Episodes
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Star Trek: The Next Generation analysis of season 1 episode 18 (Coming of Age)
Hey babes, remember us!? We'rrrrrre back! After a long hiatus, Mike and Nic are back to analyze a relatively tame but lovely episode of TNG where nothing much happens except for everyone being really good friends. It's all #WholesomeContent.
Our analysis focuses mainly on the Starfleet entrance exams aspect of the episode - as two people with careers in learning and development, we have a LOT of thoughts about how Starfleet tests candidates and the limited vision the show had for the pedagogy of the future.
Besides that, we note that this episode was well-written and that all the characters were fully themselves. Interpersonal relationships were on full display, which is always our favorite. Overall, a nice, cozy episode to come back to!
Our amazing intro and outro music was created by the supremely talented Trevor Andrew Hamer. If you'd like to work with Trevor or see more of his work, you can find him on: Instagram | YouTube
Support the Show!
Financially support us on Patreon! You'll get access to rad merchandise and bonus content at https://patreon.com/redshirtcollective
Follow us on Instagram to enjoy our juicy episode-related memes at https://instagram.com/redshirtcollective
Share us with others by leaving us a review on iTunes or your preferred podcasting app, sharing us on social media, and/or recommending us to friends!
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Star Trek: The Next Generation analysis of season 1 episode 17 (Home Soil)
Hey babes, happy 2023!!! We're are thrilled to kick-off the new year with one of our all-time favorite episodes of TNG - Home Soil - where the crew get told to fuck off by an indigenous lifeform.
Though this episode has the typical issues with a plot that has threads to nowhere (in a way that reeks of network/executive intervention), the acting is topnotch and has some of the best dialogue of the series - a highly quotable episode!
In our analysis, we explore what it means to terraform (or colonize) "uninhabited" lands, how this episode accurately reflects the way European colonizers viewed the rest of the world, and the powerful message of the ending where Starfleet is rejected and told to leave and not come back for a long time.
Our amazing intro and outro music was created by the supremely talented Trevor Andrew Hamer. If you'd like to work with Trevor or see more of his work, you can find him on: Instagram | YouTube
Support the Show!
Financially support us on Patreon! You'll get access to rad merchandise and bonus content at https://patreon.com/redshirtcollective
Follow us on Instagram to enjoy our juicy episode-related memes at https://instagram.com/redshirtcollective
Share us with others by leaving us a review on iTunes or your preferred podcasting app, sharing us on social media, and/or recommending us to friends!
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Missing episodes?
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Star Trek: The Next Generation analysis of season 1 episode 16 (When the Bough Breaks)
Happy LANDBACK Day! Mike and Nic come back after a long break full of piss and vinegar, ready to review an episode jam-packed with complex themes. What we lack in regular posting, we make up for in rowdiness. And conversations about dog poop (you'll see!).
When the Bough Breaks is doing a LOT - we ended up identifying something in the range of 10 major ideas that this episode introduces and tackles to varying degrees of completion.
We do our best but can't cover all of it; most of our analysis focuses on the idea of family, parental expectations of their children, the dangers of insinuating some races (species) don't care about their kids, and what it really means for a culture (or a people) to persist.
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To support and learn more about the LANDBACK movement to build lasting Indigenous sovereignty, go to: https://landback.org
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Our amazing intro and outro music was created by the supremely talented Trevor Andrew Hamer. If you'd like to work with Trevor or see more of his work, you can find him on: Instagram | YouTube
Support the Show!
Financially support us on Patreon! You'll get access to rad merchandise and bonus content at https://patreon.com/redshirtcollective
Follow us on Instagram to enjoy our juicy episode-related memes at https://instagram.com/redshirtcollective
Share us with others by leaving us a review on iTunes or your preferred podcasting app, sharing us on social media, and/or recommending us to friends!
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Star Trek: The Next Generation analysis of season 1 episode 15 (Too Short a Season)
We come back from a mini-hiatus to an episode that we had mixed opinions about. Mike enjoyed the exploration of men broken by toxic masculinity, while Nic was bored and missing her sweet baby boys. What we were definitely in agreement on was that the makeup/prosthetics and acting were lacking in this one.
