In one word, the quality of these 1.33:1 1080p transfers is phenomenal...but if you've seen any of the promos or comparisons online, you already knew that. The difference between these newly-created film masters and the worn-out videotape "originals" should excite any Trek fan; after all, the broadcast and DVD versions made this 25 year-old series look its age and then some. Featuring bold colors, a light layer of natural film grain, rock-solid black levels, strong image detail and crisp textures, TNG looks younger, bolder and more relevant than ever before. In all honesty, it couldn't have happened to a more deserving series.

NOTE: A brief 13-second scene during "Sins of the Father" is essentially an upconverted version of the SD master, as the original film elements could not be found. It's hardly a deal-breaker, but the missing piece may be discovered in time for the full Season 3 release.

Not to be outdone, the audio also holds its own. Each episode features a new DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 mix (!), which mostly beefs up music cues and warp fly-bys, but also creates a pleasing ambiance for scenes inside the ship as well. Dialogue is crisp and clear, LFE is notable at times and the score never fights for attention. Thankfully, the original 2.0 Stereo mix is also included too, and it's also presented in DTS-HD Master Audio. Either way, the audio treatment was obviously handled with care and both mixes sound great.

Optional DD 2.0 dubs are provided in German, Spanish, French and Japanese. Optional subtitles are provided in English (SDH), German, Spanish, French, Japanese, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish. Sadly, no Klingon or Ferengi, but what can you do?

Seen above, the menu designs for this release are simple and straightforward, just like the old DVDs. Each of the three episodes is divided into more than half a dozen chapter stops, though no submenus are present. No layer change was detected during playback, and this disc appears to be locked for Region 1 playback only. It's packaged in an "eco-friendly" Blu-Ray keepcase with a matching enhanced slipcover and no inserts of any kind.

Yes, it's essentially a glorified trailer for TNG's forthcoming HD season releases, but The Next Level should make any Trekkie slobber with excitement. The washed-out DVD and broadcast versions we've seen for years have been gloriously remastered from top to bottom, unearthing a new layer of detail, care and relevance for a series that's felt dated for much too long. Though a taste of more bonus features would've been appreciated, it'll be tough for any fan to resist this package on release day; simply put, it boldly goes where no DVD has gone before. Recommended, unless you're patient and/or happy with a rental.

NOTE: These images were obtained promotionally and do not represent Blu-Ray's native 1080p resolution.