The Edge: A Star Trek Discovery Podcast

Far from Home.

Michael Burnham’s arrival in the year 3188 gave us our first glimpse of the far future and revealed hints about the cataclysmic event known as the Burn, as well as the seeming demise of the United Federation of Planets as a galactic power. But what about the crew of the USS Discovery? “That Hope Is You, Part 1” left them in the shadows. But while the first episode of Season 3 was all Michael, the second is all everyone else.

In this episode of The Edge, host C Bryan Jones shares thoughts on the arrival of the USS Discovery—one year after Michael. Among the points covered are Saru’s leadership, how the back and forth between him and Georgiou reflects real-world debate over approaches to diplomacy and one another, and what her comments could mean for the Section 31 series. We also delight in the inclusion of the bridge crew, Jett Reno’s wit, and the reveal of the long-sought connection between the Short Treks episode “Calypso” and Star Trek: Discovery. And, in the Notes segment, we dig deep into Star Trek’s past to uncover connections to rubindium, transtators, and Coridan.

Host C Bryan Jones

Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) James Muldrow (Associate Producer) Cornelia Reutner (Associate Producer)

That Hope Is You, Part 1.

When we last saw the crew of the USS Discovery, they were on their way to the 32nd century. It’s taken longer than expected to make it through that wormhole, thanks to a little 21st -century problem of our own, but the third season of Star Trek: Discovery has finally arrived. And with it have come some answers as well as a slew of new questions. We now know what the Burn is—at least the basics—and have gotten our first glimpse of a diminished United Federation of Planets.

In this episode of The Edge, host C Bryan Jones shares thoughts on Michael Burnham’s arrival in the year 3188, speculates on the deeper implications of the Burn, revels in the beauty of Iceland and the incredible cinematography, and looks at some of the social commentary found in “That Hope Is You, Part1.” We also open flip through the pages of our notebook to explore the franchise-spanning use of propulsion technologies and the possible temporal connections between Discovery and Enterprise.

Host C Bryan Jones

Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) James Muldrow (Associate Producer) Cornelia Reutner (Associate Producer)

Discovery and the Mirror Universe.

Star Trek first took us to the Mirror Universe during the second season of The Original Series. It would take 27 years for another crossover—in the aptly named second-season episode of Deep Space Nine—and the show would bring us three more outings. Enterprise continued the theme with the two-part “In a Mirror, Darkly” before Discovery made the the Terran Empire a key part of its first season.

In this episode of The Edge, hosts Liam Smart and Brandi Jackola discuss the USS Discovery’s trip to the Mirror Universe, a trip made possible by Mirror Lorca and his mushroom train.

Chapters Intro (00:00:00) Mirror Universe … Go! (00:02:21) Closing (00:50:56)

Hosts Liam Smart and Brandi Jackola

Production Liam Smart (Editor) Brandi Jackola (Producer) Nick Collins (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Tony Robinson (Associate Producer) Lisa Slack (Associate Producer) Tom Puleo (Associate Producer) Shoaib Mirza (Associate Producer) Richard Rutledge (Associate Producer) James Muldrow (Associate Producer) Cornelia Reutner (Associate Producer) Ryan Maillet (Associate Producer) Chris Tribuzio (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Tony Robinson (Show Art)

Tilly.

Ensign Sylvia Tilly is a special character, like few we have seen in Star Trek before. She is human, but there are many aspects of her humanity that have not often been part of the officers seen in past series. It’s a testament to the writers and creators of the show that they could so successfully introduce such a wonderfully crafted young engineer.

In this episode of The Edge, hosts Liam Smart and Brandi Jackola, who identifies most with Tilly of all characters in the franchise, discuss all things Ensign Sylvia Tilly and share some exciting and sad news.

Chapters Intro (00:00:00) Announcement (00:05:38) Tilly (00:12:53) Closing (01:01:31)

Hosts Liam Smart and Brandi Jackola

Production Liam Smart (Editor) Brandi Jackola (Producer) Nick Collins (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Tony Robinson (Associate Producer) Lisa Slack (Associate Producer) Tom Puleo (Associate Producer) Shoaib Mirza (Associate Producer) Richard Rutledge (Associate Producer) James Muldrow (Associate Producer) Cornelia Reutner (Associate Producer) Ryan Maillet (Associate Producer) Chris Tribuzio (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Tony Robinson (Show Art)

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.

