“Shuttle to Kenfori”

With Captain Batel facing the possibility of becoming an extra in the 1980s miniseries V, Doctor M’Benga and Spock hatch a plan (no pun intended) to save her by using a rare chimera blossom to combine the residual Gorn DNA in her body with her human DNA. The catch? That very special episode of Blossom only airs in one place, a planet once disputed by the Federation and Klingons. Captain Pike, wanting to play a role in saving his girlfriend, kicks Spock off the mission and assigns himself to accompany M’Benga. When they arrive on Kenfori, they find themselves in an episode of The Walking Dead. But escaping the zombies won’t be as easy as they think, thanks to the arrival of Bytha, daughter of Klingon ambassador/mass murderer Dak'Rah, who is determined to exact vengeance on M’Benga.

In this episode of Saddle Up! hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our journey through Strange New Worlds with “Shuttle to Kenfori.” We discuss the continuation of M'Benga's story, future paths for Batel, designing TOS-inspired Klingons, insubordination, and a few creative ideas we maybe should keep to ourselves.

Chapters
Intro (0:00:00)
An "Under the Cloak of War" Sequel (00:04:25)
The Walking Dead (00:08:59)
No Signs of Life (00:14:36)
Crafting Klingons (00:21:09)
Gorn to Be with You (00:28:10)
Insubordinate Ortegas (00:36:02)
Trek As a YA Novel (00:41:33)
Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:48:03)
Closing (00:57:21)

Hosts
C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production
C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

Gateways: No Man's Land. 
  
At one time, Christie Golden was the preeminent author in the Star Trek: Voyager novel line with 13 of her 16 Star Trek stories being with the crew of Voyager. In fact, even Kirsten Beyer hasn't surpassed Golden's contributions to the series. 

In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Casey Pettitt and Jonathan Koan discuss No Man's Land. Topics include characterizations, Janeway-Chakotay shipping, Seven instigating a slave uprising, not one but two murder mysteries, and, oh yeah, the gateways. Plus, we ask a very important question: What happens to Fluffy?

In our comics discussion, we talk about IDW's Star Trek issues 25-30, When the Walls Fell (not to be confused with the Tamarian legend of Shaka).
 
News
Star Trek 25-30 (00:04:12)                 

Feature: No Man's Land
Classic Voyager (00:16:55)
Gateway Issues (00:21:43)
Continuity (00:24:30)
Something Fun (00:27:59)
Meat of the Story (00:31:33)
The Weirdest Part (00:35:46)
What Holds it Back (00:37:05)
Seven’s Story (00:40:41)
Arkathi (00:44:20)
Ratings (00:51:14)
Final Thoughts (00:53:54)         

Hosts
Casey Pettitt and Jonathan Koan

Production
Matthew Rushing (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Casey Pettitt (Associate Producer)

“Wedding Bell Blues”

Nurse Chapel wraps up her three-month fellowship with Dr. Roger Korby by returning to the Enterprise to celebrate Federation Day with a big glass of … awkward! It’s a spirit the ship’s Vulcan bartender can work with, especially since he turns out to be none other than galactic trickster Trelane. But he’s not just a drink slinger, he’s also a wedding planner—and an Andorian. At least that’s how he appears to Spock and the rest of the crew as they prepare for a celebration of his and Chapel’s love for one another. Korby, channeling Guinan à la “Yesterday’s Enterprise,” realizes that the timeline has changed. And while he manages to snap Spock out of the delusion, they can’t get anyone else on board, at least not until the last moment when Daddy Q shows up to scold junior.

In this episode of Saddle Up! hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our journey through Strange New Worlds with “Wedding Bell Blues.” We discuss Chapel's character arc, contrast her and Spock's relationship with that of Pike and Batel, question the story's tone, and, of course, delve into the return of the lonely squire of Gothos.

Chapters
Intro (0:00:00)
Chapel Don't Care (00:02:34)
Wrong Focus? (00:11:01)
Teeing Up TOS? (00:14:16)
Mature vs. Teenage Relationship (00:19:43)
Of Course He's Trelane (00:24:46)
Emotional Whiplash (00:35:33)
Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:39:32)
Closing (00:47:52)

Hosts
C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production
C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

“Hegemony, Part II”

With part of his crew abducted in cold blood and orders to stand down and stay on the Federation side of the demarcation line, Captain Pike must balance duty as a Starfleet officer with duty as a leader responsible for the lives under his command. As La’an, Ortegas, M’Benga, and Sam Kirk fight their way out of the serpents’ den, Spock and Chapel prepare for some unorthodox surgery to save Captain Batel’s life while Uhura and Una hatch a plan to rescue their kidnapped crewmates. After preparing for ramming speed, the Enterprise punches back at the big lizards in their backyard and uncovers a surprise in another battle at the binary stars. The ultimate solution? Put the lizards to sleep and kick the can down the road. Sound familiar?

