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Star Trek The Next Generation - The Complete First Season

Star Trek The Next Generation - The Complete First Season

List Price: $139.99
Your Price: $111.99
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: ST:TNG Season One - DVD
Review: Superb. Seeing these twenty-six episodes together for the first time in fifteen years was truly a treat. The behind-the-scenes information is well done and worth the purchase, and the menus are well-organized. The preview (Episode Log) screen for each of the seven discs is excellent, with each disc providing four scenes from each episode set to the backdrop of the main theme for the series. One of the benefits of the package is that production order and air date order are taken into consideration, and this shows with regard to the order in which each title is furnished in the menus (e.g., 121, 120, 122, 123).

The first season has often been termed 'sterile' by some; this probably has some merit given that any new series doesn't necessarily have chemistry from the outset. However, some of the episodes are in the opinion of this writer among the best in the series--among these, "Code of Honor," "Where No One Has Gone Before," "Justice," "The Big Goodbye," "Datalore," "11001001," "Home Soil," "Coming of Age," "Heart of Glory," "The Arsenal of Freedom," the Stefano-written "Skin of Evil," "Conspiracy," and "The Neutral Zone"--the latter episode perhaps introducing us (albeit cryptically) to the Borg.

The segment on "Memorable Missions" was particularly poignant, especially the portion where Natasha Yar (Denise Crosby) reflects on her work on ST:TNG. The interviews with the Production (and other) Staff were also very interesting and informative; I found the excerpt with Michael Okuda intriguing and eye-opening. This DVD boxed set is a must for lovers of any of the five Star Trek series. I've already placed my order for ST:TNG Season Two. :)...

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: All About The Fitst Set
Review: Each season of TNG will be presented in a highly collectable box set, with seven discs and a pull-out booklet of episode information and a panoramic montage of the crew (Season 2 will have only six discs due to the abbreviated season of 22 episodes versus 26). The seven box sets will create an attractive library of the entire series.

"Star Trek is one of our most popular and enduring video franchises," said Eric Doctorow, president, Paramount Home Entertainment Worldwide. "We are very excited to be releasing Star Trek: The Next Generation on DVD because we are now offering consumers the ultimate home viewing experience for this immensely popular show."

The contents of the Season One box set are as follows:

Disc 1: Encounter at Farpoint Parts 1 & 2 (episodes 101, 102), The Naked Now (103), Code of Honor (104)

Disc 2: The Last Outpost (107), Where No One Has Gone Before (106), Lonely Among Us (108), Justice (109)

Disc 3: The Battle (110), Hide and Q (111), Haven (105), The Big Goodbye (113)

Disc 4: DataLore (114), Angel One (115), 11001001 (116), Too Short a Season (112)

Disc 5: When the Bough Breaks (118), Home Soil (117), Coming of Age (119), Heart of Glory (120)

Disc 6: The Arsenal of Freedom (121), Symbiosis (123), Skin of Evil (122), We'll Always Have Paris (124)

Disc 7: Conspiracy (125), The Neutral Zone (126), Special Features

Disc 7 includes the following special features:

- The Beginning: focusing on the challenges of creating a new series and keeping to Gene Roddenberry's vision. Includes interviews with Roddenberry, Patrick Stewart, Robert Justman (former producer of the Original Series), Rick Berman (Co-Executive Producer at the time), Jonathan Frakes, Marina Sirtis, Denise Crosby and other cast members.

- Selected Crew Analysis: features first-season cast members talking about their roles, their acting backgrounds prior to being cast and their impressions of the Star Trek legacy. Also features a comparison between the launch of the series in 1987 and the comments from the cast seven years later (1994), using archive interviews and b-roll to present a fascinating "before-and-after" look from the series cast members.

- The Making of a Legend: features commentary from the first-season production staff members - Michael Westmore (Make-up), Herman Zimmerman (Production Designer), Mike Okuda (Scenic Artist), Richard Stembach (Scenic Artist), Dan Curry (Visual Effects), Peter Lauritson (Co-Producer), Rick Berman and others - as they discuss the making of the new series. Uncovers information on how the beaming effect is achieved, Worf's make up process and how much time and effort goes into creating each episode.

- Memorable Missions: cast and crew discussions of specific episodes and events that occurred during the first season.

The DVD of Star Trek: The Next Generation - Season One is presented in a full-frame version, and the audio is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 and Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo. The DVDs are subtitled in English and closed-captioned for the hearing-impaired.

