Explore every episode of the podcast TFM (Trek.fm & The 602 Club)

“The Enemy Within” 60th-anniversary reflections.

As we’ve already learned, you have to be careful what you touch and bring back to the ship when on the landing party. This time, geological technician Fisher smears magnetic ore on his uniform and breaks the transporter on beam-back. The result? Two Kirks! When the captain returns from the planet, he is split into separate individuals. One embodies all his primal instinct, drive, and passion. The other all his compassion, empathy, and morality. With the crew initially unaware that there are two Jims roaming the Enterprise, the captain is accused of unbecoming behavior. Meanwhile, crew remain stranded on the planet with time running out..

In this episode of Standard Orbit, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 60th-anniversary retrospective that takes you through all of the original Star Trek, one episode at a time. In this installment, we continue Season 1 with the third aired episode, “The Enemy Within,” as we discuss the first transporter accident, it’s Maybelline, strengths and weaknesses, Vulcan insight, the b-story, our final thoughts and ratings.

Chapters

Transporter Accident! (00:02:31)

It’s Maybelline! (00:08:05)

Strengths and Weaknesses (00:14:15)

Vulcan Insight (00:21:26)

The B-Story (00:26:25)

Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:36:04)

Hosts

C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production

C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer and Editor)

Social

Twitter: @Trekfm

Instagram: @Trekfm

Clayface.

Creating a franchise on film is a difficult task, we’ve seen many fail over the years, specially in the comic book realm and now one of the latest attempts may be on the ropes after only three entries.

In this episode of The 602 Club hosts Matthew Rushing and Ry Paulson talk about the new DCU film, Clayface. We discuss the clay elephant in the room, the enemy within, paying God, the cast, the production, needle drops and score, and wrap up with our ratings.

Chapters

The Clay Elephant in the Room (00:02:28)

The Enemy Within (00:20:29)

Playing God (00:27:03)

The Cast (00:38:16)

The Production (00:41:22)

Needle Drops and Score (00:45:59)

Ratings (00:48:44)

Host

Matthew Rushing

Co-Host

Ry Paulson

Production

Matthew Rushing (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

Social

Twitter: @The602Club

Instagram: @the602clubtfm

Letterboxd: the602club

“Damage” 20th-anniversary reflections

When we last saw the Enterprise, it was riddled with holes and crewmembers were flying out into space. Five are confirmed dead and a dozen are wounded. With the ship limited to impulse, Archer finds himself in a do-or-die situation that pushes him to betray his ethics and steal the warp coil from friendly aliens who asked for help. Meanwhile, the Xindi council bickers over the truth about their weapons project and the human threat. They are also paid a visit by a Sphere Builder.

In this episode of Warp Five, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 20th-anniversary retrospective that takes you through all of Star Trek: Enterprise, one episode at a time. In this installment, we continue Season 3 with “Damage” as we discuss the pressure and hard choices facing Archer, T’Pol’s breakdown, the Sphere Builders, and more.

Chapters

Intro (00:00:00)

Things Are Getting Serious (00:02:06)

A Test of Morality (00:08:26)

The Lesser of Two Evils (00:13:48)

T’Pol Cracks (00:22:36)

The Plot Thickens (00:28:59)

Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:35:26)

Closing (00:38:47)

Hosts

C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production

C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer)

“The Naked Time” 60th-anniversary reflections.

Arriving at Psi 2000 to pick up a team of scientists from the dying planet, the Enterprise finds everyone already dead, frozen at their posts in a station where someone switched off life support—one of them fully clothed in the shower. A careless nose scratch by crewman Joe Tormolen brings whatever infected the scientists back to the ship. Everyone starts acting drunk and overly emotional. Sulu gets into shirtless fencing, Nurse Chapel confesses her love for Spock, and Riley locks himself in engineering to sing Irish ballads. With the engines shut off, the ship begins spiraling toward the planet and a fiery end.

In this episode of Standard Orbit, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 60th-anniversary retrospective that takes you through all of the original Star Trek, one episode at a time. In this installment, we continue Season 1 with the fourth aired episode, “The Naked Time,” as we discuss setting the tone, comparison, Spock’s struggle, Chapel, the ending, if it holds up, with our final thoughts and ratings.

Chapters

Setting the Tone (00:02:34)

Comparison (00:08:14)

Spock’s Struggle (00:15:19)

Chapel (00:20:08)

The Ending (00:29:10)

Holding Up (00:34:30)

Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:36:51)

Hosts

C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production

C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer and Editor)

Social

Twitter: @Trekfm

Instagram: @Trekfm

Wildwood.

Laika, based just outside of Portland, Oregon has cemented itself as one of the premier claymation studios in the world, with every successive film getting more technically complicated than the last.

In this episode of The 602 Club hosts Matthew Rushing and Ry Paulson talk about Wildwood. We discuss the source material, the production, let go, evil corrupts, a real hero, the voice cast, music, being very Pacific Northwest and our ratings.

Chapters

The Source Material (00:02:24)

The Production (00:05:01)

Let Go (00:12:39)

Evil Corrupts (00:25:19)

A Real Hero (00:31:48)

The Voice Cast (00:38:50)

The Music (00:44:57)

Very Pacific Northwest (00:50:30)

Ratings (00:55:36)

Host

Matthew Rushing

Co-Host

Ry Paulson

Production

Matthew Rushing (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

Social

Twitter: @The602Club

Instagram: @the602clubtfm

Letterboxd: the602club

“Where No Man Has Gone Before” 60th-anniversary reflections

On a mission to the edge of the galaxy, the Enterprise recovers the disaster recorder of the SS Valiant, an Earth ship lost two centuries earlier. Its final entries point to a frantic search for information on ESP—extrasensory perception—and a captain ordering the destruction of his own ship. Captain Kirk takes the Enterprise into the galactic barrier and the ship encounters strange activity that may have been what did in the Valiant. As electric charges strike the bridge, Gary Mitchell and Elizabeth Dehner are struck. Mitchell's eyes glow silver, and he begins to exhibit unusual powers that grow by the hour. His contempt for the mere mortals around him grows as well, and Kirk must decide whether to maroon his old friend on a barren rock—or kill him while he still can.

In this episode of Standard Orbit, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 60th-anniversary retrospective that takes you through all of the original Star Trek, one episode at a time. In this installment, we continue Season 1 with the third aired episode, “Where No Man Has Gone Before,” as we discuss a second pilot, the handoff from “The Cage,” the need for compassion, human nature, fists over philosophy, and whether the story holds up six decades later.

Chapters

A Second Pilot (00:03:16)

The Handoff (00:07:38)

Compassion is Needed (00:12:34)

Human Nature (00:25:14)

Fists Over Philosophy (00:36:46)

Does it Hold Up? (00:43:24)

Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:45:55)

Hosts

C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production

C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer and Editor)

Social

Twitter: @Trekfm

Instagram: @Trekfm

Spider-Noir.

