The Edge: A Star Trek Discovery Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Far from Home.

Michael Burnham’s arrival in the year 3188 gave us our first glimpse of the far future and revealed hints about the cataclysmic event known as the Burn, as well as the seeming demise of the United Federation of Planets as a galactic power. But what about the crew of the USS Discovery? “That Hope Is You, Part 1” left them in the shadows. But while the first episode of Season 3 was all Michael, the second is all everyone else.

In this episode of The Edge, host C Bryan Jones shares thoughts on the arrival of the USS Discovery—one year after Michael. Among the points covered are Saru’s leadership, how the back and forth between him and Georgiou reflects real-world debate over approaches to diplomacy and one another, and what her comments could mean for the Section 31 series. We also delight in the inclusion of the bridge crew, Jett Reno’s wit, and the reveal of the long-sought connection between the Short Treks episode “Calypso” and Star Trek: Discovery. And, in the Notes segment, we dig deep into Star Trek’s past to uncover connections to rubindium, transtators, and Coridan.

Host
C Bryan Jones

Production
C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) James Muldrow (Associate Producer) Cornelia Reutner (Associate Producer)

That Hope Is You, Part 1.

When we last saw the crew of the USS Discovery, they were on their way to the 32nd century. It’s taken longer than expected to make it through that wormhole, thanks to a little 21st -century problem of our own, but the third season of Star Trek: Discovery has finally arrived. And with it have come some answers as well as a slew of new questions. We now know what the Burn is—at least the basics—and have gotten our first glimpse of a diminished United Federation of Planets.

In this episode of The Edge, host C Bryan Jones shares thoughts on Michael Burnham’s arrival in the year 3188, speculates on the deeper implications of the Burn, revels in the beauty of Iceland and the incredible cinematography, and looks at some of the social commentary found in “That Hope Is You, Part1.” We also open flip through the pages of our notebook to explore the franchise-spanning use of propulsion technologies and the possible temporal connections between Discovery and Enterprise.

Host
C Bryan Jones

Production
C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) James Muldrow (Associate Producer) Cornelia Reutner (Associate Producer)

Unanswered Threads.

When a television show creates large, elaborate storylines that are weaved throughout a season, some of the smaller plot points that were developed may never get finalized. What on Kaminar is happening now with the Kelpiens and Ba’ul? The logic extremists came and went pretty quickly, and what’s going to happen with L’Rell’s chancellorship?

In this episode of The Edge, hosts Liam Smart, Brandi Jackola, and Nick Collinson discuss some unanswered questions and speculate on the logic extremists, briefly discuss the lost potential of Airiam, and explore what’s happening on Qo’noS and Kaminar now that the USS Discovery has left the 23rd century.

Chapters
Intro (00:00:00)
Feedback! (00:04:25)
News (00:10:50)
(Il)logic(al) Extremists (00:15:05)
Wasted Airiam (00:30:33)
What’s Happening on Kaminar? (00:40:00)
L’Rell the Boss (00:49:25)
Final Thoughts (00:58:01)
Closing (01:01:34)

Hosts
Liam Smart, Brandi Jackola, and Nick Collinson

Production
Liam Smart (Editor) Brandi Jackola (Producer) Nick Collins (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Tony Robinson (Associate Producer) Lisa Slack (Associate Producer) Tom Puleo (Associate Producer) Shoaib Mirza (Associate Producer) Richard Rutledge (Associate Producer) James Muldrow (Associate Producer) Cornelia Reutner (Associate Producer) Ryan Maillet (Associate Producer) Chris Tribuzio (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Tony Robinson (Show Art)

The Escape Artist.

The fourth episode of Star Trek: Short Treks highlights Harcourt Fenton Mudd, a character that has been around almost as long as Star Trek itself. Rainn Wilson not only portrays Mudd, but also directs. The twists and turns of Mudd being captured and turned over to Starfleet again and again make for a fun episode to watch while the writing and comedic timing make it even more fun to listen to.

