Wed, 17 January 2018
DS9 at 25. It’s been a quarter century since Benjamin Sisko arrived at one of the Federation’s most remote outposts—Deep Space 9—and began a journey of self discovery that would turn the Star Trek model on its head. Overshadowed by The Next Generation and then Voyager, Deep Space Nine quietly flew under the radar and developed into a series that would later emerge as what many consider the franchise’s crown jewel. It’s a show that fans are rediscovering—and some are discovering for the first time—in this age of streaming and binge-watching. And it has stood the test of time in a remarkable way. In this episode of The Ready Room, C Bryan Jones and Larry Nemecek look back at 25 years of Deep Space Nine, discussing its development, premiere, the roles of Rick Berman and Michael Piller, why the love fans have for the show continues to grow, and much more. In our news segment, we consider the camaraderie of past Star Trek casts in light of Jonathan Frakes’s comments about the crew of Discovery, check out the 4-disc La-La Land Records Deep Space Nine Volume 2 Limited Edition music collection, and remember Jon Paul Steuer, the actor who played young Alexander on The Next Generation. Plus, Larry has a special announcement about activity detected in Trekland. Chapters Hosts Production |
Wed, 31 August 2016
Crossover. Sometimes actions can have unexpected consequences. Such was the case in The Original Series when Kirk convinced Mirror Spock to turn the Terran Empire from evil to good. Only he didn’t know it. Kirk had the best intentions, but maybe there was a reason the Terrans were the way they were. We learned the result of Kirk’s speech in the Deep Space Nine episode “Crossover,” the first of many trips to the Mirror Universe for the DS9 crew. In this episode of The Ready Room, we’re joined by Zachary Fruhling, Rumman Chowdhury, and Brandon-Shea Mutala to discuss the first onscreen foray into the Mirror Universe since TOS. Beginning with Kirk’s actions, we continue on to explore the disastrous consequences his words had for the humans of this universe, how oppression impacts lives, and how sexuality can be used to wield power over others. We also discuss various DS9 characters and their mirror counterparts, and how circumstances bring out different traits. Plus, in our news segment we discuss the lineup of events and panels scheduled for Star Trek: Mission New York. News Feature: Crossover Hosts Guests Production |
Wed, 29 June 2016
Things Past. We know that Odo has a colored past. He held the post of security chief under the regime of Gul Dukat during the occupation of Bajor. As an outsider, he would seem to be the ideal candidate to protect the Bajorans from unchecked Cardassian brutality. But while he sees himself as the voice of justice, a strict adherence to policy can lead to wrong decisions. That’s what happened when he allowed three innocent Bajorans to be executed on his watch. In this episode of The Ready Room, we’re joined Mike Schindler, Mike Morrison, and Brandon-Shea Mutala to discuss the delayed aftermath of that event in the episode “Things Past.” It’s a unique semi-flashback story that puts Odo in the shoes of one of the executed men—along with Sisko and Garak. Join us as we discuss Odo’s choices, how DS9 builds its mythology, Quark during the Occupation, Kira’s powerful moment, and much more. Plus, in our news segment, we discuss the writing team for the new Star Trek television series as well as the many flavors of Star Trek Beyond that are headed to theaters—including IMAX, IMAX Laser, Dolby Cinema, and the very unique Barco Escape. News Feature: Things Past Hosts Guests Production |
Wed, 16 March 2016
It’s Only a Paper Moon. Events in Star Trek—even tragic ones—rarely have lasting consequences. Deep Space Nine changed that with arcs that took place during the Dominion War. In particular, in the final season, Nog’s injuries in battle led to a deep exploration of the lasting impact of a single moment in time—and they did it with the usual DS9 mix of serious commentary and humor. In this episode of The Ready Room, we’re joined by Zachary Fruhling and Matthew Rushing to discuss Nog’s retreat to the holosuite, his struggle to come to terms with the physical and emotional damage of his experiences in “The Siege of AR-558,” and the counseling tag-team of Ezri Dax and Vic Fontaine who brought him back to reality. In our news segment, we discuss additional shooting (reported as reshoots by most media) for Star Trek Beyond, a special agreement between CBS and Paramount that dictated a six-month post-film waiting period for Star Trek’s return to TV, and Rod Roddenberry joining the new series as Executive Producer. News Feature: It’s Only a Paper Moon Hosts Guest Production |
Tue, 24 November 2015
In the Hands of the Prophets. At the end of its first season, Deep Space Nine really began to take on the form that would define the series. The writers wanted to follow up the powerful “Duet” with something even better, even more layered. To do this, they brought together the Federation’s scientific approach to the world and the Bajorans’ religious one. The clash of philosophies tells us a lot about our own world as well as Gene Roddenberry’s vision for Star Trek. And it introduced us to one of Star Trek’s great villains. In this episode of The Ready Room, we’re joined by Will Nguyen, Mike Morrison, and Ken Tripp to discuss DS9’s first-season finale, “In the Hands of the Prophets,” the introduction of Winn and Bareil, handling religion on Star Trek, Keiko the grumpy, Sisko the mediator, and much more. In our news segment, we discuss the comments of Paramount’s Motion Picture Group president Marc Evan about a possible grittier future for Star Trek, and Dayton Ward’s upcoming travel guide that will get you ready for your visit to Vulcan. News Feature: In the Hands of the Prophets Hosts Guests Production |
