Nick and Todd return to "Alien Nation" to review the show's first TV movie continuation, "Dark Horizon." Retconning a few minor details, the movie essentially picks up where the cliffhanging season/series finale left off. Two members of the Francisco family are poisoned by purists, and a stranger from the desert emerges to help Cathy find a cure. But, there's more to Ahpossno and his motivations than meets the eye.

- What is the "most comforting & reassuring thing" about the movie?

- What is a major flaw in the purists' plan to poison high-profile Tenctonese rather than ones that are under the radar?

- The TV movie comes four years after the TV show but is supposed to be a direct continuation. How many things stayed the same, how many things got slightly adjusted, and which aspects were retconned, downplayed, or dropped altogether?

- Which respected support characters returned for the TV movies?

- What does Ahpossno say that causes Albert to lose his confidence and call off his wedding to May?

- How did a TV movie budget help the production quality, and did every special effect work well for both co-hosts?

- What are some really nice character moments throughout the movie, including George & Matt singing Susan's favorite Dionne Warwick song to her?

- In the final scene, what is special about the bridge where Albert & May are married and the person playing the role of the ceremony officiant?

- What is the "most shocking & alarming thing" about the movie?

- For two guys who aren't experts on make-up, what issue did both co-hosts have with the eye & forehead make-up used on the Cathy Frankel character?

- The Tenctonese Overseers pick up a signal from Earth, tempting them to pick up slaves, but why is there confusion over where that signal originates from?

- How did some special effects in this movie lead to comparisons with "Babylon 5" and "The Last Starfighter"?

- In what ways were George's plan to defeat Ahpossno and the Overseers clever, convenient, and lucky, all at the same time?

- How did the casting of Ahpossno lead to some references to "Gilmore Girls," a show at least partially enjoyed by both co-hosts?

- How did the re-casting of Lorraine lead to references to "Arrow" and two "Star Trek" shows?

- The officiant at the wedding was played by the wife of creator/writer/director/showrunner Kenneth Johnson. How many different ways were their two daughters & two sons -- plus Kenneth's personal assistant -- involved both behind the scenes and on-camera, both in & out of alien make-up?

- Which actor did Nick feature in his "Nick Falls Down the Rabbit Hole" segment?

- What types of trivia were learned from "The Unofficial Companion to Alien Nation," the press kit, and the DVD commentary by Kenneth Johnson & one of his daughters? How extensive were the details that Kenneth either remembered or had written down?

Listen now for the answers to these and other illuminating questions as we shine a light on..."Dark Horizon."

Stay tuned for reviews of the other four "Alien Nation" TV movies as we intersperse those with our reviews of our top 20 favorite "Star Trek: The Next Generation" episodes.

Please rate or review us wherever you listen to podcasts. You can leave comments on individual episodes via the Spotify & GoodPods apps. Our e-mail address is [email protected]

Royalty-free music used in this episode mostly comes from Pixabay.com with one song coming from what used to be freepd.com (now closed down; hopefully everything is still royalty-free).

This special "Star Trek: The Next Generation" bonus episode contains extra material from our reviews of "The Measure of a Man" and "Deja Q."

- Why did Todd think Captain Phillipa Louvois was such a terrible judge?

- Why does Todd think that "The Measure of a Man" shouldn't exist in the first place (regardless of how good it is)?

- What complaint about Riker did Todd throw in here that he didn't even fit in the main episode?

- What did Nick & Todd think about the three episodes that came right before "The Measure of a Man" and the three that came right after?

- And, which four background characters did Nick research for their frequent recurring appearances throughout "Star Trek: The Next Generation," including "Deja Q"?

Listen now for even more material from our extensive reviews of "The Measure of a Man" and "Deja Q" that didn't fit in the main episodes.

And, stay tuned for more reviews of our favorite "Star Trek: The Next Generation" episodes and the "Alien Nation" TV movies. Check out our reviews of the "Alien Nation" TV show, if you haven't already.

Please rate or review us wherever you listen to podcasts. You can leave comments on individual episodes via the Spotify and GoodPods apps. Our e-mail address is [email protected].

Royalty-free music in this episode comes from Pixabay.com.

