Ceti Alpha 3: A Star Trek Podcast

Lower Decks Season 5 Catchup

The final season of "Star Trek: Lower Decks" began this month - a bittersweet moment for the animated series.

The trio look at the first four episodes - looking at what made them laugh and what portents may have been dropped about how this show will end. They  focus on each character, their remaining storylines, and whether the remaining episodes will be more in the spirit of "The Next Generation" or "Deep Space Nine."

It's so hard to say goodbye - but join them as they enjoy "Lower Decks" final episodes.

Mirror Universe - Star Wars: Andor Overview

The trio enter the Mirror Universe to become a dedicated Star Wars group - looking back at the first season of "Andor."

With season two of Andor expected in 2025, three years after the first, the trio looks back at this revivial of Star Wars on TV. Disney+ brought Star Wars to streaming with "The Mandalorian". It was then followed up with "The Book of Boba Fett" and "Obi-Wan Kenobi". Some fans felt that there was still something missing - and then came "Andor" in 2022, a perhaps unexpected prequel series to the film "Rogue One."

This 12-episode series centered on Cassian Andor and his reluctant entry into the Rebellion. The trio look at the stories, characters, and structure of this series that earned critical acclaim. Does "Andor" live up to all the hype? How is it different from both the series that came before and after? What were the most memorable parts? Join us in this ... Star Wars? ... discussion.

Star Trek: Prodigy Season Two Overview

The kids are back! "Prodigy" has been on a wild road - there was a substantial break between the first and second halves of the first season, then it was unexpectedly cancelled and then dropped from Paramount+, and then there was a quest to find someone to host a second season (which had already mostly been completed). But Netflix finally took on this young audience-targeted Trek animated series in 2024 and premiered the second season (after an errant French slip-up). What do we think?

The trio look at how the kids are doing, from new storylines, returning Voyager-era characters, new enemies, and how a bigger number of episodes (compared to other 21st Century shows) allows for different storytelling. From the Voyager-A to the temporal headaches of a returning USS Prodigy, from two-parters to a shocking way to end the season (series??) ... and then there's Wesley Crusher! There's a lot to cover and more to hope about the future of this series.

If we were in charge of Star Trek...

It's not the new year yet, but the trio are ready to look to the future. With the sale of Paramount still not quite official until 2025, and the renewal of some series, the cancellation of others, and the development of even others - it's time for a brief thought experiment.

What if we ran Star Trek?

As the helm of the franchise has gone from Gene Roddenberry to Rick Berman and now to Alex Kurtzman, it's now our turn. Do we keep current projects going or start from scratch? What platform will the future of Star Trek be carried on? Should we concentrate on movies or TV series? What new ideas will keep the franchise going for the next generation?

Join us as we sit in the big chairs and imagine our own version of Star Trek's future.

Whittling Down Season Four (VOY) to 10 episodes

The trio continues their series of chopping down the longer 1990s seasons of Star Trek into the 2020s average ten-episode limit. This time "the victim" is season four of "Star Trek: Voyager," also known as "when Seven of Nine joined the show."

The season begins with battling Species 8472 with the Borg in "Scorpion, Part II" and ends with "Hope and Fear," when the surprising (and suspicious) new starship Dauntless appears to take them home. These episodes also feature the Paris/Torres romance, the introduction of the Hirogen, and begins Seven's journey into humanity. Will your favorite episode make the cut? Will two-parters be split up? And how many episodes does "The Killing Game" count as???

Join us as we whittle down season four of Voyager!

Change in Star Trek Shows

It is not a suprise that many shows in the Trek franchise evolve in style and tone from their very first episode. But what about during their entire span - which series changes the most during its run? 

The trio discuss every show in the franchise from TOS to Lower Decks, determining which show changed the most over time. Is it TNG with its introduction of new uniforms and Rikers' beard? Is it DS9 with Worf and the Defiant? What about Enterprise with its pre- and post-Xindi War stories? How different are the three season of Picard? What about time jumping Discovery?

Join us as we discuss what changes and what stays the same in the Trek franchise.

Star Trek Comic Con News

The past few weeks have brought many updates for the Star Trek franchise that the trio jump into:

• The release of teasers/trailers for "Star Trek: Lower Decks," "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds," and "Star Trek: Section 31."
• Cast news about the upcoming Starfleet Academy series
• News about a new live action Star Trek comedy series in development

The sale of Paramount Global to Skydance, though still not official until 2025 (pending regulataroy approval and other considerations), also leads to further speculation about how the future of the franchise will be shaped.

What upcoming Star Trek are YOU most excited about? 

Star Trek Collectables

There is no shortage of "merch" when it comes to Star Trek. From action figures to playsets, 3D-printed accessories to uniforms, there is so much to choose from. Which ones have been most meaningful to the trio during their fandom? 

They explore what they bought or acquired from their younger years to what "adult money" has helped them enjoy in their current period of Trekdom. Let us know your favorite items - or ones that are still on your list!

Building Series Off of Guest Ships

The Star Trek franchise is led by our different heroes and their ships (or station). During the course of their many adventures, they encounter other ships and crews, sometimes for just one episode, that nevertheless prove memorable. The trio pick the most interesting "guest ships" throughout the franchise that could lead their own series.

Join us as we go round-robin style, pitching what a 23rd. C. based story of the all-Vulcan crew of the U.S.S. Intrepid would look like or how we could follow the continuing voyages of the I.K.S. Pagh through letters to Commander Riker.

Catch-up with Prodigy S3E1-E3

"Star Trek: Prodigy" is back! After an unexpected "cancelation" on Paramount+, season two finally found its way to Netflix (after a brief French detour). The entire season dropped at once, but the trio is taking itheir time to enjoy it - they chat about the first three episodes, encompassing the two-parter "Into the Breach" and "Who Saves the Saviors." 

The trio talk about re-introducing the crew, the unexpected places they've gone, new characters and ships, and all the other twists and turns that have occurred. These new Trek epsiodes continue to build on the franchise, not only referencing contemporary series, but serving as a mini-Voyager sequel with Admiral Janeway, the EMH, the Voyager-A, and Captain Chakotay. Is this really a kids' show or just a great Trek series for all ages?