And with that, we come to "Will You Take My Hand?", the season 1 finale of "Discovery"! A daring mission to the Klingon Homeworld, led by the Mirror Georgiou, is suspicious from the off and soon revealed to be another case of Admirals Behaving Badly. Will the Federation give up on its values in the face of its seeming destruction, or will cooler heads prevail?

Also this week: introf*cktion, the Howard count, and the elephant in the room!

[Hand: 02:01; Season Discussion: 01:17:26]

[The Blog: https://sshbpodcast.tumblr.com/post/776576040046854144/discovery-season-1-our-best-first-season-since]

It's almost the end of the first season of "Discovery"! In "The War Without, The War Within", Starfleet and the Federation are on their back foot. Having the cloak-detecting algorithm may not be enough on its own, so what can our heroes do? How about have a variety of scenes that don't quite add up to a proper episode? Oh. That's what we're going with. Hm.

Also this week: magical science, pacing problems, and a pet face-off!

[War: 01:15; Dog v. Cat: 52:21]

[Best in show: https://sshbpodcast.tumblr.com/post/775936261699584000/whos-a-good-boy-spot-vs-porthos ]

In "What's Past Is Prologue" everyone really doesn't get that just because someone is identical to a lost loved one doesn't mean you can expect them to BEHAVE like that lost someone. Especially if they're from an alternate universe with diametrically opposite morals! Idiots! Everyone is idiots! And Saru makes a speech.

Also this week: the reality of mushrooms, the idiot ball, and Mayweather!

[Past: 01:23; Forgotten Soul: 1:00:06]

[no pranks here, just a blog: https://sshbpodcast.tumblr.com/post/775303925787230208/character-spotlight-travis-mayweather ]

Well great. now we've got Mirror Georgiou to deal with! in "Vaulting Ambition" the mirror universe gets more complicated and more ridiculous in equal measure as Michael has to change plans on the fly. Meanwhile, the season has ANOTHER twist to fling at us!

Also this week: Voqler, goofy eyes, and Hoshi Sato!

[Timestamps: Vaulting Ambition: 00:39; Ensign Sato: 44:15]

[Hailing frequencies open: https://sshbpodcast.tumblr.com/post/774664993926987776/character-spotlight-hoshi-sato]

Note: spoilers for "Game of Thrones". No, the original

The "Discovery" crew continues their trek through the Mirror Universe this week with "The Wolf Inside". Can Burnham retain her core beliefs even while going undercover among some of the worst people ever? What will become of Tyler when his secret comes out? And is there any universe where Sarek is a good father?!

Also this week: dramatic reenactment, damn/thank God for spores, and...oh. Phlox. It had to happen.

[Wolf: 01:21; Just the WORST Doctor: 42:20]

[Hide your celery: https://sshbpodcast.tumblr.com/post/774038402099298304/character-spotlight-phlox]

Oh man we are SO back! By which I mean back to the Mirror Universe, simultaneously this show's least favorite and favorite place to visit depending on which host you're listening to! In "Despite Yourself" the Discovery crew needs desperately to blend in to figure out if there's a way for them to get out of this land of impossible doppelgangers and fascist fashion without losing themselves on the way!

Also this week: an unfortunate trope, obvious in retrospect, and Malcolm Reed!

[timestamps: Despite Yourself: 00:41; Mr. Tactical Alert: 1:04:09]

[report for training!: https://sshbpodcast.tumblr.com/post/773399528688828417/character-spotlight-malcolm-reed]

Content warning: episode contains depiction of SA and we discuss briefly.

After last week's disappointing entry, we're on to something much more interesting with "Into the Forest I Go". It's time for a daring mission onto an enemy ship to protect the weird wisps and maybe win the war! But will it all go wrong when Tyler encounters his torturer?

Also this week: modern psych, saying the thing, and Trip!

[Forest: 01:08; Tucker: 45:57]

[Cap'n: https://www.tumblr.com/sshbpodcast/772767095112040448/character-spotlight-charles-trip-tucker?source=share ]

We've got three plots this week and somehow almost nothing happens in "Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum"! We finally have an away mission and Saru goes a bit nuts, which is certainly very "Trek". Meanwhile, Stamets is feeling the strain of being a living navigational computer. And L'Rell meets Cornwell. Yup.

Also this week: belated holiday, The Simpsons, and T'Pol!

[gift exchange: 01:44; Pretentious Latin Title: 22:16; Subcommander: 59:08]

[T'mblr: https://www.tumblr.com/sshbpodcast/772154565302861825/character-spotlight-tpol?source=share]

Inspired by last week's "Discovery" time loop episode, we're taking a look at 2014's action sci-fi time-loop trip "Edge of Tomorrow". Tom Cruise plays a media relations army man thrust into actual battle and lasts about as long as you'd expect...until some alien magic makes it so he gets to try again. And again. AND AGAIN. Can he save the planet AND get out of the loop with the help of Emily Blunt? Join us and find out!

Also this week: plot holes, video games, and marketing!

Harry Mudd is back and he's out for revenge in "Magic to Make the Sanest Man Go Mad"! He's got some inexplicable time magic creating a loop that should allow him to pull off the perfect heist, and a spore-dappled Stamets might be the only person that can throw a wrench into his plans! With a little help from our main character, of course.

Also this week: whalebutt transport, tonal dissonance, and...oh. Jonathan Archer. Ugh.

[Magic: 01:59; Archer: 1:00:09]

[Everyone's least favorite Captain: https://www.tumblr.com/sshbpodcast/770885906979864576/character-spotlight-jonathan-archer?source=share]