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Observations in TNG: "The Chase"

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

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

"The Chase" HD Screencaps @ TrekCore

Description TNG		Other caps	Comparison TNG to TNG-R	Description TNG-R
All three shots of the USS Enterprise-D in the Volterra Nebula were recycled from "Pen Pals", where the ship is charting the Selcundi Drema sector.		"Pen Pals"		While the basic elements are the same, this shot was retouched differently in TNG-R than the corresponding one in TNG-R: "Pen Pals".
The Kurlan naiskos can be seen closed and opened in these two screenshots. Late in the seventh season, the priceless antique would start to show up in Picard's ready room in episodes like "Bloodlines" and "Preemptive Strike", only to be left behind in the rubble after the USS Enterprise-D has crash-landed on Veridian III. (We may assume that the latter is just a replica.) The artifact will eventually be stored in Picard's quantum archives, as seen in PIC: "Remembrance".	"Bloodlines"	"Star Trek Generations"		The precious artifact in HD.
	"Preemptive Strike"	PIC: "Remembrance"
Two more shots of the Volterra Nebula featuring several planets or moons, originally created for "Pen Pals".		"Pen Pals"		Once again, the shots are different than in TNG-R: "Pen Pals".
		"Pen Pals"
The large map of the milky way on display in the science lab is based on a similar map that was first seen in "The Emissary".		"The Emissary"		The star chart in HD.
The cockpit of Dr. Galen's type 7 shuttle shows no similarities to the regular Type-7 shuttle cockpit, last seen in "The Host". After that episode, the shuttle was most likely demolished, so a fake cockpit wall, featuring several LCARS displays, was created for this shot. Variations of the Type-7 Shuttle		"The Host"		The effect of the bad image quality on the viewscreen was created somewhat differently in TNG-R. Instead of distortions like in the original episode it looks more like noise now.
An Yridian destroyer holds Dr. Richard Galen's Type-7 shuttle with its tractor beam, shortly before it is destroyed by the USS Enterprise-D. The Yridian destroyer is a new starship model especially created for this episode. It appeared only once more, as an Yridian freighter in "Firstborn". For that episode, stock footage from "The Chase" was flipped horizontally.				The alien ship in HD (and the best images available of this obscure ship).
The shot of the USS Enterprise-D firing a phaser beam was especially created for the episode.				The phaser beam in TNG-R.
The shot of Dr. Galen's life signs being displayed on the large sickbay monitor is peculiar, as the footage of the monitor was flipped horizontally for the two shots in which it is seen up close. A screenshot from a little earlier in the episode and from "Realm of Fear" shows the proper orientation of the screen.		"Realm of Fear" HD		In HD, it can be seen that the letters and numbers in the LCARS screen (the parts that were not added in post production) are flipped.
The small PADD Geordi hands Captain Picard at the beginning of this scene most likely contain Galen's log entries. The PADD was seen in several earlier season 6 episodes, including "Time's Arrow II", "Schisms" and "Rascals". In all four cases, the same text is displayed.	"Time's Arrow II"	"Schisms"		The PADD in HD.
		"Rascals" HD
The Galen research data, consisting of groups of five numbers, are displayed on the large observation lounge monitor in this scene.				The monitor display in HD.
Ruah IV is the first of several named planets seen in this episode. The planet has appeared countless times in earlier TNG episodes. It was seen as Angosia III in "The Hunted" and Risa in "Captain's Holiday", for example.				The planet is a new one in TNG-R. Especially the cloud pattern was greatly improved.
The strings of numbers displayed on Picard's desktop monitor in this shot were added in post production. The footage of the desktop monitor was originally filmed for "Déjà Q".		"Déjà Q"		The display in HD.
The atmosphere of Indri VIII is destroyed by a plasma reaction. Quite the opposite happens in a similar shot in "True Q", where the atmosphere of Tagra IV is cleaned by Amanda Rogers. The healthy state of both planets and the transformation animation are different, but the destroyed/polluted states of the two planets use the same footage. Re-Used Planets in TNG		"True Q"		The effect sequence in HD. The planet as well as the pollution effect is not the same as in TNG-R: "True Q".
		"True Q"
		"True Q"
		"True Q"
The strings of numbers in Dr. Galen's computer files are turned into DNA fragments in this animation. The number "40276" reveals that this graphic was created for the sixth season.				The animation was recreated for TNG-R.
The science lab was last seen as stellar cartography in the previous episode. For the redress as the science lab, the large central console was removed and replaced by a smaller console which first appeared in "The Emissary" and was previously seen in sickbay in episodes like "Tapestry". Consoles Built for Star Trek	"The Emissary"	"Tapestry"		A good look at the lab in HD.
