Specials

E1. Energized! Taking Star Trek: The Next Generation to the Next Level

Jul 23, 2012 · 24m

This is an awesome look at how the entire restoration went, how the original film and audio elements were recovered in a monumental task of cataloguing. Berman talks about how he regretted not editing his show in an HD-ready format, but was excited when he found out they were remaking the entire show from scratch so they could do it. At first SD upconversion was used, but deemed totally unacceptable for this. If you want to see how something like this comes to pass then you really need to watch this. It's a fascinating look into how much work really went into this. Oh, and here's a little tidbit of information: the 13 seconds of lost footage in "Sins of the Father" that was released on the sampler disc, have since been found and will be included in that episode when its season comes out.

E2. Stardate Revisited: The Origin of Star Trek: The Next Generation - Part 1: Inception

Jul 23, 2012 · 28m

Joins cast and crew as they give all-new interviews about what it was like trying to Gene Roddenberry on board for another 'Star Trek' television show. These are wonderfully candid interviews and don't feel promotional in the least. Instead it's the principle actors and producers looking back fondly on the show's illustrious run.

E3. Stardate Revisited: The Origin of Star Trek: The Next Generation - Part 2: Launch

Jul 23, 2012 · 32m

Starts with Patrick Stewart discussing how he came to get the part and how Roddenberry convinced him to take the part over drinks. Here we get some original make-up and wardrobe footage also. Very in-depth information from everyone, including great behind-the-scenes footage of the crew getting ready to launch this new series. Along with the press conference footage that started it all.

E4. Stardate Revisited: The Origin of Star Trek: The Next Generation - Part 3: The Continuing Mission

Jul 24, 2012 · 33m

People like producer David Livingston, production designer Herman Zimmerman, illustrator Rick Sternback, and special effects make-up artist Doug Drexler talking about filming the show, how different it was being a strictly syndicated show versus being owned by a single network, and how they filmed the miniature shots.

E5. Energized! Season 2 Tech Update

Dec 4, 2012 · 8m

Mike and Denise Okuda, along with Dan Curry, discuss their on-set experiences in 1988 during the transition from season 1 to season 2, as well as the challenges they faced 25 years later in 2012 as they spearheaded the restoration project to bring season 2 to true HD.

E6. Reunification: 25 Years after Star Trek: The Next Generation

Dec 4, 2012 · 62m

A cast reunion show with Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, Brent Spiner, Marina Sirtis, LeVar Burton, Gates McFadden, Wil Wheaton, and Michael Dorn all being interviewed on the same set.

E7. Making It So: Continuing Star Trek: The Next Generation - Part 1: Strange New Worlds

Dec 4, 2012 · 39m

Part 1 of a two-part documentary included on the restored blu-ray releas3. Features archival footage from Entertainment Tonight, new and old interviews with cast and crew.

E8. Making It So: Continuing Star Trek: The Next Generation - Part 2: New Life, New Civilizations

Dec 4, 2012 · 42m

Part 2 of a two-part documentary included with the restored blu-ray release. This features old and new interviews with the cast and crew as well as archival news footage.

E9. “Reading Rainbow” segment with LeVar Burton

Aug 15, 1988 · 17m

In the “Reading Rainbow” episode “The Bionic Bunny Show” which aired on August 15, 1988, LeVar Burton takes young viewers behind-the-scenes of Star Trek: The Next Generation. The episode was produced during the filming of the TNG episode “Symbiosis” (S01E21) and is considered one of the first “making-of” documentaries for the series. The Star Trek segment of the episode features interviews with crew members such as Robert Legato, insights into model work (e.g. on the Galaxy class and Shuttle drones), and a blooper reel – the first time TNG bloopers were broadcast.

E10. Resistance Is Futile: Assimilating Star Trek: The Next Generation - Part 1: Biological Distinctiveness

Apr 30, 2013 · 30m

Part one explores the creative redirection of the third season of “Star Trek: The Next Generation”. It focuses on the introduction of new writers, most notably Michael Piller, who gave the series greater emotional and character-focused depth. Through interviews and archival footage, it shows how the characters evolved and how the series began to explore more complex moral and social themes.

E11. Resistance Is Futile: Assimilating Star Trek: The Next Generation - Part 2: Technological Distinctiveness

Apr 30, 2013 · 30m

The second part is dedicated to the technical innovations that elevated the series to a new visual and narrative level. It shows how new special effects, sets, and designs – especially those surrounding the Borg – were created and how the production team overcame the technological challenges to realize the series’ vision.

E12. Resistance Is Futile: Assimilating Star Trek: The Next Generation - Part 3: The Collective

Apr 30, 2013 · 30m

The third part focuses on the series’ impact on the Star Trek franchise and its fan base. It examines how the Borg, as a collective threat, not only shaped the plot but also raised philosophical questions about individuality and community. Interviews and retrospectives reveal how these themes made “The Next Generation” a cultural milestone.

