STAR TREK - THE NEXT GENERATION SEASON 2(1988-1989)
SPACE, THE FINAL FRONTIER! THESE ARE THE VOYAGES
OF THE STARSHIP: ENTERPRISE! IT'S CONTINUING MISSION:
TO EXPLORE STRANGE NEW WORLDS, TO SEEK OUT NEW
LIFE AND NEW CIVILIZATIONS, TO BOLDLY GO WHERE NO
ONE HAS GONE BEFORE!!
The second season of this series, with almost the entire
cast from season 1 returning!! The only exceptions are
Lt. Tasha Yar(Denise Crosby), who wanted out of her role
and was killed off, and Dr. Beverly Crusher(Gates McFadden)
which I have no idea why she wasn't in this season!! Supposedly
she got promoted to the Head of Starfleet Medical!! Replacing
her is Dr. Katherine Pulaski(Diana Muldaur), who does a good
job, but doesn't have the same report with Captain Picard
that Beverly did!!
A new addition to the "crew" is Guinan(Whoopi Goldberg),
who is a "bartender", and a kind ear to bend!! And two
promotions on board the Enterprise: Lt. Geordi La Forge
(LaVar Burton) is promoted to Chief Engineer, and Miles
O'Brien(Colm Meaney) is promoted to Transporter Chief!!
EPISODE 1: THE CHILD(Nov. 19, 1988):
The first two things that happen early on is that the Enterprise
picks up a new doctor(Dr. Katherine Pulaski), and Geordi La Forge
gets promoted to Chief Engineer!!
The next thing happening is that there's an entity that comes
aboard the ship, and it impregnates Deana Troi!! She gets
fat, FAST!! Has the baby, FAST!! It grows up, FAST!!! And, well,
you get the idea!! This was probably the weakest show of the
entire season, and maybe the entire run of the series!!
This first aired season 2 episode has, in order of appearance:
Commander Riker, Lt. Worf, Ensign Crusher, Lt. La Forge, Captain
Picard, Counselor Troi, Guinan, Dr. Pulaski & Transporter Chief
Miles O'Brien!! B-
EPISODE 2: WHERE SILENCE HAS LEASE(Nov. 26, 1988):
While researching a "hole in space", the Enterprise gets
enveloped by it!!!
This episode has, in order of appearance: Counselor Troi,
Captain Picard, Commander Riker, Lt. Worf, Commander
Data, Wesley Crusher, Dr Pulaski, Lt. La Forge & Chief O'Brien!! A
EPISODE 3: ELEMENTARY, DEAR DATA(Dec. 3, 1988):
While waiting for another ship to rendezvous with them,
the Enterprise's crew have a little time to kill, so Commander
Data, Dr. Pulaski & Lt. La Forge go for a fun time in one of
the holodecks!! Data takes on the role of Sherlock Holmes,
with the other two as supporting characters in a mystery
that surrounds the great villain, Moriarty!!
This is an excellent episode!!
This episode has, in order of appearance: Lt. Commander
Data, Lt. La Forge, Dr. Pulaski, Lt. Worf, Commander
Riker, Captain Picard & Counselor Troi!! A+
EPISODE 4: THE OUTRAGEOUS OKONA(Dec. 10, 1988):
The Enterprise encounters a ship that's having trouble
and they offer to help!! Meanwhile, the dude who's the captain
beams aboard, and suddenly Data is desperate to understand
humor!!
This is a lot of fun!!!
This episode has, in order of appearance: Lt. Worf,
Lt. Commander Data, Commander Riker, Captain Picard,
Counselor Troi, Ensign Crusher & Guinan!!
Guest starring in this is Joe Piscopo(Saturday Night Live)!! A
EPISODE 5: LOUD AS A WHISPER(Jan. 7, 1989):
To help a couple of planets who have been warring for
many years find peace, the Enterprise and its crew are
to escort a deaf/mute to a peace treaty for him to help
mediate it!! To help him communicate he has a "chorus"
that speaks for him! This gets rather cumbersome at best,
downright irritating at worst!! However, as bad as things
are, they go from bad to worse!!
This episode has, in order of appearance: Commander Riker,
Ensign Crusher, Captain Picard, Lt. Worf, Counselor Troi,
Lt. Commander Data, Lt. La Forge & Dr. Pulaski!! (Seen
but not heard is Transporter Chief O'Brien)!! A-
EPISODE 6: THE SCHIZOID MAN(Jan. 21, 1989):
This is about a famed doctor who is ill and his companion has
sent out a distress signal for help!! It turns out that he is
an offshoot kinda relative to Data, as he had been a teacher
to Data's creator, Dr. Soong!! And it turns out that he's very
sick indeed, and doesn't have long to live!!
