The Next Generation continues its rediscovery of social issue television with “The Outcast”, in which Riker falls in love with a transgender alien. But it’s about gay rights? Later, in “Cause and Effect”, Data falls in love with Riker, which destroys the Enterprise. Also! Richard doesn’t know what Kelsey Grammer looks like. iTunes Google Play …
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Trekabout Episode 115: Power Play/Ethics
Troi, Data, and O’Brien pretend to be the long-dead crew of a 22nd Century starship? No, we’re not talking about improv comedy night in Ten Forward, it’s “Power Play”. Worf gets injured by a falling barrel and must decide that life is worth living? No, we’re not talking about a Lifetime movie, it’s “Ethics”. iTunes …
Trekabout Episode 114: The Masterpiece Society/Conundrum
An allegorical story in which the perfect people get hoisted by their own petard? No, we’re not talking about the results of this week’s midterm elections: it’s “The Masterpiece Society”, which is actually quite a good episode and we will not hear any dissenting opinions on that. Then it’s “Conundrum”, which is not in fact about Eric’s …
Trekabout Episode 113: Hero Worship/Violations
So a few episodes ago, Eric said that season five of Star Trek: The Next Generation was his favorite, and what better proof do you need that he records Trekabout drunk, because hoo boy are “Hero Worship” and “Violations” a pair of absolute stinkers. Plus! Geordi almost died in a fire? iTunes Google Play RSS
Trekabout Episode 112: A Matter of Time/New Ground
The crew of the Enterprise-D has problems this week. In “A Matter of Time” they are very flatteringly targeted by an extratemporal conman who isn’t even trying, guys. Later, in “New Ground”, Worf’s past as a neglectful father comes back to haunt him. Plus! Picard is not Kirk. iTunes Google Play RSS
Trekabout Episode 111: Unification I/Unification II
You know how sometimes you think you really want something, and then once you get it, you realize it probably wasn’t that great of an idea? No, we’re not talking about the iPhone 6 Plus–we’re talking about “Unification I” and “Unification II”–the TNG two-partner that features Romulans, Sela, Sarek… and Spock. But it’s just not …
Trekabout Episode 110: Disaster/The Game
This week, we’ve replaced Star Trek: The Next Generation with The Poseidon Adventure and Invasion of the Body Snatchers. In “Disaster”, watch the crew of the Enterprise-D try to escape from a space tsunami! In “The Game”, watch Wesley Crusher and Ensign Lefler struggle to avoid being turned into brainwashed pod people! In Trekabout episode …
Trekabout Episode 109: Ensign Ro/Silicon Avatar
Some of the smooth polished edges have been worn down in the four years the Enterprise-D has been traveling the stars, but “Ensign Ro” gives us a titular character with a checkered past and a dislike of all our regular characters. Another guest star has a checkered past in “Silicon Avatar” and it’s a giant space-faring crystal. …
Trekabout Episode 108: Redemption II/Darmok
Eric and Richard, in front of the mics. Worf and Gowron, in the High Council. Picard and Sela, in the observation lounge. Picard, on the planet. “Redemption II” and “Darmok”, on a podcast. Trekabout, at rest. iTunes Google Play RSS
Trekabout Episode 107: In Theory/Redemption
Trekabout closes out The Next Generation’s fourth season with a couple of experimental episodes. In “In Theory”, Data experiments with romance, and in “Redemption”, Worf experiments with leaving Starfleet. Plus! Richard is confused by the return of an old crewmember. iTunes Google Play RSS