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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Star Trek: Picard was the second series in the new Star Trek line initially created by CBS: All Access and later continued by Paramount Plus. The series provided a bridge for fans who didn’t connect with Star Trek: Discovery by providing recognizable characters from the height of Trek popularity in the 90’s. While many fans appreciated this effort some did not appreciate the darker tone of that first season. A second season followed with a lighter tone but many plotting issues. In the third season, many Next Generation cast members as well as situations and characters from Deep Space Nine and Voyager were brought into the series to provide further touchstones to Star Trek series of the past. In this episode we discuss the third season of Star Trek: Picard. We discuss the new characters and the old and whether we appreciated the many call backs. We also talk about the plot, whether the Borg are overused, and what other legacy storylines could have been used for the hook this season. Along the way we opine on Star Trek: Legacy and what we’re like to see if that series ever comes to fruition. 
The 42cast is proud to welcome Chicago-area actor, teacher, and science-fiction fan, 
Lee Arenberg is one of the most prolific actors in the business. If you’ve watched TV in the last 4 decades, odds are at some point you’ve seen him. With a career spanning dozens of different TV shows and films, Lee is one of the actors who can embody many different characters. In this episode we talk with Lee to ask him about his career in acting. He shares some insights about acting and we discuss his career, focusing on his time with the various Star Trek series of the 90’s and early 2000’s as well as his role as Grumpy in Once Upon a Time. 
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.