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Observations in TNG: "Birthright II"

A joint project with TrekCore, by Jörg Hillebrand and Bernd Schneider

Here are some observations about sets, props and visual effects in TNG: "Birthright II" without a specific theme, and a comparison of the original TV release (TNG) with the remastered episode (TNG-R).

"Birthright II" HD Screencaps @ TrekCore

Description TNG		Other caps	Comparison TNG to TNG-R	Description TNG-R
This footage of the prison compound on Carraya IV was later modified slightly and re-used in the DS9 episode "Meridian". The building was changed to appear less like a prison and to conform to how the Meridian courtyard looked like in the episode. Re-Used Planet Sets		"Meridian"		The improvement in TNG-R can be ascribed to the higher resolution and the better color reproduction. The scenery was retouched only very slightly, if at all.
The wall panel features Romulan writing.				In HD, the letters can be made out much better.
The light columns in Worf's room previously appeared in Proconsul Neral's office on Romulus in "Unification II". The lower portion was either removed, or these components are modular. They will reappear in a Romulan room in "Face of the Enemy".	"Unification II"	"Face of the Enemy"		Worf's room in HD.
Romulan cargo containers like this, featuring the Romulan logo, first appeared in "Future Imperfect". They were also seen prominently in "Face of the Enemy", earlier this season. The walls in the courtyard feature characteristic direction signs with Romulan letters at the center.		"Future Imperfect"		The containers and the lettering in HD.
		"Face of the Enemy"
The Klingon baby, most likely a doll, features prominent Klingon facial ridges.				The baby in HD.
The jungle scenes in this episode (and the preceding one) were filmed in the studio. The rock walls in the background hide the fact that this was filmed in an enclosed space.				In HD, we can see even better that the rocks are not solid.
The aft part of the Yridian shuttle is seen in this shot. The life-sized shuttle was last seen as the Nenebek in "Final Mission". As can be seen, the only noticeable change is the color of the glowing "X" on the side of the ship. In "Final Mission", it glowed green. Here, it glows orange. Redresses of the Nenebek	"Final Mission" HD	"Final Mission" HD		The shuttle in HD.
	"Final Mission"
The Romulan disruptor pistol is seen up close in several shots in this episode, including this one. Alien Weapons				The disruptors in HD.
The night-time shot of the prison compound was later re-used, unchanged, in DS9: "The Storyteller" where the building is supposed to be a Bajoran village.		DS9: "The Storyteller"		New trees with more leaves were inserted into the foreground for TNG-R. It seems like the mountain top and the clouds were retouched too. In addition, the foreground is now a level of its own, moving independently when the camera zooms in (hence giving the shot more depth).
This unique Romulan injector can be seen up close in the screenshot.				The prop in HD.
The day-time shot of the prison compound was also re-used in "The Storyteller". In that episode, a second shot of the village with a more reddish tint is also used.	DS9: "The Storyteller"	DS9: "The Storyteller"		Once again, we can see the new trees and the probably retouched mountain in HD.
The large courtyard of the prison complex can be seen in this screenshot.				The courtyard in HD.
We get a good look at the aft end of the Romulan disruptor pistol.				The disruptor in HD.
The characteristic big console seen to the right of Ba'el has appeared once before, aboard the Ferengi Marauder in "Ménage à Troi". The integrated tubular "laundry hamper" looks different now, and the larger boxy part is probably integrated to the wall in a way that only one of the small hemispheres on top is visible.		"Ménage à Troi"		The console in HD.
The metallic pieces of wall decoration behind Ba'el were first seen in the hearing room in "The First Duty". They were re-used in several later episodes, including in "The Inner Light" where they are seen in Kamin's house. Ba'els's jinaq, a Klingon necklace, is also seen well in this shot.	"The First Duty"	"The Inner Light"		The decoration in HD.
The prison compound in this episode features regular doors with door handles, something that is rarely seen on Star Trek. Wesley's room at Starfleet Academy, seen in "The First Duty", also had old-fashioned doors.				No changes
The shot of the prison compound is the only one never re-used in any later episode.				Aside from the previously mentioned modifications for TNG-R, the sky is definitely new here.
The flight route of the Jaglom Shrek's shuttle is seen in this LCARS display. The planet "Echevarria" is named after this episode's writer, René Echevarria.				The graphic was newly created for TNG-R. The colors (green and blue) of the Romulan emblem were switched. The Evolution of the Romulan Emblem
The vegetable garden in the prison courtyard can be seen here.				The garden in HD.
Two Romulan PADDS are seen on the table here. The props were first seen in the season 5 episode "Unification I". Several years later, they were modified and used as Mari PADDs in "Random Thoughts". The Thieves of the Delta Quadrant	"Redemption I" HD	VOY: "Random Thoughts"		The PADDs in HD.
Another look at the fake jungle and rock wall on Carraya IV.				The jungle in HD.
The black, triangular plates used by the Klingons and Romulans on Carraya IV were later also in use aboard the USS Enterprise-D in the episode "Preemptive Strike".		"Preemptive Strike"		No changes
The bunk beds in Worf's quarters in the prison compound were previously seen aboard the USS Excelsior in "Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country".		"Star Trek VI"		No changes
The two boxes in the shelf behind Worf feature the characteristic Romulan logo.				No changes
Tokath points his Romulan disruptor pistol at Worf, giving us a good look at the prop again.				The disruptor in HD.
This shot of the USS Enterprise-D facing a Romulan Warbird was originally created for "Data's Day".		"Data's Day" HD		The space shot in HD.
		"Data's Day" HD

Credits

Thanks to Eric Voglmayr for finding the re-use of the light columns.

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