It’s the show that everybody has been asked for since Anson Mount took the screen as Captain Christopher Pike in the second season of Star Trek: Discovery. At last, the powers that be have heard the collective cries of fandom and announced the return of Mount as Pike along with Ethan Peck as Spock and Rebecca Romijn as Number One in a spin-off series entitled Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.

In this episode of The Edge, hosts Liam Smart, Brandi Jackola, and Nick Collinson discuss their hopes and dreams for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, what they would like to see from Pike, Spock, and Number One, plus some other characters that could pop up in the series.

Chapters Intro (00:00:00) Pike (00:15:02) Spock (00:28:06) Number One (00:34:16) Cadet Thira Sidhu (00:41:45) Others (00:47:03) Closing (01:10:47)

Hosts Liam Smart, Brandi Jackola, and Nick Collinson

Production Liam Smart (Editor) Brandi Jackola (Producer) Nick Collins (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Tony Robinson (Associate Producer) Lisa Slack (Associate Producer) Tom Puleo (Associate Producer) Shoaib Mirza (Associate Producer) Richard Rutledge (Associate Producer) James Muldrow (Associate Producer) Cornelia Reutner (Associate Producer) Ryan Maillet (Associate Producer) Chris Tribuzio (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Tony Robinson (Show Art)

Discovery Season 1 Special Features.

Creating a new show is never easy. Creating a science fiction show and a brand-new universe would be daunting. And doing so within the framework of Star Trek universe would be utterly terrifying. Yet all the departments working on Star Trek: Discovery, from make-up to set design, did a fabulous job of crafting a new take on a familiar world from the ground up.

In this episode of The Edge, hosts Liam Smart, Brandi Jackola, and Nick Collinson discuss the three hours of special features from the Season 1 Blu-ray set that honor the work of these creatives.

Chapters Intro (00:00:00) News (00:02:28) Special Features (00:06:36) Interesting Feedback (01:07:22) Closing (01:13:03)

Hosts Liam Smart, Brandi Jackola, and Nick Collinson

Production Liam Smart (Editor) Brandi Jackola and Nick Collins (Producers) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Tony Robinson (Associate Producer) Lisa Slack (Associate Producer) Tom Puleo (Associate Producer) Shoaib Mirza (Associate Producer) Richard Rutledge (Associate Producer) James Muldrow (Associate Producer) Cornelia Reutner (Associate Producer) Ryan Maillet (Associate Producer) Chris Tribuzio (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Tony Robinson (Show Art)

Disco Klingons. Honor! Glory! Death in battle! Klingons have been a part of Star Trek since the beginning. The Original Series saw smooth-headed Klingons, the movies introduced forehead ridges, and we learned more about their culture during the franchise’s so-called golden years of the 1990s. More than two decades later, Star Trek: Discovery once again changed—or reimagined—the look of one of the show’s staple aliens species.

In this episode of The Edge, hosts Liam Smart, Brandi Jackola, and Nick Collinson go full Klingon as they talk about the reimagined look of the species first brought to like through Koloth, Kor, and Kang, including the women of the Empire and Klingon culture.

Chapters Intro (00:00:00) Klingon History (00:08:10) The Look (00:12:22) Language (00:27:10) Lady Chancellor (00:31:36) Sets and Culture (00:42:38) Closing (00:55:29)

Hosts Liam Smart, Brandi Jackola, and Nick Collinson

Production Liam Smart (Editor) Brandi Jackola (Producers), Nick Collins (Producers), C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Tony Robinson (Associate Producer) Lisa Slack (Associate Producer) Tom Puleo (Associate Producer) Shoaib Mirza (Associate Producer) Richard Rutledge (Associate Producer) James Muldrow (Associate Producer) Cornelia Reutner (Associate Producer) Ryan Maillet (Associate Producer) Chris Tribuzio (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Tony Robinson (Show Art)

Magic to Make the Sanest Man Go Mad.