This episode has, in order of appearance: Captain Picard,
Lt Worf, Commander Riker, Ensign Crusher, Dr. Pulaski,
Lt. Commander Data, Counselor Troi, Lt La Forge & Chief
O'Brien!! A
EPISODE 7: UNNATURAL SELECTION(Jan. 28, 1989):
Another throwback to the Original Series!! The Enterprise
gets a distress signal from another ship, the Landree!!
When they get there, the whole ship's compliment has
died from old age(sound familiar??)!! The ship then
proceeds to a planet where they are doing testing in
genetics, and they are also suffering from the same
ailment!!
This episode has, in order of appearance: Captain Picard,
Counselor Troi, Commander Riker, Lt. Commander Data,
Ensign Crusher, Lt. La Forge, Lt. Worf & Chief O'Brien!! A-
EPISODE 8: A MATTER OF HONOR(Feb. 4, 1989):
The Enterprise gets an exchange officer in a new program
of the Federation, as well as the Klingons and others!! In
turn, Commander Riker goes aboard a Klingon ship in the
same program!! The results are very interesting!!
This episode has, in order of appearance: Lt. Commander
Data, Commander Riker, Ensign Crusher, Captain Picard,
Lt. Worf, Dr. Pulaski & Chief O'Brien!! A
EPISODE 9: THE MEASURE OF A MAN(Feb. 11, 1989):
A pompus and vengeful commander is out after Data, literally!!
He wants to dis-assemble him to see how he ticks so he can
make more androids like him!! Several problems here, he can't
guarantee that he'll be able to re-assemble Data, he can't
guarantee that even doing this will do him any good, and
Data doesn't want it done!! This all spirals out of control
until it ends up in court!!
Starring, in order of appearance, Chief O'Brien, Lt. Commander
Data, Commander Riker, Lt. La Forge, Dr. Pulaski, Captain
Picard, Ensign Crusher, Lt. Worf & Guinan(Seen but not heard
is Counselor Troi)!! A
EPISODE 10: THE DAUPHIN(Feb. 18, 1989):
A young lady who has been on a planet for 16 years preparing
for the time when she would return to her planet and take over
as the ruler there is ready to do her duty!! The Enterprise is
entrusted with her transport, and the crew has many concerns
about her and her "governess"! And Wesley is very attracted
to her!! At the end of it all, it makes complete sense!!
This episode has, in order of appearance: Lt. Commander Data,
Commander Riker, Lt. La Forge, Captain Picard, Ensign Crusher,
Counselor Troi, Lt. Worf, Guinan, Dr. Pulaski & Chief O'Brieni!! A
EPISODE 11: CONTAGION(Mar. 18, 1989):
Ok, back to the original series ideas!! Remember the episodes
where the three main characters where on the planet that was
orbiting a sun that was going super nova and they all went through
a gateway that lead to various times in the planets history, and
the one where the Enterprise encroaches on the neutral zone
and the Romulans come to find out why they are there and
are threatening to destroy them? Welp, this is those episodes
put together into one!! The sister ship of the Enterprise has
gone into the neutral zone to do some investigating of a
planet that's long been famed for incredible technology,
gets into trouble and sends for the Enterprise for help!
This episode has, in order of appearance: Captain Picard,
Ensign Crusher, Lt. Commander Data, Commander Riker,
Lt. Worf, Counselor Troi, Lt. la Forge, Dr. Pulask & Chief O'Brieni!! A
EPISODE 12: THE ROYALE(Mar. 25, 1989):
The name "Royale" is for a casino that's on an uninhabitable
planet!! An away team goes down to the planet after finding
debris from an ancient(20th century) ship orbiting around the
planet!
This is generally thought of as very weak entry in the series,
but I really enjoyed it!!
This episode has, in order of appearance: Lt. La Forge,
Commander Riker, Captain Picard, Lt. Commander Data,
Counselor Troi, Ensign Crusher, Chief O'Brien, Lt. Worf & Dr.
Pulaski!! A
EPISODE 13: TIME SQUARED(Apr. 1, 1989):
The Enterprise encounters a shuttle craft floating out in
space!! This shuttle turns out to be from the Enterprise!!
And on top of that, it has a non-responsive Captain Picard
on board!!! Very confusing!! And not one of the best!!
This episode has, in order of appearance: Commander Riker,
Dr. Pulaski, Lt. Commander Data, Lt. Worf, Lt. La Forge,
Captain Picard & Counselor Troi!! B+
EPISODE 14: THE ICARUS FACTOR(Apr. 22, 1989):
A couple of story lines going on here: The main one is that
William Riker has been selected to captain his own ship; and
secondly, Worf is acting quite irregular, even for him!! It would
seem an easy decision for Wil, but it's not as easy as you would
think!! And compounding this issue is that Wil is now face to face
with his estranged father, whom he hasn't seen since his mother
passed away!!