Have your ever lost your powers and sought refuge amongst those you've previously tormented to protect yourself from others you've also tormented. Well, then maybe you'll relate to this week's review of the "Star Trek: The Next Generation" season 3 episode "Deja Q" where the once all powerful Q depends on the good will of the Enterprise crew, especially its artificial 2nd officer.

Note: The special bonus episode with additional material from our review of "The Measure of Man" will be next. It was pushed out one release because it now also includes one segment from this review too.

- Which three recurring characters (including Q) typically detract from an episode for one of our co-hosts?

- Which co-host loves the way Q reacts to aspects of being mortal and the various ways the crew reacts to him?

- Which co-host appreciates unlikely pairings, such as the one between Q and Data in this episode?

- Do both co-hosts agree about the tightness of the script?

- What good things does the recurring character of Guinan add to the story?

- What are some of the best quotes from the episode, both longer dialogue and one-word retorts?

- What is one co-host's argument that Data is more Star-Trek-y than Spock?

- What are some of the nitpicks about the episode, some of which are specifically about Q himself?

- How is one nitpick about 24th century fashion related to one co-host's tiny bladder?

- What is Roddenberry logic when it comes to zippers and other fasteners?

- What are some of the actor connections between "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and "L.A. Law"?

- What one detail in this episode, liked by one co-host, led to some good advise to writers about writing characters? And, how did that lead to references of other "Star Trek" shows?

- What "head canon" does one co-host have about additional off-camera run-ins with Q?

- How did some references to some "Star Trek" novels lead to some compliments & memories about the late great sci-fi author Peter David?

- Is loss a valid theme for this episode, and what are some other episodes & movies, in & out of the "Star Trek" franchise, that deal with some form of loss?

- What episodes were written or directed by this episode's writer & director? And, what are some other behind-the-scenes tidbits?

- Who is the MVP character this time?

- Though meant to be a humorous episode in some ways, are there any good morals or lessons that can be taken from the episode?

Listen now for the answers to these and other powerful questions as we experience..."Deja Q."

Please rate or review us wherever you listen to podcasts. You can leave comments for individual episodes on the Spotify or GoodPods apps. Our e-mail address is [email protected].

Royalty-free music used in the episode comes from Pixabay.com.

We finished our reviews of the "Alien Nation" TV series, but sprinkled in between our upcoming reivews of the five "Alien Nation" TV movies, we'll be reviewing our top 20 episodes of "Star Trek: The Next Generation." First up is one of many people's favorites from season 2, if not the whole series, "The Measure of a Man." This is the one where Lt. Cmdr. Data is on trial regarding his status as Starfleet property, with Picard fighting for Data's right to choose...and to live.

Note: A few segments ran long and were moved to an upcoming bonus episode. Stay tuned for that.

- Which co-host picked "The Measure of a Man" as one his personal top 10 (to add to the collective top 20)?

- How did this episode rank among the seasons, series, and beyond?

- What three things did Nick like the best about this episode?

- What did the co-hosts list in the "Warp Speed" (good stuff) and "Chalice of Reeks" (bad stuff) segments?

- What was the original concept for exploring Data's nature before switching to him learning poker, which became a recurring trope throughout the whole series, including the last moment of the series finale?

- In what ways did both co-hosts love the final scene between Data and Riker?

- What are some of the great quotes from this episode?

- What big nitpick, that took up approximately 13 minutes of the raw recording, ended up getting moved to the forthcoming bonus episode? Which guest character earned a co-host's rant, which also got moved to the bonus episode?

- What were some of the smaller nitpicks & negatives that the co-hosts had in an otherwise great episode?

- What is one co-host's "head canon" about how Nakamura (a bad admiral), Captain Louvois (a bad judge), Commander Maddox (an immoral cyberneticist), and Data, all wound up in the same place at the same time?

- What famous song was written by a guest star in this episode, and who was that guest star?

- Which guest star had a very brief role (just a couple lines) in "The Shawshank Redemption," and what was the role?

- This episode has connections to season 3's "The Offspring," which is also great in many ways but also frustrates one co-host in similar ways? What are those frustrations?