The Spider-Verse movies cracked open the Spider-Man universes, allowing general audiences to experience the plethora of Spider-people that exist in the Marvel universe.

In this episode of The 602 Club hosts Matthew Rushing and Ry Paulson talk about Spider-Noir. We discuss expanding the Spider-Verse, getting powers, responsibility, power, Nicholas Cage, the rest of the cast, episode number, the production and our ratings.

Chapters

Expanding the Spider-Verse (00:02:26)

Getting Their Powers (00:09:03)

Responsibility (00:14:04)

Power (00:21:55)

Nicholas Cage (00:31:02)

The Rest of the Cast (00:37:05)

Episode Number (00:41:16)

The Production (00:43:59)

Ratings (00:48:22)

Host

Matthew Rushing

Co-Host

Ry Paulson

Production

Matthew Rushing (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

Social

Twitter: @The602Club

Instagram: @the602clubtfm

Letterboxd: the602club

Lanterns.

Beginning a new franchise on the big screen can be a very difficult thing to pull off and for DC, over the last 15ish years, it has been a ride on the struggle bus.

In this episode of The 602 Club hosts Matthew Rushing and Ry Paulson talk about Lanterns. We discuss in brightest day, the structure, Hal Jordan, John Stewart, the Manhunter menace, the production, the future and our ratings.

Chapters

In Brightest Day (00:02:11)

The Structure (00:06:26)

Hal Jordan (00:17:11)

John Stewart (00:28:22)

Manhunter Menace (00:36:34)

The Production (00:41:09)

The Future (00:42:25)

Ratings (00:51:35)

Host

Matthew Rushing

Co-Host

Ry Paulson

Production

Matthew Rushing (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

Social

Twitter: @The602Club

Instagram: @the602clubtfm

Letterboxd: the602club

“Charlie X” 60th-anniversary reflections

While investigating the planet Thasus, the crew of the Antares takes in a young crash survivor who had been stranded alone for 14 years. The boy, Charlie Evans, is then transferred to the Enterprise where his teenage angst becomes amplified as he tries to fit in with other humans. Attempts by Kirk, Rand, and others to help him acclimate are made far more difficult thanks to Charlie’s psychokinetic powers. Acting out whenever something doesn’t go his way, Charlie eventually takes over the Enterprise and the non-corporeal Thasians, who protected him during years of isolation and are responsible for his powers, are forced to step in and bring Charlie back “home.”

In this episode of Standard Orbit, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 60th-anniversary retrospective that takes you through all of the original Star Trek, one episode at a time. In this installment, we continue Season 1 with the second aired episode, “Charlie X,” as we discuss its relevance in today’s world, the challenges of growing up, the importance of guidance, why you can’t always get what you want, and more.

Chapters

Intro (00:00:00)

Nature vs. Nurture (00:02:04)

The Drive of Adolescence (00:09:17)

Base Instincts (00:12:29)

Kirk as Father Figure (00:18:08)

Please Like Me! (00:21:17)

You Can’t Always Get What You Want (00:29:51)

Thasians Take Me Away (00:35:55)

United Earth Space Probe Agency (00:38:12)

Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:40:34)

Closing (00:45:35)

Hosts

C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production

C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

“Tomorrow’s Enterprise”

As the Enterprise studies a white hole, the theoretical counterpart of a black hole, Uhura begins hearing strange music. Soon, an energy pulse strikes the ship and Uhura hears Scotty screaming for help. But no one else hears his cries, and she is left bleeding. Once cleared by Doctor M’Benga, Uhura sets out to investigate what happened … and ends up contacting her future self. With one year to work with, the two Uhuras must collaborate through time to solve the mystery of the anomaly and help birth a space baby to save Scotty and restore the timeline.

In this episode of Saddle Up! hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing wrap up our look at Strange New Worlds Season 4 with the finale, “Tomorrow’s Enterprise.” We discuss Uhura’s journey, hopping timelines, visiting Kirk’s Enterprise, how the story could have served as a series finale, and more.

Chapters

Intro (0:00:00)

Temu Interstellar (00:03:18)

Uhura’s Journey (00:06:42)

Pike’s Influence (00:12:47)

A Show on Its Own Terms (00:17:00)

Timelines (00:19:54)

Natural Interactions (00:24:09)

Boyce Not So Noice (00:27:58)

Full On Animated Series! (00:30:40)

Space Baby! (00:39:41)

The TOS Feel (00:47:12)

Potential Series Finale? (00:49:30)

Looking Ahead to Season 5 (00:54:17)

Final Thoughts and Ratings (01:02:41)

Closing (01:09:49)

Hosts

C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production

C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

Godzilla Minus One.

The giant kaiju tormentor of Japan first burst on the big screen in 1954 and since that time has never been far from theaters either in Japan or in the USA.

In this episode of The 602 Club hosts Matthew Rushing and Ry Paulson talk about Godzilla Minus One. We discuss our Godzilla fandom, going back to the beginning, so many themes, the need of community, men need purpose, forgiveness, the production and our ratings.

Chapters

Godzilla Fandom (00:02:25)

Going Back to the Beginning (00:08:35)

So Many Themes (00:13:06)

The Need of Community (00:23:13)

Men Need Purpose (00:28:51)

Forgiveness (00:33:56)

The Production (00:40:30)

Ratings (00:46:25)

Host

Matthew Rushing

Co-Host

Ry Paulson

Production

Matthew Rushing (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

Social

Twitter: @The602Club

Instagram: @the602clubtfm

Letterboxd: the602club

“Initiations” 30th-anniversary reflections

While on a solo shuttle trip to perform a quiet ritual for his late father, Chakotay wanders into Kazon-Ogla space and finds himself face-to-face with his would-be executioner: a teenager named Kar. Overcoming the boy is not a problem, but Chakotay’s refusal to kill him is—at least among the Kazon. Death would give Kar’s life meaning (don’t think about that for too long). Back on the Kazon ship, they both get chastised by First Maje Razik as total failures for not doing their killing duty properly. After escaping the ship and becoming stranded together on a Kazon training moon, Chakotay and Kar continue their standoff until Chakotay finally stages his own death so that Kar can both live and earn his name.

In this episode of To The Journey, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of Star Trek: Voyager, one episode at a time. In this installment, we discuss “Initiations,” another attempt to make the Kazon work, a chance to explore Chakotay’s background, Aron Eisenberg on Voyager, and more.

Chapters

Intro (00:00:00)

Neelix Does Way More Than Cook (00:02:30)

Fleshing Out Chakotay (00:06:23)

Based on Gang Research (00:12:17)

Aron’s Performance (00:21:12)

Indoctrination (00:25:16)

Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:26:44)

Closing (00:30:45)

Hosts

C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production

C Bryan Jones (Editor and Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

“Once La’an a Time”

When the Enterprise comes across what appears to be a flat planet, it’s just the beginning of things that probably shouldn’t exist. The entity that swept away M’Benga’s daughter in Season 1 has apparently expanded on the original storybook for a sequel: The Elysian Kingdom II: Swords and Dragons. As the landing party becomes tangled in a fantasy web, La’an must fight herself and her inner demons—literally—to get two new companions aboard the Enterprise: Runa the dog and Jim the Kirk.

