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Observations in TNG: "The Emissary"

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

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

"The Emissary" HD Screencaps @ TrekCore

Description TNG		Other caps	Comparison TNG to TNG-R	Description TNG-R
Besides "The Measure of a Man", this is the only time this particular admiral's uniform is seen. For some reason, Vice Admiral Gromek is not wearing a communicator.				A better look at her uniform variant in HD.
Another bridge shot with very noticeable cardboard squares.				We can recognize the cardboard in TNG-R too.
The Class-8 probe approaching at warp.				Notice how the USS Enterprise-D in the remastered version is distorted (too narrow), like in a couple of other episodes.
A small model of a Class-8 probe was specially created for this episode. Federation Shuttlecraft				We can recognize many more details on the model in HD.
The USS Enterprise uses a tractor beam to adjust the speed of the probe. This is the only episode where a tractor beam emitter is seen at this spot.				The recreated tractor beam is more brilliant. Also note the "lens flare" at its origin.
The life-size photon torpedo/Class-8 probe prop.				The probe in HD.
The silver padding material inside K'Ehleyr's Class-8 probe is the same material also covering the deuterium control conduit behind the warp core aboard the USS Enterprise-D.		"The Schizoid Man"		No changes
K'Ehleyr is the first Klingon-human hybrid to appear in Star Trek. Her make-up features more subtle forehead bones than on full Klingons. The Evolution of Klingon Foreheads K'Ehleyr's first (of three) costumes in "The Emissary" features belt buckles also seen on all the Pakled uniforms in "Samaritan Snare". Three decades later, the Pakleds and similar belt buckles reappeared in LOW: "No Small Parts".	"Samaritan Snare"	"No Small Parts"		The make-up and costume in HD.
The tactical room is another redress of the USS Enterprise bridge as seen in the first four Star Trek films. For "The Measure of a Man", the set was extensively modified. It previously appeared in "Pen Pals" as the geophysical lab. Re-Used Starship Interiors		"Pen Pals"		No changes
For "Pen Pals", the geophysical lab was attached to the corridor set. At that time, it was obvious that the set was originally not part of the corridor set, as the blue carpet on the corridor floor ended abruptly and white carpet was used for the last few meters from the end of the corridor set to the geophysical lab door. In this episode, normal blue corridor carpet is used instead. The simple office chair seen here is called Omnific Chair. Commercially Available Chairs in Star Trek		"Pen Pals"		A look at the set in HD.
A large console, originally created for the classroom in "When the Bough Breaks", is also seen in the tactical room aboard the USS Enterprise-D. The consoles appeared in many other episodes, such as "Coming of Age", "We'll Always Have Paris", "The Schizoid Man", "Star Trek V" and "Pen Pals" and would be destroyed by the fire in "New Ground". Consoles Built for Star Trek	"When the Bough Breaks"	"New Ground"		A close-up of the console in HD.
A new star chart of the Milky Way galaxy makes its first appearance in the tactical room. The same chart is also seen on the bridge of the USS Hathaway in the following episode, "Peak Performance". The chart later appears behind Admiral Haden in "The Wounded" and was the basis for another star chart prominently seen in "The Chase".	"Peak Performance"	"The Chase"		A close-up of the Milky Way map in HD.
	"The Wounded"	"The Chase"		A close-up of the Milky Way map in HD.
K'Ehleyr's quarters in "The Emissary" and Lwaxana Troi's quarters in "Manhunt" use the same area (4 sections) of the senior officers quarters and also feature similar furniture. Notice the perfectly normal mirror in the small bathroom. This will change in future seasons... When K'Ehleyr enters her guest quarters, it can be seen that the table top of the glass table she is about to destroy is pretty thick. It is also completely transparent, as can be seen in the few frames right before she smashes the table. When the table is shown, right before it breaks, it can be seen, though, that it is made from a different material now. The table plate is much thinner now and not entirely transparent.	"Manhunt"	Guest quarters floorplan		The mutation of the table can be seen somewhat better in HD.


