Lots of O'Brien this week, which means a lot of misery. But not entirely for him! First up, a conspiracy is afoot in "Whispers", and the Chief is the only person not corrupted by it...right? After that, Sisko and O'Brien end up stranded with a bizarre Luddite cult led by an astoundingly hateable villain in "Paradise"!

Also this week: trying to edit around a bad intro, James Joyce facts, and the dark side of the space hippies.

[Timestamps: Whispers: 2:08; Paradise: 30:21]

There's some pretty good ideas on display this week on DS9, but the execution leaves us wanting. First up: Odo's "Dad" drops by and causes his boy enough stress that the Constable starts wrecking up the joint in "The Alternate". After that The Chief and Bashir are on the run from the dumbest peace plan in history in "Armageddon Game".

Also this week: the Trek "other", abysmal hair, and our first ever endorsement!

[Timestamps: "The Alternate", 00:30; "Armageddon Game", 28:01]

DS9 is loaded down with visitors this week on SSHB! First up, the Oatmeal people arrive from the Gamma Quadrant and decide Bajor would make a great home in "Sanctuary". After that, Jack Skellington (and Prince Humperdinck) himself, Chris Sarandon, plays an El-Aurian con man who gets his hands on a magical device that the story fails to make scientific in "Rivals"!

Also this week: a "Trek" legacy guest, from genitals to racquetball, and the hardest fat to lose.

Timestamps: "Sanctuary": 01:05; "Rivals": 31:06

Spirits abound on DS9 this week, but it's not a spooky episode. Rather, Odo is haunted by his past and an unsolved case in "Necessary Evil". After that, Sisko questions the nature of a woman in red who can appear and disappear seemingly instantly in "Second Sight".

Also this week: how Odo met Justice, "Columbo" connections, and romantic Sisko.

Timestamps: "Necessary Evil": 00:45; "Second Sight": 27:53.

All the guest stars are underestimated this week on SSHB. First up: the titular "Melora", a native of a low-gravity world who struggles in most other environments, fights to be treated like anyone else before literally fighting the dumbest "Trek" alien ever. After that, Pel the Ferengi disguises herself as a man to prove that she has the best lobes of anyone in "Rules of Acquisition".

Also this week: ethical violations, Quark blows it, and cut this.

[Timestamps: "Melora": 1:56; "Rules of Acquisition": 35:28]

Can everyone be brought back together successfully this week on DS9?! First up, Jadzia has the Dax symbiont stolen by some crappy little milquetoast in "Invasive Procedures", and it can only be gone so long before she'll die! After that, Cardassian scheming is at the epicenter of a custody dispute when a Cardassian orphan raised by Bajorans is revealed to be the son of a prominent politician in "Cardassians"!

Also this week: interrupting intros, symbiont ethics, and eye acting!

[Timestamps: "Invasive Procedures": 01:07; "Cardassians": 34:20]

We tackle a "Trek" 3-parter this week on SSHB! "The Homecoming", "The Circle" and "The Siege" join forces to bring us one big (possibly too big?) story about a legendary Bajoran hero who barely matters in the grand scheme of things, a Bajoran supremacist movement, and the DS9 crew fighting to stop a coup that is secretly being armed by the Cardassians. Yes, it's about as complicated as it sounds!

Also this week: sexy orbs, Winn is still the worst, and the Dracula connection.

No timestamps this week because we just treat this as one, huge episode. Enjoy!

Bajor continues to make an excellent case for its being kept far away from the Federation as season 1 comes to a close! First up, a complicated scheme that leads to greater understanding is entirely undone by a single, enraged drunk in "Duet". After that, religious types try to meddle in public education and we realize Bajor is basically 95% redneck during "In the Hands of the Prophets".

Also this week: Christmas, a string bean incident, and wrapping season one!

[Timestamps: Duet: 13:10; In the Hands of the Prophets: 41:09; S.1 wrap: 01:08:40]

Spoiler warning! "Discovery" s.1 spoilers 4:05-4:23 & 10:38-11:08

It's a couple more clunkers this week on DS9, but we wring what entertainment out of them we can.

First up: there's three plots in "The Forsaken", but only the one with Mama Troi hitting on Odo is any good. After that, the whole plot is rubbish but at least we get to watch almost everyone behaving weird in "Dramatis Personae".

Also this week: bad metaphors, holy Roman Emperors, and O'Brien headcanon.

[Time stamps: "The Forsaken": 03:27; "Dramatis Personae": 26:18]

SPOILERS AHOY! Your stalwarts have all finally gotten around to seeing "The Rise of Skywalker", the latest is Disney's attempt to MCU-ify George Lucas's iconic franchise and we're going to talk about it. Mostly we'll complain.

Also this week: fake diversity, bad stereotypes, and Chris is wrong about Endor.

Note: aside from spoiling everything about Episode IX, there's also some VERY minor "Mandalorian" spoilers