In this episode of Saddle Up! hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our look at Strange New Worlds Season 4 with “Once La’an a time.” We discuss the return to the Elysian Kingdom, resolving La’an’s inner conflict, narrative hijinks in Star Trek, and more.

Chapters

Intro (0:00:00)

The Elysian Kingdom, Part II (00:01:47)

The Most Clichéd Solution (00:09:04)

Griffin Confusion (00:16:33)

Jim’s Back Again! (00:19:29)

A Sword Fight Is All You Need (00:22:57)

Bye, Bye Pelia (00:28:00)

Narrative Hijinks (00:33:09)

Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:42:13)

Closing (00:49:09)

Hosts

C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production

C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

Star Trek and “The Man Trap” 60th-anniversary reflections

Six decades ago, Gene Roddenberry invited the world on a wagon trail to the stars with a salty start that would lead to one of the greatest storytelling adventures of all time.

As the Star Trek franchise marks its 60th anniversary, Standard Orbit returns with hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing as we reflect on the series that started it all. In this installment, we discuss the first aired episode, “The Man Trap,” and how it works as a pilot and immediately pulls viewers into the story and the world of Star Trek.

Chapters

Intro (00:00:00)

60 Years of Influence (00:02:25)

What Keeps You Watching? (00:10:39)

Can Star Trek Remain Relevant? (00:19:48)

It Just Throws You In (00:26:08)

The Mystery of Nancy Crater (00:36:02)

Does “The Man Trap” Still Hold Up? (00:40:22)

Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:46:36)

Closing (00:49:24)

Hosts

C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production

C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

“Whispers” 30th-anniversary reflections

When Chief O’Brien returns from a security briefing on Parada, he finds everyone on the station acting strangely toward him. Keiko and Molly pull away, Bashir insists on an unscheduled physical, and his own repair assignments seem designed to keep him out of the loop. The more he investigates, the more it looks like a conspiracy has taken over Deep Space 9—until he flees the station and uncovers a truth he never suspected.

In this episode of The Orb, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, one episode at a time. In this installment, we discuss “Whispers,” the effective simplicity of the story, and how it all hinges on nuanced acting and consistent character-building.

Chapters

Intro (00:00:00)

Bad Luck O’Brien (00:02:28)

Replicating Miles (00:07:57)

Rewatch Value (00:12:27)

Consistent Character (00:16:53)

Missing Pieces? (00:20:55)

Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:24:25)

Closing (00:27:09)

Hosts

C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production

C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer)

“Azati Prime” 20th-anniversary reflections

It’s been a long road, but the Enterprise finally arrives at Azati Prime, home to the Xindi weapon construction site. While Trip and Travis go deep-diving for the Xindi weapon, Hoshi learns the ins-and-outs of a bug’s life as she prepares Archer for some insectoid discourse. Meanwhile, a celebration of sorts is happening among the Xindi as they mark the completion of their weapon. But not everyone is happy. Dolim the reptile certainly isn’t, and he takes out his impatience and anger on Archer and the Enterprise itself, which is moments away from destruction when the credits roll.

In this episode of Warp Five, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 20th-anniversary retrospective that takes you through all of Star Trek: Enterprise, one episode at a time. In this installment, we continue Season 3 with “Azati Prime” as we discuss the turning point in the Xindi arc, Archer’s trip to the future, how the conflict comes into focus, T’Pol under pressure, and more.

Chapters

Intro (00:00:00)

Building the Story (00:02:34)

Deep Diving (00:08:31)

Daniels and the Enterprise-J (00:12:46)

The Conflict Comes into Focus (00:21:08)

Degra’s Struggles (00:27:39)

Archer’s Choice (00:32:04)

T’Pol’s Stress (00:36:35)

Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:40:26)

Closing (00:42:19)

Hosts

C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production

C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer)

The Uprising.

One of the most popular and longest running genres in film as been the historical epic because dramatizing important parts of our history can be a powerful way of experiencing the past.

In this episode of The 602 Club hosts Matthew Rushing and Ry Paulson talk about The Uprising. We discuss title confusion, the written word, mob justice, using God, the cast, production and our ratings.

Chapters

Title Confusion (00:02:19)

The Written Word (00:10:50)

Mob Justice (00:17:17)

Using God (00:22:50)

The Cast (00:26:13)

The Production (00:30:50)

Ratings (00:35:58)

Host

Matthew Rushing

Co-Host

Ry Paulson

Production

Matthew Rushing (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

Social

Twitter: @The602Club

Instagram: @the602clubtfm

Letterboxd: the602club

“Orders of Magnitude”

The Enterprise crew are thrilled to meet a living legend, Admiral Simon Reeger, but excitement soon turns to tension when he commandeers the Enterprise for his own purposes. Stranding Pike, Una, Uhura, and A’Sha, who are on an away mission and out of communications range, Reeger sets off in pursuit of a ship that he claims is responsible for the deaths of five million. His XO for the mission is none other than James T. Kirk, who conveniently happens to be visiting the Enterprise once again. Ultimately, that turns out to be a good thing, as it is Kirk who uncovers the admiral’s true motives and stops him for executing General Order 24 and destroying all life on a planet where the alleged mercenary ship attempts to hide.

In this episode of Saddle Up! hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our look at Strange New Worlds Season 4 with “Orders of Magnitude.” We discuss the Star Trek feel, a classic badmiral, the untold (and unknown) history of the Kirk family, and more.

Chapters

Intro (0:00:00)

A Breath of Fresh Air (00:02:56)

I Was in the Neighborhood (00:07:04)

Badmirals Are Back! (00:10:08)

A Drug Too Many? (00:17:24)

No Objections (00:28:09)

Kirk Family History Hour (00:35:15)

Angry Andorians (00:42:44)

Uhura and A’Sha (00:45:33)

Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:52:36)

Closing (00:57:26)

Hosts

C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production

C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

“Like Chronitons through the Hourglass”

When the Enterprise again encounters the “cosmic entity” who once staged a wedding for Spock and Chapel, the crew find themselves trapped in a soap opera filled with classic tropes, melodrama, camera work, and music. There’s even an evil twin brother.

In this episode of Saddle Up! hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our look at Strange New Worlds Season 4 with “Like Chronitons through the Hourglass.” We discuss the format, the potential, the execution, and … Sybok.

Chapters

Intro (0:00:00)

Nailed the Sybok (00:01:34)

What the Hell Is a Soap Opera? (00:03:14)

Lost Pain (00:09:13)

Inept Writing (00:12:46)

The Story that Could Have Been (00:17:05)

Counselors Are Back! (00:20:39)

Q Connection (00:25:43)

Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:32:04)

Closing (00:36:12)

Hosts

C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production

C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender.

