Season 2 at the Movies

Richard, a few of our friends, and I attended the HD TNG Season 2 event last week, and I have opinions. Like the Season 1 event, a good time was had by all and it was fun watching the show with so many people. They showed Q Who and the extended cut of Measure of a Man as well as some bonus features. Some opinions in no particular order.

Q Who looked pretty good overall. The higher detail on the Borg costumes is pretty nifty. The scene in engineering still looks really dark and grainy. I'm curious how it will look on TV. The detail on the Borg cube was great obviously, but the ship as a whole doesn't look as great. They used the plastic trees in model kits for a lot of the surface of the cube and in higher def, it makes it looks like the edges aren't quite crisp, straight lines. The effect on the saucer section were really, really cool, however.

The extended cut of Measure of a Man had some good and some bad in it. There was an extended scene of Picard wrestling with the issues and talking about them with Data. The additional dialogue also fleshes out more clearly that Maddox was only forcing Data to transfer off the Enterprise if he refused the refit. If the refit proceeded, he could have stayed on the Enterprise, and some of the dialogue seems a little more clear as a result. There was a scene of Picard in Data's quarters preparing his testimony that was interesting but not vital. We got some additional dialogue with Nakamura about Picard's early career, which was nice, but dispensable. My favorite parts were an additional scene between Geordi and Data where he gives Geordi his Holmes pipes as a goodbye gift, and some additional dialogue in the party scenes, including the party being crashed by Maddox.

On the downside of the additions is a fencing scene with Picard and Riker where it appears Riker is gunning for Picard or something. It adds an odd emotional component to what's going on and is bizarre in light of the fact an actual friend is at stake, so good cut there. Overall, the additions didn't make the episode feel too long, though the cuts they made were largely good ones. There was also an additional lines of dialogue in Louvois' summation, where she starts her speech with the now cut line "I don't know boys." It was a good cut.

The snippets of the cast reunion were awesome and sweet and funny and the blooper real was great since it had more than people cracking up at themselves, though there was plenty of that. According some review I read, the features include the Reading Rainbow episode where LeVar Burton goes on a backstage tour of the show. Like last season, as a longtime viewer, the most exciting part for me is the special features. Matt has already started reviewing the episodes themselves for the blog. I'm most excited for Contagion as between the Romulans and the Yamato, it should be a hoot.

The best part of the evening, hands down, is the promo for season 3 on Bluray. They were showing snippets of Yesterday's Enterprise and Best of Both Worlds, so that makes me think that will be the movie event, which AWESOME! The Borg cube looked much better and I cannot wait for a season in high definition that has a very high number of episodes I actually want to see again.

TNG Season 2 Recap

Introduction

Having survived an enjoyable but inconsistent Season One, TNG rockets back onto TV with a fresh spate of shows in the 1988-1989 season. Changes for this year include the loss of Gates McFadden as Doctor Crusher, replaced with TOS veteran Diana Mulduar as Dr. Katherine Pulaski. Geordi and Worf see full-time promotions to new posts. Riker grows a beard. Also new to the cast in a special guest starring capacity is Whoopi Goldberg as the wise bartender, Guinan, stationed in the new Ten Forward set. Do these changes bode well, or ill, or not really factor in to the quality level of the show this season?

Marina Sirtis is one short woman.

The Next Generation, Season 2: Shades of Gray

The Next Generation, Season 2

"Shades of Gray"

Airdate: July 17, 1989

47 of 176 produced

47 of 176 aired

Introduction

On a planetary survey, Commander Riker gets infected by the most insidious virus of all - the clipshow bug. In order to treat it, we must be subjected to a smattering of Riker's "memories," all of which happen to coincide neatly with previously filmed episodes, and none of which tell us anything new. Can he, and indeed can the show itself, survive this debacle?

"Do you think we can erase the memory of this episode from him?"

"Deanna, all the brain-bleach in my medical arsenal couldn't do that."