The show explores several interesting themes (which it sadly never pays off) - feeling useless in old age, internalized ableism, making up for past mistakes, the hubris of white men with authority, and who deserves to live forever (or at least, get a second life).
Our amazing intro and outro music was created by the supremely talented Trevor Andrew Hamer. If you'd like to work with Trevor or see more of his work, you can find him on: Instagram | YouTube
Support the Show!
Financially support us on Patreon! You'll get access to rad merchandise and bonus content at https://patreon.com/redshirtcollective
Follow us on Instagram to enjoy our juicy episode-related memes at https://instagram.com/redshirtcollective
Share us with others by leaving us a review on iTunes or your preferred podcasting app, sharing us on social media, and/or recommending us to friends!
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Star Trek: The Next Generation analysis of season 1 episode 14 (11001001)
11001001 brings us a contradictory episode - on one side, an interesting premise of a nonbinary binary species from a planet where technology and organic beings have fully integrated; on the other side, a misogynistic, weird male fantasy.
We dig into the analysis, exploring holodeck created Minuet as TNG's version of a Manic Pixie Dream Girl (Nic mistakenly attributed the creation of this term to Garden State, it was actually Elizabethtown, you can read the origin of it here) and how this perpetuates rape culture and the patriarchy.
Reference: The Bataan Death March of Whimsy Case File #1: Elizabethtown https://www.avclub.com/the-bataan-death-march-of-whimsy-case-file-1-elizabet-1798210595
Our amazing intro and outro music was created by the supremely talented Trevor Andrew Hamer. If you'd like to work with Trevor or see more of his work, you can find him on: Instagram | YouTube
Support the Show!
Financially support us on Patreon! You'll get access to rad merchandise and bonus content at https://patreon.com/redshirtcollective
Follow us on Instagram to enjoy our juicy episode-related memes at https://instagram.com/redshirtcollective
Share us with others by leaving us a review on iTunes or your preferred podcasting app, sharing us on social media, and/or recommending us to friends!
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Star Trek: The Next Generation analysis of season 1 episode 13 (Angel One)
Hoo boi, this episode was fucking BORING. Despite that, we managed to have a lot of fun recapping and analyzing this snoozefest.
We spend most of the analysis portion of the show talking about the irresponsibility and laziness of the "reverse oppression" trope - how it usually serves to excuse hierarchies and abuse of power, obfuscate how and why power structures were created in the first place, and typically reinforce the objectification and dehumanization of those who are actually oppressed.
We also discuss all the missed opportunities to let the female cast members have center stage - ironic that in an episode about matriarchy, all the women were completely sidelined🙄
Our amazing intro and outro music was created by the supremely talented Trevor Andrew Hamer. If you'd like to work with Trevor or see more of his work, you can find him on: Instagram | YouTube
Support the Show!
Financially support us on Patreon! You'll get access to rad merchandise and bonus content at https://patreon.com/redshirtcollective
Follow us on Instagram to enjoy our juicy episode-related memes at https://instagram.com/redshirtcollective
Share us with others by leaving us a review on iTunes or your preferred podcasting app, sharing us on social media, and/or recommending us to friends!
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Star Trek: The Next Generation analysis of season 1 episode 12 (Datalore)
In an episode so wonderful it's as if it was plucked fully formed from Nic's head, today we revel in the pure joy that is Datalore - an episode that is BOTH Data- and Wesley-centric. Whoowee!
Datalore hits on several deep topics while dancing along a delicious camp edge. We explore the episode's themes of found vs biological family, are we ever really known by the people around us, correct pronoun usage, ageism, neurodivergence, and more!
Resource: @startrekmemes_ Instagram post for Nic's dad joke.
Our amazing intro and outro music was created by the supremely talented Trevor Andrew Hamer. If you'd like to work with Trevor or see more of his work, you can find him on: Instagram | YouTube
Support the Show!
Financially support us on Patreon! You'll get access to rad merchandise and bonus content at https://patreon.com/redshirtcollective
Follow us on Instagram to enjoy our juicy episode-related memes at https://instagram.com/redshirtcollective
Share us with others by leaving us a review on iTunes or your preferred podcasting app, sharing us on social media, and/or recommending us to friends!