There are some animated shows that transcend their genre and become something that defines an entire generation as well as those that come after it which happened on Nickelodeon from 2005-2008.

In this episode of The 602 Club hosts Matthew Rushing and Ry Paulson talk about Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender. We discuss our Avatar story, should it have been in the theater, rebuilding the world, forging a new family, expanding the lore and our ratings.

Chapters

Our Avatar Story (00:02:15)

Should It Have Been in the Theater (00:07:17)

Rebuilding the World (00:13:06)

Forging a New Family (00:24:25)

Expanding the Lore (00:29:21)

Ratings (00:35:53)

Host

Matthew Rushing

Co-Host

Ry Paulson

Production

Matthew Rushing (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

Social

Twitter: @The602Club

Instagram: @the602clubtfm

Letterboxd: the602club

Invasion! Time's Enemy.

With the first two books setting up an epic new enemy, maybe it’s time for a side quest with the crew of Deep Space Nine. Something that’s Fury-adjacent and chock-full of technobabble.

In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Casey Pettitt and Jonathan Koan discuss the book, Time’s Enemy, book three and DS9’s entry in the Invasion! saga. They discuss the connections to the other books in the series, the mystery that kicks off the novel, hard sci-fi vs political sci-fi, a new alien threat, and much more! And most importantly, they ponder on where the Furies are.

Feature: Time's Enemy

Connections to the Other Books (4:05)

Technobabble (9:41)

Character Voices (13:19)

Writing Team (17:40)

The Mystery, the Symbiont, and the Science (19:04)

Kira and the Hard Suit (24:10)

Hard Sci-Fi vs Political Sci-Fi (26:32)

The Vulcan Captain (31:49)

A New Alien Threat (33:58)

Back in Time (38:28)

Spin-Off Novel (42:58)

Final Thoughts (44:41)

Closing (47:29)

Hosts

Casey Pettitt and Jonathan Koan

Production

Matthew Rushing (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Casey Pettitt (Editor and Associate Producer)

“Off-Hour”

TGIF is in the air as the Enterprise alpha shift crew gets set for its weekend break. But all hell breaks loose when the ship is pulled into a slipstream wormhole. With the phenomenon knocking out power and accelerating them to greater and greater speeds, they must beat the clock to break free before the Enterprise passes the warp threshold and is torn apart. But first, a concert!

In this episode of Saddle Up! hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our look at Strange New Worlds Season 4 with “Off-Hour.” We discuss the latest genre swing, the character development, the technobabble, crawling on the ship, surprise faces, and more.

Chapters

Intro (0:00:00)

A Storytelling Revelation (00:02:16)

A Genre That Fits (00:07:16)

Classic Technobabble (00:15:37)

Crawling on the Ship (00:19:56)

Chapel and M'Benga (00:24:25)

Scotty's One True Love (00:29:07)

Boyce Boyce Baby (00:35:25)

Making Genre Work (00:40:08)

A Grotesque Obsession (42:42)

Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:46:53)

Closing (00:51:57)

Hosts

C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production

C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

Coyote vs. Acme.

In 2022 Warner Bro. Discovery shelved its next DC film, to cut costs and then in 2023 it did the same thing with a Looney Tunes film to obtain a tax write-off.

In this episode of The 602 Club hosts Matthew Rushing and Ry Paulson talk about the finally released Coyote vs. Acme. We discuss a crazy ride, was it worth it, surprising depth, using others, the cast, the comedy, Looney World and our ratings.

Chapters

A Crazy Ride (00:01:57)

Was It Worth It? (00:07:14)

Surprising Depth for 2D (00:12:44)

Using Others (00:26:25)

The Cast (00:33:36)

The Comedy (00:39:38)

Looney World (00:43:50)

Ratings (00:47:31)

Host

Matthew Rushing

Co-Host

Ry Paulson

Production

Matthew Rushing (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

Social

Twitter: @The602Club

Instagram: @the602clubtfm

Letterboxd: the602club

Troy: Director’s Cut.

Adaptation of a beloved work of literature is fraught with pitfalls, it is one of the hardest things to do in cinema, making a successful movie of a book that people love in a film they will also love.

In this episode of The 602 Club hosts Matthew Rushing and Ry Paulson talk about Troy: Director’s Cut. We discuss the director musical chairs, the production, no gods seen, honor, glory and leadership, the director’s cut, a stacked cast, the action, score and our ratings.

Chapters

Director Musical Chairs (00:01:55)

The Production (00:06:33)

No God’s Seen (00:12:38)

Honor, Glory and Leadership (00:19:06)

The Director’s Cut (00:29:15)

A Stacked Cast (00:36:29)

The Action (00:40:05)

The Score (00:42:36)

Ratings (00:45:51)

Host

Matthew Rushing

Co-Host

Ry Paulson

Production

Matthew Rushing (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

Social

Twitter: @The602Club

Instagram: @the602clubtfm

Letterboxd: the602club

“Level-Five Transporter Accident”

Still miffed about the success of his Starfleet Academy nemesis, Declan Milder, Scotty is determined to extend the transporter range record he already set, a record previously owned by said nemesis, who is currently nearby as an engineer aboard the USS Witmere. And to rub salt in the wound, Scotty plans to beam his childhood puppet, Little Ricky, directly into Milder's quarters. But when the transport goes awry, the entire crew of the Enterprise is transformed into puppets. Only Spock, who was away aboard a shuttle, remains flesh and blood. That puts him in a tough spot when Orions intercept the Enterprise and decide to take over the ship. Now it’s up to Spock to save the day by doing everything himself, with a bit of help from Muppets hijinks.

In this episode of Saddle Up! hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our look at Strange New Worlds Season 4 with “Level-Five Transporter Accident.” We discuss the concept, the puppets, the characters, the ending, the use of limited time, and more.

Chapters

Intro (0:00:00)

Hey Ricky! I'm Home! (00:02:14)

Transporters Gone Wild (00:03:47)

The Big Breakup (00:11:38)

Internal Illogic (00:17:21)

The Art of Puppetry (00:26:26)

What an Undercut! (00:29:37)

Spock Amok (00:35:49)

Write Your Own Ending (00:38:07)

Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:41:29)

Closing (00:51:05)

Hosts

C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production

C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

The End of Oak Street.

Hollywood today seems to be run by IP as studios are all looking for the next big film in their franchises to get people into theaters, leaving little room of original movies.

In this episode of The 602 Club hosts Matthew Rushing and Ry Paulson talk about The End of Oak Street. We discuss non-IP, fractured family, self sacrifice, the cast, effects and story, the score and our ratings.