This episode has, in order of appearance: Captain Picard, Lt.
La Forge, Lt. Commander Data, Commander Riker, Ensign
Crusher, Lt. Worf, Chief O'Brien, Dr. Pulaski & Counselor Troi!!
Guest starring in this is Mitchell Ryan(one of those faces
that you know you should know, but aren't sure why!! He
was on the original Dark Shadows, Kenny Rogers as the
Gambler 2: The Adventure Continues, North And South,
Lethal Weapon and Dharma & Greg)! Also guesting
here in a very short role is John Tesh(Composer,
Entertainment Tonight)! A
EPISODE 15: PEN PALS(Apr. 29, 1989):
The Enterprise is in orbit around a planet whose entire
solar system is in the process of destroying all of the
planets in it!!! Problem: there's life on some of these planets,
and on the one that the Enterprise is orbiting, one particular
little girl is in contact with one particular Lt. Commander
and he desperately wants to help her, but the prime directive
says no!! A very good episode!!!
This episode has, in order of appearance: Lt. Commander Data,
Commander Riker, Lt. Worf, Captain Picard, Counselor Troi,
Dr. Pulaski, Lt. La Forge, Ensign Crusher & Chief O'Brien!! A+
EPISODE 16: Q WHO(May 6, 1989):
Q kidnaps Picard and wants to cut a deal!! He wants to
become a member of the Enterprise, and denounce all
of his powers!! Picard and crew summarily dismiss him
and his idea, and he throws a temper tantrum and sends
the Enterprise light years away from where they were,
and there they have their first contact with the Borg!!
My grade, surprisingly, isn't because Q is here!! It's for
the Borg!! Which I detest!!!
This episode has, in order of appearance: Lt. La Forge,
Captain Picard, Q, Guinan, Commander Riker, Counselor
Troi, Lt. Worf, Ensign Crusher, Lt. Commander Data &
Chief O'Brien!! D
EPISODE 17: SAMARITAN SQUARE(May 13, 1989):
Ensign Crusher is headed to a Star Base to take some exams,
and Captain Picard is with him for reasons unknown! Meanwhile,
the Enterprise heads her own way onto the next assignment, when
they encounter a ship in distress! This ship appears to be manned
by people incredibly slow, or perhaps having problems with
communicating with the crew of the Enterprise!
This episode has, in order of appearance: Commander Riker,
Ensign Crusher, Lt. Commander Data, Captain Picard, Dr. Pulaski,
Lt. La Forge, Lt. Worf & Counselor Troi!! A-
EPISODE 18: UP THE LONG LADDER(May 20, 1989):
A distress signal is received by Starfleet and the Enterprise
goes out to find out what's up!! Turns out a group of space
farers migrated from Earth in the late 2100s and the signal
is from that group!! Also turns out that there were actually
two factions that migrated, and one of them ended up on
another planet not far from the first group!! And both groups
are having problems of their own!!
This episode has, in order of appearance: Lt. Worf,
Captain Picard, Commander Riker, Lt. Commander Data,
Dr. Pulaski, Counselor Troi & Chief O'Brien!!(Conspicuously
missing in this episode are both Lt. La Forge & Ensign
Crusher!! No explanation on why!) A-
EPISODE 19: MANHUNT(June 17, 1989):
Lwaxana Troi(Majel Barrett) returns, and she is on the hunt
for her next husband!!!!! The real reason for her, and other
races, to be on board the Enterprise is for transport to a
conference, reasons unknown!!
To add to the fun of this episode, Picard uses the holodeck to
return to his favorite play acting role, that of Dixon Hill!!
A side note here: when Picard goes into his Dixon Hill office
he turns on the radio and a little song called "Let's Get Away
From It All" by unknown!! Later, we hear one of the greatest
songs ever recorded, "Moonlight Serenade" by Glen Miller!!
One more song, "How High The Moon", again by persons or
band unknown(although it sounds like Lola Albright)!!
This episode has, in order of appearance: Captain Picard,
Ensign Crusher, Dr. Pulaski, Chief O'Brien, Lt. Worf, Commander
Riker, Lt. Commander Data & Counselor Troi. (Again, no Lt.
La Forge)!