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Star Trek: The Next Generation analysis of season 1 episode 11 (The Big Goodbye)
Oh boy, it's a holodeck episode and we are NOT happy about it! We're stuck with a Dixon Hill theme and 1940s San Francisco, questions about how tf the holodeck works and whether or not the crew is creating and destroying sentient life every time they use it, and poor Bev thinking she's finally getting her some alone time with the Captain only to have their private party crashed by aloof others time and again.
Though we do not like the setting, we begrudgingly admit that this episode was actually pretty damn good. The writing was tight, the dialogue was funny and snappy, the actors were all at their best and reacting off each other to perfection.
We get some great character development as well, even in smaller moments like Deanna coaching Picard on how to properly deliver the Jaraden greeting.
Fun was had by all, even by us!
Our amazing intro and outro music was created by the supremely talented Trevor Andrew Hamer. If you'd like to work with Trevor or see more of his work, you can find him on: Instagram | YouTube
Support the Show!
Financially support us on Patreon! You'll get access to rad merchandise and bonus content at https://patreon.com/redshirtcollective
Follow us on Instagram to enjoy our juicy episode-related memes at https://instagram.com/redshirtcollective
Share us with others by leaving us a review on iTunes or your preferred podcasting app, sharing us on social media, and/or recommending us to friends!
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Star Trek: The Next Generation analysis of season 1 episode 10 (Haven)
Two fun episodes in a row, woowee! In this campy romp, Deanna gets a visit from her mother, future in-laws, and future husband (Wyatt) on a surprise arranged marriage visit, and chaos ensues!
Riker is the poutiest baby in the universe, Lwaxana is a force of nature, and Data loves the mess during all the nuptial celebrations and negotiations. Of course, as Deanna is cursed in love, it doesn't work out but we were shipping Wyanna (Dyatt?) HARD.
It seems like a good match has been made until the White Snake video girl shows up and steals Deanna's man, so she is stuck with Riker, yet again.
We do take a few serious beats to explore the themes of ableism and disease brought up in the episode, taking an interesting detour through the way people are treated when sickness is thought to be their own "fault."
Overall, much fun was had and we look forward to Lwaxana's return in future episodes!
Our amazing intro and outro music was created by the supremely talented Trevor Andrew Hamer. If you'd like to work with Trevor or see more of his work, you can find him on: Instagram | YouTube
Support the Show!
Financially support us on Patreon! You'll get access to rad merchandise and bonus content at https://patreon.com/redshirtcollective
Follow us on Instagram to enjoy our juicy episode-related memes at https://instagram.com/redshirtcollective
Share us with others by leaving us a review on iTunes or your preferred podcasting app, sharing us on social media, and/or recommending us to friends!
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Star Trek: The Next Generation analysis of season 1 episode 9 (Hide and Q)
Our two favorite space daddies square off again in this week's wild, fun episode. We see Riker turn into a villain within mere moments of being given powers, we see Picard being super chill about it, and we learn the crew doesn't want those ill-gotten gifts!
The episode is not without its problematic moments; we pick apart Worf being gifted a woman, Tasha's "hot for Daddy" moment, and the show's endless obsession with Shakespeare.
But those are small moments amongst so many iconic others; Wesley's big meaty hands, Q making fun of Picard's "vessel" obsession, about a million quotable quotes and our hysteria over Picard's peepee and poopoo conundrum when locked on the Bridge.
All in all, a classic TNG romp and we are so here for it.
Our amazing intro and outro music was created by the supremely talented Trevor Andrew Hamer. If you'd like to work with Trevor or see more of his work, you can find him on: Instagram | YouTube
Support the Show!
Financially support us on Patreon! You'll get access to rad merchandise and bonus content at https://patreon.com/redshirtcollective
Follow us on Instagram to enjoy our juicy episode-related memes at https://instagram.com/redshirtcollective
Share us with others by leaving us a review on iTunes or your preferred podcasting app, sharing us on social media, and/or recommending us to friends!
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Star Trek: The Next Generation analysis of season 1 episode 8 (The Battle)
We are with the Ferengi again in another offensive and poorly written episode, although we get some amazing lines from our favorite boys, Data and Wesley!
