Selected Customer Reviews
The absolute BEST season of Next Generation (ties with season 4)!
Who would have guessed? After a DISASTEROUS first season, and a not much better second season, who would have thought that Next Generation's third season would be a tour-de-force of great acting and storytelling? And yet, that's exactly what happened. Coming off the writers' strike of season 2, Season 3 roared out of the gate with the return of Gates McFadden as Dr. Crusher. Season 2 had seen Crusher replace by the hated Dr. Pulaski, whose Enterprise tenure was thankfully only one season. In addition, Whoopie Goldberg as Guinan was featured prominently as a supporting character in this season, which added immeasurably to the ensemble cast dynamic. The introduction of Worf's continuing Klingon saga in this season was the start of Next Generation's continuing storylines, and the dark nature of the Klingon story arc was fantastic. In addition, the scriptwriters and the actors finally 'found' the characters after two wildly uneven seasons, and the classic portrayal of the Next Generation characters would begin right here in season 3. The true shining moments of season 3, however, are the cliffhanger season finale (which truly introduces the Borg after a cameo appearance in season 2), and one of the greatest Star Trek episodes of all time: Yesterday's Enterprise (featuring the return of Denise Crosby as Tasha Yar). Add in the expanded characterization of all the main cast, the SUPERB storylines, and the fact that there is not a single bad (or even average!) episode in this season, and you get the finest single year Star Trek has ever seen. Season 3 single handedly turned Next Generation into a television legend. If you like sci-fi, Next Generation's season 3 is an absolute MUST OWN. Following up season 3 was the equally impressive season 4, which is also mandatory viewing. HIGHEST POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATION!
The best season of the lot?
The DVDs themselves are of good quality; I've rented many seasons' worth and reminded myself which stories throughout the run were good and which were not...
$50 per season is on par and is a good price. (So what's coming soon that's compelling people to buy these current sets?)
Wish I could afford it; thanks to the prices of necessities gone up so much (food, shelter, and distilled petroleum products being slightly more important than Captain Picard standing around as if he hasn't spent a penny in decades...), $50 is still an effective $100 out of my pocket in the end.
Don't get me wrong, the entire series IS fun and seasons 3 and beyond have their appreciable values as well; but they are a change...
Evolution: A terrific season opener that reintroduces Dr Crusher with aplomb. Wesley starting the problem is a big boost too.
The Ensigns of Command: Another home-run with this entry of Picard having his hands full; fighting a stolid species of inflexible corporate bugs while finding means to persuade a bunch of colonists to vacate the planet that the inflexible corporate bugs claim ownership too. Very good story indeed!
The Survivors: An oddball, but highly enjoyable and well cast. Especially if you've never been keen on Troi.
Who Watches the Watchers: Badly dated and preachy, but it's got enough set pieces to remain worthy.
The Bonding: I think, as with When the Bough Breaks, this one features kids on it as a result of a candy bar write-in contest... It's a bit soapy, and why the alien wants to cajole one little kid seems silly...
Booby Trap: Shades of season 2, but this one is back on form with good ideas; especially with seeding an idea to be followed up next season. Though, in reality, the ship caught in the trap would not survive a thousand years...
The Enemy: Utterly perfect, with one problem: No Vulcan, a race that is a blood-brother to the Romulans, has the blood type needed to save the captured Romulan - yet Worf, a Klingon - is the sole person who CAN save this Romulan?! Talk about shoehorning rubbish science into a scenario that's otherwise excellent, even with the silly uberdrama... Maybe he should donate some blood and have it transfused into a poodle and see if the poodle survives. That's what it boils down to.
The Price: Even today, the romance subplot is heavyhanded, but the Ferengi get just desserts with their meddling. :D
The Vengeance Factor: Well done story about blood feud.
The Defector: I used to love this one, but rewatching it reveals the uberdrama petty soap opera it sadly is. It DOES have potential and a few surprise twists, but Picard taking all that time to instill excess drama into a situation that warrants fast response? At that point I'd be cheering for the opposing team!!
The Hunted: A decent parallel to Vietnam vets; and hasn't dated much by today's standards either.
The High Ground: Whew boy. This anti-terrorism story doesn't fit well today. It's too one-sided...
Deja Q: Another Q episode. How can't it be good?! CLASSIC! Q becomes human and the interplay with the crew is classic. Especially when Guinan hears about the development... Picard saving Q's bacon by the end is to be expected, but well handled.
A Matter of Perspective: Pity we didn't have that in the terrorism story. :rolleyes: This one is far worse for having it... best left forgotten.
Yesterday's Enterprise: Classic. Nice to see Yar back. Also sets up a concept to be revived later on, which all things considered is brilliant.
The Offspring: Remake of "The Measure of a Man" and the story, much like Lal, self-destructs because it's 100% derivative.
Sins of the Father: Continues the Worf saga. Until season 6 then DS9, this saga is fun.
Allegience: Preachy and predictable, but has some nice set pieces.
Captain's Holiday: More Ferengi? A few nice set pieces and comedic moments, but naah...
Tin Man: Another classic. Reuses some f/x from Star Trek The Motion Picture, but it's easy to relate to Tam and especially To the Tin Man entity.
Hollow Pursuits: Unworthy of any spite accorded to it; and Dwight Schultz is inspired casting. great story on a man who isn't like the rest of us. Pity we don't get more background info on him, but it is highly underrated.
The Most Toys: Another well-handled gem. The toy collector getting his just desserts in the end, too... Great Data-centric story.
Sarek: A plot so good that it got reused in Deep Space 9... Sarek comes aboard and Picard mindmelds because Sarek is past his prime... also sets up for a later story too...
Menage a Troi: garbage.
Transfigurations: An anti-xenophobia story. A typical entry but has its momenets.
Best of Both Worlds: A bit soapy at times, but there's no real reason to even begin to dislike it. The Borg never improved after this story (apart from a novel released in 1991 that isn't considered canon...)
Boy, this show sure was great!
I'm falling in love with this show all over again while watching it through a newbies eyes! Great extras and great menus! The menu for the last disk is a wonderful switch reflecting on the cliffhanger episode!
