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Observations in TNG: "Sins of the Father"

A joint project with TrekCore, by Jörg Hillebrand and Bernd Schneider

Here are some observations about sets, props and visual effects in TNG: "Sins of the Father" without a specific theme, and a comparison of the original TV release (TNG) with the remastered episode (TNG-R).

"Sins of the Father" HD Screencaps @ TrekCore

Description TNG		Other caps	Comparison TNG to TNG-R	Description TNG-R
The footage of the USS Enterprise-D and the Klingon Bird-of-Prey was originally created for "A Matter of Honor". The shot of the Bird of Prey alone is even older and is re-used from "Star Trek III: The Search for Spock".		"Star Trek III"		Unlike it was in the remastered version of "A Matter of Honor", the scene was newly composed using CG models of the Enterprise and the Klingon BoP. The motivation may have been to have the two ships in the same plane.
The black tapestry with little twinkling stars can be seen behind the bridge viewscreen here.				No changes
Between "The Offspring" and this episode, new LCARS buttons were added above both bridge replicators. What's more, the shiny black panels are covered with a non-reflective material now. In earlier episodes, we could either see unpleasant reflections here, or the surfaces were masked with noticeable black cardboard.	"The Offspring"	"The Big Goodbye"		No changes
	"The Offspring"	"Manhunt"		No changes
A rare shot of the battle bridge turbolift door. It features a more intense red label than the other doors on the ship.				We can read the label "01 \| Emergency Turbo" in HD.
The captain's mess is a redress of the observation lounge. The two viewscreens are hidden behind two cupboards. The wall with the Enterprise models is covered by a curtain, much like already when the set served as the art studio in "A Matter of Perspective".				We can see the table with the flower decoration and the exotic dishes much better in HD.

The painting in th background was created by Dave Archer and is titled "Because It's There". Space Art in Star Trek: The Next Generation				No changes
There are two versions of Dave Archer's painting "Heaven", one with angular and one with rounded corners. Both paintings appear in this episode.		Later in Kurn's quarters		No changes
Salt and pepper shakers from apparently the same series, but in silver instead of black and white, were previously used during Picard's dinner with Lwaxana Troi in "Manhunt".		"Manhunt"		No changes
The desktop monitor in Kurn's quarters displays the graphic seen on Picard's battle bridge ready room monitor in the pilot "Encounter at Farpoint", explaining why the number on top is 40271, which was only used for LCARS displays in the first season.		"Encounter at Farpoint"		A closer look at the display in HD.
Girders, which protruded from the wall, were installed in the senior officers' quarters set for season 2. Near the end of season 3, they are gone again.	"The Naked Now"	"The Bonding"		No changes
The painting seen behind Worf in Kurn's guest quarters was painted by Rick Sternbach and is called "Exoplanet from Icy Moon". It earlier appeared in "Conspiracy" and "Booby Trap", amongst other episodes.				The painting in HD.
"Sins of the Father" gives us another new window corner illumination, this time in red, adequate for a Klingon.	"The Child"	"The Price"		No changes
	"The Vengeance Factor"	"The Offspring"		No changes
Qo'noS, the Klingon homeworld, is seen for the first time in this episode. The planet is later re-used as Terlina III in "Brothers" and as Vacca VI in "Homeward". Re-Used Planets in TNG Qo'noS will be seen from orbit again in TNG: "Redemption" and, with noticeable changes, in ENT: "Broken Bow". Planet Mutations	"Redemption I"	"Broken Bow"		A new planet model with much the same colors and similar textures was created for TNG-R.
This matte painting of Qo'noS is also seen in "Redemption I+II" and "The House of Quark".				The matte painting is still the same, except some subtle retouching of the sky and a color correction that lets it appear much less green. Note how much the new version is cropped on all four sides (roughly 8%). This is unusual for TNG-R. Only this episode was reframed so drastically.



