"Let's make sure history never forgets the Enterprise," says Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) in "Yesterday's Enterprise," one of Star Trek: The Next Generation: Season 3's finest episodes, and while Trekkies live long and prosper, the Captain's fears are sure to go unrealized. After the shortened second season (writer's strike), STNG3 returns with a full 26-episode roster, although according to new executive producer Michael Pillar, the season got off to a very rocky start as the show's brass scrambled around for scripts. Find them they did, as Yoda might say (if I can cross-franchise for a moment), with standouts including the aforementioned time-travel mindbender "Yesterday's Enterprise," in which ships passing (though not chronologically) in the night brings crew member Tasha Yar (Denise Crosby) back; "The Offspring," in which Data becomes a daddy after creating an android (an episode which also marked Jonathan Frakes's--i.e., Commander Riker--directorial debut); and "The Best of Both Worlds, Part 1," the cliffhanger season finale that saw the return of the Borg, who wanted Picard. And speaking of returns, STNG3 was also notable for re-introducing Dr. Beverly Crusher (Cheryl Gates McFadden). Like STNG1 and STNG2 (see reviews on VL Online), the image quality is a wee bit grainy but otherwise quite serviceable, as is the somewhat underwhelming Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack. As in the other sets, the seventh disc here serves up extra featurettes (four, totaling 65 minutes) featuring interview footage with cast and crew on production, character growth, and favorite episodes. Resistance is futile. Recommended. (R. Pitman)[Blu-ray Review—Apr. 23, 2013—Paramount, 6 discs, 1,181 min., not rated, $129.99—Making its first appearance on Blu-ray, 1989-1990's Star Trek: The Next Generation—Season Three features an excellent transfer and a DTS-HD 7.1 soundtrack. Extras include audio commentaries for several episodes, the three-part documentary “Resistance is Futile” (90 min.), an “Inside the Writer's Room” reunion roundtable discussion moderated by Seth MacFarlane (71 min.), the production featurettes “Departmental Briefing” (20 min.), “Mission Overview” (18 min.), “Selected Crew Analysis” (14 min.), and “Memorable Missions” (14 min.), a tribute to late writer Michael Piller (14 min.), and a gag reel (9 min.). Bottom line: the solid third season of ST:TNG shines on Blu-ray.]
Star Trek: The Next Generation: Season 3
Paramount, 7 discs, 999 min., not rated, DVD: $139.99 Volume 17, Issue 5
Star Trek: The Next Generation: Season 3
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