Trek, Marry, Kill

GOODBYE, SPACE DAD. Bryan and Kristen get together to say goodbye to Jean-Luc Picard and the crew of the Enterprise-D in the series finale of Star Trek: Picard. Is it a fitting end to the longest parasocial relationship of Bryan's life? Does Kristen dig the backdoor Star Trek: Legacy pilot season 3 Executive Producer Terry Matalas snuck in there? 

Picard fights to rescue Jack from the clutches of the Borg Queen while Seven & Raffi enlist the aid of the few remaining Olds aboard the Titan to retake the ship and defend space dock from the networked fleet. It all ends with a poker game and a cameo. 

Jump to the grades (19:32) or straight to our mini grade of the Star Trek: Legacy backdoor pilot (1:10:03). 

This episode also serves as the season finale of TREK, MARRY, KILL! We'll be back August 1st with all-new episodes. Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss it! Rate us five stars in the Spotify app and Apple Podcasts. You can check out all our rankings at trekmarrykillpod.com. Our theme is "70's Synth Funk Jam" by Phill_Dillow on Pixabay. 

ENTER THE ENTERPRISE. The last cast member of this Star Trek: The Next Generation reunion finally enters the story as Picard & co. seek refuge aboard their old ship after the season's main enemy reveals themselves during Frontier Day: the Borg, humanity's most lethal enemy, has a doozy of a plan that might be unstoppable. 

This week, Bryan is joined by an old friend, Stu, now a movie producer, but the two were once production assistants together. They geek out over seeing the Enterprise-D again but they have clashes in the Anton Karidian and Shatner Awards the likes of which have never been seen before on this podcast. Will they be able to agree on whether or not "Vox" is worthy of a Trek, Marry, or Kill? You'll just have to listen!

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.

THE FINAL ROUND between Data and Lore forms the center of a critical episode in sorting out the season arc of #StarTrekPicard season three. Bryan is joined by actor-improvisor-podcaster Katie Hampton (@ElSassyPants on Twitter) from the Napping Through Happy Hour podcast to talk about the challenges of playing two roles that involves acting against yourself and, wouldn't you know it, Brent Spiner is truly great at it. 

Meanwhile, Captain Vadic faces a cold reality and Riker and Troi are forced to resolve their marital strife. Does it all work or did the writers, in their haste to make a compressed production schedule, overlook a critical issue with the Riker-Troi family storyline? Which way will we go with this one? Is "Surrender" a Trek, Marry, or Kill? 

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.

A BRIDGE EPISODE raises a lot of questions from Bryan, Kristen, and this week's special guest, Emmy Award-winning writer Joshua Pruett (@zombietardis on Twitter & Instagram). Does Jean-Luc's plan to turn the tables on Vadic in hopes of figuring out her master plan make sense or is it all just a bunch of nonsense?

Check out The Last Comics on Earth, released April 25, 2023 by Viking Books and follow Joshua Pruett on social media to stay current with the busy writer of The Last Kids on Earth series as well as Phineas and Ferb!

This episode of #StarTrekPicard also reacquaints us with Data, who shares a new body with Lore; a character from another show returns; Marvel movies collide with the Star Trek universe in a fun and cool way; and, LeVar Burton uncorks some really fine acting. 

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. 

SUCH BEAUTIFUL STARSHIPS! That's all Bryan wants to talk about with special guest co-hosts Matt from Star Trek: Prodigy and Rian from QCODE Media, but there's a whole other storyline in there that makes this episode one of the stranger ones in Star Trek history. Just how much fan service is *too* much fan service, and does Picard-Season Three showrunner Terry Matalas body slam Bryan and his complaints with a perfect explanation of the realities of producing TV? You'll just have to listen! 

Matt is a VFX artist on both seasons of Star Trek: Prodigy and Rian produces unscripted podcasts at QCODE Media (Jillian on Love). 

Geordi LaForge finally returns to Star Trek as the USS Titan, now on the run from the Changelings who have infiltrated Starfleet, seeks refuge and aid at the Fleet Museum at Athan Prime. Meanwhile, Worf, Raffi, and Riker infiltrate the much-discussed Daystrom Station to find out just what the Changelings took the night they also stole the portal weapon, but in order to do that, they'll need to thwart Moriarty while making their way through a garden of Easter eggs from Star Trek history. 

