Star Trek – The
Next Generation: Season Four (1990 – 1991/CBS/Paramount Blu-rays) + Star Trek – The Next Generation: Redemption
(Paramount/CBS Blu-ray + Ultraviolet Copy)
Picture: B+ Sound: B+ Extras: B+/B Episodes: B+
I love Star Trek and Star Trek- Next Generation is truly an
excellent series. By the time Season Four hit the airwaves audiences
anxiously were awaiting the conclusion to the Season Three cliffhanger.
Picard was captured, but would he escape? Well (obviously) at this point we know he did
as he went on to star in 4 more seasons.
Though we would come to find out he would never be the same man again.
As previously mentioned Season
Four starts out with a bang as we are treated to the conclusion of the Season Three cliffhanger “Best of Both
Worlds: Part II”; from that point the stories of Season Four take flight. By
this point long gone are the formalities of explaining the dynamics of the
series, alien races, or ‘how things work.’
We as an audience take everything for face value as most of the science
fiction in the series attempts to be grounded in science fact.
Also with formalities and explanatory dialogue gone, series creators
had time to develop the characters and their relationships with each other. Of course the series has its corny/dated
moments (painfully 80’s/early 90’s at times), but for the most part the series
remains fresh and entertaining.
This season has some firsts like the introduction of a new alien race
The Cardassians and the series 100th episode, “Redemption.” The Cardassians are introduced in the episode
“The Wounded” and should not be confused with the Kardashians, for the
Cardassians are actually intelligent beings (I kid!!). Anyhow, the introduction of the Cardassians
is a means to establish a future ‘enemy’ for Star Fleet to quarrel with. The Borg had been previously introduced, but
their inhuman nature made it difficult to initiate well rounded dialogue and
development. The Cardassians, however,
are a military presence with strategy and intention. In the episode “The Wounded” we are drawn
into being sympathetic to this new race as another Star Fleet Captain has
(seemingly) wronged them; we are soon to discover not all things are as they appear.
“Redemption” is the series 100th episode and appears this
season. This 2-part episode is also
being reviewed here on standalone Blu-ray with Ultraviolet copy (much like the
Paramount release of “Best of Both Worlds: Part I & II”). “Redemption” is the Season Four cliffhanger, which chronicles the Klingon Empire on the
brink of civil war. The Klingons’ former
leader has died and the council is attempting to install a new leader named
Gowron. Gowron’s placement is being
challenged by Duras’ (the former leader) sisters and his illegitimate son. Picard in this episode is acting as an
arbitrator for the council and determines Duras to be too young/inexperienced
to rule; in turn placing Gowron in control.
Gowron in control of the Klingon empire gives Star Fleet crew member
Worf (a Klingon) the chance to have his family’s name restored to honor; but in
the end also insights civil war. We are
left with Worf caught between two worlds as he must resign his Star Fleet
position to protect his family and heritage.
“Redemption: Part II” (included on the standalone Blu-ray) will show the
outcome of these choices and how the Star Trek universe may have changed
forever.
An excellent season that paves the way for future seasons of
greatness.
The technical features on this 4th Season as well as the
standalone Redemption Blu-ray set
are well executed and continue to upgrade both picture and sound; as was found
with the Season Three release. Again
this set is the best TNG has ever looked on home
video. The
remastered 1080p 1.33 X 1 image is impressively well done. The level of
detail is again astonishing and elements that were never able to be displayed
on TV are available here; as well as CBS again taking the time to go back and
touch up (digitally) some of the special effects and planetary visuals (clouds,
water, etc). The dated special effects are mostly upgraded and
gone here, which only improves the presentation. Again colors are vibrant, blacks are dark and
framing and the overall presentation is more than enjoyable. The
sound remains a DTS 7.1 HD Master Audio that again uses the whole soundscape
and even better than in the previous three releases. Dialogue
is clean and clear, ambient noises fill the speakers, and the series dramatic
musical scores project with ease.
Impressively this set (taking it up a
notch) does include many HD extras. Extras on the Season 4 set include:
·
All New Multi Part Documentary – Relativity: The Family
Saga of Star Trek – The Next Generation [HD]
·
In Conversation: The Star Trek Art Department [HD]
·
Audio Commentaries on episodes ‘Brothers’ and ‘Reunion’
·
Gag Reel created from original film elements [HD]
·
Deleted Scenes [HD]
·
Archival Mission Logs
·
Episodic Promos
Extras on Redemption
include:
·
Audio Commentary with Ronald D Moore & Mike &
Denise Okuda
·
Survive and Succeed: An Empire at War [HD]
·
Episodic Promos: Part 1 and Part 2
Two great sets, but if you plan on owning the whole series (like I
do); don’t rush to get Redemption as
that set is for super fans or those who only want to own the end of season
cliffhangers.
- Michael P. Dougherty II
