Paramount Home Video released the second season of Star Trek Picard on October 4, 2022. The season is available in both a standard Blu-ray and Limited Edition SteelBook with a total of three discs fitting on the left and right inside of the case (two of the discs are sandwiched over one pin). The standard plastic case features a collaged image of the main characters in the show (although regrettably missing Guinan) while the Limited Edition SteelBook (pictured below) features Picard and Q in dramatic black and white (the choice packaging for this Star Trek fan).
Star Trek: Picard is maybe the most cherished of the new series from the franchise on Paramount+, no doubt due to the return of Sir Patrick Stewart as Jean-Luc Picard. But also, Jeri Ryan returns as Seven of Nine, John de Lancie stars as Q, and Brent Spiner plays the role of Adam Soong. It’s almost a reunion of sorts of Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Video
The video is presented in High Definition 1080p. The quality of the show is excellent, and we only wish we could get a 4K Blu-ray version of it. The show, along with other Star Trek series ‘Discovery’ and ‘Strange New Worlds’ are really excellent examples of quality TV show production.
The 1080p video plays at 24 frames per second at around 28Mbps – 32Mbps depending on the scene. We’re spoiled, of course, the 1080p Blu-ray just doesn’t meet the sharpness of a 4k disc or stream. And, it’s a much flatter image than the streaming format that’s enhanced with Dolby Vision HDR (albeit in HD). But you can guarantee this Blu-ray has very clean color levels and detail that is consistent. You can, if you want to, boost the contrast on your TV and maybe even add some color to get a little more kick out of the show. But this review was done in cinematic picture mode.
The Borg Queen is one example of some high-quality imagery in the show. From her freckles (natural for actress Annie Wersching) to her dark empty eyes, the Queen looks very realistic in video and on Blu-ray Disc. And, the video graphics and projections that are prevalent throughout the show also look very sharp and colorful.
Audio
Star Trek: Picard on Blu-ray Disc plays audio in English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 channels. There is also a French track with Dolby Digital 5.1. Subtitles are offered an English SDH in French. The audio played at 48kHz at around 1.6Mbps to 1.8Mbps second. The quality of the sound in certain scenes is very crisp and rich in detail. But other times (for example when certain crew members go back in time to Los Angeles) the audio seems very flat. There are a few subwoofer moments, but not as many as you might want. As with the movies and previous series, the battle scenes and outer-space environments offer a lot more of an audio experience.
Bonus Features
The three-disc edition from Paramount has over an hour of special features including featurettes, a gag reel, and deleted scenes. This is one reason to pick up the physical media.
“The Trial is Over” discusses the impact of Q on the original TNG series. “Rebuilding the Borg Queen” looks at the creature design of the infamous Borg Queen. “Picard Props” shows some memorabilia such as paintings of the “Borg Slayer“ Jean-Luc Picard that appear in the show, as well as helmets and uniforms, and ships, and other futuristic tools and weapons. This featurette also talks about how the artists designed different badges (the ones the Federation wear on their chests) for ranks such as commanders, majors, and admirals that house a multi-functional chip but also can be used as a weapon. Picard Passages” looks at the multi-faceted Picard and his relationship with Laris as well as other crew relationships. Finally, the “Gag Reel” is somewhat short but has some funny outtakes, many of them while filming on sets in Los Angeles.
Scores
Show
4/5
Video
4/5
Audio
3/5
Bonus Features
5/5
