Trek, Marry, Kill

KILL ALL MEN? That's the tantalizing hook for the latest episode in our Trials of Season Two theme month and guest co-hosts Kat Spada of Feminist Frequency Radio and artist Ethan Harper can't help but think what might've been. Instead, we get an episode about a member of the Q Continuum who wants to die. The only thing stopping him is another member of the Q Continuum -- John de Lancie! Can he convince Captain Janeway to rule in his favor and sentence a wayward Q to an eternity trapped inside a comet or will she grant Death Wish Q asylum so that he can become mortal as a means of ending his own life. Oh -- and there's a surprise cameo by William T. Riker. 

The grades start at (25:33). Check out Kat's Voyager-themed manicure here. 

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TRIAL BY RETCON. Ohhhh, sorry Captain Kirk. Turns out it's fairly common for the captain of (the) Enterprise to stand trial on the Klingon home world. Jonathan Archer did it 80 years before you were even born! Our Trials of Season Two theme month continues with this rehash of Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country with some DS9 "Tribunal" thrown in for good measure as David Goodman, the President of the Writers Guild of America, jumps from sitcoms to Star Trek to co-write an episode that borrows heavily from established franchise history. Is it a winner or all too familiar?

The grades begin at (19:06). Also, Bryan makes a big mistake when he references Tuvok being on the Excelsior during Star Trek VI as being in the Star Trek: Voyager episode "Timeless" when we ALL know it's "Flashback."

If you're enjoying the show, consider subscribing and rating us five stars on your podcast platform of choice. And don't forget to check out our monthly spotlight on the animated shows. This month: Laurie Ulster from TrekMovie.com joined Bryan to judge the first two episodes from The Animated Series (1973). 

O'BRIEN MUST SUFFER is a Deep Space Nine tradition, and one of the first episodes that really tortured our favorite Chief of Operations involved the bloody Cardies and their bloodless fascist court system. We continue our Trials of Season Two theme month that sees O'Brien arrested for terrorism and Odo dispatched to serve as his co-counsel. Meanwhile, the Niners Scooby-Doo around the station in an attempt to clear the Chief's name. 

The grades begin at (14:26). You can watch the "Don't Talk to the Police" YouTube video here: https://youtu.be/d-7o9xYp7eE?si=b1WdzMIvqOv0GGl2 -- remember: All Cardassians Are Bad! If you're ever stopped by a Cardassian patrol outside of their jurisdiction, don't go along with their orders, even if they're coming from Gul Evek!

If you're enjoying the show, consider rating & review us on Apple Podcasts or your podcast platform of choice.  Our theme is "70's Synth Funk Jam" by Phill_Dillow on Pixabay.

NUMBER ONE'S TRIAL kicks off our first theme month: The Trials of Season Two. In order to exonerate his embattled first officer, Captain Pike takes a personal day to travel across the galaxy to get a ringer/the best civil rights attorney in the galaxy. She's portrayed by Yatide Badaki in one of the best Star Trek guest appearances of all-time. Is her performance as Attorney Neera enough to deliver a Trek, Marry, or KIll?

The grades begin at (26:49). 

If you're enjoying the show, consider rating & review us on Apple Podcasts or your podcast platform of choice.  Our theme is "70's Synth Funk Jam" by Phill_Dillow on Pixabay.

THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY of the debut of The Animated Series more or less coincides with Trek Marry Kill's 1ST ANNIVERSARY, and so to celebrate both, Bryan has decided to remove this podcast's original sin of holding the animated shows off to the side by fully embracing them with the first of what will be monthly special episodes dedicated to animated episodes. 

Joining him for the first special episode is Laurie Ulster of TrekMovie.com, who hosts the All Access Podcast on that network. She also copy edited Star Trek: The Official Guide to the Animated Series, an awesome reference guide for this Emmy-nominated Saturday morning cartoon that's not "just" a cartoon -- it's animated Star Trek!

This month, the first two episodes of the series. One written by the same guy who wrote the first episode of The Original Series and the other written by D.C. Fontana, perhaps the second-most important writer in franchise history after Gene Roddenberry. Hear about Bryan's chance encounter with her back in 2016. 

The grades begin at (22:15). "Yesteryear" discussion begins at (48:23). This episode features some old promos for which you can see here on YouTube. One of those promos is an old "Keep America Beautiful" PSA. Our theme is "70's Synth Funk Jam" by Phill_Dillow on Pixabay. We also use a snippet from Luis Humanoide from Pixabay's "Space Fleet" during our bridge. If you're liking the show, consider rating us five stars on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. 

