Out of Contreks

Ep. 161: "Extreme Risk" (VOY S3E5)

Ryan and Brady examine this mid-series Voyager outing and cast a wary eye on its rather simplistic portrayal of depression. We also discuss the origins of the Delta Flyer, a couple of entries in Ethan Phillips' non-Trek acting career, and once again ponder the dynamics of what is actually going on in a holodeck.

Ep. 160: "In a Mirror, Darkly Part 1" (ENT S4E18)

For once, Ryan and Brady come not to damn Enterprise with faint praise, but to celebrate it! This jaunt through the mirror universe is easily the most fun they've ever had watching an Enterprise episode, and they revel in the fun haircuts, the evil dogs, and one of the simplest and most effective episode openers in the history of the franchise.

Ep. 159: "Arena" (TOS S1E19)

Ryan and Brady cover one of the most famous Star Trek episodes of all time, the once maligned, now kind of adored (?) Arena. But does this famous Original Series entry really deserve the mockery or acclaim that many viewers have placed on in over the years? How does it hold up to other, less famous, episodes of the original Star Trek run? We get into those questions and more in this very fun record.

Ep. 158: "Kir'shara" (ENT S4E9)

Ryan and Brady return to the tangled web of late Enterprise Vulcan conspiracy chronology, watching the next episode after another episode they watched a while ago and sort of try to recall at the beginning of the show. Listen in as they discuss the episode's strange surprise ending, continue to heap praise on Jeffrey Combs, and, as so often happens when talking early 2000s Trek, compare this episode to The Phantom Menace.

Ep. 157: "The Empath" (TOS S3E12)

Ryan and Brady tackle another Season 3 episode of The Original Series, and while this one is a bit thin on plot, it boasts a real set of aesthetic choices that make it well worth a discussion. Join us as we discuss test tube scientists, the great chemistry of TOS's three leads, and how in the end, The Original Series really was a show made by a well-meaning but undeniably horny middle aged guy.

Ep. 156: "For the World Is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky" (TOS S3E8)

On this week's episode, Ryan and Brady are covering the the longest episode title in Star Trek history! But is this mid-season 3 outing worthy of such a portentous name? Join us as we discuss Shakespearean deliveries, tube-based security systems, and if maybe the Star Trek Season 3 haters didn't know just how good they had it. We also talk about fan-maintained wikis and the Angelina Jolie Tomb Raider series. It's a wide-ranging discussion!

Ep. 155: "The Search, Part 2" (DS9 S3E2)

Ryan and Brady talk about yet another very "lore important" episode of DS9 they've happened to draw, including some discussion on the genuine rapport of Kira and Odo, how to tell when you're in a Star Trek simulation, and, of course, Garak appreciation.

Ep. 154: "A Moral Star, Pt. 1" (PRO S1E9)

Ryan and Brady dive into the first part of Prodigy's first mid-season finale, discussing the new uniform variant, what happened to make the Diviner so mean, "evil" holograms, and, as always, this show's similarity to Star Wars: Rebels.

OOC Special 13: "Section 31" (plus Prodigy S2 and Lower Decks S5), with Mark Rustad

Ryan and Brady get together with MVP Out of Contreks listener Mark Rustad to discuss the new Section 31 TV movie, a film that is not very much a movie, nor is it very much about Section 31. There is one pretty cool sequence in it, though, which they talk about for a while, as well as the movie's long-gestating production history, dialogue problems, and how it ranks on the overall list of Star Trek films (hint: low).

Then, they circle back to 2024 to do mini-specials on Prodigy Season 2 and Lower Decks Season 5, the two shows they couldn't do full specials on last year due to time constraints.

Note: This episode was recorded very close to its air date, so it is only lightly edited.

Ep. 153: "Obsession" (TOS S2E13)

In this episode, Kirk has to fight some sentient gas! This might not sound like the most innately interesting thing for an episode of Star Trek to be about, but join Ryan and Brady as we discuss the ways the writing team -- and, especially, the main trio of TOS actors -- get as much juice as possible out of this concept.