Star Trek Discovery Podcast, featuring Picard, Lower Decks, and Strange New Worlds

We love Captain Pike! For episode 26 of The Star Trek Discovery Podcast, Ruthie and I discuss the Season 2 premiere of Star Trek: Discovery - S2E1, which is titled, Brother. It was written by Ted Sullivan & Gretchen J. Berg & Aaron Harberts (the latter two were the showrunners at the time this was filmed), and it was directed by the current showrunner and co-creator, Alex Kurtzman. We both loved this supersized movie-like premiere! If you haven't given Discovery a try, this epic episode is one you can jump right in!

Star Trek: Discovery - Season 2, Episode 1: Brother

For episode 26 of The Star Trek Discovery Podcast, Ruthie and I discuss the Season 2 premiere of Star Trek: Discovery - S2E1, which is titled, Brother. It was written by Ted Sullivan & Gretchen J. Berg & Aaron Harberts (the latter two were the showrunners at the time this was filmed), and it was directed by the current showrunner and co-creator, Alex Kurtzman. We both loved this supersized movie-like premiere! If you haven't given Discovery a try, this epic episode is one you can jump right in!

We LOVE Captain Pike!!!

If you've seen TOS ("The Cage" and "The Menagerie") or the Kelvin Timeline films - specifically "Star Trek" (2009) and "Star Trek Into Darkness" (2013) - you are probably aware of Captain Christopher Pike, who captained the Enterprise before Kirk took command, but we didn't know about his stint as the captain of the Discovery, while the Enterprise underwent extensive repairs after suffering severe ship-wide system failure. Pike takes command of the Discovery to investigate seven red bursts throughout spread out across more than thirty thousand light years, but he considers it "shared custody" with Saru. Pike makes this episode, and if this episode is any indication, Pike will quickly become a fan favorite, if he isn't already!

They Have Stepped It Up

This episode looks like a blockbuster movie! It looks every bit as good as the three Kelvin Timeline films. There have been reports that Berg & Harberts lost their showrunner jobs in part because the first three episodes went way over budget. I was skeptical of this report until I saw this first episode. I am not exaggerating when I say it looks like a hundred million dollars was spent on this episode. I know it wasn't, but the quality of the visuals has far eclipsed what we saw in Season 1, which was already made it one of the best looking TV shows going.

Fred's Pics!

In addition to our cover image, Fred from The Netherlands also provided us with some images from this episode! Thanks again Fred!!! If you watched the first Short Trek, Runaway, you may have noticed a resemblance between Po and Commander Nhan. I know I did, enough that I had to check to see who played Nhan. Well, Fred thought Nhan was a Xahean, like Po. However, it's been determined that she's a Barzan, the aliens who tried to sell rights to the Barzan wormhole in TNG's Season 3 episode, "The Price". This first couple of images focus on Nhan, and how she compares to the Xahean leader, Po and the Barzan leader, Bhavani.   STDP 026 - Nhan is Barzan

Here's a great pic of Captain Pike, just as Discovery is about to be taken out of warp.

STDP 026 - Pike - Drop Us Out of Warp

Lastly, here's a split screen of the four pod pilots getting into their craft.

STDP 026 - The four pod pilots

The Niggling Result of Not Going Forward in Time

Discussion about the look and feel of Star Trek: Discovery vs. TOS and the TNG era came up again a couple of times during this episode, though it was discussed in the roundtable last week. I was going to elaborate here what was said, but instead, I'll just say you should listen. I'll also say that I had a lot more to say about it the previous episode. Ruthie got to say her peace in this episode since she fell off the call last week before we got to this topic.

That's it for Brother!

We'll be back in a week - hopefully, less - with the next episode. As always, your feedback is essential to this podcast! We'll be having a short feedback deadline most weeks this season, due to scheduling issues, although we had to extend the deadline this past week at the last minute. We'll cover more feedback about the premiere next week if it comes in, so do not hesitate to send in your feedback if you miss the deadline. For Star Trek: Discovery S2E2, which is titled New Eden, the deadline to get in your feedback to make the current week's podcast is Friday, January 25th, 2019 at 6 PM Eastern/5 PM Central or 11 PM UTC. You can submit feedback via the GSM Feedback page, Facebook Group, Twitter, or call the GSM voicemail at (304) 837-2278 and leave us a message there. Make sure to mention you're calling The Star Trek Discovery Podcast when you call.

