Summary

• Jonathan Frakes is a beloved and prolific director in the Star Trek franchise, having directed numerous episodes across multiple series and two of the best Star Trek: The Next Generation films.
• Frakes' directing style captures the essence of classic Star Trek, with episodes that provide important insights into the characters' lives and tackle relevant social issues.
• Frakes' familiarity with the franchise and his ability to create memorable moments, including ad-libbed scenes, solidify him as one of the best directors in the Star Trek universe.

Jonathan Frakes may be most recognizable for starring as Commander William Riker on Star Trek: The Next Generation, but he is also one of Star Trek's most beloved and prolific directors. Frakes first took on directing duties in TNG season 3, with the excellent Data-centric episode, "The Offspring," and he would go on to helm seven more episodes of TNG. Frakes directed three episodes each of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager, before making the jump to the big screen for Star Trek: First and Star Trek: Insurrection.

In addition to directing arguably the two best Star Trek: The Next Generation films, Frakes also directed the 2002 film Clockstoppers and the 2004 film Thunderbirds. From there, Jonathan went on to direct episodes of many popular television shows before he found his way back to Star Trek for an episode of Star Trek: Discovery in 2018. Since then, Frakes has helmed seven more episodes of Discovery, as well as six episodes of Star Trek: Picard, and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' crossover with Star Trek: Lower Decks.

Many Star Trek actors have cited Frakes as one of their favorite directors to work with, including Discovery's Doug Jones and Captain Jean-Luc Picard himself, Patrick Stewart.

10 "Absolute Candor" - Star Trek: Picard

Picard Season 1, Episode 4

iral Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) takes the La Sirena to the planet Vashti, which became a refuge for Romulans fleeing the destruction of their sun. Years ago, Picard had befriended a young Romulan boy named Elnor (Ian Nunney), but never returned for him, despite promising the boy he would. Now a young man, Elnor (Evan Evagora) has been raised to be a Qowat Milat warrior, and Picard asks the Romulan to his quest. After Elnor and Picard beam up to La Sirena, a small mystery ship piloted by none other than Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan) helps La Sirena in battle. Not only does "Absolute Candor" introduce Seven of Nine and Elnor to Picard, but it also provides important insight into Picard's life since TNG.

9 "New Eden" - Star Trek: Discovery

Discovery Season 2, Episode 2

In their search for the meaning of the mysterious red signals, Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount), Commander Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green), and Lt. Joann Owosekun (Oyin Oladejo) travel to an Earth-like planet on the other side of the galaxy. "New Eden" feels more like classic Trek than many episodes of Star Trek: Discovery, as the away team grapples with the Starfleet's Prime Directive (then referred to as General Order One). The episode provides some interesting hints about the red bursts and the red angel, and still makes room for some great moments for Commander Saru (Doug Jones) and Ensign Sylvia Tilly (Mary Wiseman).

8 "The Drumhead" - Star Trek: The Next Generation

TNG Season 4, Episode 21

After an explosion aboard the USS Enterprise-D is suspected of being the result of sabotage, Starfleet investigator iral Norah Satie (Jean Simmons) visits the ship to uncover an apparent conspiracy. Satie's search turns into a witchhunt, as she questions officers based on their heritage and their past. When she brings up Captain Picard's assimilation by the Borg, Jean-Luc calls out Satie's fanaticism with a powerful speech. For an episode that takes place entirely aboard the Enterprise, "The Drumhead" is a tense and entertaining hour of television, with an important message that remains relevant today.

7 "The Search, Part II" - Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

DS9 Season 3, Episode 2

Throughout the first two seasons of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Constable Odo (René Auberjonois) struggles with feelings of being an outsider. He does not know anything about his past or where he came from, but "The Search" changes that. In the second half of this two-parter, Odo discovers that his people, the Changelings, are actually the mysterious Founders that the people of Deep Space 9 keep hearing about. The Dominion War story arc was only just beginning at this point in DS9, and Odo's link to the Changelings would have major significance moving forward.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's "The Search, Part I" introduces the USS Defiant, a Federation warship that proves to be crucial during the conflict with the Dominion.

6 "Project Daedalus" - Star Trek: Discovery

Discovery Season 2, Episode 9

Although "Project Daedalus" continues the main plot of Star Trek: Discovery season 2, the B-story focuses on cybernetic crew member Airiam (Hannah Cheesman). When Commander Michael Burnham, Commander D. Nhan (Rachael Ancheril), and Airiam investigate the headquarters of Section 31, it soon becomes apparent that Airiam is carrying a piece of the sinister AI known as Control. Airiam then asks to be jettisoned into space to prevent Control from gaining even more knowledge. "Project Daedalus" has some neat visuals and emphasizes the tragedy of Airiam's death, making us wish the show would've spent more time with her as a character.