The Next Generation, Season 2: Peak Performance

The Next Generation, Season 2
"Peak Performance"
Airdate: July 10, 1989
46th of 176 produced
46th of 176 aired

Introduction

The Enterprise is assigned to war games in anticipation of the Borg threat. Commander Riker will command the antiquated USS Hathaway in simulated combat against the Enterprise. The games are being overseen by Zakdorn master strategist Sirna Kolrami. Kolrami is initially dismissive of Riker's ability to succeed in such a mismatched situation, much to the irritation of Picard and the crew. Kolrami is an expert in a game known as Strategema, and looking to see him taken down a peg, Dr. Pulaski maneuvers Kolrami into a game with Data, assuming Data cannot but win. To everyone's surprise, Kolrami handily defeats Data, causing him to believe something must be wrong with him. How will Riker fare against the far superior Enterprise? How will Data fare against his own self-doubt? What surprises wait for both ships in their game?

Kolrami begins the "jiggle yourself thin" diet with his fingertips. 

The Next Generation, Season 2: The Emissary

The Next Generation, Season 2

"The Emissary"

Airdate: June 29, 1989

45 of 176 produced

45 of 176 aired

Introduction

The Enterprise is called upon to travel to a remote sector in order to track a long-lost "sleeper ship." This ship contains Klingons from the war-torn past between the two great powers. How will they greet such a crew of throwbacks upon waking? A special emissary with intimate knowledge of Klingon affairs has been sent to rendezvous with the Enterprise. The plot thickens, however, when we discover that the emissary, K'Ehleyr, is Lieutenant Worf's long lost love...

"Your butt is mine. I'm going to tell you right." 

The Next Generation, Season 2: Manhunt

The Next Generation, Season 2
"Manhunt"
Airdate: June 19, 1989
44 of 176 produced
44 of 176 aired

Introduction

The Enterprise is set to ferry a pair of Antedean delegates to a peace conference on Pacifica, when Lwaxana Troi appears and informs the Enterprise is she is the Betazoid delegate to the same conference. But Lwaxana has another purpose in mind for asking the Enterprise to escort her to the conference. She is looking for a new husband, and has set her sights on Captain Picard. Will the crew of the Enterprise be able to handle this latest "threat"?

Would you like to join the Three Dolphin Club, Jean-Luc? Mr. Homm is in the other room...

The Next Generation, Season 2: Up The Long Ladder

The Next Generation, Season 2

"Up The Long Ladder"

Airdate: May 22, 1989

42 of 176 produced

42 of 176 aired

Introduction

The Enterprise is assigned to investigate a strange repeating signal from a distant sector of space. When it is revealed that the signal is typical of space vessels from the European Hegemony of Earth's 22nd century, and records show no vessels aimed at the Ficus sector, the mystery deepens. Who or what is behind the signal, and what condition will they be found in?

Brenna O'Dell tests Commander Riker (and the male audience) for homosexuality...

The Next Generation, Season 2: Samaritan Snare

The Next Generation, Season 2

"Samaritan Snare"

Airdate: May 15, 1989

42 of 176 produced

42 of 176 aired

Introduction

Wesley is on his way to retake his Starfleet entrance exams, and Captain Picard is going to accompany him by shuttle. He needs a medical procedure at the Starbase to replace his artificial heart, an operation he is not happy about. Meanwhile, the Enterprise received a distress signal from a Pakled ship, and they go to offer assitance. Are the Pakleds hiding something behind a simple, vulnerable veneer? (SPOILER ALERT: Yes.) Will there be complications with Captain Picard's procedure? (SPOILER ALERT: Yes.) Will those complications require the Enterprise's presence just when it is trapped dealing with the Pakleds' duplicity? (SPOILER ALERT: Yes.)

A better indicator of the excitement level of this episode, we may not find.

The Next Generation, Season 2: Q Who

The Next Generation, Season 2

"Q Who"

Airdate: April 24, 1989

41 of 176 produced

41 of 176 aired

Introduction

Upon Picard's rejection of Q's request to join the ship's crew as an adviser, a fit of pique leads Q to fling the Enterprise into deep, unexplored space. While there, the ship encounters a new menace, the Borg. This race behaves along lines inscrutable to a human society, leading Picard and crew to struggle both at understanding and escaping the Borg's relentless, acquisitive drive. Will they escape intact?