E13. Regeneration: Engaging the Borg

Apr 30, 2013 · 45m

A thirty-minute documentary that was originally shown in select theaters on April 25, 2013 along with the remastered feature-length version of TNG: "The Best of Both Worlds". The event was held to celebrate the April 30, 2013 Blu-ray release of "The Best of Both Worlds". The documentary examines the creation of the Borg and features interviews with Next Generation cast, producers, writers, visual effects staff, and makeup artists.

E14. Alternate Cast: S03E22 - The Most Toys (In Memoriam David Rappaport)

Apr 30, 2013 · 5m

Scenes from “The Most Toys” (S03E22) featuring David Rappaport, who was originally cast for the role of Kivas Fajo before the role was recast during production.

E15. Inside the Writer’s Room

Apr 30, 2013 · 71m

In this special feature, four of Star Trek: The Next Generation’s most influential writers – Ronald D. Moore, Brannon Braga, Naren Shankar, and René Echevarria – convene, moderated by Seth MacFarlane, to discuss their work on the series. Together, they reflect on the creation of iconic episodes, creative challenges in the writers' room, and the development of complex themes that made TNG one of the most important science fiction series. With personal anecdotes, candid insights, and plenty of humor, this feature offers a behind-the-scenes look at the creative heart of the series.

E16. A Tribute to Michael Piller

Apr 30, 2013 · 14m

Michael Piller died in 2005. This retrospective features interviews with Michael's son and wife along with actors and producers of Star Trek: The Next Generation. They tell many stories of working with Michael including his creating of the first process for open script submission for Star Trek.

E17. Relativity: The Family Saga of Star Trek: The Next Generation - Part 1: Homecoming

Jul 30, 2013 · 30m

The challenges in producing Star Trek: The Next Generation’s fourth season are revealed by cast and crew while also exploring the show’s evolution after the critically acclaimed 3rd season turned the show into a crossover hit. This documentary also explores the Family theme for the show’s fourth season with behind-the-scenes details on such key episodes as REUNION and BROTHERS giving fans a look into the personal relationships and family bonds of the crew of the Enterprise.

E18. Relativity: The Family Saga of Star Trek: The Next Generation - Part 2: Posterity

Jul 30, 2013 · 28m

E19. Survive and Succeed: An Empire at War

Jul 30, 2013 · 45m

A 30-minute behind-the-scenes documentary that was included as part of the special features on the Redemption Blu-ray release.

E20. In Conversation: The Star Trek Art Department

Jul 30, 2013 · 67m

This special feature brings together the creative minds of the Star Trek: The Next Generation’s Art Department to discuss the visual design of the series. From iconic spaceship designs to technical interfaces and futuristic sets. Led by Production Designer Herman Zimmerman, illustrator Doug Drexler, illustrator and technical consultant Rick Sternbach, scenic art supervisor Michael Okuda, scenic artist Denise Okuda, and special FX maestro Dan Curry discuss the creative process that defined the look and feel of the 24th century. It reveals how their work not only influenced the design of future Star Trek series but also inspired real-life technological developments.

E21. Requiem: A Remembrance of Star Trek: The Next Generation - Part 1: The Needs of the Many

Nov 19, 2013 · 30m

E22. Requiem: A Remembrance of Star Trek: The Next Generation - Part 2: The Needs of the Few

Nov 19, 2013 · 29m

E23. From One Generation to the Next: The Making of Unification

Nov 19, 2013 · 45m

For the special "From One Generation to the Next", specials directors Robert Meyer Burnett and Roger Lay, Jr. were not able to secure the cooperation of Spock actor Leonard Nimoy, so they approached the "cross-over" aspect of Star Trek: The Original Series into Star Trek: The Next Generation, from another angle by having interviewees discuss the earlier cross-over episode "Sarek" from the third season, whose main guest character, Sarek (played by the late Mark Lenard) also appeared at the start of "Unification I"

E24. In Conversation: The Music of Star Trek: The Next Generation

Nov 19, 2013 · 74m

In this special feature composers Ron Jones, Dennis McCarthy, and Jay Chattaway address such topics as the challenges for writing an original score every week, their use of a live orchestra for every episode, and their creative approach to scoring the series. They also share stories behind some of the fans favorite musical cues including the legendary Ressikan flute melody from “The Inner Light” (S05E25).

E25. Beyond The Five Year Mission: The Evolution of Star Trek: The Next Generation - Part One: The Lithosphere

Jun 24, 2014 · 25m

E26. Beyond The Five Year Mission: The Evolution of Star Trek: The Next Generation - Part Two: The Biosphere

Jun 24, 2014 · 30m

E27. Beyond The Five Year Mission: The Evolution of Star Trek: The Next Generation - Part Three: The Noosphere

Jun 24, 2014 · 30m

E28. The Privilege of Rank: Making "Chain of Command"

Jun 24, 2014 · 45m

A 29-minute behind-the-scenes documentary that was included in the special features of the feature-length "Chain of Command" Blu-ray release.

E29. The Sky's The Limit: The Eclipse of Star Trek TNG - Part 1: Umbra

Dec 2, 2014 · 30m

E30. The Sky's The Limit: The Eclipse of Star Trek TNG - Part 2: Penumbra

Dec 2, 2014 · 29m