Episode 7.14

Throughout this seventh season, Alan has been thinking about the fact that Star Trek: The Next Generation, unarguably the best long-running science fiction series ever made, only managed seven seasons itself. Perhaps it was hampered by the relative homogeneity of its narrative universe. His own varies more dramatically from show to show. Just now, recovering consciousness at the start of the penultimate episode, he realises that he has left Gene Roddenberry’s world far behind because, clearly, the Saucer having crashed onto an unknown planet, Tenbury Wells, his Number One, has just been horribly butchered by the evil inhabitants. His old friend TW actually dead?!? So this really is final, he thinks. But judging by the mean look of the natives, there isn’t much point in remonstrating now. 

Best keep schtum and await his end.