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Category:    Home > Reviews > Science Fiction > Action > Adventure > Space Opera > TV > Star Trek: The Next Generation: Season Seven (The Final Season/1993 - 1994/Paramount/CBS Blu-ray Set)

Star Trek: The Next Generation: Season Seven (The Final Season/1993 - 1994/Paramount/CBS Blu-ray Set)

Picture: B+ Sound: B+ Extras: B+ Episodes: B



Star Trek: The Next Generation has reached the final frontier; or in this case, its final season. Star Trek: The Next Generation: Season Seven marks the final release to complete the Next Generation series and oh what a journey it has been. At first, fans had their reservations about this series' release; with so many technical tragedies before it and some hiccups on this series' first season release, it is understandable that fans were cautious. In the end, the past six Next Generation releases were wonderfully remastered with stunning picture, sound, and extras.

Though it was most definitely time for Next Generation to end, the series remained fun, entertaining, and for the most part solid. It was interesting (in hindsight) to see how the series (in Season 7) was establishing the groundwork for the coming of Star Trek: Voyager; the next series in line. There was heavy emphasis on the tensions building in Starfleet and the Cardassians. It also was nice to see the writers mix it up a bit, taking risks and exploring aspects of the Enterprise and crew we had very little knowledge of; coupled with coming to a satisfying end.

Was Season Seven the best in the series? No, certainly not. But again it stayed true to the Star Trek we all know and love and paved the way for future series.

If nothing else this reviewer is glad to finally have the complete series available on stellar Blu-ray; looking and sounding better than ever before. Many series suffer from hasty (non-remastered) releases that look like grandma's VHS; and if a series does get a release it often takes years and years to have a complete collection. With Next Generation there was no delay as the complete series was a quick and quality delivery.

Season Seven again delivers the same beautiful restoration/remastering that was delivered for six other seasons. CBS and Paramount have truly outdone themselves and gave fans a quality presentation. The picture once more is a stunning 1080p 1.33 X 1 image (centered in the 1.78 X 1 frame) restored in-house leading to beautifully brilliant colors, solid contrast, inky black levels, and amped up visual effects. Restoration again includes the conscious decision to install a CG created ship in certain shots that were deteriorated or poorly filmed from the start; other exterior shots/ships also utilize newer CGI. Again noticeable, but not a bad thing as the series continues to look great. Granted the image is not perfect, with some digital noise and occasional color consistency issues; but overall continues to make the futuristic series look better than ever before and going back to the original 35mm camera materials has been one of the great TV upgrades of our time, inspiring more companies to do the same with hit TV like it from the same period.

The sound is equally impressive in its 7.1 DTS-HD (MA) Master Audio lossless mix that surrounds the viewer with full immersive sound. Being heavily dialogue driven the sound comes much of the time from the front, but as the crew moves about the ship of action sequences occur the surrounds kick in with booming base and solid panning effects. This includes an overwhelmingly well done presentation of the original musical scores.

Extras are again detailed and plentiful, giving fans plenty to dig into; including but not limited to deleted scenes, interviews, featurettes, and many retrospectives. The extras also include the following:

  • Archival Mission Log: Mission Overview Year Seven

  • Archival Mission Log: Captain's Tribute

  • Archival Mission Log: Departmental Briefing Year Seven - Production

  • Archival Mission Log: Starfleet Moments and Memories

  • Archival Mission Log: Special Profiles

  • Archival Mission Log: Inside Starfleet Mission Archives - Dressing the Future

  • Closed Set - A Tour of the Real Enterprise

  • Archival Mission Log: Making of All Good Things

  • Journey's End

  • Audio Commentary

  • Deleted Scenes

  • Gag Reel

  • The Sky's the Limit: The Eclipse of Star Trek Next Generation - Part One; Umbra

  • The Sky's the Limit: The Eclipse of Star Trek Next Generation - Part Two; Penumbra

  • The Sky's the Limit: The Eclipse of Star Trek Next Generation - Part Three; Antumbra

    • The three part, The Sky's the Limit featurette is an all-encompassing look at Season 7. It takes viewers through the writing process, stunt coordination, acting, and preparation for future series (Voyager). It displays the fatigue Next Generation was feeling by Season 7, with writers stretching for new storylines and actors feeling the end were near as well.



- Michael P. Dougherty II


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