Chapters

Non-IP (00:01:40)

Fractured Family (00:10:41)

Self Sacrifice (00:18:48)

The Cast (00:30:43)

Effects and Story (00:36:09)

Score (00:40:19)

Ratings (01:42:48)

Host

Matthew Rushing

Co-Host

Ry Paulson

Production

Matthew Rushing (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

Social

Twitter: @The602Club

Instagram: @the602clubtfm

Letterboxd: the602club

“A Case of Chiaroscuro”

When a stray probe wanders into the Mat'Aar system, Number One leads a team to retrieve it and send it back to Earth. There's just one problem. The 12th planet in the system is occupied by Klingons, and there's a D7 cruiser keeping watch. Actually, there are two problems. Thanks to unique properties of the Mat’Aar sun, everything is black and white. Forget the neutral zone, welcome to the no color zone! The crew take shelter on the planet while they wait for a clear path to avoid the D7. And that's where the third problem comes in. When they head into town, Number One is welcomed by the resistance because she just happens to be the spitting image of their missing leader, Nevette. To escape this occupied world, she must help the resistance finish their plans to fight back against the Klingons.

In this episode of Saddle Up! hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our look at Strange New Worlds Season 4 with “A Case of Chiaroscuro.” We discuss the black-and-white format, Number One's character story, a familiar face, the creative patchwork that the series has become, and more.

Chapters

Intro (0:00:00)

I Got That Monochrome Vision (00:02:42)

An Obsession with Genre Remakes (00:09:30)

Breaking the Number One Rule (00:11:56)

In Living Color (00:16:17)

What a Korincidence! (00:25:46)

La'an's Paranoia (00:32:03)

Spock's Fast Slide into Logic (00:35:49)

Seeing the Forest for the Trees (00:38:17)

Creating a Patchwork Legacy (00:42:03)

Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:54:09)

Closing (00:59:21)

Hosts

C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production

C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

“Human Best Friend”

It's time for shore leave! And what better place to spend it than on a planet run by Wisconsin's own Dave Nelson (no, really, he's Canadian … but not a spy), surrounded in air that naturally intoxicates you? The crew of the Enterprise get to go wild and explore their innermost thoughts, desires, and even fears as they take time off from Starfleet duty to experience the ultimate hangover. Bingo!

In this episode of Saddle Up! hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our look at Strange New Worlds Season 4 with “Human Best Friend.” We discuss intoxicating air, characters gone wild, Star Trek's hangover, and more.

Chapters

Intro (0:00:00)

Star Trek's Hangover (00:02:35)

Character Reactions (to Secondhand Atmosphere) (00:07:15)

Total Eclipse of the Heart (00:11:04)

Deep Desire to Be an Idiot? (00:13:32)

Lower Decks Creeping In (00:19:22)

Conflicting Concepts (00:23:26)

Ortegas and Scotty (00:26:14)

Spock and Kirk (00:32:04)

Diplomacy on Drugs (00:36:20)

Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:38:11)

Closing (00:46:38)

Hosts

C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production

C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

Invasion! The Soldiers of Fear.

What is your greatest fear? What if your enemy could trigger that fear to use it against you? Well just think about gargoyles, touch a batleth, or whatever else you can think of to overcome your fears, because there's Furies to vanquish. Again.

In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Casey Pettitt and Jonathan Koan discuss the second book in the Invasion! saga, The Soldiers of Fear - a Next Generation adventure written by Dean Wesley Smith and Kristine Kathryn Rusch. They discuss fear weapons, redshirts, the need for crossover characters between the books, and so much more.

In the news section, there's a new book! Star Trek: Picard: Rebuilding the Bridge, by Liz Kloczkowski and published by Master Replicas. Coming out in September 2026.

News

Rebuilding the Bridge (3:27)

Feature: The Soldiers of Fear

Recap and First Impressions (6:44)

Timeline and Set Inconsistencies (15:55)

Fear as a Weapon (19:01)

Redshirt Redbay (22:31)

Should Have Crossover Characters (27:32)

Guinan's Gargoyles (31:46)

Worf's Batleth (34:35)

Data's Invulnerability (36:07)

Tragic or Pathetic? (37:57)

Final Thoughts and Ratings (42:38)

Closing (44:03)

Hosts

Jonathan Koan and Casey Pettitt

Production

Matthew Rushing (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Casey Pettitt (Associate Producer)

“The Griffin Incident”

After the Future Federation Leaders retreat, Jim Kirk decides to hitch a ride home with fellow attendees Spock and La'an Noonien-Singh. But their sail back is nothing but smooth when they come across a long-lost Federation starship, the USS Griffin. Missing for almost a decade for unknown reasons, the Griffin seems to be haunted. And when their shuttle is destroyed, the trio finds themselves trapped in a house of horrors that plays on their innermost thoughts and fears. Thankfully, Pike and the Enterprise crew beam over to save them. Or do they?

In this episode of Saddle Up! hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our look at Strange New Worlds Season 4 with “The Griffin Incident.” We discuss the horror and gore, character development for Kirk, Spock, and La'an, the lack of Gryffindors, and more.

Chapters

Intro (0:00:00)

This Feels Familiar (00:02:11)

A Horrorful Story (00:08:25)

Inside Spock's Head (00:12:39)

Inside Kirk's Head (00:21:35)

Inside La'an's Head (00:32:13)

What the Hell Is Going On? (00:39:52)

Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:44:54)

Closing (00:50:08)

Hosts

C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production

C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

Since his introduction to comics Peter Parker as well as his more famous alter-ego have been one of the most relatable characters because of the struggles they went through mirroring the ones readers and now viewers are experiencing.

In this episode of The 602 Club hosts Matthew Rushing and Ry Paulson talk about Spider-Man: Brand New Day. We discuss the possibility of MCU malaise, picking up the story, Peter’s progress, Punisher tears, Jean Grey, the Hulk, unintentional villains, Peter’s past, action and effects, post credits, music, why it resonates, our ratings and rankings.

Chapters

MCU Malaise? (00:02:43)

Picking Up From No Way Home (00:08:27)

Peter’s Progress (00:18:16)

Punisher Tears (00:35:09)

Jean Grey (00:41:00)

The Hulk (00:47:18)

Unintentional Villains (00:51:41)

Peter’s Past (00:56:16)

The Action and Effects (01:03:34)

Post Credits (01:07:31)

Music (01:10:24)

Why This Resonates? (01:12:21)

Ratings (01:18:24)

Rankings (01:18:59)

Host

Matthew Rushing

Co-Host

Ry Paulson

Production

Matthew Rushing (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

Social

Twitter: @The602Club

Instagram: @the602clubtfm

Letterboxd: the602club

The Sheep Detectives.

There are times when a movie seems to come out of nowhere, completely surprising audiences and winning them over with a film they just didn’t see coming.

In this episode of The 602 Club hosts Matthew Rushing and Ry Paulson talk about The Sheep Detectives. We discuss our experience with the movie, the mystery, the importance of shepherds, doing hard things, a comedy, the voice cast, the live cast, the production and our ratings.

