The Second Season of Star Trek the Next Generation has often been downplayed due to multiple production and writing staff problems, and several major cast changes. Although of mixed quality, it does contain some outstanding and brilliant episodes. Senior Trekker is extremely grateful to all those people who worked so hard under difficult circumstances to keep it on our screens.
Another "possession" episode, giving Brent Spiner all sorts of split-personality, quick-change characterisation to do. The trouble is we know he can do it, we've seen it before and we're not sure how soon we want to see it again. Never mind, it's well written, we see two unforgettable guest actors and the jokes are a great deal funnier than any of the forced attempts at humour we heard a couple of episodes back.
Both Suzie Plakson as Dr Solar and William Morgan Sheppard as Dr Ira Graves have appeared in Star Trek on multiple occasions. Both are instantly recognisable; she for her incredible, statuesque good looks and he for his deep gravelly voice. However, despite this potential disadvantage, they inhabited their many different characterisations so seamlessly they have both become part of the Star Trek family. Suzie Plakson works mainly in music and theatre these days, while our beloved Mr Sheppard, who seemed to find the time to appear in every Sci Fi series we've ever loved, finally left us to Go Beyond the Rim in 2019.
(Senior Trekker scores every episode with a 5)