It’s always a little bit weird to see a show native to a streaming service get a physical Blu-ray or DVD release. After all, anyone with a Netflix account (and how many resistors are there out there at this point, really?) can watch every episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000’s glorious season 11 return any time they want. But if you happen to be in the minority who have no access to the service (or internet connection, come to think of it), you’re now in luck: MST3K is coming back to physical media with an April 17 Blu-ray and DVD release.
MST3K was of course revived after 18 years via a historic crowdfunding campaign, which kicked in more than $6 million in order to make the fantasies of faithful MSTies into a reality. The result was a very fun new season of the cult-classic movie riffing series, thrusting Jonah Ray into the role of “main guy” previously helmed by series creator Joel Hodgson and then by head writer Michael J. Nelson. All of the new cast, including new Mads Felicia Day and Patton Oswalt, will all be back for MST3K’s already announced season 12 on Netflix, although the exact date is not known.
In the meantime, you can enjoy the true selling point of the Blu-ray box set: Special features! These include a feature-length documentary called We Brought Back MST3K, described thusly:
This feature length documentary provides fans with an insider’s look at the creation of Season 11 and its triumphant debut on Netflix. Featuring new interviews with Joel Hodgson, Jonah Ray, Felicia Day, Patton Oswalt and many others, interwoven with previously unseen footage from all stages of MST3K’s miraculous comeback.
While you’re waiting, catch up on our ranking of season 11’s episodes, in which we crowned Wizards of the Lost Kingdom as the pinnacle of the new MST3K. Then, if you’ve got a lot of time on your hands, check out our ranking of all 191 MST3K episodes EVER to see where the new season falls in the overall hierarchy.