Customer Reviews

Star Trek The Next Generation: Season 1

5 star:		(79)
4 star:		(50)
3 star:		(16)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This first release of Star Trek The Next Generation on DVD contains all of the episodes of its first season. Years ago I recorded all of the show on VHS and as can be imaged it takes a bit of shelf space to hold the tapes.

Through the years I've discovered that people either like the series or hated it, I for one love the series.

All 25 episodes are contained on 7 disks.

1) Encounter at Farpoint - To discover how the inhabitants built Farpoint Station so quickly, the Enterprise is stopped by Q, an advanced life form that condemns humanity as a savage race. DeForest Kelly has a cameo as Dr. McCoy.

2) The Naked Now - Geordi contracts a virus from the USS Tsiolkovsky, which makes the crew seem "drunk" - Data traces the antidote back to the Enterprise under Captain Kirk.

3) Code of Honor - Tasha Yar is kidnapped by leader Lutan in a peculiar bid of "counting coup" and is forced into a death duel to be released from it.

4) The Last Outpost - The USS Enterprise and a Ferengi vessel are trapped above Delphi Ardu; the last outpost of the Tkon Empire, where they are challenges them to solve a riddle.

5) Where No One Has Gone Before - An alien traveler propels the Enterprise into an alternate universe where thought becomes reality.

6) Lonely Among Us - The USS Enterprise passes through a living cloud that infiltrates the computer and eventually takes control of Captain Picard.

7) Justice - The USS Enterprise visits Rubicam Three, whose hedonistic occupants welcome the crew with open arms but the mysterious, transparent "god" in orbit has a different attitude.

8) The Battle - A Ferengi DaiMon offers Captain Picard the derelict of his former command, the USS Stargazer, which carries aboard it a mind-control sphere, an illegal device, that puts him in the captain's seat against the Enterprise! Data uses one of the Picard tactics to stop the Stargazer.

9) Hide and Q - Q gives Riker is given the powers of the Q Continuum.

10) Haven - Deanna is faced with her arranged marriage to Wyatt Miller; a young doctor plagued by dreams of another woman, which leads him to a group of refugees, last survivors of a dead planet.

11) The Big Goodbye - Picard, Data, Beverly and Whalen, a historian, visit 1941 San Francisco via the holodeck, but an alien scan disrupts the equipment, leaving them "stranded" in the 20th Century.

12) Datalore - On Data's home world, Omicron Theta, a duplicate android is discovered, Lore, which is much more human and does not mind killing.

13) Angel One - While searching for the missing vessel SS Odin, the Enterprise finds a planet where the women are the masters and men are subservient.

14) 11001001 - The Enterprise undergoes a refit at Starbase 74 on its holodeck, and while a holographic beauty distracts Picard and Riker, the Bynars, steal the vessel. The Bynars only think in 1's and 0's.

15) Too Short a Season -The Enterprise responds to a hostage situation on Mordan IV. They take along Mark Jameson, a famous Admiral who can help the situation.

16) When the Bough Breaks - The people of Aldea capture children from the Enterprise in an attempt to repopulate the planet, because their planet is losing their ozone.

17) Homesoil - Once on board, a mysterious life form from Velara III to grow at a fantastic rate.

18) Coming of Age - On Relva 7, Wesley undergoes testing to enter Starfleet Academy while Remmick investigates Picard and his crew in an effort to determine if Picard is still loyal to Starfleet.

19) Heart of Glory - Believing in the old ways of their Empire, Klingons come aboard the Enterprise and attempt to convert Worf to their cause.

20) The Arsenal of Freedom - While searching for the USS Drake, Picard, Riker, Dr. Crusher, Data, and Tasha are stranded on a planet leaving Geordi in command of the Enterprise.

21) Symbiosis - The Enterprise mediates a trade dispute between representatives from Ornara and Brekka.

22) Skin of Evil - An evil alien being kidnaps Troi and Picard must fight for her.

23) We'll Always Have Paris - Dr. Paul Manheim's experiments trap the universe in a time loop.

24) Conspiracy - Walker Keel warns Picard of a conspiracy within Starfleet Command and Picard go to Earth and uncovers the plan by a race of parasites to conquer the Federation. It's not always easy to show up unannounced at Star Fleet Command.

25) The Neutral Zone - The USS Enterprise discovers an old Earth satellite with three frozen humans. They remain on board while the ship goes to the Neutral Zone.

This is a great DVD gift set of Star Trek : TNG. The packaging is wonderful but it could have been better. The extra features are fantastic. The DVDs are in great crisp picture quality and the sound is in Dolby Digital 5.1 which sounds wonderful. The menu systems are out of the world. It is totally based on LCARS menu system. The only thing missing are the 30 second episode trailers of all the episodes.
Now about the content. All the 26 episodes of the first season are provided. Contrary to popular vote, I think that the first season of TNG stands on its own. It has got very good episodes and has one of the best characters of Star Trek, Tasha Yar. Unfortunately, her character dies towards the end which proves to be a blessing for Worf. All in all, it is a must have for all Star Trek fans. It is one of my most prized possesions.

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+

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.

