Out of Contreks

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.

Ep. 152: "Inheritance" (TNG S7E10)

It's a good thing Data can't feel embarrassment, because, oh boy, otherwise his mom would be pretty embarrassing! Ryan and Brady discuss this late period TNG episode and its one big twist, how it's similar to a better DS9 entry about Odo, and how there's a normal episode of Star Trek going on in the background.

Ep. 151: "Vox Sola" (ENT S1E22)

Fresh from the highs of our 150th episode, Ryan and Brady sit down to discuss Enterprise's version of Devil in the Dark, which heavily features a snot monster. Real talk? Why is this episode called "Vox Sola"? In Latin, that means "lone voice," which I guess sort of makes sense because it's absorbing all of them into its being, but there are still plenty of voices trying to keep that from happening. Feels like a first draft!

Ep. 150: "Star Trek III: The Search For Spock"

It's an anniversary episode for Out of Contreks, which means that this time, we're tackling The Search For Spock. Join Ryan and Brady as we discuss the first Trek movie that feels like a long TV episode, some incredible '70s fashion that just happened to appear in the '80s, and how, to woo Leonard Nimoy back to the franchise, the Trek helmers allowed him to direct a movie about how Trek isn't as good when he's not in it (which is true!).

Ep. 149: "Second Sight" (DS9 S2E9)

In this DS9 episode, Sisko falls in love with a figment of someone else's imagination. In this podcast, Ryan and Brady talk about that for a while and then discuss the galaxy's most overconfident scientist and how exactly we're supposed to feel about the end of the episode.