Some parts of this side room of the Great Hall appeared in earlier TNG episodes. The back wall with the large "X" was previously seen in the lab on Bre'el IV in "Déjà Q" and the side wall with the windows showed up on the Tanuga IV research station in "A Matter of Perspective". Re-Used Props - Decoration	"Déjà Q"	"A Matter of Perspective"		The set in HD.
A good look at the impressive Klingon Great Hall. The set will be reconstructed for "Redemption" and DS9: "The House of Quark".	"Redemption I"	DS9: "The House of Quark"		The set in HD.
The red window behind Worf also appeared on the Tanuga IV research station in "A Matter of Perspective". An interesting sculpture can be seen on the window ledge. Re-Used Props - Decoration		"A Matter of Perspective"		No changes
Worf first wore his ceremonial cloak during the R'uustai ceremony in "The Bonding". It is adorned by additional rectangular metallic insignia now.		"The Bonding"		A better look at Worf's attire in HD.
The ceremonial cloak with all the Klingon medals was previously worn by General Korrd in "Star Trek V: The Final Frontier". Just like K'mpec in this episode, General Korrd was played by Charles Cooper.		"Star Trek V"		We can see K'mpec's decorations much better in HD.
A Klingon PADD is seen for the first time in this scene. It seems as if a small slip of paper is attached to the back of the PADD in this shot.				No changes
				No changes
The log of the USS Intrepid from the time of the Khitomer attacks can be seen in these two screen caps.				We can read the complete text on the (reconstructed) screens. Khitomer is misspelled as "Khitomar" twice on the first screen. Captain Drew Deighan/Dieghan is named after the author of the episode.

The Klingon tunnels in which Kurn is attacked are a redress of the USS Enterprise-D Jefferies tubes first seen in "The Hunted". The set is most likely based on parts created for the airlock in "11001001".		"The Hunted"		No changes
		"The Hunted"		No changes
The kut'luch that is used to attack Kurn looks very different from the much more elaborate kut'luch seen in VOY: "Real Life". In fact, that knife was originally identified as a mevak dagger in DS9: "Sons of Mogh".	DS9: "Sons of Mogh"	VOY: "Real Life"		The HD screen cap confirms that this is a rather simplistic knife.
The d'k tahgs that are used to attack Kurn (and later Picard) are similar in appearance to the newly created d'k tahg seen in "The Bonding" and might be the same prop. They are all based on the original, slightly different d'k tahg from "Star Trek III".	"Star Trek III"	"The Bonding"		No changes
Duras is the first member of his family to appear in Star Trek. We will see his son Toral in "Redemption" and once again in DS9: "Sword of Kahless". His ancestor Duras, Son of Toral, will appear in ENT: "Judgment" and "The Expanse". The make-up clearly indicates that they are related. All male members of the family have a characteristic U-shaped crest around the top of their head, a feature that is a bit less pronounced on the women Lursa and B'etor. Duras and his ancestor of the same name even have the same central crest.	"Redemption I"	ENT: "Judgment"		Duras in HD.
	DS9: "Past Prologue"	DS9: "Past Prologue"
Notice how the emblem on Duras's coat during the assassination attempt on Kurn is upside down when compared to all the other scenes in the episode. Maybe it fell off during the fight scenes and was put back upside down.		Later in this episode
The biobed cover was modified slightly since its last appearance. Black stripes and LCARS buttons were added to the side and a small blinking PADD-like device was added as well.	"The Price"	"Yesterday's Enterprise"		The sickbay bed in HD. Once again, note how much the new version is cropped on all four sides.
A comparison of the USS Intrepid sensor logs and Klingon data files.				We still can't recognize the writing in HD. This had to be recreated for the remastered version of the episode, explaining the subdued color and slightly different positioning.
The large Klingon logo was originally created for the holographic recreation of the Klingon Rite of Ascension chamber seen in "The Icarus Factor". It will also appear in "Redemption", "Unification I" and "Aquiel". The Evolution of the Klingon Emblem	"The Icarus Factor"	"Redemption I"		In HD, we can clearly see that the emblem is not solid red but includes some patterning of the lighted surface.
The other side of the Great Hall can be nicely seen in this shot.				This part of the hall in HD.
The large rectangular metallic insignia on Klingon ceremonial coats appear with two different backgrounds, red and brown, in "Sins of the Father". They were previously brown in "Star Trek III: The Search for Spock" and TNG: "A Matter of Honor" and red in "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home".	"Star Trek III"	"Star Trek IV"		The Klingon uniforms in HD.
	"A Matter of Honor"	"Star Trek IV"		The Klingon uniforms in HD.
This is the first time a d'k tahg is seen in its sheath. The knife will later have a place in Picard's quarters. Jono uses it in "Suddenly Human" to wound the captain.		"Suddenly Human"		No changes
When Beverly Crusher requests information about Kahlest, her middle initial is briefly seen. In "Sins of the Father" it is "G." (probably for "Gates"), as already on her medical case. In "Conundrum", her middle initial is given as "C.", however, most likely for "Cheryl". In an invitation to Beverly and Jack Crusher's wedding created for the Picard family album, finally, her middle initial is given as "S".	"The Loss"	"Conundrum"		Beverly's middle initial remains unchanged in TNG-R.
Facts about Kahlest can be seen on this LCARS display.				We can now read the complete text. The USS Intrepid CMO Dr. Moran was named after the co-author of the episode, W. Reed Moran.
Decades later, a publicity photo taken during this scene would appear in the FNN footage about Picard in PIC: "Remembrance". Note that FNN obviously manipulated the photo, making Picard taller than he is and removing one Klingon in the background.	Publicity photo	PIC: "Remembrance"		The shot in HD.
The Old City on Qo'noS is represented by a close-up of the matte painting seen earlier in the episode. The building in the right foreground was removed, maybe to insinuate this is a different part of the city than the one seen before. The brightness of the matte may have been overall reduced to suggest it is night time, but it doesn't look very "natural" this way.				The brightness of the shot in TNG-R is the same as in the first appearance of the matte in the episode. Once again, note how much less green the TNG-R version is compared to the original.

