Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #36150 in DVD
• Released on: 2002-06-10
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• Number of discs: 6
• Formats: Box set, PAL
• Original language: English, French
• Number of discs: 6

Amazon.co.uk Review
Although the second season of Star Trek: The Next Generation (1988-9) was curtailed by a writers’ strike, its 22 episodes nevertheless saw some refreshing new developments. Tasha Yar was gone, giving Worf more room to flex his muscles as Chief Security Officer; Geordi was promoted to Head of Engineering; Whoopi Goldberg’s mysterious Guinan presided benevolently over the crew’s rest area, Ten Forward; Dr. Crusher was replaced by the far more acerbic McCoy-like Dr. Pulaski; and mischievous super-entity Q returned to introduce Picard and the Enterprise crew to their greatest nemesis, The Borg. By the end of a transitional season the show had settled down enough to be acknowledged by all as a worthy successor to the 1960s original.

On the DVD: Star Trek: The Next Generation, Season 2 comes packaged exactly like Season 1 in a solid metallic-style plastic outer case with a fold-out cardboard inner, although because of the fewer episodes this time there are only six discs not seven. Sound throughout is vivid Dolby Digital 5.1, with a full frame (1.33:1) picture that occasionally shows its age. Once again the menus neatly imitate the Enterprise’s own computer interfaces. Disc 6 contains the extra features: the "Mission Overview--Year 2" introduces the new characters and has producer Rick Berman revealing "We were all filled with piss and vinegar" at the success of the show; the "Selected Crew Analysis" continues the same thread interviewing Patrick Stewart, Levar Burton, Jonathan Frakes, Marina Sirtis and Diana Muldaur; the "Departmental Briefing" gives some background on special effects, writing, costumes, props and music; "Memorable Missions" highlights specific episodes and guest stars; finally, and best of all, is "Inside Starfleet Archives", a guided tour with Penny Juday around Paramount’s warehouses stuffed full of Star Trek props and memorabilia.--Mark Walker

Video Description

DVD Special Features:

Mission Overview--Year 2

Selected Crew Analysis--Year 2

Production

Memorable Missions--Year 2

Starfleet Archives

Language: English (Dolby 5.1), French, German, Italian, Spanish (mono)

Subtitles: English for the hearing impaired, English, Danish, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish

Synopsis
Picking up decades after Gene Roddenberry's legendary original STAR TREK, THE NEXT GENERATION follows the intergalactic adventures of Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and his crew aboard an all-new USS Enterprise. This phenomenally successful follow-up, also created by Roddenberry, began airing in 1987 and ran until 1994. This collector's edition box set contains five discs featuring all 22 episodes from season two, along with a wealth of special features contained on the sixth disc. Episodes include The Child, Loud as a Whisper, The Schizoid Man, Unnatural Selection, Contagion, The Icarus Factor, Q Who, Manhunt, Peak Performance, and many more.

Customer Reviews

A mixed bag but an improvement over the first season
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

A must have
I know there are knockers with The Next Generation but if you are a trekkie, then it is just one of the things you have to have.

Not every episode is great, but it is still a must have and a bargain too at the price.

The story continues
Season 2 of the next gen was as great a season as the others as we see worf in his now security chief role which would continue right to the end of the next gen. we also see a character change which would only last this season until DR Crusher came back next Season in the form of Dr Kathrine Palaski who could at times be annoying but great in her role. This season Had great episodes such as Qwho which we meet the borg introduced by of course Q and the episode Peak Performance in which Riker gets to Captain his own ship in a war game simulation all in all a great series and a must own for all fans.