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Observations in TNG: "The Best of Both Worlds I"

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

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

"The Best of Both Worlds I" HD Screencaps @ TrekCore

Description TNG		Other caps	Comparison TNG to TNG-R	Description TNG-R
Footage of the USS Enterprise-D in orbit of Jouret IV was originally created for "The Child" where the ship orbits 'aucdet IV. Re-Used Planets in TNG	"The Child" SD	"The Child" HD		A new planet was created for this remastered episode, as opposed to TNG-R: "The Child". Also note the different lighting of the ship in the two TNG-R episodes.
The ravaged surface of Jouret IV.				We can clearly see that it is just a matte painting, but the TNG-R version is overall much more vivid than the original.


The footage of the USS Enterprise-D flying next to Admiral Hansen's unnamed Excelsior-class ship was originally created for "The Child" where the model was used as the USS Repulse. The material was edited together differently here, though.		"The Child"		The shot of the two ships in HD.
Picard briefly appears in a small alcove in his ready room to fetch a tray. This is the first time this small side room (sometimes said to contain the captain's private restroom facilities) is used.				No changes
The two paintings in Shelby's guest quarters were created by Rick Sternbach. The painting on the left, named "Anvil of Jove", was also seen in Marla Aster's quarters in "The Bonding". Decades later, it will appear in Mariner's quarters as a newly promoted lieutenant in LOW: "Moist Vessel", in both temporary quarters of Boimler in LOW: "I Have No Bones Yet I Must Flee" and in Dirk's quarters in "In the Cradle of Vexilon". The Lower Decks version has landscape orientation, unlike the original. Space Art in Star Trek: The Next Generation	"The Bonding"	LOW: "Moist Vessel"		The two paintings in HD.
	LOW: "I Have No Bones..."	LOW: "I Have No Bones..."		The two paintings in HD.
Riker changes his window corner light all the time. It was still white or pale blue in season 2, blue in "The Enemy", pink in "Allegiance" and is green in "The Best of Both Worlds I".	"Up the Long Ladder"	"Allegiance"		No changes
This is the first time the senior officers' poker session takes place in Riker's and not in Data's quarters.				No changes
The same poker cards were in use in "Allegiance" and "The Most Toys".	"Allegiance"	"The Most Toys"		The cards in HD.
The transporter circuits in the side alcove of the transporter room are nicely seen in this shot.				A close-up of the console in HD.
The scanner Shelby examines the soil with is also used by her to scan the warp core in "The Best of Both Worlds II". The prop appears in many later episodes in various functions - a truly multifunctional tool!	"The Best of Both Worlds II"	"Unification I"		The prop in HD.
This is one of the rare cases when the captain's log is so long that two separate establishing shots of the USS Enterprise-D in orbit of a planet were needed. Both shots originally appeared in "The Child".				The shots of the ship in HD.
				The shots of the ship in HD.
In the first half of the episode, a nautilus shell can still be seen on the shelf behind Picard's chair. The shell appeared in a number of earlier season 3 episodes.				A close-up of the decoration in HD.
A graphic of the Borg cube displayed on the monitor of the "pool table" in main engineering.				A good look at the graphic in HD.
This shot of the USS Enterprise-D in orbit of Jouret IV also originally appeared in "The Child".				This HD shot too uses the new planet.
The reflection of the viewscreen with Admiral Hansen is missing on the observation lounge table in this shot.				The missing reflection was inserted into the TNG-R version.
The golden ship models of the USS Enterprise-B, -C and -D can be seen exceptionally well in this shot.				The golden ships in HD.
The Enterprise-D at warp.				Only in TNG-R, the registry on the nacelle pylon is flipped. It is possible that footage from TNG-R: "Ménage à Troi" was flipped to be used here.
All shots of the Borg cube were newly filmed for this episode, only one was re-used from "Q Who".				The shots of the Borg ship in HD.
The footage of the USS Enterprise-D facing the Borg cube in this shot was originally filmed for "The Most Toys" where the other ship was the far less menacing Jovis.		"The Most Toys"
The shot of the USS Enterprise-D making a U-turn was filmed for "Encounter at Farpoint" and also appeared in "Q Who".	"Encounter at Farpoint"	"Q Who"
An unobstructed view of the Borg cube.
The Borg tractor beam being deflected by the USS Enterprise-D's shield bubble. This shot of the Enterprise-D was filmed using the 4-foot model. Comparison screenshots from earlier episodes show the 2- and 6-foot models from similar angles. The Saucer Rim on the Galaxy Class	"The Outrageous Okona"	"Q Who"		The reconstructed shields in TNG-R are more vibrant.
	"The Vengeance Factor"	"Peak Performance"
	"Time Squared"	"Evolution"
This shot of the USS Enterprise-D facing the Borg cube was originally created for "Q Who". It is the only re-used shot of the Borg cube model seen in this episode. The Borg tractor beam originates from a different spot, though.		"Q Who"
The ship seems to fire phasers and, a few frames later, phasers and torpedoes from the torpedo tube at the same time. The apparent error is due to the simple fact that the phaser beam from the port warp pylon passes the neck just behind the torpedo tube. The beam should emerge from a spot at the bottom of pylon though, because that's where the phaser strip is located. Starship Gallery - Galaxy				The phaser beams were reconstructed to match those of the original version.

