Which Season of Star Trek: The Next Generation was the best?

I am nearly at the end of my review of the entirely of Star Trek: The Next Generation, something I’ve been doing for several years now.  Occasionally, in conversation with others about the series, the question of which season of the show (it had seven) was the best in terms of overall quality?  I have decided to find out.

Star Trek: The Next Generation – Masks [7.17]

The Enterprise encounters some sort of strange phenomenon that causes various parts of the ship to be slowly transformed into a copy of a long dead ancient civilization, while Data becomes possessed with multiple dead personalities from this civilization. 

Star Trek: The Next Generation – Thine Own Self [7.16]

Suffering from amnesia after being Injured in an accident, Data wanders into a pre-warp village and inadvertently exposes the local population to radioactive rocks.  He races to find the cause of the people’s sickness before lives are lost, but at the same time comes under suspicion for causing the problems himself. 

Star Trek: The Next Generation – Inheritance [7.10]

During a mission, Data meets human scientist Juliana Tainer who reveals that she is his “mother” – she helped to create him and was in fact married to Data’s creator, Noonian Soong.  However, during the course of the mission Data realizes that Dr. Tainer is in fact also an android, albeit a highly sophisticated one. 

Star Trek: The Next Generation – Descent [6.26]

During a battle with the Borg, Data unexpectedly finds himself experiencing a flash of anger.  Confused and concerned by his newly discovered capacity for emotions, Data finds himself lured by a Borg prisoner to set him free and escape with him to join his mysterious leader. 

Star Trek: The Next Generation – A Fistful of Datas [6.8]

Worf participates in a Western-themed holodeck adventure with his son Alexander and with Counselor Troi.  A malfunction during an experiment causes aspects of the ship’s computer and Data’s own internal computer to become confused, causing characters in the holodeck story to look like Data, and putting Worf and the others in genuine danger. 

Star Trek: The Next Generation – Silicon Avatar [5.4]

The Crystalline Entity (from Datalore) reappears and destroys a colony world that the Enterprise is assisting.  An expert on the Entity, Dr. Kila Marr, joins the crew to pursue the creature. 

Star Trek: The Next Generation – In Theory [4.25]

In spite of his inherent limitations, Data engages in a romantic relationship with Lt. Jenna D’Sora, a fellow crew member. 

Star Trek: The Next Generation – Data’s Day [4.11]

Data narrates the events of his day in a letter to Commander Maddox.  It includes preparations for Chief O’Brien’s wedding, and the arrival of a Vulcan ambassador who is on a mysterious mission involving the Romulans. 

Star Trek: The Next Generation – Legacy [4.6]

Attempting to rescue two stranded Federation crew members, the Enterprise travels to Turkana IV, the homeworld of deceased crew member Tasha Yar.