In this episode of Saddle Up! hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our journey through Strange New Worlds with the Season 3 premiere, “Hegemony, Part II.” We discuss the challenge of continuing a story after a two-year break, the character progressions, the potential end of the Gorn threat, and the familiar nature of the resolution.

Chapters
Intro (0:00:00)
Picking Up the Story (00:03:15)
Gorn Your Own Way (00:12:56)
Bye Bye Gornie (00:18:41)
Spock and Chapel (00:27:08)
Martin Quinn's Scotty (00:40:18)
Done with the Gorn? (00:48:04)
Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:50:10)
Closing (00:53:14)

Hosts
C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production
C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

“North Star” 20th-anniversary reflections

As they explore the Expanse in search of the Xindi superweapon, the Enterprise crew runs across a planet inhabited by humans. Living in a town that looks like it was yanked right out of the 19th-century Wild West, these humans love their whiskey and hate the locals. Archer learns that they were brought to the planet by the Skagarans, an alien race that was sourcing slave labor from Earth in the 1860s.

As conflict between Archer and the sheriff deputy grows, he takes action to save a teacher who has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for teaching Skagaran children to read and do math. And while he cannot take the humans back to Earth right away, Archer leaves behind materials to help them fill in the lost centuries of progress and build a better society.

In this episode of Warp Five, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 20th-anniversary retrospective that takes you through all of Star Trek: Enterprise, one episode at a time. In this installment, we continue Season 3 with “North Star” as we discuss the story's classic roots, its message about prejudice and isolation, and how it works as a breather within the Xindi arc.

Chapters
Intro (00:00:00)
Quite a Contrast (00:02:32)
A Reminder for Archer (00:11:25)
Contrasting Westerns (00:16:20)
Casting for Success (00:22:47)
A Positive Ending (00:26:19)
A Literary Return (00:32:05)
Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:32:50)
Closing (36:30)

Hosts
C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production
C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer)

Superman.

87 years ago the world was changed when 2 friends published the first superhero comic. 47 years ago the first big budget iteration of that character would win the hearts of movie goers. 6 days ago, the character returned to big screen for a reboot.

In this episode of The 602 Club host Matthew Rushing is joined John Mills to talk about James Gunn’s launch of the DCU with Superman. We discuss the long gestation, starting with Superman, a bit of history, Lex and his plans, parents, Clark, Lois, Krypto, Supergirl, Jimmy, the Justice “Gang”, action comics, music, setting up and our ratings. 

Chapters
Creative Hell (00:02:40)
Starting With Superman (00:09:29)
A Bit of History (00:15:40)
Nicolas Holt as Lex (00:22:02)
How All the Plans Connect (00:26:40)
Parents (00:34:54)
David Corenswet (00:45:04)
Beautiful People (00:49:37)
Rachel Brosnahan (00:56:22)
Krypto (01:00:40)
Supergirl (01:05:03)
Jimmy Olsen (01:08:53)
The Justice “Gang” (01:11:43)
Action Comics (01:17:56)
The Music (01:26:35)
Setting Up (01:33:07)
Ratings (01:38:59)

Host
Matthew Rushing

Guest
John Mills 

Production
Matthew Rushing (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) 

Social
Twitter: @The602Club
Instagram: @the602clubtfm

“Prime Factors” 30th-anniversary reflections

Having heard stories about Voyager—a ship of aliens from another part of the galaxy, lost in a world so far from home—the Sikarians decide to assist. Drawing in Voyager with a distress signal, their leader, Gath, offers a helping hand. He ain’t got a clue how to get them out, but he does think he knows what they need: a little pleasure.

When Janeway accepts the offer of shore leave for the crew, Harry quickly finds a girl who’s hot for stories and then finds himself miles and miles from nowhere, on the planet Alastria, 40,000 light years away. It turns out the Sikarians have a spacial trajector that can zip them around the quadrant. And with everyone on the planet hot for stories, the crew might just be able to trade all the Federation’s literature for a quick ride home.