As Airiam's tragic backstory is revealed, the viewer gets to see through her eyes, with various shots from her perspective as she relives certain memories.

5 "Cause and Effect" - Star Trek: The Next Generation

TNG Season 5, Episode 18

A take on the classic time loop trope, "Cause and Effect" opens with one of Star Trek: The Next Generation's most memorable cold opens, as the Starship Enterprise explodes just before the opening credits. The story then resets and plays out all over again, leading to the same devastating explosion. Soon, various crew begin experiencing a sense of déjà vu, which leads them to the conclusion that they are stuck in a time loop. Lt. Commander Data (Brent Spiner) then figures out how to send a message to himself, which eventually allows him to save the ship. Jonathan Frakes' direction is particularly impressive here, as he makes each loop feel similar but distinct at the same time.

Kelsey Grammer makes a cameo in "Cause and Effect" as Captain Morgan Bateson of the USS Bozeman, the ship that keeps crashing into the Enterprise.

4 "No Win Scenario" - Star Trek: Picard

Picard Season 3, Episode 4

With the USS Titan dead in space, iral Jean-Luc Picard, Captain Liam Shaw (Todd Stashwick), and everyone else on board face certain death as the ship sinks into a gravity well. As Commander Seven of Nine investigates a Changeling infiltration on the Titan, Picard seeks out his son Jack Crusher (Ed Speleers). When Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden) later notices something odd about the electrical waves that keep hitting the ship, Jack comes up with a plan to save the Titan. "No Win Scenario" gives nearly every character a chance to shine, and Frakes pulls double duty, both directing the episode and commanding the Titan as Captain Riker.

3 "Past Tense, Part II" - Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

DS9 Season 3, Episode 12

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 3's "Past Tense" two-parter is one of the franchise's best examples of social commentary that remains relevant today. When Commander Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks), Dr. Julian Bashir (Alexander Siddig), and Lt. Jadzia Dax (Terry Farrell) find themselves in San Francisco in the year 2024, they become involved in the 21st century Bell Riots, an event with important historical significance. When Gabriel Bell dies helping Sisko and Bashir, the course of history is altered and the DS9 crew must put it right. Sisko eventually poses as Bell and fakes his own death to preserve history, while Major Kira Nerys (Nana Visitor) and Chief Miles O'Brien (Colm Meaney) travel to 2024 to bring their friends home.

2 "The Offspring" - Star Trek: The Next Generation

TNG Season 3, Episode 16

The first Star Trek episode Frakes ever directed remains one of his best. In "The Offspring," Lt. Commander Data creates an android daughter named Lal (Hallie Todd), using the same technology that powers his own positronic brain. Lal learns and develops more quickly than Data anticipated, eventually leading her to experience a catastrophic malfunction. Data cannot save her, but he tries anyway, with a determination that makes it impossible to doubt his capacity for feeling. With wonderful performances from Spiner and Todd, a beautifully written script, and solid directing from Frakes, "The Offspring" is one of TNG's and Data's finest hours.

1 "Those Old Scientists" - Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

Strange New Worlds Season 2, Episode 7

In only two seasons, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has quickly become one of Star Trek's best new shows, with an incredibly likable and compelling cast of characters. Jonathan Frakes was brought in to direct one of the best Star Trek episodes of 2023, as two of the stars from Star Trek: Lower Decks traveled back in time to the USS Enterprise of Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount). Ensigns Brad Boimler (Jack Quaid) and Beckett Mariner (Tawny Newsome) geek out over meeting their heroes, while trying to avoid altering the past.

The Strange New Worlds/Lower Decks crossover contains so many references to past Star Trek, acting as a love letter to the franchise while still being hilarious in its own right. Frakes obviously has a long history with Trek, and his familiarity with the franchise is put to great use here. The actors were given the chance to ad-lib, leading to some of the episode's best moments, including Jack Quaid's Riker impression. Jonathan Frakes cemented himself as one of Star Trek's best directors a long time ago, and he continues to bring life to some of the franchise's greatest moments.

Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Discovery, Star Trek: Picard, & Star Trek: Strange New Worlds are all available to stream on Paramount+.