Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

Star Trek: The Next Generation, Season 2 Blu-ray Movie Review

Resistance is futile. This Blu-ray will be assimilated into your collection.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman November 28, 2012

A new doctor named Pulaski, a gathering place bar called Ten Forward, a familiar face at barkeep, unstoppable hive-minded cybernetic villains from the furthest reaches of the galaxy, a fresh beard for the First Officer, and a few hands of poker provide a few interesting additions to season two of Star Trek: The Next Generation, but it's still the same wonderful show at its core despite some shakeups and new additions. In its second, writers' strike-shortened season, it's clear early on -- even from its bland debut episode -- that Star Trek: The Next Generation remains a show in search of its absolute identity, still ramping up to full stride, not quite yet having reached the excellence of the original series and still not exactly certain as to what its legacy would be. It introduced some changes -- most for the better, a few not -- to separate itself from season one, though like its predecessor it still doesn't evoke the sense of family and flawless television that would come in later seasons. It presents viewers with quite a few standout episodes amidst several forgettable outings and a few miserable efforts, including what is easily the worst season finale in Star Trek history. Nevertheless, season two sets the stage for the greatness to come in both the noble pursuit of exploring new worlds and civilizations and also in the need to find itself before lifting off into another dimension of television excellence and Star Trek greatness.

Boldly looking at the view screen.

Season two dabbles in many of the usual Star Trek elements, and often to good dramatic effect, high entertainment value, and strong canonical influence. The season studies Data's place on the ship, amidst the crew, in Starfleet, and his ability to advance beyond concept and discern the intricacies of reality, to grasp the fine nuances of humanity, and to separate the absorption of raw knowledge from the delicate and in many ways intimate and soulful implementation of it in practice. Whether through a hand of poker, deducing a mystery of which he has no foreknowledge of the result, standing on trial for his very essence as a sentient being, or losing a fast-paced hand-eye-mind coordination game to an organic being, the season carefully, methodically, and in many ways lovingly evolves the character from mystery and unique crew member to the Data who not only strives to be human, but understands what that actually means beyond the organic level. Season two also deals in classic Trek paradoxes, such as recreations of Earth's past in "The Royale" and experiencing a crisis in time in "Time Squared," but the series also pushes ahead towards its destiny, not only introducing a new, classic villain but bringing the characters closer together and showing the first signs not of mere chemistry, but of family.

Season two also sees the introduction and one-season run for Dr. Pulaski, a character in stark contrast to season one's and season three-seven's Dr. Crusher. She's older and a bit more stubborn and set in her ways but also a little more active beyond sick bay. The season loses the Wesley-Beverly Crusher son/mother dynamic and gains Pulaski's struggles with Data, including the pronunciation of his name and his place as a real, legitimate member of the crew and not a collection of circuits and artificial coverings, which ties back into the season's most intriguing arc. Pulaski lacks the dynamism of the other characters and never seems to fit in as well in season two as Crusher does in later seasons. Season two also brings into play the Ten Forward bar/lounge operated by the mysterious Guinan, the former of which serves as the ship's soul if the bridge is thought of as its heart and the engines its muscles, while the latter settles into something of a conscience for the crew. Guinan, then, may be seen as the typical bartender, but Actress Whoopi Goldberg brings a deeper authenticity to the part, making Guinan one-half mystery and another one-half gentle, almost motherly, figure. There's also the introduction of one of TNG's best mini recurring characters, the holographic Dr. Moriarty, who will return in season six's "Ship in a Bottle," one of the stronger of all of TNG's episodes. The season's mix of various bland plots is offset by about a dozen high-quality efforts that play out with smart stories, inventive crises, gripping tales of adventure, and moving stories that engender great character moments that will drive the series towards its peak. Sadly, the strike-shortened season ends with a dud of an episode that's comprised almost entirely of flashbacks, though it certainly, and thankfully, doesn't portend bad things to come. On the contrary, season three is where the series really begins to take off, moving on from interesting premise and advancing towards legendary television.

Season two highlight episodes include:

