TNG aliens that only appeared once

As the crew of the USS Enterprise-D explored the galaxy in Star Trek: The Next Generation, they found some amazing characters who only appeared once. Led by Patrick Stewart’s Captain Jean-Luc Picard, the characters of TNG have become one of the most beloved sci-fi casts of all time. As they embarked on new adventures each week, Captain Picard and his crew made even the weakest episodes of TNG it’s worth watching. However, some TNG’s the best episodes became classics because of their guest stars.

With his episodic storytelling style, Star Trek: The Next Generation introduced new characters each week that created the conflict for that week’s plot. Many of these characters only appeared in one episode, but left a mark on the franchise thanks in large part to the actors who played them. THE Star Trek The franchise has a history of attracting high-caliber talent, and a strong guest star can turn the simplest of stories into something incredible. With a single appearance, these actors delivered memorable performances that made their episodes instant classics.

10

Famke Janssen as Kamala

Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 5, Episode 21 – “The Perfect Mate”

When the USS Enterprise-D transports an empathetic shapeshifter named Kamala, Captain Picard develops feelings for the young girl. Kamala can become any kind of woman the men around her want her to be, but she gets to be herself with Picard. Despite the emerging feelings between Kamala and Picard, Kamala has already been betrothed to a Valtian ambassador in an arranged marriage.

The gender roles portrayed in “The Perfect Mate” feel outdated for the 1990s, but Famke Janssen’s performance makes Kamala work as a character, even if the episode’s premise is flawed. Picard and Janssen play well off each other, both delivering compelling and believable performances. While it would have been nice to see what happened to Kamala after her arranged marriage, Janssen made the character memorable.

9

Billy Campbell as Captain Thadiun Okona

Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 2, Episode 4 – “The Outrageous Okona”

When the Enterprise picks up Captain Thadiun Okona to help repair his ship, the charismatic “on your own” He charms the ship’s crew and dates several women on board. When leaders of two different planets claim that Okona harmed them, Captain Picard finds himself involved in a family feud that Okona eventually helps resolve. Although Okona could seem creepy or creepy, Billy Campbell makes the character work.

After seeing how Okona makes the Enterprise crew laugh, Lieutenant Commander Data (Brent Spiner) tries to understand the humor. While Brent Spiner is great as always, this subplot doesn’t work as well as it could. Yet, the episode is memorable thanks to Billy Campbell (who was considered for the role of Commander Will Riker before Jonathan Frakes got the role). Plus, the revelation that Okona has been helping two star-crossed lovers communicate only makes the character more likable.

8

Matt Frewer as Berlinghoff Rasmussen

Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 5, Episode 9 – “A Matter of Time”

As the Enterprise travels to Penthara IV, they encounter a time traveler named Professor Berlinghoff Rasmussen, who claims to be a 16th century researcher. As the crew becomes increasingly irritated by Rasmussen’s interviews, they begin to suspect he may be hiding something. When Captain Picard discovers that several items from the Enterprise have gone missing, he confronts Rasmussen.

Rasmussen eventually reveals himself to be a 22nd century inventor who stole a time machine from a 26th century time traveler. When Picard stops Rasmussen, his time capsule disappears, leaving him in the 24th century. A skilled actor, Matt Frewer brings a perfect, charming smug energy to Rasmussen this makes him fun and entertaining to watch, even though he’s not particularly likable as a character.

7

Beth Toussaint as Ishara Yar

Star Trek: The Next Generation, Season 4, Episode 6 – “Legacy”

When the Enterprise responds to a distress call from a Federation freighter near the planet Turkana IV, they must work with the planet’s inhabitants to save the freighter’s crew. When one of the planet’s two warring factions offers to help Picard and his crew recover survivors, they send Ishara Yar to act as liaison. Ishara is the younger sister of Lieutenant Tasha Yar (Denise Crosby), who served as Head of Enterprise Security until Tasha’s untimely death in TNG season 1.

After a DNA test confirms that Ishara is Tasha’s sister, Picard and the Enterprise crew trust her, and she befriends Data. In the end, however, Ishara was merely using the Enterprise as a means to orchestrate an attack on the opposing faction. “Legacy” may have its flaws, but Beth Toussaint gives a convincing performance as Ishara, offering a glimpse into Tasha’s life before Starfleet.

6

David Ogden Stiers as Dr.

Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 4, Episode 22 – “Half A Life”

In one of the best of Lwaxana Troi (Majel Barrett) Star Trek episodes, the Starship Enterprise hosts Troi alongside Kaelon II’s Dr. Timicin. As the Enterprise crew helps Timicin perform experiments he hopes will save his planet, he forms a bond with Lwaxana Troi. Timicin soon reveals that everyone on his planet is required to end their lives at age 60, and Timicin is quickly approaching his 60th birthday.

