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Q Who (Star Trek - TNG episode production code 142) written by Maurice Hurley directed by Rob Bowman music by Ron Jones

Q Who This adventure does deserve mention in my reviews as well, primarily because it rekindles a sense of exploration for the show. We all know Star Trek stakes a claim on exploring the human condition, which has tended to confine the characters more and more on board their own ship while they examine their own navels. Here, the story "Q Who" takes important steps to externalize that exploration out into space and into clashes of cultures encountering each other for the first time. This is the very essence of what the show should be about. Some of the story's facets work better than others. John DeLancie's Q is still a bit on the light and goofy side, not yet having acquired the depth of characterization he would soon get from the season three episode "Déja Q" and carry into his subsequent appearances. Also on the light and goofy side is Starfleet engineering graduate Sonia Gomez, providing a nice contrast to Q's desire to join the crew by showing us how competitive the assignments to the Enterprise are in Federation society. This story doesn't really gel until Guinan comes into the mix, and a new brand of sparks begin to fly between her and Q. Guinan's character truly deepens here in this story as we've never seen it before up to this point in season two, and what we learn about her here is nearly as significant as what we learn about the Borg. Of course, the Borg take the cake in terms of being a successful repeat draw for the episode, and in their debut here manage to deliver the precise flavour of highly dramatic cultural exploration that sci-fi should always strive for. Of particular note is the neat way in which the discoveries made in this episode answer a few lingering questions put forth in the season one finale "The Neutral Zone" (story no. 25), helping to heighten and expand the scope of the Borg threat. Nice! The awesome score from "Q Who" is available on audio CD and .mp3 download here: The Ron Jones Project Disc 6 of 14 (The season two wrap-up can now be found on the season finale's page: "Shades of Gray".) Read the next Star Trek review: "Peak Performance"

Star Trek: The Next Generation - Season Two (1988-1989): Includes 22 episodes @ 45 minutes each. Click on the Amazon symbol for the desired disc format and location nearest you for more information:

DVD U.S. DVD Canada DVD U.K. (regular) 6-disc DVD set DVD U.S. DVD Canada DVD U.K. slimline DVD Extras include: Mission Overview (14 min.) Selected Crew Analysis Starfleet Archives Departmental Briefing: Production (17 min.) Departmental Briefing: Memorable Missions (16 min.)

Blu-ray U.S. NEW for Dec. 4, 2012. Blu-ray Canada NEW for Dec. 4, 2012. Blu-ray U.K. NEW for Dec. 10, 2012. 5-disc Blu-ray box set Blu-ray features add: 2 Audio Commentaries: "The Measure of a Man" by writer Melinda Snodgrass and scenic/graphic artists Mike and Denise Okuda. "Q Who" by director Rob Bowman, visual effects supervisor Dan Curry, and the Okudas. TNG 25th Anniversary Cast Reunion (HD, 62 min.) with Patrick Stewart (Picard), Jonathan Frakes (Riker), LeVar Burton (Geordi), Michael Dorn (Worf), Gates McFadden (Dr. Crusher), Marina Sirtis (Troi), Brent Spiner (Data), and Wil Wheaton (Wesley). "Making It So: Continuing The Next Generation" (HD 2-part documentary, 81 min.) Energized! Season Two Tech Update (HD, 8 min.) Gag Reel (HD, 10 min.) Deleted Scenes "The Measure of a Man" HD extended version (57 min.) and hybrid version (56 min.) Promos for each individual episode plus, all featurettes from the DVD version.

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