Episode 137
Friday 20 December 2024
Star Trek Movie #8
Stardate: 50893.5 and 4–5 April 2063
Release date: 1996
After a botched first attempt back in 1994, the Star Trek movie franchise brings back many of the beloved characters from Star Trek: The Next Generation in a thrilling adventure, packed full of action, scares and laughs — as well as some sexy moments with an undead cyborg lizard and an optimistic message about the future of humanity. Five stars, really.
Episode 136
Friday 13 December 2024
Star Trek: Picard
Series 1, Episode 4
Stardate: Unknown (2399)
First broadcast on Thursday 13 February 2020
It’s been thirty-five years since the Romulans turned up again out of the blue, but now we couldn’t imagine a day without them. And so many of them! Narek and Narissa, two English Romulan Game of Thrones fans who are trying to kill Data’s (remaining) daughter. Zani, a stunningly calm and beautiful Romulan Sincerity Nun. Her ward Elnor, an adorably elfin Romulan Truth Ninja from Melbourne. And a whole angry mob of hot refugee Romulans bearing a justified grudge against Picard for making a loud moral stand while failing to actually help them in any way.
And Rios, Agnes and Raffi are here too of course, in a transitional episode that gives us the chance to talk about where Picard goes wrong, and what it still manages to do very well.
Episode 135
Friday 29 November 2024
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Series 5, Episode 20
Stardate: Unknown (2373)
First broadcast on Monday 21 April 1997
Again, the story doesn’t really have a legitimate theme, it’s just More Ferengi Farce, but without any solid laughs. In fact, I’d put “Ferengi Love Songs” on or near the bottom of the Ferengi episode list.
Jamahl Epsicokhan, Jammer’s Reviews
It’s all pretty trivial and unamusing. The only reason this is watchable at all is that Armin Shimerman is so accomplished. Moogie is right – leave your action figures in their original packaging.
Tom Salinksy, Trekaday
It was a show that worked well in dailies, in little snippets, but put it all together and you’re saying “Enough already!”
Ira Steven Behr, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion
– I don’t think that that episode was as good as either A Night in Sickbay or Genesis, but I do think it was pretty fun, and I’m glad that Deep Space Nine does it.
– Yeah, I don’t think that was an amazing episode, but pretty fun, I’ll take.
Nathan and Joe, Untitled Star Trek Project
Episode 134
Friday 22 November 2024
Star Trek: Enterprise
Series 3, Episode 18
Stardate: Unknown (2154)
First broadcast on Wednesday 3 March 2004
This week, the Xindi and some big-ass lizard guy get to beat the crap out of (a) Enterprise and (b) Captain Archer, respectively. Meanwhile, Nathan and Joe are delighted, not because they’re mean (although they are), but because this is such a thoroughly entertaining hour of Star Trek: Enterprise. Who knew such things could be?
Episode 133
Friday 15 November 2024
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Series 4, Episode 17
Stardate: Unknown (2372)
First broadcast on Saturday 24 February 1996
This week, Miles and Julian learn about larping and friendship, Kira learns about clay and the inevitability of authoritarian male religious figures, and we learn about subtext and delightful character development — all thanks to Jane Espenson, who, it turns out, is the real hero of the episode.
Episode 132
Friday 8 November 2024
Star Trek: The Animated Series
Series 1, Episode 6
Stardate: 5143.3
First broadcast on Saturday 13 October 1973
This week, crudely-drawn slow-moving simulacra of the Enterprise crew interact listlessly in a crudely-drawn slow-moving simulacrum of Star Trek. Except for the shapeshifting red octopus, which is awesome. Meanwhile, Joe drops £2.50 renting a Star Trek episode whose budget was nearly ten times that, adjusted for inflation.
Episode 131
Friday 1 November 2024
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Series 6, Episode 3
Stardate: 46071.6
First broadcast on Monday 5 October 1992
It’s an outstandingly stupid episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation this week, except for the astonishingly brilliant idea of giving Marina fun things to do and a range of fabulously fun things to wear. Actually, let me start that again. It’s an astonishingly brilliant episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation this week,…
Episode 130
Friday 25 October 2024
Star Trek: Prodigy
Series 1, Episodes 19–20
Stardate: Unknown (2384)
First broadcast on Thursday 22 December 2022
and Thursday 29 December 2022
You may think you need me to get there, but after seeing everything you’ve accomplished, I have full confidence you’ll find your way. Because together your potential is infinite.
Now, go boldly.
This week, the crew of the USS Protostar save the Galaxy in the most selfless and heartwarming way imaginable, in a version of Star Trek that’s complex, enthralling and breathtakingly beautiful.
Episode 129
Friday 18 October 2024
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Series 6, Episode 20
Stardate: Unknown (2374)
First broadcast on Wednesday 22 April 1998
Fly me to the moon
Let me trek among the stars
Let me taste the cocktails
In some holographic bars
In other words, please be true
In other words, I love you
Episode 128
Friday 11 October 2024
Star Trek: Discovery
Series 4, Episode 1
Stardate: Unknown (3190)
First broadcast on Thursday 18 November 2021
The crew of the USS Discovery are really settling down and starting to enjoy their new life in the 32nd century — repairing some butterflies’ GPS network, giving a commencement speech to some socially-distanced Starfleet Academy students, and fixing the unexpected and alarming angular velocity of a Federation space station. Then suddenly an unimaginable tragedy strikes.