Star Trek: The Next Generation Season Two Review


Star Trek: The Next Generation: Season Two

Cast:
Patrick Stewart as Captain Jean-Luc Picard
Jonathan Frakes as Commander William T. Riker
LeVar Burton as Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge
Marina Sirtis as Counselor Deanna Troi
Brent Spiner as Lt. Commander Data
Michael Dorn as Lieutenant Worf
Wil Wheaton as Wesley Crusher

Award Winning
Star Trek: The Next Generation – Season Two is now available to buy on Blu-ray from Paramount Home Entertainment and CBS Home Entertainment. The Blu-ray features all 22 episodes from Season Two including

Star Trek: The Next Generation was an award-winning series and looks amazing after being transferred to true high-definition 1080p.

One of the most popular series in the Star Trek franchise, Star Trek: The Next Generation® celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2012. It premiered in first-run syndication during the week of September 28, 1987 and ran through 1994. All 178 episodes from seven seasons will be transferred to true high-definition 1080p for release over the next two years on Blu-ray.

A look at the storylines and action

In my season one review I accused Wesley Crusher (played by Wil Wheaton) of being annoying (if often correct). However season two has given me a better understanding of the character and indeed the actor. At a young age Wheaton held his own with the likes of Patrick Stewart and Brent Spiner and even Mr Worf as played by Michael Dorn – no mean feat. He has a good acting style for a young man and a well trained voice. Here I set the record straight – I no longer think Wil Wheaton was irritating as Wesley Crusher. Kudos to him.

Star Trek: The Next Generation Season TwoAs always in any season there are some fast paced episodes and some slower stories but as with season one, they all have their own individual merits.
We kick off season two with the opening episode of ‘The Child’ - in which an alien presence enters the ship and mysteriously impregnates Deanna Troi. It’s an interested episode, one in which Marina Sirtis does a fine job of acting a range of emotions, this will forever remain one of her outstanding Star Trek moments.
The second episode ‘Where Silence Has Lease’ is a bit of a dull episode by the high standards of Star Trek TNG but you could look at it another way and just think of it as a slower more thoughtful episode and it does have a few interesting things to say about the universe and life.

Next up is episode 3, ‘Elementary My Dear Data’ in which Data enters the holodesk and takes on the life of Sherlock Homles. It’s a bit daft in all honesty but at times it’s fun and when Professor Moriarty turns up things get a little more complicated… so much in fact that this episode carries over into a later series for it’s conclusion.
By episode 6 things are really heating up and Brent Spiner takes on a split personality role in ‘The Schizoid Man’ in which a brilliant, but flawed scientist Dr. Ira Graves attempts to cheat death by taking control of Data and uploading his memories and personality into the android. Brent Spiner really gets the chance to expressive himself in this episode more than with his normal character of Data and the results are enjoyable.

Episode 9 ‘The Measure of a Man’ is one of the finest Star Trek TNG episodes ever written and performed and again it revolves around the character of Data. It is also available on the Blu-ray release as an extended version and I recommend that you take the watch and enjoy both versions. The episode revolves around Data refusing direct from the top people at Starfleet ordering him to turn himself over to a science team to be dismantled for research purposes. He has to go on trial (of sorts) to determine if he is allowed to chose his own fate. Riker is forced to prosecute whilst Picard is chosen to defend. Jonathan Frakes plays the part very well in this episode and it’s a nail-biter to the end even if you can guess the inevitable outcome.

Even though I run the risk of looking as though my review leans towards the episodes with the character of Data in them, I would next chose episode 15 ‘Pen Pals’ as an outstanding episode. Data gets himself into trouble with Picard and The Prime Directive when he befriends a child of a pre-warp planet that is being threatened with destruction due to volcanic activity. Brent Spiner lends an element of sadness and pathos to the character of Data not previously seen.

Episode 21 ‘Peak Performance’ is one of the real highlights of season two. The Enterprise and USS Hathaway commanded by Picard and Riker respectively have to take part in a simulated war game, with exciting results. The episode is extra special because there is a great subplot about Data failing to beat a (human) Grand Master of the game Strategema which causes him to question his fallibility and abilities.

Restoration Work - A Minor Slip
Season one was almost faultless in its attention to detail and jump from standard definition to HD, there was excellent work done on the HD release of season one. And not that I for a moment doubt the skill and effort put in by the restoration team for season two, but it doesn’t look as good as season one. Yes, certainly, they have been entirely digitally re-mastered with the original camera negatives that were originally shot being used and many, many, imperfections such as dirt, tears, scratches and stains have been removed as well as the contrast and colour being hugely enhanced but here on season two there are many instances of grain on the picture – a problem that had been almost completely removed from the season one episodes on its HD release. As to why this is the case I can not say. I’m certain that the restoration team will have done everything in their power to upscale these scenes to their very maximum potential but alas some grain does remain.
That said – this is without doubt a major increase in quality over VHS or DVDs. In the episodic previews that are presented as Blu-ray extras you can see the original quality of the image – it’s horrendous by today’s standards! It really showcases what advancements DVD and in turn Blu-ray offers.

Eagerly Awaiting Season Three...
I’ll be very eagerly awaiting the release of the whole seven seasons and will hopefully be able to bring you reports on them all here. I have a great deal of affection for Star Trek and to see them all presented in High Definition is a real and genuine treat. I hope you will be able to join me on this journey where no man has gone before!

Author : Kevin Stanley