Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

Star Trek: The Next Generation, Season 1 Blu-ray Movie Review

Boldly going where only three episodes have gone before.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman July 19, 2012

Welcome to the 24th Century.

"Star Trek: The Next Generation" on Blu-ray may not be the accomplishment of the impossible, but it's certainly an accomplishment of the improbable. Since Blu-ray's inception -- and particularly since the stunning Blu-ray debut of the classic 1960s "Star Trek" -- fans have wondered about and hoped for TNG to make its way to Blu-ray. Talk of time and cost prohibitions in remastering and recreating special effects originally intended for broadcast in standard definition in the 1980s and early 1990s, created on low-res video, dimmed the glimmer of hope that were the original film elements, elements which would allow at least the bulk of the show -- pretty much anything not in some way dependent on a visual effect -- to be relatively easy to bring to Blu-ray. The Original Series was only three seasons long and "the" "Star Trek" to preserve, if one were only going to see one series live on for future high definition formats. TNG might be a fan favorite, but the undertaking would be astronomical to repurpose and recreate all of the visual effects and keep the integrity and original appearance of each episode perfectly intact.

Looking good.

Fortunately, Trekkies are a pretty influential bunch, always with wide-open wallets and eager to consume anything and everything "Trek," including costly season Blu-ray releases. On the other end is Paramount, a studio that seems to understand its Trekkie fans and that puts some effort into supplying what the marketplace demands. Finally, word had it that Paramount was undertaking the unthinkable and making TNG suitable for Blu-ray, ready for high definition, primed to dazzle fans. A three-episode sampler showed not just how great the series looks on Blu-ray and with its special effects reworked for high definition, but what a labor of love it must have been to recreate the necessary elements, to boldly bring to light a remarkable undertaking that has reshaped but in no way sacrificed the integrity of the original TNG episodes, resulting in a series and a Blu-ray release suitable for the next generation of fans and beyond.

It's certainly not the finest season of "The Next Generation," but season one is still home to some fabulous episodes, episodes that both hearken back to classic stylings of the original series but that also blaze a new forward-thinking arc appropriate for a new generation of fans and a fictional Enterprise crew alike. The superficial differences are easy to spot -- the holodeck, insignia communicators, a bigger but sleeker ship -- but at its core this "Trek" remains the same, shinier and more streamlined and maybe even with a better all-around cast of characters than the original triumvirate of Kirk-Spock-McCoy, separated as the obvious key players in the original, with the likes of Uhura, Scotty, Sulu, and Chekov playing second-fiddle. The same might be said of Picard-Riker-Data, but even through season one audiences are treated to character-specific episodes and deeper character studies that go beyond almost anything found in The Original Series. But it's that same core that really makes "The Next Generation" such a wonderful show. That "Trek" core is comprised of two main elements: Sci-Fi exploration and wonderful cast chemistry. Just as Kirk and Spock and Bones just felt like longtime friends -- one another's friends and the audience's friends, too -- the entire TNG cast demonstrates a sense of family and togetherness that's not just a reflection of Starfleet and the mission of the NCC-1701-D, but also the unique cast camaraderie and the fantastic writing that shapes them all beyond what even a show of this level of scrutiny, this much burden on its shoulders, needed.

Season One obviously introduces most of the main characters and sets them up for future recurring plot lines and arcs, but it's clear the show was still finding its stride, even with all of the important pieces in place. There's the expected mixture of good and bad episodes, episodes that stand out for their storytelling prowess and smarts and those carried by the cast alone. There are episodes that might have worked better later down the line in a more established TNG and those that would just fall flat no matter the circumstance. Season one does find some recurring themes, chiefly Wesley Crusher's intellect and his knack for seeing things and saving the ship, if anyone will give him the time of day in a crisis situation, anyway. Season one also introduces "The Traveler," a character who will ultimately shape Wesley's future beyond any Starfleet classroom or first-hand experience aboard a Galaxy-class starship ever could. Wil Wheaton's performance is unsure and clunky -- it never improves to any drastic extent until he's no longer a regular on the series -- but the character is superb if not lightly cliché. Uneven though the performance may be, Wheaton becomes such a face of "Star Trek" that it's impossible to envision another in the role, or the part lost altogether.

