Star Trek The Next Generation - The Complete Second Season (1987) Review

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(More customer reviews)Season 2 of Star Trek: The Next Generation improves on the first series by introducing occasionally stronger character based shows and situations. While Tasha Yar is missed, and to a lesser extent Doctor Crusher, we're introduced to 2 new characters. Dr. Pulaski and Guinan. Personally I always enjoyed Pulaski shows, she was one of the only characters that brought a bit of conflict into the programme. There was never enough coming and going of new blood into the Star Trek series (either in front or behind the camera). Guinan (and the new location for her "Ten Forward" - a great setting for comedy/social moments) added more life and mystery into the show. It was a shame she wasn't able to appear in more episodes in the later parts of the series (she does have a cameo role in Star Trek Nemesis).
The episodes themselves were extremely varied. Due to the writer's strike, the season was cut short to 22 episodes rather than the full 26 ending with the appalling "bottle show", 'Shades of Grey' (Plot summary: Riker in a coma and Deanna "looking worried" while Pulaski puts copious L.E.Ds on his forehead). "The Royale" was also truly terrible. There were some storming episodes though, the best being "Q Who." This episode had everything: Q, the introduction of the Borg, Guinan, great special effects and a superb score by Ron Jones. Other great episodes were "Contagion" and "Time Squared"
This box set has everything you could wish for (that's why I'm giving it 5 stars): remastered picture and Dolby Digital sound, one hour of new interviews and documentaries, and some really awesome DVD menus. Although seasons 1 and 2 aren't the best you can't really miss these, they are great foundation episodes with the DVD box sets given the care and attention they deserve.
Episode list:
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

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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.

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The Best of Star Trek: The Next Generation Review

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(More customer reviews)"STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION", the series which is noted for its popularity and winning 18 Emmy Awards and the first syndicated television show to be nominated for an Emmy for Best Dramatic Series. Back in the late 80's and early 90's, I practically became a Trekker because of this series. The well-written storylines, awesome acting and most of all, hoping that this series can generate interest in encouraging further development of technology and possibly more research and development in the space program.
The series was shot entirely in 35mm film, among the first shows to be recorded in Dolby Surround and would feature four feature films with the characters from the series and also help pave the way for three more "STAR TREK" related series. The TV series was released on VHS and all episodes released on DVD and in 2006, "Fan Collective" DVD box sets containing ten episodes that were voted by fans revolving around the theme of the "Borg", "Time Travel", "Q" and "Klingon".
With the release of the latest "Star Trek" film, Paramount has released the Blu-ray edition of the "Star Trek: The Original Series - First Season" and the first six films. On DVD, Paramount has released "THE BEST OF STAR TREK" for "The Original Series" and "The Next Generation".
"THE BEST OF STAR TREK THE NEXT GENERATION" features a total of four episodes: THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS (PART I), THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS (PART II), YESTERDAY'S ENTERPRISE and THE MEASURE OF A MAN.
VIDEO & AUDIO:
The following four "STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION" episodes are featured in standard definition (4:3). Picture quality is what you would expect from a DVD but after seeing the recently released "STAR TREK: THE ORIGINAL SERIES SEASON 1' on High Definition, many people wonder if Paramount will give "STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION" the same type of treatment and digitally remaster each episode. With that being said, quality is satisfactory for a TV series on DVD, especially for a series that was shown on television nearly 20 years ago.
Audio is featured in English 5.1 and Spanish and Portuguese Mono. "STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION" was among the first TV series to adopt Dolby Surround, so the series sounds good for four episodes that were shown on television nearly 20 years ago. Again, I await the digital remastering of this series because I'm sure audio quality will definitely be revamped. "THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS", both episodes feature a lot of action and a very involving musical score which sounds very good on DVD. Overall, audio quality is clear and because the series is more dialogue-based and music based, the episodes are front channel heavy.
As for subtitles, the series is presented in English, Spanish and Portuguese.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
"THE BEST OF STAR TREK THE NEXT GENERATION" features no special features but trailers.
JUDGMENT CALL:
With the release of the latest Star Trek film in theaters, Paramount is making sure they are releasing a good number of Star Trek related films and TV series on Blu-ray but two DVD's that would showcase both "Star Trek" and "Star Trek: The Next Generation" on DVD with four episodes.
Personally, any "Best of" is subject for criticism by fans. I think with a series that ran for nine years, anyone could have their own opinion of what their top 3 would be. Personally, I think three of the four episodes selected were well chosen but again, anyone can have their own opinion on what episode was their favorite.
For those who have owned the box sets or the fan collections, personally, there is no reason for them to buy this DVD. Unless one is a hardcore completest or want to own a "Star Trek" DVD with a "Best Of" attached to the name, then go for it. I can tell you that when "THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS (PART 1)" was released on LaserDisc with two episodes, I was willing to pay nearly $35 way back then (both part 1 and part 2 were on two separate LD's back then). But I was such a big fan of ST:TNG that I even went as far as buying the original soundtrack for these two episodes.
So, for those who never owned the series, getting all four DVD's for a low price is quite cheap but spend a little more and you can possibly find the DVD season box sets pretty cheap these days. Overall, These four episodes are quite enjoyable but the DVD is quite barebones, it's a choice if these episodes are worth buying. Personally, for me, I'm still waiting for that digital remastered and digitally restored version of the "STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION" series.
But assuming you have not bought any of the ST:TNG DVD's, you can't go wrong with this DVD release, as you do get four solid and enjoyable episodes for a very low, low price!

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Set in the 24th century and decades after the adventures of the original crew of the starship Enterprise, this new series is the long-awaited successor to the original Star Trek (1966). Under the command of Captain Jean-Luc Picard, the all new Enterprise NCC 1701-D travels out to distant planets to seek out new life and to boldly go where no one has gone before.

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