The episode's storyline, which focuses on a past battle in which Picard destroyed an unidentified ship in defense after an unprompted attack, serves YET AGAIN to allow Picard and, by extension, European settlers as a whole to avoid having to reconcile with past violences against native peoples via a black and white narrative that frames the Ferengi as cartoonishly bad and Picard as cartoonishly good.
Though some extremely interesting and important themes are brought up in The Battle they, as always, are bypassed in favor of making sure that no one aboard the Enterprise ever has to truly grapple with the past atrocities of the ruling class or the reality of Starfleet as a paramilitary institution.
Also, very inconsistent headache logic.
Our amazing intro and outro music was created by the supremely talented Trevor Andrew Hamer. If you'd like to work with Trevor or see more of his work, you can find him on: Instagram | YouTube
Support the Show!
Financially support us on Patreon! You'll get access to rad merchandise and bonus content at https://patreon.com/redshirtcollective
Follow us on Instagram to enjoy our juicy episode-related memes at https://instagram.com/redshirtcollective
Share us with others by leaving us a review on iTunes or your preferred podcasting app, sharing us on social media, and/or recommending us to friends!
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Star Trek: The Next Generation analysis of season 1 episode 7 (Justice)
In an episode jam-packed with very UNsexy shenanigans and rudimentary philosophical ponderings, it's hard to even say what this one is about: capital punishment, free love, god, the prime directive, the trolley problem...
Nic and Mike explore the subtle undercurrent of patriarchal sexual violence in 'Justice;' exploring everything from the episode's faulty understandings of consent, to the inappropriateness of having to explore a sex planet during working hours, to the imperialist sex tourism vibes of the crew.
A few bright spots in the episode are, as always, Wesley's sweater (this time an understated, tasteful brown jumper) and Data's autistic conversation with Picard.
Nic also goes off about vaginas and costume design, almost killing Mike.
Our amazing intro and outro music was created by the supremely talented Trevor Andrew Hamer. If you'd like to work with Trevor or see more of his work, you can find him on: Instagram | YouTube
Support the Show!
Financially support us on Patreon! You'll get access to rad merchandise and bonus content at https://patreon.com/redshirtcollective
Follow us on Instagram to enjoy our juicy episode-related memes at https://instagram.com/redshirtcollective
Share us with others by leaving us a review on iTunes or your preferred podcasting app, sharing us on social media, and/or recommending us to friends!
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Star Trek: The Next Generation analysis of season 1 episode 6 (Lonely Among Us)
In an episode so jam-packed with random shit, it's hard to even say what this episode is about but we pull from the many threads to talk about themes of vegan issues (indigenous hunting grounds, lab-grown meat, factory farming, etc.), education systems, the Federation's parallels to the EU and other institutions, Nic's rage at TNG's obsession with Sherlock...
It's a ridiculous, fun, wild, nonsensical episode and we are equally wild and ridiculous while analyzing it. Somehow we get on a running joke about Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and laugh so hard we can barely breathe at certain points. It's classic TNG shenanigans and we're here for it!
Our amazing intro and outro music was created by the supremely talented Trevor Andrew Hamer. If you'd like to work with Trevor or see more of his work, you can find him on: Instagram | YouTube
Support the Show!
Financially support us on Patreon! You'll get access to rad merchandise and bonus content at https://patreon.com/redshirtcollective
Follow us on Instagram to enjoy our juicy episode-related memes at https://instagram.com/redshirtcollective
Share us with others by leaving us a review on iTunes or your preferred podcasting app, sharing us on social media, and/or recommending us to friends!
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Star Trek: The Next Generation analysis of season 1 episode 5 (Where No One Has Gone Before)
OMG Y'ALL WE DID IT! We made it to an episode that is good, actually. No racism, no antisemitism, no sexism; just a good ol' space adventure heavy on philosophy and queer vibes. This episode is Wesley Crusher-centric and you KNOW that makes us happy!
In this episode we meet The Traveler, who won't come back until season 7 in terrible episode that we're dreading having to talk about, an alien from another realm who is able to use thought to shape reality. An intriguing concept that the show unfortunately doesn't spend much time on. We learn through him that Wesley is officially the most special boy in space, as he compares him to Mozart.