Content:
Although some people feel that season 1 was the worst season for TNG, I thought that it had some great stories. Some of my favorite TNG episodes are from season 1. Althought the cast is not yet at their best, it is still good acting and some of what is actually future character development I think is mistaken as a bad portrayal of the character. Season 1 has a lot of good stories and some truely great stories as well. As for the DVD representation, I was not disappointed at all. The menu system looks good and is easy to operate. The picture quality was good. I have read some reviews that say the picture was too dark, but I would have to disagree with these reviews. And I personally like the fact that it was not done in widescreen since it was originally broadcast for television, not widescreen. I was most impressed with the sound quality which is excellent.

Packaging:
Season 1 is packaged in a box with a brushed metal look to it which I think is quite sharp. When you open the box you will find that the inside front cover lists all the discs and what episodes they contain. This outside box contains a fold out book of sorts which holds all the discs plus a booklet introducing the main characters as well as listing the season 1 episodes. Although the disc container book seems a bit awkward, it does look nice and it all has the added advantage of looking impressive sitting on the bookshelf. Especially if you have all seven seasons!

Conclusion:
In conclusion, I have found this set to be most impressive and would recommend it to any star trek fan, or even those who consider themselves casual viewers. Except for 3 or 4 of the episodes, the stories are good to great, and the acting is good. The reason that I only gave this 4 stars is more because I know that there are better seasons coming up. If there had been only one or two seasons, I would have given the series 5 stars. It was a great season and I know that I will find myself watching these episodes countless times.

What is there not to like about Star Trek:TNG? This is not just another science fiction series. Sure, it is fiction, it includes science, but most importantly, it is a profound depiction of the best traits of humanity.
The actors in ST:TNG are superb and convincing. Every character is cast perfectly. My personal favorite is Brent Spiner's performance as Lt. Commander Data, an artificial life form. If only everyone had access to a Data!
The DVD quality is mostly excellent. There are a few isolated instances where the skin tones don't seem quite right, but it is tolerable and brief. The sound is excellent.
After watching this series on TV for years, it is nice to watch the shows with no commercials or annoying "screen garbage." I certainly was hesitant to spend $ on this first season, but I am glad I did. I recently ordered the second season, and plan to obtain all 7 seasons!

This first season of TNG has many ups and downs, but has some classic episodes and delivers for the Trek fan. It begins with the two-hour "Encounter at Farpoint," where the crew of the new Enterprise-D meet Q, an omnipotent being with powers like no one has ever seen. Q puts the human race on trial, and Captain Picard challenges Q to a test. Needless to say, Picard passes with flying colors, and the crew moves on.

While the first ten or so episodes are a bit lukewarm and strongly lacking in special effects, they are different from the rest of the season. Sometimes ("Haven") it's better, but mostly ("The Battle," "The Naked Now," "Justice") it's just not that good. Everything picks up, though, with episodes like "The Big Goodbye," "Datalore," "Coming of Age," "Symbiosis," "Hide and Q," "Conspiracy," and "The Neutral Zone."

The season does not feel consistent through most episodes, but the cast feels comfortable in their parts. What lied ahead for this crew would turn out to be the best "Star Trek" series yet, and a few good movies, too!

I've been a fan of Star Trek:TNG right from the beginning. I'll admit that I agree with what some other reviewers have said in that the shows were not up to the quality of season three on, but always remember that no show does well in its first season and that they were still trying to build an audience. Despite this, they came up with some great stories that I count among my favorite episodes of the series. This includes, "11001001", "The Big Goodbye", "We'll Always Have Paris", "Angel One", "The Arsenal Of Freedom", "Skin Of Evil", and "Conspiracy."
All in all, this first season collection on DVD is a great start to one of the best Sci-Fi shows on television, and will help you rediscover what made you a fan in the first place.
TRUST ME, IT ONLY GETS BETTER!

This box set is the best set of movies I own on vhs/dvd period. I have absolutely gotten my moneys worth out of it already and i have only watched it once!! 26 episodes that's awesome. I'm not even a really huge trek fan but something always drew me to stng. It must be the characters. I think Paramount did a wonderful job in packaging this set. The sound and picture quality are good. The menu's are simple and easy to navigate. My only complaint on the menu's is that after each movie you have to kick back out to the main menu, then select the next episode, then push play. While that option is fine I just wish there was a play all episodes option on each dvd. Near perfection will have to do!

The character development is execeptional. Specifically in Capt. Picard, the first couple episodes he is very, very hard and unpersonable especially on poor wesley crusher but by the end of the season you really respect him, for he has proven to be the strongest character on the show. You can also see the evolution of Data in this first season. Data to me is the comic relief of this show even though he can't comprehend humor! As for the other characters you don't see a lot of change to them in this first season.

Now as far as specific episodes go i feel it's unjust to rate. Some are better than others....to me. But you might think otherwise. If you are this far into my review you've most likely seen the episodes already and have your fav's. You are probaly deabting on if you should buy it or not. It is a bunch of money, but it's worth every penny that much I can guarantee you!!!

Season One was a great season when compared to the preceeding shows of the genre. It's stories were imaginative and straddled the line from the original series to the "next generation". It was akin to introducing a new food to a child; People knew what Star Trek was based on Kirk and company only, and to thrust such a radically different universe on them as Season 3 (or higher) was would have turned them off to this new "flavor". The video defects mentioned are NOT due to it's translation onto home media. Rather, they were quite present during the original run; ST:TNG was one of the first shows to be filmed on digital tape, and was sensitive to the equipment used in editing. It's most noticable in the first episode during Picard's close-ups. It doesn't last long, and doesn't detract from the Farpoint storyline. This is a must-own DVD collection that has been too long waiting in the wings. Bravo Paramount!