The Ready Room: A Star Trek Podcast
64: You Whip the Captain First

The Gamesters of Triskelion.

When the Enterprise entered orbit of Gamma II to check on an automatic communications and astrogation station, Kirk, Uhura, and Chekov beamed down into one of the most brilliant TOS episodes ever created. From Shatner at his most Shatneresque to Chekov screaming “Cossacks!”, from the trinary star system of Triskelion to the caves of Janus VI, this episode has it all. Reportedly there is a message about slavery in here somewhere. And it all serves to show us how we can live our lives amongst flickers of light—and how you can record a Captain’s Log in virtually any situation. In this episode of The Ready Room we’re joined by our TOS Editor Drew Stewart and our Managing Editor Charlynn Schmiedt to discuss the classic TOS episode “The Gamesters of Triskelion.”

In news we get a hands-on look at Star Trek Catan—fries, shakes, and all—update you on the upcoming TrekMate Podathon for charity, and cover the TNG Season Two Blu-ray release, Google’s Star Trek anniversary doodle, Walter Koenig’s Star Celebration, and the best t-shirt ever made. Plus we come to terms with the realisation that J.J. Abrams and the cast of Star Trek Into Darkness aren’t making Batman. 

Direct download: trr-064.mp3
Category:The Original Series -- posted at: 9:00pm MDT

63: A Deeper Appreciation of Her Captain

Twilight.

The reset button is one of Star Trek’s favorite—and most despised—devices; but sometimes it’s just what a storyline is calling for. For the third season of Enterprise the studio decided to take us on a season-long journey into the unknown, into a region known as The Expanse. The Earth-Xindi conflict was a big risk for Star Trek. Creating such an extensive story in Star Trek’s past, involving a race no one had ever heard of, could be considered thumbing one’s nose at canon. Getting fans invested in the outcome of the conflict was no easy task. The solution? An intentional reset button early in the arc that allowed us to see how high the stakes were. In this episode of The Ready Room we’re joined by Hyperchannel host Tristan Riddell to discuss this reset button and the episode “Twilight.”

In news we cover the American debut of Star Trek Catan, new Star Trek toys and collectibles from Diamond Select, and we look at IDW’s “The Truth About Tribbles” as well as some Movie News and Rumours—including Benedict Cumberbatch’s boredom over the Khan question and Chris Pine’s decision to really do his job on the Star Trek sequel. Plus we speculate on Tribble starship design and Greg dispenses deep insights into the American sports ball. 

Direct download: trr-063.mp3
Category:Enterprise -- posted at: 9:00pm MDT

62: Rationalizing the Hell Out of This

Blink of an Eye.

For someone whose sworn mission was to get her crew home, Kathryn Janeway sure made a lot of unnecessary pitstops. One in particular landed the crew in the ultimate Prime Directive quandary—the kind they don’t even teach you about at the Academy. What do you do when your ship inadvertently becomes the corner of a civilization’s entire belief system and the impetus for their social and technological advancement? Well, of course, you write a book report about it! But after that, how do you set things back on the right track? In this episode of The Ready Room we’re joined by our Voyager editor Charlynn Schmiedt to discuss the episode “Blink of an Eye.”

In news we cover a chance to win a trip to Star Trek London, a special offer on Koenig Star Celebration tickets, the Wrath of Khan screening with Nicholas Meyer in North Carolina, TrekMate’s 24-hour Podathon for charity, 10 things you may not have known about DS9, and we remember Neil Armstrong and William Windom. Plus Chris and Greg return to their Southern roots. 

Direct download: trr-062.mp3
Category:Voyager -- posted at: 9:00pm MDT

61: Breen Hat Dukat

Indiscretion.

