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Observations in TNG: "Samaritan Snare"

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

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

"Samaritan Snare" HD Screencaps @ TrekCore

Description TNG		Other caps	Comparison TNG to TNG-R	Description TNG-R
Footage of the clumsy shuttle mock-up in the shuttlebay was reused from "Unnatural Selection". As in the earlier episode, the set borders are visible in this shot.		"Unnatural Selection"		The set borders are no longer visible because of the reframing.
The interior of the Type-7 shuttle was modified for this episode. The aft section was separated into at least two rooms. Lights were added in the ceiling. Also, there are now LCARS displays behind the pilot and co-pilot's seats.		"Unnatural Selection"		No changes
Although Wesley identifies the shuttle as "Shuttle 2", it can be clearly seen in this reused shot from "Unnatural Selection" that he and the captain are departing in Shuttle 01, the Sakharov. Variations of the Type-7 Shuttle				The shuttle was relabeled to comply with the dialogue, and also for the sake of diversity. It is now the Einstein - Shuttle 02. The name and number comes from a chart visible in the shuttlebay since "Evolution".
A similar shot, but filmed from behind the pilot's chair appeared in "Unnatural Selection".		"Unnatural Selection"		No changes
The footage of the departing shuttle is also re-used from "Unnatural Selection".		"Unnatural Selection"		The hull number during the launch of the shuttle has not been fixed.
The footage of the departing shuttle as seen on the main viewscreen, however, is re-used from "Coming of Age". A square piece of fabric is visible behind the ops chair in this shot as well.		"Coming of Age"		The loose carpet was fixed for TNG-R.
A first look at the Pakled ship Mondor. Redresses of the Mondor				A first look at the Mondor in HD.
First appearance of a Pakled. Although they will be repeatedly referred to in dialogue in later episodes, after "Samaritan Snare" this species will reappear only a few times as background aliens on DS9. Decades later, the Pakleds will be regular antagonists on Lower Decks.	DS9: "Melora"	LOW: "No Small Parts"		The Pakled captain in HD.
The shot of the shuttle flying away from the camera first appeared in "Unnatural Selection". Again, "01" can be clearly read here even though Wesley identified the shuttle as Shuttle 2 in dialogue.		"Unnatural Selection"		The number was fixed for the remastered release of this shot.
The dorsal side of the Mondor.				The HD version shows many more hull greebles.
Geordi's toolbox is seen for the first time in this episode. In real life, it is an audio cassette case.		Cassette box (yourprops.com)		A better look in HD.
As per dialogue in the episode, the Pakleds have modified their ship with parts from many different alien cultures. The slanting strut in the background, for example, is normally seen on the bridge of Klingon vessels, like on the bridge of the Klingon Bird-of-Prey Pagh in "A Matter of Honor".		"A Matter of Honor"		No changes
A beautiful shot of the Mondor in front of the USS Enterprise-D.				While the colors are somewhat toned down in HD, we can recognize many more details.
This bridge shot is very blurry because it was shot anamorphically to allow camera movement during an FX shot. By using the method of "pan & scan" the camera movement was achieved. Pan & Scan Effects in TNG				No changes
				No changes
This shot of the shuttle flying from the left to the right is the only new footage of the shuttle filmed for this episode. It appears two times in "Samaritan Snare".				The registry was switched from "01" to "02" for this shot too. However, the name is still "Sakharov" and not "Einstein" if we look closely.
