#214 - THE FUTURE OF THE ALPHA QUADRANT

So we know Picard is returning soon, and that his series will be an ongoing one. But what does his universe even look like in the wake of the major events of DS9, Nemesis, Star Trek 2009 and so on? This week hosts Cam Smith and Tyler Orton join Starfleet's brightest and boldest in order to explore the current status of the Alpha Quadrant's most famous denizens and predict where the future may take them. From post-Dominion War Cardassia and the Klingon Empire, to the now homeland-less Romulans and post-reform (?) Ferengi, the duo touch on all the major power players and strive to imagine how Picard may participate in their ongoing evolution.

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#213 - SHORT TREKS: RUNAWAY & DSC S2 TRAILER #2

The second season of Discovery is right around the corner and excitement is starting to build anew! And what better way to prepare for Burnham and crew's triumphant return than by breaking down both the very first Short Treks episode as well as the show's latest splashy trailer? This week hosts Cam Smith and Tyler Orton turn off their invisibility cloaking long enough to review the franchise's first ever official short-form entry, Runaway, in which Tilly encounters a mysterious alien presence aboard the ship. Does this new bite-sized format work? And how successful is this brief adventure at amping up anticipation for the series' return? Plus, the duo geek out over DSC's high profile New York Comic Con trailer and weigh in on its teases of Spock, Pike, Number One, space angels and newly hairy Klingons!

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#212 - STAR TREK DS9: WHAT YOU LEAVE BEHIND

All great journeys must come to an end. And, for DS9, that ending was entirely unexplored terrain for Star Trek in 1999. Unlike the more episodic TNG, which hit a major home-run with All Good Things..., the franchise's unconventional third series had such a labyrinthine web of mythology, character arcs and story to wrap up that satisfying expectations was the definition of a Herculean task. But, ultimately, were the creative team successful? This week hosts Cam Smith and Tyler Orton don tuxedos and choke back tears while bidding farewell to the Gamma Quadrant's most turbulent space station and the idiosyncratic collection of personalities living within its weathered walls. Over the course of this lengthy discussion the duo break down both the story threads and character pay-offs of the episode, and determine how strongly What You Leave Behind works as a TV finale. Plus, they debate such hot topics as the show's resolutions to the Dominion War and Pah Wraith drama, Odo and Kira's iconic goodbyes and the curious lack of Jadzia in Worf's montage.  

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#211 - THE BEST VOYAGER EPISODES

When fans recite their personal 'Greatest Star Trek Episodes of All Time' lists Voyager has a noticeable tendency to get short shrift. But is that really fair, considering the amount of genuine quality contained within its respectable seven season run? This week hosts Cam Smith and Tyler Orton are chasing coffee through nebulas as they celebrate their all-time favorite hours with the stranded crew, and attempt to nail down - through passionate debate and agonized decision-making - which single entry is the definitive Voyager story. With iconic two-parters like Scorpion and Year of Hell facing off against powerhouses both dramatic (Blink of an Eye, Timeless) and comedic (Tinker Tenor Doctor Spy, Message in a Bottle) there are boundless options to consider as the duo boldly strive to champion the very best the Delta Quadrant has to offer! 

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#210 - THE EVOLUTION OF THE FERENGI

From their very first appearance the Ferengi have proved polarizing among Trek fans. While many find them to be amusing lampoons of Capitalist society, plenty of viewers regard them as being the television equivalent of nails on a blackboard. But is there genuine value to their journey, and the creative efforts to expand and explore them, over the past 30+ years? This week hosts Cam Smith and Tyler Orton take a break from sharpening their teeth in order to delve into the franchise's long, rocky history with these peculiar large-lobed beings. From their disastrous early positioning as TNG's new big bads, to their high profile evolution throughout Deep Space Nine, the duo leave no latinum strip uncounted while determining how figures like Quark, Zek, Ishka, Rom and Nog have altered our understanding of these aliens, and where the future may take them. 

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#209 - BATTLE OF THE JUNIOR OFFICERS

After 52 years and six series it's pretty safe to say there isn't a whole lot of mystery left regarding the daily life of a senior Starfleet officer. But what about the lowly ensigns; the newbies whose daily survival and success depends on the seasoned braintrust running the ship or station? This week hosts Cam Smith and Tyler Orton remove a few pips from their uniforms in order to hang out on the lower decks and determine which beloved junior officers have the right stuff. Beginning with critical breakdowns of TNG's Lower Decks and Voyager's The Good Shepherd, the duo segue into an elimination round extravaganza pitting these eager fresh-faced hopefuls against each other in order to determine who reigns supreme and deserves a major promotion! From iconic faves like Wesley Crusher, Pavel Chekov, Hoshi Sato and Harry Kim to memorable guest stars Sito Jaxa and Taurik, there's no shortage of options and plenty of fun-filled debate to be had!

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#208 - STAR TREK VOY: EQUINOX

Although DS9 is generally considered the crown-holder when it comes to dark Trek stories, the good ship Voyager also saw its fare share of morally murky and extreme confrontations. So what happened when, during the fifth season finale/sixth season premiere, the writers pitted Starfleet against Starfleet in the Delta Quadrant? This week hosts Cam Smith and Tyler Orton battle the urge to break into song while revisiting the memorable Equinox two-parter, which sees Janeway channeling her inner Ahab while pursuing rogue captain Rudy Ransom and his desperate, corrupted crew. Although not as lauded among fans as Scorpion or Year of Hell, there's plenty of fodder for discussion, as the duo grapple with serious Janeway and Chakotay friction, John Savage's intense guest star performance, curious lunch menu-themed nicknames and one particularly nagging question: is the Equinox's dramatic journey a better realization of the show's juicy premise than what Voyager delivered???

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