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82 of 86 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Prime Trek, March 22, 2002
The 1989-1990 season was one of the Star Trek: The Next Generation's most consistently enjoyable years....Season 3 and Season 4 remain my favorite years of Star Trek: The Next Generation. The writing, acting, and the production values were excellent, and, Ron Jones still composed music for the series. His scores were truly assets to The Next Generation during its early years. By the end of the fourth season, warm and bombastic music was forbidden on the Next Generation. But during Season 3, Jones scores highlight the entertainment in many superb episodes: "Who Watches The Watchers", "Booby Trap", "The Defector", "Allegiance", and of course "The Best Of Both Worlds". Dennis McCarthy's third season scores are serviceable; better than anything he did during TNG's later seasons, or on DS9 and Voyager. His last great score is "Yesterday's Enterprise". Season 3 began with several solid science fiction tales. During "The Ensigns of Command" Picard must deal with the Sheliak, a pompous alien race that demands the removal of some humans on their planet. Picard outwits the race by drudging up some loophole in their treaty. Meanwhile, Data must force the human colonists to give up their world or else be destroyed by the Sheliak. Its a good Data story with some interesting aliens that talk and look just like Armus(From "Skin Of Evil"). "The Survivors" is one of TNG's true science fiction stories. It's a mysterious and sensitive story about an alien with tries to hide the fact that he exterminated an entire race. "Who Watches The Watchers" is a refreshing change of pace for the series. It features some great location work. It offers a challenging mission for Picard; he must convince the Mintakans that he is not a God. He succeeds and is able to enlighten the Vulcan-like race. Picard is especially principled and courageous in this episode. To uphold the Prime Directive and to convince the Mintakans that he is not a God, the good Captain takes an arrow through the chest. Pure Star Trek. "Booby Trap" successfully meshes a sci-fi dilemma with a warm personal story. As the crew tries to get out of Booby Trap from an ancient alien race that threatens the ship, Geordi La Forge falls for the lovely Leah Brahms in the Holedeck. During Season 3, TNG began to broaden its scope by creating a political arch for The Romulans and The Klingons. "The Enemy" is a terrific Romulan show. Geordi LaForge tries to survive with a stranded Romulan on Galorndon Core, while Picard must play diplomatic chess with Romulan commander Tomalak, who demands the return of one his officers, an injured Romulan that Riker's away team picked up. The prejudiced Worf shocks the crew by refusing to give blood to the dying Romulan. There's some good drama there. "The Defector" is more epic than "The Enemy"(thanks in part to a bombastic and nautical Ron Jones score). A Romulan Defector, Admiral Jarok, bravely tries to avert a war and nearly brings the Enterprise to ruins. He warns Picard that there are military bases in the Neutral Zone, that the Romulans are planning to ignore the treaty and attack the Federation. The tension builds as the Enterprise ventures into the Neutral Zone. Tragically, the Romulan Defector's data was false; he was duped. Two Romulan ships decloak just as the Enterprise attempts to return to Federation space. One ship is commanded by Picard's "old friend", Commander Tamolak. Tamolak promises to obliterate the Enterprise. Thanks to some cloaked Klingon friends, the Enterprise avoids destruction. But sadly, the homeless Romulan Defector commits suicide. He had written a letter to his family, and Picard notes that someday, if they are more men with the courage of Admiral Jarok, the Enterprise will be able to bring his letter home. "Sins of The Father" treats the viewer to the Klingon home world. It's a great personal story for Worf and there's an interesting look at Klingon politics. The episode has ramifications for the series, as it gave Worf a great back-story, and it set up the Klingon political landscape that TNG and Deep Space 9 returned to again and again. Season 3 featured a few purely comedic episodes. "Deja Q" is a great lighthearted Q story. He looses his powers and the results are quite amusing. When he gets them back and shows his gratitude to the crew, it's even funnier. "Hollow Pursuits" is a delightful episode, which introduced the eccentric, shy, and lovable Lieutenant Junior Grade Reginald Barclay, played impeccably by Dwight Schultz. An under-average officer and engineer with an inferiorority complex, Barclay's only escape is the Holedeck, where he duels with "Musketeer" versions of Picard, Riker, Data, and Geordi, and relaxes with the "Goddess Of Empathy", a sexy mockery of Counselor Troi. Geordi befriends the troubled officer, and Barclay helps save the ship from implosion. His success in the real world gives him the confidence delete his fantasy programs except the mysterious "program 9". "Captain's Holiday" satisfied Patrick Stewart's request for more sex and violence. Its funny watching Picard trying to relax in the sun while an obnoxious Ferengi, played by future DS9 semi-regular Max Grodenchik, tries to retrieve some disc. The chemistry between Picard and the wily Vash works. The subplot about the two 27th century time travelers doesn't. The 2 classics of the third season are of course, "Yesterday's Enterprise" and "The Best Of Both Worlds". They feature remarkable production values, and enough scope, tension and excitement for a feature film. In "Yesterday's Enterprise" The Enterprise encounters a rift in space and time. The Enterprise's immediate predecessor, the Enterprise 1701-C, emerges from the distortion. Immediately, history is altered, and the Federation is thrust in a bloody war with the Klingons. In this reality, Tasha Yar was not killed by a evil black oil slick, and the Enterprise is a battleship with no children or Counselors. When Guinan convinces Picard that the war is wrong, he realizes that he must send the Enterprise-C back where she came, a hopeless battle with the Romulans. As it turns out, the Enterprise-C had responded to a Klingon distress call, and was thrust into battle with the Romulans, before escaping into the rift. Picard understands that they must finish their mission to help the Klingons, thus establishing peaceful relations and averting the hopeless 30 year war. Realizing what history requires of them, Picard and the Enterprise-C gallantly try to return things back to way Guinan wants. Both ships are destroyed in the process but Lt. Castillo and Lt. Yar(realizing she must make up for the "empty" death from the other time line) return the ship to its proper time, and avert the Klingon War. The altruistic heroics are pure Star Trek, and the conflict between Riker and Picard is priceless. "The Best Of Both Worlds" brings back the Federation's greatest threat with all the buildup tension and dread imaginable. Ron Score's score is sensational; its his mast dramatic and powerful music ever. Although not as creepy or stylish as "Q Who", "The Best Of Both Worlds" makes up for that in sheer scope and drama. The Enterprise finds the a destroyed Federation colony, the victim of a Borg attack. While Picard prepares for possible war, Commander Riker ponders whether he should accept another offered Captaincy. He clashes with the ambitious Lt. Commander Shelby, who wants his job as first officer. The Borg attack the Enterprise, abduct and assimilate Picard, and Riker is forced to fire on his Captain. It doesn't get much more dramatic than this. Season 3 boasted several visual changes. The crew got some new collared uniforms. The men wore loose two-piece outfits that were a bit too wrinkly. I missed the sleek striped uniforms that William Theiss designed. Background officers and woman continued to wear tight spandex. Geordi LaForge and Worf was promoted in rank. The hand phasers and tricorders were altered in appearance, and the opening credits now began with a trip through a galaxy.
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DVD ~ Patrick Stewart
DVD ~ Patrick Stewart
DVD ~ Patrick Stewart
DVD ~ Patrick Stewart
DVD ~ Patrick Stewart
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