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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: 4 stars
Summary: if you are a true trek fan then you should get this
Review: To me at least the first season was not the next generations best, but if you are a true trek fan then you should get this. The first season however does have some very good episodes like Datalore, the big goodbye( I think thats the right title of it),Hide and Q, and there are a couple of others. this should be a get for any true Trek fan

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: ST:TNG improved with seasoning...
Review: The first season was a mixed bag; there were many memorable episodes and just as many that recalled the worst cliches that were predominate in the original series. The first episode written by Trek veteran D. C. Fontana was Encounter at Farpoint. It's not the best Trek episode but Fontana (working from a story by Roddenberry)turns straw into gold. The real kick from the story came from the decision to expand the episode to a two hour premiere--hence the introduction of Q. Based on Trelane (from Original Trek) to some extent, Q became the definition of what set The NextGen apart from ST.

David Gerrold's involvement in ST:TNG can't be understated; Gerrold basically wrote the "Bible" for the series and deserved to be recognized as co-creator of ST: TNG. He got a out of court settlement for his troubles. Nevertheless, the characters aren't as bold or interesting as the first season of the original series. By the time of the third season Rick Berman and others had more of a hand in the creative elements of the show. The writing improved when the series took an open door policy to unsolicited scripts (due to co-executive producer Michael Piller).

The strong episodes still stand up very well. Yes, this is missing the "story arcs" seen later with this series, DS9, Babylon 5 and Farscape. Keep in mind that the idea of doing story arcs was, at best, in its infancy during 1987-8. The weakest episodes are carry a co-written credit by Roddenberry while the strongest tend to feature a solo writer. D. C. Fontana contributes a number of strong episodes.

One of the most compelling and most disappointing is the episode Justice. Based on a story idea (uncredited) by John D. F. Black (the first story editor on the original series), it becomes more pedestrian without Black's direct involvement. He pitched the idea, was hired by producer Robert Justman and then saw his original story idea (which he had intended for a feature film)brutalized and completed by other writers. While the finished episode has a number of compelling moments, it lacks much of the fire of its potential.

The DVD looks pretty good but the picture is occasionally fuzzy at times. The picture here is darker than later NG seasons. The transfer isn't quite up to snuff compared to the later seasons. The DVD I purchased was flawed and skipped a lot. The collectible booklet wasn't much. While the packaging is better than many boxsets (The Godfather boxset was pretty poorly put together considering how important the first two films are to film), the skimpy booklet doesn't offer much more than a paragraph or two on the season and very little in the way of pictures. Although the packaging was a noble effort to make NextGen look spiffy, it's not quite as good as I had hoped.

This series (which became one of the best on television by the third season) deserves better.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Special features not too special.
Review: If you are a Next Generation fan, this collection is definitely a RECOMMENDED BUY. The quality of the episodes in sound and vision are both top notch! However, if you are not a serious Next Generation fan, or if you are looking for extra/special features other than the TV episodes, you may be disappointed by the lack of special features and the ridiculous pricing in this gift set!

Special features do exist in the gift set, but they aren't too special. If you want special features or want to learn more about Star Trek, go and buy:
- Star Trek 25th Anniversary Special (1991) (ASIN:6302424216)
- Star Trek: 30 Years and Beyond (1996) (ASIN:079214550X)

Don't waste your money on this pricey collection!

But, if you are a Next Generation fan who likes to watch Season 1 episodes over and over and over and over (etc.) again!! Then, by all means, this is a must buy.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: I can't rate just one!
Review: I love the ST:TNG cast, but when it originally aired I never did get to see all of the episodes. I can't rate just one season, because all the years it spent on the air I have enjoyed. I purchased this collection for two reasons: (a) I can watch ALL the episodes in chronological order [as they aired], and (b) so that I can watch it again and again. The bonus features that are included with the boxed sets adds to the interest I have in the show. Some people may not enjoy behind the scenes featurettes because it could detract the excitement of the story, but it's the opposite for me -- it adds to the enjoyment.

Because the collection is distributed on DVD it will display great picture quality as I'm sure the producers intended to be. It also won't wear down as quickly as tapes do, which is a good thing for those who like to watch and watch and watch until it's engrained into the subconscious. I think it's worth the money spent.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: 26 episodes, without commercials - what can I say?
Review: It is so nice to be able to sit and watch these DVDs and not have the continuity of the show broken up by commercials. There are also places that I swear they take out when they broadcast them in order to make more room for commercials. It's fun to cuddle up with TNG, and not have to take a break unless I want to. The "extras" on the DVD are nice, but of course, I'd like more. I also got Seasons Two and Three for my birthday, so I'll see if there are different "extras" on those. I miss Gene Roddenberry, and his vision.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: The way they've packaged and priced this is a rip-off.
Review: Star Trek: The Next Generation was perhaps the best science fiction series ever made. Season one was arguably the weakest of the seven years, but it's still fun to watch. The reason I've given this only 3 stars is because it's ridiculously overpriced, in part because they have not used the full capacity of DVDs. A DVD can hold about 230 minutes of programming on a side, or 460 minutes if it's done two sided. Since each episode of ST:TNG is about 45 minutes long, they could have put 10 episodes on each disc, and the entire first season on 3 discs. They could have then priced it profitably... What they're giving us is the 7 years on about 50 discs for $.... This is bad for the environment and bad for fans' pocketbooks.

I'm still going to watch them, but I'll rent them instead of buying them.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Let's be honest - season one was BAD
Review: Great series, great cast, but let's be honest - the first season was awful. How many of you spot the show on TV, see Riker without his beard and think "Oh, good, season one!"

I am not saying every episode is bad. However, the best of this season would be among the worst of other years. If all you've seen of ST:TNG is season one, don't judge the show by it. Even as early as season two the show really shines, and it gets better and better right up to the end.

Buy this if you have to own every episode. Otherwise, be like me and buy every ST:TNG season...except this one.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Star Trek The Next Generation - First Season DVD
Review: I found this version of ST-NG to be well worth the value at about 100 dollars. The space saved by replacing the VHS versions was a given but the four episodes on most disks were a true joy. I could clean house for several hours without changing the disk. It was much better than the two episode per disk as in the Farscape collections. I found myself unable to stop at just one. The entire design of the interface was pleasing and easy to use. For a real fan, this is a must. I bought a DVD player just to watch and I was not disappointed.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Star Trek TNG Season 1
Review: As a die hard star trek fan, I had to add this, along with the others, to my collection. In terms of digital quality and special features, this is a great investment. The menus are easy to navigate and the picture and sound quality are exceptional. The only drawback is that the characters in the first season were struggling to find their identities. This shouldn't deter you from owning the collection.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Quality as wide and the Q Continuum
Review: The set runs the gamut from dismal to sublime. But the first episode, "Encounter at Farpoint" sticks out most, not because it's the long awaited series to a familiar Star Trek universe, but because it's so abysmally bad - acting, direction, story - embarassing! The lone saving grace is a cameo by De Kelly. Fortunally, the first season successfully recovered and created the groundwork for a brilliant series run, movies and franchise.


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