Finished season 2 of TNG
Gotta admit, I prefer Pulaski to Crusher. Her more assertive character brings a more serious tone to the show.
Geordi made some pretty big gains throughout the series and I like his new role as chief of engineering. Hes now one of my favourite characters, and theyve done some great things with him this season. Same with Worf- he has some good moments, and gets an occasional laugh, but some of his acting is still a bit flat.
Beard Riker is a better character than Schoolboy Riker from season 1. He seems a lot more commanding in his attitude and doesnt seem to gaze wistfully at Picard as much as he did in season one. I liked the episode where he was on officer exchange with the Klingons.
Wes is less annoying and his uniform is less stupid than in season 1.
Im really beginning to notice how one-dimensional and plain Troi is. Her character is the least improved this season. Aesthetically, she looks a bit plumper than in season 1, and I dont reckon her boobs would be as good as her costume suggests they may be. The episode with her mum trying to crack on to Picard was dumb, and that episode felt like it was right out of early season 1.
Overall, the general Star Trek Universe still seems a little shallow, but there are more and more moments here and there that kind of flesh out the setting. I like the little poker games that the crew occasionally have- its rare when there is a scene that isnt directly related to the primary plot, so all those accessorial moments help bring more depth to the show.
So yeah, was great to see a bigger emphasis on certain crew members, and the show is much less a case of Star Trek: Captain Picard, which characterised season 1. The season was less whimsical than season one, and I like the more serious tone. I hated all of the Q episodes in season 1, but the one where he introduced the crew to the Borg for the first time was one of the better episodes in the series. That episode had a great sense of ominous foreboding about, even though I know more about the true threat the Borg pose from having watched First Contact.
Sucks that the season ended with possibly the weakest episode yet- a sorry excuse for clip episode with Riker on the medic bay table, recollecting various moments. Stupid episode.
Im addicted to the Wire at the moment, and will probably watch all of that through before I return to TNG for season 3.