In this episode of The Edge, hosts Patrick Devlin and Amy Nelson are joined by Brandon-Shea Mutala of Warp Five and Melodic Treks to discuss the brilliance of “The Escape Artist” and the concept of Short Treks. We debate the Mudd timeline compared with The Original Series and which actions were taken by Mudd himself or which by his androids. And, in closing, we rank the four Short Treks episodes.

Chapters
Intro (00:00:00)
Initial Thoughts (00:02:35)
Memories of Other Androids (00:06:49)
The Brilliance of Short Treks (00:13:36)
Memories (00:19:06)
The Resistance (00:27:57)
Turning in Mudd (00:30:09)
The Bounty Hunter’s True Identity (00:34:19)
Ranking the Short Treks (00:36:13)
Closing (00:50:59)

Hosts
Amy Nelson and Patrick Devlin

Guest
Brandon-Shea Mutala

Production
Patrick Devlin (Editor) Amy Nelson (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Tony Robinson (Associate Producer) Lisa Slack (Associate Producer) Tom Puleo (Associate Producer) Shoaib Mirza (Associate Producer) Richard Rutledge (Associate Producer) James Muldrow (Associate Producer) Cornelia Reutner (Associate Producer) Ryan Maillet (Associate Producer) Chris Tribuzio (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Tony Robinson (Show Art) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)

Commentary Track.

In this episode of Tracks from The Edge, Mike Schindler is joined by Max Hegel to bring you a commentary for the fourth episode of Star Trek Shorts, “The Escape Artist.”

Chapters
Intro (00:00:00)
Commentary (00:14:05)

Hosts
Mike Schindler and Max Hegel

Production
Mike Schindler (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Tony Robinson (Associate Producer) Lisa Slack (Associate Producer) Tom Puleo (Associate Producer) Shoaib Mirza (Associate Producer) Richard Rutledge (Associate Producer) James Muldrow (Associate Producer) Cornelia Reutner (Associate Producer) Ryan Maillet (Associate Producer) Chris Tribuzio (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Tony Robinson (Show Art) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)

Fan Response to “The Escape Artist.”

The fourth episode of Star Trek: Short Treks is here! After watching “The Escape Artist,” fans had much to talk about. In this episode of Postcards from The Edge, host Amy Nelson is joined by Thad Hait to discuss all the feedback we’ve received from listeners—both positive and negative!

Chapters
Intro (00:00:00)
Initial Thoughts (00:03:21)
Fan Response (00:04:41)
Music and Rhythm (00:13:43)
Questions and Concerns (00:16:08)
Closing (00:29:01)

Host
Amy Nelson

Guest
Thad Hait

Production
Amy Nelson (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Tony Robinson (Associate Producer) Lisa Slack (Associate Producer) Tom Puleo (Associate Producer) Shoaib Mirza (Associate Producer) Richard Rutledge (Associate Producer) James Muldrow (Associate Producer) Cornelia Reutner (Associate Producer) Ryan Maillet (Associate Producer) Chris Tribuzio (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Tony Robinson (Show Art) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)

Live Reaction Show.

In this episode of Live from The Edge, hosts Brandi Jackola and Bruce Gibson discuss their initial thoughts and feelings about the fourth episode of Star Trek: Short Treks, “The Escape Artist.”

Hosts
Brandi Jackola and Bruce Gibson

Production
Bruce Gibson (Editor) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Tony Robinson (Associate Producer) Lisa Slack (Associate Producer) Tom Puleo (Associate Producer) Shoaib Mirza (Associate Producer) Richard Rutledge (Associate Producer) James Muldrow (Associate Producer) Cornelia Reutner (Associate Producer) Ryan Maillet (Associate Producer) Chris Tribuzio (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Tony Robinson (Show Art) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)

Revisiting Context Is for Kings.

In Michael Burnham, Starfleet has its first mutineer. However, she knows herself and continues to live by Starfleet’s code as she is stripped of rank, holding herself to the standard expected of someone who once served as first officer. The best way she knows to do this is to cause no further trouble and carry out her sentence. Captain Gabriel Lorca, however, has other plans. Revealing that Discovery is creating a new way to fly, he commands Burnham to help not-Chief Engineer Paul Stamets with his research into spore drive technology. The universe, he says, doesn’t like waste, and having her sit in a prison cell would be a waste of intelligence and resources.