The rest of the episode is an absolute sausage fest with Riker and guest Engineer Kosinski trying to out-mansplain each other and jocky for dominance, to our delight. In the background of their macho shenanigans, the soft exchanges between Wesley and The Traveler gives us queer vibes and an alternative to the usual patriarchal masculinity on display aboard The Enterprise. The subtext of their exchanges is that of an older queer who sees queerness in the younger person, and their conversations about Wesley needing to hide his "dangerous nonsense" have the tone of a mentorship centered on fear and protection through hiding. Wesley shows The Traveler care and kindness, doting on him like a mother hen, and feels a very strong connection to him, as if sensing something in him that he recognizes instinctually but does not yet realize about himself. It's all very sweet and we absolutely love it.
We also discuss how much this episode parallels our experiences at our jobs with projects that don't make sense and arrogant middle-management walking around terrorizing everyone with their demands coded in corporate jargon and emails scheduled to send at 3 am.
Where No One Has Gone Before also features a wonderful scene between Picard and his dead mother, acted to perfection by Patrick Stewart, and some genuinely hilarious moments as Kosinski baffles and irritates the crew. It's the first episode that feels like TNG and we look forward to more of these in the future.
Our amazing intro and outro music was created by the supremely talented Trevor Andrew Hamer. If you'd like to work with Trevor or see more of his work, you can find him on: Instagram | YouTube
Support the Show!
Financially support us on Patreon! You'll get access to rad merchandise and bonus content at https://patreon.com/redshirtcollective
Follow us on Instagram to enjoy our juicy episode-related memes at https://instagram.com/redshirtcollective
Share us with others by leaving us a review on iTunes or your preferred podcasting app, sharing us on social media, and/or recommending us to friends!
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Star Trek: The Next Generation analysis of season 1 episode 4 (The Last Outpost)
After some subtle but intriguing build-up over the last three episodes, we finally meet the Ferengi and they are...not great. Falling into the "Space Jew" trope, the Ferengi encapsulate a lot of issues discussed in the last episode: Orientalism, colonialism/anti-Indigeneity, white feminism, racism. Beyond being antisemetic, this episode is also insufferable philosophy bro navel-gazing, seemingly written by That Guy TM who thinks he's the first person to read The Art of War.
It's not all bad though: this episode was an absolute convoluted mess that gave us incredible moments like Geordi's "woowee!" and Data's "nothing to write home about." We get a lot of mileage out of the "power converter" that the Ferengi purportedly stole, unable to say it without channeling Luke Skywalker's legendary whininess and devolving into giggles.
We talk about how human Data is in this episode as writers still (and basically will always) continue to struggle to write him as an actual android; how actor LeVar Burton kicks the energy level up to ten while Jonathan Frakes gives him back a one; how Deanna Troi is the only reasonable, logical person in this episode; how, as always, the security team are written as trigger happy dolts for Picard to yell at; and how the Chinese fingertraps go absolutely nowhere.
Our amazing intro and outro music was created by the supremely talented Trevor Andrew Hamer. If you'd like to work with Trevor or see more of his work, you can find him on: Instagram | YouTube
Support the Show!
Financially support us on Patreon! You'll get access to rad merchandise and bonus content at https://patreon.com/redshirtcollective
Follow us on Instagram to enjoy our juicy episode-related memes at https://instagram.com/redshirtcollective
Share us with others by leaving us a review on iTunes or your preferred podcasting app, sharing us on social media, and/or recommending us to friends!
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Star Trek: The Next Generation analysis of season 1 episode 3 (Code of Honor)
The focus of today's show is (arguably) the most notorious Star Trek episode of any series, an episode so overtly racist that the director of it was fired DURING production. In the '80s.
Mike and Nic do their whitest best to analyze the harmful themes presented within while tying specific scenes, dialogue, wardrobe choices in the episode to their white supremacist colonialist roots via conversations about anthropology, museums, Orientalism, and more.
We also note the white-feminism-via-the-male-gaze undercurrent running throughout the episode. While Tasha Yar is (yet again) objectified, she also objectifies; her role is instrumental to the racist narrative. She is white woman kidnapped, and also 'girl boss' warrior who can fight her own fights. She is victim and victor and prize.
