#207 - WHY IS PICARD SO IMPORTANT TO STAR TREK?

Okay, so the Jean-Luc Picard spin-off series is official. And Patrick Stewart is on board. But what sources of inspiration beyond the obvious greatest hits should the show's creative team be drawing from? This week hosts Cam Smith and Tyler Orton, along with special guest Penny Daflos of the BTS with CTV News Vancouver podcast, get contemplative as they ponder why exactly the legendary captain of the Enterprises D and E is so incredibly crucial to the enduring spirit of Roddenberry's universe. In addition to debating some fun potential story elements, the trio dig into the character's rich back catalogue for key episodes, both great and underrated, that Alex Kurtzman and his crew may want to take a second look at in order to avoid the second coming of Nemesis' Dune Buggy Picard!  

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#206 - STAR TREK'S UNDEREXPLORED RELATIONSHIPS

One of the Star Trek franchise's most compelling joys is its knack for forging fun and unforgettable relationships: Kirk and Spock, Jadzia and Worf, Geordi and Data, and so on and so forth. However, with such an immense cast of players more than a couple promising potential pairings were destined to wind up left on the sidelines. This week hosts Cam Smith and Tyler Orton take a break from their 3D chess and aerobics classes in order to highlight the most frustrating missed opportunities from each of the six series. From the often under-represented Troi/Crusher friendship, to intriguing brief bonds between T'Pol & Hoshi and Captain Kirk & Janice Rand, the duo champion the great professional and personal connections that never really were, and offer their advice on which dynamics they'd like to see Discovery boost in season 2! 

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#205 - THE 2018 KLINGON BLOODWINE GAMES

Sure, this month's STLV convention was awesomely unforgettable. But it wasn't the only exciting Trek-related event unfolding in Las Vegas recently! This week regale as trusted host with the most Cam Smith, aided by trusty scorekeeper Scott Hardy, thrillingly oversee the third annual Klingon Bloodwine Games, the world's most grueling Star Trek gameshow designed to break all but the most knowledgeable students of Roddenberry's universe. Recorded live in Sin City, this year's competition sees aspiring champions Tyler Orton, Allison Miller & Jay Gammill battling their way through four highly energetic, brain-busting rounds of trivia, geeky improvisation and more! So tune in and find out which player achieves Subspace-sponsored glory and the bountiful prizes that accompany this lofty honor!

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#204 - PICARD IS BACK & OTHER STLV 2018 CON MEMORIES

As you no doubt heard, Creation's 2018 Star Trek Las Vegas convention made major waves last weekend when surprise guest Patrick Stewart announced the impending return of Jean-Luc Picard to thunderous applause! So what was it like to be in the room for this legendary occurrence, and what other momentous happenings transpired during the five-day event? This week hosts Cam Smith and Tyler Orton, along with special guest Scott Hardy, battle off exhaustion just long enough to fill you in on all the crucial highlights from Trekdom's most celebrated gathering. From STLV's major Discovery presence, to DS9's 25th anniversary and even an Outrageous Okona tribute (?!), the trio wrap up the year's best party with their fondest recollections and plenty of unabashed geek-out moments. 

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#203 - STAR TREK VOY: DARK FRONTIER

In 1997 Voyager scored one of its all time great highpoints ever with the Borg-centric two-parter Scorpion. But did lightning strike twice when the show's creative forces decided to return to the well during February sweeps a couple years later? This week hosts Cam Smith and Tyler Orton hop in their time-travelling diamond ship and head back to 1999 in order to revisit the popular feature-length epic tale Dark Frontier, which transported First Contact's Borg Queen into the television realm. Over the course of this energetic review the duo ponder the cybernetic species' dubious philosophy, Seven and her dueling symbolic mother figures and whether Caucasian male underwear models best represent the entire spectrum of humanity.

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#202 - STAR TREK: CAPTAIN PICARD AND OTHER SPIN-OFFS

As unlikely as the prospect once seemed, a Captain Picard spin-off starring Patrick Stewart is now a very real possibility in the near future. But is it a good idea? This week hosts Cam Smith and Tyler Orton, along with special guest Carmin Carotenuto of the Adventure.exe podcast, debate the creative and financial reasons why the return of Jean-Luc Picard makes sense, as well as confess their concerns about the potential end result. In addition to predicting which TNG castmates may pop in for cameos, the trio also ponder other rumored CBS All Access projects featuring Starfleet Academy and Khan, as well as a second kid-oriented animated venture. Plus, as an added bonus, the gang reviews Discovery's season two Comic-Con trailer! 

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#201 - SECTION 31: THE SPY WHO PHASED ME

Ever since Discovery teased looming possibilities for the franchise's favorite controversial covert spy agency Section 31, debate has begun anew regarding whether or not this element of canon suits the Roddenberry philosophy. As cool as these stories can be, do they belong in a utopia? This week hosts Cam Smith and Tyler Orton dust off their best fedoras and trenchcoats in order to delve into Trek's surprisingly long history of cloak and dagger tactics. From the Romulan-headed Tal Shiar, to Cardassia's Obsidian Order all the way down to 31, the duo do their darndest to track the evolution of these often twisty tales and consider the potential pitfalls future series may want to watch out for before shining up their black badges.  

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