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Observations in TNG: "Unification I"

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

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

"Unification I" HD Screencaps @ TrekCore

Description TNG		Other caps	Comparison TNG to TNG-R	Description TNG-R
Both parts of "Unification" feature a title card at the beginning of the episode commemorating Gene Roddenberry, who had died several days earlier.				The title card in TNG-R.
The planet on which Starbase 234 is located was last seen in "Redemption II". The same planet was used in this episode. It has previously appeared as Angosia III in "The Hunted" and Malcor III in "First Contact" amongst others. Re-Used Planets in TNG				We can see a new CG planet in TNG-R.
The frequently re-used flyby of the Enterprise-D.				In TNG-R, we can see a CG model of the ship.
Ambassador Spock is seen on this blurry photo recorded on Romulus. The number "40275" after the acronym "LCARS" denotes that this display was created for the 5th season.				The screen sequence in HD. It seems the lettering was newly created.

A large number of PADDs is seen on the observation lounge table. The two larger PADDs are of a type originally created for the morgue scene in "Night Terrors". The smaller PADD with the large screen originally appeared in "The Ensigns of Command". The green transparent PADD actually seems to feature writing in this episode (in contrast to the orange PADDs in Picard's ready room). Crusher will use a similar blue transparent PADD a little later in the episode.	"The Ensigns of Command"	"Night Terrors"		The PADDs in HD.
This shot of the USS Enterprise-D in orbit of Vulcan also appeared in "Sarek". It was first seen in "Encounter at Farpoint" where the ship was in orbit of Deneb IV. Planet Mutations				As already in TNG-R: "Sarek", we can see a new planet model in this episode, one that is brown as previously in TNG instead of red as in other Star Trek series.
Both ship models, a Constellation class model and a glass sailing ship, can be seen well in these two screenshots.				The two models in HD.

Among the debris of the Ferengi cargo ship seen in a cargo bay in this shot are parts of the reactor of the duck blind, created for "Who Watches the Watchers". The intact reactor was last seen on the surface of Valo II in "Ensign Ro". The blue cargo containers were first seen a few episodes earlier in "Disaster".	"Who Watches the Watchers"	"Ensign Ro"		The wreckage in HD.
		"Disaster"
The frequently re-used flyby of the Enterprise-D appears once again in this episode. Enterprise Flybys in TNG and TNG-R				This occurrence was replaced with a similar shot of the physical 4-foot model.
More footage from Romulus, featuring Pardek and Spock.				The screen sequence in HD. It seems the lettering was newly created.



The Klingon bureaucrat B'iJik is standing in front of the large Klingon symbol seen on one wall of the Great Hall in episodes such as "Redemption I+II". The footage of the main viewscreen and the conn and ops stations in front were originally created for "First Contact" and were re-used in several later episodes.	"Redemption II"	"First Contact"		The shot in HD.
Crusher uses a medical tool to scan Data's head in this scene. She is seen holding a blue transparent PADD, similar to the green one Picard used earlier in the episode.				The props in HD.

A life mask of Data/Brent Spiner is briefly seen in the background here.
The scanner used to scan the debris here was also used by Commander Shelby in "The Best of Both Worlds I+II". In those episodes, she used the scanner to scan soil and the warp core respectively.		"The Best of Both Worlds I"		An HD close-up of the scanner.
This shot of the USS Enterprise-D was originally created for "Reunion", where the ship faced two Klingon Birds-of-Prey and a Vor'cha class battlecruiser. Here, the ship only faces a Klingon Bird-of-Prey.		"Reunion"		The shot of the ships in HD.
		"Reunion"
The Klingon graphics on the bridge of the Bird-of-Prey have not changed since the set was last seen in "Redemption II".		"Redemption II"		No changes
The Bird of Prey and the USS Enterprise-D part ways. The footage of the Galaxy-class ship first appeared in season 4's "The Nth Degree", the footage of the Klingon Bird-of-Prey is new.		"The Nth Degree"		The space sequences in HD.
		"The Nth Degree"

This footage of a flyby of a Klingon Bird-of-Prey was newly filmed for this episode. It was later re-used in the DS9 episode "Blood Oath".		"Blood Oath"
The doorway to the Klingon quarters is similar to the doorway leading to the Klingon ready room in "Redemption I".		"Redemption I"		No changes
The footage of the Bird-of-Prey flyby was originally created for "Yesterday's Enterprise". In that episode, three Birds-of-Prey were seen firing at the USS Enterprise-D. Here, the footage was flipped and only one ship is seen engaging its cloaking device.		"Yesterday's Enterprise"		The sequence was redone for TNG-R, using the existing footage.
		"Yesterday's Enterprise"
The wall consoles seen in Klim Dokachin's office were originally created for the medical suite on Malcor III in "First Contact". Here, they are seen featuring 23rd century LCARS displays. The top part of the console was also re-used for the aft compartment of a type 15 shuttlepod in "The Mind's Eye".	"First Contact"	"The Mind's Eye"		The consoles (and the Zakdorn make-up) in HD.
The USS Enterprise-D enters the Qualor II surplus depot. The footage of the ship and some of the derelict vessels originally appeared in "The Best of Both Worlds II". In this episode, several more ships and stations, including a Klingon battlecruiser, were added. Qualor II can also be seen on the left side of the screen. Analysis of the Qualor II Surplus Depot		"The Best of Both Worlds II"		The sequence in HD.
		"The Best of Both Worlds II"
		"The Best of Both Worlds II"
		"The Best of Both Worlds II"
Klim Dokachin check's his inventory database. The second screenshot shows the Starfleet Operations LCARS display clearly seen in "Brothers". As can be seen, the graphic has not been changed since then.		"Brothers" HD		All graphics needed to be recreated for the remastering of the episode. The word "Mahl'kom group" was added in the "Vehicle ID" line. "Mahl'kom" means "serenity" in Vulcan (ENT: "Shuttlepod One"). The Tripoli is also now listed as "U.S.S. Tripoli".



