If we were in charge of Star Trek...

It's not the new year yet, but the trio are ready to look to the future. With the sale of Paramount still not quite official until 2025, and the renewal of some series, the cancellation of others, and the development of even others - it's time for a brief thought experiment.

What if we ran Star Trek?

As the helm of the franchise has gone from Gene Roddenberry to Rick Berman and now to Alex Kurtzman, it's now our turn. Do we keep current projects going or start from scratch? What platform will the future of Star Trek be carried on? Should we concentrate on movies or TV series? What new ideas will keep the franchise going for the next generation?

Join us as we sit in the big chairs and imagine our own version of Star Trek's future.

Whittling Down Season Four (VOY) to 10 episodes

The trio continues their series of chopping down the longer 1990s seasons of Star Trek into the 2020s average ten-episode limit. This time "the victim" is season four of "Star Trek: Voyager," also known as "when Seven of Nine joined the show."

The season begins with battling Species 8472 with the Borg in "Scorpion, Part II" and ends with "Hope and Fear," when the surprising (and suspicious) new starship Dauntless appears to take them home. These episodes also feature the Paris/Torres romance, the introduction of the Hirogen, and begins Seven's journey into humanity. Will your favorite episode make the cut? Will two-parters be split up? And how many episodes does "The Killing Game" count as???

Join us as we whittle down season four of Voyager!

TOS plots in TNG

Trek has experimented with either re-visiting older episodes with new crews, as in DS9's "Trials and Tribble-ations" or SNW's "A Quality of Mercy", or recycling plots with TNG's "The Naked Now." The trio look at how exact stories from The Original Series would play out with The Next Generation crew. How would "Galileo Seven" work in Next Gen? Which Enterprise-D crew member would be forced back home in "Amok Time"? How would the classic episode "The City on the Edge of Forever" work in the 24th century?

Join us as TOS stories play out in TNG - which combination of crew members can replace the triad of Kirk, Spock, McCoy?

Star Trek: Prodigy Catch-up

The trio take stock of the second quarter of season one of "Star Trek: Prodigy." This new series has broken barriers in a few ways - including teasing the return of Voyager's former first officer. Which characters are starting to ease into their positions? Which characters are maybe misplaced? What lingering questions do we have? What predictions do we have for the rest of the season? Let us know your animated thought about the newest series in the Trek franchise.

Darren, Daniel and Phillip discuss what they would like in a Star Trek: Enterprise video game. Developing a civilizations like strategy game where you form the Federation with your choices.

Ships of the Line You Want in a Museum

There have been fascinating and captivating space-faring vessels in the Star Trek franchise. The trio creates a dream "space-sonian" museum where they can choose any ship to add to their collection to walk around in and have schools trips learn from. Which starships would you choose? We go through the years of ships to explore which would be the best to feature in the best space exhibit.

Trek - Past, Present, and Yet to Come: The end of 2021 and the beginning of 2022 is a great time to take stock of the Star Trek franchise. It's healthier and thriving than it has ever been. With the arrival of "Star Trek: Discovery" seasons 3 and 4, "Star Trek: Lower Decks" season 2, and the introduction of "Star Trek: Prodigy", there's a lot to look back on. Next year promises more of Discovery and Prodigy, and season two of "Star Trek: Picard." Will we also see "Star Trek: Strange, New Worlds"? And even more seasons of our beloved Trek shows? And what about a potential movie? Or more?? Join us as we talk about what's come in 2021, and what we look forward to in 2022.

Trek Trivia

It's the holiday season - so it's time to settle down for a round of Trek trivia. Grab a pen and paper, and get ready to answer 8 rounds of Star Trek quiz questions, along with a special "pre-" and "post-" round to rack up extra points. Can you beat Daniel and Darren? Were the questions too easy or too hard? Let us know your score as you play along with Trek trivia.

Star Trek: First Contact

It's hard to believe (for some of us) that it's been a generation since "Star Trek: First Contact" hit the big screen. The first TNG-only cast feature film with new uniforms and a new Enterprise (along with an old enemy) ranks high on many fans' list of best Trek films. Was it the story? The guest characters? The design? The Jonathan Frakes direction? Let us know what makes this film so great after all these years.

