Episodes
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Lower Decks Season 5 Catchup
The final season of "Star Trek: Lower Decks" began this month - a bittersweet moment for the animated series.
The trio look at the first four episodes - looking at what made them laugh and what portents may have been dropped about how this show will end. They focus on each character, their remaining storylines, and whether the remaining episodes will be more in the spirit of "The Next Generation" or "Deep Space Nine."
It's so hard to say goodbye - but join them as they enjoy "Lower Decks" final episodes. -
Mirror Universe - Star Wars: Andor Overview
The trio enter the Mirror Universe to become a dedicated Star Wars group - looking back at the first season of "Andor."
With season two of Andor expected in 2025, three years after the first, the trio looks back at this revivial of Star Wars on TV. Disney+ brought Star Wars to streaming with "The Mandalorian". It was then followed up with "The Book of Boba Fett" and "Obi-Wan Kenobi". Some fans felt that there was still something missing - and then came "Andor" in 2022, a perhaps unexpected prequel series to the film "Rogue One."
This 12-episode series centered on Cassian Andor and his reluctant entry into the Rebellion. The trio look at the stories, characters, and structure of this series that earned critical acclaim. Does "Andor" live up to all the hype? How is it different from both the series that came before and after? What were the most memorable parts? Join us in this ... Star Wars? ... discussion. -
Episodes manquant?
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Star Trek: Prodigy Season Two Overview
The kids are back! "Prodigy" has been on a wild road - there was a substantial break between the first and second halves of the first season, then it was unexpectedly cancelled and then dropped from Paramount+, and then there was a quest to find someone to host a second season (which had already mostly been completed). But Netflix finally took on this young audience-targeted Trek animated series in 2024 and premiered the second season (after an errant French slip-up). What do we think?
The trio look at how the kids are doing, from new storylines, returning Voyager-era characters, new enemies, and how a bigger number of episodes (compared to other 21st Century shows) allows for different storytelling. From the Voyager-A to the temporal headaches of a returning USS Prodigy, from two-parters to a shocking way to end the season (series??) ... and then there's Wesley Crusher! There's a lot to cover and more to hope about the future of this series. -
If we were in charge of Star Trek...
It's not the new year yet, but the trio are ready to look to the future. With the sale of Paramount still not quite official until 2025, and the renewal of some series, the cancellation of others, and the development of even others - it's time for a brief thought experiment.
What if we ran Star Trek?
As the helm of the franchise has gone from Gene Roddenberry to Rick Berman and now to Alex Kurtzman, it's now our turn. Do we keep current projects going or start from scratch? What platform will the future of Star Trek be carried on? Should we concentrate on movies or TV series? What new ideas will keep the franchise going for the next generation?
Join us as we sit in the big chairs and imagine our own version of Star Trek's future. -
Whittling Down Season Four (VOY) to 10 episodes
The trio continues their series of chopping down the longer 1990s seasons of Star Trek into the 2020s average ten-episode limit. This time "the victim" is season four of "Star Trek: Voyager," also known as "when Seven of Nine joined the show."
The season begins with battling Species 8472 with the Borg in "Scorpion, Part II" and ends with "Hope and Fear," when the surprising (and suspicious) new starship Dauntless appears to take them home. These episodes also feature the Paris/Torres romance, the introduction of the Hirogen, and begins Seven's journey into humanity. Will your favorite episode make the cut? Will two-parters be split up? And how many episodes does "The Killing Game" count as???
Join us as we whittle down season four of Voyager! -
Change in Star Trek Shows
It is not a suprise that many shows in the Trek franchise evolve in style and tone from their very first episode. But what about during their entire span - which series changes the most during its run?
The trio discuss every show in the franchise from TOS to Lower Decks, determining which show changed the most over time. Is it TNG with its introduction of new uniforms and Rikers' beard? Is it DS9 with Worf and the Defiant? What about Enterprise with its pre- and post-Xindi War stories? How different are the three season of Picard? What about time jumping Discovery?
Join us as we discuss what changes and what stays the same in the Trek franchise. -
Star Trek Comic Con News
The past few weeks have brought many updates for the Star Trek franchise that the trio jump into:
The release of teasers/trailers for "Star Trek: Lower Decks," "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds," and "Star Trek: Section 31."Cast news about the upcoming Starfleet Academy seriesNews about a new live action Star Trek comedy series in developmentThe sale of Paramount Global to Skydance, though still not official until 2025 (pending regulataroy approval and other considerations), also leads to further speculation about how the future of the franchise will be shaped.