Fri, 11 September 2015
The Visitor. One of Deep Space Nine’s most loved episodes is an enigma in and of itself. Focusing on just one main character, played by someone other than the normal actor, “The Visitor” highlights the power of DS9’s concept to tell character-driven stories that transcend the usual Star Trek formula. This tale of Jake Sisko’s life after losing his father in a freak accident tugs at the heartstrings for so many viewers—and the intensity of this effect depends on your own life experiences. In this episode of The Ready Room, we’re joined by Will Nguyen, Phillip Gilfus, and Jeremy Reed to discuss the unusual concept, the performances of Tony Todd and Rachel Robinson, the father-son relationship between Benjamin and Jake Sisko, how Star Trek uses the future time frame, and much more. In our news segment, we discuss the VFX fixes found only in the Netflix version of TNG, and share our thoughts on the diverse and Star Wars-like aliens found in the Abramsverse.
Hosts C Bryan Jones and Nguyen
Guests Phillip Gilfus and Jeremy Reed
Editor and Producer C Bryan Jones
Executive Producers Matthew Rushing and Norman C. Lao
Associate Producers Renee Roberts and Zachary Fruhling
Production Manager Richard Marquez
Content Manager Will Nguyen
News TNG Visual Fixes for Netflix (00:06:57) The Aliens of the Abramsverse: Good or Bad? (00:17:03)
Feature: The Visitor Synopsis and Initial Thoughts (00:26:34) The Concept (00:38:40) Tony Todd as Jake Sisko (00:46:49) Mental Health in the Future (00:54:22) Remember (01:02:26) Jake’s Path (01:08:11) Father and Son (01:12:49) Rachel Robinson (01:17:24) The Future Time Frame (01:22:46) Star Trek’s Best? (01:32:24) Final Thoughts (01:39:28)
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Wed, 1 July 2015
His Way. When you can start a show with a lengthy cold-open featuring a tuxedo-clad James Darren crooning a jazz standard—and do it on a Cardassian-built space station in the 24th century—you know you’ve got something special. And that’s just what the Deep Space Nine writers did near the end of the show’s sixth season with “His Way.” It was the culmination of a game a romantic cat-and-mouse between Odo and Kira, but also solidified a creative freedom that would ensure that DS9’s final season would not be hindered by a studio that would make the show square. In this episode of The Ready Room we’re joined by Will Nguyen, Sue Kaye, and Jeffrey Harlan to discuss how a light bulb with pretty sweet pipes gave DS9 a special twist, what he meant to the Station’s crew, holographic rights, the Odo-Kira relationship, and more. In our news segment we debate the results of StarTrek.com’s DS9 Captains poll, discuss the first Trek.fm Patrons Roundtable, and remember James Horner, who brought us so many great film scores.
Hosts C Bryan Jones and Will Nguyen
Guests Sue Kaye and Jeffrey Harlan
Editor and Producer C Bryan Jones
Executive Producers Matthew Rushing and Norman C. Lao
Associate Producer Renee Roberts and Zachary Fruhling
Production Manager Richard Marquez
Content Manager Will Nguyen
News Remembering James Horner (00:04:29) The first Trek.fm Patrons Roundtable (00:09:01) Poll: The DS9 Character who would make the best captain is… (00:14:39)
Feature: His Way Intro and Synopsis (00:23:15) Initial Thoughts (00:27:18) DS9 Gets Jazzy: Introducing Vic (00:30:54) AI and Sentience: An Ethical Quandary (00:39:11) Three Couples Walk Into a Bar… (00:50:18) Don’t Be a Square: Prepping Odo for Romance (00:57:31) A Loving Outcome (01:13:37) Pairing Off On the Station (01:23:54) Final Thoughts (01:29:50) Closing (01:37:02)
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Sat, 21 March 2015
Looking for par’Mach In All the Wrong Places. Sometimes love is staring you right in the face, and other times you have to search for it. Both were the case when Grilka, Quark’s ex-wife, came aboard the Station. Smitten with the unattainable and “glorious” Klingon Lady, Worf decided to win her heart by proxy when he concocted a plan to help Quark reconnect with his lost love. To pull it off, Worf employed the help of the woman whose heart he could have, if only he’d wake up and smell the raktajino. In this episode of The Ready Room we’re joined by Matthew Rushing and Will Nguyen to discuss Deep Space Nine’s foray into romantic comedy, “Looking for par’Mach In All the Wrong Places.” We explore its basis in Edmond Rostand’s Cyrano de Bergerac, the comedic timing of Michael Dorn, Terry Farrell, and Armin Shimerman, why Worf is riddled with contradictions, and, of course, the blossoming romantic tendencies of the other O’Briens. In our news segment we discuss the Certificate of Commendation Star Trek Fan Club and Communicator founder Dan Madsen received from Colorado State Representative Paul Rosenthal, and Paramount’s upcoming release of The Wrath of Khan as a steelbook.
