TEX-TREK Mission 329: STAR TREK: DS9's "The Assignment" Back-Trekking Retrospective

This week we are diving back into the shadows of DS9 for a Keiko-centric thriller! The season 5 episode, "The Assignment," doesn't get talked about much, but it has a lot to offer. Join us as we discuss the eerie dynamics of Rosalind Chao playing her own hostage, the ominous reveal of the Pah-wraiths, O'Brien's psychological tension, and Rom once again showing how great of a guy he can be. Stan from Salon Trek joins Taylor and Fatheree as the guest this week.

As always, available in both video and audio-only formats.

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Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Season 5 Episode 5

"The Assignment"

Teleplay by Bradley Thompson & David Weddle

Story by Robert Lederman & David R. Long

Directed by Allan Kroeker

After returning from the Fire Caves on Bajor, Keiko's body is controlled by an alien lifeform that forces her husband O'Brien to do its bidding or else face the death of his wife.

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This week we're diving into one of Star Trek: The Next Generation’s most iconic and thought-provoking episodes, Season 5’s “I, Borg.” In this Back-Trekking Retrospective, Fatheree and Taylor are joined by Starfleet Sohail to revisit the story that challenged the Federation’s ethics and gave a face, and a name, to the enemy. We’ll explore the moral dilemmas surrounding Hugh, discuss the episode’s legacy within Trek canon, and reflect on how “I, Borg” shaped future portrayals of the Borg. Resistance is futile… but deep discussion is guaranteed!

As always, available in both video and audio-only formats.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOcBBIFf7d0

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Star Trek The Original Series, Season 5 Episode 23

"I, Borg"

Written by René Echevarria

Directed by Robert Lederman

The discovery of an injured adolescent Borg brings to the surface hard feelings for both Captain Picard and Guinan for what the Borg Collective had done to them. Matters are complicated when plans to use the young Borg to destroy his people are halted when it is discovered that the Borg has become an individual.

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Dave returns to the show this week as we set course back to TOS for a Back-Trekking Retrospective on one of the most iconic episodes in all of Trek, “Balance of Terror.” We’ll explore the episode’s Cold War allegory, its powerful themes of prejudice and duty, and how it introduced both the Romulans and Mark Lenard to the franchise. Get ready for a deadly game of starship cat-and-mouse across the Neutral Zone!

As always, available in both video and audio-only formats.

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Star Trek The Original Series, Season 1 Episode 8

"Balance of Terror"

Written by Paul Schneider

Directed by Vincent McEveety

The Enterprise battles a Romulan ship suspected of destroying outposts near the Neutral Zone.

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This week, we’re taking a detour from Starfleet to dive into something a little different… but still very Trek-adjacent! Joel and Fatheree beam into the long-awaited sequel to Black Mirror's fan-favorite episode “USS Callister” with “USS Callister: Into Infinity.”

As always, available in both video and audio-only formats.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJ--r6QbI38

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Black Mirror, Season 7 Episode 6

"USS Callister: Into Infinity"

Written by Charlie Brooker & Bisha K. Ali & William Bridges & Bekka Bowling

Directed by Toby Haynes

Robert Daly is dead, but now the crew of the USS Callister - led by Captain Nanette Cole - are stranded in an infinite virtual universe, fighting for survival against 30 million players.

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TEX-TREK Mission 325: STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE's "Carbon Creek" Back-Trekking Retrospective

This week Joel joins Fatheree and Taylor as we continue our Back-Trekking Retrospective series and dive back into the past—both literally and figuratively—with an away mission to "Carbon Creek." Set in 1957 Pennsylvania, "Carbon Creek" offers a charming detour from typical Trek tales, exploring the crash-landing of a Vulcan survey team in small-town America. We’ll unpack what makes this episode such a standout: the nostalgic setting, the quiet culture clash, and T'Pol’s mysterious tale that may or may not be true. Grab your Velcro, hide your Vulcan ears, and join us for another fun discussion on TEX-TREK!