Hamster pose!

The Next Generation, Season 2: Pen Pals

The Next Generation, Season 2
"Pen Pals"
Airdate: May 1, 1989
40 of 176 produced
40 of 176 aired

Introduction

The Enterprise has been sent to the Selcundi Drema sector to explore why the planets in its five star systems seem to be tearing themselves apart. Worlds that held thriving ecosystems a few years ago have turned into volcanic wastelands. As part of his training aboard the Enterprise, Wesley is assigned to lead the team that will investigate the phenomenon. Complicating matters, Data has been in contact with a child from a pre-warp civilization on one of the threatened worlds. Captain Picard must now balance the demands of the Prime Directive against the little girl's cry for help.

Captain, I'm sensing unusually icky fingers. With my regular senses. Eew.

The Next Generation, Season 2: The Icarus Factor

The Next Generation, Season 2

"The Icarus Factor"

Airdate: April 24, 1989

39 of 176 produced

39 of 176 aired

Introduction

On a visit to Starbase Montgomery in order to investigate some "minor readout anomalies," the Enterprise also receives a shocking bit of news - Starfleet wants to promote Commander Riker to the captaincy of the Aries, taking him away from the Enterprise and the show. Delivering the news is an unexpected guest - Riker's estranged father. Will they bury the hatchet, and will Riker leave the ship for good in order to pursue his dreams?

"Yoroshiku onegaishimasu!"

The Next Generation, Season 2: Time Squared

The Next Generation, Season 2
"Time Squared"
Airdate: April 3, 1989
38 of 176 produced
38 of 176 aired

Introduction

While travelling to the Endicor system, the Enterprise makes a strange discovery: a lone Federation shuttlepod. There's no ship nearby that could have launched it. They bring it aboard, but the mystery only deepens. In every detail, it is an exact duplicate of one of their own shuttlepods, and on board is a duplicate Captain Picard. Despite Dr. Pulaski and Counselor Troi affirming that he is what he appears to be, but Captain Picard still thinks it impossible. An examination of the shuttle reveals that the shuttle is from six hours in the Enterprise's future, a future where Picard abandons the Enterprise to watch it be destroyed. As the Enterprise approaches the time the shuttle came from, will Picard be able to unravel this latest mystery?

"You know, I've always wished you could have been a taller man."

The Next Generation, Season 2: The Royale

The Next Generation, Season 2

"The Royale"

Airdate: March 27, 1989

37 of 176 produced

37 of 176 aired

Introduction

Following up upon a Klingon report of strange debris in orbit around Theta VII, the Enterprise investigates. When they discover that the debris is from an old Earth vessel from the 21st century, the crew decides to investigate a strange structure on the otherwise uninhabitable planet below. To their shock and surprise, a casino hotel welcomes them, apparently populated by stereotypical casino denizens from old Earth. What the devil is going on, and will Riker and his away team every be able to escape?

It appears to be a logo from a defunct organization that lost all relevance in the year 2011...

The Next Generation, Season 2: Contagion

The Next Generation, Season 2
"Contagion"
Airdate: March 20, 1989
36 of 176 produced
36 of 176 aired


Introduction

The Enterprise is rushing to the Neutral Zone to aid their ailing sister ship, the Yamato. The Yamato's captain has risked war with the Romulans to chase down rumors of an ancient but powerful civilization, the Iconians. The Enterprise arrives just in time to watch helplessly as the ship is destroyed by the mysterious malfunctions that stranded it in the Neutral Zone. A Romulan warbird shortly appears and demands an explanation for the Federation's presence. Captain Picard must now solve the mystery of the Iconians and prevent war with the Romulans before the malfunctions that destroyed the Yamato claim the Enterprise as well.

Data would have been a big hit in Ancient Greece...