Lwaxana, who has started to develop feelings for Timicin, is understandably upset by this news. She calls the practices barbaric and urges Captain Picard to intervene, but he refuses due to the Prime Directive. In the end, Lwaxana accepts Timicin’s choice to continue with the process, including accompanying him to the ceremony. With its nuanced performance, David Ogden Stiers makes Timicin a fully realized character who helps humanize the more outlandish Lwaxana.

5

Harry Groener as Tam Elbrun

Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 3, Episode 20 – “Tin Man”

In this excellent data center Star Trek: The Next Generation episode, a Betazoid Federation emissary named Tam Elbrun arrives aboard the Enterprise-D to initiate first contact with a strange alien. Because of his extraordinarily strong telepathic abilities, Elbrun is impressed by the thoughts of those around him. He forms a connection with Data because he can’t hear the android’s thoughts and needs to get to know him the old-fashioned way.

Upon contacting the living alien ship known as the Tin Man, Elbrun also connects with it. He ultimately chooses to remain with the Tin Woodman and leave his old life behind. Harry Groener makes Elbrun a sympathetic character, even when he interrupts the Enterprise crew members by reading his thoughts. Groener perfectly conveys Elbrun’s exhaustion with the world and his wonder at meeting Data and then the Tin Man.

4

Paul Winfield as Captain Dathon

Star Trek: The Next Generation, Season 5, Episode 2 – “Darmok”

“Darmok” is a classic Star Trek: The Next Generation episode in which Captain Picard finds himself stranded on a desert planet with a Tamarian captain named Dathon. Because the Tamarians speak in metaphors that require knowledge of their history, Picard and Dathon can’t understand each other. As they work to find ways to communicate, they are attacked by a creature from the planet and Dathan is seriously injured.

Although Picard and Dathan eventually develop an understanding with each other, Dathan ultimately succumbs to his injuries. Despite the captain’s death, the Tamarians are happy that Picard has found a rudimentary way to communicate with them. It takes a strong actor to play Patrick Stewart, and Paul Winfield is certainly up to the task. He conveys just as many emotions as Dathon, from frustration to excitement, all while speaking in gibberish.

3

Saul Rubinek as Kivas Fajo

Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 3, Episode 22 – “The Most Toys”

When the Enterprise rendezvous with Kivas Fajo, the collector kidnaps Data and fakes his death. Fajo collects rare artifacts and wants to add Dice to his collection. Data remains defiant until Fajo threatens to kill his assistant, Varria (Jane Daly). unless Android complies. Later, Varria helps Data escape, but Fajo catches them and kills her. Having realized Fajo’s mistake, the Enterprise returns to rescue Data.

In one of Data’s most human moments, he appears to fire a phaser at Fajo just as the Enterprise transports him back to the ship, despite the subroutines that are supposed to stop the android from killing. Saul Rubinek gives a stellar performance as Fajo, making him one of the Star Trek slimier characters. The energy between Brent Spiner and Rubinek crackles as they practically throw their sarcastic one-liners at each other, and it’s incredibly satisfying when Fajo finally ends up in the Enterprise’s prison.

2

James Sloyan as Admiral Jarok

Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 3, Episode 10 – The Deserter”

Captain Picard and his crew are initially skeptical when they encounter a self-proclaimed Romulan defector who eventually reveals himself to be a notorious admiral named Jarok. As Picard tries to find out if Jarok’s claims about an imminent Romulan invasion are true, Data treats the Romulan kindly, showing him his plane on the holodeck. When the Enterprise-D travels to Nelvana III to investigate Jarok’s claims, they discover that the Romulans have provided Jarok with incorrect information.

Upon realizing that he abandoned his home and family for nothing, Jarok takes his own life. Throughout ‘The Defector’, James Sloyan portrays Jarok with perfect subtlety as the Romulan works to convince Picard to believe in him. With his courageous decision to abandon his home to avoid a war and his regret at never seeing his family again, Jarok is a tragic figure which ultimately helps humanize the Romulans as a species.

1

David Warner as Gul Madred

Star Trek: The Next Generation, season 6, episodes 9 and 10 – “Chain of Command”

In one of Star Trek: The Next Generation In the most brutal stories, the Cardassians kidnap Captain Picard and torture him to obtain information about the Federation. Gul Madred supervises Picard’s interrogation, subjecting him to various forms of torture in an intense battle of wills. Madred eventually places four lights in front of Picard and demands that the Enterprise captain respond that there are five lights.

Captain Picard refuses to give up, and Patrick Stewart is a tour-de-force in one of his best Star Trek: The Next Generation performances. But David Warner more than fulfills his role as scene partner, making Madred truly menacing. Warner’s cool and calm demeanor while Madred plays perfectly against Stewart’s despair as Picard. Warner’s performance is even more impressive considering he only had a few days to prepare after the original actor unexpectedly dropped out.