Star Trek: Enterprise Season 1 Blu-ray March 26, 2013 Review

[scorpiontail60]

Originally Posted by Lincoln6Echo

(2) supposedly 1080p renders would look too sharp and contrast too much with the live action stuff.

This is the most pathetic excuse for lazy mastering that I have ever heard.

The studio cheaped out and didn't want to spend some extra cash to do it right. The end!

Originally Posted by d514

I don't think they will scan the negatives for the first three seasons again because effects like phasers etc. would have to be done again, like TNG.

The first season aired in 2001/2002. We all know how HD masters from that time can look on Blu-ray. Negative scanning improved a lot in the last 10 years. So even the real life scenes will probably not look as good as the ones in TNG.

Not saying that I won't buy the show on Blu-ray, but I'm not so sure the quality will be as good as a lot of people think.

I've already watched the 1080i airings on HDNet and the iTunes HD copies.

Enterprise does not look very good at all. I hesitate to say that the live action shots have even as much detail as a good 720p transfer; a lot of times it looks almost as bad as an upscale.

It's not a problem with the negatives, of course - it's the early 2000's transfer from 35mm @ 2k. The series needs to be scanned back in with modern 4k or higher scanners.

The current transfer of the show looks like Universal's garbage catalog transfers prior to Universal smothering them with DNR and edge enhancement. Assuming that Paramount doesn't decide to molest the current poor transfers with DNR, you can expect marginally better picture quality than a catalog Universal Blu-ray.

Star Trek TOS and TNG are leagues ahead in terms of visual quality compared to the current Enterprise masters.

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by scorpiontail60

I've already watched the 1080i airings on HDNet and the iTunes HD copies.

Enterprise does not look very good at all. I hesitate to say that the live action shots have even as much detail as a good 720p transfer; a lot of times it looks almost as bad as an upscale.

Keep in mind you're watching severely bitrate limited encodes, HDNet also adds in their own layer of DNR for a lot of their broadcasts. Even if they use the exact same masters the BDs will look better, guaranteed.

[scorpiontail60]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

Keep in mind you're watching severely bitrate limited encodes, HDNet also adds in their own layer of DNR for a lot of their broadcasts. Even if they use the exact same masters the BDs will look better, guaranteed.

HDNet's bitrate is(was; it's AXS.tv now) 17 Mbps. As far as cable networks go it is among the best.

I'm well aware of the bandwidth limitations of consumer HDTV channels and iTunes.

This was not a bitrate problem that I witnessed. It's absolutely a transfer problem. I have seen MUCH better looking shows on iTunes and HDNet. In fact, I'm having a hard time thinking of any show sourced from iTunes or HDNet that I've seen that looks worse than Enterprise.

Older shows, like JAG on HDNet look better than Enterprise. Clearly JAG was scanned in from 35mm using better scanners than Paramount/UPN used for Enterprise.

This is why I do not like the misconception that I have seen in other Trek threads that Enterprise should be an 'easy' Blu-ray release since it's already in HD: it's not really. Enterprise desperately needs a new scan like they are doing with TOS and TNG.

By the time it's all said and done, unless they release a remastered Enterprise way down the line, TOS, TNG, DS9 and Voyager will all look way better on Blu-ray than the most recent and modern Trek series. That's really backwards.

[KilloWertz]

Not sure if it's been asked yet on any of the 5 pages, but knowing that this got cancelled before they wanted it to, did Enterprise get a true ending?

[Sons Of Sparda]

Originally Posted by KilloWertz

Not sure if it's been asked yet on any of the 5 pages, but knowing that this got cancelled before they wanted it to, did Enterprise get a true ending?

Barely as the last episode was horrible. It did not really get an ending as far as I am concerned.

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by scorpiontail60

HDNet's bitrate is(was; it's AXS.tv now) 17 Mbps. As far as cable networks go it is among the best.

There's a big difference between *up to* 17Mbps MPEG2 from satellite/cable and even 20Mbps MPEG4 AVC.

And as I said, HDNet has their own DNR filter. Just because a show like JAG looks "better" is apples and oranges. Enterprise wasn't shot to look bright and glossy.

[Revolution 9]

Originally Posted by KilloWertz

Not sure if it's been asked yet on any of the 5 pages, but knowing that this got cancelled before they wanted it to, did Enterprise get a true ending?

Yes, the show did in fact get a proper ending. The cancellation notice was given quite early, and so the producers had ample time to wrap up the series.

