STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION: SEASON 7

PARAMOUNT has released the final season, “SEASON 7” of the terrific series, “STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION.” 

The last season was a fine example of the best and worst the series had to offer.  The best episode, perhaps of all seven seasons, is the last episode featured in season 7, "ALL GOOD THINGS..." 

There are 25 episodes in Season 7, and again, as with past seasons, some were great and some were mediocre.  But, more often than not, the stories are well written, and occasionally, ""GAMBIT PARTS 1&2," even brilliant!  It didn't matter, as with the original "STAR TREK" series, that the special effects were less than perfect. What did matter was the fact that the characters were interesting, likeable, and appropriately menacing.  The fact that although the series had a "Sci-fi" feel to it, the stories were so universal in nature, they could've been written with a "western," "cop drama," or "courtroom" series. 

The episodes included in Season 7 are:  Descent Part II, Liaisons, Interface, Gambit (Parts I & II), Phantasms, Dark Page, Attached, Force of Nature, Inheritance, Parallels, The Pegasus, Homeward, Sub Rosa, Lower Decks, Thine Own Self, Masks, Eye of the beholder, Genesis, Journey's End, Firstborn, bloodlines, Emergence, Preemptive Strike, All Good Things.

PARAMOUNT has preserved the season with its correct 1.33:1 aspect ratio.  The image, as with past seasons, has a film-like appearance.  The colors are solid and rich, without any oversaturation.  The contrast is nearly flawless, with deep blacks and grays.  The transfer actually improves upon the television image!  While CGI effects bring about a grainy look, the majority of the show looks perfect, as well as artifact-free.  Fleshtones appear natural throughout.

As with past seasons, SEASON SEVEN features a newly mixed DOLBY DIGITAL 5.1 track.  There are numerous surrounds, though mostly confined to ships passing over the audience, and the .1 LFE track is more noticeable here than in the earlier seasons.  This soundmix will give a subwoofer a real workout!  The directional effects are focused towards the front soundstage, and there is great delineation throughout each episode. Dialogue is always intelligible and free from distortion.  Of course, the music sounds terrific, and is boosted through all speakers.

Another eight page booklet is included within this boxed set.  With this final farewell, various cast and crew offer interviews and reminisce about the series' evolution. 

"MISSION OVERVIEW-YEAR SEVEN," offers a brief look at the entire season. "DEPARTMENTAL BRIEFING: YEAR SEVEN-PRODUCTION"  examines some of the complexities of the final season.  Consider what the writers went through, trying to keep running subplots involving various characters, intact, entertaining, and still, somehow feeling new! 

A terrific featurette, "THE MAKING OF ALL GOOD THINGS..." is offered here, and it deserves to be seen for all fans and newcomers alike!  Patrick Stewart voices his impressions of Captain Piccard in "A CAPTAIN'S TRIBUTE."  A lengthy, but never dull "STARFLEET MOMENTS AND MEMORIES,"  is perhaps the best supplement offered on any of the boxed sets, and makes for a terrific sendoff!