Out of Contreks

Ep. 96: ”Critical Care” (VOY S7E05)

In a rare "Ryan and Brady disagree" podcast, we go deep on Critical Care, a dark, thoughtful, late-period Voyager episode about income-gated health care and the ethics of political violence.

 

Here's a link to The Joe Manchin Trolley Problem, an article we discuss in the episode.

OOC Special 7: Lower Decks, Season 3

Join Brady and Ryan as they return for another discussion of Star Trek: Lower Decks, this time the newly-completed third season. A lot of this podcast is them trying to put their finger on just what it was about this season that made it not quite as good as the last two... and then remembering a lot of things that still worked pretty well!

Ep. 95: ”Improbable Cause, Part 1” (DS9 S3E20)

In this DS9 two-hander, we get into the psyche of Elim Garak, one of the best recurring characters in Trek history. We also talk about cool caves, plot twists, and which Muppet it was who sells Scrooge's clothes at the end of Muppet Christmas Carol (apparently, it was not Uncle Deadly, although that's probably who Ryan was thinking of).

Ep. 94: ”Daedelus” (ENT S4E10)

An episode where "something is going on" and you wait until the end until you find out what it is. Not gonna lie, this one has really fallen out of the brain in the two months since we watched it. Even Brady  couldn't remember which episode this was until about halfway through the editing process.

Ep. 93: ”Coda” (VOY S3E15)

Ryan has been dreading this episode for a while, but it wasn't that bad! Well, I mean, it wasn't great. It's kind of annoying, but only because it starts pretty strong and then sort of wastes away to nothing... the Star Trek episode, I mean, not the episode of the podcast. Hopefully that's still pretty entertaining.

Ep. 92: ”Armageddon Game” (DS9 S2E13)

You could also call this episode "O'Brien and Bashir: Origins," as it's one of the first outings in which the frostiness between the two men starts to thaw. Join Ryan and Brady as we talk about its sludgy middle, killer opening, and excellent comedy stinger.

Ep. 91: ”The Way to Eden” (TOS S3E20)

In which Ryan and Brady discuss Adam the space hippie, the sensational character find on 1969. This episode of The Original Series has full original music numbers, a surprisingly nuanced message, and renewed relevance in our pandemic era. Check out the podcast for an effusive commentary.

Ep. 90: ”Collective” (VOY S6E16)

It's another Voyager Borg episode -- better than a lot of others like it, though still not as good as the best TNG outings to feature the species. Ryan and Brady talk about how Janeway almost maybe kind of thinks about committing a war crime, and the elevating presence of Jeri Ryan.

Ep. 89: ”Vanishing Point” (ENT S2E10)

It's been a good 10 episodes since we've really excoriated a Star Trek episode on this show, but this Enterprise entry is really terrible. Join us as we talk about stakes, narrative consistency, and the time Star Trek did this premise so much better.

Ep. 88: ”Awakening” (ENT S4E08)

In this episode, Ryan and Brady puzzle through Vulcan politics, talk about the thorniness of Vulcan spirituality, and talk about Archer in cave-diving mode. Enterprise remains something of an enigma to us.