#152 - ACTING BEYOND STAR TREK

Undoubtedly the men and women responsible for inhabiting Trek's greatest characters achieved iconic status thanks to their time with the franchise. But an actor's life is rarely summed up by a single gig. This week hosts Cam Smith and Tyler Orton recreate their 2017 Star Trek Las Vegas Con panel with an in-depth look at how certain hidden gem entries in key players' filmographies parallel their time in Roddenberry's universe. Did Brent Spiner's work in the HBO movie Introducing Dorothy Dandridge require the touch of an android with a positronic brain? Could Mirror Universe Uhura have helped inform Nichelle Nichols' fiendish turn in the 1974 Blaxploitation hit Truck Turner? And what are the chances Patrick Stewart's Tinker Taylor Soldier Spy interrogation experience colored his tortured performance in Chain of Command? There's plenty to ponder, and some great film and television recommendations just begging for your attention!

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#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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#147 - STAR TREK VOY: BASICS

Not too long ago we celebrated the splashy television launch of the good ship Voyager. Now it's time to dive into more classic Delta Quadrant craziness! This week hosts Cam Smith and Tyler Orton, along with special guest Dale Deruiter of the Outrage Factory podcast, find themselves battling tooth and nail to survive the show's first epic cliffhanger saga Basics. While perhaps not as iconic as later double-length episodes, there's no shortage of highlights in this season two finale/season three premiere, from combustible Seska/Kazon drama to the end of Betazoid psycho Lon Suder's tormented arc. In addition, the trio debate both the writing staff's treatment of aboriginal characters and the dubious merits of 1996 CGI reptiles, as well as scratch their heads over Tuvok's formal archery education. Enjoy!

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#146 - STAR TREK'S MOST AWKWARD MOMENTS, PART I

The mighty men and women of Starfleet may best us mere common folk in many ways, but they have yet to master the ability to avoid uncomfortable situations. Ergo, this week frequently maladjusted hosts Cam Smith and Tyler Orton are getting their cringe on by celebrating the franchise's most unbearable social faux pas and gaffs. From Geordi being busted for having a secret sexy hologram program, to Harry Kim's embarrassing romantic proclamations and the tragic behavior of Charlie X, no opportunity is missed to revel in Trek's many traumatic public humiliations. Plus, as an added bonus, the duo debate how each of the TNG crew would fare in the online dating world. Y'know, just because.

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