Just watched
Mercy and it's the first one this season I've really not liked. A lot of wheel spinning and my brain just switches off when Spiner is onscreen bwahahaing and world domination or whatever. That whole subplot I just can't invest in because I am too drawn out of it by having the characters played by actors who have both already played
multiple characters in this same show.
I know a lot of you like him, so a dash of 'IMO' but Brent Spiner is way, way overrated. The whole Soong side of this season should have been dumped.
The FBI stuff was weird as well. Really, a lot of running on the spot, with a Q revelation thrown in to make it seem like more happened than what actually did.
ETA - I've reflected on it for a few hours... no, for the first time this season I found little to like in this one...
Thoughts:
Season 2
I
do still prefer this season over the first so far. It's got a bit more fizz and direction to it. Yes, it meanders, but there is a clear goal. For me, Season 1 couldn't decide if it wanted to be about Romulans, or the Borg, or Synths or whatever. Some very stately drifting about went on. But this season, though I think it finally tripped up in Episode 8, maintains a lot of momentum, especially I guess when binged. Waiting week on week for episodes where you aren't guaranteed that much is going to happen... yeah, I know why some people felt pissed.
Seven/Raffi
Some of the character interactions feel forced. Like, decided after the fact. This episode was egregious in Seven calling out Raffi for being manipulative when... well, Raffi isn't particularly manipulative, necessitating a bolted on flashback scene where she manipulates Elnor. In fact neither Seven nor Raffi seem to be written consistently this season. They both swap the idiot role at points, meaning sometimes Seven is incredibly out of her depth in dealing with the 21st Century stuff (celluloid picture), except when she's incredibly adept at dealing with it all and likewise Raffi.
They seem to exist just to argue, but I feel I've no idea of their relationship outside of that state, the result being it seems like antagonism is a default setting for them? It doesn't seem healthy and it's neither pleasant nor entertaining to watch.
Rios
I feel like Rios is coming out of this story well. His subplot has beats and the attraction/romance feels earned. I'm already spoiled that he stays behind, so don't worry, but I'm already happy with that. I think
@Lord Garth said that he was always a man out of his time anyway. I'd rather he ends up in the 21st Century with a woman he loves than have him in the Captain's chair on the Stargazer for sure.
Guinan
For some reason my brain has easily made a mental leap and I like young Guinan. I wish they'd found someway to de-age Goldberg in truth, but the way they went is also legitimate and it works out. Stewart sells it too and for that matter, so does De Lancie.
The whole FBI subplot/character was poor though. Trite even.
Q
I hate to say it, but depowering Q and shuffling him
right into the margins of a story like this is an... odd choice.
Soong/Kore
This whole side of the story can suck a dick for me. There are no other TNG guests this season, excepting a brief Wheaton cameo and I would much rather have another actor in this role. I could see Bryan Cranston in the mad professor role, or Giancarlo Esposito. In a fantasy world I could imagine Stewart convincing one of his RSC buddies to sign up for a role. Ian Mckellen say. Or just... somebody else.
Spiner has played three roles in two seasons now and Briones has played four.
I think looked at objectively, neither actor is doing a dreadful job. Just seeing the same faces again and again pulls me out of their scenes every time and honestly, I kind of don't see the need for this part of the plot anyway. I'd have preferred more about Renee Picard learning to be an astronaut and overcoming her fears in the process. More about the Gemini stuff.
Picard
Just sort of pottering about in his own show. I do like learning more about his childhood and I'm fully spoiled on what happened to his Mother. That's going to be tough to watch I guess.
Anyway.
I'm still enjoying it so far, but towards the end of the season I do get the feeling the whole thing is stretched too thin. I'll shut up until I've seen Episode 10!
