Spoilers So, what do we think of Season 2 now that it's done?

[Seven of Five]

I think season one was better, but there was still a lot about it that I liked.

The Borg Queen and Jurati's relationship was brilliant, and that was the biggest thing I was looking forward to every week. Queen Jurati helping to save the day in the end, with talks of an alliance with the Federation was a perfect way to end that story.

Q being back was good - his first appearance where he said, "Let me catch up!" and snapped his fingers to age himself. Goosebumps! I'm not totally sure his last lesson for Picard was well thought out, but the emotional sentiment, with Q and Picard sharing a hug, felt earned.

Guinan was cool, though her younger self (or her first episode at least) was very un-Guinan-like.

The trip to the past was a lot of fun, and the homages to TVH were great. I just wish that the material in the past had been wrapped up by episode 5 at the latest because there was a hell of a lot of stalling.

Seven/Raffi was entertaining mostly, though again with repetitive material. First, they were looking for Rios, then later Queen Jurati.

Picard's trauma from his past was very confusingly done and was poorly paced. James Callis was good casting as his father, though.

Poor Rios - I loved him in season one, but they had him fall in love with the lady with the kid and stays in the past. What a waste!

See also Elnor and Soji (I forget what she was called this year). They were barely in the season, so I'm surprised they didn't just never appear to begin with.

 

[GulBahana]

I liked some episodes, but it started to drag towards the end. Not as good as season 1.

 

[Bornin1980something]

I prefer Season 2. There's no eye gouging.

 

[dupersuper]

It was still a mess, but didn't actively depress me like season one.

 

[F. King Daniel]

I prefer Season 2. There's no eye gouging.

Guys get beamed into stone walls. That's absolute horror.

 

[TedShatner10]

Guys get beamed into stone walls. That's absolute horror.

Yeah, but at least Seven didn't beam all the Borg grunts into a single quivering, steaming, and screaming mound of flesh, clothing, and bone.

And it may have been quite quick and painless.

 

[Gepard]

Not good.

I quite liked the first two episodes, loved them even. Then it succumbed to Netflix bloat. By the time the finale came around, there was no salvaging it. Too many barely-coherent plot threads, too many random ideas, too much teasing and not enough resolution.

 

[shapeshifter]

I had fun, but I wish I was strong enough to wait until the serialized show seasons were done then binge 'em on a weekend.

 

[bdub76]

Guys get beamed into stone walls. That's absolute horror.

So the Picard family moves back home and discovers them. Yuck.

 

[fireproof78]

So the Picard family moves back home and discovers them. Yuck.

It's an original Vincent van Ghoul.

People don't come over much anymore.

 

[Jack Wolfe]

Guys get beamed into stone walls. That's absolute horror.

Like Dylan sang, "Everybody must get stoned!"

 

[The Old Mixer]

 

[Lakenheath 72]

I didn't like it. It feels to me that the writers are still grappling on how to write a serialized story which lasts for 10 episodes. Many things could have been cut from the season and they would not have been missed.

 

[100Pic]

At the risk of repeating myself (from other threads) — season 2 was a real muddle. Too many story threads weaving all over the place. A mixed bag, but by no means a disaster. Just “okay”.

 

[Camren]

Not a good season. A shame since it started so well, really good first 2 episodes but then the quality literally fell off a cliff from episode 3 onwards. Spending the entirety of the season in the 21st century was idiotic and done only so the series could point out social injustices in our present. Fine, important messages but I don't watch Star Trek for social commentary of today's problems.
The endless Picard flashbacks were infuriating and pointless, and culminated in the ludicrous scene when trying to evade borgified mercs, he has a flashback which helps him escape the enemy. How nice of the mercs to wait for Picard's flashback to end before pursuing him.
Q was a ridiculous addition to the season. I had a bad feeling about this season when I saw the trailer and it dawned on me that Q was going to influence the entire season. Q is a gimmicky character, there is no way he should ever have been treated as a key component to an entire season. But he had a touching scene with Picard at the end (which totally contradicted their established relationship from TNG) and that made everyone happy. Just like the Data scene at the end of S1, a bit of emotion and crying makes people giddy.
As usual, another season-long story arc ends with anti-climax and baffling conclusion. Same with Discovery S3.
Serialised episodes do not work in Star Trek and hopefully this will be the last series that employs this format.

 

[The Wormhole]

I don't watch Star Trek for social commentary of today's problems.

Wow, I guess you must hate a vast majority of Star Trek in that case.

 

[100Pic]

I actually kind of liked how “heart on the sleeve” the social commentary was. But then again, it’s commentary that aligns with my personal viewpoints, so I’m much more predisposed to like it lol. I can see how others might find it a bit much.

 

[gvn2fly]

Wow, I guess you must hate a vast majority of Star Trek in that case.

I like Trek social commentary so am disagreeing with the poster you quoted, but the "vast majority" of Star Trek does not have social commentary of today's problems. Not even close.

 

[Vger23]

Wow, I guess you must hate a vast majority of Star Trek in that case.

I certainly don't mind social commentary or allegory in Star Trek (because, to your point, that's pretty much Star Trek!)...but I like it when it's done with cleverness and creativity, and I really don't like it when it's done the opposite way. So, the opening episodes of SNW....that's great stuff. Well done allegory in the context of a fun sci-fi story that makes the audience think about the tough issues and questions society must face. It's thought provoking, and it causes the viewer to pause and think a little. I love when Trek does that.

The problem I had with PIC S2 was that the "commentary" was completely uncreative and lazy and failed to land in any meaningful way as a result. Having nuGuinan lecture Picard on white privilege and the bumbling, useless subplot of "border patrol = BAD" was embarrassingly sophomoric and lacked any kind of creative subtlety or thoughtfulness whatsoever. That's my complaint on the topic. If you have something you want to say about society and culture...say it in a creative and thought provoking way. Otherwise it's just on-the-nose garbage.

It reminds me of the difference between how the original Twilight Zone would tackle social issues vs. how the new TZ did it. The classic episodes are creative, thought-provoking, and even a little subconscious / subliminal in how they get the audience to think about things going on in the real world. The new ones on P+ were basically "racism = BAD" with no clever story or method to draw the audience into thinking differently. Writers think they're sending a strong message...but they're really not moving the needle with the viewer at all because.....

...When you do your commentary that "on the nose," you only invite two reactions:
1. People who already agree with the message nod and smile in agreement
2. People who may not agree with the message roll their eyes and think "oh, I'm being preached at again"

Star Trek was pretty successful in it's earlier days in dressing the commentary up much better, making people pause and think about what they believe and why. SNW has done that well up to this point as well. PIC S2 did not.

 

[TedShatner10]

I think PIC's commentary on bigotry, radicalism, exploitation, rule of law, conspiracy rabbit holes, and bureaucratic bias/blindspots was generally better in its first season with the androids, Romulans, and ex-Borg.