Artwork & Details on new ‘Best of’ TNG and TOS DVD sets

After yesterday’s huge news of new Star Trek Blu-ray and DVD sets, there is even more Trek DVD news coming out today. Yesterday we hinted at a couple of new ‘best of’ sets coming from CBS, and today CBS made it official, providing images and details on the ‘Best of TNG’ and ‘Best of TOS’ sets coming out in May, mainly geared to potential new Trek fans as an introduction to these shows.

 

Best of Trek sets – aimed at the newbies
These new DVD sets from CBS and Paramount seemed geared for the new fan (or possibly casual fan) who just saw the new Star Trek movie. Both sets are priced at $14.99 retail (street price will probably be closer to $10). Each contains just four episodes and no special features and are being released on May 12th, four days after the new Star Trek movie opens.  Here are the details and box art images.

THE BEST OF STAR TREK: THE ORIGINAL SERIES
[DVD – May 12 – $14.99]

Synopsis: “Space…The Final Frontier. These are the voyages of the Starship, Enterprise. Its 5-year mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone before!” The series is set in the 23rd century where Earth has survived World War III then moved on to explore the stars.

Box blurb text: Continue the excitement of the STAR TREK experience with four of the very best episodes of the series that started it all! You’ve met Kirk and Spock as young men on the big screen, now join them on their later journeys to the planet Vulcan, travel with them through time, and take witness as they face off in a battle to save their friendship and their very lives.

Episodes:

  • The City on the Edge of Forever
  • The Trouble with Tribbles
  • Balance of Terror
  • Amok Time

Details: 1 Disk (Runtime: 3 Hr. 21 Min. 50 Sec). All episodes are ‘remastered’ version. Languages (dubbed and subtitles): English, Portuguese, Spanish., Audio: 5.1 & Mono.

Box Art:



Best of TOS, coming on DVD in May (click images to enlarge)
 

THE BEST OF STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION
[DVD – May 12 – $14.99]

Synopsis: Set in the 24th century and decades after the adventures of the original crew of the starship Enterprise, this new series is the long-awaited successor to the original “Star Trek” (1966). Under the command of Captain Jean-Luc Picard, the all new Enterprise NCC 1701-D travels out to distant planets to seek out new life and to boldly go where no one has gone before.

Box blurb text: The excitement of Star Trek continues with the series STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION. Join the action with Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Cmdr. Wil Riker and the crew of the Enterprise-D, as they explore the outer reaches of the galaxy and get swept away by the incredible stories that made Star Trek a phenomenon.

Episodes:

  • The Best of Both Worlds (Part 1)
  • The Best of Both Worlds (Part 2)
  • Yesterday’s Enterprise
  • The Measure of a Man

Details: 1 Disk (Runtime: 3 Hr. 1 Min. 57 Sec). Languages (dubbed and subtitles): English, Portuguese, Spanish., Audio: 5.1 & Mono.

Box Art:



Best of TNG, coming on DVD in May (click images to enlarge)

 

Like Trek starter packs
With no special features and so few episodes, these sets will have limited appeal to long-time Trek fans, but hopefully it will extend the Trek experience after the feature film for some new fans, and act as a ‘gateway set’ to the larger (and more expensive) ‘Fan Collectives’ and maybe even full season sets.

 

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Shiny!

Those sets look pretty good. Too bad they aren’t BlueRay though!

oh how exciting!
Another chance to buy episodes we’ve all bought before a hundred times

I have no need for these, but I think they would be a great introduction to Trek for those who don’t know what it is.

I really like the packaging design. It looks like it’s tied in to the TOS and Movie DVD packaging for the Blu-Ray sets.

I wonder if the TOS episodes are the remastered versions….

This is good for the new guys. I mean, four high quality episodes from each series for the price of a regular movie. For the new guys who saw the new movie, this will be a way to crack the door just a bit wider into the world.

#5

As the article states:

“Details: 1 Disk (Runtime: 3 Hr. 21 Min. 50 Sec). All episodes are ‘remastered’ version. Languages (dubbed and subtitles): English, Portuguese, Spanish., Audio: 5.1 & Mono.”

Seems like a waste. Only a few episodes that any Trek fan probably already owns. I like the box art, though.

This is the best box art I’ve seen Paramount/CBS (or whoever) produce. Nice work.

is the TOS disk a re-mastered version?

Looks like Paramount is finally getting hip to DVD box artwork!

“You’ve met Kirk and Spock as young men on the big screen, now join them on their later journeys”

Fascinating. No mention of a quantum related multiverse here…

And then straight into the biggest Trek Time Travel story ever, plus the first Encounter with the Romulans… interesting mix considering the movies plotline.

Yep, if I were going to pick four episodes from each series to show to Joe Newbie, those are probably the ones I’d pick.

#3: As Anthony indicated, these packs are probably aimed at the casual or new viewer.

No one is twisting anyone’s arm to buy these.

The Trouble With Tribbles is a comedy that a Trek fan will appreciate, but as a non-fan, it’s not exactly an episode that introduces people to what Trek is all about. It’s more for the veteran who can appreciate an episode that’s not the run-of-the-mill. A more typical episode for newcomers would have been better like Mirror Mirror or The Enemy Within.

