This blog is the first in a multi-part series, which will countdown my choices for the Top 10 episodes of the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Since Star Trek has always been an allegory to contemporary events, I chose these episodes based on how they related to such matters. Thus, some of the most popular episodes may not land on this list, but all these episodes are some of the most thought-provoking and philosophical.

For this particular series, I will provide 2 episodes per blog, since it takes considerable time to write this material. (Deciding the Top 10 took more than 2 hours alone.) Without further delay, here we go:

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Number 10: The Chase (6.20)

Captain Picard's former archaeology professor leaves behind clues in his death that lead to a race to solve a puzzle. What is unique about this puzzle is that it includes DNA fragments from species across several planets. These DNA fragments form markers that make up an ancient computer program, which executes on completion of the puzzle. This program generates a hologram of a representative from a long-extinct race of humanoids that explains they sowed life throughout the quadrant as a legacy, after finding that they were all alone.

This episode touches on several ideas. The first idea is the pseudo-scientific theory of panspermia, or the off-world seeding of life on Earth. In a way, this is allegory to how all the diverse ethnic groups of people share a common origin in the northeast African region, yet have been separated for eons. The second idea presented is the yearning for a legacy. In this life, we are all mortal. After some time passes from our deaths, many of us will be forgotten as individuals with history. Thus, if we produce a legacy, we will live on, making us immortal, in some form. This legacy can be offspring or some form of important work, something produced as a consequence of our existence.

Number 9: Inheritance (7.10)

During a mission to save the inhabitants of a dying planet, a woman, Juliana, approaches the android Data to inform him that she was once married to his creator, Dr. Soong, effectively meaning that she is Data's mother. While finishing work with Data in a cavern, they have to escape a cave-in, which knocks her unconscious and tears off her arm, revealing her to be an android. An encoded message found in her "brain" from Dr. Soong tells Data that Juliana had died and that her mind had been transfered to an android body without her knowledge. The message ends with the request to repair her but not let her know this fate.

This episode challenges the concept of the consciousness. Can our thoughts be transfered to another body, whether organic or machine, and keep us who we are? How would we adapt to a new body? Does an eternal soul transfer with the consciousness? It is doubtful that any of these questions will ever be answered, but the premises of all these have intrigued scientists and writers for decades.

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View part 2 here.