All good things must come to an end, and for the cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation, that ending couldn't arrive soon enough—at least for Gates McFadden. The beloved sci-fi series, which overcame a rocky first season to become a cultural touchstone, wrapped its seven-year run in 1994. But the final episode, the acclaimed two-parter "All Good Things...", came with its own set of challenges, as McFadden revealed during a panel at Fan Expo Boston this past weekend.
Moderated by Collider's Steve Weintraub, the panel featured McFadden alongside co-stars Brent Spiner and Jonathan Frakes. The trio reminisced about the grueling production schedule that defined TNG's later seasons. With 22-plus episodes per season, long hours were the norm, and the added layers of prosthetics, special effects, and those unforgiving Starfleet uniforms only made things tougher. Frakes noted that even the young cast of Starfleet Academy, which he directed, struggled with just ten episodes—a stark contrast to the marathon seasons he and his colleagues endured.
But it was McFadden who shared the most harrowing anecdote. While filming the series finale, she faced a brutal 23-hour workday, a memory that still lingers. "I was shooting something in Portland at the time, and I had to come back, and then I had to do a scene...they had glued grey hair, pieces of grey hair, but the glue wouldn't come off. I had a 23-hour day, that was my overtime. It was 23 hours, and I was like, 'Thank god this is the last episode,' because I don't think I could do that every day."
The finale required McFadden to portray Dr. Beverly Crusher across three distinct time periods, each demanding its own wardrobe and makeup changes. From the youthful optimism of the pilot to the seasoned commander of a future starship, the transformation was physically taxing. Yet, the ordeal didn't end with the final wrap. Just four days after production on the series concluded, McFadden and her castmates were thrust into filming Star Trek: Generations, the first big-screen adventure for the TNG crew.
What Happened on "All Good Things..."?
In the series finale, Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) faces his ultimate test, orchestrated by the enigmatic Q (John de Lancie). Picard's consciousness is flung across three timelines: his early days commanding the Enterprise, the present where an anti-time rift threatens the Romulan Neutral Zone, and a future where the crew has gone their separate ways. In that future, Crusher has married and divorced Picard, and now captains the medical ship USS Pasteur.
The episode was a fitting send-off for a series that had become a phenomenon, but for McFadden, it was also a relief. "I don't think I could do that every day," she admitted, reflecting on the marathon shoot. Her candid recollection offers a glimpse into the relentless pace of 1990s television production, a stark contrast to today's shorter seasons and more manageable schedules.
For fans of the franchise, McFadden's story adds a human layer to the legacy of TNG. It's a reminder that even the most iconic episodes come with behind-the-scenes struggles. And while the cast may have been exhausted, their work continues to inspire new generations of viewers—and even new thrillers that capture a similar sense of tension and drama.
As the entertainment world evolves, the tales from TNG's set remain a testament to the dedication of its cast and crew. For more insights from the panel and other exclusive stories, stay tuned to Collider.