• "Where Silence Has Lease" The Enterprise encounters a "hole in space" that envelops the ship, and no matter how much the crew magnifies the viewer or attempts escape, they seem not to move even as the computer reads a great distance traveled. Strange readings and stranger encounters lead the crew to a startling realization as to their purpose in the void and who -- or what -- is keeping them there.
• "Elementary, Dear Data" The Enterprise is holding position, awaiting a rendezvous with the Victory. Geordi and Data spend the downtime recreating a Sherlock Holmes mystery on the holodeck. When Data solves the puzzle with ease -- he knows every Holmes tale like the back of his CPU -- the computer is reprogrammed to depict a villain to match Data's true powers as a classic sleuth. The consequences, of course, are anything but elementary.
• "Loud as a Whisper" The Enterprise is playing host to a peace conference between two warring factions. It's being mediated by a man named Riva, a "peacemaker" who introduced that word into the Klingon vocabulary. Riva is no ordinary intermediate, however. He can neither hear nor speak and communicates through a trio of individuals who serve as his "chorus," a group that conveys his thoughts and emotions, each with a specialty conveyance that reaches the heart, soul, and wisdom of the man who otherwise cannot communicate on his own.
• "The Schizoid Man" Ira Graves is one of the most brilliant minds in the universe. His assistant is signaling an urgent plea for medical aid. The Enterprise rushes to his home world. At the same time, the vessel receives an urgent distress call from a vessel in immediate need with over 2,000 souls aboard. An emergency away team is beamed to the surface while the Enterprise heads off to the catastrophe. On the surface, the away team discovers Graves in the final stages of a terminal disease. In his last hours, he takes a strong liking to Data, so strong it could forever alter both individuals at their most fundamental levels.
• "A Matter of Honor" The Enterprise is approaching Starbase 179. The ship has taken on a few new faces, including an ambitious and opinionated Benzite named Mendon. Meanwhile, word has it that an Enterprise officer will serve aboard a Klingon vessel as part of an intercultural exchange program. Riker gladly volunteers for the assignment and, before heading to the Bird of Prey, immerses himself in Klingon culture and cuisine. Mendon discovers a troubling matter on the Klingon vessel's hull that transfers to the Enterprise. On the Klingon ship, Riker works hard to prove himself amidst his new, demanding, and in many ways unpredictable crew mates.
• "The Measure of a Man" With the Enterprise docked, Picard runs into an old flame, now a Federation JAG officer, while Data is schooled in the nuances of poker. Picard is approached by Commander Bruce Maddox, a Starfleet science officer who has been given the go-ahead to disassemble Data for scientific research. Neither Picard nor Data agree with the proposed procedure, but the android is under Starfleet orders to leave the Enterprise and undergo deconstruction. When Data resigns his commission rather than submit to experimentation, he is declared Starfleet property and refused his dismissal. Picard challenges the ruling and agrees to argue against Data's proclaimed status as property in court. With a trial comes an unexpected twist: by law, the prosecution must be spearheaded by none other than Data's friend and the Enterprise's First Officer, Commander Riker.
• "Contagion" The Enterprise is headed to the Neutral Zone to rescue a malfunctioning Yamato, the Enterprise's sister ship. The Yamato's crew is perhaps on the verge of uncovering a major archaeological find on the mystical planet Iconia, but their mission comes to an abrupt end when she mysteriously explodes. The Enterrpirse assumes the Yamato's mission, even if it will take them onto the Romulan side of the Neutral Zone. Such a move could spark a war or, on the other hand, prevent one. However, the closer the Enterprise gets to its destination, the more she experiences ship-wide malfunctions that could lead her to a fate similar to that suffered by the Yamato.
• "The Royale" The Enterprise is investigating debris in the upper atmosphere of the eighth planet of an unmapped solar system. A piece is beamed aboard for analysis, and a startling discovery is made: it contains NASA markings. An away team consisting of Riker, Worf, and Data beams down to the surface and finds itself in a void, save for a revolving door directly ahead. Inside, they discover an old style 20th century Earth casino, a classic mystery, and little chance of escape.
• "Time Squared" Riker's tasty egg breakfast is interrupted by an emergency signal coming from a Federation shuttle craft. Sensors indicate one life form aboard. It's without power and far from any other vessels in the vicinity. The shuttle is brought aboard with the Enterprise's tractor beam. It bears markings of an Enterprise shuttle craft, the same it now sits beside in the shuttle bay. Inside is Captain Picard -- another Captain Picard -- presumably from another place or, more likely, time. Indeed, when Data and Geordi finally restore power to the shuttle, they discover it's from six hours in the future, widening an already intense mystery that they soon learn ends in unspeakable tragedy.
• "Q Who?" Picard is visited by an old friend: Q. The Captain is whisked into a shuttlecraft and separated from the Enterprise. Back on the ship, Guinan suspects foul play, as does Troi. Soon, the crew discovers the captain missing and a shuttlecraft gone. Q returns Picard to the Enterprise where they further discuss the powerful alien's purpose: he desires to become a part of the crew after his exile from the continuum. To show his potential value to the ship and demonstrate the crew's arrogance in its belief that it's prepared for any unforeseen encounter, Q hurtles the Enterprise deep into the furthest reaches of unexplored space where the ship encounters a unique and seemingly unbeatable new enemy for which they most certainly are not prepared.
• "Peak Performance" The Enterprise is set to partake in a war games exercise. Joining the crew is a "master strategist" named Sirma Kolrami, an arrogant member of a species with a reputation for master strategy that, as a result, has long lived in relative peace. Neither Picard nor Riker are thrilled with the prospects, but the officers agree to face one another in a highly realistic simulation that will pit Picard and the Enterprise against Riker and an outclassed older vessel, the Hathaway. Kolrami also happens to be a grand master at a fast-paced game known as "Strategema." He handily defeats Riker but finds a greater challenge in Commander Data.