Hosts Christopher Jones and Matthew Rushing
Guest Will Nguyen
Editor and Producer Christopher Jones
Associate Producer Renee Roberts
Production Manager Richard Marquez
Content Coordinator Will Nguyen
News Trek Legislative Caucus Honors Dan Madsen (00:04:19) Paramount to Release Wrath of Khan Steelbook (00:12:01)
Feature: Looking for par’Mach In All the Wrong Places Intro and Synopsis (00:19:13) First Thoughts (00:22:10) Playing Comedy (00:26:21) Cyrano de Bergerac In Reverse (00:28:12) Riddled with Contradictions (00:38:43) The Kelp of Discontent (00:47:27) The Other O’Briens (00:57:41) Final Thoughts (01:09:00) Closing (01:17:04)
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Sun, 21 December 2014
Destiny. When Sisko first arrives at Bajor in “Emissary,” he learns that he is viewed by the Bajorans as a religious icon. It’s an identity he struggles with through much of the series, but eventually comes to terms with. By “Rapture” at the midpoint of Season Five, Sisko has fully embrace prophecy and matters of Bajoran faith are guiding many of his actions. The road to “Rapture” was a long one, however. The easily overlooked linchpin is the third-season episode “Destiny,” a quiet story about scientific cooperation between Cardassia, Bajor, and the Federation. In this episode of The Ready Room we’re joined by John Mills and Norman Lao to discuss this short-lived thawing of relations between warring factions, the religious and political forces tugging at the process, how Trakor’s Third Prophecy is a turning point for both Kira and Sisko, how our own views and agendas color our interpretation of Deep Space Nine, and how “Destiny” plays into Sisko’s overall character arc. In our news segment we discuss Paramount’s decision to airlock Orci, whether or not Frakes could actually take the helm, and what the various rumored directors could mean for the film and Star Trek. We also debate the results of StarTrek.com’s poll about which series made the best use of the holodeck.
Hosts Christopher Jones and John W. Mills
Guest Norman C. Lao
Editor and Producer Christopher Jones
Associate Producer Renee Roberts
Production Manager Richard Marquez
Content Coordinator Will Nguyen
News Paramount dumps Orci. Could Frakes take command? (00:02:57) Poll: The Star Trek series that made the best use of the holodeck was... (00:13:24)
Feature: Destiny Intro and Synopsis (00:19:36) All In on Faith (00:22:47) Scientific Cooperation (00:25:46) Diversity and Interpretation (00:38:06) Testing Sisko’s Faith (00:47:51) Agendas and Viewpoints (00:58:44) Final Thoughts (01:05:04) Closing (01:10:15)
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Wed, 29 October 2014
In the Pale Moonlight. Star Trek fans often question Sisko’s methods. As Starfleet captains go—at least those we saw as leads—Sisko is perhaps the least likely to do things “by the book.” One act that is cited most often is Sisko’s decision to bring the Romulans into the Dominion War, the deceptions he concocted together with Garak, and the fact that, in the end, he was okay with it. “In the Pale Moonlight” is frequently praised as one of the best episodes of not only DS9 but of Star Trek, yet there are also those who see it as a betrayal of Gene Roddenberry’s vision of the future. In this episode of The Ready Room we’re joined by Matthew Rushing, Jeremy Reed, and Jaime Sanchez to discuss “In the Pale Moonlight,” why it remains one of Star Trek’s most controversial yet satisfying moments, and why real life sometimes pushes people to compromise their own values for the greater good. In our news segment, we discuss the future implications of CBS All Access for Star Trek, find out what’s waiting for you in Larry Nemecek’s Trekland Trunk, explain how you can help get Star Trek creatives on the panels for Destination Star Trek London 2016, and help you create a night of spooky Treks for Halloween. Hosts Guests Editor and Producer Associate Producer News Feature: In the Pale Moonlight Send us your feedback! Support the Network! |