The Season One box set carries no suggested retail price but is expected to be priced by retailers for their customers at under... It is not rated in the U.S. by the Motion Picture Association of America; it is, however, rated G in Canada. Each disc has a running time of approximately 176 minutes, with the exception of Disc 7, which has 88 minutes of features and approximately 60 minutes of special features. All seven discs are encoded with the Macrovision™ AntiCopy process. The above information pertains to the North American release only.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Getting started
Review: I really enjoyed this set. The first season was not as good as the others, but to appriciate the next six seasons you need to see the beginning. The behind the scenes stuff is worth watching also.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Each episode of Star Trek TNG Season One reviewed
Review: For those considering a purchase of the Star Trek TNG: Season 1 set, I offer the following episode reviews (with grades):

ENCOUNTER AT FARPOINT: As a pilot, this episode does what it's supposed to: introduce us to the series and characters. The actors are initially stiff and robotic in their roles except-ironically-Data the android. Storywise, the episode is weak, but there is a fun cameo by an aged Dr. McCoy. Grade: B-

THE NAKED NOW: The crew is infected with an alien virus which causes them to lose their inhibitions. This contrivance allows us to learn more about their characters' personalities and past lives. Grade: B

CODE OF HONOR: Tasha Yar is kidnapped by the chief of a visiting delegation and the crew must win her back through contests of honor. Dull performances abound-the characters show little emotion in the face of dire circumstances. Grade: D

THE LAST OUTPOST: The crew's first encounter the Ferengi, who are effectively dislikable and disgusting. However, the climactic battle falls flat. Grade: C

WHERE NO ONE HAS GONE BEFORE: The first engaging episode of the season. A warp drive accident sends the Enterprise to the far side of the galaxy and the crew has to figure out how to get back. Grade: B+

LONELY AMONG US: The crew must deal with feuding alien races that are guests on the ship while a mysterious energy force takes control of various officers. These two unrelated storylines seem crammed together, neither one satisfying. Grade: C

JUSTICE: The worst episode of the season. The crew visit a planet where Wesley is sentenced to death for a trivial offense. Picard inexplicably agonizes over having to defy the society's ridiculous rules. Take Wesley and go already! Grade: F

THE BATTLE: A Ferengi captain offers Picard his old ship as a gift, but it turns out to be a revenge plot to discredit Picard. Some interesting glimpses into Picard's former life, but ultimately an uninvolving episode. Grade: B-

HIDE AND Q: Nemesis Q returns and gives Riker god-like power to see what he will do with it. Riker is reluctant to use these abilities and once again the melodramatic Q fails in his ploy to trip up the "unworthy" humans. Grade: C-

HAVEN: Troi's Betazoid mother Lxawana arrives aboard the Enterprise with plans to immediately carry out Troi's arranged marriage. Lxawana's eccentric behavior is intended to be the source of much comedy but it mostly comes across as dumb. Grade: C

THE BIG GOODBYE: Picard uses the holodeck's imaging capability to insert himself and others into a 1940's-era detective story. What could have been a lame premise gains poignance as the holodeck characters come to question their own reality. Grade: B+

DATALORE: The Enterprise returns to the planet where Data was "discovered" years before. There they find Data's identical counterpart, Lore, who turns out to be an evil twin. This disappointing episode gives short shrift to Data's origins. Grade: C+

ANGEL ONE: The Enterprise goes in search of crewmembers from a long-lost ship believed to have sought refuge on Angel One, a planet governed by women. The story is basically a commentary on social change and gender politics, but has some humorous moments. Grade: B-

11001001: While in spacedock for a routine computer upgrade, the Enterprise is hijacked by a race of aliens with only Picard and Riker aboard. An above average episode with good character development, particularly Riker. Grade: B+

TOO SHORT A SEASON: The Enterprise is called upon to chauffer an aged admiral to a hostile planet to conduct negotiations. The story focuses on unfamiliar and unsympathetic characters and virtually ignores the regular characters. Grade: C-

WHEN THE BOUGH BREAKS: An advanced but barren race kidnaps some of the Enterprise's children and the crew must figure out how to retrieve them. A dull episode with more "aliens" that don't seem alien. Grade: C-

HOME SOIL: While visiting a terraforming station on a desolate planet, the crew discovers a previously unknown life form--a grouchy blinking light. There is much scientific jargon tossed about, but it can't disguise a flimsy story. Grade: C-

COMING OF AGE: Wesley takes the entrance exams for Starfleet Academy while Picard undergoes an administrative interrogation. There is enough character development to make this episode better than most. Grade: B-

HEART OF GLORY: Arguably the best episode of the first season. The Enterprise rescues fugitive Klingons from a battle-ravaged ship who try to convert Worf to their cause. An intriguing look at the warrior nature of Klingons. Grade: A-

ARSENAL OF FREEDOM: The Enterprise away team beams down to a planet of arms merchants to determine why there are no life signs and are attacked by a machine that wiped out its creators. Ho hum. Grade: C

SYMBIOSIS: After saving the crew of an imperiled freighter, Picard and Co. discover two societies who have an unhealthy dependence on each other. An obvious anti-drug message is the moral of a disjointed story. Grade: C-

SKIN OF EVIL: While rescuing Troi from a crashed shuttle, the Enterprise crew encounter an oily black snowman of pure evil. This creature kills a main character, whose death is quick and undramatic. Despite losing their colleague, hardly a tear is shed among the crew, even during the final eulogy scene. Grade: B-

