Peak Performance

Just like in season 1's 'The Battle', the Enterprise faces off against an antiquated Constellation-class ship. And just like in that episode, Riker and Picard are in command of either ships.

It's a fun idea to have wargames in Star Trek, though it doesn't really make sense that they do it somewhere anyone can just show up and interrupt them. Generally speaking there's a few too many instances where something conveniently happens to allow the story to play out. Having the "person sent by Starfleet" by a stupid caricature once again doesn't help.

Having recently watched each of the 22 episodes of Season Two again, I decided to rate them in order of my personal preference.

The points awarded to each episode are only used in comparison with other episodes of this season. The Top 6 shows as listed below are the ones I would choose to put forward from season two and add to my list of Top TNG shows of the entire series.

Each of these S02 'Top 6' shows will be reviewed again once I have completed watching the entire series as part of my REVIEW 2022.

Q Who (10/10) A Matter Of Honor (10/10) Peak Performance (10/10) Samaritan Snare (10/10) Pen Pals (09/10) The Measure Of A Man (09/10)

Three other episodes could have been included in this list, but overall missed the cut simply because I didn't feel they were quite as strong as these six.

Contagion (08/10) Unnatural Selection (08/10) Where Silence Had Lease (08/10)

Bottom Four Shows Of Season Two Up The Long Ladder (03/10) Shades Of Gray (03/10) Manhunt (03/10) The Dauphin (03/10)

We have everything in this, from the excitment of a battle full of surprises to the best skills of the characters and races in the series. I enjoyed every second of this episode. Much more fun than BORG assimilation episodes for sure. But I must admit, I love nothing more than spaceships in battle.

One thing I could not figure out is what value StarFleet saw in Roy Brocksmith? His particular alien race was deemed a master at strategic planning so StarFleet inflicts him on the Enterprise and Captain Picard as an observer as the ship is ordered to a war game exercise.

Only it's not a game when the Ferengis deal themselves in. Brocksmith proves himself a fine armchair admiral. It's Patrick Stewart who employs a correct strategy to rescue forty of his crew on another vessel which includes Riker, Worf, Geordi, and Wesley Crusher.

As always even in the Star Trek future, war is really no game at all.

Enterprise plays war-game style simulations to improve the battle readiness of the crew.

This is an enjoyable episode with some strong character moments for a number of the regular crew.

The plot is a very simple and effective premise that sets a up a practice showdown between various members of the Enterprise crew who are on board different ships. There is a good build up to the battle situation, a fun sub-plot and a conclusion that works well.

Most of the regular characters contribute with cool moments, my favourite probably being Wesley, Worf and eventually Data. Riker's prowess in battle is bragged up to the point of ridiculousness by certain segments dialogue in the script and the guest character serves as a point of ridicule but little else.

I enjoyed the visuals such as the Stratagema scenes and Ferenghi make up.

It's a 7.5/10 for me but I round upwards.