Upon returning from a mission to the Parada system, O'Brien begins to notice the crew acting strange around him and suspects there may be some unknown influence at work. Why is his wife is acting (badly) strangely? Why does Sisko have him running useless errands? Why have they revoked his security clearance? Clay and Neil join me to discuss a mystery-thriller in the vein of The Invasion of the Bodysnatchers, and whether or not it works for Star Trek. Plus, we discuss British/Irish accents, the style of Miles O'Brien, and killing an exact copy of yourself!

A planet torn apart by biological warfare doesn't seem like a likely place to make friends, but this is Star Trek. Armageddon Game is an episode that explores the Bashir and O'Brien "friendship". It's a solid character piece, albeit one book ended by some questionable science fiction. Amy joins me to discuss unnecessary murder, being friends with single people, and how a widow should grieve!

In the Alternate, we meet the Bajoran scientist who raised Odo from an "organic broth" to a cranky constable. We also get a little bit of a monster of the week, as a shape shifting creature is on the loose somewhere on DS9. Modi joins me to discuss the hidden past of Dr. Mora, Bashir pining after Dax, and the utility of studying Klingon opera!

Rivalries abound on DS9! Quark picks up a nemesis in the form of a competitor, while O'Brien and Bashir try to work through their own differences on the racquetball court. Modi joins me to discuss an episode that gives us a lot of insight into the day to day activities on the station, but also feels a little bit like a parlor trick. We also discuss aliens who listen, the childhood of Rom, and visualizing probability!

A group of alien farmers come through the Wormhole, and they have their eyes set on Bajor as a new home. Unfortunately, the Bajorans can barely take care of themselves. Sanctuary is maybe best described as an interesting failure. It has a lot of ideas, but not much in the way of execution. Clay joins me to discuss sweeping up skin, the downside of not having an argument, Kenny G in space!

Sisko finds romance with a station visitor, but she is not what she appears. Second Sight is an attempt to humanize Sisko through romance, and it's also an attempt to bring back some failed storytelling techniques from the first season. Clay joins me to discuss a meandering episode that feels half baked and pointless! We also discuss the acting of Avery Brooks, choosing between characterization or plot, and killing yourself for science.

One of the positives about DS9 being set in a single location is the fact that it allows the show to explore the history of the setting, and how that impacts our characters. In Necessary Evil, Odo tries to solve a five year old murder mystery and ends up learning something unsettling about a close friend and ally. Clay joins me to discuss a very strong episode of DS9, and we break down Odo the detective, blending genres, and cutting between scenes!

Quark becomes involved in a plan to develop trade agreements with the Gamma Quadrant, but his new apprentice has a troublesome secret! In yet another Ferengi episode, DS9 struggles to find a tone that suits their story. Are they a dark satire, or a light hearted farce? Either way, this episode features the first mention of The Dominion, so there's that!

Discovery might have finished its first season, but we can't get enough discussion about what went wrong. Kyle from Trekspertise joins the podcast to provide a slightly rosier outlook on the series, and everyone discusses what went right and what went wrong. Plus, we give our final thoughts on how we want the next season to proceed!

In Melora, Bashir learns all about the pros of zero gravity, and Quark learns the cons of being a con. Ensign Melora is from a species that developed under low gravity, so getting around DS9 proves to be difficult. Fortunately, Bashir has taken an interest in the young ensign and is willing to push aside those pesky medical ethics in the name of... something? Modi joins me to discuss wheelchairs in the 24th century, chips on the shoulder, and Bashir's desires!