Chapters

Experience With the Movie (00:02:04)

The Mystery (00:07:48)

Importance of Shepherds (00:10:58)

Doing Hard Things (00:20:14)

A Comedy (00:28:58)

The Voice Cast (00:33:03)

The Live Cast (00:36:04)

The Production (00:39:15)

Ratings (00:42:42)

Host

Matthew Rushing

Co-Host

Ry Paulson

Production

Matthew Rushing (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

Social

Twitter: @The602Club

Instagram: @the602clubtfm

Letterboxd: the602club

“Valles Marineris”

After some equestrian fun time, Pike and the crew of the Enterprise are sent to observe a giant space squall. Once there, they pick up a distress signal and attempt to respond. But the squall overwhelms the ship and the Enterprise is thrown to an unknown system with three class M planets. It turns out that their new location isn't so unknown after all—it's the Sol system. But there's a catch: they've traveled 65 million years into the past. The landing party has ventured down to prehistoric Earth in search of iridium to restart the warp drive and the Enterprise has been captured by a powerful ship from Mars. There's also an extra planet on the way to out to Jupiter, one that's at war with Mars. To get home, the crew must put their skills to the test against hostile aliens, dinosaurs, engine warning lights, and a particularly spunky Vulcan cadet.

In this episode of Saddle Up! hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing warp into Strange New Worlds Season 4 with “Valles Marineris.” We discuss the feel of the story, how it connects with the best of Star Trek, rewriting history, character moments, hopes for the season, and more.

Chapters

Intro (0:00:00)

First Impressions of Season 4 (00:03:28)

A Real TOS and Star Trek Feel (00:11:03)

Rewriting History (00:15:22)

An Obsession with Fate (00:21:58)

Are You Going to Tell Us about the Dinosaurs? (00:26:16)

Fate and the Prime Directive (00:28:13)

Mean Girls Vulcan (00:37:58)

Costume Tweaks (00:42:32)

The Scotty-Ortegas Rivalry (00:45:06)

The La'an Tease (00:51:03)

Time Loops (00:58:51)

Too Much Creative Freedom? (01:00:42)

Final Thoughts and Ratings (01:07:21)

Closing (01:13:01)

Hosts

C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production

C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

The Odyssey.

Homer’s epics are a cornerstone of Western Civilization, of Greek culture and literate classes in high school. Christopher Nolan has become one of greatest directors of the last twenty-five years, so this should be a match made in heaven.

In this episode of The 602 Club hosts Matthew Rushing and Ry Paulson talk about The Odyssey. We discuss coming into the movie, defy the gods, change of character, to myth or not to myth, scope, the cast, the score, theaters, our ratings and rankings.

Chapters

Coming Into the Movie (00:02:39)

Defy the Gods (00:07:12)

Change of Character (00:21:04)

To Myth or Not to Myth (00:30:55)

Scope (00:37:10)

The Cast (00:42:03)

The Score (00:47:45)

Theaters (00:53:28)

Ratings (00:58:08)

Rankings (00:59:44)

Host

Matthew Rushing

Co-Host

Ry Paulson

Production

Matthew Rushing (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

Social

Twitter: @The602Club

Instagram: @the602clubtfm

Letterboxd: the602club

Young Indiana Jones and the Mystery of the Blues.

The 602 Club proudly presents this bonus show, The Indy Files. In this episode hosts Matthew Rushing & Yancy Evans continue our discussion of Indy’s adventures in 1920s Chicago as well as the return of Harrison Ford!

Hosts

Matthew Rushing & Yancy Evans

Production

Matthew Rushing (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

Social

Twitter: @The602Club

Instagram: @the602clubtfm

Dayton Ward: To Defy Fate.

Wesley Crusher has always been a polarizing figure in Trek fandom — TNG's boy genius, adored by some and a source of groaning for others. But his arc from teenage prodigy to full-fledged Traveler is one of the franchise's more underappreciated journeys, and Picard season 3's finale left a perfect opening: what exactly was Wesley up to in the weeks following the Borg crisis? Dayton Ward answers that question with To Defy Fate, a novel that puts the former wunderkind squarely at the center of a sprawling story touching timelines, civilizations, and the nature of fate itself.

In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Casey Pettitt and Jonathan Koan sit down with Dayton Ward, author of Star Trek: Picard: To Defy Fate. We discuss the choice to lead with Wesley, the novel's driving antagonist and what makes her such a compelling character, mysterious figures like Kovich and what their presence means for Trek's larger tapestry, the complex web of timelines the book navigates, and what it ultimately means — and costs — to defy fate.

Check out cover artist Callum Seymour on Instragram - @seymourdraws

News

Cover Reveal (2:55)

Feature: Dayton Ward

Dayton 400 (5:42)

Why Wesley? (6:36)

Journey's End Prologue (11:39)

Kovich (12:59)

Writing a Hardcover (16:38)

Bookend with The Last Best Hope (19:02)

Likara's Convictions (22:22)

The Metron Kid (28:26)

Timelines (31:36)

Quintessential DS9 Theme (36:13)

The Picard-Crusher Guy (39:56)

Last Things First (45:27)

The Narada Incursion (47:00)

Defying Fate (49:01)

Margaret's Fingerprints (51:23)

Cover Art (54:38)

Dayton's Future (56:16)

Closing (58:13)

Hosts

Jonathan Koan and Casey Pettitt

Guest

Dayton Ward

Production

Matthew Rushing (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Casey Pettitt (Associate Producer)

Supergirl.

DC has had an interesting go of things on the big screen in the last ten years which last year’s Superman seem to finally set things on more steady footing.

In this episode of The 602 Club hosts Matthew Rushing and Ry Paulson talk about Supergirl. We discuss comic to screen, introducing Kara, dealing with loss, begin again, doubling down, the villain, new “friends”, the production, music, quality control, our mid-year top ten and ratings.

Chapters

Comic to Screen (00:02:55)

Introducing Kara (00:08:11)

Dealing With Loss (00:20:12)

Begin Again (00:26:54)

Doubles Down (00:30:48)

The Villain (00:34:51)

Ruthye (00:47:36)

Lobo (00:51:00)

The Production (00:53:50)

Music (00:56:59)

Quality Control (01:00:48)

Mid-Year Top 10 (01:06:26)

Ratings (01:19:38)

Host

Matthew Rushing

Co-Host

Ry Paulson

Production

Matthew Rushing (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

Social

Twitter: @The602Club

Instagram: @the602clubtfm

Letterboxd: the602club

“The 37's” 30th-anniversary reflections

Rust in space leads Voyager to one of the strangest finds in Star Trek history: a 1936 Ford pickup truck. Janeway decides to bring the ancient "ground vehicle" aboard, and Tom Paris—suddenly an expert on 20th-century automotive tech—starts playing with its AM radio and picks up an SOS from a nearby planet. On the surface, the crew discovers even more oddities: humans displaced in time, including aviator Amelia Earhart, who famously vanished. Solving one of Earth's great mysteries turns out to be the easy part, however. After 400 years, humans have built a community on the planet, and they invite Voyager's crew everyone to stay. Will they?