Star Trek: Discovery Updates. New Star Trek continues with season four of "Star Trek: Discovery." The trio looks at the scale (both story-wise and astronomically) of the current threat facing Captain Burnham and her crew. One of the co-hosts has missed the latest episodes - so join as the other two "pitch" the newest stories and offer a multiple-choice test about the latest story developments - can he guess right about what's happened? Let us know what you're looking forward to in season four.

Discovery/Prodigy Predictions

There's been a taste of both season one of "Star Trek: Prodigy" and season four of "Star Trek: Discovery" so far. Is it enough to guess how both series will unfold in their entirety? Probably not - but the trio tries to speculate anyway! Join us as we try to lay out the stories for our Delta Quadrant and 33rd Century-based crews. What further adventures await the intrepide crew of the Protostar? What will Captain Burnham and her crew encounter? What does the Star Trek franchise offer in 2022? Let us know if we are on the right or wrong track, and what your predictions are.

Title Card Game. The trio takes a break from "new Trek episodes reviews" to play a game. Can Phillip and Daniel guess the title of a "Star Trek: The Next Generation" story merely be looking at the episode's first image? Darren blurs the title cards from several episodes as his co-hosts try to name the right episode -- will they get it right? Will they guess every episode from an entire season? How many shots of the Enterprise-D at warp exist? All these questions and more are answered in this game.

"Star Trek: Prodigy" - Episodes 1-3

Welcome to the franchise! The newest Trek series began this month, introducing new characters, new ships, new villains, and a familiar looking hologram. The trio joins in the kid adventure with the accidental crew of the starship Protostar. This prototype vessel with a middle school crew offers comedy, adventure, and an unexpected dark beginning. Let us know what "lessons" you learned, what characters you're excited to see more of, and what you think will happen to this non-Starfleet crew of masquerading cadets.

TNG First Season Stories for Trek Games

The game, "Star Trek: Resurgence", came to various platforms in 2023. It introduced several new characters (as well as some old favorites) in its post-Nemesis 24th Century storyline. At the heart of the game's story was a sequel to the first season Next Gen episode "The Last Outpost." Since the trio are revisiting the beginnings of TNG, they look at what other episodes could be mined for stories for new Trek games.

Join this round-robin pitch of ideas that takes one first season episode, one of its storylines, and applies it to a new Trek game based on an existing (or entirely new) Trek series. How does "Home Soil" continue in game form? How can "Lower Decks" go further into the ideas of "Haven"? Grab your console of choice and let us know your favorite Trek game pitch.

Star Trek: Lower Decks, Season Two Wrap-Up. With a flash of “To Be Continued…” on the screen, the sophomore season of “Lower Decks” comes to an end. The trio take a look back at the animated journey of the Cerritos this year. From new characters, new pairings, new stories, and new running gags, it seems like this Star Trek show just keeps improving. Join the discussion of what we liked, what we grumbled about, and what we look forward to in season three.

Lower Decks" - I, Excretus. Listening to this podcast may not get you to 100%, but it will give you a chance to laugh at this "Lower Decks" episode featuring references to "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan," the Mirror universe, the TNG episode "Ethics," and much more. This story also brings back a species from the original animated series, as both the bridge crew and our lovable ensigns switch places to test their aptitude. Let us know which was your favorite scenario in the "holo-pod," and how you would score.

"Lower Decks" - Where Pleasant Fountains Lie

The Cerritos crew encounters a Ren Faire-class ship that happens to be the home race of the ship's chief engineer - and Jeffrey Combs guest stars as an evil computer. What more could you ask from an episode of "Lower Decks"? Season two continues providing adventures with Boimler/Mariner and Rutherford/Tendi pair-ups, along with misadventures from the bridge crew. Our trio examines the ins and outs of this episode, and what made them laugh. What was your favorite part?

"Lower Decks" - The Spy Humongous
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Boimler teams up with a sharp group of red shirts while down on Pakled Planet the captain tries to determine what a Pakled spy would want. This crazy episode shifts around the group pairings and creates fun moments with a recurring foe. Your helmet may not be big enough to listen but we sure you, you're still welcome.