The red wall part above the door appeared in other Klingon-centric episodes. It was seen in the mess hall of the Klingon Bird-of-Prey Pagh in "A Matter of Honor" and in the Rite of Ascension chamber in "The Icarus Factor". Re-Used Building Interiors The fire barrel was also seen in the Gatherer encampment on Gamma Hromi II in "The Vengeance Factor".	"A Matter of Honor"	"The Vengeance Factor"		No changes
	"The Icarus Factor"	"The Vengeance Factor"		No changes
The wall paneling behind Picard was seen in earlier Klingon episodes like "A Matter of Honor" but also appeared in the Ansata encampment in "The High Ground".		"The High Ground"		No changes
The d'k tagh used by Worf in "The Bonding" did not feature Klingon writing like the one that Picard is attacked with in this shot.		"The Bonding"		No changes
The medals on K'mpec's ceremonial coat can be nicely seen in this shot.				We can see the medals much better in HD.
An interesting Klingon banner with a mace is seen in K'mpec's office. Could this be the emblem of the House of K'mpec? The metallic table is often visible in Klingon rooms in later episodes like "The Mind's Eye".		"The Mind's Eye"		A better look at the banner.
More Klingon medals can be seen in this shot.				We can see the medals much better in HD.
K'mpec's chair originally appeared in the cockpit of the Ferengi shuttle in "The Price". It was later also seen on the Ktarian ship in "The Game" and on several Romulan ships. Re-Used Props - Furniture	"The Price"	"Face of the Enemy"		The chair in HD.
	"The Game"	"Future Imperfect"		The chair in HD.
Another "medieval" banner or tapestry can be seen in K'mpec's office.				A better look at the banner in HD.
One of the weapons on display in K'mpec's office is the Tkon halberd wielded by Portal 63 in "The Last Outpost".		"The Last Outpost"		No changes
Another look at the interesting sculpture on display in the Klingon Great Hall.				No changes

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