Star Trek: The Next Generation - All Good Things Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.0
Overall		4.0

Star Trek: The Next Generation - All Good Things Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman December 4, 2014

"It's so hard to say goodbye to Yesterday('s Enterprise)" as arguably the best single episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation and to The Best of Both Worlds as the best of the many good two-parter outings (both, curiously, anchors of the amazing third season). But "All Good Things" certainly gives them both a long, hard run for their proverbial money, and if absolutely nothing else this 92-minute Next Generation nail-biter is quite possibly the most satisfying television finale of them all, Star Trek universe or otherwise. A fitting tribute to the show's origins, its end-of-run present, and its possible future landscape, the double episode lovingly wraps things up with a well conceived story that, like all good things that also end, returns full circle back to the roots from which the show so boldly grew over its seven-year sojourn through time and space.

Make it so...old.

Troi and Worf's date is interrupted by a hastily arriving Captain Picard, demanding to know the stardate. He claims he's traveling through time, one minute inhabiting some distant future version of himself, the next back in a shuttle pod helmed by the late Tasha Yar, taking him to the Enterprise for the first time. Ship's sensors say he's not left the Enterprise, but a thorough medical examination reveals a possible answer: the onset of a dangerous neurological disorder that could be shaping his hallucinations. But he suddenly finds himself back in Judge Q's chambers for a trial of humanity that never ended. He's told that a strange spatial anomaly, which is appearing in the same spot along the Neutral Zone in all three timeframes, may be involved in his time traveling. With the help of his past and present crews and future versions of his closest friends, Picard unravels a dangerous secret that places him at the center of humanity's inevitable destruction.

There's something to be said for the full-circle approach to mark an end of something, and it works wonderfully here. Yet all things considered, this is, in essence, a fairly simple Star Trek story. It plays with time and involves a plot device that's heavily dependent on "techno babble," but both elements, and the latter in particular, are really just facilitators for what is a core human interest story that takes audiences back to the beginning while offering a glimpse into a future for every character, taking a look at where they've gone, who they have become, and at relationships that are stronger than ever or weaker than they might should be. The story involves arguably the second-greatest villain in Star Trek history in Q, the infinitely wise and all-powerful being who is somehow always foiled by Picard and crew and the "humanity" Q so readily believes to be a liability rather than an asset.

The final episode, then, is really far less about the details of what happens and certainly less about introducing anything truly novel or even exciting into the story, which could stand in for any number of episodes, but rather about the people the audience has come to love and know and treasure, those invisible but tangible relationships the viewers have formed with everyone involved in making the fictional ship run. It's a truly smart ending, then, making the story not the centerpiece but rather the means by which the audience can say goodbye while remembering where they've been, who they are, and what might some day become of them. After all, Star Trek has been, and always should be, about the relationships between the characters and the characters and the audience, not phaser blasts and aliens and spatial anomalies, which is why the final shot -- in all its relatable, effortlessly established, inviting, and yes, literally full-circle glory -- is the perfect send-off for the Next Generation crew, not all the action and excitement that comes before it.

Star Trek: The Next Generation - All Good Things Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Star Trek: The Next Generation - All Good Things follows the lead and maintains the precedent of excellence for The Next Generation on Blu-ray. While the 1.33:1-framed image suffers from a hint of light blockiness and a small to moderate bout of noise -- not to be mistaken for grain, which is present in some consistency -- it's nevertheless largely handsome and in fine condition. The image is free of major defect in terms of basic film wear-and-tear. Details are usually outstanding, with facial features -- including heavy makeup lines on Worf, Data, and aged characters such as Beverly Crusher -- standing out particularly well. Instrument clusters, set decoration, leather upholstery, and other objects additionally look marvelous. There is a light softness in spots that can render skin textures a little flat, but for the most part there's a quality, precisely detailed film-style appearance in every scene. Colors are consistently even in presentation, a hair warm, perhaps, in spots, but revealing the relaxed Enterprise interiors well with special emphasis on the definition and natural vibrancy found on crew red, blue, and mustard uniforms. Blacks are suitably deep though a bit noisy. This is another excellent, eye-catching presentation from CBS/Paramount.

Star Trek: The Next Generation - All Good Things Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Star Trek: The Next Generation - All Good Things features the series' Blu-ray go-to audio presentation, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack. As with the previous releases, this one is excellent. Music is full and rich, with wide spacing -- particularly over the thundering opening title sequence -- and an excellent sense of immersion. Listeners will appreciate the track's ability to present the music aggressively but still maintain precise fidelity. Ambient sound effects are also impressive. Engine hum, computer system bleeps and bloops, a crackling fireplace, or light airy outdoor atmospherics in select scenes are healthy and enveloping. Phaser blasts rip through the stage in a key battle scene in chapter nine. Dialogue is well defined and delivery is firmly focused in the center with a natural reverberation in the "courtroom" sequence. All told, this is an excellent presentation and one in-line with the rest of the series.

Star Trek: The Next Generation - All Good Things Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Star Trek: The Next Generation - All Good Things contains an audio commentary track, a retrospective feature, deleted scenes, and episode TV spots.

• Audio Commentary: Writers Ronald D. Moore and Brannon Braga are joined by Blu-ray Special Features Producer Roger Lay to discuss the show.
• The Unknown Possibilities of Existence: Making "All Good Things..." (1080p, 26:00): Cast and crew remember the hardships of writing the final episode, story core basics, ensuring continuity, production design, ship models, returning Q and Tasha Yar, the journey through to the finale, Star Trek's place and purpose, emotions on the set, and shooting Generations almost immediately after wrapping the finale.
• Deleted Scenes (1080p, 7:49): Five scenes, each with accompanying text that sets the stage for each one.
• Episodic Promos (480i): Part 1 (0:35) and Part 2 (0:34).

Star Trek: The Next Generation - All Good Things Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Even all these years later, "All Good Things" resonates with powerful emotional journeys through Next Generation's past, present, and future. While the core story may be just a touch hackneyed -- more time traveling for the crew and more anomalies to solve -- the episode absolutely operates well above its means, not simply as, then, "the end" and not simply now as "nostalgia" but rather a truly fitting final farewell that bridges the series and extends it forward, an all-encompasing bear hug of everything the show was, is, and might have been decades down the road. It even ends on the perfect final moment that conveys a true sense of togetherness, contentment, whimsy, fate, and further adventure. It's hard to say goodbye, but thanks to this excellent Blu-ray it's easy to say a hard goodbye time and again. Star Trek: The Next Generation - All Good Things features strong video and audio that fits the normal mold for the series' Blu-ray run. A nice little collection of exclusive extra content rounds out a must-own release. Highly recommended.