#134 - STAR TREK DS9: IMPROBABLE CAUSE/THE DIE IS CAST

After a fantastic premiere, Deep Space Nine's third season continued to exhibit new confidence as the show boldly embraced its dense, clever and gripping mythology. Nowhere is that more clear than in the franchise's very first double-length installment without Part I and II subtitles, Improbable Cause and The Die is Cast. This week hosts Cam Smith and Tyler Orton channel their deep, enduring adoration for sly tailor Elim Garak as they tackle one of the crafty Cardassian's most insightful and morally complex showcase stories. In addition to plenty of Garak, Odo and Dominion talk, the duo also continue to debate the shady tactics of Starfleet admirals, rank the franchise's three shadowy intelligence agencies and stumble onto an intriguing, albeit extremely dubious, link to Batman Begins.

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#133 - TALKIN' ABOUT TELLARITES!

Sure, everyone loves the Vulcans and Andorians. But what about the oft-ignored fourth original charter Federation members the Tellarites?! Since appearing in the classic episode Journey to Babel, they've mostly been relegated to forgettable background status. Until now! This week hosts Cam Smith and Tyler Orton throw on snazzy silver and blue dress uniforms in order to delve into this fascinating and underappreciated alien race, and ponder why they play such a minor role in the larger Trek conversation. From the species' iconic debut, through glorious, albeit brief, resurrection on Enterprise, the duo explore what might have been, and would should be as Discovery slowly edges closer to reality.

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#132 - EARLY DEPARTURES IN STAR TREK

"Parting is such sweet sorrow," as the Bard put it in Romeo & Juliet. But does that adage hold true to Star Trek, or are words like 'infuriating,' 'underwhelming' or 'frustrating' more appropriate? This week hosts Cam Smith and Tyler Orton take a gander at a number of crucial episodes where beloved characters bid adieu and rate how successfully each of the respective series pulled off this challenging and unenviable feat. From the early days of Janice Rand, all the way down to Jadzia and Kes, the duo strive to determine which of the franchise's premature exits hit the emotional bullseye, and which ones missed the mark completely.
  
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#131 - THE EVOLUTION OF Q

The pilot episode of TNG did very few things superbly, but its one invaluable contribution was introducing the world to the franchise's supreme super-powered omnipotent trickster. An icon from day one, John de Lancie's top-ranking Trek antagonist stands second to none in the 24th century, with only the Borg as potential competition. In celebration of this mysterious, dangerous and frequently funny foe, this week hosts Cam Smith and Tyler Orton, along with returning guest Patrick Johnson, delve into the rich history of Q, from Farpoint to Q2, and offer their own unique takes on the character's fascinating changes over time as well as his significance in reflecting the themes of the franchise. From his proudest moments to his most groan-inducing (penalty boxes???), no stone is left unturned on the trio's profound and amusing reality-bending podcasting journey.
  
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#130 - STAR TREK VOY: CARETAKER

We've been to Farpoint, and encountered the Emissary, now it's time to leap through the hallowed arches of the Guardian of Forever back to the bright and exciting days of January 1995, when the good ship Voyager warmed up her warp nacelles! Join hosts Cam Smith and Tyler Orton, along with boldly courageous returning guest Vicki Siu, this week as they celebrate the first unforgettable Delta Quadrant journey of UPN's flagship series. Over the course of a lively discussion, they seek to resolve whether the respected pilot episode still holds up and just how successful it is at introducing its colorful cast of enduring characters. So join the trio as they meet beloved figures like Janeway, Chakotay and Neelix again for the very first time, and size up whether Caretaker suitably maps out the adventure to come.

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#129 - WHO IS THE ULTIMATE STAR TREK FIGHTER?

Star Trek is an undeniably sophisticated and intellectually curious franchise rife with rich themes, layered concepts and fascinatingly multi-dimensional characters worth having thoughtful discussions about. That said, sometimes it's more fun to just drop all pretenses and have really goofy and nerdy debates. Such is the case this week as hosts Cam Smith and Tyler Orton, along with returning guest Tom Ball, don their hypothetical hats and argue over who would emerge victorious from a franchise battle royale. Would it be proud warrior Worf, unassumingly formidable Vulcans Spock, Tuvok or T'Pol, or perhaps a feisty wildcard like Kira or Kirk? Listen in as the trio ring the bell and talk their way through multiple rounds of astonishing matchups on their way to a show-stopping climactic bout.
  
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#128 - BEST & WORST STAR TREK SEASONS

Okay folks, time to abandon the light-hearted topics for now and get down to real brass tacks; what are the greatest seasons in Star Trek's rich history, and which ones failed to connect? This week hosts Cam Smith and Tyler Orton take on the Herculean task of determining which series dominated and which floundered, beginning with inaugural seasons and working year by year all the way to the grand finale. How do TOS's astonishing first two seasons hold up, or Deep Space Nine's slam-bang Dominion War arc? And what can be said for TNG's rocky launch? Listen in for what is sure to be a debate-sparking podcast hour!
  
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