That final season of Enterprise had Manny Coto replacing Rick Berman & Brannon Braga as show-runner. Not surprisingly, that final season is universally regarded as the best season of Enterprise. By far. There were 22 episodes in all. Coto was in charge for the first 21. The two-parter spanning episodes 20th & 21st served as the "proper" series finale for Enterprise. It dealt with epic themes that set the stage for Archer's legacy and the future of the Federation. If the series ended there, people wouldn't have complained. However...

The much-maligned (and actual) final episode was done by Rick Berman & Brannon Braga. The idea was for this episode to serve as a goodbye finale for the Berman-era star trek. It was never intended as the Enterprise finale; rather, it was supposed to be a finale for the entire TNG-DS9-VOY-ENT eras. That is the reason why TNG characters took center stage, and the Enterprise characters were pushed aside.

Needless to say, it was a disaster. But to answer your question: Enterprise did in fact end on a proper note. It did so during Manny Coto's penultimate 2-parter episode directly preceding the disastrous Rick Berman finale.

[Talyn]

Originally Posted by Revolution 9

Yes, the show did in fact get a proper ending. The cancellation notice was given quite early, and so the producers had ample time to wrap up the series.

That final season of Enterprise had Manny Coto replacing Rick Berman & Brannon Braga as show-runner. Not surprisingly, that final season is universally regarded as the best season of Enterprise. By far. There were 22 episodes in all. Coto was in charge for the first 21. The two-parter spanning episodes 20th & 21st served as the "proper" series finale for Enterprise. It dealt with epic themes that set the stage for Archer's legacy and the future of the Federation. If the series ended there, people wouldn't have complained. However...

The much-maligned (and actual) final episode was done by Rick Berman & Brannon Braga. The idea was for this episode to serve as a goodbye finale for the Berman-era star trek. It was never intended as the Enterprise finale; rather, it was supposed to be a finale for the entire TNG-DS9-VOY-ENT eras. That is the reason why TNG characters took center stage, and the Enterprise characters were pushed aside.

Needless to say, it was a disaster. But to answer your question: Enterprise did in fact end on a proper note. It did so during Manny Coto's penultimate 2-parter episode directly preceding the disastrous Rick Berman finale.

I couldn't believe it was a glorified TNG episode at the time. Then I remembered hearing about what you just wrote about the Berman era...and I thought, "why?" Sadly I think if a 5th season had been granted the show really could have gone out in a blaze of glory and balanced out. Season 1 and 2, mediocre at best...Season 3 an improved, more directed series....Season 4, the best. Another season and it would have balanced out. I still think Manny Coto should be involved with a future tv series reboot or something for the franchise. One day, there will be one...when is a big question.

[Livelong420]

I wish people frequented the TNG season 2 thread as much as this one!

Man, those effects shots look awful. It's not going to matter much what res it is rendered in. Who's got their money on CBS using the old scans?

[chip75]

Originally Posted by Revolution 9

Not surprisingly, that final season is universally regarded as the best season of Enterprise. By far.

I know I'm in the minority but I hated the final season of Enterprise. It had some good moments but I get chills whenever I see Manny Cotto's name on anything, which is probably grossly unfair as he did his best with a changing TV climate and a sinking franchise. I didn't mind the nods to the other series but season four was just over the top for me. The Peter Weller two-parter had an interesting conclusion though and might have been a better finale as you said. It's always best to leave the audience wanting more and not less like the last episode did!

[Lope de Aguirre]

Originally Posted by chip75

I know I'm in the minority but I hated the final season of Enterprise. It had some good moments but I get chills whenever I see Manny Cotto's name on anything, which is probably grossly unfair as he did his best with a changing TV climate and a sinking franchise. I didn't mind the nods to the other series but season four was just over the top for me. The Peter Weller two-parter had an interesting conclusion though and might have been a better finale as you said. It's always best to leave the audience wanting more and not less like the last episode did!

I hated the first Season and loved the fourth after the first run through BUT Season 1 gained a lot of appeal for me and the fourth lost a lot.

I only true great things in the season are the Augments 3-parter, the first part of "In a Mirror, Darkly" and the "Demons"/"Terra Prime" two-parter.

[Mavrick]

Can't wait for this Loved Enterprise.

