#75 - STAR TREK'S LAMEST LEAD CHARACTERS

As fantastic as Trek's stable of protagonists is, there are definitely a few that just never quite stuck. This week hosts Cam Smith and Tyler Orton take a good hard look at some of the most criminally underwritten and charisma-challenged main series characters from the final frontier, and attempt to decipher why they lack that crucial on-screen spark. The pair also tackle a very uncomfortable trend that ties a troubling number of these figures together, and try to comprehend the television industry thinking that ultimately fuelled it.

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#74 - GALAXY QUEST

Due to the unfortunate passing of Alan Rickman now seemed like a good time to finally discuss the film the Las Vegas Con audience of 2013 voted as being one the better Trek movies to date. Hence, this week hosts Cam Smith and Tyler Orton are taking a brief break from canon in order to revisit the 1999 sleeper comedy hit, and ponder its enduring popularity. Is it a fair representation of the convention experience? How well do the picture's characters line up with beloved franchise figures? And how do some of the stars feel about it? Only one way to find out! So join us as we take a fun, light-hearted trip through the Klaatu Nebula and beyond!

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#73 - SHOULD TARANTINO DIRECT STAR TREK?

If fans deemed J.J. Abrams a controversial choice to reinvent Trek, how about the wickedly cool visionary behind propulsive and profane epics like Pulp Fiction, Inglourious Basterds and the recently released Hateful Eight?! Using fascinating comments made by Tarantino himself on a recent Nerdist podcast episode as a springboard, hosts Cam Smith and Tyler Orton, along with special guest Patrick Johnston, examine the critically-lauded auteur and size up his potential as a future franchise player. Do his aesthetic and storytelling preferences suit the property? What kind of sci-fi tale would he tell? And, perhaps most importantly, which role would Christoph Waltz play? Plus - if all that wasn't enough - the trio also consider the prospects of famous Trekkie helmers Bryan Singer and Ben Stiller getting their chance to sit in the directorial captain's chair. So put on your hypothetical hats, kick back and enjoy!

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#72 - J.J. ABRAMS: FROM STAR TREK TO STAR WARS

Ever since he revived Star Trek in a big bad way at the box office in 2009, J.J. Abrams has been a lightning rod for volatile controversy within the fan community. Did he ruin the franchise or save it? And has his value as a filmmaker been ultimately proven by the record-annihilating success of Star Wars: The Force Awakens? This week hosts Cam Smith and Tyler Orton take a hard critical look at the successful director's entire filmography and both highlight the similar techniques he's utilized in tackling his space-based features, as well as his overall strengths and weaknesses as a storyteller. They also weigh in with their thoughts on Episode VII and determine which sci-fi series Abrams is best suited to. Plus, as an added bonus, the duo close out this week's show with a discussion about Paramount and CBS's lawsuit against the makers of Axanar and it's potentially serious long-term ramifications.

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