		"Lessons"
A graphic displayed on a main engineering monitor displays how the DNA fragments can be linked. In the past, this monitor has displayed other graphics during briefings in engineering, like in "Relics" or "Rascals".		"Relics" HD		The sequence in TNG-R.
		"Rascals" HD
This shot of Indri VIII also previously appeared as Tagra IV in "True Q".		"True Q"		TNG-R shows a new planet.
The PADD displays a list of the 17 people aboard the USS Enterprise-D that come from non-Federation planets and their homeworlds. In SD, the names and the planets cannot be made out.				For the remastering of the episode, the names and the planets were changed and are barely legible now. All of the planets come from earlier Star Trek episodes and films (mostly The Original Series), while the crew members are all people working on the production of the various Star Trek films and series.
			Crewmember name Planet of origin Lt. Cdr. Wendy Neuss Gamma Trianguli IV Lt. Cdr. Brannon Braga Sherman's Planet Lt. Cdr. Rene Echevarria Therbia Lt. Julie Lowry.Johnson Alpha Cygnus IX Lt. Cdr. Ron Jones Taurus II Lt. Jay Chattaway Regulus Five Cdr. Jerry Goldsmith Aaamazzara Cdr. Alexander Courage Triacus Lt. Jonathan West Alpha Carinae V Lt. Cdr. Richard James Eminiar Seven Lt. Cdr. Steve Tucker Triskelion Prime Lt. Julie Lowry-Johnson Xendi Sabu IX Lt. Adele G. Simmons Talos IV Lt. Cdr. Arlene Fukai Tycho Four Lt. Robert Blackman Rigel VII Lt. Cdr. Jim Mees Selcundi Drema Lt. Cdr. Dan Curry Sigma Draconis VI
The footage of the Cardassian Galor-class ships, the Vor'cha class battlecruiser and the USS Enterprise-D in orbit of Loren III was newly filmed for this episode.				The sequence in TNG-R.
While Gul Madred's daughter was the first female Cardassian seen (in "Chain of Command II"), Gul Ocett is the first female adult Cardassian seen in any Star Trek series or film. Like most Cardassian women seen after this first appearance, some of her facial and neck ridges are colored blue, a unique trait that Cardassian men and also the juvenile Jil Orra do not possess. Another unnamed female Cardassian appears in the season 7 episode "Preemptive Strike". Sexual Dimorphism of Star Trek Aliens	"Chain of Command II"	"Preemptive Strike"		A look at the make-up in HD.
The DNA fragments from all three sources are combined to one large structure.				The sequence was recreated for TNG-R.
This scene features a Klingon and a Cardassian tricorder. The Klingon tricorder was previously seen in "Star Trek III: The Search for Spock" and the Cardassian tricorder prop appeared in several earlier DS9 episodes.	"Star Trek III"	DS9: "Emissary"		The props in HD.
	"Star Trek IV"	DS9: "A Man Alone"
The small black PADD seen on the desk here, displaying a planetary graphic, was originally created for the previous episode, "Lessons".		"Lessons" HD
Another shot of the four ships in orbit of Loren III.				The shot in HD.
The location of the missing DNA fragment is identified by the computer. For some strange reason, the last display showing the location of Rahm-Izad is flipped vertically.				The flipped display was fixed for the remastered version of the episode and additional details about the planets, like the sector and sub-sector in which it is located, where added.
The swirly Cardassian transporter effect appears for the first time in this episode.				The effect in TNG-R.
The two Cardassian Galor-class warships fire at the Klingon Vor'cha class battlecruiser and the USS Enterprise-D. In earlier episodes, like "The Wounded" and "Ensign Ro", Cardassian weapons fire was purple, beginning with this episode, it is yellow/orange.		"The Wounded"		The sequence in TNG-R.
		"Ensign Ro"
Not many episodes feature a look at the transporter room including the transporter console from the perspective of the transporter platform. Other episodes with a similar camera angle are "Q Who", "Manhunt", "The Ensigns of Command", "The Hunted" and "Man of the People".	"Q Who"	"The Hunted"		The view of the transporter room in HD.
	"Manhunt"	"Man of the People"
	"The Ensigns of Command"
Vilmor II is another planet that has been seen before on TNG. It appeared in Tarchannen III in "Identity Crisis" and Rekag-Seronia in "Man of the People", for example.				TNG-R shows a new planet.
The Klingon, Romulan and Cardassian hand weapons are all seen up close in this episode. While the Cardassian disruptor pistol was previously seen in "Chain of Command I", it can be seen much better here.				The weapons in HD.
A Starfleet medical tricorder is seen up close in this screenshot.				The tricorder in HD.
The medical tricorder projects a holographic image of the ancient humanoid woman.				The effect as it was recreated for TNG-R.
Like the earlier shot, this footage of Vilmor II has also appeared in several earlier and later TNG episodes.				The new planet in HD.
While the large starbase painting was clearly still in place between the two book shelves in Picard's quarters earlier in the episode, it is replaced by a large display monitor in this shot. At the end of the conversation, the monitor displays the Federation logo.		Earlier in this episode		The sequence in HD.

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