Seasons 1 & 2.
- Thread starter Gojira
- Start date
I'd thought of adding that "A Matter of Honor" (Made in America, dammit!
) would have been under consideration for that list, but figured that I'd be able to find 9 other episodes that were better. Definitely one of the better Season 2 episodes.Here's the thing, the actors became more secure in their roles and the writers better understood their style and direction after season 2, but, I saw TNG before TOS, it was those first two seasons that got me hooked on the entire universe. I felt that writers especially were really willing to take some risks, making even the crappy ones at least interesting. It was a beautiful blend between the two views of space from TOS to TNG. Space was still a magical place where philosophy is explored through universal settings but the hard science of Data and Geordie were quick to follow.
I didn't like how happy everyone is and how fast the crew bonded in the first season. The music is next to terrible. It is grand and optimistic and every scene feels like a trumpet before a king enters his court.
The second season ditched the bad music and the happy faces all the time. There was actual exploring going on. REAL strange, new worlds. Pulaski is my favorite doctor outside of Bones, and I really enjoyed her scenes (especially with Data). It built his character. There weren't cheesy story lines with Wesley as there was in the first season. "The Measure of a Man" and "Q Who?" remain greatly written episodes. The only season finale I hate, Shades of Gray doesn't do justice to the performances they had throughout that year. Season 2 is my 4th favorite season and it's a big distance between 4 and 5.
The second season ditched the bad music and the happy faces all the time. There was actual exploring going on. REAL strange, new worlds. Pulaski is my favorite doctor outside of Bones, and I really enjoyed her scenes (especially with Data). It built his character. There weren't cheesy story lines with Wesley as there was in the first season. "The Measure of a Man" and "Q Who?" remain greatly written episodes. The only season finale I hate, Shades of Gray doesn't do justice to the performances they had throughout that year. Season 2 is my 4th favorite season and it's a big distance between 4 and 5.
I agree. Season 1 did get a bit cheesy sometimes but they still were trying to gather what TNG will be.
Season 2 is where they started to go off the charts.
Exactly... Season 2 is where TNG became interesting. Season 1 suffers too much from the influence of GR's idealism, which drown out a lot of the drama (and could be overly preachy).
Season 2 kept TNG on the air... then Season 3 made it "Can't miss TV."
Well, that's because it isn't true. In the first couple seasons the music was good. It was only later when Rick Berman's "sonic wallpaper" took hold that it became bland and boring with only occasional moments of good stuff.
Well, that's because it isn't true. In the first couple seasons the music was good. It was only later when Rick Berman's "sonic wallpaper" took hold that it became bland and boring with only occasional moments of good stuff.
I think the bland lighting and terrible music that took hold once Berman was solidly in control really hurt Modern Trek.
To be honest, there is not a season of the franchise that I do not enjoy. Seasons 1 & 2 for me, are too simplistic like TOS, I feel come season 3 TNG realised it could be deeper and began to benefit from that. Once it branched off on its own it thrived.
Seasons 1 & 2 have a bunch of interesting, fun episodes and EVERY show has its 'finding its legs' period.
Seasons 1 & 2 have a bunch of interesting, fun episodes and EVERY show has its 'finding its legs' period.
Berman also dictated a shooting and editing style that was pretty conservative, too.
Rene Auberjonois said:
Compare the franchise to the shooting and editing styles being tried on Miami Vice ('84), Homicide: Life on the Street ('93) or The West Wing ('99) and you'll see what I mean.
Heck, compare the series to the look of Star Trek ('66) and you'll see what I mean.
By the time Berman was willing to take any aesthetic chances (on Enterprise) the franchise was way behind the curve.
You're right, of course. I was thinking in more of a "stereotypical" way, because it is easy to envision those "trumpet" moments, such as a few highlights of the Farpoint chase with the Q grid.
I particularly remember the music in Datalore, when they searched the planet and the underground lab complex. Really good stuff, which I still remember even not having seen the episode in about 20 years!
Somebody above mentioned "Time Squared", and while I don't consider it that great an episode, it did remind me of something about Season 2. It seemed to me that Season 2 had more episodes that captured that elusive feeling of the ship being out there alone on the frontier that most of TNG was lacking.
Yeah... just imagine Best of Both Worlds with the bland Berman danger music instead of that epic score Jones did.
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