No conversation of sci-fi is complete without some consideration given to Gene Roddenberry’s timeless Star Trek universe. Clearly one of Paramount’s most admired IPs, Star Trek is beloved by legions of passionate fans the world over. I may not be a Trekkie by any measure, but I am a fan of the various Star Trek TV shows.
Until this week, the only Star Trek show on Blu-ray was the original series from the 60s. A classic in its own right, and a perfect late night background companion, Parmount did a superb job bringing the vintage classic to HD. Logically, the next step was to work on The Next Generation (TNG), which began airing in late September of 1987. In the face of significant doubt about the series’ ability to uphold or surpass the greatness of the original, The Next Generation would run for seven successful seasons, greatly expanding the lore of Star Trek.
A few months back, Paramount released a teaser disc with three TNG episodes that was quite impressive. Indeed, it has taken Paramount a long time to step through each of these episodes, painstakingly cleaning and touching up images, inserting enhanced effects and generally going even further beyond what they did with the original series. The result is spectacular, making TNG appear as though it were shot just last season, not twenty-five years ago.
Those interested in this release are probably fans of the show already, and given the age and popularity of this season, and TNG in general, I don’t think I need to spend much time breaking down the episodes. Season 1 has plenty of memorable plots and moments to be sure, but there are also several episodes that aren’t as special. Some of my favorites include the classic two part pilot episode, Encounter At Farpoint, Where No One Has Gone Before, and Datalore. These, and certainly most of the others in season one, are episodes I can watch again and again, something that most of the original series had going for it as well. A handful of episodes I don’t like as much include Code of Honor, Haven, and The Naked Now.
Opinions and arguments over favorite episodes and moments and the like can be had to exhaustion, but one fact that is undeniable is the quality of work that went into the restoration. As stated earlier, the image quality here makes it appear that this show was shot in HD from the beginning. Smart, subtle new effects were added where it makes sense, and while they may be easy to spot — such as a gorgeously rendered Enterprise — these changes and tweaks are welcomed. Aside from the effects, the scene-by-scene details in the actor’s faces, in their clothing, and in the background are really impressive. The clarity presented to the viewer is a treat for anyone who, like me, enjoys surveying the detail of the sets and backgrounds and ‘non-focal things’ that each scene has to offer. Sick bay, the bridge, engineering — each set looks pristine and this visual clarity and general technical fidelity does wonders to immerse you further into the show.
Great plots, acting, and a superb visual presentation do a lot to captivate, but the experience isn’t fully realized until you can let the 7.1 audio take you Warp 11. What I liked most about the audio package was both the subtle, ambient noises that make you feel like you’re aboard the Enterprise in the same room as the actors. On the other hand, the more powerful sounds of the Enterprise carry the anticipated impact as well — from warp engines to photons firing, the volume shifts of the audio track never spike too much nor sound too low. The balance between ambience, dialogue, and over-arching sounds and music was masterfully done.
A release on the scale of this would not be complete without a host of extra features. Fortunately, Paramount does not disappoint here either, including some ‘filler’ extras — like the thirty second promos for each episode — as well as most (or all, I’m not sure) of the extra features from the DVD release from years past — and some brand new material including a roundtable discussion with the main cast. The end result is somewhere around three and a half hours of material. Features are found on disc one and six, and include the following:
-Energized! Taking the Next Generation To the Next Level (24m) – A must-watch for those that are curious how this amazing HD-ificiation took place.
-Intro to the Series & Promos (SD, ~10m) – Some vintage promotional material made around the time of the series launch in 1987.
-Stardate Revisited: The Origin of Star Trek: The Next Generation Part 1 of 3: Inception (28m) – It’s interesting to think back to the origins of a series after it’s been so popular and successful for so long, but this feature goes into good detail about how the TNG known and loved today could have been much different, or not even created at all.
-Stardate Revisited: The Origin of Star Trek: The Next Generation Part 2 of 3: Launch (32m) – The main cast gets together to reminisce, a fascinating watch even for the casual to moderate Trek fan like me.
-Stardate Revisited: The Origin of “Star Trek: The Next Generation” Part 3 of 3: The Continuing Mission (33m) – Not quite as interesting as parts one and two, but important nonetheless. This segment talks about the series popularity as well as some of the challenges it faced behind the scenes.
-The Beginning (SD, 18m) – An examination of getting the series launched and various trials involved in doing so.
-Selected Crew Analysis (SD, 15m) – A casting-focused feature about finding the right cast for the job.
-Gag Reel (SD, 8m) – TNG had plenty of subtle comedy throughout the first season, but seeing the normally serious characters in this light is earned a few laughs.
-The Making of A Legend (SD, 15m) – Another good behind the scenes features that focuses on the costumes, makeup, and sets that brought TNG to life.
-Memorable Missions (SD, 17m) – A vintage feature where members of the cast talk about their favorite moments of the first season.
The great thing about these features is that they’re all worth watching. There’s not a bunch of junk trailers, photos, promotional images, or audio commentary tracks that most of us will never listen to. Instead you’re given quality material, some vintage, some brand new, that’s simply worth watching, Trekkie or not.
With that, let’s get to the summary…
