First season TNG is dull, except for a few eps, but that is in no way Rick Berman's fault. (Frankly, it's Gene Roddenberry's., according to everything I've read.) Berman didn't come on board until second season, and really must be credited for turning the ship around. IMO both he and Brannon Braga - who was Ron Moore's writing partner on more than a few of those episodes I named, including the TNG finale - were good writers & producers in their time, but they should have quit post TNG because quite simply, they were out of ideas and became repetitive. After six to seven seasons, this is bound to happen, let alone another seven (Voyager) and then Enterprise...