#151 - STAR TREK VOY: FUTURE'S END

Few formulas have proved more successful for Trek than fish-out-of-water time travel comedy, with TOS and TNG mining the well to beloved effect. But how did Voyager fare when its turn came to follow up its predecessors' triumphs? This week hosts Cam Smith and Tyler Orton, along with special guest Tony Geluch, follow surly Captain Braxton back to the glorious year of 1996 in order to revisit the popular double-sized season 3 adventure Future's End. Over the course of their wild and wacky odyssey the trio ponder the accuracy of the show's take on the era which birthed it, debate whether racist redneck subplots are ever a good thing, and reconsider the efforts of big deal guest stars Ed Begley Jr. and Sarah Silverman. So toss on your best neutral-toned suit and get hyped because the 90s are back, baby!

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#150 - THE BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO STAR TREK

As loyal Star Trek fans, it's our proud duty to welcome newbies into the fold. But which episodes from which series are the best to recommend? This week hosts Cam Smith and Tyler Orton are tackling this eternal conundrum head-on with a daring high-stakes contest: they've each assigned special guest (and franchise non-fan) Janine Smith one episode from all five shows with the aim of winning her over with the most engaging picks. Will she be wowed by the slow-burn intrigue of the Corbomite Maneuver or the alternate universe lunacy of Mirror, Mirror? How about the touching Data tale The Offspring versus the time paradox classic Cause and Effect? You'll doubtlessly be surprised by her insights and preferences, and especially by the destined-to-be-legendary punishment awaiting the co-host who fails to choose wisely.

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#149 - BEST & WORST STAR TREK STORY ARCS

While Trek began as a prime example of episodic sci-fi, the gradual evolution of television writing and audience tastes have impacted it in hugely impactful and exciting ways. With the heavily serialized Discovery waiting in the wings, this week sees hosts Cam Smith and Tyler Orton, along with special guest Carmin Carotenuto of the Adventure.exe podcast, taking a good hard look at the franchise's history of multi-episode narrative arcs. Beginning with the somewhat accidental three-part Christopher Pike saga, the trio scrutinize the highs (the Dominion War, the Xindi conflict) and lows (the Temporal Cold War) in order to determine which elements make long-form storytelling, and which mistakes break it. Plus, each of the crew chime in with their own hopes and concerns regarding Discovery and its place in this brave and bold new entertainment landscape.

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#148 - ARE STARFLEET CADETS THE WORST?

It's a well-established fact Starfleet's track record for promoting great officers is pretty darn unassailable, but can the same be said about its Academy's top cadet picks? This week brash, fresh-faced youngster hosts Cam Smith and Tyler Orton, along with hotshot guest Andy Chan, enlist in the organization's prestigious, yet often dubiously organized, training school in order to figure out why so many of its students go bizarrely astray. From the smarmy cover-up tactics of Nova Squadron leader Nicholas Locarno, to DS9's highly unorthodox elite Red Squad unit and Star Trek 2009's smug take on the Kobayashi Maru, no helpful reference material is left unanalyzed in this daunting research assignment. Lastly, to conclude their report, the trio debate whether the concept of Starfleet Academy could ever possibly sustain a future movie or series.

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