Step right up to the bout of the 22nd century as the final showdown between the forces of EVIL face the forces of...ah...Archer and Co in "Kir'Shara"! But don't leave just yet, as in our next round it's man vs their own past hubris in "Daedalus"!

Also this week: the 90s S, Chris tries to pull a Jake, and Harry Kim!

[timestamps: Kir'Shara: 01:14; Daedalus: 43:27; Ensign Kim: 1:13:23]

[play that saxy music, Harry!: https://www.tumblr.com/sshbpodcast/757552542974656512/character-spotlight-harry-kim?source=share]

"Enterprise" woke up one day and realized they'd kinda made the Vulcans sort of a mess. So they've decided to semi retcon it so that it's just one dude in the High Command who's evil and everything else is more like we remember it. Mind melding is fine now, we promise! Also, look, it's T'Pau in a deeply unnecessary appearance! And Surak is here, but in brain ghost form! So join us for the first two parts of a three-part Vulcan epic with "The Forge" and "Awakening".

Also this week: cults are always right, Tommy Paris, and fanfic name draws!

[episodes: 01:09; Paris: 55:35; fanfic plans: 1:13:38]

[set a course to the Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/sshbpodcast/756920957763026944/character-spotlight-tom-paris?source=share]

Since there's been some genetic engineering talk on "Enterprise" recently we decided to finally take a look at 1997's "Gattaca". It's the story of a near-futuristic (or alternate present?) dystopia with designer babies and a future determined entirely by one's genes. But Ethan Hawke wants to go to space, dangit, and he'll do whatever it takes, including some deeply upsetting stuff to his legs!

Also this week: cripes what a pretty cast; Tamara de Lempicka; and an inordinate amount of urine tests!

[content warning: discussion of suicide]

[the art: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autoportrait_(Tamara_in_a_Green_Bugatti)

https://www.wikigallery.org/wiki/painting_68885/Tamara-de-Lempicka/Young-Lady-with-Gloves%2C-1930

https://www.wikigallery.org/wiki/painting_68915/Tamara-de-Lempicka/The-Girls%2C-c.1930 ]

"Enterprise" has left infurating war crimes behind and has gone back to the familiar comfort of dull and copying older "Trek". In parts two and three of a story that did NOT need to be a three-parter, the Augments go on a rampage and Soong realizes maybe he did, in fact, do a bad thing by unleashing them on the galaxy. Join us, won't you, for "Cold Station 12" and "The Augments".

Also this week: too many nods, a pointless brother, and B'Elanna!

[Timestamps: Cold Augment Dozen: 00:36; Torres: 54:21]

[note: minor spoilers for "Picard" S.2, but honestly that's probably the worst of the seasons of that show so who cares?]

[tumbl down to engineering: https://www.tumblr.com/sshbpodcast/755647318423994368/character-spotlight-belanna-torres?source=share]

Well look at that, July 4th has fallen on our release day this year and it's always fun to take a break from "Enterprise"! So we're finally taking a look at 1996's action-disaster-blockbuster "Independence Day" (aka ID4)! Get those nostalgia goggles off and see if it still holds up when aliens blow up practical effect monuments and only sexy sexy Jeff Goldblum and still-mostly-the-Fresh Prince Will Smith can save us with the power of Apple computers!

Also this week: but really, this cast though. As well as some almost-disastrous alternate casting. And some even more disastrous alternate titles!

Welcome to Earth!

Season four finally starts proper after last week's bizarre opener. First up, the crew goes "Home" and does a take on TNG's "Family" if it was a slog and had really bad lessons woven into it. After that: it's part one of what will be multiple three-parters in the final season of "Enterprise" as Brent Spiner guest stars as one of his own ancestors to take us to the "Borderland"!

Also this week: fun with umlauts, big square heads, and Tuvok!

[timestamps: Home: 01:18; Borderland: 45:55; Mr. Vulcan: 1:11:50]

[dance on over to the tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/sshbpodcast/754390653323100160/character-spotlight-tuvok?source=share]

When we last left our heroes there were aliens in WW2 because why not, right? Sure. Fine. So we're picking up that thread and it turns out to be a bunch of Temporal Cold War nonsense in "Storm Front", parts 1 and 2. On the plus side it's also the end of that idiot saga.

Also this week: a questionable montage, Machine Gun Reed, and Commander Chakotay!

[timestamps: Storm Front: 01:25; The Gentlest Maquis: 52:51]

[Just ignore the phony Native American stuff and he's pretty good: https://www.tumblr.com/sshbpodcast/753747139156393984/character-spotlight-chakotay?source=share]

Oh God quick finish it up now, now, NOW! It's "Zero Hour" on "Enterprise" as everything is just tied up in a...well, not a neat little bow. Kind of a last-minute convoluted bow? Also somehow everything and nothing happens all at the same time. Then it's topped off by maybe the dumbest cliffhanger ever?

Also this week: too long a shorter season, lotta "Star Wars" in this "Star Trek", and wrapping an absolutely abysmal season of "Trek".

[timestamps: Zero Hour: 1:08; S.3 rankings: 38:19]

[The List: https://www.tumblr.com/sshbpodcast/753105347531718656/the-worst-season-of-all-of-star-trek?source=share]

One day, the writers of "Enterprise" woke up and remembered they weren't writing Nationalistic Propaganda-fest "24" and actually wrote a couple episodes of "Star Trek," wherein people talk about their problems instead of constantly torturing, murdering, and stealing from innocents! Check out a VERY late course-correction as we approach the end of this clustercuss with "The Council" and "Countdown"!

Also this week: lots of other franchises, genuine happiness, and Captain Janeway!

[timestamps: episodes: 01:48; Cap'n Coffee: 57:33]

[NB: Prodigy spoilers in the "Janeway" discussion, but there's a head's-up in the episode]

[she will blow this tumblr up if you cross her: https://www.tumblr.com/sshbpodcast/752474574707441664/character-spotlight-kathryn-janeway?source=share]

We're racing to the finale but we have to have some filler on the way! In "The Forgotten" John is too busy talking to the Xindi to write a letter so he makes Trip do it. After that, endure a crappy rehash of "Children of Time" with "E²".

Also this week: a narratively pointless blaze, a narrative device person, and Gul Dukat!

[timestamps: Forgotten: 03:50; E²: 36:33; Dukat: 1:15:10]

[It's not a statue, but we're sure he'd like it: https://www.tumblr.com/sshbpodcast/751836526082670592/character-spotlight-gul-dukat?source=share]