[blonde_devil]

i thought season 4 was pretty good for the most part and i really liked the whole series. Enterprise was picking up steam at that point and I think things would have improved even more. really, the series gets bashed a lot when it shouldn't. how do you tell the story of Star Trek before Kirk and Spock and make everyone happy? they did do some weird things but they did a lot of good stuff too. if they made it too much like TOS, people would have just said it was a rip-off. make it too different and they say it isn't real Trek. what do you do?

the last episode has a lot of faults but it was an interesting experiment. it needed to be re-written a few more times before they filmed it but that ending shot of the 3 Enterprise's is probably the coolest shot they ever did.

[JaseT]

Season 4 was good* but season 3 was the BEST!

*Except the finale! Blech!!

[Sons Of Sparda]

Originally Posted by chip75

I know I'm in the minority but I hated the final season of Enterprise. It had some good moments but I get chills whenever I see Manny Cotto's name on anything, which is probably grossly unfair as he did his best with a changing TV climate and a sinking franchise. I didn't mind the nods to the other series but season four was just over the top for me. The Peter Weller two-parter had an interesting conclusion though and might have been a better finale as you said. It's always best to leave the audience wanting more and not less like the last episode did!

I preferred the 1st season too because it built most of the relationships of the crew for the show. The 4th season for me also was terrible. They were just trying to gain more ratings in the last season and they were trying everything possible to try to save the show from cancelation. The ratings for the show were dropping fast no matter what anyone says to the contrary.

[Sons Of Sparda]

Originally Posted by JaseT

Season 4 was good* but season 3 was the BEST!

*Except the finale! Blech!!

I agree on season 3 being the best as they were trying to save earth from being wiped out by the Xindi. Making the show more action orientated worked to some extent and did not sacrifice the character development between the crew. The 4 season too me suffered on relationships between crew members. I did not care for the pacing of the last season in the least but I am in the minority as well.

[chip75]

Originally Posted by Sons Of Sparda

I preferred the 1st season too because it built most of the relationships of the crew for the show.

I think that's one of the things I like about most sci-fiction (Star Trek, Stargate, Babylon 5, Battlestar Galactica) is the characters bonds to each other. With Enterprise they seemed to struggle with Archer's relationship with the crew. Was it too friendly or was it too stern? I liked the throw back to TOS's three main characters with Archer, Trip and T'Pol mirroring Kirk, Spock and McCoy and thought that was neat.

[Sons Of Sparda]

Originally Posted by chip75

I think that's one of the things I like about most sci-fiction (Star Trek, Stargate, Babylon 5, Battlestar Galactica) is the characters bonds to each other. With Enterprise they seemed to struggle with Archer's relationship with the crew. Was it too friendly or was it too stern? I liked the throw back to TOS's three main characters with Archer, Trip and T'Pol mirroring Kirk, Spock and McCoy and thought that was neat.

Always liked captain Archer. I really thought Scott Bakula did an excellent job playing the role.

[chip75]

Originally Posted by Sons Of Sparda

Always liked captain Archer. I really thought Scott Bakula did an excellent job playing the role.

He did indeed. I think all the Enterprise cast were pretty decent with Connor Trinneer and Jolene Blalock the stand-outs with Bakula.

[Maxwell Everett]

Originally Posted by scorpiontail60

This is the most pathetic excuse for lazy mastering that I have ever heard.

The studio cheaped out and didn't want to spend some extra cash to do it right. The end!



I've already watched the 1080i airings on HDNet and the iTunes HD copies.

Enterprise does not look very good at all. I hesitate to say that the live action shots have even as much detail as a good 720p transfer; a lot of times it looks almost as bad as an upscale.

It's not a problem with the negatives, of course - it's the early 2000's transfer from 35mm @ 2k. The series needs to be scanned back in with modern 4k or higher scanners.

The current transfer of the show looks like Universal's garbage catalog transfers prior to Universal smothering them with DNR and edge enhancement. Assuming that Paramount doesn't decide to molest the current poor transfers with DNR, you can expect marginally better picture quality than a catalog Universal Blu-ray.

Star Trek TOS and TNG are leagues ahead in terms of visual quality compared to the current Enterprise masters.

4K or higher!? Why would it need to be scanned at 4K or higher? It's a 3-perf Super-35mm TV show, not a 5-perf 70mm David Lean epic.

I agree with you that Enterprise will certainly look inferior to TNG due to the older telecine of the show... but unless you have seen the 258 Mbit/s 1080/24p D5 master tapes of the show, I don't really think you should set your expectations on something you saw on iTunes or HDNet.