Denise Crosby's Tasha Yar is the other season one highlight character for obvious reasons. A character built on an aggressive back story, a woman shaped by years of hardship and hate but given a soft underbelly and played with an even keeled gentleness matched by firmness and toughness equalled only by Worf makes Yar a character difficult to watch depart, but with the show's unparalleled success in future seasons, one just cannot imagine the character or actress present for more than a good cameo or two down the line, those episodes, in fact, some of the best the series has to offer in later seasons. The series does however miss out with too little of John De Lancie's "Q" character, introduced only minutes into the series and arguably the best villain "Star Trek" has ever seen on the small screen, at least beyond the inimitable Khan. Audiences are treated to a couple of Q episodes in season one -- the critical one will come in season two -- and one can only wonder what might have been were he more of a regular, as an antagonist, eventual protagonist, something in between, or merely a crutch used to enhance some of the lesser episodes. De Lancie's performance is stellar, as good as anybody else on the show or in "Trek" history, an underutilized asset but an asset at least. Lastly, there's the mess of the Chief Engineer role muddling up the works, a surprise to see the series go forward without someone in the "Scotty" part. While LaForge would ultimately settle into the position and settle into it naturally, Season One goes through without an identity at such a critical station, the closest it ever comes being the part-timer "Argyle," a flat character who simply never takes off.

Season One highlight episodes include:

• Encounter at Farpoint: Stardate 41153.7. Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) is the captain of the newly-christened U.S.S. Enterprise, the Galaxy Class vessel en route to the mysterious Farpoint station to study its energy-creating powers, a scientific anomaly which the local Bandi people wish to share with the Federation, though they are not a member. Suddenly, a powerful being emerges on the bridge. It calls itself "Q" (John de Lancie) and orders Picard to turn the vessel around and leave what they do not understand alone. Picard refuses, leading Q to briefly demonstrate humanity's inhumane past for which he places Picard on trial. The Captain, flanked by Lt. Commander Data (Brent Spiner), Lt. Tasha Yar (Denise Crosby), and ship's Counselor Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis), withstand Q's repeated attacks and broker an agreement: allow them to demonstrate humanity's advancements vis-à-vis the Farpoint mission. Q reluctantly accepts, confident in Picard's inability to prove mankind's betterment. With time running low, the crew -- including the newly-boarded Dr. Crusher (Gates McFadden), Commander Riker (Jonathan Frakes), and Lt. LaForge (LeVar Burton) -- must learn the secret of Farpoint and prove man's capabilities or suffer at the hands of the enigmatic, egomaniacal, and seemingly all-powerful Q.
• The Last Outpost: Stardate 41386.4. The Enterprise is in pursuit of a starship manned by a mysterious alien race known as the Ferengi. The Enterprise is to recover a T-9 energy converter the Ferengi have stolen and that is believed to be on board the vessel. Not only does the Federation hope to recover the stolen property, but to finally achieve close contact with a species defined only by the rumor mill where they have been compared to "Yankee Traders" of Earth's past, capitalists of the fiercest kind. Their technology is believed to be equal to the Federation's in the aggregate. The pursuit ends above an uncharted alien world where the Enterprise suddenly loses critical systems. The ship becomes immobilized, the partially telepathic Counselor Troi senses nothing from the Ferengi, and a stalemate appears to be the Enterprise's best option for survival. Events lead the Enterprise crew to believe the Ferengi vessel to be far more advanced, but in the chaos, the crew forgets the planet above which they orbit and the possibility that the power drain and inability to move comes from below, and not the enemy vessel.
• Where No One Has Gone Before: Stardate 41263.1 The Enterprise has rendezvoused with the Fearless. Coming aboard is a propulsion expert who is tasked with conducting tests on the Enterprise's engines. Riker and Data believe the engineer's tests to be worthless; computer simulations using the new data constantly result in no increase in performance or efficiency. The engineer, a smug and overly confident and assertive man named Kosinski (Stanley Kamel), arrives with a mysterious alien with an unpronounceable name who will be known only as "The Traveler." Much to The Traveler's surprise, child prodigy Wesley Crusher (Wil Wheaton) tweaks Kosinski's specs to improve on them, and as the test begins, the mysterious Traveler begins to fade in-and-out of the visible spectrum as the Enterprise exceeds the known limitations of warp speed, arriving in an unknown area of space estimated to be well over two million light years from home where, even at maximum warp, it would take the ship 300 years to return to Federation territory. As the crew-plus-two work on reaching home, they begin to experience hallucinations and see visions from their pasts.
• Justice: Stardate 41255.6. The Enterprise has arrived on a habited, peaceful planet home to lifeforms not dissimilar to humans. The crew is granted shore leave. The planet shows no negatives. Its laws are simple and the people, known as the "Edo," are polite, fit, scantily clad, and always in motion. They are always willing to please in any way. Wesley joins the away team with the mission to evaluate the planet as a place suitable for younger members of the crew to vacation. Wesley is too young for the adult's games of "love" and leaves to play with other children on the planet. Meanwhile, in orbit, the Enterprise detects a hidden vessel that appears to be partially transparent and that demands an explanation of humanity's purpose in space. Communication ends with a warning not to interfere with the inhabitants on the planet below. Back on the planet, all seems to be going well until Wesley accidentally falls into a clump of flowers. He becomes subject to the world's laws and punishment, which mean death. Now, Picard and crew must fight to save his life while respecting the world's customs and appeasing the dangerous and unknown entity in orbit.
• The Battle: Stardate 41723.9. The Enterprise has rendezvoused with a Ferengi vessel that has requested a meeting, but for three days hails have gone unanswered. Picard is feeling "odd," "fatigued," and is suffering through a headache, the latter of which is an illness of the past. Finally, contact. Daimon Bok (Frank Corsentino) requests to discuss an urgent matter with the Captain, either onboard his vessel or on the Enterprise. Troi senses deception and ill-will, and it is agreed that the Damon will board the Federation's flagship where Picard may be safe. They present Picard with a gift to commemorate the Battle of Maxia: they have returned to him the Stargazer, Picard's old vessel thought long gone, a vessel he was forced to abandon following the battle. Unfortunately, the Ferengi are up to no good, and reliving the past might just be the beginning of the end for the Captain.
• Hide and Q: Stardate 41590.5. An accidental explosion has decimated a Sigma Three Solar system mining colony. A forcefield slows the Enterprise while en route to lend critical aid, a forcefield matching the pattern of that encountered on the Farpoint mission. Picard urges Q to allow the ship to move forward, but the powerful being claims his visit is more important than saving lives, offering instead the "realization of impossible dreams." Q sends Riker, Data, Geordi, Yar, and Worf (Michael Dorn) to an alien world, while Picard finds himself alone on the Enterprise, stuck on the bridge with systems down. Q challenges his "away team" to an unfair game of "stay alive," and one false move may cost them dearly. For Commander Riker, however, victory means an opportunity impossible to refuse.
• The Big Goodbye: Stardate 41997.7. The Enterprise is en route to meet with a demanding, exacting insect species that expects a precise greeting nearly impossible to deliver with the human tongue, and Captain Picard is struggling with the specifics. Counselor Troi orders the captain to take time away from the preparations and enter into the holodeck to try out the new 1940s-themed "Dixon Hill" detective program. Picard becomes rather obsessed with it and his performance as the title character, and none other than Data becomes immersed in the world as well. Unfortunately, a dangerous probe interferes with the holodeck, causing a malfunction that turns a relaxing retreat into deadly serious business.
• Datalore: Stardate 41242.4. The Enterprise is headed to Omicron Theta, Data's home planet. The android crew member holds the memories and accumulated knowledge of the 411 people lost on the world. The colony was wiped out, and the away team discovers a dead planet on the surface and an abandoned lab underground which was once the workplace of Dr. Noonien Soong, Earth's preeminent robotic engineer. In storage, the away team discovers the disassembled pieces of a second android, identical to Data. The assembled pieces come alive. It dubs itself Lore (played by Brent Spiner), claims Data was made imperfect and that he was crafted to iron out Data's flaws. Indeed, Lore is a vastly different entity, far more human and, therefore, more cunning. He sets into motion a plan that could spell the end for everyone aboard the ship.
• 1001001: Stardate 41365.9 The Enterprise is holding inside a starbase above Tarsis III for routine maintenance. Coming aboard are the "Binars," alien beings who will be performing the scheduled computer maintenance. While the work is underway, the crew preoccupies itself with various off-duty tasks: conferences, painting, sports. Commander Riker and Captain Picard tour the new and improved holodeck, immersing themselves in a classic Bourbon Street Jazz club and enjoying the presence of a uniquely real holodeck character. Suddenly, a crisis forces the evacuation of the entire ship, leaving the Binars alone on the Enterprise -- or so they believe.
• Coming of Age : Stardate 41416.2. Wesley Crusher is to be tested for entrance into Starfleet Academy. In his testing, Wesley finds himself up against three additional candidates and forced to face his greatest fear. Meanwhile, fortune has it that Picard's old friend, Admiral Quinn, is beaming aboard. He is accompanied by Lieutenant Commander Remmick. Sadly, the reunion is not a pleasant one. They require an immediate, urgent audience with the Captain, alone. Remmick will be conducting a thorough investigation of the Enterprise; Starfleet believes something to be amiss. The investigation leaves the crew on edge, uncertain of why they are being so harshly grilled.
• Skin of Evil: Stardate 41601.3. The Enterprise's warp engines are down, traveling on impulse power only, en route to rendezvous with Counselor Troi's shuttlecraft. The Enterprise receives an emergency transmission from the shuttle. It's going down near an uninhabited planet. The Enterprise finally achieves limited warp power and rushes to the scene of the crash. Little is known of the planet below. Sensors cannot penetrate a layer of debris, and the survivors cannot be beamed aboard. However, an away team beams to the surface, locates the crashed shuttle, and discovers a living black tar substance that refuses to allow the away team to pass and that could spell the end for one of the crew.
• Conspiracy: The Enterprise is en route to the ocean world Pacifica, known as the "jewel of the galaxy." The ship receives a "code 47," a Starfleet emergency transmission for Captain's eye's only. Picard is told of an urgent threat to Starfleet, a matter so grave that even conversation over a secured channel is too risky. Picard is to urgently meet with an old friend, Captain Walker Keel, on the planet Dytallix B. Several additional vessels have arrived for a secure conference below. The topic: a threat to Starfleet, changes to key personnel, odd orders being given and followed. Picard is reluctant to believe in wild conspiracy theories, but further evidence suggests that there may be more -- much more -- to this threat to Starfleet than Picard could have ever imagined.
• The Neutral Zone: Stardate 41986.0. The Enterprise has discovered an ancient Earth probe hailing from the late 20th century. The crew convinces Commander Riker -- in charge while Picard is away at an urgent conference -- to allow them the opportunity to explore the probe. Inside, Worf and Data discover humans inside cryogenic chambers, some dead, some alive. The Captain returns with news of Romulan movement after a half-century of silence. The Enterprise rushes to the Neutral Zone to assess the situation. While at high warp and approaching the Zone, the capsule survivors awaken. They're shocked to discover to be alive in the year 2300 and aboard a highly advanced vessel populated by androids and aliens serving alongside their human counterparts.