The intricacies of Deep Space Nine are astonishing. By the fourth season, many relationships between members of the crew, residents of the station, and even old enemies had evolved into the rich tapestry that both kept fans engaged and made DS9 less accessible to newcomers. One of the most interesting relationships was the one between Kira and Dukat. Despite having been on opposite sides of a battle, the two found themselves forced to cooperate on more than one occasion. In this episode of The Ready Room we’re joined by Ben McCormick of Dork Trek and Tristan Riddell of Hyperchannel to discuss the episode “Indiscretion” and how it evolved the Kira-Dukat relationship. Plus, we might even take a look at the slick moves of one Captain Benjamin Sisko, Esq.

In news we cover the TNG cast reunion at Wizard World Austin Comic Con, the return of the Priceline Negotiator, Trek in the Park, the next batch of IDW comics including the conclusion of “The Truth About Tribbles” and the continuation of Brannon Braga’s Hive, the GamesCom trailer for next year’s Abramsverse console game, the cancellation of Star Trek Infinite Space, a fan’s quest to restore the Enterprise 1701-D bridge, and we go over our wish list of officially licensed products—that we’ll probably never see. 

Direct download: trr-061.mp3
Category:Deep Space Nine -- posted at: 9:00pm MDT

60: Space Monkeys and Mimes

The Last Outpost.

When The Next Generation premiered the writers attempted to establish a new archenemy for the crew. Unfortunately, the introduction turned into a disaster. Reference to the Ferengi was made in the series pilot, but conflicting views on what this enemy should be like—and mindboggling choices by the director—turned what was meant to be fear and menance into comedic gold. It’s too bad, too, because the story that introduced the Ferengi had a lot of potential. In this episode of The Ready Room we’re joined by Charlynn Schmiedt to discuss “The Last Outpost,” where it succeeds in connecting with the best of Star Trek, and where it went terribly wrong.

In news we cover LeVar Burton’s gift to The Ready Room—an on-stage barrel roll—La-la Land Records’ upcoming 15-disc collection of TOS music, the CBS and Netflix renewal of Star Trek streaming, Larry Nemecek’s new “TREKLAND: On Speaker” interview collection, and Rod Roddenberry’s new podcast Mission Log. Plus our roving reporter Sara Van Cleve calls in live from Star Trek Las Vegas, and we debate what costume Greg should wear to next year’s con. 

Direct download: trr-060.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:00pm MDT

59: Self-Imposed Zombiness

The Return of the Archons.

We’re up for the Red Hour as we take on the classic TOS episode “The Return of the Archons.” In addition to the original story, the Star Trek universe has put a new twist on Landru and the mysteries of Beta III through IDW’s Star Trek Ongoing comic series. As part of the development of the Abramsverse, this series—overseen by Robert Orci and Bad Robot—has been re-imagining classic episodes; and the most recent two-part release sheds new light on Landru. In this episode of The Ready Room we’re joined by David Taylor and Drew Stewart to discuss both the original TV episode and the IDW comic version.

In news we cover Patrick Stewart and the Olympic torch, the Star Trek Las Vegas event schedule, Star Trek Night at Dodger Stadium, and Greg recounts his night at the TNG theatrical event. Plus, we get into the spirit of summer competition with an event known to few humans—the Edo Olympics.

Direct download: trr-059.mp3
Category:The Original Series -- posted at: 9:00pm MDT

58: Game of Captain's Chairs

In a Mirror, Darkly.

When it launched, there was great promise that Enterprise would build a bridge between our own time and the world of TOS. And while that never really happened, the fourth season brought us the most extensive look at the 23rd century since the original crew left the big screen. With the two-part “In a Mirror, Darkly,” Manny Coto, Mike Sussman, and the Enterprise creative team poured all of their love for The Original Series into a sequel to “The Tholian Web.” The results were visually amazing, but the story itself didn’t quite reach the same heights. In this episode of The Ready Room we’re joined by Michael Fisher and Brian Finifter to discuss the good and the bad of “In a Mirror, Darkly.”

In news we cover Neil deGrasse Tyson and whether the orginal 1701 is the best starship ever created, the TNG Season One Blu-ray price drop and the preview of Season Two, the launch of Star Trek Online Season 6: Under Siege, Hallmark’s 2012 and 2013 Star Trek ornaments, and we delve into the Star Trek 2013 title debate and try to figure out just what “reservation” J.J. is keeping the cast and crew on.