Liking our show? Be sure to rate us five stars on Apple Podcasts and even leave us a review, if you feel so inclined. You can also submit feedback right there on the Spotify app. Our theme music is "70's Synth Funk Jam" by Phill_Dillow on Pixabay.

RO LAREN RETURNS and Bryan might still be tingling. Does this week's special guest co-host, Kat Spada of Feminist Frequency Radio, share his love for Picard's wayward protege? They also get into Todd Stashwick's continued excellence as Captain Shaw, talk about the pairing of Michelle Hurd & Michael Dorn, and other famous Star Trek things like wonky ADR and wigs. 

The Changelings can now pass blood tests, Jack Crusher might be Jason Bourne, and there's a logical explanation for organized crime. Do all these things make sense? Will they compel Bryan and Kat to Trek, Marry, or Kill this episode of Star Trek: Picard - Seaosn Three? You'll just have to listen.

Liking our show? Be sure to rate us five stars on Apple Podcasts and even leave us a review, if you feel so inclined. You can also submit feedback right there on the Spotify app. Our theme music is "70's Synth Funk Jam" by Phill_Dillow on Pixabay.

EMMY FOR FRAKES! At some point during the past 36 years, Star Trek: The Next Generation's Number One, Jonathan Frakes, became Star Trek's ambassador and a cultural meme in his own right. Bryan and Kristen weigh all that against his incredible work in this episode and quickly decide that this one is a lifetime achievement, one deserving of an Emmy Award! Succession? Who cares! Jonathan Frakes is where it's at!

Beyond that, they get into the nitty-gritty of the holodeck and how its power cells allow it to operate like a 7-11, leading to a longer discussion about what you might do if you knew the end was near and all you could do is chill out on the holodeck. They also examine backtalking junior officers, how Picard would rewrite Shaw's confrontation in the simulated Ten Forward bar, and why this episode made Bryan cry while watching Star Trek for the first time in his life. Hear him choke up! 

If you've been enjoying our show, consider rating us five stars on Apple Podcasts and leaving us a review. You can always check out our standings for Treks, Marrys, and Kills over at www.trekmarrykillpod.com. Our theme music is "70's Synth Funk Jam" by Phill_Dillow on Pixabay.

WORF AND RAFFI become a classic Star Trek duo by the end of this episode that's mostly about Jean-Luc and Beverly's relationship reckoning. How could she keep a secret son from him for all these years? How does Ed Speleers pull off playing a 20-year old human male? How will the Titan evade the Shrike in this weird-ass nebula? What sort of celebrity gossip do Bryan and Kristen peddle about midway through this one? You'll just have to listen and find out! 

If you've been enjoying our show, consider rating us five stars on Apple Podcasts and leaving us a review. You can always check out our standings for Treks, Marrys, and Kills over at www.trekmarrykillpod.com. Our theme music is "70's Synth Funk Jam" by Phill_Dillow on Pixabay.

WHO'S JACK CRUSHER? It's the question with an easy answer, only, Jean-Luc Picard's in denial. This week, we're joined by Joel, who runs Trek Against ALS, a special fundraiser to help in the fight against ALS by raising support funds for Margot, who was Jeri Ryan's stand in on the ABC series "Body of Proof" and in the last two seasons of Star Trek: Picard. 

Come aboard and listen to Joel talk about how Jeri Ryan and other Trek stars have come together for this important cause and stay for his story about Walter Koenig. 

Meanwhile, Bryan and Joel also deal with Raffi's storyline and how it leads to us getting Worf! And this is the episode where we meet Amanda Plummer's character, Captain Vadic. 

If you've been enjoying our show, consider subscribing and giving us five stars on Apple Podcasts/iTunes or a thumbs up right there in the Spotify app. You can keep tabs on all our grades by visiting trekmarrykillpod.com. Our theme music is "70's Synth Funk Jam" by Phill_Dillow on Pixabay.

ALL GOOD THINGS... get one more story in the 21st century and Star Trek: The Next Generation proves to be no exception. Will this reunion be like an eighth season of TNG or the best season of Star Trek: Picard ever or the best TNG movie we never got? You'll just have to log on and listen!

Jean-Luc Picard receives a message from Dr. Beverly Crusher who needs his help on the edge of Federation space, but in order to get to her, Picard will need to enlist the help of his old Number One, Captain William T. Riker, and in order for Riker to help his old Captain, they'll need the help of Jean-Luc's friend, Seven of Nine serving under one of the galaxy's most supreme jerkwads, Captain Liam Shaw. Meanwhile, Raffi's paranoia gets put to good use for Starfleet Intelligence and her long-time fears of a terrorist attack are finally realized -- only, she's too late to stop it!

