Star Trek Beyond.

After Star Trek Into Darkness, many questioned whether there would be a third film set in the Kelvin Timeline. The road to Beyond was a rocky one that included a complete reset of script, writer, and director. But in the end, Simon Pegg, Justin Lin, and the cast and crew of this rebooted Star Trek delivered a film that celebrates the 50th anniversary of the franchise, and that has surprised fans and critics alike.

In this episode of The Ready Room, Matthew Rushing takes over the captain’s chair following news and is joined by John Mills and Bruce Gibson to discuss Star Trek Beyond: the characters, the story, the action … music, villain, and more.

In our news segment, Chris and Matthew discuss the end of IDW’s Ongoing comic series—plus the launch of a new one called Boldy Go—and the kick off of the 50th Anniversary Star Trek Art Exhibition “50 Artists. 50 Years.”

News
50 Artists. 50 Years. The Star Trek Art Exhibition (00:04:48)
IDW’s Boldly Go Comics Pick Up the Pieces of Beyond (00:12:43)
Sponsor: The Eaglemoss Official Star Trek Starships Collection (00:18:46)

Feature: Star Trek Beyond
Synopsis and Initial Thoughts (00:23:58)
Character Growth (00:32:58)
Jaylah (01:05:52)
The Story and the Villain (01:09:48)
The Music, Effects, and Design (01:22:46)
The Action (01:29:09)
The Very Last Question (01:33:31)
Final Thoughts (01:37:52)

Hosts
C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Guests
John Mills and Bruce Gibson

Production
C Bryan Jones (News Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Feature Editor and Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Renee Roberts (Associate Producer) Zachary Fruhling (Associate Producer) Sam Piassick (Associate Producer) Kay Elizabeth Janeway (Associate Producer) Tim Robertson (Associate Producer) David Shuford (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager)

Star Trek Into Darkness.

After a four-year wait, Star Trek fans have finally been taken into darkness with the second chapter in the J.J. Abrams take on Gene Roddenberry’s creation. In this episode of The Ready Room we’re joined by Tristan Riddell, Charlynn Schmiedt, Matthew Rushing, and Lorrie Sears to discuss our impressions of the film, what we liked, what we disliked, and what it means for the future of the franchise.

In news we look at the upcoming Creation conventions in Chicago and Boston, Bing’s new Klingon translation option, a major UK Blu-ray bargain on Enterprise season two, the new Star Trek Rivals card game for iPhone and iPad, and Shatner’s new Captains Close-up mini series on EPIX, and a look at the initial box office number for Star Trek Into Darkness. 

Star Trek (2009).

In the same year that Enterprise went black, marking the end of Star Trek on television, Paramount reached out to a new creative team for ideas on how to revive the franchise. What came next was revelation that J.J. Abrams was developing a new Star Trek film. Slowly fans learned that the project was a reboot of the franchise that would recast the iconic roles of Kirk, Spock, and their crew. We’re starting everything over again. As the poster said, “The Future Begins.” In this episode of The Ready Room we’re joined by Charlynn Schmiedt, Matthew Rushing, and Max Hegel to talk about the first J.J. film, the uproar it caused in the Trek community, where it fits into the overall franchise, and about its strengths and weaknesses.

In news we look at summer and autumn tour plans for Star Trek: The Exhibition, new developments in the possible remastering of Deep Space Nine for Blu-ray, Diamond Select’s USS Excelsior, Geek Nation Tours “Hollywood to Vegas with Larry Nemecek,” changes to the Star Trek Into Darkness release date, and we talk about IDW’s Star Trek Ongoing #20. Plus, Mike Schindler gives a report from the midnight screening of Into Darkness at the BFI IMAX in London.

The Road to The Wrath of Khan.

While The Motion Picture did its job of resurrecting Star Trek on the big screen, it was the second outing of Kirk and crew that really propelled the franchise forward. Nicholas Meyer, a director who was not a Trekkie, somehow “got” the very core of Star Trek and put together once of the most amazing stories ever filmed. But the road from initial idea to final cut was a lot less straightforward than the flowing narrative might suggest. In this episode ofThe Ready Room we are joined by Star Trek historian Larry Nemecek and Sociology professor John Tenuto to explore the genesis of Star Trek II, the creative choices that led to the film we know, and a wealth of behind-the-scenes information that has never been shared anywhere before. Tenuto has researched more deeply into the Nicholas Meyer archives and the life of Ricardo Montalban than perhaps anyone else in the world. In the process he uncovered the minutiae of “Space Seed” and The Wrath Khan as well as connections that indicate that Khan is indeed the villain of Star Trek Into Darkness.  

In news we cover new information about the Star Trek console game release date, William Shatner’s plans for a TNG documentary, three bonus features planned for the Enterprise Season One Blu-ray set, new images from Star Trek Into Darkness, J.J. Abrams making a terminally ill fan’s final dream come true, Benedict Cumberbatch and Chris Pine on the cover of EMPIRE, and some of the first details of this summer’s edition of the Star Trek Geek Tours. Plus, we mark the 20th anniversary of Deep Space Nine by remembering the day that “Emissary” premiered. 

