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Observations in TNG: "The Quality of Life"

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

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

"The Quality of Life" HD Screencaps @ TrekCore

Description TNG		Other caps	Comparison TNG to TNG-R	Description TNG-R
The small table with a glass dome and a second transparent dome inside has appeared in Riker's quarters since the second season. The inner dome was used as an actual bowl in "Galaxy's Child".	"Up the Long Ladder"	"Galaxy's Child"		A better look at the props in HD.
Like in earlier season 6 episodes, the mirror in Riker's quarters is covered with a black, non-reflective material so the reflection of filming equipment cannot be seen in the mirror.				The mirror is still covered in TNG-R.
The USS Enterprise and the Tyran particle fountain in orbit of Tyrus VIIa.				The shot in HD.

A similar circuit box with red, green and blue buttons was also sometimes seen aboard the USS Enterprise-D, for example in "The Game".		"The Game"		The prop in TNG-R.
A large glass graphic is located at the center of the lab on the particle fountain. The console was originally created for "Booby Trap", where it displayed graphics of the USS Enterprise-D's warp core. It seems the same graphic is still in place here, even though some alien additions hide the original purpose of the graphic.		"Booby Trap"		A better look at the glass pane in HD.
The blinking Tyran wall console started out as a medical tool used by Doctor Crusher in several season 1 episodes, including "Encounter at Farpoint".		"Encounter at Farpoint"		The device can be seen much better in HD.
An unnamed engineering tool is replicated by the exocomp in this scene. All tools used by the exocomp in this episode (4 different props) were later re-used as various alien tools in later Star Trek episodes, this prop being no exception. It was used as a Sikarian scanner in the Voyager episode "Prime Factors".		VOY: "Prime Factors"		The exocomp and the tool in HD.

We get a good look at the inner workings of an exocomp in this screenshot. Remarkably, parts of the front section of a Klingon D7 battlecruiser were used to enhance the otherwise bland interior of the prop. Prop and Set Oddities The opened exoxomp was later re-used in several Enterprise episodes, including "Dead Stop" (as a tool used by the alien repair station) and in "Future Tense" (in the armory). Re-Used Props - Miscellaneous Equipment	ENT: "Dead Stop"	ENT: "Future Tense"		The innards of the exocomp in HD.
	ENT: "Dead Stop"
The large Tyran control PADD can be seen lying on the small table in this screenshot. The PADD later appeared in the Voyager episode "Ex Post Facto", where it was used by the Numiri.		VOY: "Ex Post Facto"		The prop in HD.
The exocomp replicates a mode stabilizer. The same prop appeared in some later Star Trek episodes. It was seen as an Entharan scanner in VOY: "Retrospect", a Borg scanner in "Dark Frontier", a Tellarite scanner in ENT: "Bounty" and as an Earth Starfleet tool in "Horizon".	VOY: "Retrospect"	ENT: "Bounty"		The exocomp and the tool in HD.
	VOY: "Dark Frontier"	ENT: "Horizon"
Dr. Farallon, a native of Tyrus VII, wears the same alien make-up as the Mareel from Khefka IV in the DS9 episode "Invasive Procedures".		DS9: "Invasive Procedures"		The make-up in HD.
The exocomp works on Tyran circuits.				The shot in HD.
The large console with a glass graphic, originally created for "Booby Trap" can be seen in its entirety in this screenshot. The console was also seen in Dr. Mirasta Yale's lab in "First Contact" and in a corridor aboard the USS Enterprise-A in "Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country". It will be seen once more, on the bridge of the USS Enterprise-D in "Parallels". In all appearances, the display featured graphics of the USS Enterprise-D's warp core.	"Booby Trap"	"Star Trek VI"		A better look at the glass pane in HD.
	"First Contact"	"Parallels"
The Tyran lab features several consoles that were originally created for the replicating center aboard the USS Enterprise-D in "Data's Day". The consoles appeared in several TNG episodes, usually on Federation starbases or ships.		"Data's Day"		The lab set in HD.
The USS Enterprise-D in close proximity of the particle fountain.				The shot in HD.
This plug looks very much like 20th century tech.				The 20th century banana plug and the socket in HD.
The socket seen in main engineering here was expecially created for this episode. A similar socket is later seen on Data's desk in his quarters.		Later in this episode
These three graphics show exocomp circuits.				They had to be recreated from scratch for the remastering of the episode. Notice how the camera has moved a little further away from the display between the first and second screenshots, the LCARS display, however, remains at the same location and doesn't change size.