This close-up of the Enterprise firing its phasers was newly created for this episode, very clearly using the 4-foot model with its "fat" saucer edge.				The reconstructed effects in TNG-R.
This is another close-up of the USS Enterprise-D especially created for this episode. It was filmed using the 4-foot model. Shots of the 6-foot model show what the earlier version looks like from a similar angle.	"Encounter at Farpoint"	"The Child"
	"11001001"	"The Bonding"
This is the first time the outer sealing doors are lowered in main engineering. The outer doors are also lowered in "Disaster", "Starship Mine" and "Star Trek Generations". The inner doors are lowered in "The Drumhead". Geordi performs a similar roll under under the closing doors in "Star Trek Generations", where it is a still closer call.	"The Drumhead"	"Starship Mine"		The door as it appears in TNG-R.
	"Disaster"	"Generations"		The door as it appears in TNG-R.
The Borg cube seen from a slightly different angle.				The shot of the Borg ship in HD.
The USS Enterprise-D in the Paulson Nebula. This was likely filmed using a cloud tank, like in "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan".				The recomposited shot with the nebula in HD.
This shot of Picard in front of the main viewscreen was shot anamorphically to allow camera movement during an FX shot, explaining why it is a little blurry. The camera movement is simulated using the method of "pan & scan". Pan & Scan Effects in TNG				The anamorphic shot is still somewhat noisy in TNG-R.
				The anamorphic shot is still somewhat noisy in TNG-R.
Another shot of the USS Enterprise-D inside the Paulson Nebula.				The recomposited shot with the nebula in HD.
In contrast to the earlier footage of Admiral Hansen displayed on the observation lounge viewscreen, this time there is a reflection of the screen contents on the shiny surface of the table.				We can (barely) see the reflection in TNG-R too.
The Paulson Nebula as seen through the observation lounge window.				The recomposited shot with the nebula in TNG-R.
A close look at the footage from the earlier Borg attack.				We can see more details on the monitor in HD.
Now Picard has replaced the nautilus shell in his ready room with an ammonite. This ammonite would stay in his ready room until the end of the series. It was originally displayed in Doctor Crusher's office, though.	Earlier in this episode	"11001001"		A close-up of the decoration in HD.
Even though Shelby takes the turbolift straight to the battle bridge, she doesn't use the special battle bridge turbolift on the other side of the bridge, last seen in "Encounter at Farpoint". This scene is interesting for another reason. Riker and Shelby enter the turbolift from the bridge. Though there are separately filmed close-ups of Riker and Shelby, the medium shot was filmed as one continuous take. To make it seem as if Shelby is leaving the turbolift at another location, a fake corridor wall was erected on the bridge set, directly behind the turbolift door.		"Encounter at Farpoint"		No changes