Links to us...

Looking for our RSS Feed? Not anymore! Want to participate? Join our Facebook group! And follow us on Twitter! And don't forget to subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts! While you do, we'd appreciate it if you can leave us a review, hopefully, a 5-star! Or, if not, a rating will do!!! And we're now on Spotify!

As we get ready for Star Trek: Discovery Season 2, we sat down for a marathon session with repeat panelists Steve Brown of the Panels to Pixels Podcast, Wes Huntington of the Minnesota Star Trek Nerd Podcast, and new panelists John McGrail of GSM's Maid of Steel Podcast and Martin Donison of GSM's Arrow Squad Podcast, Tomorrow's Legends (@tomorowslegendsFacebook Group), and Sibercast (@Sibercast and Facebook Group) to discuss the Short Treks, news about the Picard series and Lower Decks, discuss other possible shows (including one that has since been announced) and then discuss what we expect for Season 2.

Our Star Trek: Discovery - Season 2 Preview (and Other News) Roundtable!

As we get ready for Star Trek: Discovery Season 2, Ruthie and I sat down for a marathon session with Steve Brown of the Panels to Pixels Podcast (Steve's third roundtable), Wes Huntington of the Minnesota Star Trek Nerd Podcast (Wes' second roundtable), and new panelists John McGrail of GSM's Maid of Steel Podcast and Martin Donison of GSM's Arrow Squad Podcast, Tomorrow's Legends (@tomorowslegendsFacebook Group), and Sibercast (@Sibercast and Facebook Group) to discuss the Short Treks, news about the Picard series and Lower Decks, discuss other possible shows (including one that has since been announced) and then discuss what we expect for Season 2.

The Short Treks in Review

Opinions were varied between the six of us as far as which Short Trek was our favorite and which was our least favorite of the Short Treks. I would call that in and of itself a success, as they appealed to us differently.

I've brought down bigger men than you, Picard!!!

Sorry, that was a line from The Drumhead... Most of us are really waiting in great anticipation for the new Picard series, with one of us more tepid in our reaction to it. We react to all of the news that's been coming out about the show, especially within the last week.

I think we should go down to the Lower Decks in Section 31!

The reaction to the animated comedy series Lower Decks was a little more reserved than the Picard reaction, though generally positive. Some felt better about it after the Harry Mudd Short Trek, as that Short Trek was written by the creator of the animated show. We talk a little here and there about the Section 31 series with Georgiou, which was just a rumor at the time. Since we recorded this on Friday, January 11th, CBS All Access has announced that the show is a go! Some of us look forward to it, and others aren't too thrilled. We also talk about other shows that have been rumored but not yet official and others we speculate/predict may be on the horizon (including one I'm predicting).

Are you going to talk about Discovery?

After a while, yes, we finally got to Discovery. Since they've never been on the podcast before, we get Martin and John's impression of Season 1, and talk about Pike, Spock, Georgiou, among others, and what we're hoping for from Season 2.

That's it until Season 2!

We'll be back following the season premiere with an episode in our regular format. As always, your feedback is essential to this podcast! We'll be having a short feedback deadline most weeks this season, due to scheduling issues. Our regular feedback deadline will be Friday at 6 PM Eastern/5PM Central. While we'd encourage you to get in your feedback as early as possible, do not hesitate to send in your feedback if you miss the deadline. We promise to cover your feedback the following week if you miss the deadline. So, for the season premiere, Star Trek: Discovery S2E1, which is titled Brother, the deadline to get in your feedback to make the current week's podcast is Friday, January 18th, 2019 at 6 PM Eastern/5 PM Central or 11 PM UTC. You can submit feedback via the GSM Feedback page, Facebook Group, Twitter, or call the GSM voicemail at (304) 837-2278 and leave us a message there. Make sure to mention you're calling The Star Trek Discovery Podcast when you call.

Links to us...

Looking for our RSS Feed? Not anymore! Want to participate? Join our Facebook group! And follow us on Twitter! And don't forget to subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts! While you do, we'd appreciate it if you can leave us a review, hopefully, a 5-star! Or, if not, a rating will do!!! And we're now on Spotify!

