Episode 68
Friday 9 June 2023
Star Trek: Picard
Series 2, Episode 10
Stardate: Unknown (2024, 2401)
First broadcast on Thursday 5 May 2022
In one episode’s time, Star Trek: Picard will become, for the first time, a television event, but for now, we’ve got some plot to wrap up, some sad farewells to make and a new relationship to start. And a point, however muted, about living an extraordinary life.
Episode 67
Friday 2 June 2023
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Series 5, Episodes 14–15
Stardate: 50564.2
First broadcast on Monday 10 February 1997
and Monday 17 February 1997
It’s a soap-opera extravaganza on Deep Space Nine this week, as Garak reconciles with his long-lost father, Dukat abandons his long-lost daughter, and Julian discovers a scheming lookalike that he never knew he had. Meanwhile, there is a shift in the balance of power in the Quadrant, as the show rewrites its own premise in the way that we have come to admire and enjoy.
Episode 66
Friday 26 May 2023
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Series 5, Episode 13
Stardate: 45470.1
First broadcast on Monday 10 February 1992
This week, the Enterprise crew worry unnecessarily about upending the lives of people living under a weird-ass conservative regime, only to find that those people are desperate to get out and there is no good reason at all to prevent them. Also, Deanna has sex, with unfortunate results.
Episode 65
Friday 19 May 2023
Star Trek: The Original Series
Series 2, Episode 14
Stardate: 3614.9
First broadcast on Friday 22 December 1967
When simple, mild-mannered lackwit Montgomery Scott (James Doohan) stabs three women to death in the space of a couple of hours, the crew of the Enterprise become suspicious enough to start an investigation, which mostly consists of getting Majel Barrett to read them a bunch of Wikipedia articles. But just as we’re all about to nod off, someone claims responsibility for the murders — beloved childhood plaything Piglet (John Fielder), who immediately inputs himself into the ship’s computer and attempts to generate terror by making a series of increasingly unimaginative violent threats. Understandably, the crew respond to all this by taking a bunch of drugs and waiting for the closing credits to kick in. Which is how we recommend that you respond to this episode as well.
Episode 64
Friday 12 May 2023
Star Trek: Voyager
Series 3, Episode 26 / Series 4, Episode 1
Stardate: 50984.3
First broadcast on Wednesday 21 May 1997
and Wednesday 3 September 1997
As Voyager approaches the end of its third year, it’s time for its very own version of The Best of Both Worlds. And here it is, complete with a massive encounter with the Borg, clouds of débris, a terrifying new enemy, dissension among the commanding officers, and the unveiling of an entirely new kind of human—Borg hybrid. But because it’s Voyager, there’s also people doing things for no reason and a central conflict disposed of in an unsatisfying way. But (again) because it’s Voyager, there’s some great weird visuals, a cool new holodeck program, and yet another arresting performance from the Queen of Star Trek, Her Royal Highness, Captain Kathryn Janeway.