on out, every season begins with the conclusion to the previous season's cliffhanger episode, and ends with another cliffhanger, with the exception of the final season, which concludes with the series finale, "All Good Things..."
  • Beginning this season, a new opening credits sequence is used. Previously, the credits featured a departure from Earth through the Terran solar system. From this season on, however, the credits feature various exotic stellar phenomena, beginning with the trademark blue nebula. Later, as the shot pans through a star system, the ringed planet shown is clearly not Saturn, as its surface appears to be rocky with what seem to be lava formations on the night side. The rings of the planet mask a visual inconsistency with the star fields between the new footage and the edit to the original shots of the ship from the Season 1 and 2 intro sequence.
  • Jonathan Frakes makes his directorial debut, becoming the first of many Star Trek cast members to direct an episode. His first episode as director was "The Offspring". (He was not the first Star Trek performer to direct an episode, however, as TOS guest star Richard Compton had directed the episode "Haven" in the first season, and original cast members Leonard Nimoy and William Shatner had previously directed Star Trek films).
  • Mark Lenard's appearance as Sarek in the eponymous episode marked the second occasion in which a character from Star Trek: The Original Series crossed over to The Next Generation.

Credits[]

Cast[]

Crew[]

Creator

Line Producer

Co-Producers

Producer

Co-Executive Producer

Executive Producers

Executive Script Consultant

Executive Story Editor

Story Editor

Casting by

Music by

  • Ron Jones ("Evolution", "Who Watches The Watchers", "Booby Trap", "The Price", "The Defector", "The High Ground", "A Matter of Perspective", "The Offspring", "Allegiance", "Ménage à Troi", "The Best of Both Worlds")
  • Dennis McCarthy ("The Ensigns of Command” – “The Survivors", "The Bonding", "The Enemy", "The Vengeance Factor", "The Hunted", "Deja Q", "Yesterday's Enterprise", "Sins of The Father", "Captain's Holiday", "Hollow Pursuits” – “Sarek", "Transfigurations")
  • Jay Chattaway ("Tin Man")

Main Title Theme by

Director of Photography

Production Designer

Editors

  • J.P. Farrell ("Evolution", "The Bonding", "The Price", "The Hunted", "A Matter of Perspective", "Sins of The Father", "Tin Man", "The Best of Both Worlds")
  • Bob Lederman ("The Ensigns of Command", "Who Watches The Watchers", "The Enemy", "The Defector", "Deja Q", "The Offspring", "Captain's Holiday", "The Most Toys", "Transfigurations")
  • Tom Benko, A.C.E. ("The Survivors", "Booby Trap", "The Vengeance Factor", "The High Ground", "Yesterday's Enterprise", "Allegiance", "Hollow Pursuits") (received credit as A.C.E. from "Allegiance" on)
  • Daryl S. Baskin ("Sarek")
  • Howard S. Deane, A.C.E. ("Ménage à Troi")

Unit Production Manager

First Assistant Directors

  • Chip Chalmers ("Evolution", "Who Watches The Watchers", "Booby Trap", "The Price", "The Defector", "The High Ground", "A Matter of Perspective", "The Offspring", "The Most Toys", "Ménage à Troi", "The Best of Both Worlds")
  • Brad Yacobian ("The Ensigns of Command” – “The Survivors", "The Bonding", "The Enemy", "The Vengeance Factor", "The Hunted", "Deja Q", "Yesterday's Enterprise", "Sins of The Father", "Captain's Holiday", "Hollow Pursuits", "Sarek", "Transfigurations")
  • Adele G. Simmons ("A Matter of Perspective")
  • Bruce Alan Solow ("Allegiance", "Tin Man") (credited as Bruce Allen Solow in "Tin Man")

Second Assistant Directors

  • Adele G. Simmons ("Evolution” – “Deja Q", "Yesterday's Enterprise” – “The Best of Both Worlds")
  • Jeff Cline ("A Matter of Perspective")

Costume Designer

Original Starfleet Uniforms / Starfleet Uniforms Created By

Visual Effects Supervisors

  • Rob Legato ("Evolution", "Who Watches The Watchers", "Booby Trap", "The Price", "The Defector", "The High Ground", "A Matter of Perspective", "The Offspring", "Allegiance", "Tin Man", "Ménage à Troi", "The Best of Both Worlds") (credited as Robert Legato from "Ménage à Troi" on)
  • Dan Curry ("The Ensigns of Command” – “The Survivors", "The Bonding", "The Enemy", "The Vengeance Factor", "The Hunted", "Deja Q", "Yesterday's Enterprise", "Sins of The Father", "Captain's Holiday", "Sarek", "Transfigurations")
  • Ron Moore ("Hollow Pursuits")
  • Gary Hutzel ("The Most Toys")