A good look at the exocomp prop. A photo of the exocomp was used in the Enterprise episode "Anomaly" where it was supposed to be a piece of debris from the Xindi probe.		ENT: "Anomaly"		The exocomp in HD.
The graphic displayed by Data's desktop monitor cannot be read. It is identical to Troi's appointment log, created for "Imaginary Friend", however. The same graphic was on display in Crusher's sickbay desktop monitor in "The Next Phase".	"Imaginary Friend"	"The Next Phase"		We can't read anything even in HD.
A good look at the caduceus symbol on the glass window separating Doctor Crusher's office from the waiting area.				The symbol in HD.
Normally, the vertical blinds behind the windows in Crusher's sickbay office are closed. They are seen opened in only three episodes, "Encounter at Farpoint", "Man of the People" and this episode. In the latter two episodes, a short corridor (created using the corridor extension first seen near main engineering in "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" and last used aboard the USS Enterprise-D in the pilot episode) can be seen behind the window. In "Encounter at Farpoint", however, the stars are seen behind the window. In the first two Star Trek films, a different, short corridor (actually a continuation of the side entry to the transporter room) is seen behind the sickbay windows.	"Encounter at Farpoint"	"Star Trek I"		The blinds as they appear in TNG-R.
	"Encounter at Farpoint"	"Star Trek I"
	"Man of the People"	"Star Trek II"
The logo of Tyrus VII can be seen in two locations high on the walls above doors in this screenshot.				The logo in HD.
The Jefferies tube alcove adjacent to main engineering is used extensively in this episode. Up until the end of season 5, a turbolift access was located here, however. The close location of the Jefferies tube junction creates some problems, however. The Jefferies door in the background of the first screenshot, for example, cannot lead anywhere, because the back corridor leading to main engineering (the one next to the MSD) is located right behind the door. The very long Jefferies tube (extended in post production) also does not fit into the main engineering set, as it would run into the main engineering lift, close to the warp core, after a few meters. Where are the Jefferies Tubes?		"Galaxy's Child"		A look into the Jefferies tube in HD.


The molecular fuser the exocomp uses in this scene seems to be identical to the mode stabilizer used by the exocomp earlier in the episode to fix a different problem.				The exocomp and the tools in HD.
The next exocomp tool is not identified by name. The prop later appeared as a Hirogen and alien medical tool in "The Killing Game" and "Repression", respectively.	VOY: "The Killing Game"	VOY: "Reperssion"
The camera slowly flies around and zooms toward the Tyran particle fountain.				The shot in HD.


We get a better look at the Tyrus VII logo in this shot.				The emblem can be seen much better in HD.
The shadow of filming equipment is clearly visible on the left side of the frame in this screenshot.				The shadow is still clearly visible in TNG-R.
Tyran interfaces can be seen up close in these two shots.				The interfaces in HD.

The Tyran transporter platform is a re-use of the platforms seen aboard the USS Yosemite in "Realm of Fear" and USS Jenolan In "Relics".	"Realm of Fear"	"Relics"		The transporter in HD.
The Tyran scientists' uniforms were later re-used in several episodes, including VOY: "Concerning Flight" and "Drive".	VOY: "Con- cerning Flight"	VOY: "Drive"		The uniforms in HD.
A graphic of the particle fountain and Tyrus VIIa can be seen behind Data in this screenshot.				No changes
One of the consoles in the Tyran lab has appeared in countless earlier and later Star Trek episodes and films. On TNG, the prop first appeared in Soong's lab in "Datalore", in the Star Trek films, it was first seen in "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan". Consoles by Modern Props in Star Trek	"Star Trek II"	"Datalore"		The famous prop in HD.
A graphic of subspace frequencies is displayed on an aft bridge monitor. This graphic has been in place on the monitor since "Schisms", where its presence made sense to the plot of the episode.		"Schisms"		No changes
The Tyran station core was later modified and seen again as the Romulan engine core in "Timescape".				The exocomp sequence in HD, with reconstructed visual effects.
Three exocomps work together in order to save La Forge and Picard.

A forcefield is established inside the Tyran particle fountain.				The reconstructed effect in HD.
The final tool used by the exocomps reappeared many years later as a veridium injector in the Voyager episode "Drive".		VOY: "Drive"		The malfunctioning exocomp and the tool in HD.

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