Similarly Yesterday’s Enterprise is pointless to introduce to newcomers. The beauty of this episode is how different it is to the normal Universe. None of our regular characters are actually in this for long. It’s another one for the more familiar fan.

Best of Both Worlds is also a bad choice. Excellent 2 parter but pointless introduction, when the Borg threat was built up prior to this. Not knowing these characters if you are new, would you really care about Picard being assilimated or Riker threatening to destroy him after only 1 episode?

The Measure of a Man’s impact also depends on how much the audience knows and cares about Data.

Excellent choices if you are a fan. Bad choices to introduce new fans as most of these episodes depend on not only a familiarity of the world to appreciate these outings, but dependency on backstory.

“Measure of a Man?” It’s an OK episode, but …

Why not “Inner Light?”

Agreed with 13, I think I’ll pick these up as part of my ongoing plot to nerd-ify my wife to my level. I’ve got her somewhat excited for the movie (on account of her love for Quinto as Sylar on Heroes), and the episodes on these box sets are definitely ones I would pick out to introduce new fans to what came before.

They are well-priced. I wonder how well these will fare among the “newbies”…

I feel bad for those people that have to buy “Best of” sets. Hasn’t “Best of Both Worlds” been on like a million sets already?

Love the artwork on these.. but as the articles states.. With just a few episodes and no extras, not much we haven’t seen before. I have the seasons on DVD already and couple of the “special” box sets. But I won’t be shelling out the cash for these.

Oh.. on a side note. I think that BluRay is the new beta. Beta was far superior to VHS as BluRay is to HD DVD.. but teh cost is a lot higher and the majority of people won’t shell out all that money for a new player and new discs. Just my opinion. But we’ll see if they can break the beta curse.

Measure of a Man is a good episode, but one of the greatest? I could think of a lot more to introduce a newbie.

Can’t quibble with the TOS selections, if only 4 can be chosen (I would put Doomsday Machine or Space Seed as runner ups)

I am wondering who decided those were among the “best” episodes…

The TOS selection is not bad. Although I would replace “The Enemy Within” with “The Doomsday Machine”. But not bad.

The TNG selection is questionable. And it should be easier since there were fewer good episodes than in TOS. No one could argue with TBBW. “Yesterday’s Enterprise” was merely so-so (which puts it above the vast majority of TNG shows). But come on… “The Measure of a Man”? Who are they kidding with that worthless episode?

#16

True – INNER LIGHT needs to be in that set.

I enjoy “Measure of a Man” but not sure I would rank it as its “greatest episode.”

@14…

Yo, Doug, Still in Bagram?
Got some good books with you?
;))

Should have included Devil in the Dark.

A nice set to educate people I guess. I realize there are whole new groupf of people discovering these. And I have nothing against Paramount, CBS or whoever making money. I don’t need someone telling what the “best” are. I like all those TOS episodes listed but I’m someone who lists “Omega Glory”, “Patterns of Force” …and others as best also. Those are on my “best” list too.

22. You are SO wrong sir, on all your points! That’s all I’m sayin because it’s really pointless to argue personal preferences.

22. ML31 – February 17, 2009
“The TNG selection is questionable. And it should be easier since there were fewer good episodes than in TOS. No one could argue with TBBW. “Yesterday’s Enterprise” was merely so-so (which puts it above the vast majority of TNG shows). But come on… “The Measure of a Man”? Who are they kidding with that worthless episode?”

What?? You can’t be more wrong. “Measure” is a powerful deliberation on the concepts of life, sentience, free will, freedom, and civil rights. Is Data a man with inalienable rights or property? A question asked about American slaves, and answered wrong many times before we got it right.

“Yesterday’s E” has ranked in the top five of every fan poll. I would buy these for a friend as a great intro to the universe of Trek.

“Measure” was a good ep, but so was “Inner Light.” And so was “The Hunted”. There were quite a few “good” TNG episodes. I would argue that “Measure” was probably not among the best, although as an allegory it certainly ranks right up there. “Data is a toaster.” Best line in TNG. Right ahead of “I protest! I am not a merry man!”

I might actually pick these up

gosh no one seems to have mentioned the possible reasons as to why these eps are on the dvds? yes they represent the some of the best but also they have been mentioned by Bob Orci as inspirations for the film – COTEOF, BOT, YE, (bet Unification was considered to put on as well but if its only 4 allowed you have to have BOBW 1/2 and YE on a best of TNG and you cant have UF 1 without part 2)

thats probably why they are releasing the Genesis movie trilogy as well seperatly as well….for the very casual/non fans and people who have never watched any trek before the new film so when they have seen it and there’s interest there for more – they can track down the best of the best (and ones that seem to be a little relevent to the movie) to maximise interest…without having to shell out for big box sets and have them possibily turned off ST after watching hard core trekkie stuff like TMP, TFF, Encounter at Farpoint, The Cage etc etc

“Synopsis: “Space…The Final Frontier. These are the voyages of the Starship, Enterprise. Its 5-year mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone before!” The series is set in the 23rd century where Earth has survived World War III then moved on to explore the stars.”

