Star Trek The Next Generation Season 7 and Star Trek TNG: All Good Things were both released on Blu-ray on December 2.
The voyages of the Starship Enterprise come to an end with Season 7 of The Next Generation on blu-ray. These 24th Century adventures of Captain Jean-Luc Picard and co. originally aired back in 1993/94 and are released now as part of CBS’s ongoing remastering and restoration program of the original 35mm prints. I’ve previously reviewed Season 6 and was impressed by the work done to update the classic episodes so lets see if the same holds true for this, the final release of the remastered editions.
Season 7 brought the show to a end just prior to the cast setting off on their own feature film project. A a theme of family was layered throughout the 26 episodes giving a heightened emotional level to the stories told. After seven years together the crew had much of their characters fleshed out and the show used this to deliver a number of character driven stories, many of these episodes are more touching than exciting and memorable but provide a warm blanket of an ending to the show. Relationships are deepened and explored, people pasts are raised, each core cast member gets a great showcase for their respective actors talents as well as development for their characters.
The season still contained a number of memorable episodes. Parallels shows Worf hopping between different realities, each offering up a different view of a path not taken on the show. The Pegasus looks at a dark chapter of Riker’s career and a coverup that threatens to cause war with the Romulan empire. Inheritance is a touching addition where Data finally meets his “mother” and Genesis gives us a bit of a horror slanted episode on board ship when a medical procedure goes wrong.
Season 7 also has one of the episodes I have always remembered very fondly, Lower Decks, where the focus switches from the well know command staff to some junior officers offering a fascinating insight into another level of how the Enterprise functions. No season-long arc is present but the show did seed elements of the Cardassian Empire and the existence of the Maquis rebellion in multiple episodes, both key components of the new and upcoming series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
Overall, a lot of the season felt geared towards the series finale, All Good Things, an episode with a lot of ambition that largely delivered. Picking up from the first episode, Encounter at Farpoint, it brought back Q and his trial of humanity justifying their existence in the galaxy. Touching on past, present and future it is an exciting and emotional way to bring such a beloved series to Fan end.
THE PACKAGEOne expanded case houses six discs containing all 25 episodes and a wealth of extras. Episodes are presented in their original 1.33:1 aspect ratio, so don’t be surprised to see those vertical black bars along the sides. Each season being released on blu-ray has been remastered from the original 35mm film and with new visual effects added. The result is faithful to the original but utterly stunning to see, its like night and day comparing the definition of these episodes to those previously shown on TV or released on home video. A clarity and contrast has been imbued that is beautiful to behold, effects have been updated. Its like an old friend that has been on a detox that’s taken years off. 20 years of technological advancements have been applied with a lot of care to bring the show to a better standard. Overall scope looks grander, small details more intricate, its really impressive and really is something that you won’t truly appreciate until you see the difference.
As with previous releases, the extras are a event unto themselves. A host of deleted scenes from multiple episodes span the discs as do several episode commentaries. A gag reel is a humorous, if short addition. The real meat comes in a series of Archival Mission Logs. Mission Overview Year Seven looks at behind the scenes of filming and frames production against the backdrop of other Star Trek projects being worked on as well as the themes of the final season. A Captain’s Tribute has Patrick Stewart reminiscing on his relationship with his co-stars during the making of the show and now. Departmental Briefing Year Seven: Production focuses on detailing the making of a few specific episodes while Starfleet Moments and Memories is a more personal look at the cast and crew on set during filming. Finally, Special Profiles looks at two recurring characters on the show, John De Lancie’s Q and Majel Barrett’s Lwaxana Troi while The Making of “All Good Things…” shows off aspects of how the finale was put together.
It doesn’t end there. In Conversation: Lensing Star Trek: The Next Generation shows a rather technical side to the production of the show as well as other behind the scenes tidbits while Journey’s End: The Saga of Star Trek: The Next Generation has Riker himself, Jonathan Frakes, hosting a retrospective on multiple aspects of the shows history. A highlight of the disc is Closed Set: A Tour of the Real Enterprise, where Mike and Denise Okuda (Production designers) take viewers on a somewhat unauthorized secret camcorder tour of the set when it was closed .
The big new addition to the release is The Sky’s the Limit: The Eclipse of Star Trek: The Next Generation. A behind the scenes documentary, spit into three parts. The first, Umbra deals with production of the final season and future plans and focuses largely on the writing staff. Part Two: Penumbra shows more insights from production including makeup, set construction and special effects people and how such aspects were balanced in terms of budget and in respect to the cast. Finally, Part Three: Antumbra, interviews the main cast as they look back on episodes of note to them and how the show affected their lives and future careers. In all, a great addition to the set which puts the influences of the show on those involved as well as the industry in great perspective.
STAR TREK: TNG — ALL GOOD THINGS
In addition to the complete Season 7, the series finale All Good Things is being released as a feature length separate release. On that standalone blu-ray the feature-length finale has also been remastered into hi-def. The 1995 Hugo Award winner for “Best Dramatic Presentation” looks at the past, present and future of Captain Picard and a threat to the very existence of humanity. This release includes a new documentary not included on the Season 7 set, The Unknown Possibilities of Existence: Making ‘All Good Things… and several deleted scenes as well as audio commentary by showrunners and writers Ronald D. Moore and Brannon Braga. A great package that does justice to an ambitious and sweeping final episode of TNG.
All good things must come to an end, such is the case with these remastered blu-rays. It is simply a stunning project and immense undertaking and overall has been a resounding success. Star Trek: The Next Generation is a show cherished by a huge, passionate fan base and it is rare to see a studio project reflect such affection such as is the case here with this re-release. The attention to the presentation gives the show a new lease of life and the wealth of extras are sufficient to please even the most hard core fan. One only hopes such efforts are made to bring Deep Space Nine to its fans in such a similar manner. A truly great release of a emotional final season.
STAR TREK: TNG Season 7 Official Blu-Ray Details:
Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 7 Bonus Content The Sky’s the Limit: The Eclipse of Star Trek: The Next Generation (HD) In Conversation: Lensing Star Trek: The Next Generation (HD) In Conversation: The Directors (HD) Audio Commentary By Brannon Braga (2008) Journey’s End: The Saga of Star Trek: The Next Generation (SD) Closed Set: A Tour of the Real Enterprise (SD) Archival Mission Log: A Captain’s Tribute (SD) Archival Mission Log: Starfleet Moments and Memories (SD) Archival Mission Log: Special Profiles (SD) Archival Mission Log: Mission Overview Year Seven (SD) Archival Mission Log: Inside Starfleet Archives: Dressing The Future (SD) Archival Mission Log: Departmental Briefing Year Seven: Production (SD) Archival Mission Log: The Making of “All Good Things…” (SD) Deleted Scenes x23 (HD) Gag Reels (HD)
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