Courtesy: CBS Home Entertainment/Paramount Home Entertainment
Star Trek: The Next Generation is one of the greatest incarnations of Gene Roddenberry’s beloved franchise. Considering that it started in the late 1980s, it was unlike roughly anything else on television at the time. So for audiences to say that its first two seasons were shaky is somewhat unfair. The show’s first two seasons were enjoyable in their own right. And it only got better from there. Season Three proved how far the show had come since its premiere. And now, with Season Four officially out on Blu-ray, audiences can see how much more developed the show had become in its run. Season Four shines first and foremost for its writing. From wrapping up the hugely popular “Best of Both Worlds” cliffhanger that started at the end of Season three to the introduction of Data’s “brother” in “Brothers” to the season finale that sees Worf stepping down from Starfleet this season sees more than its share of storylines that will keep audiences engaged. The writing involved in each episode was the major sticking point for Season Four. In terms of the overall presentation, much more can be said that makes Season Four work. The set’s bonus features and its packaging play just as much a part in its success, too. Together with the solid writing, the packaging and bonus features help to make Star Trek The Next Generation: Season Four another great addition to the home library of any Star Trek fan.
The writing involved in each episode of Star Trek’s fourth season is some of the best that the show saw in its seven-season run. It really helped to validate Star Trek literally for a new generation. The resultant effect was that its validation also validated, in turn, science fiction in general on television. Because the writing progressively got better through Star Trek: TNG’s fourth season, it could be argued that it really helped open the door for more science fiction shows to make their way onto mainstream television. Prime examples of this would be in the rise of shows such as: Babylon 5, The X-Files, Earth 2, etc. There are many more that could be listed that came not long after Star Trek: The Next Generation Season Four. These are just a handful of that mass that came possibly as a result of this season. To make such a claim as this is a very powerful statement. So it raises the question, what made the writing in Season Four so impressive and important? The answer to that is that the show’s writers were able to balance strong stories with personal character development. Data, Dr. Crusher, Capt. Picard, and Worf all became the central focus of their own episodes. Even Dr. Crusher’s son, Wesley, got his own share of face time through this season. In the case of Capt. Picard, audiences got to see him face being human again after being saved from the Borg. And later, he is forced to face some old demons when he takes a vacation to see his own family. Dr. Crusher has to watch her son grow up and go off on his own to Starfleet Academy. Thanks to the show’s writers, she also has to face the philosophical question of what reality is in the episode, “Remember Me.” Who would have ever thought that science fiction and philosophy would work so well together? But it worked. Even Worf has his own moments as he is forced to consider some very difficult decisions as the season closes. Here is an individual that audiences have come to know as being a very strong individual both physically and emotionally. So seeing him have to do such deep soul searching in a manner of speaking shows so much more depth to his character. And it makes audiences want to see more from him.
The personal character development balanced with the storylines in Season Four are the anchors to this season. This is clear. Thanks to the people at Paramount and CBS Home Video, viewers have gotten in this season’s box set (as with the previous three seasons) even more understanding and appreciation for the writing thanks to the season’s bonus interviews. As with the previous seasons, the writing staff as well as members of the cast are interviewed this season. Audiences will appreciate the insight on the episodes included in Season Four. The gag reel included in Season Four adds even more enjoyment. There’s something about science fiction that makes gag reels even better than others. Maybe it’s the use of blue/green screen forcing the cast to essentially play pretend. Maybe it’s just the camaraderie between the cast members. But the gag reel will have viewers laughing hysterically. And as minor as it may seem, including the episodic promos as an option with each episode is that icing on the cake. There’s something about having the original episodic promos both by themselves and along with the episodes themselves that generates a full sense of nostalgia for those that remember watching the show on television. It makes the whole viewing experience that much better, and worth watching every time.
The bonus features and the writing included in Star Trek: The Next Generation Season Four work together to make the overall viewing experience a win. There is one more part of this season’s set that makes everything complete for the show’s fans. That one last part of the puzzle is the set’s packaging. Season Four is comprised of six discs in its Blu-ray release. It would have been so easy to package that many discs in a larger box. But Paramount and CBS Home Video didn’t do that. They maintained the standard set in the previous three seasons’ release. The discs were placed inside the case in a fashion that is both ergonomic and that protects them from scratching one another. This both saves space on racks and in cabinets as well as preserves the discs for future viewings. It is the final piece of the puzzle that makes Star Trek: The Next Generation Four one of the year’s best box sets. It is available now in stores and online and can be ordered direct online via Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/Star-Trek-Generation-Season-Blu-ray/dp/B00CKYHH6O/ref=sr_tr_sr_1?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1376406257&sr=1-1&keywords=star+trek+the+next+generation+season+4. After ordering Star Trek: The Next Generation Season Four, fans can keep up with all of the latest releases from CBS Home Entertainment on its official Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/cbshomeentertainment.
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