WE'LL ALWAYS HAVE PARIS: Answering a distress call at a remote outpost, Picard runs into an old flame. The plot involves some techno-malarkey about a rip in the time continuum, but this is secondary to the soapy, unrequited love story. Grade: B-

CONSPIRACY: Picard discovers a conspiracy at the highest levels of Starfleet Command. The story starts strong, but the ending is rushed and disappointing. Low-budget special effects diminish the impact. Grade: B+

THE NEUTRAL ZONE: The Enterprise crew rescue people from the 20th century frozen on a derelict capsule while investigating the destruction of several federation outposts. The episode has litle action, but features the return of the Romulans. Grade: B+

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The beginning of the best Star Trek series
Review: I am so incredibly pleased that Paramount is beginning to release the entire Star Trek saga on DVD. This is my personal favorite series. Of all the captains, Picard takes the cake. This season begins the entire story of the Next Generation and set into motion some major parts of the show. The impossible romantic attraction between Picard and Dr. Crusher, the introduction of Q, and at the very end there is a subtle hint at the BORG! This season, though not as good as the ones to follow, creates a good foundation for the seasons to come. A terrific addition to ANY Star Trek fan's collection.

My favorite episodes:

Encounter at Farpoint, The Naked Now, Where No One Has Gone Before, The Battle, Hide and Q, The Big Goodbye, Datalore, 11001001, Coming of Age, Arsenal of Freedom, Skin of Evil, Conspiracy, and The Neutral Zone.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Great TV Show
Review: Star Trek The Next Generation-Season 1 is the season that started it all for TNG fans. It's jam packed with 25 episodes that tell entertaing stories and is what inroduced us to the 24 century.

Patrick Stewart was great as Captian Picard. I can't think of anybody else that could have pulled off what he did. I think he's just as good as Kirk and Stewart carried the dramatics so much better than Shatner.

This is the season in which Deanna Troi wears the cheerleader uniform and has the big 80's hair. It's always nice to see someone's beginnings. She wasn't all that hot then, but I love what they have turned her into.

Brent Spiner plays Data so well. He was suppose to be TNG equivalent to Spock. He does a good job as the android who wants to be human. That isn't always an easy role to play, because the character is baby like and raw. I love Data's beginnings.

Michael Dorn has a good job as Worf. He was always my favorite character in the show because of all the agression he always showed. His character is a little minor in this season because of Tasha Yar.

I wasn't that big of a fan of Yar, and I'm glad they took her off. It let them do so much more with Worf.

I loved Geordi La Forge. Levar Burton did such a good job with him. It's the best character he ever played. Geordi's one of the coolest nerds I've ever seen.

I love this show and I'm glad to say I own this season. It shows the shows humble beginnigs. I don't think anybody thought this show would become one of the highest syndicated and grossing shows like it did. It's a must for Trekkies and anybody who liked Star Trek The Next Generation.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Nostalgic Star Trek
Review: In my opinion this was one of the best seasons of ST:TNG. Sure, the acting was not as great as it was throughout the rest of the series, but season one was much more action oriented. Episodes like WHERE NO ONE HAS GONE BEFORE, HIDE&Q, DATALORE,ARSENAL OF FREEDOM and CONSPIRACY are some of the best episodes of the series. If you want to enjoy a few hours of a great television show with a positive message, I strongly suggest ST:TNG season one.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Great season if you want a good laugh.
Review: Two Words: WESLEY CRUSHER. If you want to watch good Star Trek get Deep Space Nine or wait for Voyager. Or forget Star Trek all together and watch Farscape.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: First season painful to watch
Review: I own the other six years of the series, but not this one. Most of the acting is painful and awkward, the pacing too slow, Troi's costumes are embarrassing, Worf looks silly and Tasha Yar hands down is the worst actress imaginable - how did she ever get the part?

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Great package for the first season ... but no widescreen!
Review: Having watched Babylon 5 over and over, and studied the character development, nuances and documentaries on that series, most other science fiction stories and television series seem to pale in comparison ... including Star Trek: The Next Generation. I like the idea of a storyline that is developed from start to finish before it is put onto the small screen. I find that the isolated, individual episodes of ST:TNG are not as compelling. The odd story arcs come along, and they may be interesting, like the conflicts between Q and Picard, but they start at Point "A" and end at Point "A," they do not go onto another compelling sources of conflict or develop further. However, I have to stand back from Babylon 5 and keep an open mind that ST:TNG is a legitimate television and science fiction storyline as well. I enjoyed ST:TNG when it was on television, and it does pretty well as a DVD set with a couple of notable exceptions. First, why didn't Paramount give this series the widescreen treatment? Second, while the DVDs have the Dolby 5.1 Surround capability, they do not fully exploit the richness of that acoustic level. Maybe Paramount didn't want to spend a lot of money to update ST:TNG for the DVD format, but considering the price of each set, these features should have been there. As for the extras, they are interesting, especially Gene Roddenberry's insights, but there is hardly any new/original material. These qualms aside, and despite my favourtism for Babylon 5, I feel that ST:TNG is still a worthy science fiction series and it should be part of your DVD collection.


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