As the Chief Medical Officer of the USS Enterprise-D, Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden) had her fair share of adventures on Star Trek: The Next Generation. Despite the fact that Gates McFadden left TNG just before season 2, she returned in season 3 for the rest of the series. Beverly Crusher became a beloved fixture of the Star Trek universe, and her on-off-again relationship with Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) captivated audiences. With her steadfast morals, Dr. Crusher always stood up for what she believed in and fought for those who couldn't fight for themselves.

By the time of her appearance in Star Trek: Picard season 3, Beverly Crusher had become a more complex character. She was still a compassionate and dedicated doctor, but now commanded a non-Starfleet medical ship and knew her way around a weapons system. Picard also revealed that Beverly and Jean-Luc had a son named Jack Crusher (Ed Speleers), but Beverly had kept Jack's existence a secret from Picard. Gates McFadden has expressed how much she enjoyed playing this more three-dimensional version of Beverly, and the character certainly had some exceptional moments on Picard. But Beverly Crusher had some great moments on The Next Generation, too, and here are 10 of her best episodes from both shows.

SCREENRANT VIDEO OF THE DAY Close 10 Star Trek: TNG Season 4 - "The Host"

Not only did Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "The Host" serve as the introduction of the Trill species, it was also one of the rare episodes to give Dr. Crusher the spotlight. When a Trill mediator named Odan (Franc Luz) boards the Enterprise to aid in a negotiation, he begins a romantic relationship with Beverly Crusher. Later, he is severely injured and the host body dies while the Trill symbiote survives. Commander Will Riker (Johnathan Frakes) offers to temporarily serve as host until the Enterprise can rendezvous with the ship carrying the new host. Over the course of the episode, Beverly has to sort through her understandable feelings of confusion as the person she fell for inhabits different bodies.

9 Star Trek: Picard Season 3 - "Võx"

In the penultimate episode of Star Trek: Picard season 3, Beverly Crusher gets a particular chance to shine. After Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis) discovers the Borg presence in Jack Crusher's mind, Beverly comes to the conclusion that Picard passed down something from his time as Locutus of Borg. Later in the episode, Beverly figures out more of the Borg and Changelings' plan. She realizes that the Changelings had altered the transporters with Picard's DNA and were planning to assimilate everyone under the age of 25. Not only is Beverly instrumental in uncovering the Borg/Changeling plot, she also aids in the firefight that breaks out when the youngest members of the Titan's crew are assimilated.

8 Star Trek: TNG Season 7 - "Descent, Part 2"

The two-part episode that bridges seasons 6 and 7 of TNG marks one of the only times Dr. Beverly Crusher got to be in command of the Enterprise. As most of the crew has beamed down to a planet in search of their lost crewmember, Data (Brent Spiner), Beverly is left in charge of the ship when a Borg cube attacks. As acting Captain, she refuses to leave any of the away teams behind, choosing to hide in a nearby sun rather than leave the star system. Because of new shield technology developed by a Ferengi scientist introduced in the season 6 episode "Suspicions," the Enterprise is able to withstand being closer to the sun than the Borg ship. Dr. Crusher proves to be just as compassionate and competent commanding a starship as she is performing as the ship's doctor.

7 Star Trek: TNG Season 7 - "All Good Things..."

In the highly acclaimed finale of Star Trek: The Next Generation, every character gets a chance to shine. As with several of the characters, two different versions of Dr. Crusher appear in this episode, one from the present and one from the future. As Captain Picard jumps back and forth between two different timelines, his friends try to determine what's happening. In the future timeline, Beverly commands the USS Pasteur and offers to help Picard. In this future, she and Jean-Luc had been married at some point in the past, but were now divorced. "All Good Things..." has some great Picard and Crusher moments, and every character gets a fitting send-off.