The USS Enterprise-D and the Borg cube in the Paulson Nebula.				The shots of the two ships in HD.
				The shots of the two ships in HD.
A similar shot of Picard inspecting engineering appeared in "Encounter at Farpoint".		"Encounter at Farpoint"		Engineering in HD.
This is the first time somebody is seen working on circuitry in the main engineering ceiling.				In the HD close-up, we can recognize that it's anachronistic 20th century circuitry.
This large PADD with an elaborate pattern of lines on the back also appears in "Disaster".		"Disaster"		A close-up of the PADD in HD.
Patrick Stewart is wearing white sneakers instead of black boots when he enters Ten Forward, "touring the ship before the battle".				No changes
The Paulson Nebula as seen through the Ten Forward windows and on the main viewscreen of the USS Enterprise-D. As opposed to other shots from the same episode, the nebula appears to be plain blue here.				In TNG-R the color of the nebula contains the right amount of red.


Most likely the footage of the Paulson Nebula was originally filmed in a cloud tank for the Mutara Nebula in "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan". As can be seen, both nebulae are very similar.		"Star Trek II"		No changes
The Borg transporter effect. It was a little greener when it was last seen in "Q Who".	"Q Who"	"Q Who" HD		The reconstructed effect in TNG-R. Notice how the green swirls are more pronounced.
A really good look at the complex Borg costume, including the facial implants and mechanical arm.				The Borg in HD.
The Borg personal shield appears similar to how it was in "Q Who". The reflection of the Borg in his own shield is a nice touch.	"Q Who"	"Q Who" HD		The reconstructed effect in TNG-R. Unlike in TNG-R: "Q Who", there is no green hue in the shields now.
Picard is kidnapped. The Borg drone is played by a female extra. The costume already appeared in "Q Who".		"Q Who"		The pivotal moment in HD.
Like in "Q Who", the dead Borg leaves a shadow on the carpet when he disappears.		"Q Who"		The shadow in TNG-R.
The Borg logo can be seen printed on this wall.				The gamma-enhanced HD shot shows the emblem better.
The Borg alcoves are still similar to how they appeared in "Q Who". The yellow ceiling lights were kept but now there is only one row. The alcoves would change a lot more for later series and films.		"Q Who"		The alcoves in HD.
This is the same matte painting of the interior of the Borg cube originally created for "Q Who". It was only modified slightly for this episode.	"Q Who"	"Q Who" HD		The TNG-R version accordingly uses the revised matte. The turquoise hue as it was present in TNG-R: "Q Who" was toned down for this episode.
The USS Enterprise-D in pursuit of the Borg cube.				The shot with the two ships in HD.
A Borg power waveguide conduit node. Over 30 years later, the distribution nodes will also appear (as reconstructions) on the Borg cube in Picard season 3.		PIC: "The Last Generation"		The device in HD.
This footage of the ready room desktop monitor was originally created for the first season episode "The Battle".		"The Battle"		No changes
A phaser with a modulating frequency beam firing at a Borg distribution node.				In TNG-R, the alternating colors of the beams are somewhat more brilliant.
A Borg interface with the typical worm-like graphics can be nicely seen in this shot. It looks like it has been refined since it first appeared in "Q Who" where it seemed to be monochrome.		"Q Who"		An HD close-up of the interface.
The Borg have adapted their personal shields to the frequencies of the phasers.				The reconstructed effects in TNG-R.
Worf collides with Locutus's personal shield.				The reconstructed effects in TNG-R.

Credits

Thanks to Frank Bitterhof for the hint about the phaser strip on the pylon of the Galaxy class. Thanks to Michael Minnick for pointing out Patrick Stewart's white shoes to us.

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