A HAUNTED HOUSE traps Kirk, Spock, and McCoy who are teased, tortured, and brainwashed by a pair of bickering aliens from another galaxy -- one of which transforms from a simple black house cat to a forced perspective oversized black house cat meant to suggest a panther! That's not the goofiest thing that happens in this episode and there's a lot more scary stuff surrounding the episode's production, from diva actors to tragedy. 

The grades begin at (32:06).

TOMORROW, Bryan will be joined by Laurie from TrekMovie.com to talk about **two** episodes from The Animated Series in our new monthly bonus episode focusing on The Animated Series and Lower Decks. 

If you're enjoying the show, tell your friends or give us a review on Apple Podcasts and five stars, if you feel so inclined. And you can check out how many Treks, Marrys, and Kills we've handed out at www.trekmarrykillpod.com. 

OUR FIFTIETH EPISODE! This week, Bryan is joined by Shereese & Andrea from The TNG Podcast to discuss an important episode of Star Trek: Voyager. Seven of Nine becomes a mentor or a big sister to a baby Borg drone created by a transporter accident that mixed her Borg nanoprobes with The Doctor's 29th century mobile emitter. 

The trio has a lot of fun digging into the social morays of a stranded crew on a long-term voyage home and get serious about the real-life clash between Kate Mulgrew and Jeri Ryan, which played an important role in helping get Barack Obama elected President of the United States. 

The grades begin at (40:55). And since the great scenes grade runs so long, the rest kick in it (1:17:19).

If you've been enjoying the show, consider rating and reviewing us on Apple Podcasts, in the Spotify app, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Keep track of our standings at trekmarrykillpod.com and if you have any ideas or questions for the show, you can at us on Twitter or Instagram @trekmarrykpod

HEY BATTER BATTER! Star Trek finally gives in to Michael Piller's love of baseball with The Baseball Episode of Deep Space Nine where Captain Sisko gets the crew together to play against some competitive Vulcans. It's the 25th anniversary of what's probably an oddity for most fans. Think of it like the musical episode of its day... 

Joining Bryan to discuss the episode where his favorite captain wears the hat for his favorite baseball team is national baseball writer Michael Baumann of FanGraphs.com, who interviewed DS9 showrunner Ira Steven Behr back in 2017 for The Ringer about this very episode. 

Bryan and Michael did not wind up agreeing on the appropriate grade for this one so it's up to YOU, Dear Listener, to break the stalemate! You can vote directly in the Spotify app OR at our website trekmarrykillpod.com.

The grades begin at (23:28). 

If you've been enjoying the show, consider rating and reviewing us on Apple Podcasts, in the Spotify app, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Keep track of our standings at trekmarrykillpod.com and if you have any ideas or questions for the show, you can at us on Twitter or Instagram @trekmarrykpod

DYING IS EASY. But wrapping up Star Trek's first-ever three-parter isn't. In the exciting conclusion of Deep Space Nine's Circle trilogy, veteran writer Michael Piller deploys every trick in the book to bring this story to an exciting conclusion. Does it hit every mark or will Bryan and Kristen be left wanting even 30 years after it first aired?

There's also plenty of off-topic conversation like what kind of Mission: Impossible stunts our intrepid hosts would attempt on the holodeck and why they love the community of TV. 

The grades begin at the (17:00) mark.

If you've been enjoying the show, consider rating and reviewing us on Apple Podcasts, in the Spotify app, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Keep track of our standings at trekmarrykillpod.com and if you have any ideas or questions for the show, you can at us on Twitter or Instagram @trekmarrykpod

BAJOR IS OVER. At least, that's what Quark wants us to believe after a wave of Bajoran nationalism threatens the lives of every of non-Bajoran on the station. This week, Bryan and Kristen take a look at part two of Star Trek's first ever three-parter which sees the introduction of the 90s version of Hot Priest, Vedek Bereil, Major Kira's soon-to-be boyfriend. Is he as interesting now as he was then? They also discuss the life of this episode's writer, Peter Allan Fields, with the help of this incredible Twitter thread from DS9 writer Robert Hewitt Wolfe. 

The grades begin at the (12:20) mark.