"Lower Decks" - An Embarrassment of Dooplers

There's a lot of duplication going on with the Cerritos - and maybe it's the plot lines? A crazy occurrence with the bridge crew provides the background to this episode featuring a Boimler/Mariner misadventure and a Tendi/Rutherford team-up. We get car chases, model-building, and a chance to catch up on some familiar characters and their Number Ones. Are you enjoying the "Lower Decks" formula? Or are you looking for the show to mix it up more? Let us know your favorite moments from this episode.

“Lower Decks” - Mugato, Gumato. It’s time to bring back a TOS-era “monster,” the Mugato! The trio look at his Boimler, Rutherford, and Mariner tackle some “Last Outpost”-type Ferengi and … really earn that “SV” rating. They also chat about Tendi’s sidequest adventure … and the C story we almost forgot about. Is Captain Freeman on course for a promotion? Let us know your favorite parts!

"Lower Decks" - We'll Always Have Tom Paris

They got our e-mails! Or at least listened to our podcasts.

Okay, maybe the writers of "Lower Decks" just know what they are doing. But the third episode of season two finally brings "new pairings" for our intrepid ensigns on the Cerritos. We get Mariner and Tendi on a misadventure, Rutherford fighting against finding the truth about Lt. Shaxs', and Boimler crawling thru Jeffries tubes accompanied by his VOY-themed collector plate. There's something for everyone (though the trio disagree about what exactly works) in this episode. What was your favorite storyline? And how did you enjoy the return of Lieutenant Paris (in non-plate form)?

“Lower Decks” - Kayshon, His Eyes Open. The animated adventures of the USS Cerritos continue with the introduction (or even “re-introduction”) of new characters, the parallel stories of the trio on the California-class ship and Ensign Boimler on the USS Titan, and a resolution that may hit the “reset” button for the series. We try to collect as many references as we can in this episode - what were your favorite parts?

"Lower Decks" - Strange Energies

It's back! The wacky crew of the starship Cerritos returns in their second season opener with an episode that catches up new viewers and entertains existing fans. The trio look at how a mostly Boimler-less episode holds up, and what made them laugh the most. Did the B story overshadow the A story? How much Captain Freeman/Ensign Mariner arguing is there? And how much do we love the Titan? Maybe enough to blow our heads into space. Let us know what you think of this season two kick-off story!

Phillip, Daniel and Darren discuss what the rest of the core crew members in Star Trek: The Next Generation may be up to during the time of Picard. How might we see these characters and their interactions with the new crew and story coming in Season 2.

TNG's beginning

Is it possible to view something from long ago in the Trek canon as a new viewer might? The trio attempt to make the old come to life again by re-examining the pilot episode of "Star Trek: The Next Generation."

It is hard to begin a Star Trek series re-watch. Which one? Where to start? Do you go 20th or 21st Century shows? After a mix of picking their own series recently, the trio come together for a TNG rewatch. That means starting with that two-hour special "Encounter at Fairpoint." The introduction of the U.S.S. Enterprise-D, its crew, the look and feel of the 24th Century ... and Q! There is a lot to take in, even if we ultimately know what production approaches (and characters) don't make it very far. 

They try to imagine all questions and mysteries this first episode would bring to either a new viewer or die-hard TOS fan. So join them and revisit 1987 with the re-birth of a Star Trek TV series!

David Warner in Trek

David Warner is an accomplished actor, in both the U.S. and U.K., who has portrayed many dramatic characters, especially those in sci-fi/fantasy genres. He memorably appears three times in the Trek franchise - "Star Trek V: The Final Frontier," "Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country," and 'Chain of Command, Parts 1 and 2' from "Star Trek: The Next Generation." We look at these three vastly different characters of St. John Talbot, Chancellor Gorkon, and Gul Madred and how Warner developed them in those Trek stories.

New Trek Animation. It’s time for season two of “Star Trek: Lower Decks,” and the trio couldn’t be more excited. And waiting in the wings is one the newest editions to the franchise - “Star Trek: Prodigy.” The trio look over the latest news concerning these two animated series. What new characters and stories will we see? How does animation add to the possibilities? Let us know what you’re excited about!

Discovery Season Four Wish List

New episodes in the Star Trek franchise will begin this fall - and we're excited. It won't be long until season four of "Star Trek: Discovery" drops - and the trio have created a "wish list" for all the main (and not-so-main) characters. What conflict would be like to see for Captain Burnham? Can Lt. Cmdr. Stamets have two job titles? Could Ensign Tilley leave the U.S.S. Discovery? Join us as we imagine what could happen in season four, and let us know your own wish list.