- What are some other episodes in this show, the franchise, or other franchises, that involve rights, personhood, or autonomy?

- What are some other episodes that involve trials, hearings, or other forms of courtroom drama?

- What is it about this episode that makes some things that happen later in "Star Trek: Picard" even more frustrating (and, isn't "Star Trek: Picard" frustrating enough already)?

- What are the other Trek episodes directed by the director of this episode?

- What are some of the neat technical, visual, and behind-the-scenes details from the episode, including views out of windows, the model used for the space station, items in Data's cylindrical luggage, references to "Buckaroo Bonzai," the music, and deleted scenes?

- Which character wins the "Captain's Chair" segment for MVP of the episode?

- What do the frustrations about this episode and "The Offspring" teach us about real-life, regarding issues with rights, privileges, progress, and changing hands of leadership?

- How did the co-hosts grade this episode, how did the explanation of one grading system sneak in a little commentary about new/modern Trek, and which co-host changed his grade *during* the recording?

- And, what communiques were read during the "Hailing Frequencies" segment?

Listen now for the answers to these and other broad and deep questions as we fathom..."The Measure of a Man."

And, stay tuned for the bonus episode, with more material from this review, coming soon.

Please rate or review us wherever you listen to podcasts. You can leave comments on individual episodes via the Spotify and GoodPods apps. Our e-mail address is [email protected].

Royalty-free music used in this episode came from Pixabay.com.

The journey reaches a milestone. Nick & Todd have rewatched & reviewed the season finale, and sadly the series finale, of "Alien Nation." It's called "Green Eyes" and involves purists assassinating prominent Tenctonese via poisons transmitted by smell. Don't worry; there are still five "Alien Nation" TV movies to review, and Nick & Todd have a plan for reviewing another show, but this is the bittersweet end to reviewing the weekly "Alien Nation" episodes.

- Is it good that the episode finally addresses the power dynamic between Matt & George via George's promotion to Detective 2?

- Matt & Cathy reach a milestone themselves in their will-they-won't-they relationship. Is it is a significant step forward, or is it another step back, or a little bit of both?

- What are the positives & negatives of the puppet used to represent baby Vessna?

- What do the co-hosts feel about the Kaif Balls, cloth spheres filled with pleasant-smelling substances that are then sniffed by Newcomers for a calming effect?

- Which board game is adapted to the Tenctonese language for a brief mention in this episode?

- How stubborn is George being for participating in parts of the investigation that take him to the marina, where the salt water could kill him if he fell in?

- How much did one co-host love the family's interactions with baby Vessna, including the singing of a lullaby?

- How well (or not well) does the episode handle the differences between the species when it comes to Matt & Cathy finally taking a step forward in their possible relationship?

- What advice for Matt by Zepeda was a slightly sour note for one co-host?

- Was the Melissa Etheridge song used in this episode a good fit for the sad scene after Matt & Cathy take a step back in their relationship?

- Was the immaturity & conflict between Matt & George successfully humorous as the cast intended or did one or both co-hosts find it annoying?

- What were the many frustrations with the continuing Buck & teacher arc, something even the writers & producers of the show think might have been one subplot too many?

- What issues were brought up in this week's "Yikes, Sikes!" segment?

- What are some of the stats behind the Melissa Etheridge song, "You Can Sleep While I Drive"?

- Is there any clear meaning behind the episode title "Green Eyes"?

- What did one co-host predict would have happened in a 4th or 5th season to keep the narrative fresh and to cut the budget, as some shows do in later seasons?

- What were some of the literary references in this week's episode?

- In the "Unofficial Companion" book, what did the writers, producers, and actors, have to say about this episode, particularly concerning the cliffhanger, having too many subplots, the interactions between Matt & George, and the show's cancellation by Fox?

- What was Todd's breakdown of episode grades throughout the season and his ultimate top 10 episodes?

- Do some of Nick's favorites and least-favorites line up with Todd's?

- And, what is the plan going forward?

Listen now for the answers to these and other questions as we take a look at the season finale, "Green Eyes."

And, here's the answer to that last question... We still plan to review the five "Alien Nation" TV movies, but we're going to intersperse them with our new ongoing topic...our top 20 episodes of "Star Trek: The Next Generation." For now, we've decided to return to "Alien Nation" once for every two episodes of "TNG."