Star Trek: The Next Generation, Season 2 Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Star Trek: The Next Generation, Season Two arrives on Blu-ray with a fairly consistent and highly impressive high definition transfer. The image is presented in the series' broadcast 4x3 aspect ratio; "black bars" necessarily frame the image on either side of the 1.78:1 high definition display. Certainly, this isn't the perfect image. There are very unobtrusive and very infrequent but nevertheless noticeable white speckles throughout the season. Characters and objects appearing in front of effects shots -- such as windows showing a star field or the ship at warp speed -- go fairly soft and lack the pinpoint detail seen elsewhere. Blacks can also go a hair pale, whether uniform bottoms or shadowy backdrops. Additionally, the visible grain field often fluctuates from quite heavy to practically invisible. Yet despite all of these rather minor flaws and inconsistencies, the image on the whole dazzles. Details are so impressive at times that makeup streaks are visible and minor flaws or the crudeness of set construction down in corners or seams appears clearly evident. The flip side is breathtaking facial details, whether Picard's winkles, Riker's beard, or Data and Worf's detailed makeup work. Uniform textures are stunningly intricate in close-up shots, as are other costume pieces such as Wesley's sweater. Exterior Enterprise shots reveal tremendous details across the entire vessel. Colors are also quite strong. They're not brilliant but rather stable to just a tad bit dark. Red uniforms in particular appear a little dim, but the mustard crew and science blue uniforms look fantastic. The bridge's tan colored furnishings and wooden fixings are true, while the darkened recesses of space impress. Flesh tones are excellent across a dynamic range defined by natural variations and makeup both. This is a very appealing image, not quite perfect but certainly a revelation that's worthy of the show, of Blu-ray, and the restorative effort.

Star Trek: The Next Generation, Season 2 Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Star Trek: The Next Generation, Season Two warps onto Blu-ray with a precise and absorbing DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 lossless soundtrack. Even if it's not the representative pinnacle of the absolute best in recorded and engineered sound clarity, the pure sense of immersion, series authenticity, and improvement over the television and DVD soundtracks listeners have grown accustomed to hearing over the years make this a standout presentation and quite the achievement of high definition sound listening. The track proves faithful to the source while amplifying various effects with heightened clarity and spatial presence. This soundtrack takes full and natural advantage of the entire stage, including the extended rear channels. Music plays richly and fully, whether score in-program or the main title sequence that's big, beautifully accurate, and accentuated by sounds of the Enterprise hurtling from one speaker to the next. Much of the track is defined by the constant hum of the Enterprise engines that add critical ambience to the presentation. What was before merely an underlying element beneath dialogue is now a full, very much real and mood-critical sound effect that becomes the environment, not merely a detached piece of it. Likewise, various beeps and bloops across the bridge, the heavy whir of the warp core in engineering, transporter and phaser effects, and other series-specific sound elements enjoy an uptick in accuracy, placement, and clarity. Additional but minor elements such as the din of the Royale casino or light chatter throughout Ten Forward put the finishing sonic touches on various scenes. Some of the more intensive low end elements play deeply and naturally and never too rattly or forced. Dialogue enjoys natural presence and constant intelligibility, never lost under surrounding elements. This is a first-rate soundtrack that should greatly satisfy fans who have never heard Star Trek sound this good.

Star Trek: The Next Generation, Season 2 Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Star Trek: The Next Generation's second season Blu-ray release contains various supplements across all five discs. All episodes contain "episodic promos" accessible from each episode's own sub-menu.

Disc One:

• 1998 On-Air Season Two Promo (SD, 1:08): A short season two teaser.
• Energized! Season Two Tech Update (HD, 7:56): Dan Curry and Michael and Denise Okuda speak on the changes between season one and two as well as the process of bringing season two to high definition. Specifics include the bridge set moving to a different stage, crafting the visual effects, recreating matte paintings for high definition, the importance of remaining pure to the original artistic vision, and the new artists' "dedication to excellence."
• 1988 Reading Rainbow Segment with LeVar Burton (SD, 17:03): Burton offers a knowledgeable and sincere introduction to a Star Trek-themed episode of his children's show.
• 2012 Reading Rainbow iTunes Promo (HD, 1:36): Burton shows off the new Reading Rainbow app.
• Archival Mission Log: Departmental Briefing Year Two: Production (SD, 17:32): A vintage supplement that examines The Borg, Borg cube miniature construction, the process of laying out the season stories and character arcs, costumes, Klingon food, score and the importance of keeping it stylistically separate from sound effects, and Gene Roddenberry's vision.