In this episode of To The Journey, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of Star Trek: Voyager, one episode at a time. In this installment, we jump into season 2 as we discuss “The 37's,” how the story works as a season opener, its intended role as the season 1 finale, the TOS flavor, conflicting creative visions, and more.

Chapters

Intro (00:00:00)

A TOS Tone (00:02:25)

Intended Finale (00:06:46)

Again with People from the Past (00:09:25)

Janeway Meets a Hero (and Lands the Ship) (00:13:16)

Should I Stay or Should I Go? (00:17:34)

Conflicting Concepts (00:21:38)

Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:30:38)

Closing (00:33:12)

Hosts

C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production

C Bryan Jones (Editor and Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

Disclosure Day.

Steven Spielberg helped redefine filmmaking through his blockbuster film Jaws, yet all through is over 60 years in moviemaking he’s had a thing for making movies about aliens and their impact on humanity.

In this episode of The 602 Club hosts Matthew Rushing and Ry Paulson talk about Disclosure Day. We discuss intense development, something more, the truth, listen, complementary nature, the cast, VFX, the action, a complete unknown, the score, our top ten and ratings.

Chapters

Intense Development (00:02:21)

Something More (00:06:52)

The Truth (00:10:36)

Listen (00:26:15)

Complementary Nature (00:32:13)

Josh O’Conner (00:35:21)

An Emily Blunt Vehicle (00:38:45)

Eve Hewson (00:42:02)

Rest of the Cast (00:44:17)

VFX (00:45:43)

The Action (00:48:45)

A Complete Unknown (00:49:44)

The Score (00:50:59)

Top Ten (00:54:35)

Ratings (01:06:09)

Host

Matthew Rushing

Co-Host

Ry Paulson

Production

Matthew Rushing (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

Social

Twitter: @The602Club

Instagram: @the602clubtfm

Letterboxd: the602club

Invasion!: First Strike.

Back in the heyday of Star Trek publishing, writers had four golden-era series to write in. Generally, the books stood apart from each other as stand-alones within their own series. But in 1996, Pocket Books published something unprecedented: a four-book crossover featuring each of the televised series to date.

In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Casey Pettitt and Jonathan Koan dive into the first Invasion! book, First Strike - an Original Series entry, written by prolific Trek author Diane Carey. Casey and Jonathan discuss the propulsiveness of the story, zealots and agnostics, and the newest threat in this part of the galaxy - the Furies!

Feature: First Strike

The First True Crossover Series (3:23)

Naval Tradition (5:24)

Propulsiveness (8:30)

Movie References (12:12)

Kellen the Klingon (14:32)

Kirk's Tactic (19:26)

Spock Incapacitated (22:54)

The Federation Way (27:18)

The Gnostic and the Zealot (28:26)

Who are the Furies? (30:33)

Empathizing with Zennor (32:51)

Kellen the Zealot (38:13)

Their Souls (40:06)

Playing Favorites (41:33)

Holding Positions (44:32)

Scotty (46:39)

Perfectly Balanced (48:15)

Final Thoughts (52:28)

Closing (59:22)

Hosts

Jonathan Koan and Casey Pettitt

Production

Matthew Rushing (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Casey Pettitt (Associate Producer)

“Armageddon Game” 30th-anniversary reflections

Sometimes, a good cup of coffee can save the day. It sure does for Miles O'Brien and Julian Bashir when a mission to help two formerly warring civilizations destroy their stockpiles of deadly weapons goes awry. Taking no chances, Kellerun soldiers storm the lab and massacre the science team the moment the last weapon is neutralized. And while Miles and Julian escape, they are reported dead to Deep Space 9. It's only when Keiko notices on security footage that her husband is drinking coffee in the afternoon—something she believes he never does—that Sisko mounts a mission to find out what is really going on and ultimately rescues his officers.

In this episode of The Orb, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, one episode at a time. In this installment, we discuss “Armageddon Game,” how it brings Miles and Julian together for their first real buddy adventure, how Keiko saves the day, spiky hair, and more.

Chapters

Intro (00:00:00)

A Miles and Jules Joint (00:03:09)

Almost Dax (00:11:01)

Keiko's Hunch (00:17:42)

Kill All the Scientists (00:23:25)

The Original Concept (00:29:44)

Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:33:05)

Closing (00:37:37)

Hosts

C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production

C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer)

Masters of the Universe (2026).

In the 80s, toy companies used cartoons to sell their product so G.I. Joe, Transformers and He-Man were launched into the imaginations of millions of kids which has lead movie studios to try to capitalize on that nostalgia by bringing these characters back on the big screen

In this episode of The 602 Club hosts Matthew Rushing and Ry Paulson talk about Masters of the Universe. We discuss development hell, completely different, Adam’s journey, friends of Eternia, Villains, to talk or to listen, world creation, music, cameos, fantasy rankings and ratings.

Chapters

Languishing in Development Hell (00:02:15)

Completely Different (00:08:53)

Adam’s Journey (00:13:57)

Camila Mendes (00:27:38)

Idris Elba (00:21:31)

Skeletor (00:35:32)

Evil-Lyn (00:42:57)

To Talk or To Listen (00:45:51)

World Creation (00:48:02)

Music (00:52:58)

Cameos (00:55:03)

Fantasy Rankings (00:58:05)

Ratings (01:01:44)

Host

Matthew Rushing

Co-Host

Ry Paulson

Production

Matthew Rushing (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

Social

Twitter: @The602Club

Instagram: @the602clubtfm

Letterboxd: the602club

Masters of the Universe (1987).

Under the leadership of Golan and Globus the Cannon Group pumped out an incredible amount of films, most of them have failed to stay in the cultural zeitgeist yet for better of for worse, some remain cult classics.

In this episode of The 602 Club hosts Matthew Rushing and Ry Paulsen talk about the 1987, Masters of the Universe. We discus the franchise, coming into live action, He-Man, other characters, the villains, a moment, to the journey, music, action, production and our ratings.

Chapters

The Franchise (00:02:05)

Into Live Action (00:09:25)

He-Man (00:17:14)

Other Characters (00:23:44)

The Villains (00:27:01)

A Moment (00:28:33)

To the Journey (00:32:53)

Music (00:38:05)

Action and Production (00:41:56)

Ratings (00:46:54)

Host

Matthew Rushing

Co-Host

Ry Paulson

Production

Matthew Rushing (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

Social

Twitter: @The602Club

Instagram: @the602clubtfm

Letterboxd: the602club

“Hatchery” 20th-anniversary reflections

As the Enterprise pushes toward Azati Prime, Archer leads an away team to a derelict Xindi-Insectoid vessel and discovers hundreds of gestating eggs, with life support failing. While examining the hatchery, a tendril suddenly sprays him with goo. Phlox initially dismisses it as a mild neurotoxin, but Archer grows increasingly obsessive about saving the hatchlings. Clearly, the situation is stickier than the doctor thought. As his behavior shifts from principled to unhinged, the crew stage a quiet mutiny to keep their mission on track.

