Season six is in the bag! Where does it stand in the pantheon of TNG seasons? Which character had the best year, and who should have quit after season 5? In this episode, Wes sums up his season six experience, hands out awards, and lists his top 5 and bottom 5 episodes!
Data has all the feels! When the Borg reappear, a drastic change in their personality leaves the Federation concerned. When Data kills a Borg drone in self defense, he experiences a sudden surge of emotion: hatred! Modi Operandus is here to discuss season finales, the Borg shift, and starship design!
Ever been on a trip so dull that it felt like time was standing still? When Picard, Data, LaForge and Troi come upon the Enterprise, frozen in time only moments from destruction, the only way to fix the problem is so unravel the mystery of why the Enterprise is aiding an attacking Romulan warbird! Modi stops by to discuss science fiction plots, the writing for the Romulans, and what makes a good mystery!
What would you do with a second chance? When a transporter clone of Commander Riker is discovered on a forgotten planet, this “new” version tries to pick up his life right where he left off, to the delight of Troi and the annoyance of Commander Riker! What will Riker learn about himself through this episode? Clay is here to discuss calling people by their first names, happy endings, and what might possibly be the best Troi episode that the show ever did!
Worf has lost the faith, but I’m sure a cloned savior will be just the thing to return him to good spirits and save the Klingon Empire! Clay, Sean and Dan discuss Rightful Heir, an episode that features a whole lot of Klingons, excellent paintings, and the first appearance of the Klingon Jesus! Will they like that this episode has to say, or will they think it’s trying too hard?
Dr. Crusher is a no nonsense, hard boiled detective in this episode of Star Trek! When a Ferengi scientist on the verge of making a breakthrough in shield technology is mysteriously killed, it’s up to Dr Crusher to figure out the who, what, when, where and why! Clay and Sean discuss haircuts, Riker’s sexism, and the enigma that is Beverly Crusher!
When Commander Riker agrees to act in one of Dr Crusher’s plays, he didn’t expect to lose his mind in the process! “Frame of Mind” is an episode that keeps the audience guessing, and Clay is here to help us break down what really happened. We discuss reflection therapy, Frakes as an actor, and a delicious recipe for Brannon Braga!
Have you ever wondered why all the aliens in Star Trek have two eyes? Or two legs? Or two ears? Or two hearts? Wait…
Picard in love! When the captain falls for a lovely new crew member, he worries that his new relationship will begin to affect his job. Will it?
Plus, more flute music! It’s just me in this episode, so if you can stand my solo’s then you’ll hear me discuss relationships in TNG, stellar cartography, and fire effects!
Data dreams, and Worf finds a prison camp! In “Birthright”, Data and Worf both explore their daddy issues: Data unlocks a dream program that Dr. Soong wrote into his programming, and Worf discovers that his father, long thought dead, might be alive in a Romulan prison camp! Modi Operandus is here to discuss Romulan and Klingon relations, Data the painter, and James Cromwell under 30 pounds of make-up.
What if you could go back in time and fix your mistakes? Would you do it, or are you happy the way you are? When Picard is killed on an away mission, Q gives him that very choice! The tapestries of our lives are made of many threads, so which do you pull? Eric and Richard from the Trekabout podcast stop by to discuss Picard’s Quantum Leap, what makes Q work, and promoting violence!
Don’t you hate those mornings when you wake up surgically altered and part of a plan to aid the defection of high ranking politicians? I do, and so does Counselor Troi! A break out Troi episode, Face of the Enemy asks us to examine the Romulans, humans with Romulan haircuts, and Romulan technology. But is it any good? Modi stops by to discuss!
A promising mystery that devolves into one of our least favorite story lines: Geordi in love. When the Enterprise responds to a distress call from a remote space station, they discover a murder mystery… and a dog! Meanwhile, Geordi falls in love with the prime suspect! Modi stops by to discuss red herrings, the video game Myst, and nicknames for dogs!
Moriarty returns! It’s been a long time since season two, but now that the copyright dispute is over we can feature Sherlock Holmes characters again! The artificial intelligence of Moriarty wishes to exist outside the holodeck, but Picard assures him that this is not possible. Or is it? Tana and Sean are here to discuss sentience (again), oysters, and layered narratives!
A memorable guest star, and a memorable torture sequence make for a memorable episode of Star Trek! When Picard is relieved of command of the Enterprise, his hard nosed replacement makes life on the ship difficult for Commander Riker. When Picard is captured by Cardassians and tortured, his hard nosed replacement needs to figure out a solution! Clay joins me to discuss two part episodes, Ronny Cox, and two man plays!
Tiny, pig shaped robots with replicator noses! Picard and Geordi stuck in a mining disaster! EXO-COMPS! Tana and Sean join me to break down the meaning of life, sentient vs. alive, and the scientific method!
We had a “crew turn into children” episode last podcast, so now it’s time to have the traditional Western themed show! Alexander sets up a Western program to enjoy some quality time with his father, and, at the same time, Data connects himself to the ship’s computer. What could go wrong? Clay and Dan join me to break down Brent Spiner as an actor, Mexican bandito’s, and hairy arms!
It’s season six of a show that airs 26 episodes a year, so it’s about that time where plots start to involve main characters turning into children! Picard, Ro, Keiko and Guinan magically turn into children, and the Ferengi capture the Enterprise. Clay and Dan stop by to discuss character selection, mining camp slave labor, and the Ferengi as villains!
After no appearances in season five, Q returns to the show with an episode that has us asking a lot of questions about the Q species. Would a human with the powers of the Q be able to resist using her powers? Is Q a “good” Q? Why doesn’t the Continuum take over the universe? What are the goals of the Q? Modi joins me to discuss!
I love TNG mystery episodes, and “Schisms” puts Riker front and center into an alien abduction story! When crew members start disappearing from the ship, the senior staff need to enter another dimension to save the day. Sean joins me to discuss tone over substance, what’s in a title, and why Data would be the prize abductee!
Yet another TOS character appears on TNG! The Bones appearance in the pilot was a throwaway, and Spock’s two-parter last year was kind of awful, so will Scotty’s appearance be the difference maker? The Enterprise discovers a Dyson Sphere, Scotty beams up one last time, and Geordi gets to yell at someone! It’s “Relics”!
Modi Operandus returns for yet another terribly named episode! It’s just his thing, I guess. Just like it’s that ambassadors thing to knock rocks with women and then turn them into receptacles? Modi helps me break down sexy Troi, why there are so many mirrors in the karate room, and sexual acts performed on a script!
The transporters are a mystery wrapped in an enigma. How do they work? Why are they so trusted? Has O’Brien really done this job for 22 years? In this episode, Barclay reveals yet another deep fear, and scary monsters get stuck in subspace! Clay joins to discuss the Barclay-centric “Realm of Fear”!
We’ve made it to season six! With the cliffhanger season five ending, will the show be able to conclude the story of Mark Twain with any kind of satisfaction? Will Guinan and Picard have their fateful meeting? Will Riker continue to use hair product? All this and more, as Clay and I break down the season six premiere!