This month’s Blu-ray release of Star Trek: Picard’s first season from CBS is exactly what you would expect – a comprehensive look at the show’s excellent first season, with immaculate technical specifications and detailed behind-the-scenes content.

The four-disc collection includes all 10 episodes of Picard, 16 bonus featurettes, four deleted scenes, two audio commentaries — as well as the Short Treks episode “Children of Mars,” that basically served as an extended series introduction. As the fourth Blu-ray release in the current streaming era of televised Trek, it’s a must-have for anyone Star Trek: Picard fan’s physical media collection.

Commentaries are always a highlight for any release of this type, and although there are only two included in this presentation, they do not disappoint. In a sign of the times here in 2020, the commentary for “Remembrance,” the series premiere, is presented as a picture-in-picture video conference chat, which surprisingly adds to the enjoyment. Watching these creative luminaries watching the show is somehow very entertaining.

As for the commentary itself, it is a solid catch-all and includes the four key executives responsible for bringing Star Trek: Picard to the screen: showrunner Michael Chabon, executive producers Alex Kurtzman, Akiva Goldsman, Kirsten Beyer, and director Hanelle Culpepper. The content of their conversation covers some familiar territory, but also includes some original memories, like Culpepper asking for fewer scenes with canine co-star Number One, and a reveal of some of the original dream sequences they considered early on.

The commentary ends on a high note, with Kurtzman discussing the memorable visual effects transitions of the iconic shot revealing the Borg cube. There is also an impromptu and heartfelt Allison Pill appreciation session that highlights what the actor brought to her role as Dr. Agnes Jurati.

The other commentary track accompanies “Children of Mars,” the Short Treks episode that aired as preview to Picard one week before the series debuted. This conversation features Kurtzman, Beyer and Jenny Lumet, who combined efforts to write the short.

At just over eight minutes, the trio discuss using the Short Trek format to tell different kinds of stories and what went into the incredibly short two-day shooting schedule for “Children of Mars.” The most amazing reveal, though, is the fact that the addition of Peter Gabriel’s cover of the David Bowie song “Heroes” was not part of the original vision for the episode, and instead was laid over the finished product after all was said and done.

Fascinating. Now let’s check out the special features!

Make It So (10:03) — If you are watching this feature, you are probably familiar with the origin story of Star Trek: Picard, but through original and detailed interviews with a slew of executive producers (Kirsten Beyer, Michael Chabon, Akiva Goldsman, Heather Kadin, Alex Kurtzman and Patrick Stewart) this feature expertly breaks it down in a way that feels fresh and new.

It’s really good.

Picard Props (13:20) — The story of Squoodgy has finally been told! Unexpectedly. You assume this feature would include the standard look at props like phasers, Romulan tarot cards, and even the Picard ‘golem’ — and it does cover all of those things — but the detailed breakdown of how Soji’s stuffed animal Squoodgy came to be was wholly unexpected.

Turns out, it was designed by head illustrator and long-time Star Trek contributor, Darren “Doc” Dochterman, who discussed the different variations that led to the final look. This is the kind of content that puts the word bonus into bonus features!

Set Me Up (14:30) — Spectacular look at the sets of Picard. Honestly, this is the kind of vignette you buy this type of collection for.

It offers the best looks we’ve seen to date of the set of La Sirena, and then goes into interesting detail on the module choice the production team made for the Borg cube. (And you can hear in the interviews with production designer Todd Cherniawsky and supervising art director Ian McFadyen just a hint of regret in that choice once they made it to the end of filming.)

Picard’s Chateau is given a quick pass here, with the most interesting tidbit focused on how they ended up with the greyscale version for the final scene with Data.

The Motley Crew (19:10) — Standard fare that dutifully recaps the cast and how they came together and developed their characters on screen. It’s always fun to see behind-the-scenes footage of screen tests, but unfortunately only one clip is included here (an excellent one from Isa Briones).

The best part of the feature focuses Santiago Cabrera (Rios) and Michelle Hurd (Raffi) shooting “Broken Pieces” and the development of the many holographic versions of La Sirena’s captain.

Aliens Alive: The XBs (12:34) — The highlight of this feature is the lively and natural make-up session with Jeri Ryan (Seven of Nine) and James MacKinnon, the Star Trek: Picard make-up effects maestro, who led the department’s Emmy winning efforts.

The session with Ryan and MacKinnon is a true behind-the-scenes moment that showcases exactly how the work is done.

Gag Reel (7:56) — Gag reels are usually a fan favorite on this type of release and can come in many shapes and sizes.

On one end of the spectrum you can have big and bawdy clips with quick cuts, and on the other end of the spectrum you can have the Picard gag reel, which is glacially paced with long takes and subdued payoffs.

Is it enjoyable? Sure. But don’t go into it expecting any ROFL, water-cooler moments here.

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The Blu-ray also includes “Story Log” special features focused specifically on each of the series’ 10 episodes across the first season.

Story Log: Remembrance (3:36)

Spectacular — yet all to brief — behind-the-scenes footage of Hanelle Culpepper directing the series premiere of ‘Picard,’ a character that she says she has loved “as much as any Trekkie out there,” so she “definitely felt that pressure.”