This is the last time the short corridor leading to the holodeck/cargo bay/shuttlebay is seen. Between seasons 2 and 3, the large double doors leading to those rooms were finally connected to the corridor set when the set was extended.				No changes
A list of various holoprograms.				This can be seen much better in HD, as can the screws used to attach the plexiglass sheet to the wall panels. Note the typo "Rio de Janiro" (which must have been in the original release already).
The skull monster reappears after it was introduced in "Where Silence Has Lease". This monster is seen in all appearances of the calisthenics program that feature holographic opponents.				A better look at the monster in HD.
Two Klingon swords are seen for the first time on the show. In later episode, they are usually seen as set decoration on Klingon starships and in Worf's quarters.	"Redemption I"	"Night Terrors"		A close-up of the sword in HD.
The feather monster only appears in this one episode. The other monsters were seen in at least two episodes featuring the calisthenics program.				A better look at the monster in HD.
The insectoid monster reappears after "Where Silence Has Lease". This is its last appearance.				A better look at the monster in HD.
The skull monster is cut in half and its top part slowly slides downward.				The reconstructed and considerably improved effect in TNG-R.
This is the first time (half-)Klingon blood is seen. The next time Klingon blood is seen, in "Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country", it is pink. Other Exobiology Inconsistencies		"Star Trek VI"		A look at the red Klingon blood in HD.
The Klingon calisthenics program has changed slightly since it first appearance in "Where Silence Has Lease". While the metal walkways and jungle plants were also present in the earlier episode, the purple sky was not visible in "Where Silence Has Lease". Instead, the set was surrounded by a mountain backdrop.		"Where Silence Has Lease"		A look at the set in TNG-R.
K'Ehleyr has human-looking teeth. Though not much of it can be seen here, this is the map created for "Conspiracy" where it is seen in the room in which Dexter Remmick dies. The map has made countless appearances in other rooms aboard the USS Enterprise-D, USS Enterprise-A (in Kirk's quarters in "Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country") and the DS9 schoolroom. The map is housed in a display screen which was first seen in "Samaritan Snare", where the set was used as the surgical suite on Starbase 515.	"Conspiracy"	"Samaritan Snare"		We can't recognize more details of the map in HD.
The model shots of the Klingon battlecruiser were originally created for "Star Trek: The Motion Picture". The footage used in this episode also appeared in "Heart of Glory". In both episodes, the battlecruiser has an unusual blue engine color. In "The Emissary", the Klingon battlecruiser fires its disruptors. This was not seen in "Heart of Glory". The effect looks much like the disruptor fire of the D7 from TOS (pre-remastered).		TOS: "Elaan of Troyius"		The shot was reconstructed to look the same in TNG-R.
The Klingon battlecruiser engages its cloaking device, another shot that did not appear in "Heart of Glory".				The shot is still the same, except that the battlecruiser appears brighter now.
The shot of the USS Enterprise-D is a freeze frame from the "going-to-warp" sequence, which also appears in the opening credits.		Opening credits		Unlike in TNG-R: "Heart of Glory", the uncharacteristic blue engine glow of the battlecruiser was not changed to red for this episode.
The screenshot from "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" shows what the Klingon battlecruiser looked like in that film, complete with normal red engine glow.		"Star Trek I"
Not much is seen of the bridge of the Klingon battlecruiser. The two consoles in the background with the red hexagonal lights have been seen on the bridge of the Klingon Bird-of-Prey Pagh as well, though.		"A Matter of Honor"		No changes
A black spot is permanently visible on the door in the left half of the screen in this shot. This must have been a problem with the camera equipment.				The spot is no longer present in TNG-R.
The Klingon sashes K'Ehleyr and Worf wear in "The Emissary" go all the way back to the captain of the Klingon battlecruiser Amar in "Star Trek I". One was also worn by Maltz in "Star Trek III".	"Star Trek I"	"Star Trek III"		TNG-R allows to recognize more details.
A good look at Worf's and K'Ehleyr's Klingon uniforms. The uniforms use the same fabric with small rectangles as Q's Post-Atomic Horror uniform in "Encounter at Farpoint", the Ferengi headgear in "The Last Outpost", Hester Dealt's protective suit in "The Child" and the emblem on Worf's regular sash since season 2.	"Encounter at Farpoint"	"The Child"
Klingon robes like Worf's were earlier worn by Torg in "Star Trek III", by a Klingon ambassadorial aide in "Star Trek IV" and by Captain Kargan in "A Matter of Honor".	"Star Trek III"	"A Matter of Honor"

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