Disc Two:

• "The Measure of a Man" HD Extended Version (HD, 57:35): This is Editor Robert Lederman's extended cut of the powerhouse human interest courtroom drama episode that includes thirteen minutes of new material. The material was discovered in and sourced from Writer Melinda Snodgrass' private VHS tape collection. The new material was reconstructed in high definition with the VHS tape serving as a guide for this finished product.
• "The Measure of a Man" Hybrid Extended Version (HD/SD, 55:50): A version of the episode that intermixes broadcast footage, presented here in high definition, and the rough VHS footage appearing in standard definition. The new scenes include raw dialogue, no music, no sound effects, and no post-production support.
• Audio Commentary: Melinda Snodgrass and Michael and Denise Okuda discuss the extended (HD) version of "The Measure of a Man."

Disc Three:

• Gag Reel (HD, 10:30).
• Archival Mission Logs: Inside Starfleet Archives: Penny Juday Star Trek Coordinator (SD, 17:33): Juday speaks on her role of Star Trek archivist, her work for Star Trek Magazine, and working on Star Trek: Nemesis. The main highlight follows Juday as she takes viewers on a tour of the archives and reveals some secrets of how props and miniatures are made.
• Archival Mission Logs: Selected Crew Analysis Year Two (SD, 13:46): Patrick Stewart speaks extensively on his character, role in the series, and comfort in the part. Also included: LeVar Burton on his character; Gene Roddenberry on Riker, Wesley Crusher, and Troi; Rick Berman on Riker; Wil Wheaton on Wesley Crusher; Marina Sirtis on her place in the series and make-believe pregnancy in "The Child;" Diana Muldaur on her character; and Peter Lauritson on Diana Muldaur and the role of poker in the season and series.

Disc Four:

• Audio Commentary: Dan Curry, Rob Bowman, and Mike & Denise Okuda speak on "Q Who?"
• Archival Mission Log: Departmental Analysis Year Two: Memorable Missions (SD, 16:33): Cast and crew discuss the season's highlight episodes, including "Loud as a Whisper," "The Icarus Factor," "Up the Long Ladder," "The Dauphin," "Elementary, Dear Data," "Manhunt," and "The Measure of a Man."

Disc Five:

• Reunification: 25 Years After Star Trek: The Next Generation (HD, 1:01:53): This TNG cast reunion features all of the primary cast members -- Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, Brent Spiner, LeVar Burton, Marina Sirtis, Michael Dorn, Gates McFadden, and Wil Wheaton -- sharing memories, having a blast, and oftentimes humorously reminiscing on their time together as the fictitious crew of the Enterprise.
• Make it So: Continuing Star Trek: The Next Generation, Part 1: Strange New Worlds (HD, 39:28): Cast, crew, and those within the Star Trek universe recall season one's success, that season's highs and lows, the trepidation going into the new series and the similarities and differences between the old show and TNG, fan reaction, Worf's role in season one and the Klingon arc, the Ferengi's appearance in season one, Yar's death and what it meant for the series, cast camaraderie and the strengths of the performances meshed with the quality of the scripts, the writers' strike that began near the end of season one and using old Star Trek: Phase II scripts for season two, Melinda Snodgrass' contributions to the season, Rob Bowman's direction, the introduction of the Borg, and the season two finale.
• Make it So: Continuing Star Trek: The Next Generation, Part 2: New Life and New Civilizations (HD, 42:01): This supplement features cast and crew speaking on Gates McFadden's departure; Diana Muldaur's arrival, character, and performance; Gene Roddenberry's philosophy for the Star Trek universe; Whoopi Goldberg's role; John de Lancie's appearances; primary cast performances; life on the set; the presence of Script Supervisor Cosmo Genovese; budget and visual effects; sets; and more.
• Archival Mission Log: Mission Overview Year Two (SD, 14:43): A look at Diana Muldaur's work, Whoopi Goldberg's character, building the Ten Forward set, Gene Roddenberry's vision of the future, and the show's success.

Star Trek: The Next Generation, Season 2 Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Star Trek: The Next Generation might sometimes stumble through its second season with a rather uneven grouping of episodes, but the season is more than the sum of its good-medicore-bad episode ratio. The better episodes are so good that they more than offset the forgettable and bad ones, and the various arcs and characters and character studies introduced within the season make it, arguably, a more substantial and substantive collection than season one. Season two sees TNG about to really take off at warp speed, but it certainly doesn't just idle before making the jump. Star Trek: The Next Generation is great television that only gets better as it goes along; season one and, more so, season two, is the foundation on which the rest will be built. Paramount/CBS' Blu-ray release of Star Trek: The Next Generation's second season features excellent video and audio. A healthy collection of extras is included. This release earns my highest recommendation.