In this episode of The Edge, hosts Amy Nelson and Patrick Devlin discuss the third installment of Star Trek: Discovery, “Context is for Kings,” as part of their first-season rewatch. We examine Commander Ellen Landry’s dedication to Lorca and question if she is from the Mirror Universe. We explore Cadet Sylvia Tilly’s contributions to the ship and relationship with Burnham, and debate whether Lorca knows Burnham better than she knows herself. Lastly, we question whether the spore drive is the work of Section 31 and how it takes Burnham to places located around the universe.

Chapters
Intro (00:00:00)
As a Whole (00:01:57)
Context Is for Kings (00:03:44)
Average Person Doesn’t Like Starfleet (00:07:09)
Was Landry Intended to be from the Mirror Universe (00:13:40)
Meeting Tilly (00:17:25)
Michael’s Work Ethic (00:20:47)
Black Alert Incident on the USS Glenn (00:24:53)
Lorca Knows Michael Better (00:33:12)
Inside the Spore Drive (00:36:28)
Closing (00:41:51)

Hosts
Amy Nelson and Patrick Devlin

Production
Patrick Devlin (Editor) Amy Nelson (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Tony Robinson (Associate Producer) Lisa Slack (Associate Producer) Tom Puleo (Associate Producer) Shoaib Mirza (Associate Producer) Richard Rutledge (Associate Producer) James Muldrow (Associate Producer) Cornelia Reutner (Associate Producer) Ryan Maillet (Associate Producer) Chris Tribuzio (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Tony Robinson (Show Art) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)

The Brightest Star.

Saru played a critical role in the first season of Star Trek: Discovery. Doug Jones’s brilliant portrayal of an alien who must suppress fear to achieve Starfleet’s mission of exploration added new layers to the franchise. But his species, the Kelpiens, are new to Star Trek and Discovery’s freshman season gave us limited information about them. Short Treks remedies this with “The Brightest Star,” in which we get to see Saru’s culture, religion, and family.

In this episode of The Edge, hosts Amy Nelson and Patrick Devlin discuss the beautiful themes of compassion, hope, and curiosity found in “The Brightest Star.” We see an inquisitive Saru question the harvest and defy his father, leading to a very different first contact situation for Starfleet. While we do not see a hunter in a traditional sense, we do learn that religion plays a major role in the lives of Kelpiens. When Saru questions these traditions, his father orders him not to upset the Great Balance. This pushes Saru to ask more questions about the universe and forces him to choose between the stars or staying with his race.

Chapters
Intro (00:00:00)
Initial Thoughts (00:03:13)
Questioning Your Traditions (00:08:25)
Ba’ul (00:13:38)
Lieutenant Georgiou (00:20:29)
The Prime Directive (00:24:04)
Siranna (00:29:32)
Making Contact (00:35:15)
Compassion (00:35:55)
Final Thoughts (00:43:45)
Closing (00:46:38)

Hosts
Amy Nelson and Patrick Devlin

Production
Amy Nelson (Editor) Patrick Devlin (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Tony Robinson (Associate Producer) Lisa Slack (Associate Producer) Tom Puleo (Associate Producer) Shoaib Mirza (Associate Producer) Richard Rutledge (Associate Producer) James Muldrow (Associate Producer) Cornelia Reutner (Associate Producer) Ryan Maillet (Associate Producer) Chris Tribuzio (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Tony Robinson (Show Art) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)

Commentary Track.

In this episode of Tracks from The Edge, Mike Schindler is joined by Max Hegel to bring you a commentary for the third episode of Star Trek Shorts, “The Brightest Star.”

Chapters
Intro (00:00:00)
Commentary (00:07:04)

Hosts
Mike Schindler and Max Hegel

Production
Mike Schindler (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Tony Robinson (Associate Producer) Lisa Slack (Associate Producer) Tom Puleo (Associate Producer) Shoaib Mirza (Associate Producer) Richard Rutledge (Associate Producer) James Muldrow (Associate Producer) Cornelia Reutner (Associate Producer) Chris Tribuzio (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Tony Robinson (Show Art) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)