In this episode of To The Journey, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of Star Trek: Voyager, one episode at a time. In this installment, we discuss “Prime Factors” and how the story challenges the principles of the crew while bringing opposing views together as it leverages the promise of the series premise.

Chapters
Intro (00:00:00)
Not Entirely Pleasurable (00:02:13)
On the Other Side of the Fence (00:13:00)
Conflicting Priorities (00:16:49)
Can't Tech That Tech (00:25:23)
Can't Flirt with Harry (00:29:25)
Desperately Seeking Stories (00:31:55)
Tuvok's Betrayal (00:37:45)  
Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:48:23)
Closing (00:52:53)

Hosts
C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production
C Bryan Jones (Editor and Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

Jurassic World Rebirth.

In 1990, author Michael Crichton released a novel that took the world by storm, which by 1993 had sold more that nine million copies and also in that year was released on the silver screen as a film directed by none other than Steven Spielberg, spawning seven sequels.

In this episode of The 602 Club host Matthew Rushing is joined by Scott McClellan to talk about Jurassic World Rebirth. We discuss picking up the story, the rest of the plot, another island, mutated dinosaurs, character, the dinosaurs, the music, things we liked and our ratings. 

Chapters
Picking Up the Story (00:02:06)
The Rest of the Plot (00:11:23)
Another Island (00:17:16)
Mutated Dinosaurs (00:21:00)
Characters (00:23:42)
The Dinosaurs (00:28:33)
The Music (00:36:50)
Things We Liked (00:41:47)
Ratings (00:47:20)

Host
Matthew Rushing

Guest 
Scott McClellan

Production
Matthew Rushing (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) 

Social
Twitter: @The602Club
Instagram: @the602clubtfm

“Melora” 30th-anniversary reflections

Doctor Bashir and Chief O’Brien prepare for the arrival of a new cartographer, Ensign Melora Pazlar. She is the first Elaysian to join Starfleet. Why? Her homeworld has low gravity, which makes it difficult for her people to function in environments common to Starfleet operations. She generally must use a wheelchair to move around, and Bashir has modified a special one for her to use while aboard Deep Space 9. When he and Melora start to fall for one another, Bashir begins searching for a treatment that could allow her to walk. But there’s a catch: she would never be able to return to her homeworld for more than a short visit. Meanwhile, some other stuff is happening with Quark.

In this episode of The Orb, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, one episode at a time. In this installment, we discuss “Melora,”what the story says about challenges and limitations, becoming comfortable with yourself, and how the character connects to the original concept for the series.

Chapters
Intro (00:00:00)
Part of the Original Series Concept (00:03:50)
We All Have Limitations (00:10:56)
Firsthand Experience Matters (00:12:50)
The Melora Problem (00:19:53)
Becoming Comfortable with Yourself (00:25:00)
Not Your Doctor Anymore (Still Your Doctor) (00:29:51)
Manatee Idea Balls B-Story (00:36:12)
Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:43:04)
Closing (00:48:26)

Hosts
C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production
C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer)

Gateways: Demons of Air and Darkness. 
  
Star Trek literature’s mission was to expand the universe of the series beyond what was seen on screen, so in doing that the books continued series that had ended as well as created characters to follow; the Gateway series brought all of those together in one massive crossover.

In this episode of Literary Treks hosts Casey Pettitt and Jonathan Koan talk about Demons of Air and Darkness. We discuss title questions, the opening, the treat of the book, Kira’s leadership, the “threat”, Shar and Nog, Quark, Ro, the reveal, the same scene, our ratings and final thoughts. 

For the news we discuss the upcoming novel in the Picard line!
 
News
New Picard Novel Coming (00:02:58)                 

Feature: Demons of Air and Darkness
Title Questions (00:05:52)
The Opening Chapter (00:10:28)
The Threat of the Book (00:12:55)
Kira’s Leadership (00:17:32)
“Threat” (00:19:35)
Shar and Nog (00:23:55)
New Recurring Characters (00:29:33)
Quark (00:32:47)
Ro (00:34:36)
Finally Revealed (00:38:12)
The Same Scene (00:40:15)
Ratings (00:43:24)
Final Thoughts (00:46:13)        

Hosts
Casey Pettitt and Jonathan Koan 

Production
Matthew Rushing (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Casey Pettitt (Associate Producer)