Together with his new toolbox, several new scanners are first seen in this episode. In future episodes, Geordi will often use the scanner he is holding in his hands in this shot.				A better look at the device in HD.
A better look at the open toolbox with some new scanners.				A better look at the box contents in HD.
Pakled circuitry really looks like a 20th century circuit board.				A better look at the anachronistic PCB in HD.
The console to the right of Geordi was originally a Klingon transporter console as seen in "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home" and "Star Trek V: The Final Frontier".	"Star Trek IV"	"Star Trek V"		A better look at the console in HD.
Picard is reading in a book during the long shuttle flight.				We can now identify the book. It is Memoirs of Frederick Perthes, or, Literary, religious, and political life in Germany, from 1789 to 1843 (Volume 2) by Clement Theodore Perthes. The page on the left is page 226.
Picard is reading in a book during the long shuttle flight.				The words "FREDERICK PERTHES" and "VOL 2" can be read on the spine of the book as well.
The console the two Pakleds in the background are working on was originally the Custodian in "When the Bough Breaks". The console also appeared in the Paradise City bar as a Klingon console in "Star Trek V: The Final Frontier" and as a Romulan console in "Contagion". The monitors at the left side of the screen have also made countless appearances in previous Star Trek episodes and films. They were last seen on the Romulan Warbird in "Contagion" and also appeared in the USS Enterprise's engine room in "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan".	"Star Trek II"	"Star Trek V"		A close-up of the console in HD.
	"When the Bough Breaks"	"Contagion"		A close-up of the console in HD.
The Pakled ship Mondor uses maneuvering thrusters to get into position in this shot. The shot of the USS Enterprise-D is new.				The improved shots in TNG-R.
This particular shot of the Mondor was re-used in "The Vengeance Factor" when the ship was seen again as an Acamarian starship. The ship was recolored for this appearance.		"The Vengeance Factor"		The improved shots in TNG-R.
The much shorter aft section of the Type-7 shuttle can be seen in this shot.				No changes
In "Samaritan Snare", during the shuttle ride, Picard is seen drinking from his usual Bodum cup for the first time. He also uses the Bistro set coffee/tea pot, but the black top part of the lid with the attached metal filter part was removed for this appearance.				The props in HD.
				The props in HD.
This shot was re-used from "Unnatural Selection". Only the lighting levels were changed a little and a graphic of the planet housing Starbase 515 was added.		"Unnatural Selection"		The TNG-R version, with a first look at the revised planet.
This shot of the Mondor facing the USS Enterprise-D got re-used in two later episodes. In "The Host", the ship is seen as a Trill transport and in "Cost of Living", it appears as a Kostolain ship. In the latter episode, the ship was recolored and is positioned a little more to the left.	"The Host"	"Cost of Living"		The improved shot in TNG-R.
The surface of Starbase 515 is identical as the surface of Angel 1, as the same matte painting was used. In this episode, the camera zooms in a little further to the central building, though. Re-Uses of the Angel One Matte Painting				The matte painting of Starbase 515 was modified to look less like Angel One. Three rounded roof tops were added, and most notably a helix-shaped tower. The tree in the foreground was changed as well. In addition, a flock of birds was added, the tiny human figures which were part of the original matte painting are moving now and the Einstein can be seen landing on a platform.