Just how relevant is Earth surviving World War III to the series? It’s mentioned only once and vaguely. Weird miniscule detail to highlight in explaining the series.

Maybe this should get a volume number…like Volume 1, because they can make subsequent volumes with just as good of episodes. Maybe it’s not intended to be an introduction for newbies, although I can’t imagine what alternate purpose they would serve except maybe a $-saver.

It’s just my opinion, but my list of 4 episodes from TOS and TNG would be completely different on a “Best Of” list than it is on a “Introduction To” list.

Again, in my opinion, these would be my picks:
TOS (Best of)
Same list, except I’d replace “Enemy Within” with “Space Seed” or “Journey to Babel”.

TOS (Introduction to)
Keep “City” and “Amok”
“The Man Trap” (Simply because that’s how Star Trek was introduced)
and I’d choose “Errand of Mercy” (to show that Klingons are the series’ rivals for the most part and show where the Federation stands with the Klingons)

As for TNG:
(Best Of): Hard to pick from 170something episodes…”Best of Both Worlds I and II”, “Inner Light”, and maybe “Darmok” or maybe “Yesterday’s Enterprise”

(Intro to): “Encounter at Farpoint” (to introduce TNG as we were introduced), and maybe something like “Datalore” (to introduce Dr. Soong and a background on Data), maybe “Family”, “Q Who” (the borg intro), or “Sins of the Father” (a look into Klingons in TNG and Picard’s extended role among Klingons

Just my two cents and my picks, I’m sure if I gave this thought for a lot longer I can do better.

I’m really loving the new artwork! :D

The Inner Light is already available on Star Trek Collective: Alternate Realities. Newbies can get those next.

Good box art.

The Man Trap is bad Trek. Never show that to anyone!

The box says “Best of”; Not the “The Greatest of All Time”. Could be part of a series, with this being Volume One, but as I’ve said earlier, new fans can consider the “Fan Collective” series for more “Best of” episodes.

#15 – yes you are so right – they should have filled them up with stuff like Mudds Women, Naked Time, Shore Leave, Turnabout Intruder

and for TNG – Encounter at Farpoint, Naked Now, Icarus Factor, Unnatural Selection

yes im sure stuff like that would go down well with people coming to TOS/TNG for the first time LOL…dude stuff like City of the Edge, Balence of Terror, Yesterdays Ent, BOBW dont just represent the best star trek episodes they represent some of the best episodes in SciFi television…it dosnt MATTER if people are that familier with trek in order to enjoy them…i mean how to people become fans in the first place?…through episodes like those!!

The Trek You’ve Seen 100 Times Before Box Set

Let’s get some remastered TNG!

33. Izbot – February 17, 2009
“Just how relevant is Earth surviving World War III to the series? It’s mentioned only once and vaguely. Weird miniscule detail to highlight in explaining the series.”

Miniscule?? Guess you never saw “ST: First Contact”?

#22—“Although I would replace “The Enemy Within” with “The Doomsday Machine”. But not bad.”

I didn’t see “The Enemy Within” on that list, but if it were, “The Doomsday Machine” would be a good one to replace it.

All 4 episodes listed are among my top-25, but I probably wouldn’t choose those as the 4 best. But that, of course, is a matter of personal preference.

I would keep “The City On The Edge Of Forever” and “Balance Of Terror”, but probably drop “Tribbles” and “Amok Time” in favor of “WNMHGB” and “Space Seed”. In any case, that’s just quibbling.

Holy Saturated Market, Batman!

For TOS, I’d have included “Journey to Babel” or “The Doomsday Machine”. Of course, “Space Seed” would always be a good way to get new fans interested in TWOK.

For TNG, why didn’t they choose a holodeck episode? Weren’t those the end-all, be-all of TNG??

I’m just sayin’…

We are very happy that these sets include Spanish content! Purchased online. Thanks CBS!

45

Now that would be something to get out in the market. Some shortsighted, or stupid,….whatever you want to call it,…people at the helm there. I know there is an audience for the old Batman show. Ceasar Romero, Burgess Meredith, Eartha Kitt and Frank Gorshin are all gone. Except for the two principals no one left to do any commentary on a release like that. May even be to the point where Adam West and Burt Ward have no interest in participating. Seems like gold to me. A no brainer. Someone really dropped the ball on that one. That’s very poor business in my opinion.

The holodeck was TNG’s biggest crutch.
They screwed around more with it than ever visiting planets.
They should have disconnected it.

I would add, “What are Little Girls Made Of?”
But that’s just me… heh heh.

Depending on the new movie, id consider “menagerie” or “balance of terror”. as for tng, i think “encounter at farpoint” and “all good things” could make a 4-episode intro to TNG. you can then see how characters have changed and so on, but that might defeat the purpose of introducing new people to the show. hell, just release “the worst of TOS and TNG”, which would be a much easier list, and say for all the good stuff, go watch everything else. eh, im not getting it, but its a good idea for new fans.