Star Trek: The Next Generation, Season 1 Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Ultimately, the Blu-ray releases of these "Star Trek: The Next Generation" seasons will be defined by their video presentations. Lossless sound aside and any additional content merely added bonuses, the meat of these releases, and the highlighted element, will be the picture quality. Paramount teased audiences with the dazzling sampler disc referenced above, and the good news is that the stunning picture quality carries over to every season one episode. All warts are minor and all of the goodness magnified. This is a resplendent presentation, and with an entire season's worth of content to gaze upon rather than a select trio of episodes to critique, it's clear that Paramount's all-in with these titles, that the sampler disc was no fluke (not that anyone expected it to be), that TNG fans are in for a real treat, that the step up from the DVD releases is ridiculously high. Suddenly, even the worst episodes are worth watching all over again. All of the little details are clear (and in some cases a little too clear and well-defined), and all of the special effects dazzle in high definition. Indeed, as to the latter, this model of the Enterprise has never looked so good. It always appeared darker both inside and outside in Generations, leaving behind the ultra-bright episode stylings for a more toned-down, shadowy look that reinforced mood and hid some of the imperfections that are all-too-evident in some shots on this Blu-ray. The detail is so fine that audiences will catch bad and good alike: seams in carpet, wear and tear on the floor below the view screen, creases in the leather chairs around the bridge, the smooth texture and lines of the wraparound wooden tactical console station, and all sorts of fine little visual nuances around the ship's interior. On the outside, the level of detail on the Enterprise just might take fans' collective breaths away. Never has the ship been so clear, so well defined, so smooth, so even. The deflector array, before an identifiable shape and color but always a bit unstable and wavy around the edges, is now remarkably crisp and smooth, perfectly detailed and precisely colored.