What upcoming Star Trek are YOU most excited about?
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Star Trek Collectables
There is no shortage of "merch" when it comes to Star Trek. From action figures to playsets, 3D-printed accessories to uniforms, there is so much to choose from. Which ones have been most meaningful to the trio during their fandom?
They explore what they bought or acquired from their younger years to what "adult money" has helped them enjoy in their current period of Trekdom. Let us know your favorite items - or ones that are still on your list! -
Building Series Off of Guest Ships
The Star Trek franchise is led by our different heroes and their ships (or station). During the course of their many adventures, they encounter other ships and crews, sometimes for just one episode, that nevertheless prove memorable. The trio pick the most interesting "guest ships" throughout the franchise that could lead their own series.
Join us as we go round-robin style, pitching what a 23rd. C. based story of the all-Vulcan crew of the U.S.S. Intrepid would look like or how we could follow the continuing voyages of the I.K.S. Pagh through letters to Commander Riker. -
Catch-up with Prodigy S3E1-E3
"Star Trek: Prodigy" is back! After an unexpected "cancelation" on Paramount+, season two finally found its way to Netflix (after a brief French detour). The entire season dropped at once, but the trio is taking itheir time to enjoy it - they chat about the first three episodes, encompassing the two-parter "Into the Breach" and "Who Saves the Saviors."
The trio talk about re-introducing the crew, the unexpected places they've gone, new characters and ships, and all the other twists and turns that have occurred. These new Trek epsiodes continue to build on the franchise, not only referencing contemporary series, but serving as a mini-Voyager sequel with Admiral Janeway, the EMH, the Voyager-A, and Captain Chakotay. Is this really a kids' show or just a great Trek series for all ages? -
Animated TNG series
A lifetime ago (in another Star Trek podcast), the trio, along with some help, created the idea of a zany late 1990s animated version of The Next Generation. Since then, real Star Trek animation has evolved, with the arrival of both "Lower Decks" and "Prodigy." As the crew of "Prodigy" begin their second season, the trio revisits "Star TreXtreme", adding to what modern animated Star Trek can look like. This includes revisiting some of original pitches from their prior podcast episode - seeing how they either predicted the future or just made some ridiculous ideas.
Grab your skateboard, put on some sunglasses, and revisit the 1990s era of cartoon with Star TreXtreme! -
Celebrating Captain's Day
Fans were introduced to the concept of "Captain Picard Day" in the seventh season of The Next Generation. Since then, it has taken a life of its own, with references in later shows like "Picard" and "Lower Decks", as well as real life celebrations of Captain Picard Day (typically June 16).
The trio get into the holiday spirit to look at how Captain Picard Day may have started on the USS Enterprise-D and how it could have spread across the Starfleet to celebrate other captains (or station commanders). What would be the best entries in a student competition? What are other ways to celebrate? How much is children-led and how much is enjoy by other members of the crew?
Get your papier-mâché ready for a nice sculpture of Jean-Luc's head as we celebrate Captain Picard Day. -
New 90s Trek Show Pitch
Welcome to the late 1990s. "Star Trek: The Next Generation" has been off the air, entering the universe of feature films. "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" is ending, having found its voice and identity. "Star Trek: Voyager" has taken its first steps, and now carries the weight of continuing the franchise.
What's next?
In the original timeline of TV, Berman and company, under the auspcies of UPN, begin development of a 22nd Century prequel series that will become "Enterprise." But what if ... the next series had continued the story of the 24th Century?
The trio imagine what series will now air contemporareously with "Voyager" in the late 90s. Enter "Star Trek: Starfleet Command," which takes a "higher decks" (if you will) approach to the operations of Starfleet and the Federation. See how planetside environments and Earth Spacedock provide unique settings to continue Trek adventures, spanning the post-Dominion War era. How will the Fleet be rebuilt? What scientific discoveries and explorartion have been ignored during combat? Can the admirals actually agree about the future? And where does the real decision-making take place??? (HInt: Welcome to future golf!).
Join this exciting new installment in the Trek franchise that never happened, with "Star Trek: Starfleet Command." -
TOS plots in TNG
Trek has experimented with either re-visiting older episodes with new crews, as in DS9's "Trials and Tribble-ations" or SNW's "A Quality of Mercy", or recycling plots with TNG's "The Naked Now." The trio look at how exact stories from The Original Series would play out with The Next Generation crew. How would "Galileo Seven" work in Next Gen? Which Enterprise-D crew member would be forced back home in "Amok Time"? How would the classic episode "The City on the Edge of Forever" work in the 24th century?
