Masterpiece Science-Fiction Theater

In this episode: A literary analysis of The Squire of Gothos, from Vietnam analogies to connections to Q. Two Star Trek: Discovery easter eggs the writers snuck into TOS 50 years before Discovery was created. Really.

In this podcast: An analysis of “Shore Leave.”

In this podcast: An analysis of TOS’s only two parter, “The Menagerie.” Why Star Trek’s first, rejected pilot “The Cage” was resurrected in this episode. How much of the world building, diversity and inclusivity, and thematic elements that became the hallmark of the series were evident in “The Cage.”

In this podcast: We perform a mid-season analysis of the first season of Star Trek . 2nd Quarter Trends: no technobabble; world building is fleshed out with Starfleet Command; strong roles for women and people of color; dominant theme of humanism being superior to technology. Overall, a weaker batch of episodes than the first quarter … Continue reading "16) Star Trek Season 1: Mid-Season Analysis"

In this podcast: Justin introduces his co-host for the Discovery series: Vincent Marigna, who happens to be his husband, and who offers a unique perspective by being “not a fan, but not a hater either.” We discuss our visit to the Original Series sets of Trekonderoga and meeting Nichelle Nichols with our daughter, and our … Continue reading "DISCOVERY 002: Not a Fan, Not Not a Fan"

In this podcast: Kirk goes on trial and we meet Samuel T Cogley, attorney at law. In some stirring monologues, Star Trek firmly establishes itself as a sci-fi show that values the human over technology. A strong diversity episode with a black Commodore who dresses down Kirk, and a strong woman who prosecutes him.

In this podcast: A very 60s episode about how a powerful military can’t squash a more primitive enemy, and a black man goes toe-to-toe with a white superior officer without it being about race–yeah, this episode has nothing to say to 2017.

In this episode: Star Trek does Shakespeare for the first but by no means the last time. Kirk continues his habit of seducing women to get close to a criminal mastermind–this time with another TOS sexist female stereotype character. And she hides a phaser on overload in the most easily foiled murder plot ever.

In this podcast: Another case of the producers hammering home the idea that Star Trek should not  be be written as straight Science-Fiction An exploration about how this episode used the parallel Earth trope, and how future Trek writers tried to explain/retcon its use for Miri’s World A takedown of the episode’s premise: 300 year … Continue reading "ST01 012: Miri"

In this podcast: A fascinating window into the producers’ views on how to avoid technobabble and other science-fiction cliches The first episode that depicts Kirk as a cad, and not just because he kisses a sexy android Another average episode about a mad scientist who lacks clear motivation for his dastardly deeds–didn’t this happen in … Continue reading "ST01 011: Dagger of the Mind"