The fun doesn't stop there. Whereas several of the Next Generation movies fared somewhat poorly on Blu-ray, offering smoothed over photography and uninspiring details on characters and uniforms, the first season features just the opposite. Audiences will appreciate the natural complexity of Data's makeup, the perfection of Worf's headpiece, the surprisingly cheap-looking (in HD) LaForge visor, and the facial makeup on the ladies. Natural lines offer a nice texture to faces, and the Starfleet uniforms appear complex and lifelike, so much so that little imperfections, frays, uneven lines, and all sorts of little touches are evident. Colors are fabulous as well. The mustard uniforms in particular appear much more balanced here, the bright red command uniforms are stable, and Wesley's wild clothes -- an orange sweater and the infamous light gray top with the rainbow shoulders -- hold up nicely. The natural, easy-on-the-eyes hues around the bridge look great, and the LCARS readouts offer stable and evenly-colored text and, of course, effortless sharpness. The detail does reveal the relative phoniness of props; close-ups of various consoles and devices disappoint a bit, but likely because they were really only intended to hold up on small low-def TVs, not the scrutiny of Blu-ray. Some planet side shots don't fare quite as well, though the usual collection of matte paintings and fake rocks are easy enough to spot. Grain is less pronounced on away missions as well; "Justice" appears smoother in that regard, but never is fine detailing betrayed. In fact, that world's grasses and structural details impress as much as anything aboard the Enterprise. Every episode is presented in a 1.33:1 aspect ratio, preserving the show's original broadcast integrity. The series looks at home in this format, with the film textures and revamped special effects both dazzling even with the black bars appearing on either side of HD displays. On the down side, there are a few lightly soft shots here and there, a touch of banding (evident, for example, along the background in the scene Data first unearths Lore), and a handful of white speckles, an example of the latter coming across LaForge's station on the bridge at the 3:37 mark of "The Last Outpost." Yet those are real nitpicks. Season One looks absolutely fantastic; every fan owes it himself or herself to see just how remarkable this looks. (Note: The episode "We'll Always Have Paris" contains two seconds of SD video unconverted to HD).

