Star Trek The Next Generation - The Complete Second Season

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

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.

Customer Reviews:

Good series to own.......2007-07-29

It is great to see how the characters develop from the first season. Dr. Polaski's character is good for the series(Whoopi too!). Did you know that she actually featured in the Original Series? There are some interviews in the last disc and you can actually see how she looked eons ago. I recommend this series.

A step up.......2007-07-27

While season one of The Next Generation was merely average, season two sees the show really coming together. The stories are, for the most part, an improvement--much less stiff and stilted. The cast seems to be more comfortable with their characters, as well.

There are several notable episodes. Elementary, Dear Data; The Measure of a Man; Time Squared; and Q Who which introduced the Borg are personal favorites.

All in all, this is a good season, laying the groundwork for the great seasons that would follow.

Perfect Gift.......2007-06-12

I bought this as a birthday gift for my husband. It the was perfect gift for a Star Trek TNG fan. He can barely contain himself from watching the whole season straight through.

Worth the watch........2007-05-23

I have been a Trekkie most of my life, but I had to say that I was somewhat disappointed with the first TNG season. It seemed too slow, almost tedious at times. It almost suprises me that there was a second season, but I'm glad that there was. The second season is a definate improvement. I have nothing against Dr. Crusher, but I do like Dr. Pulaski much better. Another thing in its favour is the character developments in the second season. I like getting to know the characters better and seeing what they do with their lives, rather than just the wonders the ship has to offer. Probably the best episodes in this season, in my humble opinion, were Manhunt, Elementary, Dear Data, The Child, and Up the Long Ladder. Definately worth the watch.

Buy it for Dr. Pulaski!.......2007-04-08

Although later seasons had more really good episodes and saw more development in the core characters, this season is worth buying just for the stellar performance of Diana Muldaur as Dr. Pulaski. We never liked the character of Dr. Crusher, who was weak at best, and were greatly disappointed when she returned to replace the far superior Dr. Pulaski. My families' favorite episodes were the one with Lor, Data's brother, and the one where Pulaski operates on Captain Picard, which did a great deal to develop the characters of Picard and Wesley Crusher as well as the good doctor. We give it 4 stars for Diana Muldaur's sake.

DVD:

DVD

DVD