Fan Set Pitches. For those Trek fans who shopped during the “peak” DVD era, we remember the various themes, characters, etc. used to bundle together episodes from across similar and separate series. In the age of streaming, it’s a lot easier to pick a random Trek episode - but what if we could “build” our own playlists? What concepts, common storyline themes, or general characters would we use to “binge” seemingly disparate episodes from the franchise? Let us know which “compilation” we’ve created is the best, and let us know what playlist you would make.

What if ... K'Ehleyr Lived?

Two episodes. That's all it took for the half-Klingon, half-human K'Ehleyr to create a lasting impression to Trek fans. The trio thinks she deserved more - so what if she had survived her fatal encounter with Duras and continued her adventures with Klingon politics? We look at what her appearances in The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine would have looked like ... and how much Alexander would be involved. Suzie Plakson's portrayal of the character lends more depth and limitless possibilities to her potential future storylines. The trio imagines her further involvement with the High Council and the consequences of the Klingon invasion of Cardassia. Does she maintain a romantic relationship with Worf? Or does she find happiness elsewhere? Let us know how she would have faired in later appearances in the Trek franchise.

Woman in Motion. We know Nichelle Nichols at Lt. Uhura from the original Enterprise. But after the cancellation of The Original Series, Nichelle began another space adventure - changing the history of NASA. The trio looks at the documentary “Woman in Motion” which chronicles her mission in expanding the diversity of NASA astronauts and opening up space to a broader cross-section of Americans. Learn about the shuttle period of NASA and meet the real life explorers of the “final frontier” from the 70s, 80s, and 90s. This movie opens up a new side of Nichols’ legacy that will live on into the 23rd century and beyond.

Star Trek Series Pitch, Part 2

Last episode, the trio pitched a new Trek series set on an alien Starfleet Academy-based campus. The fresh-faced class of cadets, along with some familiar faces as professors, established a series promising adventure and drama. But now it's time to go deeper! The trio looks closer at their characters, fleshes out the world of this Academy (along with a "driver's ed" starship), and looks at what season one would bring. Let us know your favorite characters and what storylines would make "Star Trek: Cadets" a great entry into the Star Trek franchise.

Star Trek Series Concept
Come up with an original Star Trek show concept, how hard could it be? Darren, Daniel and Phillip pitch a series set after Star Trek: Nemesis involving a new second Starfleet Academy on Alpha Centauri. Who will they bring from the established show cast? Who is the new headmaster and how much like Hogwarts will this show be?

TOS-era Trivia

It's a holiday here on Ceti Alpha 3 - so it's time to invite the gamemaster to join us for some Star Trek: The Original Series trivia. However, we are not all TOS experts, so these trivia questions are a little ... different. So play along and see if you can guess what's wrong, what episodes are being referenced, and how well you know the actual NCC-1701 ship.

Is It Really That Bad? "Unexpected" Edition.

We all know the line from the infamous "Star Trek: Enterprise" episode - "This is a nipple." Yes, that's right, the one where Commander Tucker gets pregnant. This is our "Enterprise" installment in our "Is It Really That Bad?" series that looks at episodes with a bad reputation and tries to see if they deserve it. The trio examines what the first half of the episode could have led to in different hands. They also all share how they collectively spit-take during one Klingon's line. Does this first season episode help create the dimensions of these new characters? Or do we choose to skip it in our re-watch? Let us know what you think of "Unexpected."

Starfleet Uniforms

Fans enjoy cosplaying the many costumes in Star Trek. Starfleet uniforms in particular have been represented onscreen in a variety of ways, from the 22nd century fightsuits of "Enterprise" to the colorful and innate unforms of the 32nd century in "Star Trek: Discovery." 

The trio go into the costuming department to evaluate the myriad of Starfleet uniforms, from looking at what translates best on screen to what seems the most comfortable. They review some of the more unique choices made, e.g., Seven of Nine and T'Pol, to wondering about the Starfleet clothing that must exist, but is never shown.

Join this tour of fashion of starships and spacestation, letting us know who wore it best.

