by Doug Nye – McClatchy-Tribune News Service

Star Trek - The Original Series
An absolute knockout edition of “Star Trek – The Original Series: Season One” (Paramount, 1966-67, $118.00) tops the latest list of titles arriving on Blu-ray this week.
CBS and Paramount have done a magnificent job of bringing the legendary sci-fi television show to the DVD high-definition format. The late Gene Roddenberry, who created the series, would be amazed at the richness of the colors and the sharpness of the details.
In addition, the sound has been converted to 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio. Purists need not worry; the original mono is also included, although it’s difficult to imagine anyone preferring that over the new stirring sound quality. Fans also have a choice of watching each episode with the new enhanced special effects or seeing them with original effects. The new effects sequences have been excellently woven into the episodes and perfectly match the texture of the older footage.
Those who want to compare the old and new effects will be able to toggle back and forth between the two. After a couple of toggles, the suspicion here is that most will stick with new. Season one comes packaged in a standard size Blu-ray case, although a bit deeper to hold the seven discs that make up the set.
All 29 first-season episodes are included as well as a universe of extras. Each episode is presented the way it was meant it be seen in its original 1.33:1 aspect ratio. Among the many notable episodes are “Space Seed” with Ricardo Montalban as the revived 20th century warlord Kahn; “The Menagerie,” a two-parter edited from the original pilot that starred Jeffrey Hunter; “The City on the Edge of Forever” with Joan Collins; and “Where No Man Has Gone Before,” the second pilot episode for the series.
For those who might have been stranded in another galaxy for the past 40-plus years, “Star Trek” premiered on NBC on Sept. 8, 1966. It stars William Shatner as Captain James Kirk and Leonard Nimoy as first officer Spock who, along with their varied crew, sail the universe in their starship the USS Enterprise. Their mission is to explore other worlds and seek out new life.
Among the other memorable characters aboard are Dr. “Bones” McCoy (DeForest Kelley), Uhura (Nichelle Nichols), Scott (James Doohan) and Sulu (George Takei).
Although the show lasted only three seasons, it was the beginning of a phenomenon that continues to this day as witnessed by the new “Star Trek” movie scheduled to be released theatrically May 8

Get the Original Star Trek Season 1 on Blue Ray here ($64.99)