The Next Generation, Season 2: The Dauphin

The Next Generation, Season 2

"The Dauphin"

Airdate: February 20, 1989

35 of 176 produced

35 of 176 aired

Introduction

Tasked with ferrying the future leader of Daled IV from her training world to her final destination, the Enterprise will be in a position to discover whether the honor of this young female will survive the most power force in the universe... the raging hormones of a teen-aged boy.  

Now, Wes, I know you're a little creeped out by allasomorphs. But once you get to window number 4, you should feel a lot better about things...

The Next Generation, Season 2: The Measure of a Man

The Next Generation, Season 2
"The Measure of a Man"
Airdate: February 13, 1989
34 of 176 produced
34 of 176 aired


Introduction

Arriving at newly-built Starbase 173, Admiral Nakamura drops a bombshell on Picard and crew - Data is to be reassigned to the command of cyberneticist Bruce Maddox, in order to be disassembled and replicated. This sets of a series of events involving Data's resignation, Starfleet's refusal, and the matter being settled via jurisprudence. Is Data the property of Starfleet, or does he have a soul, a life, and the right to self-determination?

Can I get a hand, here?

The Next Generation, Season 2: A Matter of Honor

The Next Generation, Season 2

"A Matter of Honor"

Airdate: February 6, 1989

33 of 176 produced

33 of 176 aired

Introduction

Commander Riker volunteers for the officer exchange program, resulting in a posting on the Klingon battlecruiser Pagh. Little does he know that this new assignment will put him on a metaphorical collision course with his the Enterprise, when the Enterprise seems to infect the Pagh with a space-borne microorganism that threatens to tear the ship apart. To which flag will Riker maintain his loyalty - and will anyone survive?

Shoot the curl, Number one. Gleam that cube!

The Next Generation, Season 2: Unnatural Selection

The Next Generation, Season 2
"Unnatural Selection"
Airdate: Jan. 30 1989
 32 of 176 produced
 32 of 176 aired


Introduction

The Enterprise receives a distress call from the USS Lantree, a nearby supply vessel. Upon arriving at the ship, they find that its entire crew, including its 30-something captain, dead of old age. Following the Lantree's path back to its last stop, a genetic research facility, they find the scientists there suffering from the same mysterious condition. Dr. Pulaski is torn between her duty to protect the Enterprise from harm and her duty to help people in need. How far will Dr. Pulaski go to satisfy both? And does the scientist's research hold the answer to this dangerous puzzle?

I wonder if Diana Mulduar ever gets annoyed when this shows up in her Google Image results...

The Next Generation, Season 2: The Schizoid Man

The Next Generation, Season 2

"The Schizoid Man"

Airdate: January 23, 1989

30 of 176 produced

31 of 176 aired

Introduction

Sent on a desperate mission to heal the ailing Dr. Ira Graves, the greatest living mind in the Federation, the crew of the Enterprise discovers him suffering in the final stages of Darnay's Disease, an incurable ailment. What they do not know is how close he is to achieving a breakthrough in the transfer of human consciousness into machines - and the nefarious designs he has on his unexpected guest... Data.

Dr. Selar probes Dr. Graves from behind... this must be what led to her being left out of every other TNG episode.

The Next Generation, Season 2: Loud as a Whisper

The Next Generation, Season 2
"Loud as a Whisper"
Airdate: January 9, 1989
31 of 176 aired
30 of 176 produced

Introduction

The Enterprise is tasked with ferrying a diplomat, Riva, to a war torn planet to negotiate the end of a centuries long war. Upon arriving at Riva's homeworld, they find that he is deaf and communicates via a chorus of three people with whom he shares a telepathic bond. Counselor Troi forms a bond with Riva on the way to their destination. Unfortunately, not all the attendants of the peace delegation want to see an end to the conflict, and Riva's chorus is killed before negotiations can even begin. Riva is mourning his friends and left with no way to communicate. Can the crew of the Enterpise help Riva and the peace mission?

"I am the goddess of empathy. Cast off your inhibitions, sit back, and be bored by this episode."