In this episode of Warp Five, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 20th-anniversary retrospective that takes you through all of Star Trek: Enterprise, one episode at a time. In this installment, we continue Season 3 with “Hatchery” as we discuss the big question the story asks, the crew's reaction to Archer's space madness, how it all fits into the overall Xindi arc, and more.

Chapters

Intro (00:00:00)

The Unexplored Argument (00:02:08)

In-Universe Recap and Realities (00:10:15)

Detoured by Space Madness! (00:13:43)

Ignoring the Signs (00:19:25)

Trip and T'Pol Step Forward (00:23:11)

Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:26:43)

Closing (00:28:53)

Hosts

C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production

C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer)

“Doctor's Orders” 20th-anniversary reflections

As the Enterprise makes its way to Azati Prime, it must pass through a region of space where a massive trans-dimensional disturbance will likely cause fatal brain damage to any conscious human. Doctor Phlox proposes to place the entire human crew in neuro-sedation for the four days it will take to cross the area at full impulse and volunteers to watch over his comatose crewmates with only Porthos—and what appears to be T'Pol—for company. As the anomaly begins to expand faster than expected and Phlox's grip on reality starts to slip, he must navigate an empty ship and overcome hallucinations before the crew suffers permanent neurological damage.

In this episode of Warp Five, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 20th-anniversary retrospective that takes you through all of Star Trek: Enterprise, one episode at a time. In this installment, we continue Season 3 with “Doctor's Orders” as we discuss how the story mirrors Voyager's "One," helps fill the required 24 episode slots, and shows us more of Phlox than we ever wanted to see.

Chapters

Intro (00:00:00)

"One" More Time (00:01:59)

Absolute Filler (00:06:14)

Why T'Pol? (00:12:34)

Phlox au Naturel (00:15:06)

Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:18:18)

Closing (00:21:10)

Hosts

C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production

C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer)

“Learning Curve” 30th-anniversary reflections

When four Maquis crew members refuse to adapt to Starfleet protocols, Tuvok is handed the unenviable task of whipping them into shape. But while he struggles to understand why his time-honored methods and Vulcan charm aren't working, a more immediate threat is taking hold in Neelix's kitchen: cheese. In his efforts to delight Ensign Ashmore with a taste from home, the self-proclaimed chef has been cultivating bacteria just below a vent that feeds into the ship's bio-neural circuitry. Now the gel packs have a cold and systems are failing one by one. It's time to get the cheese to sickbay!

In this episode of To The Journey, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of Star Trek: Voyager, one episode at a time. In this installment, we discuss “Learning Curve,” Tuvok's impossible mission, the cheesy concept, how it ends the first season, and more.

Chapters

Intro (00:00:00)

Meet the Burleighs (00:02:38)

Addressing the Maquis Problem (00:08:17)

Does Tuvok Have Amnesia? (00:14:56)

Chakotay's Character Development (00:20:33)

Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:22:08)

Closing (00:32:31)

Hosts

C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production

C Bryan Jones (Editor and Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu.

On November 12th, 2019, live action Star Wars returned to the small screen where its previous success was tenuous at best and by the end of its first episode, The Mandalorian had fans hooked!

In this episode of The 602 Club we crossover with Aggressive Negotiations so Matthew Rushing and John Mills can talk about the first Star Wars movie in 7 years, The Mandalorian and Grogu. We discuss so much about the movie, the themes, plot, character, music, action and so much more, wrapping it all up with our ratings.

Chapters

A Season or a Movie (00:02:09)

The Plot (00:15:46)

Mando’s New Job (00:19:52)

Fatherhood and Mentorship (00:28:11)

Grogu’s Growth (00:40:17)

Dealing With Other Enemies (00:44:20)

The Creatures and Locations (00:48:25)

Rotta the Hutt (00:53:29)

Zeb (00:57:25)

CGI (00:58:52)

A Couple More Friends (01:05:23)

The Villains (01:10:16)

The Action (01:14:17)

The Music (01:27:03)

Critics vs Audience (01:30:21)

Ratings (01:39:34)

Host

Matthew Rushing & John Mills

Production

Matthew Rushing (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

Social

Twitter: @The602Club

Instagram: @the602clubtfm

Letterboxd: the602club

“The Alternate” 30th-anniversary reflections

When the Bajoran scientist who first studied Odo—and whose hairstyle the changeling unconsciously adopted—arrives at Deep Space 9 with a potential clue to his origins, their reunion is anything but warm. Dr. Mora Pol's patronizing manner rekindles old resentments, even as his discovery drives them together through the wormhole to investigate a planet in the Gamma Quadrant. What they bring back threatens the station: a mysterious silicate-based life-form that escapes its containment and begins attacking crew members in the night. As Odo leads the investigation, the evidence points in a direction no one anticipated—and the truth forces him to confront the scientist who shaped him, in more ways than one.

In this episode of The Orb, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, one episode at a time. In this installment, we discuss “The Alternate,” how the story fills in Odo's background, explores parent-child relationship, plants seeds for the Dominion, and more.

Chapters

Intro (00:00:00)

Literally Malleable (00:02:53)

Communication through Mirroring (00:06:31)

Father and Son (00:10:34)

The Original Concept (00:18:02)

Jekyll and Hyde (00:24:19)

More Dominion Breadcrumbs (00:26:20)

Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:32:01)

Closing (00:34:43)

Hosts

C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production

C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer)

Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord.

The character of Darth Maul showed up first in The Phantom Menace, a villain of few worlds but one that was forever etched in fans minds as one of the coolest they’d ever seen, which meant he just couldn’t stay dead forever.

In this episode of The 602 Club we crossover with Aggressive Negotiations so Matthew Rushing and John Mills can talk about Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord. We discuss, Maul’s arc, Devon’s Arc, Lawson’s arc, Inquisitors, the Dark Lord of the Sith, connecting to Solo, the animation, the music and our ratings.

Chapters

Maul’s Arc (00:02:30)

Devon’s Arc (00:37:33)

Lawson’s Arc (00:51:01)

Inquisitors (01:02:59)

The Dark Lord of the Sith (01:07:55)

Connecting to Solo (01:15:32)

The Animation (01:18:50)

The Music (01:27:58)

Ratings (01:29:44)

Host

Matthew Rushing & John Mills

Production

Matthew Rushing (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

Social

Twitter: @The602Club

Instagram: @the602clubtfm

Letterboxd: the602club

Barcelona, May 1917.

The 602 Club proudly presents this bonus show, The Indy Files. In this episode hosts Matthew Rushing & Yancy Evans continue our discussion of Indy’s adventures during World War I in Barcelona.

Hosts

Matthew Rushing & Yancy Evans

Production

Matthew Rushing (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

Social

Twitter: @The602Club

Instagram: @the602clubtfm