The world was altered forever in 1987 when Star Trek: The Next Generation first hit the airwaves. Continuing the story of the original Star Trek, the show brought the series back for a new generation of viewers, updating the premises and effects and revitalizing Star Trek fandom into something that would last well into the 21st century. In this episode we discuss that series and how we feel its concepts stand up against the original Trek. We also talk about the cast and who our favorite characters are. We also get into our favorite episodes and how some of them may still be relevant today.
Due to time constraints there is no five-minute controversy this week.
This week Stephanie is cohost and Juliette, Will and Miranda join the cast.
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Last week we boldly went so far that we needed a whole other episode to come back. As a result this episode gives you the second part of our exploration of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. In this episode we tackle such questions as “does a legal procedural work in space?”, “how many times can you bust a series’ format before it’s too many?”, and “how many original series characters do you need to have before it’s too many?” Along the way we discuss musicals, genetic augments, and relationships. We also talk about missed opportunities and what we hope to get out of the third season.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds continues to gain prominence among fandom. Telling stories about the crew of the Enterprise in the days when Pike was captain, the series evokes a retro feel while boasting modern effects. In this episode we provide the first half of our discussion of season two of the series. We discuss new characters like Pelia and what we think about her. We talk about the prevalence of Kirk in the series and whether or not we enjoy the many connections they make to other piece of Star Trek lore. Along the way we get into favorite characters, how we feel about time travel storylines, and Vulcan shenanigans.
As Strange New Worlds comes back to our screens, our panel discusses the first season. We discuss the cast, how we feel about the depiction of the legacy characters, and what we think about the new ones. We talk about the overall series concept and whether we like a return to an episodic format. We debate the use of “Kirk” and how two clever twists worked and whether we think future appearances will. We also get into the various performances, ideas, and references in the series. We finish by getting into what we’d want from a season 2.
We continue our discussion of the Star Trek Films with Star Treks IV – VI. In this episode we discuss killer whales and whether the move to lighten the franchise worked. We also discuss fan opinion of The Final Frontier and whether it’s as bad as people say. We’ll also talk about dark themes in the Undiscovered Country and how the passing of the torch happened years after the successor series was already in place. We also discuss the plots, new characters, directorial choices, and more.
In 1977, Star Wars was released to movie theaters worldwide and created a smash hit phenomenon. Seeing the fervor for media content and merchandise many other sci-fi properties tried to horn in on the action. Star Trek had had a loyal fanbase since the 60’s and even had a new television series in the works, but with Star Wars blowing up the theaters it made sense that Star Trek could follow suit and also win big at the box office. The TV project, Star Trek: Phase II was shut down and Star Trek: The Motion Picture came to the big screen in 1979. The series of six movies that it spawned led to a revitalization of interest in Star Trek as well as a continuation for the actors who played the iconic roles. In this episode we have the first half of our discussion of the movies in which we talk about Star Treks I – III. We discuss how the big screen changed Trek, the themes of the different movies, whether the evens vs odds rule really works.
Star Trek is arguably the most influential science-fiction franchise of all time. The series that almost didn’t make it after a failed pilot got its second chance and rose to international success that has lasted for more than 50 years. In this episode we delve into the idea of what makes the concept of Star Trek so special. We also discuss what aspects of this show have stood up to the test of time. We discuss favorite characters and how the pop culture perception of Kirk is completely wrong. We also talk about our favorite episodes. We also get into the various spinoffs with this cast such as Star Trek: The Animated Series and fan productions, Star Trek Continues and Star Trek New Voyages.
Despite the criticism of the hardcore fanbase, Star Trek: Discovery’s first season was a success. Building on that and attempting to woo more classic fans, Discovery added Pike, Spock, and Number One from the original Star Trek pilot to Discovery season 2. In this episode was talk about the dynamics of Discovery with new captain, Pike in the seat. We also discuss how faithful the portrayals of Pike, Number One, and Spock are to those from the sixty. In addition we discuss the many changes both cosmetic and in the details to the Klingons, Enterprise, Spock’s life story. We also mention the exclusion of the supporting cast, the use of Section 31, and Skynet in the 23rd century, and whether or not the season has a satisfying conclusion. We also discuss our aspirations for season 3.
Star Trek was an idea devised by Gene Roddenberry over fifty years ago. He wanted to tell a hopeful story about the future that not only entertained but showed the potential of humanity. His series was not considered a big success at the time, but it has lived on in reruns and numerous spinoff TV shows and spinoffs since the late 70’s. In this episode we take a look at “Star Trek” as a whole. We discuss Roddenberry’s vision and why it still resonates today. We discuss the topic of what makes something “Star Trek”. We also talk about what we like and on’t like about the franchise.