As always, available in both video and audio-only formats.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgQoYG_kn3Y&ab_channel=Tex-Trek

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Star Trek: Enterprise, Season 2 Episode 2

"Carbon Creek"

Teleplay by Chris Black

Story by Rick Berman, Brannon Braga, and Dan O'Shannon

Directed by James Contner

T'Pol tells Archer and Tucker a story about her great-grandmother and two other Vulcans, who crash landed in a small Pennsylvania town in the year 1957.

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Can y'all handle a Lwaxana episode Back-Trekking Retrospective? That's right, this week we are taking a closer look at the TNG's "Dark Page." (It's the one with little kid Kirsten Dunst in it!) Join Fatheree and Taylor along with guest of the week, Rachel, as we explore this emotional and deeply personal story about Lwaxana Troi, family secrets, the power of memory, and one of Majel Barrett’s most compelling performances.

As always, available in both video and audio-only formats.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90M-P5jfeyE

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Star Trek: The Next Generation, Season 7 Episode 7

"Dark Page"

Written by Hilary J. Bader

Directed by Les Landau

Lwaxana Troi visits the Enterprise, but she's preoccupied by a dark secret she has carried for years.

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In another Back-Trekking retrospective, Fatheree, Taylor, and Aaron take on one of VOYAGER’s most fascinating and high-concept episodes, "Blink of an Eye" (Season 6, Episode 12). When the USS Voyager becomes trapped in orbit around a planet with accelerated time, the crew watches as an entire civilization evolves in mere hours. From its unique storytelling structure to its thought-provoking exploration of time dilation, cultural development, and the Prime Directive, this episode remains a fan-favorite. Join us as we explore the scientific and philosophical questions it raises while sharing our own thoughts on what makes it stand out among STAR TREK’s best.

As always, available in both video and audio-only formats.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3-1mrsGnI0

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Star Trek: Voyager, Season 6 Episode 12

"Blink of an Eye"

Teleplay by Scott Miller and Joe Menosky

Story by Michael Taylor

Directed by Gabrielle Beaumont

Over time and generations, a world tries to uncover the mystery of a strange object in the sky.

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Join us for a Back-Trekking Retrospective on one of the wildest episodes of STAR TREK ever, TAS's "The Magicks of Megas-tu!" Taylor and Fatheree will be joined by Joel as they dive into this satanic, psychedelic trip through space, where the Enterprise crew encounters a reality ruled by magic and meet the devil himself. According to metalhead Fatheree, this is the most metal Star Trek ever gets—a cosmic fever dream straight out of the early '70s, evoking the mystical vibes of Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin. So grab your wizard staff, crank up the heavy riffs, and join us as we explore this heady fusion of Trek, sorcery, and seriously weird animation!

As always, available in both video and audio-only formats.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VffjVqHFhbA

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Star Trek: The Animated Series, Season 1 Episode 8

"The Magicks of Megas-tu"

Written by Larry Brody

Directed by Hal Sutherland

At the center of the galaxy, the Enterprise discovers a race of powerful aliens.

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We have another Back-Trekking Retrospective this week and Ambassador Dave is onboard! Join Fatheree, Taylor, and Dave in a return to TNG season 1 for that show's first true Klingon episode, "Heart of Glory."

As always, available in both video and audio-only formats.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQbVxLaJhRE

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Star Trek: The Next Generation, Season 1 Episode 20

"Heart of Glory"

Teleplay by Maurice Hurley

Story by Maurice Hurley and Herbert Wright & D.C. Fontana

Directed by Rob Bowman

Worf's loyalties to Starfleet are tested when three fugitive Klingons come on board the Enterprise-D.

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Welcome to the first of our "Back-Trekking Retrospectives," a new series of TEX-TREK podcasts in which we will explore past episodes from various Legacy Trek shows. Brandi Jackola beams back onboard TEX-TREK for our first back-Trekking outing, a discussion of the classic, infamous, "Spock's Brain."

As always, available in both video and audio-only formats.

Watch on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUe9NGLa9Uw

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Star Trek: The Original Series, Season 3 Episode 6

"Spock's Brain"

Written by Lee Cronin

Directed by Marc Daniels

An alien woman invades the Enterprise and steals Spock's brain. Kirk, McCoy and a landing party beam down to a planet in a desperate race to retrieve it.

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