Who Watches the Watchers

Episode 141

Friday 31 January 2025

We're outside, on a sunny and rocky planet. Facing each other are  Captain Picard, his arm in a sling, and a woman roughly his age, wearing  a simple dress of rough fabric. Sitting between them and a bit behind them are a younger man and his daughter, also dressed in simple clothing. Picard and the woman are smiling at one another.

Star Trek: The Next Generation

Series 3, Episode 4

Stardate: 43173.5

First broadcast on Monday 16 October 1989

– You see, my people once lived in caves. And then we learned to build huts and, in time, to build ships like this one.
– Perhaps one day, my people will travel above the skies.
– Of that, I have absolutely no doubt.

Top-tier Star Trek this week, as The Next Generation belatedly hits its stride, with a well-written, well-acted and well-made story about the beauty and fragility of progress.

Recorded on Tuesday 28 January 2025 · Download (64.7 MB)

Star Trek: The Next Generation

Maneuvers

Episode 140

Friday 17 January 2025

On Voyager’s main screen is an image of Seska, a young Cardassian woman with long blond hair. Her face is lit from below, and she is smiling an evil smile.

Star Trek: Voyager

Series 2, Episode 11

Stardate: 49208.5

First broadcast on Monday 20 November 1995

And Seska is back! Everyone’s favourite Bajoran Maquis Cardassian traitress returns — with a daring plan to unite the Kazon sects, or to destroy Voyager, or to capture Chakotay and collect a couple of teaspoonfuls of his DNA. Ahem. Anyway, at least Joe and Nathan get the chance to reminisce about a version of the show that they enjoyed and that gave the cast plenty of fun stuff to do.

Recorded on Tuesday 14 January 2025 · Download (65.0 MB)

Star Trek: Voyager

The Way to Eden

Episode 139

Friday 10 January 2025

We're in the Enterprise transporter room. Sitting on the transporter pad are a group of five young people and an older man with a shaved head and massive latex ears — all dressed as hippies and all making a triangle shape with their hands. Standing upright opposite them is Spock, who is making the same shape with his hands as they are.

Star Trek: The Original Series

Series 3, Episode 20

Stardate: 5832.3

First broadcast on Friday 21 February 1969

This week, we learn a valuable lesson previously only known to the most tedious middle-aged people: that young people these days are arrogant, embarassing, and stupid — and also probably communists. Meanwhile, the crew of the Enterprise have all forgotten to remove their “Nixon’s the One!” badges, upsettingly.

Recorded on Tuesday 7 January 2025 · Download (73.0 MB)

Star Trek: The Original Series

Move Along Home

Episode 138

Friday 27 December 2024

We're in Quark's Bar. Quark is holding his hand out to Odo, while a man with a moustache and some horrid forehead tattoos looks on. They are  standing around a perspex frame, which might just be a board game  of some kind.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Series 1, Episode 10

Stardate: Unknown (2369)

First broadcast on Sunday 14 March 1993

This week, we travel back to a time in the distant past aboard Deep Space Nine, a time before anyone has worked out how the show should be played, written or directed. There’s some fun to be had, of course, but not from watching this episode.

Recorded on Tuesday 24 December 2024 · Download (59.6 MB)

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Star Trek: First Contact

Episode 137

Friday 20 December 2024

For the first time in history, a rough-looking human being shakes hands  with a slightly taken-aback Vulcan.

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.

Recorded on Tuesday 17 December 2024 · Download (131.2 MB)

Star Trek movies