“Time’s Arrow: Part 2:” The season’s premiere picks up from where the fifth season left off. The crew finds themselves back in the 1890’s, to rescue a stranded Data. They also look into the mysterious beings that led to the time travel. The episode is a solid one, and offers some interesting character development for Picard (Patrick Stewart) and Guinan (Whoopi Goldberg), but Jerry Hardin’s terrible overacting as Mark Twain does take away some of the effectiveness of the episode. “Realm of Fear” has Lt. Barclay (Dwight Schultz) is afraid of the transporter. The one time he’s able to conquer his fear, and beam back to the Enterprise, Barclay catches a glimpse of something mid-transport—something that appeared alive. Is it just his fear talking, or something real? The whole thing is rather ridiculous and dull as its own episode, and would have worked better as a subplot to another.
“Man of the People” is a personal favorite. Shortly after Lumerian Ambassador Ramid Ves Alkar (Chip Lucia) boards the Enterprise, his mother dies. He asks Troi (Marina Sirtis), to take part in a mourning tradition. This is a highlight episode for Marina Sirtis, she gets to show an unexpected range of emotions as she is exploited by the ambassador and is forced to endure dramatic aging.”Relics” is a definite fan favorite. The very popular guest appearance by Leonard Nimoy, reprising his role as Spock, in the previous season led to another guest-starring role by an original crew member. Scotty (James Doohan) has been stuck in a transporter buffer for centuries. Doohan’s melancholy performance is what truly makes this episode a standout.
Q (John de Lancie) is a popular character with many fans, and this season features one of his best moments. In “Tapestry,” Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) is killed during an away mission, and Q visits Jean Luc in the afterlife. What if he hadn’t stood up to the bullying Nausicaans, resulting in the replacement of his natural heart with a mechanical one? What if he’d taken the easy route and never risen to the level of captain? A very thought provoking episode about life’s choices. There are some nice character development moments for Jonathan Frakes’ Commander Riker in “Frame of Mind,” which truly blurs the line of reality. There are several moments when you truly wonder if Riker has truly lost his mind. Meanwhile, Data (Brent Spiner) has his share of funny moments, just check out “A Fistful of Datas,” truly one of the weirdest episodes of the season, perhaps the series.
Though included on this set, the key two-parter “Chain of Command” has also been issued separately on standalone Blu-ray (with its own set of exclusive special features, making it a must-buy for fans).
Episodes: “Time’s Arrow, Part II,” “Realm of Fear,” “Man of the People,” “Relics,” “Schisms,” “True-Q,” “Rascals,” “A Fistful of Datas,” “The Quality of Life,” “Chain of Command, Part I,” “Chain of Command, Part II,” “Ship in a Bottle,” “Aquiel,” “Face of the Enemy,” “Tapestry,” “Birthright, Part I” “Birthright, Part II,” “Starship Mine,” “Lessons” “The Chase” “Frame of Mind” “Suspicions,” “Rightful Heir” “Second Chances,” “Timescape,” “Descent, Part I”
As with the previous releases CBS/Paramount’s 1:33:1/1080p transfer is superb. Colors are well saturated and look vibrant throughout. Skin tones all look appropriate. There are a couple of pixilation issues, but most fans likely won’t notice them. Shadows look great, though I did notice some obvious edge enhancement, but it is mostly around the black sections on the uniforms and doesn’t detract at all from the overall visual experience.
The new DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 mix is flawless. Every sound inside and outside the ship can be heard, and ambient noises are superb. Dialogue is crisp and clear, LFE is notable at times and the score never gets lost. The original 2.0 Stereo Surround mixes have also been included for purists, but they’re still being presented in lossy Dolby Digital instead of DTS-HD Master Audio.
Optional Dolby Digital 2.0 dubs are provided in German, Spanish, Italian, French and Japanese. Optional subtitles are also provided in English (SDH), German, Spanish, French, Japanese, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish.