The Search for Spock.

Nestled between the relentless vengeance of Khan and the near destruction of Earth at the flippers of whales is an emotional nugget whose power is often overlooked. Star Trek III suffers from the middle-child syndrome, but it highlights the relationships between the crew of the USS Enterprise in a way rarely seen. It also planted the seeds for many of things we now take for granted in later incarnations of the franchise. In this episode of The Ready Room we’re joined by Charlynn Schmiedt and Larry Nemecek to discuss The Search for Spock, why many of the creative decisions in the film were made, and why Starfleet wishes some captains could learn to stop oversharing over subspace.

In news we cover the La-La Land Records 10th anniversary celebration, the addition of Star Trek to Hulu, the Enterprise Blu-ray cover art, Anthony Montgomery’s new film project Chariot, the trouble with Tribble slippers, Spock oven mitts, Star Trek Into Darkness and Dolby Atmos, and we speculate on just what Star Trek could bring to Angry Birds.

First Contact.

The first big screen outing for Picard and crew was more a bridge between generations than an outright TNG film. But in 1996 the spotlight shown entirely on the men and women of the 24th century, bringing us a new ship and the return of a legendary villain. The scope of the threat couldn’t have been larger. All of Earth had been assimilated by the Borg—in the past—and it was up to Mr. Jean-Luc to save the future. Under the direction of Jonathan Frakes, First Contact brought The Next Generation to what many consider the top of its game. In this episode of The Ready Room we’re joined by Brian Finifter of Down In Front, Drew Stewart of Cinetropolis, and Mike Rittenhouse of Five Year Mission to discuss First Contact, how it changed the Borg, and how the film has stood the test of time.

In news we cover the TNG Remastered theatrical schedule, some changes to TNG Blu-ray pricing, Star Trek attractions at a Paramount park in Spain, Star Trek.com’s poll about Trek’s best doctor, Spock Days 2012 in the City of Vulcan, plus we go all fashion diva with our discussion about hats. 

The Motion Picture.

It’s called “The Motionless Picture” by many, and spends its days and nights hanging out in the cellar along with Star Trek V: The Final Frontier. But there’s so much more to The Motion Picture than five-minute beauty passes, excessively revealing pastel uniforms, and a pace that would make a tortoise proud. Robert Wise’s cinematic take on Star Trek centers around an intriguing philosophical point and marked the resurrection that led to The Next Generation and all of modern Trek. In this episode of The Ready Room we’re joined by Michael Fisher as we discuss the good, the bad, and the just plain ridiculous of Star Trek: The Motion Picture.

In news we cover Microsoft’s universal translator, upcoming IDW comics, Anthony Montgomery’s graphic novel Miles Away, and Jordan Hoffman’s top ten transporter moments. Plus we reveal our first-ever rejected Star Trek: The Motion Picture plot. 

The Undiscovered Country.

In 1991 we bid farewell to the voyages of the Enterprise and its original crew. In a film of heavy Cold War allegory, released just 26 days before the Soviet Union ceased to exist, we were given a final chance to spend time with the characters we had known as Star Trek for 25 years. In this episode of The Ready Room we’re joined by Larry Nemecek to discuss Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, how it worked as a sendoff for TOS, and how it started the Star Trek universe down the road to the world of TNG.

In news we cover Paramount’s plan to feature Star Trek in their 2012 Tournament of Roses float, George Takei’s foray into the Star Trek vs Star Wars feud, the release of the complete Voyage Home score, movie rumors, IDW’s first original Abramsverse content, and we’ll preview two more tracks off of Five Year Mission’s new album Year Two. Plus a character from a galaxy far, far away makes a surprise appearance on the bridge of the Enterprise.

Insurrection.

In 1998 Paramount followed up the great success of First Contact with a film called Insurrection. This third outing of the TNG cast on the big screen received mixed reviews from critics and a lukewarm reception from fans. It’s a movie that’s not as great as fans had hoped and not as bad as many make it out to be. In this episode of The Ready Room we discuss Insurrection and look at where it succeeds and where it falls short. In news we cover Leonard Nimoy’s final convention appearance, Creation’s 2012 convention plans, the experience of watching Star Trek in IMAX, the new Star Trek: Expeditions expansion set, Trek.fm games, Star Trek: Phase II “Mind-Sifter,” and the surge in popularity for TNG.

The Final Frontier.

Yes, that’s right. Star Trek V. It’s a movie many fans pretend doesn’t exist. But if you look closely you can find some good moments in this mess of a film, especially in the relationships between Kirk, Spock, and McCoy. In this episode of The Ready Room we take a look at Shatner’s masterpiece and call it out where needed, praise it in those spots where it deserves it, and admire the beautiful menace that is Captain KLAA!!!!!

In our news segment we discuss the most underrated series, the most underrated TOS movie, the J.J. sequel and possible TV series, Star Trek: The Exhibition at Kennedy Space Center, hear David Warner recount his Trek adventures, look at the science of tractor beams, and check in on Patrick Stewart's panel at Chicago Comic Con.