Executive producer Alex Kurtzman calls her “wildly prepared,” as well as “meditative and thoughtful,” in discussing how she perfectly filled the role as director for the series’ first three episodes.

Story Log: “Maps and Legends” (8:28)

A hodge-podge of information vignettes only tangentially tied to the episode “Maps and Legends,” and includes interviews with Michael Chabon, Eugene Roddenberry, Trevor Roth and Heather Kadin.

The strength of the piece is the quick dissection of actor Harry Treadwell and the ambiguity he brought to the role of Narek.

Story Log: “The Is the Beginning” (4:26)

A beautiful and mostly first-person account from showrunner Michael Chabon detailing his time filming on location at Vasquez Rocks, obviously one of the most iconic destinations in ‘Star Trek’ history.

Chabon speaks with reverence about the experience and breaks down the meta decision to make Vasquez Rocks canon by making it Raffi’s home on earth.

Story Log: “Absolute Candor” (4:51)

Mostly a piece about Jonathan Frakes directing the standout episode, but the most interesting parts of the vignette include details on Evan Evagora’s debut as Elnor.

The piece includes snippets of his audition tapes and the actor discussing his casting process, as well as memories from Patrick Stewart on the “tough” way the director mentored the young Australian actor.

Story Log: “Stardust City Rag” (7:19)

More from Frakes and a focus on Jeri Ryan’s return as Seven of Nine, but the behind-the-scenes look is most effective with show creator Kirsten Beyer discussing the hard choices the production team had to make in guiding Seven’s difficult story back to the screen — most notably focusing on the episodes shocking first moments and Seven’s decisions that close out the story.

And if you ever needed to know the origin of BJayzl’s name, Akiva Goldsman is here to tell that story!

Story Log: “The Impossible Box” (7:10)

It’s always great to hear from voices you don’t get a lot of access to — and in one of the highlights of the collection’s bonus material, this feature includes a great first person account from Nick Zayas, who wrote the episode.

He goes into great detail on the Zhal Makh and the filming of the pivotal scene in which Soji’s secrets are finally revealed to Narek. The vignette is a great exploration on how the series enhanced Romulan culture.

Story Log: “Nepenthe” (6:24)

The first half of this piece is nothing new and focuses on necessary, if not repetitive, soundbites about Frakes’ return to acting and the decision to introduce some legacy characters to the series — which was never part of the original plan.

However, the second half of this feature is a standout, with more interviews with Culpepper and behind-the-scenes footage of Patrick Stewart, Brent Spiner and Jonathan Frakes on the set together during the filming of “Remembrance.” Amazing stuff.

Story Log: “Broken Pieces” (5:06)

The only vignette featuring call-out interviews and moments from Raffi (Michelle Hurd), Rios (Santiago Cabrera) and Jurati (Alison Pill). Those moments are great, but a little fleeting. More please.

Story Log: “Et in Arcadia Ego, Part 1” (4:06)

Very interesting look at the unique filming location for Coppelius Station, which was a remote house in the hills of Malibu with limited access.

The short piece also includes Brent Spiner discussing his latest version of a Soong, as well as Akiva Goldsman getting into details on his directing style.

Story Log: “Et in Arcadia Ego, Part 2” (7:26)

As you might expect, a piece focused solely on the death and new life of Jean-Luc Picard, with Chabon, Kurtzman, Stewart and Spiner all discussing the narrative choices the production team made.

As Alex Kurtzman says: “One of the things that Trek has taught me is that it continues to endure if you take bold swings. But you can only take bold swings if you are really, really thoughtful about why you are doing and if you are honoring both the spirit of Star Trek and what everyone loves about those characters.”

Mission accomplished.

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In addition to all the other features, there is also a few short bits of cut footage from the season. Deleted scenes are often the most anticipated piece of new content in a release of this type, but unfortunately the four scenes included here are uninspiring.

The only one of any import is the elongated open of “Remembrance,” in which Picard reacts to some staff mocking the Romulan Laris. Interestingly, the other three deleted scenes all include brief snippets that seemingly would have expanded the story of Ramdha (Rebecca Wisocky), the disordered Romulan that helped raise Narek and Narissa.

Fully fleshed out, the scenes might have added a layer to her character, but as they are presented here are unfulfilling.

The Star Trek: Picard Season 1 Blu-ray is another must have piece of physical media for anyone that wants to make sure they can watch the series in its most pristine format at any time (regardless of how strong your internet speed might be).

If you’re looking to add it to your collection, you can order the standard Blu-ray set here, the special-packaging Steelbook edition here — or the DVD set here, if that’s your preference.

In the meantime, here’s a selection of season-spanning screencaps of the Blu-ray episodes for you to explore.

What is your take on the first season of Star Trek: Picard? And where do you think the stories will go in Season 2? Engage below with your comments.

Jim Moorhouse is the creator of TrekRanks.com and the TrekRanks Podcast. He can be found living and breathing Trek every day on Twitter at @EnterpriseExtra.

Star Trek: Picard Season 1 Blu-ray

Star Trek: Picard Season 1 Steelbook

Star Trek: Picard Season 2 Blu-ray

Star Trek: Picard Season 2 Steelbook