Star Trek: The Next Generation, Season Seven; Star Trek: The Next Generation, Season Six

Isn't it ironic, as they say over at Chez Morissette, that Star Trek: The Next Generation's only major-category Emmy nomination (for Outstanding Drama) arrived at the end of the show's last season? Speaking of the end, Star Trek: The Next Generation comes to a close with the ST: TNG, Season 6 and ST: TNG, Season 7 boxed sets, charting the final (small screen) voyages of the Starship Enterprise through the farthest reaches of outer space. Although the seventh season garnered the nom, the penultimate season six was, in the eyes of the show's creators and many of the critics, among the series' best. Joining series regulars Patrick Stewart (Captain Picard), Jonathan Frakes (Commander Riker), LeVar Burton (Lt. Commander Geordi LaForge), Brent Spiner (Lt. Commander Data), Dr. Beverly Crusher (Cheryl Gates McFadden) and Michael Dorn (Worf), among others, are the original Star Trek's chief engineer, Montgomery "Scotty" Scott (James Doohan) in the nostalgic episode "Relics"; cosmologist Stephen Hawking, who played simulated poker against Einstein and Newton in the lead-off episode of “Descent,” a traditional season-ending two-part cliffhanger; and David Warner as a sublime torturer in the chilling two-parter "Chain of Command." Other highlights of the 26-episode season included the Q-episode (with John de Lancie) "Tapestry," in which Picard has the opportunity to correct an earlier decision…with unexpected results, and "Frame of Mind," which finds Riker trapped in an alien mental hospital. Included on the final disc are five new featurettes covering favorite episodes, production challenges, a look at episodes directed by Stewart and Burton, and a profile of SFX wizard Dan Curry in his memorabilia-laden home (he's still looking for an opportunity to use a "cannibal eye fork" somewhere onscreen).Still, if all's well that ends well, then ST: TNG, Season 7 is well indeed. Among the 25 episodes in the series' last season, notable highlights include "Parallels," a show that not only played around with the quantum physics theory of alternate universes, but also featured an incredible matte shot of a myriad of Enterprises; the two-part "Gambit," which finds Picard and Riker posing as mercenaries; and the extended, aptly titled, finale "All Good Things…" Also featured are five new featurettes, including "A Captain's Tribute," which finds Stewart waxing eloquent on his fellow cast members; the fond look back "Starfleet Moments and Memories"; and a making-of segment devoted to "All Good Things…" Sure to be popular with the legions of Trekkies, both of these sets are definitely recommended. (R. Pitman)[Blu-ray Review—July 1, 2014—Paramount, 6 discs, 1,175 min., not rated, $129.99—Making its first appearance on Blu-ray, 1992-93's Star Trek: The Next Generation—Season Six boasts a fine transfer and a DTS-HD 7.1 soundtrack. Extras include crew audio commentary on select episodes, the behind-the-scenes documentary “Beyond the Five Year Mission—The Evolution” (85 min.), deleted scenes (44 min.), a featurette on title designer and visual effects producer Dan Curry (20 min.), a “Special Crew Profile: Lt. Cmdr. Data” character segment (19 min.), a “Mission Overview” season summary (18 min.), the production featurettes “Bold New Directions” (18 min.), “Select Historical Data” (18 min.), “Departmental Briefing: Production” (16 min.), and “Inside Star Fleet Archive: Sets and Props” (13 min.), a gag reel, episode promos, and trailers. Bottom line: a welcome Blu-ray debut for the winning sixth season of this classic series.][Blu-ray Review—Dec. 16, 2014—Paramount, 6 discs, 1,172 min., not rated, $129.99—Making its first appearance on Blu-ray, 1993-94's Star Trek: The Next Generation—Season Seven sports an excellent transfer and a DTS-HD 7.1 soundtrack. Extras includes audio commentaries on select episodes, “The Sky's the Limit: The Eclipse” behind-the-scenes documentary (90 min.), a “Journey's End: The Saga” retrospective (45 min.), an “In Conversation: Lensing” featurette (43 min.), “Starfleet Moments and Memories” (30 min.), deleted scenes (48 min.), a “making-of” on the series finale (18 min.), “A Captain's Tribute” with star Patrick Stewart (17 min.), “Departmental Briefing Year Seven: Production” (16 min.), a “Mission Overview” season summary (15 min.), “Closed Set: A Tour of the Real Enterprise” (12 min.), “Inside Starfleet Archives: Dressing the Future” (11 min.), a gag reel (5 min.), episode promos, and trailers. Bottom line: a handsome Blu-ray debut for the winning final season.]