Like previous season releases, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Season 6 contains several extras spread across all six discs. All episodes include “episodic promos,” (SD,:30)
Disc One:
- Audio Commentary: Writer Ronald D. Moore and Star Trek experts Mike & Denise Okuda on “Relics.”
- Deleted Scenes (HD) From “Time’s Arrow, Part II” (2:37) and “Relics” (4:09).
- Archival Mission Log: Mission Overview Year Six (SD, 17:55) An exploration of the season with emphasis on several key episodes like “Time’s Arrow, Part II,” “Relics,” “Chain of Command,” and “Descent, Part 1.” It also looks at Stephen Hawking’s appearance on the show. It also explores Deep Space Nine‘s debut and structure during The Next Generation‘s season six and focuses on “Birthright, Part 1.”
Disc Two:
- Deleted Scene (HD, 2:08): From “Q Who.”
- Bold New Directions (SD, 17:57) A look at favorite season episodes and The Next Generation cast in the director’s chair. It also highlights “A Fistful of Datas,” and Patrick Stewart’s direction. Also featured is “Second Chances” and a look at LeVar Burton’s direction and the visual effects.
- Departmental Briefing Year Six: Production (SD, 15:33) A look at constructing the Dyson Sphere and recreating the original Enterprise bridge for “Relics,” alien makeup in “Birthright, Part 1,” Data visual effects, the themes behind “Tapestry” and more.
- Departmental Briefing Year Six: Dan Curry (SD, 19:56) A closer look at the Visual Effects Producer’s work, including a tour of his home and the memorabilia he has collected.
Disc Three:
- Deleted Scenes (HD): From “Ship in a Bottle” (2:35) and “Face of the Enemy” (1:10).
- Special Crew Profile: Lt. Cmdr. Data (SD, 19:00): An overview of Brent Spiner’s work on the show, his acting, and the character he plays.
Disc Four:
- Audio Commentary: Writer Ronald D. Moore and Star Trek Experts Mike and Denise Okuda on “Tapestry.”
- Deleted Scenes (HD): From “Tapestry” (6:37) and “Birthright, Part II” (13:41).
- Archival Mission Log: Select Historical Data (SD, 18:14): A look at Robert O’Reilly’s part as the Klingon Gowron, Jay Chattaway’s work as composer with emphasis on his work in “A Fistful of Datas” and “Birthright,” LeVar Burton’s acting with the “visor”, Brent Spiner’s stand-in Guy Vardaman, visual effects work, editing, and more.
Disc Five:
- Audio Commentary: Director James L. Conway and Director of Photography Jonathan West for “Frame of Mind.”
- Deleted Scenes (HD): From “The Chase” (1:46) and “Rightful Heir” (12:11).
- Archival Mission Logs: Inside Starfleet Archives: Sets and Props (SD, 13:10): Set Decorator James Mees guides viewers through his job. He also provides a tour through a number of series artifacts.
Disc Six:
- Beyond the Five Year Mission — The Evolution of Star Trek: The Next Generation Part One: The Lithosphere (HD, 24:52): A look at season six’s success, the development of Deep Space Nine, its themes and differences from other shows, finding emotion and conflict in The Next Generation, and the failed hopes for the episode “Aquiel.”
- Beyond the Five Year Mission — The Evolution of Star Trek: The Next Generation Part Two: The Biosphere (HD, 29:32): This piece examines The Next Generation‘s more serious tone in comparison to the original show, constructing “Birthright, Part II,” set design schemes, recreating the bridge of the original Enterprise for “Relics,” series score, set design, and Stephen Hawking’s appearance.
- Beyond the Five Year Mission — The Evolution of Star Trek: The Next Generation Part Three: The Noosphere (HD, 29:59): The piece begins with the story of Whoopi Goldberg’s persistence to join the cast and follows with various points of information, including Marina Sirtis’ hair, making “A Fistful of Datas,” Data and Spot, the cast’s work in the director’s chair, Romulan costumes and makeup, Kevin Conway’s portrayal of Kahless, Stephen Hawking’s appearance, and more.
- Gag Reel (HD, 5:21).
