When does the show "take off"?

[AxelFoley]

Never been a big fan of this show, though I've always thought it was a good show and whenever it's on TV I don't change the channel. I'd been thinking about giving the show a real chance for a while. So a few days ago I got a GREAT deal on the DVD-sets where I live. They usually cost about 150 dollars each, I got them for 30! Season 1 was out of stock but I got all the other seasons and remembered that the first couple of seasons are not highly regarded by fans (certainly not here). I've seen a few episodes of season 2, and while they entertain me they are not exactly spectacular.

So, when does this show really take off and become something truly great?

Thanks

 

[Brian]

Third season.

EDIT: Though there are some episodes in season two which hint at the greatness to come... "The Measure of a Man", "Pen Pals", "Q Who?", and "The Emissary" in particular.

 

[Haytil]

Yeah, Season 3.

 

[Smiley]

If you only get one TNG DVD set in your life, make it Season 3. It is the best season by far, especially if you like Romulans and Klingons.

 

[The Old Mixer]

You'll find the love for Season 3 to be all but unanimous.

 

[SchwEnt]

Season Two, premiere eps with the Repulse shuttle scene and fanfare.

Riker's got his beard, Worf's in security gold, Geordi's down in engineering, Guinan shows up in Ten Forward, all the elements now in place.

This is the season that introduces the Borg...
brings us "The Measure of a Man" "A Matter of Honor" "The Emissary" "Q Who?"

Despite popular opinion to the contrary,
for me TNG always hit its stride with Season Two.

 

[Brian]

I think many would agree with you, SchwEnt, myself included. That's why I cited some particularly good episodes in season two. It just didn't fully click for me, though, until Beverly Crusher returned. Kate Pulaski always felt like an outsider to me.

 

[CaptainStoner]

Yeah, there is a peak at the end of s1 which carries into s2, IMO s3 takes off slowly into s4 + and the show generally just gets better through to the finale.

 

[Evil_Kirkneivel]

Yep, definitely season 3. In fact, season 3 is demonstrably better than seasons 1 and 2.

Personally, I feel that the change happens at '3.03 - Who Watches the Watchers.' That was the first episode that just - felt - different - improved...I can't put my finger on it. They almost did that with the previous episode (3.02 - The Survivors) but it wasn't quite there.

Later on, in season 3, there is an incredible run of excellent episodes. I enjoyed this set of episodes that, I feel, cemented season 3 as one of the best seasons of NextGen:

3.13 Deja Q
3.15 Yesterday’s Enterprise
3.16 The Offspring
3.17 Sins of the Father
3.18 Allegiance

***

But one thing I must add: if you could find it in your patient heart to sit through each episode of season 1 and 2 sequentially first , then you will really get a charge out of season 3, because it is so much better experiencing the improvement in that way.

 

[CaptainStoner]

It pretty much comes down to getting rid of the spandex. Not just the actors, but he writers too, were all wearing spandex underwear those first 2 years. It's amazing what a little breathing room will do for you creativity.

 

[AxelFoley]

But one thing I must add: if you could find it in your patient heart to sit through each episode of season 1 and 2 sequentially first , then you will really get a charge out of season 3, because it is so much better experiencing the improvement in that way.

Oh don't worry, I'll definitely start from the beginning (or the second season since I don't have the first)

 

[Trekker4747]

I'll say "kind of" Season 2 as there's some gems in there, but the show drops into warp in Season 3.

 

[Bonzo the Fifth]

Yeah, there is a peak at the end of s1 which carries into s2, IMO s3 takes off slowly into s4 + and the show generally just gets better through to the finale.

I don't know... I think seasons 6 and 7 are a bit uneven. Not bad, by any stretch, but not up to the level of seasons 3-5. Season 7, in particular, is all over the place in terms of quality, from the two excellent two parters ('Gambit' and "All Good Things") to some great standalones ("The Pegasus" "Thine own Self") to the truly atrocious ones like 'Sub Rosa' and "Genesis".

Of course, YMMV, as well as your opinion... that's just the way I see it...

 

[Trekker4747]

Yeah, there is a peak at the end of s1 which carries into s2, IMO s3 takes off slowly into s4 + and the show generally just gets better through to the finale.

I don't know... I think seasons 6 and 7 are a bit uneven. Not bad, by any stretch, but not up to the level of seasons 3-5. Season 7, in particular, is all over the place in terms of quality, from the two excellent two parters ('Gambit' and "All Good Things") to some great standalones ("The Pegasus" "Thine own Self") to the truly atrocious ones like 'Sub Rosa' and "Genesis".

