Description: 22 episodes on 6 discs: The Child, Where Silence Has Lease, Elementary Dear Data, The Outrageous Okona, Loud as a Whisper, The Schizoid Man, Unnatural Selection, A Matter of Honor, The Measure of a Man, The Dauphin, Contagion, The Royale, Time Squared, The Icarus Factor, Pen Pals, Q Who?, Samaritan Snare, Up the Long Ladder, Manhunt, The Emissary, Peak Performance, Shades of Gray.
Amazon.com: To the delight of Star Trek fans everywhere, the stellar second season of The Next Generation (1988-89) belonged to Lieutenant Commander Data. As the Enterprise-D's resident android, Data (in the Emmy-worthy hands of Brent Spiner) would gain legal sentience in the season highlight "The Measure of a Man," and his increasingly "human" personality would refine itself in such diverse episodes as "Elementary, Dear Data" (Data as Sherlock Holmes), "The Outrageous Okona" (a misfire, but worthy from the Data perspective), and "Pen Pals." While Gates McFadden (Dr. Crusher) took a sabbatical of then-unknown duration (gracefully replaced by original Trek guest star Diana Muldaur as Dr. Pulaski), the remaining bridge crew would match Data's vitality: Riker grew a handsome beard and proved his command potential; Worf became richly nuanced in "The Icarus Factor," and met his match (and mate) in guest Suzie Plakson's fiercely Klingon sexpot K'Ehleyr; Wesley matured admirably, despite continuing fan disapproval; Betazed culture emerged as Troi locked horns with her eccentric mother, Lwaxana (Majel Barrett, in a recurring role); and La Forge made good on his promotion to chief engineer while Chief O'Brien (Colm Meaney) flawlessly rode on Geordi's coattails.
In a crucial series development, Guinan (special guest Whoopi Goldberg) revealed a connection to Q in her helpful capacity as Ten-Forward's enigmatic host, while Q himself (John DeLancie) precipitated the Enterprise's first, fateful encounter with the Borg (in the suspenseful "Q Who?"). Through it all, Patrick Stewart brilliantly intensified all of Picard's renaissance qualities (especially in the dazzling "Time Squared"), exploring the captain's facets with equal measures of curiosity, fascination, amusement, courage, and philosophical insight. Despite its lame finale with the money-saving clip-show "Shades of Gray," season 2 charted a warp-nine course to the even better season 3. --Jeff Shannon
Another great buy! The only thing that disturbed me was the envelope... It's a collectors series, or good enough to be one. My package was slightly damaged because it was sent in an envelope. Other than that, great deal!
A Masterpiece of a Season (with plenty of room left for growth!) "Captain Picard, I cannot allow you to leave. Before we can go forward, the cycle must end."
-- Picard, while shooting and killing his future self, "Time Squared"
The first minute of the first episode of this season lays it all out for you. We get far more advanced model and computer animation (ship exteriors), a first glimpse at the shuttle bay and a shuttle craft, a better lit and color adjusted bridge, and some sophisticated camera work, all set to a brilliant new score (not to be confused with the title theme). All in all, it seems clear that the producers have taken fan input into account and have done everything possible to deliver a superior product for season two.
As the episode and season continue, we discover a slew of new surprises. For one thing, the boundaries of the ship truly expand with not only the addition of the shuttlebay, but also the introduction of Ten Forward, the social center of the ship in which we get to see more of our favorite characters off duty. Guinan, ably played by Whoopie Goldberg, manages to pull the best from each character when the main action of the plot doesn't allow them to reveal their inner selves otherwise. Furthermore, Season Two makes far better use of the holodeck, establishing its parameters and functions more clearly, but also presenting some of the best holodeck-oriented concepts, moments, and full-blown episodes of the series.
Another nice surprise is the tweaks (both subtle and not so subtle) made to the cast. Worf and Troi both receive necessary make-overs. Wes ditches the rainbow racing stripe across the chest and matures into a relatively likeable and rarely annoying young cadet. Geordi finally earns legitimate placement amongst the main cast by becoming Chief Engineer. Picard drops much of the grouchy facade he bore in season one, establishing genuine rapport with much of the cast (especially Ryker). Finally, Dr. Pulaski replaces Dr. Crusher as the ship's doctor. While, in many ways, Pulaski is a clear and tired rip-off of Dr. McCoy from the original series, she challenges and pulls much from the crew whereas Dr. Crusher felt relatively isolated and uninteresting amongst the cast in season one (this changes when she returns in season three).
Beyond these changes, both subtle and blatant, occurring in the background of each episode, what strikes me the most about season two is the writing. Nearly every episode in this season brings out all the grand science fiction adventure of the original series while applying the statesman-like discourse on ethics to each adventure that later becomes Next Gen's hallmark.
Some highlights from this season include:
"A Matter of Honor," in which Ryker serves on a Klingon vessel, introduces us to Klingon culture, and confronts the double-edged sword of culture shock while providing a fantastically entertaining storyline in the process.
"The Measure of a Man," in which Data's sentience is determined in a riveting courtroom trial with Picard as the defendant and Ryker as the prosecutor.
"Contagion," in which the Enterprise discovers highly imaginative and eerily advanced technology from a long-dead civilization and must decide how to keep it from the Romulans.
"The Royal," a highly whimsical yet disturbing episode in which Ryker, Data, and Worf are trapped in an early twentieth century casino which serves as reparation for a man who has been dead for hundreds of years.
"Time Squared," TNG's first great time loop story in which the crew discovers and must deal with the existential problems of an unconscious Picard from six hours in the future who fled the Enterprise shortly before it was destroyed.
"Q Who": the return of Q, the continuation of his assessment of the human race, and the terrifying first appearance of the Borg.
"Manhunt": Luwaxana Troi at her comic best as she tries to snare Picard as a husband.
Honestly, though, the only disappointing episode of this season is "Shades of Gray," the final episode which was strung together on the threshold of a writer's strike. It's a clip show before TNG had enough worthwhile clips to warrant such an undertaking.
All in all, TNG season two is a fantastic experience and a personal favorite season of mine. It's still a long way from achieving all the greatness that can be found in later seasons, but there's so much here to love. It's absolutely worth the time and money to discover this season and then revisit it, again and again.
Star Trek Next Generation Product first came with two of six disks missing. With an email to the seller, that problem was solved in about two and a half weeks. I have been enjoying the TV series immensely since then.
Well produced, good product, some serious cast missteps... Short and sweet. The case is fair quality, with a fold out for 7 DVDs. The menu system is a bit funky. I am collecting serveral TV Series, and would prefer that these have the "Play All" feature similar to the later years M.A.S.H. DVDs.
The second season starts out a badly disjointed story line that never made any sense as to why Dr. Beverly Crusher was no longer aboard the Enterprise, but her Juvenile Son Wesley remained on board. Dr Crusher was replaced for this season only by Dr. Kate Polasky played by Diana Muldaur. An entirely fine character, played by a perfectly good actress, that just feels terribly out of place.
The screenwriting and special effects in this season are maturing, as are the characters somewhat. We find Geordi LaForge promoted to the title of Chief Engineer, and the appearance of Whoopi Goldberg's character Guinan.
As a collector, and enthusiast in all things Trek this is a must have box set. But don't expect it to be the same quality writing, acting, effects, or characters as later seasons. But it is obvious they were getting their act together here.
Better than fast! This new dvd set was shipped very quickly. Have really been enjoying the season. will buy again.
Anything Goes Trivia
Megaton Man
Trevor
