Star Trek: The Original Series - Season 3 Remastered

Studio: Paramount Home Video Release Date: 11/18/2008

Saved from the brink of cancellation by its loyal fanbase, Star Trek's third and final season rewarded them with a number of memorable episodes. Tight budgets and slipping creative control, however, made it the series' most uneven season, though it did have some of the coolest episode titles ("For the World Is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky," "Is There in Truth No Beauty," "Let That Be Your Last Battlefield"). Some of the best moments involved a gunfight at the OK Corral ("Spectre of the Gun"), a knock-down drag-out sword battle with the Klingons aboard the Enterprise ("Day of the Dove"), the ship getting caught in an ever-tightening spacial net ("The Tholian Web"), TV's first interracial kiss ("Plato's Stepchildren," and it should be easy to guess who participated), Sulu taking command ("The Savage Curtain"), and Kirk's switching bodies with an ex-love interest ("Turnabout Intruder").

The 2008 DVD set benefits from the same remastering given to the other two seasons, though only the first was released in high definition (the now-defunct HD DVD format). Still, the episodes are substantially cleaned up to the point where they look quite good, rather than jarringly fuzzy to the modern viewer. And there are some new visual effects that are well-done, and obtrusive only to the strictest fans. Compare, for example, the dramatic close-up of the green-glowing U.S.S. Defiant in "The Tholian Web" with the original effect, which had the ship floating in a green haze. New bonus features are 11 more minutes of rare footage from extra Billy Blackburn; "Collectible Trek," a 14-minute discussion of rare Trek items, filmed in 2004 with the rest of the bonus content but not included on the previous DVD set; and the newly filmed "Captain's Log: Bob Justman," an affectionate nine-minute tribute to the series producer. Otherwise, the set retains almost all the special features from the 2004 set, including the features on Walter Koenig, George Takei, and James Doohan (who died the following year), plus the two versions of the series pilot, "The Cage," a restored color version and the original, never-aired version that alternates between color and black and white. Starring Jeffery Hunter as Captain Pike, Leonard Nimoy as a relatively emotional Spock, and Majel Barrett (the future Nurse Chapel and Mrs. Gene Roddenberry) as a frosty Number One, this pilot was rejected, but a second was commissioned, "Where No Man Has Gone Before," now considered the "official" beginning of the series. But "The Cage" is very recognizably Star Trek with its far-out concepts (telepathic aliens collecting species samples), sexy humanoid women, character development, and of course cheesy costumes and special effects. Footage was later reused in the season 1 two-parter, "The Menagerie." --David Horiuchi

Within this set of DVD's are the epiodes that constitute the third and final season of the original Star Trek, each beautifully restored and enhanced in the visual effects department. In certain episodes, such as 'The Enterprise Incident', the effects are readily apparent.

Everything from phaser fire to planetside vistas has been given an enhanced appearance. Look closely, and you'll see a moon in the sky where none had existed in the original. Planets and alien spacecraft are given true physical form, as opposed to being anonymous blobs of light. These are just a few of the changes you'll encounter when watching 'Star Trek: Remastered'. So sit back and enjoy these sci-fi classics as they've never been presented before.

Skeptics take note, over 90% of the CGI-enhanced effects deal primarily with the 'Enterprise' within the interstellar medium. The story and dialogue are left intact. You need not worry about a 'fake moustache' being planted on Scotty where there was none before.

As an aside, I've heard the tale that when Gene Roddenberry saw the model of the Enterprise refit prior to 'Star Trek: The Motion Picture', he had made an observation to the effect that he had always envisioned the 'Enterprise' to appear that way, even back in 1966 -- and how they were limited by the special effects and budgetary constraints of the era.

I find this amusing in light of how many people slam the remastered version for being too 'modern-looking'.

Think of how many people back in 1966 watched 'Star Trek' for the first time, and thought of the effects as being 'too flashy' when compared against 'The Twilight Zone' or 'The Outer Limits'

I believe Gene would have approved of remastered 'Star Trek'


Recommended for all fans, both new and old.

While I was somewhat concerned that the re-mastered version might diminish my enjoyment of season three, after watching several episodes, I have to say that the enhanced graphics do nothing but improve the viewing experience. Sure, it may not be quite the same as with the original graphics, but it really is much better. The exterior shots of the Enterprise and many of the space shots, including the planets around which the Enterprise orbits, are so much more realistic and visually appealing. Definitely two thumbs up from me. I now wish I had the re-mastered versions of seasons one and two. Alas, I'll just have to settle for the original versions that I already own...for now, that is.

My two kids, ages 12 and 10, love watching Star Trek. They just can't get enough of it, even though the series is 40 years old. Great stuff!

I enjoyed the remastered version of Star Trek: Season 3. The remastered scenes with realistic planetary atmospheres punched it up nicely. I even compared them with some old VHS copies of the same episodes I have. I really noticed the difference.

I did find it odd, however, that in the episode, "The Savage Curtain," during the scene in which Lincoln comments on Uhura's race, that the dialoge had actually changed! My old VHS tape has her responding to Lincoln's remark with something along the lines of "I find my skin colour more beautiful that your's or the captain's," a bit of dialogue that would probably have fit right in during the civil rights '60s during which the episode was filmed. But the remastered version has her delivering an entirely different line along the lines of "In our century, we've learned not to be hurt by mere words." It got me wondering...when did they film her saying that? Obviously, the original dialogue would have sounded too arrogant for 21st century ears, so it isn't a wonder they changed it, but it irks the episode purist in me that prefers dialogue to be left as as.

I'd also prefer episode titles to be printed on the DVD. It's much too cumbersome to constantly have to refer to the episode cards.

Third season was my favourite season, and the remastered effects are on the whole very very good! The occasional jarring moment such as the new castle in Requiem for Methuselah, otherwise I'm really pleased. One question: trekmovie.com states that in The Cloud Minders, post-opening titles the glaring error in which Kirk speaks but his mouth doesn't move, has been fixed, however this is not the case on my copy. Could someone clarify if it has indeed been corrected or whether I have a faulty batch?
Thanks.Star Trek: The Original Series - Season 3 Remastered

Get exactly as advertised. While I'd prefer more extra content, Billy Blackburn's home movies make an interesting and often humorous behind-the-scenes look at TOS. Pictures are crisp as usual. Lots of nostalgia watching these again, even better without the commercial breaks.