Out of Contreks

OOC Special 1: Picard Season 1

It's a special In Contreks episode in which we talk about Season 1 of Star Trek: Picard as a whole. This gets a little wild and wide-ranging, as it was recorded the day before publishing and is mostly unedited, but listen on for thoughts about good ideas, bad execution, and the best fashion choice in all of Star Trek.

Ep. 27: "Afterimage" (DS9 S7E3)

As the crew of DS9 gets used to Ezri Dax, Ryan and Brady discuss claustrophobia, coping mechanisms, Worf being a big old jerk, and how the Trill can be one of the most interesting AND most difficult alien races to engage with on Star Trek.

Ep. 26: "Caretaker" (VOY S1E01)

Hello there! For what was originally going to be our 25th podcast, we just so happened to draw a momentous episode: the pilot of Voyager. Join us to learn about holofarming, wasting water, and what popular food franchise Ryan's dad accidentally kept calling one of the characters!

Ep. 25: "Day of Honor" (VOY S4E03)

We had a small production mix-up, so we're airing this one out of order (we explain more in the intro). We've been on something of a Klingon kick lately, and this is more of the same, from a different show and a different angle. We talk about Klingon holidays and bad Klingon food and bad Tom Paris. Also, the audio is certainly listenable but a little wonky, so sorry about that! A strange episode all around, but still enjoyable!

Ep. 24: "Soldiers of the Empire" (DS9 S5E21)

We want to love Klingons, but sometimes we don't know how! You know who does love Klingons? Jadzia Dax, and we love her! Listen to Ryan and Brady talk about how great Terry Farrell is and the curious decor choices of Bajoran hospitals in this mid-period Deep Space 9 episode.

Ep. 23: "Blood Oath" (DS9 S2E09)

I'll be honest. I (Ryan) upload these, and this is an episode Brady edited, and I forgot to do this until right before I went to bed the night before the episode is scheduled to drop and I can't remember very much about what we talked about. It's a Klingon culture episode, but with Dax instead of Worf, and there are some interesting Trill ideas, too. I can't remember much else; we recorded it two months ago. Listen along, and we'll find out together!

Ep. 22: "Real Life" (VOY S3E22)

Is paternalism still going to be a problem in the future? The Voyager episode Ryan and Brady watched this week certainly seems to think so. Join them as they discuss how "Real Life" compares to "The Offspring" and "Fair Haven," and stay for an update on brain trauma and the weird race stuff that frequently afflicts Star Trek's handling of alien species.

Ep. 21: "Trials and Tribble-ations" (DS9 S5E06)

Ryan and Brady heap love on this DS9/TOS mash-up but aren't exactly sure how to talk about it, given its strange narrative structure. Also, Ryan at one point goes on a tangent about the streaming wars? It's kind of a weird one, but very positive.

Ep. 20: "Dark Frontier" (VOY S5E15/16)

This Voyager episode raises a lot of questions about the Borg. What is their ultimate purpose? Should there even be a Borg queen? And why are they so squeamish about the nude human form? Ryan and Brady set out to answer these questions and more in their 20th release.

Ep. 19: "The Arsenal of Freedom" (TNG S1E21)

In this sleepy episode, Ryan and Brady talk about a throwback TNG outing that sleepily condemns Reagan-era foreign policy. They also puzzle over a strange idiom left by a hologram from a dead civilization.