The same sculpture of a red ball on a yellow cone is seen on Rutia IV in "The High Ground".		"The High Ground"		The set in HD.
The blue and yellow uniform worn by the Starbase 515 technician was also worn by the Starbase Montgomery technicians in "The Icarus Factor".		"The Icarus Factor"		No changes
A directory like this also appears on Starbase 74 in "11001001" and Starfleet Command in "Conspiracy".	"11001001" HD	"Conspiracy" HD		A close-up of the directory in HD. The directory features another Dirty Pair in-joke as it lists a "Kei/Yuri Therapy Unit". It also includes the names of several people that worked on Star Trek at that time, like Les Landau, Sam Freedle and Adele Simmons.
The two consoles with the red hexagonal light in the upper section have appeared in various earlier Star Trek films and episodes. They were last seen aboard the Klingon Bird-of-Prey Pagh in "A Matter of Honor".		"A Matter of Honor"		A close-up of the consoles in HD.
Picard's artificial heart is also seen in "Tapestry".		"Tapestry"		The cardiac replacement in HD.
The black PADD on the table, showing the outlines of a human was originally created for "The Measure of a Man". It actually shows the outlines of Data. The small hexagonal devices are vascular pads, which will be seen up close and called that as late as in season 7's "Phantasms".	"The Measure of a Man"	"Legacy"		A close-up of the PADD, the other devices and the artificial heart in HD.
	"Bloodlines"	"Phantasms"
The left console in the background was originally created for Doctor Graves's lab in "The Schizoid Man". It was last seen in the geophysical lab in "Pen Pals".	"The Schizoid Man"	"Pen Pals"		A close-up of the console in HD.
As can be seen in this screenshot, the Starbase 515 surgical suite is a redress of the Starbase 173 courtroom. The same set was originally the bridge of the USS Enterprise in the first four Star Trek films and also appeared as the battle bridge of the USS Enterprise-D. It was last seen as the geophysical lab in "Pen Pals". This is the first episode with the typical red surgical scrubs of the 24th century. These garments will reappear TNG: "Ethics", DS9: "Emissary" and DS9: "Life Support".	"The Measure of a Man"	DS9: "Life Support"		The surgical suite in HD.
The two consoles in the background were rented from Modern Props. They are seen in several other Star Trek episodes, for example in Doctor Soong's lab in "Datalore".		"Datalore"		A better look at the consoles in HD.
The neural caliper, worn by Picard in this shot, shares some similarities with the medical probes seen in "The Battle" and "The Child".	"The Battle"	"The Child"		A close-up of the device in HD.
A white PADD is attached to the large medical laser in this episode. The same prop appeared in some season 1 episodes and was used by Doctor Crusher in "11001001". The large laser prop itself was rented from Modern Props. It made several more appearances on Star Trek, for example in VOY: "Random Thoughts" where the Mari use it for neurogenic restructuring. Consoles by Modern Props in Star Trek	"11001001"	VOY: "Random Thoughts"		TNG-R shows the device much better.
Another beautiful shot of the Pakled ship in front of the USS Enterprise-D.				The improved shot in TNG-R.
The Pakleds and Captain Okona ("The Outrageous Okona") use the same bridge console.		"The Outrageous Okona"		A close-up of the console in HD.
Like the daylight shot, this nighttime shot of Starbase 515 was re-used from "Angel One".				The night shot of the updated matte painting.
This set was modified since it was last seen in "Pen Pals". The battle bridge viewscreen was replaced by a regular, smaller monitor for this episode.	"The Measure of a Man"	"Pen Pals"		No changes
The medical laser at work.				The medical laser in HD.
A wide shot of the surgical suite. The door to the right was not seen in "Pen Pals". It appeared on the battle bridge of the USS Enterprise-D in "Encounter at Farpoint" and in the Starbase 173 courtroom in "The Measure of a Man" though. The black PADD showing a schematic of Data can be seen in this shot as well.	"Encounter at Farpoint"	"The Measure of a Man"		A great look at the set in HD.
A look at the medical monitor.				The small text in the medical LCARS display can be read now. During the operation, Picard's pulse, respiration, neural activity and cell ATP transfer are monitored.
The Starbase 515 biobed cover is an extensive redress of the season 1 biobed cover last seen in "Conspiracy". After this episode, it also appeared in sickbay aboard the USS Enterprise-D. A screenshot from "Pen Pals" shows the geophysical lab from a similar angle. As can be seen, the red vertical tube in the background has been removed, amongst other modifications to the set.	"Conspiracy"	"Pen Pals"		A better look at the biobed in HD.
The two wide LCARS displays to both sides of the pool table can be seen up close in this scene.				No changes
				No changes
The Pakleds really use old-fashioned technology, as can be seen in this screenshot.				In HD we can read the English text. It is an audio switch box, apparently for military use.
The orange cylinder with the antennae seen in this shot is a 20th century distress radio beacon (EPIRB).				A close-up of the device in HD.
The USS Enterprise-D engages its "crimson force field". In reality, the ship vents hydrogen through the Bussard collectors of the warp nacelles.				The recreated effect in HD.
A shot like this, where a person is seen de- and rematerializing in the same shot only appears in this episode.				No changes
Similar shots of the same set can be seen in this collection of screenshots from "The Arsenal of Freedom", "The Measure of a Man", "Pen Pals" and "Samaritan Snare".	"The Arsenal of Freedom"	"The Measure of a Man"		No changes
	"The Arsenal of Freedom"	"Pen Pals"		No changes
Consoles similar to the one behind Pulaski also appeared in the Starfleet Academy exam room in "Coming of Age".		"Coming of Age"		No changes
The planet housing Starbase 515 originally appeared as Drema IV in "Pen Pals". It appeared much more fiery in that episode. Re-Used Planets in TNG		"Pen Pals"		The completely redesigned planet in TNG-R.
		"Pen Pals"		The completely redesigned planet in TNG-R.

Credits

Geordi's toolbox was found by Twitter user @Amuns_Ra. The prop photo comes from yourprops.com.

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