Star Trek: The Next Generation, Season 1 Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Fans dazzled by the wonderful video presentation might briefly overlook the audio presentation in the very early goings, but it doesn't take long to recognize the excellence of Paramount's wonderful DTS-HD MA 7.1 lossless soundtrack. This is a very full, even track, one that absolutely places the listener aboard the Enterprise, whether on her bridge, in the engineering section, or elsewhere. The track enjoys the steady, low engine rumble that blends into the environment like a white noise, but it's a crucial detail that truly defines the listening experience. Various bleeps and bloops are expertly placed around the bustling bridge, while the heavier pulsating rhythm of the warp engines in engineering float into the stage with good power and tight bass. Down on planets, light ambience -- whether the sound of vast emptiness on barren worlds or the bustle of a thriving alien city -- nicely penetrates the listening area and does well to place the listening audience into whatever environment each episode may have in store. Music plays with vigor and clarity, a combination that earns the presentation high marks. The opening title theme music is nothing short of a revelation; it's full, absolutely clear and clean, and totally immersive. The back channels carry a good bit of the load; there's no real distinguishing between the front and back, but the total sense of encirclement, combined with the swooshing of the Enterprise zipping from one corner of the stage to the next, proves an exhilarating combination. General music through the episodes enjoys pinpoint accuracy and smoothness. The track plays all of the major sound effects with wonderful precision and clarity. Phaser fire, torpedo launches, the jump to warp speed, and all sorts of episode-specific sound effects -- such as the Enterprise hurtling through space at before unachieved speeds in "Where No One Has Gone Before" -- are precisely placed in the stage and presented with the utmost definition. Hand phasers cut through the stage with regularity. Even the sounds of the holodeck, whether idyllic nature patterns or the bustling recreation of 1940s San Francisco in "The Big Goodbye," enjoy wonderful precision. Needless to say, dialogue is accurate, center-focused, and always intelligible. Don't overlook this soundtrack in favor of the video. This is everything the series' audio presentation should be, and then some.

Star Trek: The Next Generation, Season 1 Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

First, a note on the packaging. "Star Trek: The Next Generation" comes housed in a basic, no-frills case that packs in six discs in almost the same dimensions as a single-disc Blu-ray release. The slipcover is generic, identical to the case's artwork save for slightly-raised letters and graphics on the front. In other words, it's nothing special, nothing to set the release apart from anything else on the shelf, easy to overlook alongside the thousands of other titles at the store. One would think that for a show of this magnitude, a show of this sort of critical acclaim, historical significance, large fan base, high collectibility, and cost -- not to mention all the hard work that went into remastering it for Blu-ray and the frenzied anticipation for the release -- that Paramount/CBS would have done something a little more special; even the DVD releases came in a fancy-looking open-up box. But it's too late now; it would be more disappointing to change in midstream, for season one to mismatch future releases. Now, uniformity is preferred. It simply seems like a missed opportunity to complete the release.

As for the supplements, this six-disc set energizes fans with a large collection. There's new material specific to the Blu-ray as well as recycled archival content from previous DVD releases. Additionally, thirty-two second episode previews are optionally available ahead of every episode. These comprise the only "extras" on discs two, three, four, and five. Below is a breakdown of what's included on discs one and six, excluding the episode promos:

Disc One:

• Energized! Taking the Next Generation to the Next Level (1080p, 23:46): "Star Trek" authorities Michael and Denise Okuda, Producer Rick Berman, Eugene Roddenberry, VFX Coordinator Sarah Paul, and others discuss the process of bringing the show to high definition. Audiences are shown the Pennsylvania storehouse where the original film elements are located, taken behind the scenes into the nitty-gritty details of reviving the original film elements, and shown the process of recreating visual effects. The piece examines the need to retain the series' original 4x3 framing, remaining faithful to the original look and feel of the show's effects down to the smallest detail but adding little touches that were lost in standard definition, and creating a 7.1 lossless soundtrack by extending the track but respecting the original elements.
• Introduction to the Series (1987) (480p, 2:45, archival): A short piece that introduces viewers to the new Enterprise and her crew.
• Promo #1 (480p, 1:36, archival): Much the same as the above-referenced introduction; ditto promos two and three.
• Promo #2 (480p, 0:36, archival).
• Promo #3 (480p, 0:37, archival).
• Season One Promo (480p, 4:07, archival): A lengthier piece that expands on the first season and the characters, built with clips from various season one episodes.

