Trek Marry Kill

BURNHAM'S LAST DANCE. The final season of Star Trek: Discovery is a perfect season for those curious about the show to jump right into. It helps that the overarching story is a sequel of sorts to "The Chase" from Star Trek: The Next Generation, but more importantly, the straightforward treasure hunt plot allows the show to focus on its characters growing and changing as the series heads towards its surprising ending. 

Joining Bryan for this voyage through Disco's 5th season is Shereese the Sci-Fi Savage (@SciFiSavage on all social platforms). She has a weekly stream on YouTube called "The Savage Stream," every Wednesday night, 6pm PT/ 9 pm ET -- check it out!

Captain Michael Burnham and the crew of the USS Discovery need to get on the clue trail to finding the technology left behind by the race of aliens Picard & crew got a holographic message from that said all the humanoid species in the galaxy are connected. That message of unity doesn't quite survive to the 32nd century and a pair of criminal lovebirds have plans to steal it and sell it to the highest bidder. 

The grades begin at (19:18). 

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THE BRITISH MUSEUM is alive and well in the 24th century in the form of Captain Picard's old archeology professor Galen, whose shuttlecraft no doubt holds artifacts from countless civilizations taken from their native lands with a reckless abandon. But during all that grave robbing, Galen stumbled upon proof that there is no God, at least as we understand one. His death spurs Picard to take the Enterprise on a rogue mission to complete a galactic jigsaw puzzle. 

Bryan & Kristen review a pivotal episode for Picard's backstory that just so happens to be the impetus for the season mystery in Star Trek: Discovery's final season. They also talk about the beauty of Grace Kelly and escape rooms. Is this one a TREK, MARRY, or KILL?

The grades begin at (17:32).

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RAINBOWS AND SKELETONS. Our monthly animated spotlight series returns as Bryan and Katie Hampton from the Napping Through Hour Podcast look at the first two episodes from Star Trek: Lower Decks' second season. How is Mariner processing Boimler's absence and the day to day of working with her mother? Meanwhile, is serving aboard the USS Titan everything Bradward hoped it would be? 

The grades for "Strange Energies" begin at (18:01). The grades for "Kayshon, His Eyes Open" kick in at (48:10). 

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THE MEME TEAM. Captain Picard fights a dude in a rhinoceros suit alongside an alien captain whose species only speaks in memes. It's an episode that's gained in notoriety exactly because of our cultural evolution into being -- or at least communicating more -- like the Tamarians. It's also a chance to look at the episode that begat Lt. Kayshon on Lower Decks. But is this famous episode a TREK, MARRY, or KILL?

The grades begin at (25:26).

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OH NO, DEAR. The Enterprise is thrown through time back to the groovy 60s and in order for Kirk & co. to escape that predicament they'll need to help of a pilot who couldn't make it into the space program and who has, apparently, never seen a woman in the workplace before. We conclude our Star Trek Predicts... Today! theme month by looking at an accidental time travel story that Bryan accidentally put in the schedule. Is this season one episode a TREK, MARRY, or KILL? 

The grades begin at (15:38). 

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WHAT THE PARADOX? It's the end of the time loop as we know it and Voyager feels fine -- kinda, sorta. Getting back from 20th century Earth isn't without its complications though, as Captain Janeway discovers that American capitalism is as evil as the Borg when Henry Starling reveals that he plans to travel to the 29th century in his stolen time ship despite her warnings that such a trip would cause a temporal explosion. Meanwhile, Tom Paris and Rain Robinson grow so close that Sarah Silverman has off-screen stories about making out with some of the show's actors during her guest stint; Chakotay & B'Elanna are captured by militiamen; and, The Doctor gains the ability to leave Sickbay, forever altering the character. Ah, but do all these qualities make the episode a TREK, MARRY, or KILL?

The grades begin at (20:28). 

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TIME TO DIE? Voyager's involvement in a temporal explosion throws them into a causality loop that brings them to Los Angeles in the year 1996. Bryan & Kristen continue their Star Trek Predicts... Today! theme month to see just how well the writers blended Star Trek and 1996. Meanwhile, there's plenty of talk about what life was like in the late 1900s, a serious correction to last week's episode, and education about women's clothing that you don't want to miss.

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A HASTY RESOLUTION? Sisko takes the place of Gabriel Bell and his plan to restore history goes off basically without a hitch. Is that the most compelling version of the story? Meanwhile, as part of the Star Trek Predicts... Today! theme month, Bryan & Kristen look at what the second part of this episode gets right about September 2024 and how it misses. Gavin Newsom references abound -- but also, how strong is your mid-1990s Emmys trivia? There's also some discussion of Errol Flynn and why he's referenced by a character who couldn't possibly care about an old famous actor. 

The grades begin at (30:51). 

Stick around afterwards for some random Errol Flynn facts. 

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HISTORY IS NOW. The Bell Riots are Star Trek's biggest line in the sand between its fictional future and our now and it's all because how we treat each other now determines our civilization's tomorrow. A transporter accident sends Sisko, Bashir, and Dax to August 2024 in San Francisco where in Star Trek's history, the government has imprisoned the unhoused in Sanctuary Districts. Our Star Trek Predicts... Today! theme month kicks off with 1995's predictions about 2024. Hey... a lot of this stuff is happening this week -- and next! 

The grades begin at (21:11). 

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A NEW SEASON means new grades! Bryan and Kristen also announce some free giveaways for the season, look back at what worked and what didn't in season two, add some instant KILLs to the running tally, announce some of the new theme months and answer your listener questions. 

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