Nic includes a bunch of trivia about this particular episode in this one, including what cast members and fans think of it. Her favorite resources linked below (read the comments!):
References
Is “Code of Honor” the Worst “Star Trek: The Next Generation” Episode? (The Take) Star Trek: The Next Generation: Code of Honor director fired during filming (Redshirts Always Die)Star Trek: The Next Generation Re-Watch: “Code of Honor” (The Viewscreen) Star Trek: The Next Generation "Code of Honor" Trivia (IMDB)Our amazing intro and outro music was created by the supremely talented Trevor Andrew Hamer. If you'd like to work with Trevor or see more of his work, you can find him on: Instagram | YouTube
Support the Show!
Financially support us on Patreon! You'll get access to rad merchandise and bonus content at https://patreon.com/redshirtcollective
Follow us on Instagram to enjoy our juicy episode-related memes at https://instagram.com/redshirtcollective
Share us with others by leaving us a review on iTunes or your preferred podcasting app, sharing us on social media, and/or recommending us to friends!
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Star Trek: The Next Generation analysis of season 1 episode 2 (The Naked Now)
Inexplicably, the second-ever episode of TNG finds the crew drunk off dying dwarf star juice and lookin' to bone DOWN. In an episode that is mostly nonsense, we find many things to laugh about and a few to analyze.
The first thing we noticed was that this episode hits different in COVID-times. Between the severe lack of hygiene protocols and the uncontested application of the vaccine, it is really hard not to draw parallels to our post-2020 reality!
Though most of the lusty shenanigans in this episode have little bearing on the series as a whole or the characters within it, one event DOES bear scrutiny and that is the hookup between Data and Tasha Yar. We talk in-depth about how that scene was handled, in terms of Tasha's status as a victim/survivor, as well as Data's autistic coding. This pairing could've been a really beautiful moment but unfortunately fell into a few problematic tropes - specifically sexualizing a survivor from the male gaze, and supporting the idea that sleeping with autistic/disabled people is embarrassing.
Our sweet baby boy Wesley officially saves the day for the first time, Data imparts some words of wisdom, Bev develops a vaccine, and everyone's sweaty upper lips dry in relief.
Our amazing intro and outro music was created by the supremely talented Trevor Andrew Hamer. If you'd like to work with Trevor or see more of his work, you can find him on: Instagram | YouTube
Support the Show!
Financially support us on Patreon! You'll get access to rad merchandise and bonus content at https://patreon.com/redshirtcollective
Follow us on Instagram to enjoy our juicy episode-related memes at https://instagram.com/redshirtcollective
Share us with others by leaving us a review on iTunes or your preferred podcasting app, sharing us on social media, and/or recommending us to friends!
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Star Trek: The Next Generation episode analysis of season 1 episode 1 [Encounter at Farpoint]
Technically a two-part episode, Encounter at Farpoint now streams as a single, bloated, unbearably long episode. Mike and Nic recap the events of this clunky pilot episode and then do an analysis of the themes presented throughout, and how the pilot introduces us to our beloved crew as well as to fan-favorite villain, Q!
We laugh a LOT along the way to talking about more serious issues the show has regarding the way it deals with humanity's (read: white settlers') past violences, how human- and Euro-centric the show tends to be, and the Enterprise as a neocolonial project.
We lay the groundwork for this to be a Wesley Crusher stan account and lament the poor writing of Deanna Troi - pain, pain, loneliness, despair INDEED, girl.
We hope you like the show, we are so excited to launch this new project!
Our amazing intro and outro music was created by the supremely talented Trevor Andrew Hamer. If you'd like to work with Trevor or see more of his work, you can find him on: Instagram | YouTube
Support the Show!
Financially support us on Patreon! You'll get access to rad merchandise and bonus content at https://patreon.com/redshirtcollective
Follow us on Instagram to enjoy our juicy episode-related memes at https://instagram.com/redshirtcollective
Share us with others by leaving us a review on iTunes or your preferred podcasting app, sharing us on social media, and/or recommending us to friends!