Post Production Supervisor

Original Set Design

Make-Up Supervisor

Set Decorators

  • Tom Pedigo ("Evolution” – “The Enemy")
  • Jim Mees ("The Price” – “The Best of Both Worlds")

Senior Illustrator/ Technical Consultant

  • Rick Sternbach (credited only as Senior Illustrator until "Allegiance")

Scenic Art Supervisor/ Technical Consultant

  • Michael Okuda (credited only as Scenic Art Supervisor until "Allegiance")

Set Designer

Script Supervisor

Special Effects

Property Masters

  • Alan Sims ("Evolution", "Who Watches The Watchers", "Booby Trap", "The Price", "The Defector", "The High Ground", "A Matter of Perspective", "The Offspring", "Allegiance", "Tin Man", "The Most Toys", "Ménage à Troi", "The Best of Both Worlds")
  • Joe Longo ("The Ensigns of Command” – “The Survivors", "The Bonding", "The Enemy", "The Vengeance Factor", "The Hunted", "Deja Q", "Yesterday's Enterprise", "Sins of The Father", "Captain's Holiday", "Hollow Pursuits", "Sarek", "Transfigurations")

Construction Coordinator

Hair Designer

Hair Stylists

  • Barbara Lampson ("Evolution” – “The Defector", "The High Ground", "A Matter of Perspective", "The Offspring” – “The Best of Both Worlds")
  • Tim Jones ("The Hunted", "Deja Q")
  • Rita Bordonaro ("Yesterday's Enterprise")

Make-Up Artists

Production Associate

Visual Effects Coordinators

  • Gary Hutzel ("Evolution", "Who Watches The Watchers", "Booby Trap", "The Price", "The Defector", "The High Ground", "A Matter of Perspective", "The Offspring", "Allegiance", "Tin Man", "Ménage à Troi", "The Best of Both Worlds")
  • Ron Moore ("The Ensigns of Command” – “The Survivors", "The Bonding", "The Enemy", "The Vengeance Factor", "The Hunted", "Deja Q", "Yesterday's Enterprise", "Sins of The Father", "Captain's Holiday", "Sarek", "Transfigurations")

Production Coordinator

Post Production Associates

Assistants to the Producers

Sound Mixer

Chief Lighting Technician

First Company Grip

Costumers

  • Kimberley Thompson ("Evolution", "The Bonding", "The Price", "The Hunted", "A Matter of Perspective", "Sins of The Father", "Tin Man", "Sarek", "The Best of Both Worlds") (credited as Kimberly Thompson in "The Bonding", "The Price", "Sins of The Father", and "Sarek")
  • David Velasquez ("Evolution", "Who Watches The Watchers", "Booby Trap", "The Price", "The Defector", "The High Ground", "Transfigurations")
  • Camille Argus ("The Ensigns of Command", "Who Watches The Watchers", "Booby Trap", "The Vengeance Factor", "The High Ground", "Yesterday's Enterprise", "Allegiance", "Hollow Pursuits", "Ménage à Troi")
  • Amanda Chamberlin ("The Ensigns of Command” – “The Survivors", "The Bonding", "The Enemy", "The Vengeance Factor", "The Hunted", "Deja Q", "Yesterday's Enterprise", "Sins of The Father", "Captain's Holiday", "Hollow Pursuits", "Sarek")
  • Kris Jorgensen ("The Survivors", "The Enemy", "The Defector", "Deja Q", "The Offspring", "Captain's Holiday", "The Most Toys", "Transfigurations") (credited as Chris Jorgensen in "Deja Q")
  • David Page ("A Matter of Perspective", "The Offspring", "Allegiance", "Tin Man", "The Most Toys", "Ménage à Troi")
  • Norma Johnson ("The Best of Both Worlds")

Visual Effects Associate

Music Editor

Supervising Sound Editor

Sound Editors

Post Production Sound By

Pre-Production Associate

Casting Executive

Stunt Coordinator

  • Dennis Madalone ("Evolution” – “The Bonding", "The Enemy", "The Vengeance Factor", "The Hunted” – “Yesterday's Enterprise", "Sins of The Father", "Captain's Holiday", "Hollow Pursuits” – “Sarek", "Transfigurations” – “The Best of Both Worlds")

Assistant Scenic Artist

Art Studio Paintings By

Research Consultant

Computer Monitors By

  • Sony Corp. of America ("Evolution” – “The Ensigns of Command", "Booby Trap", "The Price” – “Sins of The Father", "Tin Man” – “The Most Toys", "Ménage à Troi” – “The Best of Both Worlds")

Lenses and Panaflex ® Cameras By

Special Visual Effects By

Additional Motion Control Facilities

Video Optical Effects By

Special Video Compositing

Editing Facilities

Uncredited[]

Production companies[]

See also[]

External links[]

Previous season:
TNG Season 2
Seasons of
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Next season:
TNG Season 4
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