If you've been enjoying the show, consider rating and reviewing us on Apple Podcasts, in the Spotify app, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Keep track of our standings at trekmarrykillpod.com and if you have any ideas or questions for the show, you can at us on Twitter or Instagram @trekmarrykpod

IT'S THE NINETIES. The Star Trek franchise has never been more popular and striking while the iron's hot is the Deep Space Nine writing staff determined to chart their own course away from the Next Gen juggernaut. But is this show's specificity and sometimes uncomfortable parallels with modern history a bridge too far for the audience of the time? How about today's audience? Bryan and Kristen explore an episode that deals with Bajoran nationalism, surprisingly weird casting, and an even wackier honeypot scene. 

The grades kick in at (34:06). Here's that TV Guide cover that Bryan references. Here's the archive of Tim Lynch's Star Trek reviews.

If you've been enjoying the show, consider rating and reviewing us on Apple Podcasts, in the Spotify app, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Keep track of our standings at trekmarrykillpod.com and if you have any ideas or questions for the show, you can at us on Twitter or Instagram @trekmarrykpod

BRAIN AND BRAIN! For a very long time, the third season premiere of The Original Series was considered one of the dumbest episodes of TELEVISION to have ever aired. Part of the reason Bryan wanted to do a Star Trek podcast was to see if time + examining episodes from a somewhat different perspective -- like the series of questions we ask about every episode before arriving at our judgment -- would help us see any differently episodes lodged in cultural memory a certain way. 

There's certainly a lot that happened behind the scenes to explain how one of the greatest science fiction TV shows in human history produced an episode called "Spock's Brain," and Bryan and Kristen cover all those bases. CONTENT WARNING: The conversation leads to our hosts discussing Gene Roddenberry's sex lives, which necessarily means a slightly more graphic conversation than usual, so be forewarned.

PLAY IT AGAIN? Captain Picard comes to the rescue of a woman he ghosted! Will it be awkward? Chill? A chance to do it all over again? Bryan and Kristen relive some of the worst that eighties TV had to offer as Patrick Stewart and Michelle Phillips act out trite melodrama in a story that deals with some cultural detritus that has been (seemingly) left behind in the 20th century -- you don't see too many naked ripoffs of Casablanca these days! There's also some stuff about a time fart in here that fails to inspire when it's not a little confusing; but, does Michelle Phillips' experience with people tripping on acid help her performance in this one and does the science fiction B-plot entertain just enough?

If you've been enjoying the show, consider rating and reviewing us on Apple Podcasts, in the Spotify app, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Keep track of our standings at trekmarrykillpod.com and if you have any ideas or questions for the show, you can at us on Twitter or Instagram @trekmarrykpod. 

POOR ROMULAN COMMANDER. She thinks she's got a chance with Mr. Spock, but his loyalty is to the Federation and Captain Kirk. This week, Bryan is joined by Mark & Ryan from the Ship Full of Jerks podcast to judge what many consider to be the best episode of The Original Series' third season. Mark & Ryan delve into the slashfic aspect of Kirk & Spock and how their dynamic plays into the events of this episode.

Kirk and Spock execute an elaborate ruse on the Romulans and their commander played by the remarkable Joanne Linville in order to gain access to the newest edition of the Romulan cloaking device. 

If you're enjoying the show, consider rating us five stars in your podcast app of choice and leave a review if you feel so inclined. Keep track of our standings on trekmarrykillpod.com and if you have any ideas for the show, including what should be our final grade/question before asking TREK, MARRY, or KILL, you can at us on Twitter or Instagram: @trekmarrykpod.

KIRK, SPOCK & McCOY just play their behavioral hits in a classic episode of The Original Series that includes everything great and everything 1960s about the show. This being the 55th anniversary year of the episode, it's worth wondering how much of it holds up and how much of it is of its time. Will Bryan and Kristen delight in the character-specific dialogue along with the Roddenberry-driven "science fiction" scenario of a planet in the thrall of both "Caesar and Christ?" 

If you're enjoying the show, consider rating us five stars in your podcast app of choice and leave a review if you feel so inclined. Keep track of our standings on trekmarrykillpod.com and if you have any ideas for the show, including what should be our final grade/question before asking TREK, MARRY, or KILL, you can at us on Twitter or Instagram: @trekmarrykpod.

STEALING THE ENTERPRISE has never looked so easy! In the second season premiere of the hit Strange New Worlds, the writers needed to write around Anson Mount's limited availability and did so by coming up with a prequel to "The Menagarie" -- Spock's first effort to hijack the ship! Is Spock's first time as impressive as his next time? And, does getting new backstory on M'Benga and Chapel give enough weight to their storyline in this episode where they inject themselves with drugs to Hulk out?