Thank you for joining us on this journey of one of our favorite one-season wonders. Please rate or review us wherever you listen to podcasts. You can leave comments on individual episodes via the Spotify or GoodPods apps. Our e-mail address is [email protected].

Royalty-free music used in this episode came from Pixabay.com.

This week's episode is finally a Cathy Frankel centered story. It's not about her background as a scientist or her attraction to Matt but about her connection to a traumatized boy, named Andron, from the slave ship. When Cathy crosses paths with him again and suspects he's being abused, she risks everything to protect him.

- What do we learn from this episode about Kleezantsun, the Overseers?

- How do the co-hosts feel about Beatrice Zepeda compared to Sergeant Dobbs (Todd is now realizing Dobbs might not have ever been given a first name)?

- What moment from the next episode did Todd accidentally get confused with this episode?

- Is it totally clear whether Andron's foster mother actually cared for him or was just raising him on behalf of others?

- What criticisms did the co-hosts have about this week's police work?

- How good were the performances this week, including those of the guest characters?

- What were one co-host's mixed feelings with the final moment of the episode?

- What was special but also tragic about the actor that played Andron?

- What did we learn this week about Tenctonese biology, culture, and/or language?

- What were the strange references to Ronald & Nancy Reagan?

- And, in the Wheel of Press Kit segment, what did we learn about the actors that played the Francisco kids?

Listen now for the answers to these and other deep, compelling questions as we have a counseling session about..."The Touch."

Please rate or review us wherever you listen to podcasts. You can leave comments on individual episodes on certain pod players like Spotify and GoodPods. Our e-mail address is [email protected].

Royalty-free music used in this episode comes from Pixabay.com.

Gimme, gimme some more "Alien Nation" reviews, you ask? Okay, we'll do that. This week, we review episode 1.20 "Gimme, Gimme" which is all about inventions, investments, good luck, bad luck, the lottery, cars, 2nd jobs, joy, and toxicity -- not the social media kind of toxicity...but actual hazardous chemicals & noxious fumes.

- What did Nick do to help advertise the podcast at Stellar Fest this year?

- Why does at least one of the co-hosts feel this episode portrays Matt Sikes as a "sourpuss"?

- Which co-host went on a long, weird tangent about what makes anyone geeky?

- When conventions have different themed "tracks" which tracks rooms do the co-hosts spend the most time in?

- What did the co-hosts have to say about Matt's obsession with a car this week, and what does that say about our fandoms & obsessions?

- Which co-host appreciated Buck's increased appreciation of school and also his tendency to care for his baby sister Vessna?

- Why do Tenctonese not even detect the noxious (to humans) nature of fumes coming from the production of Nu-Knit fabric, when they supposedly have an enhanced sense of smell.

- What nitpicks did the co-hosts have about overacting,, swimming pools, lame alibis, one-time side characters, bad police work, and cheaply framed photos of inanimate objects kept in desk drawers, in this episode?

- What was Nick's really good Star Trek Alumni score this week, and which of his +1s was for someone who was a major cast member throughout an entire "Star Trek" show?

- How & why did one co-host go on a tangent about another podcast featuring cast members of "Star Trek: Voyager" and "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine"?

- What biological & cultural things did we learn about Tenctonese this week, including fashion and infant entertainment?

- And, what did writers, producers, and cast members, of the show thing about this epiosde?

Listen now for the answers to these and other enterprising questions as we hope to have good fortune with "Gimme, Gimme."

Please rate or review us wherever you listen to podcasts. You can leave comments on individual episodes on certain players, such as Spotify and GoodPods. Our e-mail address is [email protected].

Royalty-free music used in this episode comes from Pixabay.com.

What happened to Matt? Who or what brought him back? Was it a Tenctonese spiritual healer, a Tenctonese special power, a Human medical anomaly, or just an unexplainable miracle? Were crystals involved, and where did Matt get a crystal? We watched & reviewed this episode of "Alien Nation," and we're still not sure. Listen now and help us figure out, "Rebirth."