The Star Trek Discovery Podcast - STE4 - The Escape Artist

Star Trek: Discovery - Short Treks, Episode 4: The Escape Artist

Ruthie and I are back with the fourth and final Short Trek before Season 2 of Star Trek: Discovery! This Short Trek is titled The Escape Artist. It was written by Mike McMahan, who is the showrunner of the new Star Trek: Lower Decks animated series, and it was directed by Rainn Wilson, who also starred in this short.

What a surprise!

I didn't have a lot of expectations for this Short Trek, but with a brilliant teleplay and Rainn Wilson's incredible performance both behind and in front of the camera by Rainn Wilson, I will have to say that this was my favorite Short Trek of the four! We both loved it!

Delicious Jipper!

Ah yes, jipper!!! If you haven't been able to see this Short Trek, you may wonder what the deal is with jipper. Well, it's a drink, one that doesn't exist yet, but I predict we'll hear of someone inventing a jipper soon! Sipping jippers on a beach somewhere was the punchline of this story and a big part of what made this short one of the funniest Treks ever!

Fred's Images

We have a comparison image from Fred from The Netherlands this time around. This compares the android shots in I, Mudd, using three sets of twins, and this episode, with the many versions of Rainn Wilson.

STDP 024 - Fred's image compares the androids and how they shot them in I, Mudd vs. The Escape Artist.

No more After Treks?

We also covered some news that is not being reported by the other podcasts or news websites yet. It appears that After Trek is not coming back for Season 2. It was announced back in June that it was being "reimagined" for Season 2, but After Trek has been removed from CBS All Access, both in the standalone app/website and on the CBS All Access Channel on Amazon Prime. If you're watching internationally via Netflix, and if you're watching on CraveTV in Canada, you still have access to it, at least for now. Matt Mira, the former host who hosts the popular Star Trek: The Next Conversation podcast, announced on his show that the show is not returning and for Season 2, and that he is not under contract with CBS at this time. He's offered to return should they need him. It may come back later in Season 2, or for the Picard show, but for now, it's canceled. Matt implied on his podcast for Patreon subscribers that the budget overruns that caused (at least in part) former showrunners Aaron Harberts and Gretchen J. Berg their jobs were probably the reason why After Trek was canceled. Also, he didn't find out about getting the hosting job until the Thursday before his first show just a few days later. That explains a lot.

That's it for The Escape Artist!

So, that's it for this mini-episode! We both loved it! We'll be back with our Season 2 Preview Roundtable in a few days!

Links to us...

Looking for our RSS Feed? Not anymore! Want to participate? Join our Facebook group! And follow us on Twitter! And don't forget to subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts! While you do, we'd appreciate it if you can leave us a review, hopefully, a 5-star! Or, if not, a rating will do!!! And we're now on Spotify!

Star Trek: Discovery - Short Treks, Episode 3: The Brightest Star Ruthie and I are back with the third Short Trek! We recorded episodes for the first three Short Treks on Tuesday, December 18th in back to back to back fashion, and this is the final...

Star Trek: Discovery - Short Treks, Episode 3: The Brightest Star

Ruthie and I are back with the third Short Trek! We recorded episodes for the first three Short Treks on Tuesday, December 18th in back to back to back fashion, and this is the final episode that we recorded that night. This Short Trek is titled The Brightest Star. It was written by executive story editors Bo Yeon Kim and Erika Lippoldt, and directed by co-executive producer Douglas Aarniokoski.

Finally, an origin story!

This is the first of the Short Trek that I would consider an origin story. This one focuses on our favorite alien commander, Saru! Well, he's at least the favorite alien for one of us. As such, Ruthie didn't care for this episode as much as I did, as she's not a big fan of his character and/or species, which she finds confusing. I understand that sentiment, as I was expecting more backstory on the prey aspects of his species, and his height, super speed, strength and especially his threat ganglia. I came up with a theory on how this evolved. His species was hunted, probably by the Ba'ul, but that Mirror Universe saying about scared Kelpiens make tough Kelpiens plays in here. The hunt made Kelpiens less tasty, so a system evolved to make them live in a more idyllic surrounding, and that they didn't live with that fear their whole life. As I've said on the podcast many a time, I HATE the term "head canon", so I'd prefer to consider this speculation and not anything that can be used as "gatekeeper" material. Speaking of an origin story, are we to believe that the reason why Saru's species are called Kelpiens because they eat and/or harvest kelp? Really? That's a little on the nose, don't you think?

