For fans of the show not already owning some previous release of this show on Blu-ray, this will be a welcomed release. For those of us wanting more, you'll have to wait for the next anniversary to roll around. This one is out now.
“Boldy go back to where it all began. Experience all 79 episodes of Star Trek: The Original Series, previously remastered with enhanced visuals and original audio, celebrating the stories, characters, and vision that inspired generations. From the bridge of the Enterprise to the far reaches of the universe, the adventure continues to inspire.”
There are very few television shows that can claim to have changed science fiction forever, but Star Trek: The Original Series is certainly one of them. When the series first premiered in 1966, nobody could have known that this relatively inexpensive science-fiction television show would eventually become one of the biggest franchises in entertainment history. Sixty years later, Star Trek has become much more than a television series. It has become a part of popular culture.
Created by Gene Roddenberry, Star Trek originally ran for only three seasons from 1966 to 1969, producing 79 episodes before being canceled. Its initial ratings were never particularly impressive, but the show found a completely new life in syndication. Fans began discovering the series, fan clubs and conventions grew, and over the years the series became a cultural phenomenon.
What made the original series so different was that it wasn’t simply about traveling through space and encountering strange alien civilizations. Roddenberry used science fiction as a way to mirror society and the culture at the time. Racism, war, discrimination, inequality, religion, could all be explored through stories about alien planets and futuristic civilizations. That was one of the smartest things about the series. It could take a controversial subject and disguise it as a science-fiction adventure.
The diversity of the Enterprise crew was also important. William Shatner’s Captain Kirk, Leonard Nimoy’s Spock, DeForest Kelley’s McCoy, Nichelle Nichols’ Uhura, George Takei’s Sulu, James Doohan’s Scotty and later Walter Koenig’s Chekov represented a future in which people from different backgrounds could work together toward a common goal. Nichelle Nichols’ role as Uhura became particularly significant, both as a prominent Black woman on television and through her later connection with NASA and efforts to encourage greater diversity in the space program.
The original series eventually led to animated series, numerous television series, feature films, novels, comic books, games and an enormous expanded universe. Shows like Star Trek: The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, Enterprise, Discovery, Picard, Strange New Worlds and others have all built upon the foundation established by the original crew. The franchise has continued to introduce new generations to the basic idea that the future doesn’t have to be something we fear. It can be something we strive to build.
Video
The original series still looks excellent on Blu-ray. These are the same high-definition remasters that fans have had available for years, and they remain the definitive way to watch the original series. The restoration cleaned up the original film elements while also providing the option of watching the original effects or the digitally enhanced visual effects.
There is plenty of detail in the image, the colors remain vibrant and the presentation generally looks much better than a television production from the 1960s has any right to look.
It would have been nice to have a 4k release for this milestone, one can only dream.
For someone who doesn’t already own The Original Series on Blu-ray, this is obviously a great way to get all three seasons in one package. For anyone who already owns one of the previous complete Blu-ray collections, however, there is very little reason to upgrade based on the picture quality alone.
Audio
The audio presentation is also carried over from the previous releases. The original series sounds clean and surprisingly good considering its age, with clear dialogue, music and effects.
Special Features
This is where I find the 60th Anniversary collection especially disappointing.
There are plenty of special features here, including the extensive behind-the-scenes material, interviews, commentaries, and other extras that have been included with previous releases. There are hours of material for longtime fans to explore.
But there is nothing new specifically created for the 60th Anniversary release. No new documentary, no new retrospective with surviving cast members or filmmakers. No new commentary looking back at the cultural impact of the series. The existing bonus material has simply been carried over.
The 50th Anniversary collection from 2016 was of course a bigger milestone at half a century. That set included 30 Blu-rays, The Animated Series, the TOS movies, more than 20 hours of bonus material, and a brand-new multipart documentary, The Journey to the Silver Screen, along with collectible items.
Compared with that release, the 60th Anniversary set feels surprisingly bare.
And then there is the packaging.
The discs are stacked and overlapping on plastic trays inside the case, meaning you have to remove discs sitting on top of other discs to get to the one you want. Collectors of physical media will know the pain of these cases. I have even broken a disc before due to the difficulty of getting these discs out.
This is especially disappointing when you compare it to the much more impressive presentation of the 50th Anniversary collection. That set actually felt like something designed for collectors. The 60th Anniversary edition feels more like someone took the existing Blu-rays, changed the artwork on the discs and put them into a new case.
Star Trek: The Original Series doesn’t need another anniversary to prove its importance. Sixty years later, its influence is everywhere. The series helped establish science fiction television as something capable of dealing with serious social and philosophical issues while still entertaining an audience. It inspired generations of writers, filmmakers, scientists, engineers and fans, and it created a universe that has continued to grow long after the original cast left the Enterprise.
This set will be a nice addition for newer fans of the show who are having difficulty finding the original series in stock anywhere. Let’s hope for at least the 70th anniversary to get a 4k release. This is out now.
