It's gunfights and swordfights this week, as a pair of high-powered aliens muck about with our "Enterprise" stalwarts in very different ways. First up: it's a half-baked old-timey Matrix (maybe) in "Spectre of the Gun," after which a pinwheel of doom makes humans and Vulcans grumpy and Klingons somehow grumpier in "Day of the Dove."

Also this week: Sheriff Ames reads you your rights, too much Chekov, and we eventually get quite distracted and look into the future.

Content warning: discussion of a scene of domestic abuse and one of attempted rape. Only one is from "Trek," this time. The other is literature.

synopses: 0:42; Spectre of the Gun: 12:39; Day of the Dove: 37:27

Considering how late it is in the series, I don't think they're ever going to learn. It's still free access to all guests and no locked doors anywhere, and what does it get us? First up is the shrillest takeover of the "Enterprise" yet in "And the Children Shall Lead," followed by YET ANOTHER jaunt beyond the galactic barrier in "Is There in Truth No Beauty?"

Also this week: Ames has a hat, Caitlin has Britishisms, and everyone's got a jones for Jones.

synopses: 2:04; And the Children Shall Lead: 14:26; Is There In Truth No Beauty?: 39:15

Everyone's ready to get down with someone this week on SSHB! First up, "Trek" introduces us to our first female ship commander in "The Enterprise Incident," only to undercut its own progressiveness by having her spend most of her screentime being SUPER thirsty for Spock. After that, Kirk winds up with amnesia in "The Paradise Syndrome" and forgets everything about himself except how much he enjoys sex with people he meets while exploring.

Also this week: Jake introduces us to his oddest self yet, we have a big old Romulan love-in, and we learn to never criticize one of Ames's roller coasters.

synopses: 0:30; The Enterprise Incident: 9:14; The Paradise Syndrome: 43:24

Well, this was certainly a trying week for your erstwhile quartet of "Trek" raconteurs. First up is "Assignment: Earth," wherein alien-trained superspy Gary Seven learns the age-old lesson that some days you just can't get rid of a bomb. But what do you do when the bomb is your episode? And then it's the infamous "Spock's Brain," wherein everyone's favorite Vulcan has his gray matter pinched by aliens...to be an HVAC control unit?

Also this week: more Lt. Leslie theories, Vulcan naming conventions, and Chekov does the impossible.

Timestamps: synopses: 0:35; Assignment: Earth: 12:09; Spock's Brain: 47:30

It's the SSHB Podcast! It doesn't slice, dice, or julienne fries, but you can certainly set it and listen to it! I can't legally say we're brought to you by RonCo, but we might as well be this episode. It's a week of invention as Doctor Daystrom brings "The Ultimate Computer" around to the Starfleet science fair, and Ames invents a scenario for some "Bread and Circuses" fanfic.

Also this week: M5's boners and a little eye candy for the ladies, for once.

Content warning: I'm starting to realize ToS has a lot of uncomfortable sexual situations from the number of times I've had to write these. There's a scene with, AGAIN, some really unfortunate consent issues that leads to a (super) brief discussion of rape.

[Timestamps: synopses: 1:35; The Ultimate Computer: 17:14; Bread and Circuses: 43:35]

Seems like we've been here before. First up, it looks like the "Enterprise" is getting hijacked AGAIN in "By Any Other Name," while the Prime Directive is being blown to smithereens in "The Omega Glory."

Also this week: the show can't decide if humanity is astronaut ice cream or powdered drugs; a disproportionate amount of phallus chat; and the eternal search for the Bubbler of Youth.

Content warning: brief discussion of Kirk's tendency to kiss first and ask permission...well, never.

Timestamps: synopses: 1:14; By Any Other Name: 13:57; The Omega Glory: 36:32

Plans just keep going wrong this week. But while treachery is the proverbial wooden shoe in the machinery in "Return to Tomorrow," the basic idea itself was just idiotic to begin with in "Patterns of Force."

Also this week: Jake makes up names, an unfortunate lesson about forgiveness, and why juxtaposing inhumanity and comedy doesn't work.

Timestamps: synopses: 0:35; Return to Tomorrow: 16:18; Patterns of Force: 45:34

First up: that background noise we mention and apologize for at the start actually cuts out pretty quickly and never returns, so you needn't worry about that, after all.

Meanwhile: your valiant podcasting crew struggles to remain on-topic more than usual as we desperately try to care about "The Immunity Syndrome," and try even more desperately to find something to like about "A Private Little War."

Also this week: Chris talks weird, Spock is apparently Obi-Wan when it's convenient to the plot, and Nurse Chapel's getting a sock puppet.

Note: we spoil "Passengers" so you don't need to see it. You're welcome.

Content warning: discussion of an attempted rape in "Private Little War."

Timestamps: synopses: 3:02; The Immunity Syndrome: 15:00; A Private Little War: 40:42

Everyone keeps getting captured this week, though by VERY different kinds of enemies; it's full sci-fi weirdness when they're in the clutches of "The Gamesters of Triskelion," and full wackiness when the Sigma Iotians demand "A Piece of The Action" from the "Enterprise" crew! Also this week: going full Shat, bad fights all around, and Kirk does his best Bugs Bunny.

Content warning: discussion of a sexual assault scene in "Gamesters."

Timestamps: synopses: 1:25; The Gamesters of Triskelion: 11:50; A Piece of the Action: 40:18

We're looking at both ends of the "Trek" tonal spectrum this week! First up: murder and mayhem spanning the centuries in "Wolf in the Fold," followed immediately by lighthearted japes in the classic "The Trouble With Tribbles"! Can we deal with the tonal whiplash?! Of course, we're tonal whiplash personified.

Also this week: possession for fun and profit (but mostly homicide); Scotty shouldn't go on away missions; and many, many Tribble questions but few Tribble answers.

[Note: contains spoilers for "The Lovely Bones"]

Content warning: quite a bit of sexual talk this week, as Kirk and Co beam down to a planet based on free love and we're SUPER mature.

Timestamps: synopses: 1:13; Wolf in the Fold: 12:10; The Trouble with Tribbles: 39:44