Why did she take a shuttlecraft?

I was very pleasantly surprised to find out that Lieutenant Georgiou was the one that rescued Saru from Kaminar, and that totally fits the Saru/Georgiou/Burnham dynamic, and why he was so hurt that he didn't get to serve as the first officer under her. The appearance of Michelle Yeoh was very unexpected in any of these Short Treks, so I was very happy to see her. However, with that in mind, I did not understand part of that aspect of the story. Was there a reason why she took a shuttlecraft down to pick up Saru and not beam down to get him? This seems like the Prime Directive is under effect here, as the Kelpiens are not a warp-capable species, and we see Siranna see the shuttle as it leaves the planet, so this didn't make sense to me.

Fred's Images

As promised, I've included images Fred from The Netherlands sent us from his trip to Toronto last year, which showed scenes used in this Short Trek!

Picture 1: Fred's photo taken on the 25th August 2017
Picture 2: Scene from Orphan Black
Picture 3: Opening scene from Short Trek Episode 3 "The Brightest Star"

Picture 1: Fred's photo taken on the 25th August 2017
Picture 2: Orphan Black S04E07 - Susan Duncan's house
Picture 3: Scene from Short Trek Episode 3 "The Brightest Star"

Picture 1: Fred's photo taken on the 25th August 2017
Picture 2: Scene from Short Trek Episode 3 "The Brightest Star"

Picture 1: Fred's photo taken on the 25th August 2017
Picture 2: Scene from Short Trek Episode 3 "The Brightest Star"

That's it for The Brightest Star!

So, that's it for this mini-episode! I loved it, but Ruthie just thought it was fine. We'll be back in the first or second week of January with the final Short Trek, which is titled The Escape Artist.

Links to us...

Looking for our RSS Feed? Not anymore! Want to participate? Join our Facebook group! And follow us on Twitter! And don't forget to subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts! While you do, we'd appreciate it if you can leave us a review, hopefully, a 5-star! Or, if not, a rating will do!!! And we're now on Spotify!

Star Trek: Discovery - Short Treks, Episode 2: Calypso We're finally back! Ruthie and I are back with the second Short Trek, titled Calypso!

Star Trek: Discovery - Short Treks, Episode 2: Calypso

We're finally back! Ruthie and I are back with the Short Treks! We recorded episodes for the second episode covering one of the three so far released Short Treks on Tuesday, December 18th in back to back to back fashion. We will have one more coming in a few days! Calypso's story was by Sean Cochran and Pulitzer Prize award-winning writer Michael Chabon, who is also one of the executive producers of the new Jean-Luc Picard series, who also wrote the teleplay. It was directed by Olatunde Osunsanmi.

A Very Different Trek... Yet Very Trek Short Trek

This Short Trek gives you an idea of what might be possible within this type of story. We see no characters from Star Trek: Discovery, except for the USS Discovery itself. Instead, in a story similar to one in The Odyssey, Craft is rescued by the sentient USS Discovery computer in the 33rd Century, or so it suggests. She calls herself Zora. We meet a new character, Craft, who we may never see again. Zora wants to keep Craft there but realizes she has to release him so he can go home to his wife and child. It hints of an enemy called the V'Draysh, who many (myself included) have speculated are The Federation. It was an interesting short, with many questions about how the ship got there, who ordered it there and how long it has been there. Why has it been undisturbed all this time, and how did Zora evolve? I also speculated that perhaps it's later than the 33rd century, and that the Discovery was sent there by Section 31, but we may never know. The performances of Aldus Hodge and Annabelle Wallis, who played the voice of Zora were great, and both of us enjoyed this Short Trek very much!

That's it for Calypso!

So, that's it for this mini-episode! We'll be back in a few days with the next Short Trek, titled The Brightest Star.

Links to us...

Looking for our RSS Feed? Not anymore! Want to participate? Join our Facebook group! And follow us on Twitter! And don't forget to subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts! While you do, we'd appreciate it if you can leave us a review, hopefully, a 5-star! Or, if not, a rating will do!!! And we're now on Spotify!