Ro in Voyager - Ro Laren captured the hearts of many fans in her few appearances in The Next Generation. There was the attempt to get her into Deep Space Nine, but the actress moved on in her television career. However - what is we managed to get Ro back for "Star Trek: Voyager"? As viewers know, we last saw her with the Maquis. The trio imagines what if she joined Chakotay's crew and got stranded in the Delta Quadrant ... what role would she play on the Intrepid-class vessel? We talk about Ro's role with the crew, her position on the ship, and which rank pips she would wear. Would Voyager have been even better with a battle-hardened Bajoran? Join us as we explore Ro Laren in "Voyager."

TOS "Prequels" in "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds"

Every Trek series has unique and wonderful stories. There are also many episodes that look into the vast Trek canon to delve into planets, characters, and aliens that were touched on prior. We all await the arrival of the newest series, "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds" - and we all want to see what prior Trek episodes come alive for Captain Pike and his Enterprise crew. Since they are the "pre-Kirk" crew (other than Mr. Spock), there are some issues for them encountering too many scenarios used in The Original Series. But that doesn't stop the trio for pitching what TOS stories could be used for their sister-23rd Century show. Which of our choices do you think is the best? And what TOS element would you like to see in SNW?

Is it Really That Bad? “Spirit Folk” Edition. We’ve all thought about what we would do on the Holodeck. From adventures, fantasies, Starfleet training, and more - maybe creating a work group field trip to an Irish village might not be on the list. But the Voyager crew are all about Fair Haven. In this second episode set in this holographic get-away, the program (surprise!) goes awry and our favorite characters must deal with the repercussions. The trio look at whether they love/hate the idea of Fair Haven and how this “small stakes” episode lands in season six.

What if ... ? - The Dax Symbiont

There are some stories in the Star Trek franchise that are missing some context. A minor character we wished we knew more about. A story told that we never see. And then there are the big ones - the Jadzia Dax goodbye we never got. Oh sure, there were some words in the infirmary. But we all know she deserves a very special episode before we say hello to Ezri. The trio therefore decides to add an extra episode to the end of season six of "Deep Space Nine." What if, after Jadzia dies, the Dax symbiont is placed into ... and we do the entire crew. Listen as we tell what the episode would look like with Ben becoming the "old man" with Jake at his side. Or an episode where Odo adds spots to himself and gets to share the many faces of Dax. Or a small family story with Miles O'Dax. Let us know which character would have handled being a temporary Dax the best.

Animated Enterprise, Season Five. The first Star Trek series of the twenty-first century was canceled. Many fans have speculated about what a fifth season of Star Trek: Enterprise would have looked like. In this era with an animated “Star Trek: Lower Decks” and the upcoming “Star Trek: Prodigy,” we imagine a return of the NX-01 crew in a CG-animated series. Welcome to “Star Trek: Romulan War,” part of the new “Star Power Hour” on Cartoon Network. With a refit NX-01, the crew welcomes new members, fights Remans, and ... yes, there’s no theme song in this one, jeebus! Let us know what stories you would like to see in this second-chance Trek series!

Is it REALLY That Bad - "The Storyteller" Edition

There are Star Trek episodes that have bad reputations, but do they always deserve them? The stories that are usually the target of audience "hate" occur during the first season. In that spirit, the trio tackles the first season "Deep Space Nine" episode "The Storyteller." Does the story of O'Brien and Bashir helping a Bajoran village against their boogie monster stand up? And what about the forgotten-about B-story about a young Bajoran leader entering into negotiations while befriending Nog and Jake? We put on the coat of many colors, dangle our legs from the Promenade's second story, and ask if "The Storyteller" is really that bad.

Ro on DS9. Many Star Trek fans have heard the story that Michelle Forbes was originally approached to star in "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine,' reprising her character of Ro Laren. Whether it's true, we are glad that Nana Visitor/Kira Nerys got to play the station's first officer for seven seasons. But what would that alternative show look like, with Ro as a main character from the very first episode? What role would she have with Sisko, Starfleet, and her fellow Bajorans? And what would Kira's role be, if Ro is already there? Would they get along? What romance (if any) would Ro have during the seven seasons of DS9? The trio dreams up this alternative version of "Deep Space Nine," with a dynamic Ro character. Are you glad she didn't show up? Or would she have made the show even better? Let us know!