Meanwhile, Bryan and Kristen try to remember which TV show posted a list of cliched jokes that were banned from their scripts, but it took until post production for us to locate that it was the writers room for the Comedy Central series Workaholics that posted the list back in 2016.

If you're enjoying the show, consider rating us five stars in your podcast app of choice and leave a review if you feel so inclined. Keep track of our standings on trekmarrykillpod.com and if you have any ideas for the show, including what should be our final grade/question before asking TREK, MARRY, or KILL, you can at us on Twitter or Instagram: @trekmarrykpod.

If you're interested in donating to groups in Maui who are on the ground and providing aid in response to the wildfires, we recommend Maui Food Bank (mauifoodbank.org) and the Maui Strong Fund (https://www.hawaiicommunityfoundation.org/maui-strong).

THE AMERICAN TRAGEDY of the September 11th attacks becomes a Star Trek turning point, as a vision of a hopeful future gets put on pause so that it can explore the deep grief of the American psyche in the "War on Terror." Our season premiere dealt with the episode that might've saved Star Trek as we knew it, but Enterprise's second season finale might've changed the franchise once and for all. 

An attack on Earth from an unknown alien species compels Captain Archer to take Enterprise into an unexplored region of space to hunt down whoever's responsible before they can launch another, larger attack that could destroy Earth entirely. What do Bryan and Kristen think of "The Expanse" and do you agree? Please note, we get into some spoilery discussion about the movie Oppenheimer from (56:45) to (1:02:10). 

If you're interested in donating to groups in Maui who are on the ground and providing aid in response to the wildfires, we recommend Maui Food Bank (mauifoodbank.org) and the Maui Strong Fund (https://www.hawaiicommunityfoundation.org/maui-strong). 

If you're enjoying the show, consider rating us five stars in your podcast app of choice and leave a review if you feel so inclined. Keep track of our standings on trekmarrykillpod.com and if you have any ideas for the show, including what should be our final grade/question before asking TREK, MARRY, or KILL, you can at us on Twitter or Instagram: @trekmarrykpod.

CAPTAIN JAHEEL SUCKS. Bryan and Kristen are joined by special guest Katelyn Hempstead from the podcast Lizard People to talk about the fourth episode of Deep Space Nine ever which featured a virus that gave the infected aphasia. But more importantly, this episode includes a character so annoying, so worthy of derision, that Bryan has remembered him ever since this episode aired and after rewatching this, Kristen and Katelyn agree -- Captain Jaheel sucks!!! Before deciding if this one should get a Trek, Marry, or Kill, they also talk about lice, the Velveteen Rabbit, David Lynch's "Lost Highway," and test out a new grade. What does any of this mean? You'll just have to listen to find out.

If you're enjoying the show, consider rating us five stars in your podcast app of choice and leave a review if you feel so inclined. Keep track of our standings on trekmarrykillpod.com and if you have any ideas for the show, including what should be our final grade/question before asking TREK, MARRY, or KILL, you can at us on Twitter or Instagram: @trekmarrykpod.

GROW THE BEARD. Season two of Star Trek: The Next Generation fundamentally altered the course of the franchise's popularity and all of that started right here in the season two premiere. Based on a script recycled from the aborted Star Trek: Phase II series, this episode about Counselor Troi having a miracle child causes Bryan and Kristen to discuss abortion, yo momma jokes, and HIPAA laws. Will they TREK, MARRY, or KILL it?

If you're enjoying the show, consider rating us five stars in your podcast app of choice and leave a review if you feel so inclined. Keep track of our standings on trekmarrykillpod.com and if you have any ideas for the show, including what should be our final grade/question before asking TREK, MARRY, or KILL, you can at us on Twitter or Instagram: @trekmarrykpod.

BRYAN AND KRISTEN kick off the second season of Trek Marry Kill with a review of season one. What worked? What didn't work? What was the biggest complaint and how did we decide to address it? Season two will feature some minor tweaks to the format, including theme months, the animated shows, a new question to ask before TREK, MARRY, OR KILL? and a list of Wild Card episodes that Kristen drew from a Spock mug. 

Stay tuned because we dropped two episodes this week: Counselor Troi is pregnant in The Next Generation's second season premiere, "The Child." 

If you're enjoying our show, consider rating us five stars on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. You can check out all our rankings at trekmarrykillpod.com. Our theme is "70's Synth Funk Jam" by Phill_Dillow on Pixabay.