Of course, YMMV, as well as your opinion... that's just the way I see it...

Ugh. Sub Rosa.

Season 7 is, IMHO, by far TNG's worst. Like you said it's all over the place I think it truly shows they were "running out of idea"/had shifted all of their best writers over to DS9 and maybe even Voyager's development.

Here's how I would rate the seasons. For what it is worth.

Season 3
Season 4
Season 5
Season 1
Season 6
Season 2
Season 7

 

[Falcor5]

Yeah, there is a peak at the end of s1 which carries into s2, IMO s3 takes off slowly into s4 + and the show generally just gets better through to the finale.

I don't know... I think seasons 6 and 7 are a bit uneven. Not bad, by any stretch, but not up to the level of seasons 3-5. Season 7, in particular, is all over the place in terms of quality, from the two excellent two parters ('Gambit' and "All Good Things") to some great standalones ("The Pegasus" "Thine own Self") to the truly atrocious ones like 'Sub Rosa' and "Genesis".

Of course, YMMV, as well as your opinion... that's just the way I see it...

Ugh. Sub Rosa.

Season 7 is, IMHO, by far TNG's worst. Like you said it's all over the place I think it truly shows they were "running out of idea"/had shifted all of their best writers over to DS9 and maybe even Voyager's development.

Here's how I would rate the seasons. For what it is worth.

Season 3
Season 4
Season 5
Season 1
Season 6
Season 2
Season 7

I agree season 7 is not the best but to me there is no way its worst then season 1 or 2. It had some really good episodes like "Attached", "Parallels", "The Pegasus", "Lower Decks", and of course one of the best episodes in all of Trek "All Good Things".

 

[Trekker4747]

I don't know... I think seasons 6 and 7 are a bit uneven. Not bad, by any stretch, but not up to the level of seasons 3-5. Season 7, in particular, is all over the place in terms of quality, from the two excellent two parters ('Gambit' and "All Good Things") to some great standalones ("The Pegasus" "Thine own Self") to the truly atrocious ones like 'Sub Rosa' and "Genesis".

Of course, YMMV, as well as your opinion... that's just the way I see it...

Ugh. Sub Rosa.

Season 7 is, IMHO, by far TNG's worst. Like you said it's all over the place I think it truly shows they were "running out of idea"/had shifted all of their best writers over to DS9 and maybe even Voyager's development.

Here's how I would rate the seasons. For what it is worth.

Season 3
Season 4
Season 5
Season 1
Season 6
Season 2
Season 7

I agree season 7 is not the best but to me there is no way its worst then season 1 or 2. It had some really good episodes like "Attached", "Parallels", "The Pegasus", "Lower Decks", and of course one of the best episodes in all of Trek "All Good Things".

For me Seasons 1 and 2 have lots of great moments and many great "Trek moments." I'll take "Measure of a Man" or "Home Soil" over "Lower Decks" or "Attached." Not that those are bad episodes, it's just that lack... "something."

For what it is worth. I'll take all of those in that order over season anything of the other series.

 

[nx1701g]

Another vote for Season Three. I'd say around the time of Yesterday's Enterprise.

 

[Nemesis]

Strange that someone who does like TOS doesn't like the first two seasons of TNG. Because the way the stories are told and how things are done are exactly the same. In season 3 this differs but in that time (when TNG was made) It became more popular after the episode "best of both worlds". It's common knowledge..

 

[RAMA]

Never been a big fan of this show, though I've always thought it was a good show and whenever it's on TV I don't change the channel. I'd been thinking about giving the show a real chance for a while. So a few days ago I got a GREAT deal on the DVD-sets where I live. They usually cost about 150 dollars each, I got them for 30! Season 1 was out of stock but I got all the other seasons and remembered that the first couple of seasons are not highly regarded by fans (certainly not here). I've seen a few episodes of season 2, and while they entertain me they are not exactly spectacular.

So, when does this show really take off and become something truly great?

Thanks

Right off the bat third season. In my opinion season 4 was the best overall. Obviously Seasons 1 and 2 had their gems of course.

RAMA

 

[ST-One]

Season 3, definitely.
With the first episode of that season one gets the impression that the creators of the show finally discovered how to light their sets, cloth their actors, compose better music and provide better VFX.