Join us as TOS stories play out in TNG - which combination of crew members can replace the triad of Kirk, Spock, McCoy? -
TNG First Season Stories for Trek Games
The game, "Star Trek: Resurgence", came to various platforms in 2023. It introduced several new characters (as well as some old favorites) in its post-Nemesis 24th Century storyline. At the heart of the game's story was a sequel to the first season Next Gen episode "The Last Outpost." Since the trio are revisiting the beginnings of TNG, they look at what other episodes could be mined for stories for new Trek games.
Join this round-robin pitch of ideas that takes one first season episode, one of its storylines, and applies it to a new Trek game based on an existing (or entirely new) Trek series. How does "Home Soil" continue in game form? How can "Lower Decks" go further into the ideas of "Haven"? Grab your console of choice and let us know your favorite Trek game pitch. -
TNG's beginning
Is it possible to view something from long ago in the Trek canon as a new viewer might? The trio attempt to make the old come to life again by re-examining the pilot episode of "Star Trek: The Next Generation."
It is hard to begin a Star Trek series re-watch. Which one? Where to start? Do you go 20th or 21st Century shows? After a mix of picking their own series recently, the trio come together for a TNG rewatch. That means starting with that two-hour special "Encounter at Fairpoint." The introduction of the U.S.S. Enterprise-D, its crew, the look and feel of the 24th Century ... and Q! There is a lot to take in, even if we ultimately know what production approaches (and characters) don't make it very far.
They try to imagine all questions and mysteries this first episode would bring to either a new viewer or die-hard TOS fan. So join them and revisit 1987 with the re-birth of a Star Trek TV series! -
Starfleet Uniforms
Fans enjoy cosplaying the many costumes in Star Trek. Starfleet uniforms in particular have been represented onscreen in a variety of ways, from the 22nd century fightsuits of "Enterprise" to the colorful and innate unforms of the 32nd century in "Star Trek: Discovery."
The trio go into the costuming department to evaluate the myriad of Starfleet uniforms, from looking at what translates best on screen to what seems the most comfortable. They review some of the more unique choices made, e.g., Seven of Nine and T'Pol, to wondering about the Starfleet clothing that must exist, but is never shown.
Join this tour of fashion of starships and spacestation, letting us know who wore it best. -
Ship Profile: NCC-1701-A
The history of onscreen Enterprises is rich in detail for some and scant for others.
Then there's the U.S.S. Enterprise-A.
First introduced in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home as a reward for our TOS-era heroes saving Earth once again, we saw this Constitution refit-class in the next two movies (Star Trek V and Star Trek VI). The trio looks at this ship's origins and purported ending, discovering more mysteries about it than first thought.
They look at the largely non-canon origins of the ship, and ask if the U.S.S. Yorktown, then recommissioned as the Enterprise-A, was a new or quite old vessel? What about the history of the Constitution-class and its refits in general? What are the differences, if any, between the refit NCC-1701 and the NCC-1701-A? What was the A's mission in between its malfunctioning introduction in Star Trek V and its scheduled decommissioning in Star Trek VI?
Join us as we discuss all things about the first Enterprise to add a letter to its registry and the last with Captain Kirk in command. -
Whittling Down Season Four (DS9) to 10 episodes
Love it or hate it, today's Trek means less episodes than the 20th Century series. For some, it's a sign of tighter storytelling, focusing on quality plot and themes. For others, it means missing episodes that are more "day in the life," outside of one season's particular villain/mystery. Or maybe it's just show business wanting to spend less money!
Whatever the reason, the trio is going back in time and translating old series of Trek into today's franchise format. What if season four of Deep Space Nine were made today? They look at the initial 25(!) episodes and chop it down to a 10-episode season. Will it be one coherent theme or random episodes? Will it be all about the Klingon-Cardassan war or the rise of the Dominion threat? Or will it just be a series of character-focused stories? Take a listen and find out what episodes made the cut! -
What If? Features in Pilot Episodes Never Changed
In most Trek series created in the 20th century, the pilot episodes often have obvious differences from the rest of the series. From a character's make-up to their voice to their actions, change is inevitable. Even the music or look of the show itself can alter from the very beginning. Most of the times, these changes are seen as improvements. But what if they never changed?
The trio look at how first episodes of shows, even from current Trek series, were different in tone, style, and specifics from what came later. How different would the shows be if those improvements were never made? - Montre plus