Guest starring here in an unrecognizable role is Robert
O'Reilly(He's been a regular guest star on several Star Trek
series, best known as Gowran!!)!! Also, just as unrecognizable
is Mick Fleetwood(Drummer for Fleetwood Mac!!) as an
alien!! A+
EPISODE 20: THE EMISSARY(June 24, 1989):
The Enterprise receives an Emissary from a Star Base and
she happens to be Klingon!! When asked about her mission,
she informs them that a Klingon warship filled with Klingon
warriors who've been in cryogenic freeze is about to be awaken
by a Klingon crew, and they're concerned that the warriors
will think that the war between humans and Klingons is still
going on!! She's there to try to talk them down from their
war like tendencies!!
A variation on a famous Vulcan saying "Klingons never bluff"!!
This has the first of several appearances of K'Ehleyr(Worf's
on again, off again love, and mother of Alexander, Worf's
son!!)!!
This episode has, in order of appearance: Commander Riker,
Dr. Pulaski, Lt. La Forge, Lt. Commander Data, Lt. Worf,
Captain Picard, Chief O'Brien & Counselor Troi!!(Again, in this
there's no Ensign Crusher)! A
EPISODE 21: PEAK PERFORMANCE(July 8, 1989):
Kinda silly this one!! Riker is to command an old star ship
for the purposes of war games of a sort! The real purpose
isn't really obvious!! This is being overseen by a very pompous
dude who seems to have it in for Riker! As an aside, Data has
been beaten in a game by the same dude and now has doubts
about himself!!
This episode has, in order of appearance: Captain Picard,
Lt. Worf, Lt. Commander Data, Commander Riker, Dr. Pulaski,
Lt. La Forge, Ensign Crusher & Counselor Troi!!
Armin Shimmerman returns here as a Ferengi!! A
EPISODE 22: SHADES OF GRAY(July 15, 1989):
While on an away team, Commander Riker gets "bitten"
by an unknown assailant and the results threaten his
life!! While he undergoes treatment, he has many
flashbacks to previous missions!
This episode has, in order of appearance: Lt. La Forge,
Commander Riker, Chief O'Brien, Captain Picard, Dr. Pulaski,
Captain Picard, Lt. Commander Data & Counselor Troi!!
In Riker's dreams, we see Ensign Crusher, along with
Guinan, Lt. Yar, Lt. Worf & Dr. Crusher! A
SPECIALS ON DISC 7
MISSION OVERVIEW: YEAR TWO:
The attitude of year two: Rick Berman(Executive Producer),
Gene Roddenberry(Creator, Executive Producer), Diana Muldaur
Dr. Katherine Pulaski), Maurice Hurley(Co-Executive
Producer), Whoopi Goldberg(Guinan), Jonathan Frakes
Commander William Riker), Marina Sirtis(Counselor Troi)
& Peter Lauritson(Associate Producer)!! A+
SELECTED CREW ANALYSIS: YEAR TWO:
With input from Patrick Stewart(Captain Jean-Luc Picard),
La Var Burton(Lt. Geordi La Forge), Gene Roddenberry(Creator/
Executive Producer), Rick Berman(Executive Producer),
Jonathan Frakes(Commander William Riker), Wil Wheaton
(Wesley Crusher), Marina Sirtis(Counselor Deanna Troi),
Diana Muldaur(Dr. Katherine Pulaski) & Peter Lauritson
(Associate Producer)! A
STARFLEET ARCHIVES:
Input from: Penny Juday(Star Trek Coordinator)! Discussing
all of the props that she's stored over the years! A
DEPARTMENTAL BRIEFING - YEAR TWO: PRODUCTION:
With input from: Maurice Hurley(Co-Executive Producer),
Peter Lauritson(Associate Producer), Dan Curry(Visual
Effects Supervisor), Richard James(Production Designer),
Darinda Rice Wood(Costume Designer), Alan Sims(Property
Master) & Dennis McCarthy(Composer)!! A+
DEPARTMENTAL BRIEFING - YEAR TWO: MEMORABLE MISSIONS:
Input from: Peter Lauritson(Associate Producer),
Darinda Rice Wood(Costume Designer), Dan Curry
Visual Effects Supervisor), Marnie & John DeLancie
(Marnie was in Loud As A Whisper", John as Q), John
Tesh(In the episode The Icarus Factor), Michael Dorn
(Lt. Worf), Alan Sims(Property Master), Wil Wheaton
(Ensign Wesley Crusher), Rick Burman(Executive
Producer), Brent Spiner(Lt. Commander Data) & Patrick
Stewart(Captain Jean Luc Picard)! A
From an IMDb.com customer:
This show continues the excellence provided by the
original Star Trek. Set some 75 years after Kirk's adventures,
The Next Generation was an excellent show and provided
state-of-the-art special effects. I recommend it to any science
fiction fan. - mattkratz