The USS Enterprise-D flies through the surplus depot. This is new footage filmed using the 4-foot miniature. Amongst the ships seen in the background are two Miranda-class ships and a re-use of the Batris, originally created for "Heart of Glory".				The sequence in HD. As the original footage could not be located, this sequence was recreated using a new, highly detailed CG model of the USS Enterprise-D.




The USS Enterprise-D assumes a "parking" position in the Qualor II surplus depot and turns off power to appear like another derelict. Amongst the ships seen in the depot are more Miranda-class ships and re-uses of the Batris model. Redresses of the Batris				We can see the ships better in HD, although it is not possible to identify previously unknown models. Like the previous scene, this shot also had to be recreated with the new CG version of the USS Enterprise-D.


The Klingon console in the crew quarters also appeared on the bridge of the Vor'cha-class attack cruiser in "Redemption I". The Klingon graphic was changed for this episode, though.		"Redemption I"		A look at the Klingon display in HD.

The horned tip of a Klingon warrior's shoe is clearly seen in this screenshot. Klingon shoes of this type were also seen a little closer in "The Icarus Factor".		"The Icarus Factor"		The Klingon shoe tip in HD.
A Klingon PADD is nicely seen in this screenshot. The prop was first seen in the 3rd season episode "Sins of the Father".				No changes
The USS Enterprise-D has turned off all external and window lights.				The shot of the Enterprise in HD.
A close look at the unknown combat vessel. The ship is an extensive medication of the model originally appearing as the Husnock ship in "The Survivors".		"The Survivors"		The smuggler ship in HD.
The alien combat vessel is seen on the main viewscreen of the USS Enterprise-D. This footage of the model was later re-used as Tieran's ship in the Voyager episode "Warlord".		VOY: "Warlord"
Two more shots of the alien vessel. This is the only episode in which this modification of the model appears (apart from the before mentioned re-use of stock footage on Star Trek Voyager). In the second shot, the ship is seen firing its main weapon. Before this episode, the original model was already modified twice, once as the Zibalian ship Jovis in "The Most Toys", and a second time as the Bajoran Antares-class freighter seen in "Ensign Ro".	"The Survivors"	"Ensign Ro"
	"The Most Toys"
The unknown alien combat vessel and the USS Enterprise-D firing at each other. All footage seen in these scenes was newly created for the episode. Amongst the vessels in the surplus depot here are a Talarian warship (first seen in "Suddenly Human") and a Mars defense perimeter ship from "The Best of Both Worlds II". Comparison shots from "Hollow Pursuits" and "Night Terrors" shows what the 6-foot Enterprise-D model looks like from a similar angle to the one seen in one the screenshots.		"Hollow Pursuits"		The sequence in HD, with reconstructed effects.


		"Night Terrors"


The Klingon desktop monitor seen here and in "Unification II" was originally seen as a human civilian desktop monitor in "Family". It was also seen aboard the USS Enterprise-D in several season 4 episodes, such as "Identity Crisis".	"Family"	"Identity Crisis"		A better look at the prop in HD.
The newly created matte painting of the surface of Romulus appears for the first time in this episode. Planet Mutations				Nothing was changed about the matte painting for TNG-R.
Several interesting pieces of set decoration are seen in this shot. The bottom section of the Romulan desktop monitor is a modification of a Starfleet monitor, like the one seen in Picard's ready room. In front of the monitor, a Romulan PADD (first seen in "Redemption I") can be seen. The Ventaxian logo (from "Devil's Due") is seen on a piece of fabric draped over the chair. The metallic wall decoration ("wall clock") in the background, finally, would be seen in countless later episodes, including "Violations" and "Schisms". Re-Used Props - Decoration	"Galaxy's Child"	"Violations"		A great look at the office set in HD.
	"Redemption I"	"Schisms"
	"Devil's Due"
A good look at the Romulan desktop monitor displaying a photo of Captain Picard.				The Romulan monitor in HD. It seems the shot of Picard on the monitor could not be found for the remastering, so upconverted footage from the original episode is used.
The Romulan seen walking by in this screenshot is holding the identity scanner used by Data in "The Measure of a Man". The same prop was previously used by a Bre'el IV scientist in "Déjà Q".	"The Measure of a Man"	"Déjà Q"		A close-up of the prop in HD.
The Romulan street lamp was originally created for "Star Trek V: The Final Frontier". After the first re-use in "The Ensigns of Command", the lamps were seen in several later episodes, namely on Rutia IV in "The High Ground", on Moab IV in "The Masterpiece Society", on Barkon IV in "Thine Own Self" and on a planet visited by the crew of USS Voyager in "Time and Again".	"Star Trek V"	"The Ensigns of Command"		A close-up of a lamp in HD.
Romulan writing and a Romulan sign can be seen on the wall in this screenshot.				We can recognize the writing better in HD.
The Romulan man talking to Pardek in this screenshot seems to be holding the 21st century PADD seen in "Encounter at Farpoint".		"Encounter at Farpoint"		The prop in HD.
The Romulan disruptor rifle is first used by Romulans in this episode. The weapons were originally created for use by the Ansata terrorists in "The High Ground". Re-Used Props - Beam Weapons		"The High Ground"		A better look at the Romulan weapons in HD.

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