Disc Six:

• Stardate Revisited: The Origin of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" Part 1: Inception (1080p, 28:09): This supplement combines new high definition footage with classic standard definition video segments originating from the series' inception. This piece covers a wide variety of topics, beginning with the process of convincing Gene Roddenberry to revitalize "Star Trek." Once the show was green-lit, challenges arose. Inception examines the raw process of developing the series and ideas for it, including Enterprise and prop design, character development, placing a Klingon on the bridge of a Federation starship, and casting Patrick Stewart over Stephen Macht for the role of Captain Jean-Luc Picard. Additionally, this supplement examines stretching the pilot episode to two hours, Roddenberry's reluctance to do so, and his creation of the "Q" character to fill out the time requirements. Interviewees include Rick Berman David Gerrold, D.C. Fontana, Andrew Probert, John Dwyer, Michael and Denise Okuda, and Herman Zimmerman.
• Stardate Revisited: The Origin of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" Part 2: Launch (1080p, 32:13): Actors Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, LeVar Burton, Brent Spiner, Gates McFadden, Wil Wheaton, Michael Dorn, Denise Crosby, and Marina Sirtis assemble to recall their auditions for the show's lead roles. These interviews build a narrative that shapes the show's construction and covers specific details of series design, including Worf's expanded role, the pronunciation of "Data" and the evolution of the Data makeup, the role reversals for Sirtis and Crosby, Sirtis' costumes and makeup, and Geordi's visor. Also touched upon is the cameo appearance by DeForest Kelley in the pilot episode.
• Stardate Revisited: The Origin of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" Part 3: The Continuing Mission (1080p, 32:42): This third segment opens with a look at the painstaking efforts to create the most seamless set design and model work possible. It examines cast chemistry and positive fan reaction to the series. However, it also looks at the conflict in the writers' room, Roddenberry's contributions to the scripts, and Denise Crosby's exit from the show. To be continued on the season two Blu-ray release.
• Gag Reel (480p, 8:10).
• The Beginning (480p, 18:01, archival): A retro overview piece that hits many of the same notes as the above and examines the process of getting the new series off the ground, the series' themes that remain then and now, production design, model work and visual effects, developing the pilot episode, casting, and Roddenberry's vision for the future.
• Selected Crew Analysis (480p, 15:18, archival): The process of finding the characters on both sides of the camera, casting the primary roles, character arcs and traits, character physical alterations, and cast camaraderie.
• The Making of a Legend (480p, 15:27, archival): This supplement examines set and ship design, special effects construction, Michael Okuda's contributions to set design, prop construction (including Geordi's visor), makeup application, and the series' music.
• Memorable Missions (480p, 17:04, archival): Cast and crew discuss some of the season's episodes and their memories of working on them.

Star Trek: The Next Generation, Season 1 Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Ultimately, it's just how well it all comes together right off the bat that paved the way for "The Next Generation" to enjoy a seven-year stretch of success. Even if the uniforms would need some tweaking, even if Dr. Crusher would come and go and come again, even if Riker hadn't yet grown in the beard, it's clear early on -- beyond the first handful of episodes which are largely forgettable -- that the series didn't only show promise, but promised greatness. The fantastic writing, cast chemistry, every last little detail comes together for that rare television success, and sustainable success at that. The revamped special effects are wonderful -- the Enterprise looks good enough for feature film duty and, indeed, is as pretty here as it was in Generations -- a real testament to the quality of work, the passion, the need to get this done, and to get it done right. Paramount's done a great job on this set. The picture quality is superb, the audio excellent, and the supplements unbeatable. Trekkies will want to buy it immediately, fans of great Blu-ray and television should buy it quickly, and anyone who's ever wanted to jump into "Star Trek" may as well jump in when the getting's good. I only wish my father were alive to see our favorite episodes looking and sounding like this, and while memories of watching the show with him on the old console television will never fade, this set is like seeing "The Next Generation" again for the first time, and it's so good it's suitable for both remembering the good times and beaming up new memories for and with a new generation of fans yet to be made. The effort is much appreciated, Paramount (and getting to work on "Deep Space Nine" would be too!). "Star Trek: The Next Generation" Season One is a no-brainer for inclusion near the top of 2012's "best of" list and the release earns my highest recommendation.