Star Trek – The Original Series: Season Two (1967 – 1968/Paramount Blu-ray Set)
Picture:
B/C+ Sound: C+ Extras: B Episodes: B
The
original Star Trek is back in the
second of three season Blu-ray sets that continue to impress and show that any
filmed classic TV (when handled properly) can look incredibly good. The picture and sound of this set on the
original prints featured (versus the horrid digital remasters, complete with
some color-gutting) are the same as this first set:
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/8530/Star+Trek+%E2%80%93+The+Origina
For our
original coverage of the first DVDs of the show, you can read about the first
DVD-only wave of releases at this link:
Original
Episodes on DVD
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/1680/Star+Trek+-+The+Original+Series
With
hardly any other classic TV on Blu-ray yet, Trek continues to make the argument that we should have a deluge of
such shows, especially when you see how good the older versions of the series
look. As well, they hold up very well
and are made for a more mature audience than many have given the series credit
for. As compared to the 2009 hit revival
feature film, the science is harder here and hey, these are the original actors
who created the roles so you cannot go wrong.
The
episodes are all classics in their own way, with the Tribbles show the most uniquely comic in any of the Trek series. Among other highlights are A Piece Of The Action, Wolf In The Fold, The Ultimate Computer and Assignment
Earth should have led to the intended spin-off show and sadly did not,
though star Robert Lansing (The Man Who
Never Was) continued to be a prominent character actor on shows like The Equalizer. The guest cast continued to be strong and
both Roddenberry and Lucille Ball had reasons to believe the show could still
be a hit that caught on. Of course, it
only did after it was cancelled and after she sold Desilu to Paramount.
Extras
include more new BD Live interaction, episode previews, a second installment of
Billy Blackburn’s Treasure Chest of rare home movies and Writing Spock on Blu-ray 1, Creating
Chekov on Blu-ray 2, Listening To The
Actors on Blu-ray 3, Spock’s Mother
and slew of Tribbles-based extras (The
Trouble With Tribbles is the only episode on its disc and we get the More Tribbles, More Troubles episode of
the underrated, Animated Star Trek, Trials & Tribble-ations Next Generation episode, featurette Trials & Tribble-ations: An Historic
Endeavor and Starfleet Access to the show) on Blu-ray 4 and Star Trek’s Favorite Memories, Writer’s Notebook: D.C. Fontana, Life Beyond Trek: Leonard Nimoy, Star Trek’s Divine Diva: Nichelle Nichols and
Kirk, Spock & Bones: Star Trek’s
Great Trio on Blu-ray 7.
All in
all, Star Trek: The Original Series –
Season Two Blu-ray collection a great Classic TV set that should have all
the studios rushing to issue their great filmed TV shows on Blu-ray as soon as
possible. Serious Blu-ray owners should
make it a must-own piece for their collections.
- Nicholas Sheffo
