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[Star Trek TNG] Finished rewatching season two. Brief thoughts within on each episode!
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The Child: What a bizarre note to begin the season on. Not a fan of the ~mystical pregnancy~ plot at all.
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Despite my misgivings about the plot, it's nonetheless immediately obvious how much better the show is now.
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Wesley's running around in a uniform instead of that ridiculous sweater. Geordi and Worf are finally in their proper roles.
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But more significantly the script just feels tighter, the characters more distinct, the conflicts better defined.
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Hell, this episode is basically a rehash of Where No One Has Gone Before from the first season, with an added sexist twist, and it STILL comes out as vastly superior to the original
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Where Silence Has Lease: Not exactly a standout episode. Didn't really do enough with having the crew be subjected to scientific experimentation by a truly alien mind. It was just sort of there.
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Elementary, My Dear Data: The first truly good holodeck episodes.
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It's a little questionable that Data would be such a technical marvel if you could get consciousness from any given holodeck with a badly-worded instruction, but we'll just ignore that.
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Daniel Davis puts in a fantastic performance as Moriarty, and manages to hit both the necessary notes:
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the amiable megalomaniac and the humbled entity enlightened enough to understand his own limitations
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The Outrageous Okona: The Data subplot in this one doesn't really work, which is too bad because the main plot is hilarious.
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Except for the really awkward flirting between Okona and the transporter chief.
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Highlight of the episode: definitely the look on everyone's face when the other ships lock LASERS on them
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Loud as a Whisper: My first thought, of course, was oh god it's a Troi episode
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Troi only really functions as a secondary character, in part because her role on the ship is so poorly defined.
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Episodes centered around her which do not also feature her mother are almost always cringeworthy.
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And so was this one, although some of the non-Troi parts were quite nice.
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The Schizoid Man: An unfortunately-named episode in which in old man steals Data's body so that he can bang his underaged assistant.
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Definitely not a favorite, despite Brent Spiner's inspired performance.
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TNG edit 33 - "apologies, mister Worf"
at least it gave Andrew Hussie some great footage to work with
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The thing I've noticed about TNG is that the acting is way better than the writing or directing, for the most part
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Especially early on
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Nowhere is that more clear than in the figure of Wesley Crusher.
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Wil Wheaton does a consistently great job with consistently weak material.
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Unnatural Selection: I know my understanding of Star Trek history is fuzzy but wasn't there something about genetically modified supersoldiers in there that should have come up this episode?
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Anyway it's a damn good episode.
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Pulaski is great. She's always great. I love Pulaski.
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A Matter of Honor: Another great episode. Riker finally displays some personality beyond 'smug jerk'.
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The Measure of a Man: THIS EPISODE IS SO GOOD
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Measure of a Man
SO GOOD
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The only quibble I have about it is WHY IS NEITHER SIDE CALLING TROI TO TESTIFY
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Who could possibly be better qualified
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The Dauphin: The Anya subplot just kinds of spins its wheels and doesn't go anywhere, but the little love story with Wesley and whatshername is actually kind of genuinely cute.
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Like okay, granted, it kind of suffers from you just met yesterday chill out but it's not like that's anything new
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The best part is unquestionably Wesley getting romantic advice for everyone else.
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Contagion: A really good episode somewhat marred by it taking all episode for the crew of the Enterprise to think to try the most basic computer virus-clearing technique of all time.
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The Royale: I like this one a fair amount, although the middle act sort of drags out interminably.
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Time Squared: Wow this episode just doesn't work.
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THe whole crew just immediately jumps to the conclusion that picking up the other Picard means they have to go to where the Enterprise was destroyed because it means they're locked into a sequence of events
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but they CAN try to avoid that same sequence of events once they're there?
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That scene with Picard following himself around and then ultimately shooting himself was pretty strong but the rest just doesn't make sense
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The Icarus Factor: A really good character piece, fleshing out Riker yet again. My only objection is that the SUPER FUTURE ASIAN SPORT thing is goofy as hell
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Pen Pals: OH BOY A PRIME DIRECTIVE EPISODE WHAT COULD GO WRONG
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To be fair this is a much more nuanced take on the topic than season one's attempts at it
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And there's less horseshit legal sophistry going on
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BUT LIKE HERE'S THE THING
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In this episode Data communicating with a pre-spaceflight species is a nono
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but in season one Picard was perfectly happy to have his crew frolic with the inhabitants of The Planet of the Nubile Sex Fiends, and probably leave a few interstellar babies behind.
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It also begins the unfortunate trend of discussing the Prime Directive in nigh-religious terms.
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THE PRIME DIRECTIVE IS FAT AND DESTINY no fuck off, the Prime Directive is a rule saying don't be a colonialist even with good intentions
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If you let the planet explode due to a natural disaster there won't BE a civilization, HOW IS THIS EVEN A QUESTION
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god the Prime Directive gets me SO heated
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Q Who: If Measure of a Man isn't the best episode of the season, it's most definitely this one.
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A little unsure about the logistics of baby borg drones, mind you.
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but John de Lancie puts in a stellar performance as Q and the directing and writing is top-notch.
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THat moment when Picard actually does have to beg Q for help
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Which for some reason isn't on YouTube.
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BUT IT'S REALLY GOOD
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Samaritan Snare: Good up until they try to go all Death Note at the end and it just gets bizarre.
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Up the Long Ladder: Well. There's a lot wrong with this episode.
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First, Riker banging the mayor's daughter was totally pointless, especially since a few episodes later he's saying he's currently in a relationship with Troi?
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And the ending is a biiiit gross.
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THREE WIVES FOR EVERYONE (well, to be fair, also THREE HUSBANDS FOR EVERYBODY, but)
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The bigger problem is that the whole Maripose side of the plot only makes sense if you assume that being opposed to being cloned is inherent and normal.
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Like okay, Riker and Picard and Pulaski don';t want to be cloned. Okay.
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But of the THOUSAND PEOPLE who make up the Enterprise's crew, you don't think you could find a few who would be willing?
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And even if not, that the Enterprise couldn't just go back to the Federation and find some volunteers?
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Also it's kind of fucked up of Riker to destroy the clones, like they looked fully adult in those tubes
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Manhunt, on the other hand, is WONDERFUL
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just hysterically funny start to finish LWAXANA TROI IS THE BEST CHARACTER
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The Emissary is another really good episode. It deals with romance among the aliens with a lot more depth and nuance than Star Trek is usually capable of.
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Peak Performance is a fun little romp, although the Federation strategist felt a little like too much of a cardboard cutout in the shape of a jerk.
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Shades of Grey: is a clipshow episode where the clips don't mean anything out of context, the framing device is pretty much exactly the same thing every time, and which accomplishes nothing. BOOOO.
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More general thoughts:
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Pulaski is the best. I'm so sad she was only there for one season.
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I mean, I love Beverly, too. But Pulaski. :x
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Guinan is a fine character but her position in the show robs Troi of even more purpose.
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Picard was already stealing a whole bunch of conversations that she, as ship's counselor, really should be the one having.
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Now Guinan is basically taking the rest.
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OH I FORGOT THE SAMARITAN SNARE WAS THE ONE WITH PICARD AND WESLEY IN THE SHUTTLE
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that was a great one.
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Speaking of Wesley, I think it's really great how Geordie has sort of taken him under his wing
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This season was blessedly short on dumb sweaters and SUPER SPECIAL GENIUS CHILD narratives