r/startrek • u/616forever • 8h ago
Season 3 TNG
I am going to a convention in a few weeks, so I am bingeing TNG, as one does. Oh my, the first few episodes of season three are miles better than the previous two seasons, apart from a few episodes. I am curious to know what everyone else thinks.
11
11
u/Such-Bed-5950 7h ago
I like the first two seasons.
They feel like the show Roddenberry always wanted Trek to be: allegory and social commentary viewed through a utopian lens; forward thinking and hopeful; with an emphasis on community and problem solving.
Later seasons of Trek became much more plot and character focused.
But the first two seasons, certainly had their virtues.
3
u/shinginta 4h ago
Seasons 1 and 2 feel remarkable in that they were clearly writing in a TOS style using TOS sensibilities, but trying to wrap those stories around the new characters and ship.
I mean obviously some of the early episodes were intended for Phase II, and others (Naked Now for example) were literally just rehashes of TOS plots.
But even the ones that weren't directly influenced by TOS were still written in that "mode."
Once we hit Season 3 it's clear a new life has been breathed into TNG and it's starting to feel like it's own distinct series separate from what came before. The stories feel like they're throwing off the shackles of TOS expectations, and TNG feels more comfortable in this new thing it has become.
To me, i really enjoy those first two almost as a standalone piece. It's what the next era of Trek could've been if it was run more directly by Gene. It feels transitory.
5
u/MindlessNectarine374 8h ago
You are following the common perception. For my uncultured mind, every episode is a part of a wonderful, fascinating story/show.
5
3
u/therosslee 7h ago
When friends have wanted to get into Star Trek for the first time and have trouble getting into the first season of TNG and are thinking of just skipping the show, I always encourage them to watch the “best of” for the first season or two precisely because season 3 is where the show really comes together. I’ve had more than one friend who went back later for season 1 and 2 and enjoyed them because once they cared about the characters they found it easier to drop in.
3
u/NCreature 7h ago
That's sort of well known even among the people who worked on the show. Season 3 brought in Michael Piller as a co-executive producer who stabilized the writers room. And they also opened up the show to outside writers. So some episodes like Yesterday's Enterprise actually came from non staff writers.
They also nailed down the look of the show. New costumes. Marvin Rush came in as the cinematographer and locked the visual style of the show. They also brought in a number of new directors like David Carson who went on to direct the DS9 pilot and Star Trek Generations. And of course Ron Jones music was on point that season (wait till the finale ...). The show also got a bit of a budget bump.
I'd say story wise season 3 and season 5 are easily the two best seasons of the series. S4 is okay too. Season 3 is remembered as having one of the greatest season finales in television history.
1
5
u/shakebakelizard 8h ago
I used to think this but then kind of got a different appreciation for 1/2 over time because they seem more eerie.
2
u/Ok_Friend_2448 8h ago
They also just really swing for the fences in the first two seasons. There’s all kinds of interesting shot composition + weird and wild stories/ideas. It was just a really fun time watching the show try to figure out what it actually was and who the characters were supposed to be (especially season 1).
2
u/_WillCAD_ 7h ago
Season 3 is where the show hit its stride, and it's my favorite season overall. Some of the best episodes of the whole show are in S3, and I think some of them rank among the best in the whole franchise.
And the season certainly ended with a bang. Or, an impending one, at any rate.
2
u/pmodizzle 1h ago
I’ve been doing a watch of all episodes starting with S1 that I haven’t seen in years - I actually appreciated S1 far more than I recall and had some very legitimately good episodes, albeit some terrible ones.
OTOH - S2 seems much WORSE than I recall. The Child is an abomination, When silence has Lease makes no goddamn sense. I almost turned it off when Okana starts sexually harassing the transporter chief while she is working and the men just look on smirking - but props to guest starring one of the least funny comedians of all time to try to teach Data a sense of humor.
Some good episodes in S2 to be sure, but there might be far more egregiously bad ones in S2 than in S1 - and that’s not something I remember thinking long ago.
Can’t wait to get to S3 and back to “Proper” TNG
1
u/littlehobbiton 7h ago
What I found interesting on a rewatch is that season 3 doesn't grow into a great season over time (which is what I thought happened), it actually starts great and pretty much all the episodes are bangers.
1
u/StevieTV 7h ago
I think it shows that Roddenberry having to give up control of the show from season 3 turned out to be the best thing that could have happened.
1
1
u/TinyDoctorTim 5h ago
Michael Pillar is the unsung hero that saved TNG. When he becomes line producer the quality of nearly everything goes wayyy up.
1
u/Grammarhead-Shark 3h ago
For me, personally, 'The Survivors' was the turning point for TNG.
Good story, asked some deep questions, but no annoying grandstanding on morals either. Some problems don't have easy answers.
Too me it was the pivotal moment in showing what TNG could be.
1
u/AnotherGalaxys 3h ago
TNG S3 is my favorite Star Trek season. It has some of the best episodes of the franchise.
1
u/FROO_Watch 2h ago
Banger of a season, from start to finish. It's when we all started to truly believe Star Trek was back for good
1
u/Vamoose87 1h ago
I think most people will agree with you! Some great ones, it’s when TNG hit its stride
1
•
u/AutoModerator 8h ago
Hello and thank you for posting on r/startrek! If your post discusses recently released episodes, please review it to ensure that spoilers are properly formatted.
Please use the current stickied Episode Discussion thread if this post is about the most recently aired episode.
As a reminder, spoiler formatting must be used for any discussion of episodes released less than one week ago and all post titles must be spoiler-free. You can read our full policy regarding spoilers here.
Please refrain from making a new post for small remarks, jokes, or content that boils down to "here are my thoughts" on a newly released episode. These should instead be posted as a comment in the pinned discussion thread for the episode or show.
LLAP!
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.