- Where would one or both co-hosts rank this episode in the whole season? Which other episode was most compared to this one?

- What moment of alien religion & culture did one co-host point out as interesting & enjoyable?

- What about the opening scene was confusing to one co-host?

- What aspect of the beginning of the episode led one co-host to bring up the movie "The American President" and count the similarity as a small, weird perk of this episode?

- How did the previous weird tangent lead the other co-host to reciting a deep quote about politics?

- What about both Matt *and* George, mostly related to this episode's Little League baseball subplot, annoyed one co-host? If any listeners are baseball fans, what do baseball stats have to do with actually playing the game?

- Did anything about the Little League baseball subplot work at all for either co-host?

- What about this episode led to mentions of "The X-Files" episode "The Unnatural" and the "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" episode "Take Me Out to the Holo-Suite"?

- Was this episode's music montage great or terrible?

- Did the imperfect Little League baseball subplot have a satisfying ending?

- What confusions does one co-host have about the intersection ...if any...of the possible-miracle-worker garbageman subplot and the crystal cult subplot? Are they really connected, or are the similar themes in the same episode just a coincidence?

- What do the co-hosts have for this week's "Yikes, Sikes!" segment?

- How many subplots in this one episode did one co-host count as missed opportunities?

- Which co-host continues to get character actors Brian Thompson and Jeff Kober confused?

- According the "Unofficial Companion" book, did even the producers of the show have issues with the final product of this episode?

- And, which unsuspecting "Alien Nation" actor actually took ballet in college?

Listen now for the answer to these and other home run questions as we resurrect..."Rebirth."

Please rate or review us wherever you listen to podcasts. You can leave comments on individual episodes at certain venues like Spotify and GoodPods. Our e-mail address is [email protected]

Royalty-free music used in this episode comes from Pixabay.com.

This week is the first of two Sikes-centric episodes, first with Sikes obsessing over a particular murder case right when he's supposed to start a vacation to Hawaii, in "Crossing the Line." Meanwhile, the Franciscos are preparing a special ceremony for newborn Vessna, and one family member isn't quite sure how to honor the baby.

- Does the new support character, Beatrice Zepeda, make a good first impression? What is her nickname for George, and is she a worthy replacement for Dobbs?

- How strange is it to have tabloid report Burns in this episode when the actor that plays him used to be in the opening credits, isn't any longer, and is finally given the most to do in this episode even as a guest star?

- Does anyone else think it's unusual that everyone at the police station gave Matt a going away part, including gifts, for just a vacation?

- Which of the co-hosts had an issue with the early banter between Matt, Zepeda, and Lois?

Listen now for the answer to these and other questions, as we take a look at "Crossing the Line."

Please rate or review us wherever you listen to podcasts. Our e-mail is [email protected].

Royalty-free music in this episode comes from Pixabay.com

She's finally here! Little Vessna Francisco has arrived. The conception, gestation, and...pod transferral...of this alien baby has provided the show "Alien Nation" with some of its best storylines, quirkiest moments, and some of the wildest sci-fi imagery. And, her birth is no different. In this episode, "Real Men," George's self-confidence is challenged by the last days of his pregnancy. A job-related tussle triggers the baby early, but does everything go according to plan, and does Matt have to step up to do a hard thing in the moment?

- How good was this episode and did one or both co-hosts hope it would have been even better?

- What mix of traits & emotions did Eric Pierpoint convey in this episode as an insecurely pregnant (alien) man?

- What did Nick say was a the thesis statement this episode was trying to convey?

- How much did we learn in this week's episode about pregnancy in Tenctonese men?

- What did Nick's wife think about the scene of a pregnant male going into labor?

- Why does Todd give Matt some credit for doing something in the episode he doesn't think he could do himself?

- And, what nitpicks did the co-hosts have about Tenctonese serums, people from Matt's past, the amount of time we got to see George pregnant, and the appearance of the baby?

Listen now for the answer to these and other laboring questions as we buff up into..."Real Men."

Please rate or review us wherever you listen to podcasts. You can leave comments on individual episodes on the Spotify or GoodPods apps. Our e-mail address is [email protected].

Royalty-free music used in this episode comes from Pixabay.com.