Is It Really THAT Bad? - "The Last Outpost" Edition

It was the first season of The Next Generation, and it was time to introduce the newest alien in the franchise. They would be equal to the Enterprise in power and technology, would be feared by our enterprising crew, and ... it was the Ferengi. With laser whips. Wearing furs. And not knowing when to STAND STILL ALREADY! The trio look at this TNG episode that introduced the profit-loving "Yankee traders" that would make their mark, especially in "Deep Space Nine." Is their introduction as bad as we think it is? What stayed the same and what changed? And how long should it take to beam down to a planet in one episode?!?!

For the Love of Spock - The “Star Trek: Voyager” documentary crowdfunding campaign is nearing the end, so what better time to look at other 455 Films productions? In 2016, they released “For the Love a Spock,” a feature spotlighting Trek’s most famous Vulcan and the man who portrayed him. It followed on the heels of Leonard Nimoy’s passing, and opened a window into director Adam Nimoy’s relationship with his father. The trio looks at the strengths of the documentary and what more they would have like to see. What can this production tell us about how Voyager’s story will be told?

What if? ... DS9 Joins "Star Trek: First Contact"

It is no secret that the trio loves "Star Trek: First Contact." But what if ... Captain Sisko had commanded the U.S.S. Defiant during the Borg invasion? In this re-imagining of the second TNG film, Sisko, Chief O'Brien, and Lt. Cmdr. Worf all join the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise-E to fight the Borg, save Zephram Cochrane, and help Lily. What does Ben think about facing the Borg who killed his wife ... and what happens when he comes face-to-face with revived Locutus of Borg? Can Miles and Lily save First Contact? Let us know what you think of this cross-over re-written film blending TNG and DS9.

Ship Profile: NCC-1701-A

The history of onscreen Enterprises is rich in detail for some and scant for others.

Then there's the U.S.S. Enterprise-A.

First introduced in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home as a reward for our TOS-era heroes saving Earth once again, we saw this Constitution refit-class in the next two movies (Star Trek V and Star Trek VI). The trio looks at this ship's origins and purported ending, discovering more mysteries about it than first thought.

They look at the largely non-canon origins of the ship, and ask if the U.S.S. Yorktown, then recommissioned as the Enterprise-A, was a new or quite old vessel? What about the history of the Constitution-class and its refits in general? What are the differences, if any, between the refit NCC-1701 and the NCC-1701-A? What was the A's mission in between its malfunctioning introduction in Star Trek V and its scheduled decommissioning in Star Trek VI?

Join us as we discuss all things about the first Enterprise to add a letter to its registry and the last with Captain Kirk in command.   

Book Review “Star Trek: Picard - The Dark Veil.” This month starts production of season two of “Star Trek: Picard” - while it may be another year before we get a new episode, we are still getting new stories from this larger story setting. The trio engages “book club mode” to discuss the second PIC novel - “The Dark Veil” by James Swallow. This book is set on the U.S.S. Titan, with Captain William T. Riker in command. This story takes place approximately 14 years before the event of “Picard” season one, when the Romulan Empire is still facing the threat of the “star death” (supernova) and the Federation has banned synthetic life, following an attack on Mars. This story blends the storylines of Romulans, Tal’Shair, and some other shadowy organizations. We finally meet young Thad Troi-Riker and his linguistic talents, as well as the crew of the Titan. Let us know if you enjoyed this adventure as much as we did!

Is It Really That Bad? Edition - "The Savage Curtain"

The trio continues their mission of debunking ... or confirming ... fan-held opinions of "bad" Star Trek episodes. But what happens when their experiment goes awry and one co-host watches the wrong episode? The other two co-hosts must then explain the episode -- will it make it better or worse? Come find out when we tackle the near-final episode of The Original Series. With a floating Space Lincoln, rock monsters, and (another?) fight of good vs. evil - is this episode really that bad?

Star Trek VI. One way to memorialize the passing of Christopher Plummer is watching his performance of General Chang in “Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.” Not only does this memorable Shakespeare-quoting villain almost pop off the screen, we’re also reminded that this is a pretty good film! The trio share their favorite moments from this movie, their nerdy nitpicks, and how this last TOS-era film relates to the rest of the franchise.