The majority of Star Trek—from The Original Series through to Enterprise—has followed an episode-of-the-week format. Sure, Deep Space Nine had its overall Dominion arc and Enterprise tackled the Xindi in its third season, but it took until Discovery for Star Trek to hit a fully serialized format. “Magic to Make the Sanest Man Go Mad,” Discovery’s seventh episode, is the only standalone installment so far in Discovery’s two-season run.

In this episode of The Edge, hosts Liam Smart, Brandi Jackola, and Nick Collinson chat about “Magic to Make the Sanest Man Go Mad,” Harry Mudd, and bring up some “news” about Season 3.

Chapters Intro (00:00:00) “News” (00:04:36) Initial Thoughts (00:12:08) Best Bit (00:18:40) The Episode (00:27:10) Worst Bit (01:02:45) Closing (01:12:31)

Hosts Liam Smart, Brandi Jackola, and Nick Collinson

Production Liam Smart (Editor) Brandi Jackola and Nick Collins (Producers) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Tony Robinson (Associate Producer) Lisa Slack (Associate Producer) Tom Puleo (Associate Producer) Shoaib Mirza (Associate Producer) Richard Rutledge (Associate Producer) James Muldrow (Associate Producer) Cornelia Reutner (Associate Producer) Ryan Maillet (Associate Producer) Chris Tribuzio (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Tony Robinson (Show Art)

Discovery: The Missing Story, Part I.

Star Trek: Discovery followed two main storylines in its first season: the Klingon War and Lorca’s journey back to the Mirror Universe. When the NCC-1031 paid its visit to the Terran Empire, the Klingon War in the Prime Universe continued without them. Months passed before Discovery returned home, and when it did we saw that the Klingons had almost decimated the Federation. But how?

In this episode of The Edge, hosts Liam Smart, Brandi Jackola, and Nick Collinson begin writing the missing story of what happened while the USS Discovery was away in the Mirror Universe—beginning with a new ship and crew.

Chapters Intro (00:00:00) Feedback! (00:04:49) Let Us Begin (00:12:50) Closing (01:12:57)

Hosts Liam Smart, Brandi Jackola, and Nick Collinson

Production Liam Smart (Editor) Brandi Jackola and Nick Collins (Producers) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Tony Robinson (Associate Producer) Lisa Slack (Associate Producer) Tom Puleo (Associate Producer) Shoaib Mirza (Associate Producer) Richard Rutledge (Associate Producer) James Muldrow (Associate Producer) Cornelia Reutner (Associate Producer) Ryan Maillet (Associate Producer) Chris Tribuzio (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Tony Robinson (Show Art)

Background Bridge Crew.

Every incarnation of Star Trek portrays the bridge crew and senior staff as a cohesive unit. One could say they are a family. We also get to learn a great deal about not only the captain and first officer, but also those who sit at the conn, communications, ops, and security stations. Star Trek: Discovery, however, is different. Famed for being the first Star Trek series whose main character is not the captain, it doesn’t really develop the bridge crew as other series have done.

In this episode of The Edge, hosts Liam Smart, Brandi Jackola, and Nick Collinson explore some of the background crew on the bridge of the USS Discovery. We discuss Joann Owosekun, Keyla Detmer, R.A. Bryce, and Gen Rhys, as well as touch on a couple of other characters who appear on the bridge of the NCC-1031.

Chapters Intro (00:00:00) Initial Thoughts (00:04:40) Owosekun (00:07:44) Detmer (00:22:16) Rhys (00:39:10) Bryce (00:45:10) Hot Random Guy (00:50:50) Osnullus (00:55:38) Closing (01:03:32)

Hosts Liam Smart, Brandi Jackola, Nick Collinson

Production Liam Smart (Editor) Brandi Jackola (Producer) Nick Collins (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Tony Robinson (Associate Producer) Lisa Slack (Associate Producer) Tom Puleo (Associate Producer) Shoaib Mirza (Associate Producer) Richard Rutledge (Associate Producer) James Muldrow (Associate Producer) Cornelia Reutner (Associate Producer) Ryan Maillet (Associate Producer) Chris Tribuzio (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Tony Robinson (Show Art)