Related: Star Trek: Why Dr. Crusher Left TNG In Season 2 (& Why She Came Back)

6 Star Trek: TNG Season 5 - "Ethics"

In the opening scene of "Ethics," Lt. Worf (Michael Dorn) is seriously injured and ends up paralyzed. Dr. Crusher calls in a specialist who suggests an experimental treatment to heal Worf's spine. Considering the risks involved, Beverly is hesitant to use Worf as a test subject for this treatment, and she recommends another course of action. At one point, Worf wishes to commit ritualistic suicide because he cannot be a true Klingon warrior with his injury. Worf eventually chooses to attempt the surgery and while it seems to be a success, Worf nearly dies on the operating table. Dr. Crusher's strong sense of morality is apparent in this episode, as she admonishes the specialist for using experimental treatments on patients in the name of research.

5 Star Trek: Picard Season 3 - "Seventeen Seconds"

Gates McFadden truly brought her all to playing Dr. Crusher again in Star Trek: Picard season 3, and that is never more apparent than in the third episode. Beverly and Picard finally have a heart-to-heart about their son, Jack, and Beverly explains why she kept his existence a secret from Picard. McFadden and Patrick Stewart act their hearts out in this scene. Beverly's heartbreak, in particular, is palpable, and this scene gives new insight into her character. Later in this episode, Dr. Crusher gets a chance to show off her medical expertise, when she examines the injured Captain of the Titan, Captain Liam Shaw (Todd Stashwick). She finds internal bleeding that the sensors had missed and saves the Captain's life. "Seventeen Seconds" not only demonstrates Gates McFadden's talent as an actor but also Beverly Crusher's talent as a doctor.

4 Star Trek: TNG Season 6 - "Suspicions"

When Dr. Crusher suspects foul play in the death of a visiting Ferengi scientist, she goes to great lengths to prove that she's right. When "Suspicions" opens, Beverly has been relieved of duty and faces a court-martial. She relays the story of what happened to Guinan (Whoopi Goldberg), telling her about the field test of the Ferengi's shield technology and his subsequent death by apparent suicide. Beverly believes the Ferengi was killed and, at Guinan's encouragement, she continues her investigation and is eventually proven right. This episode again highlights Dr. Crusher's morality and strong sense of justice, even in the face of a court-martial.

3 Star Trek: TNG Season 7 - "Attached"

In "Attached," Dr. Crusher and Captain Picard find themselves abducted and then stranded together on a planet. To makes matters worse, they have been implanted with devices that allow them to hear each other's thoughts. This episode finally pays off the hints of attraction between Picard and Crusher that have existed for most of the series. They acknowledge their feelings for one another and talk about exploring them further. Picard reflects on his relationship with Beverly Crusher's family, and his friendship with Beverly's late husband, Jack Crusher (Doug Wert). "Attached" provides insight into the minds of both characters and forces them to sit down and talk to one another about their feelings.

2 Star Trek: TNG Season 3 - "The High Ground"

Beverly Crusher was one of the most moral characters on Star Trek: The Next Generation and no other episode exemplifies that better than this one. When the crew of the Enterprise visits a planet ravaged by war, Beverly gets abducted by a rebel leader. Though at first, Beverly refuses to communicate at all with the rebels, she does eventually help treat their wounded. She cannot sit by when people need medical help, regardless of who those people may be. As the conflict between the rebels and the Enterprise grows more heated, Dr. Crushers comes to sympathize with some of the rebels. Near the end of the episode, she convinces a young rebel to drop his weapon, suggesting a more peaceful outcome may be possible in the future.

1 Star Trek: TNG Season 4 - "Remember Me"

Perhaps Beverly Crusher's most memorable episode, "Remember Me," follows the doctor as she finds herself trapped in an ever-shrinking Warp bubble. Dr. Crusher's son, Wesley (Wil Wheaton), attempted to create a static Warp bubble, but his attempt seemed to fail. However, Dr. Crusher soon notices that people on the Enterprise have begun disappearing. Over the course of the episode, more and more people disappear, though none of the remaining officers on the ship notice anything amiss. Eventually, Beverly comes to the conclusion that "If there's nothing wrong with [her], maybe there's something wrong with the universe!" Dr. Crusher remains calm throughout this episode despite the fact that no one else believes her. She draws several smart conclusions and manages to figure out what's going on just in time to save herself. When given strong material like this Star Trek: The Next Generation episode, Gates McFadden never fails to deliver.