Star Trek: The Next Generation - The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

Star Trek: The Next Generation - The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman June 4, 2016

Paramount has re-released 'Star Trek: The Next Generation' to Blu-ray, collecting all seven seasons -- previously only available individually -- into one package. The set offers no new supplements. Discs are identical to the previous releases, just transplanted into new packaging. See the "Special Features and Extras" section below for more information.

The new set (left) vs. all seven individual releases (right).

For full reviews of each season -- content, video, audio, and supplements -- please click through the appropriate links below:

• Season One
• Season Two
• Season Three
• Season Four
• Season Five
• Season Six
• Season Seven

Star Trek: The Next Generation - The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

For full video reviews, please click through the appropriate link above (spoiler: the series looks fantastic).

Star Trek: The Next Generation - The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

For full audio reviews, please click through the appropriate link above (hint: each episode sounds amazing).

Star Trek: The Next Generation - The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Star Trek: The Next Generation - The Complete Series contains all of the supplemental content from the individual season releases. In fact, the discs in this set are identical to the discs found in the individual releases, right down to the copyright date printed around the edge of each disc (2012 for season one, and so on). For supplemental content reviews, please click through the appropriate links above (the extras are terrific).

Considering that everything here is identical beyond the packaging, here's a quick look at. The massive 41-disc collection comes housed not in seven separate season-by-season cases, as they were presented previously and individually, but instead in two ginormous, clear plastic "Epik Pak" cases that stand a bit taller than the traditional Blu-ray case. They are, in fact, just about standard DVD case height. Seasons one, two, three, and four (23 discs total) are housed in case one and seasons five, six, and seven (18 discs) are housed in case two. Both cases measure approximately 7.25 inches high, 5.5 inches wide, and 2 inches deep. The discs inside are housed four per panel, two on each side, and are stacked one atop another in an offset pattern. Discs are uniformly blue with all the necessary identifying text clearly visible. The panels that hold the discs are held together by tabs and flip open as if pages in a book. They also completely remove from the case, which is essentially just a shell to hold them, and the artwork, in place.

The artwork is made of relatively simple photoshopping. The front covers are tinted blue. Season one depicts Captain Picard, Data, and Worf. Season two features Commander Riker, Counselor Troi, and Geordi LaForge. Poor Doctor Crusher is left out. Spines are simple beige and red colors with large identifying text. The back covers offer short summary blurbs, a preview of the many special features found throughout the seasons, a panel with three character images, and an information cluster box at the bottom. Printed on the inside are season-by-season and disc-by disc episode and special feature listings.

The outer case is a simple heavy duty cardboard slip box. It features a beauty shot of the Enterprise D on the front and embossed Star Trek TNG lettering. The side panel is made of an aqua-colored star field, embossed Star Trek TNG text, and a back-quarter shot of the Enterprise near the bottom. Part of the saucer section from the front image curves over to the side. The back panel features deeply blue tinted character portraits (again featuring Picard, Data, Worf, Riker, Troi, and LaForge) against a black background with the ...to export strange new worlds... quote inscribed atop. It's all rather hard to see and not very attractive, truth be told. There's also a small special features preview listing. The top of the box features Star Trek TNG in large print while the bottom contains another basic specifications cluster. Take the two cases out and a surprise smiling face awaits inside.

Here are the two major strikes against the set. First, it doesn't save any room over the standalone seven season releases. The new box measures four inches wide. The seven individual cases stacked together measure four inches wide. The other problem is that this set doesn't include the standalone releases that saw a few key two-part episodes cut together into a single film-length experience (The Best of Both Worlds, Redemption, Unification, Chain of Command, and All Good Things, not counting the sampler release) . That also means the special features unique to those releases aren't included, either. That's a big missed opportunity to make this more of a "definitive" TNG on Blu-ray release.

Star Trek: The Next Generation - The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Star Trek: The Next Generation is a fantastic show, one of the hallmark series in television history that revitalized an already popular brand for a new generation and generations to follow. It spawned four movies, three original crew spinoff films (so far), three (now legacy) TV shows, and a new TV show slated to debut in 2017. And it's great to have it on Blu-ray. As far as video, audio, and breadth and quality of supplemental features go, fans couldn't have asked for anything more. The complete series release does save buyers some money over purchasing all seven seasons individually, but there are a few drawbacks. Packaging is nothing special, the cases that hold the discs are a minor chore compared to the more streamlined individual season releases, and the standalone two-part episode releases are not included, meaning buyers don't have the option of watching them cut together, leaving only the basic two-part broadcast presentation the only option. The supplements unique to those releases aren't included, either. There's absolutely no reason beyond Star Trek collection completion for those who already own the individual seasons to re-buy. Newcomers who don't mind the somewhat unwieldy packaging are, financially, better off with this release.