Star Trek: The Next Generation's Reunion Happened 14 Years Before Picard Season 3

Star Trek: Picardseason 3 is mainly remembered for serving as aStar Trek: The Next Generationreunion, but another show brought Patrick Stewart and company back together 14 years before that.Star Trek: The Next Generation’s castwas largely unchanged throughout its seven-season run, although there were some changes to the lineup.Picard’s final season brought the most iconicTNGcast back togetherfor a 10-episode legacy sequel to their beloved sci-fi show. It was exciting for Trekkies everywhere, but an entirely different project had already beatenStar Trekto the punch.

Even thoughStar Trek: Picardseason 3’s castwas incredibly recognizable, the show’s updated aesthetic led to a different atmosphere and overall feel when compared toStar Trek: The Next Generation. Nevertheless, they both exist in the primeStar Trektimeline, combining to form what is still quite a small corner of the larger franchise. Airing in 2023,Picardseason 3 was a landmark occasion that had been a long time coming, but arguably made a little less special by the cast having already worked together since they stepped away from theirStar Trekroles.

The crew of the USS Enterprise in Family Guy

Family Guy’s “Not All Dogs Go To Heaven” Reunited Star Trek: The Next Generation Cast In 2009

Picard season 3 wouldn’t happen until 2023

2002’sStar Trek: Nemesiswas the last time the cast ofThe Next Generationreprised their roles as an ensemble until 2023, when they returned to makePicard. However, they did all appear inFamily Guyseason 7, episode 11, “Not All Dogs Go to Heaven.” Seth MacFarlane’s show built Stewie Griffin’sStar Trek-adjacent storyline around the presence of Patrick Stewart, Jonathon Frakes, Michael Dorn, and the other original members ofTNG’s cast. Playing fictionalized versions of themselves,theTNGcast spent the day with Stewie after being abducted by the evil genius babyand his matter transporter.

In a way, “Not All Dogs Go to Heaven” is a more complete reunion ofThe Next Generation’s cast thanPicardseason 3 was.

Stewie ends up hilariously disillusioned with his plan when it turns out that every member of theTNGcast is hard to deal with, leading to some great moments in the episode. In a way, “Not All Dogs Go to Heaven” is a more complete reunion ofThe Next Generation’s cast thanPicardseason 3 was.TheFamily Guyepisode also briefly included Denise Crosby, who initially played Tasha Yar inThe Next Generationbefore being killed off and being brought back for the occasional guest appearance. Tasha, understandably, never appeared inStar Trek: Picard.

It only took seven years for Seth MacFarlane to bringThe Next Generation’s cast back together afterNemesis, but it would then be another 14 years beforeStar Trek: Picardwould do the same. IgnoringFamily Guy’s 2009 episode for a second,it took a total of 21 years forPicardto canonically bring the USS Enterprise’s crew back together. To delve even further into certain statistics,TNGbegan in 1987, meaning from the date the pilot episode aired, it would take 36 years before Patrick Stewart and company bowed out at theend ofStar Trek: Picard’s final season.

“Not All Dogs Go To Heaven” Remains The Biggest Of Many Star Trek References In Family Guy

Seth MacFarlane loves Star Trek, and it’s obvious

Pretty muchevery Seth MacFarlane showis filled withStar Trekreferences, butFamily Guyis particularly fond of borrowing from the iconic sci-fi franchise.Patrick Stewart himself reprised the role of Captain Picard on other occasions inFamily Guyoutside “Not All Dogs Go to Heaven.” The animated comedy has also parodied characters and scenes fromStar Trek: The Original Series, although MacFarlane doesn’t appear to have close ties with the cast of William Shatner’s show, as those moments place different actors in the role of Captain Kirk and company.

It’s pretty obvious from watchingFamily Guy, and even MacFarlane’s other shows likeAmerican Dad!, thatthe creator is a massiveStar Trekfan. If the endless references in his animated shows aren’t enough to highlight this trait, the fact thatSeth MacFarlane createdThe Orvilleas a clear tribute toStar Trekdefinitely outs him as a Trekkie.The Orvilleisn’t part of the same canon asStar Trek: The Next GenerationorStar Trek: Picard, but it is right on the cusp of being so due to how faithful MacFarlane’s space opera is.