Direct download: trr-058.mp3
Category:Enterprise -- posted at: 9:00pm MDT

57: Idiot Savant Field

Non Sequitur.

If one thing was clear by Voyager’s second season it was that Harry Kim needed to get more action. Of course, we mean he needed more to do on the show than just stand at Ops and press buttons, turn down girls, or die in alien burial rituals. What he needed was to get away from it all and stand on his own. The writers gave Harry just that chance when he was fell into an alternate reality, waking to find himself in San Francisco. In this episode of The Ready Room we’re joined Trek.fm Voyager Editor Charlynn Schmiedt and DorkTrek’s Ben McCormick to discuss the “Non Sequitur” that is Harry Kim as a Starfleet warp theorist, Harry Kim as a man on the verge of promotion, Harry Kim in bed with a girl.    

In news we cover Trek Nation’s digital download release, William Shatner’s “Get a Life!”, Virgin Media and CBS bringing Star Trek: The Original Series and The Animated Series to TiVo in the UK, TNG Remastered and the CGI Enterprise, plus the latest batch of movie news and rumors—including what happens to Karl Urban after a 22-hour flight. Plus, we explain the real reason why tech gadgets are so bulky in the Star Trek universe.

Direct download: trr-057.mp3
Category:Voyager -- posted at: 9:00pm MDT

56: Special Religious Underwear

The Circle Trilogy.

When Deep Space Nine kicked off its second season, it did so with a Star Trek first: a three-part story. It was essentially a proof of concept for what DS9 would become. It added some much-needed depth to the series and explored the underlying issues facing Sisko as he carried out his mission of preparing Bajor for admission into the Federation. With a mix of religion, government infighting, corruption, and isolationism, the Circle Trilogy—comprised of “The Homecoming,” “The Circle,” and “The Siege”—is an early preview of the greatness to come for Deep Space Nine. In this episode of The Ready Room we’re joined by Tristan Riddell to discuss this three-parter and its place within the Star Trek universe.

In news we cover new Star Trek artwork from Bye Bye Robot and Jeff Foster, a joint KRE-O stop-motion animation project between Hasbro and Bad Robot, an extra-special featurette on the TNG Season One Blu-ray, the sale of the original Shuttle Galileo, and your chance to buy—yes buy—Armin Shimmerman. Plus we examine Greg’s iMessage stream of consciousness while watching Star Trek Generations.  

Direct download: trr-056.mp3
Category:Deep Space Nine -- posted at: 9:00pm MDT

55: Poor Dumb Picard

Tapestry.

“I told you. You’re dead. This is the afterlife. And I’m God.” Every day we make decisions that change the direction of our lives. It’s easy to look back and question the choices we’ve made, thinking that a different turn may have led to a better path. In the case of Captain Picard, an ill-advised bar fight with Nausicaans on Starbase Earhart left him without his natural heart. Despite this, his career moved forward and it was nothing more than a youthful mistake—until some diplomats got their Lenarians in a wad. At that moment, thirty years later, Picard dies thanks to his artificial heart. After that, compliments of Q, we get to see young Picard relive his days as an ensign—acting recklessly and unsuccessfully chasing skirts. Poor Dumb Picard. In this episode of The Ready Room we’re joined by Down In Front’s Brian Finifter and Trek.fm Voyager editor Charlynn Schmiedt to discuss this trip down memory lane in the sixth-season TNG episode “Tapestry.” 

In news we cover the addition of international theatrical screenings for the TNG Season One Blu-ray release and a new line of women’s Star Trek apparel from Ashley Eckstein and Her Universe. We also give our first impressions of IDW’s latest Star Trek Ongoing story “Return of the Archons” and add a few more adjectives to our Star Trek 2013 Villain White Board in movie news and rumors.

Direct download: trr-055.mp3
Category:The Next Generation -- posted at: 9:00pm MDT