Episode 24 - The Next Generation Season 2

The arrival of Riker's Beard heralded the start of the shift towards a more updated, distinct Star Trek, ready for the Next Generation of fans. While many will tell new explorers of Trek to skip over season 2, we love it for its inconsistency and the truly high highs that you only get by introducing the Borg, or debating the nature of sentience (should be sapience but we'll let it slide) on behalf of our beloved Data. Join us as we discuss those highs (and some of the lows), as well as give a bit of a history of what was going on behind the scenes.

Episode Sponsor: SudVPN! Keep your data safe in these trying times!

Bicks Log: Does artificial intelligence require sentience to be considered intelligent? Do AIs as we understand them now deserve rights? What will happen when computer systems are given – or acquire – consciousness?

Notes:

• As a reminder, this was recorded before Picard Season 3 aired, so there may be some odd references.
• If, for some reason you haven't seen the greatest short film of the 21st century so far, please do check out Too Many Cooks.
• Lindsay deeply regrets her comments about the 1988 WGA Strike. At least Aidan assumes so, since she's been happy to see the 2023 version.
• The novel that Lindsay mentions involving the Trill's connection to the Conspiracy bugs is called Trill: Unjoined, which you can read about on Memory Beta.
• Aidan's Tier Ranking of Season 2 Episodes:
  • S-Tier: Measure of a Man (9), Q Who (16)
  • A-Tier: Elementary Dear Data (3), A Matter of Honour (8), The Royale (12), The Emissary (20)
  • B-Tier: Peak Performance (21), Pen Pals (15)
  • C-Tier: The Child (1), Outrageous Okona (4), Loud as a Whisper (5), The Dauphin (10), Time Squared (13), Samaritan Snare (17), Manhunt (19)
  • D-Tier: Schizoid Man (6), The Icarus Factor (14), Up The Long Ladder (18)
  • F-Tier: Shades of Gray (22), Where Silence Has Lease (2)
• Lindsay's Tier Ranking:
  • S-Tier: Measure of a Man (9), Q Who (16), Elementary Dear Data (3)
  • A-Tier: Pen Pals (15), The Royale (12), The Emissary (20)
  • B-Tier: Peak Performance (21), Manhunt (19), A Matter of Honour (8)
  • C-Tier: Outrageous Okona (4), Loud as a Whisper (5), Time Squared (13), Samaritan Snare (17), Schizoid Man (6)
  • D-Tier: The Icarus Factor (14), Up The Long Ladder (18), The Dauphin (10)
  • F-Tier: Shades of Gray (22), Where Silence Has Lease (2), The Child (1)
• Twin Peaks actors appearing this season:
  • David L. Lander
  • Madchen Amick (Who we forgot to mention in the episode somehow!!!)
• Intro Music: Chasing Stars by AG Music
• Outro Music: Idle Hands by The Impossibulls