If you've been enjoying our show, consider subscribing and giving us five stars on Apple Podcasts/iTunes or a thumbs up right there in the Spotify app. You can keep tabs on all our grades by visiting trekmarrykillpod.com. Our theme music is "70's Synth Funk Jam" by Phill_Dillow on Pixabay.

REMIX OF TERROR? Strange New Worlds concludes its first season with a bookend to Captain Pike's dilemma setup in the series premiere: dude knows he's gonna suffer a terrible fate. Does this episode help him see that he shouldn't try to wiggle out of it? Bryan and Kristen examine an episode that serves as a "What If?" story to one of the stone cold classic episodes from The Original Series. Is the juice worth the squeeze? Does Strange New Worlds do the original episode justice? And, did the Trojan War actually happen, or is that just something made up to sell books? Kristen has the answer. 

Also, how did we feel overall about Strange New Worlds' first season? Did the 30-40-30 ratio (30% Marry, 40% Trek, 30% Kill) described in Episode Zero hold up with this show? 

If you're enjoying the show, consider rating and reviewing us on Apple Podcasts or right there in the Spotify app. You can keep tabs on all our grades by visiting trekmarrykillpod.com. Our theme music is "70's Synth Funk Jam" by Phill_Dillow on Pixabay.

THE VOYAGE HOMAGE. Captain Pike leads a rescue team to an icey planet after the USS Peregrine crash lands there, only to discover that Gorn invaders caused the crash and are not on the planet with them! 

Joining Bryan this week is the hilarious Ryan Nanni (@celebrityhottub on Twitter) from the best college football podcast ever made: Shutdown Fullcast. He's here because one of his New Year's resolutions was to appear on as many podcasts as possible, with a preference for subject matter not in his wheelhouse. He's not a total Star Trek novice, though, and he's well aware of science fiction in pop culture, knowledge that's necessary for an episode that... pays loving... homage... to Alien, Aliens, The Thing, and, allegedly Gremlins. 

If you're liking our show, consider rating us five stars on Apple Podcasts and leaving a review! 

CHILDCARE CRISIS RESOLVED! For most of the first season, Dr. M'Benga has been stuck caring for his daughter who's stuck in Sickbay's medical transporter buffer. That changes after the Enterprise's chance encounter with a living nebula! Does the nebula's ability to transform the crew into characters from his daughter's favorite book wind up being a great story twist or merely a lot of fun for the cast and crew?

Bryan and Kristen put on their cloaks and head into an enchanted forest to see if this crucial episode of Strange New Worlds warrants a Trek, Marry, or Kill!

If you're enjoying the show, consider rating and reviewing us on Apple Podcasts or right there in the Spotify app. You can keep tabs on all our grades by visiting trekmarrykillpod.com. Our theme music is "70's Synth Funk Jam" by Phill_Dillow on Pixabay.

ANGEL OR DEVIL? This week, Bryan is joined by special guest co-host Jen (writer at Baseball Prospectus) to discuss one of the most interesting episodes of Star Trek we've ever seen. The legacy of Spock has featured the culture clash of his human side vs. his Vulcan side, and in this episode of Strange New Worlds that dynamic faces a direct challenge from one of the most compelling characters ever created for the franchise. 

Spock's Human-Vulcan dynamic gets challenged by nonbinary Dr. Aspen who sees the whole thing as a false dilemma. Meanwhile, after the Enterprsie gets boarded by pirates and the crew imprisoned, Captain Pike decides to shed his Boy Scout label and be a true bad boy... by offering to cook for the pirate crew in hopes of inciting a mutiny. As the saying goes, the fastest way to the heart of a mutinous knave is through their stomach, right? 

Jen mentions their involvement with the Youth Leadership Intstitute and if you're interested in checking it out and seeing how it's helping young people address inequities in their communities, then check out yli.org. 

Liking our show? Be sure to rate us five stars on Apple Podcasts and even leave us a review, if you feel so inclined. You can also submit feedback right there on the Spotify app. And, of course, be sure to check out trekmarrykillpod.com for up to date standings of Treks, Marrys, and Kills for each series. 

PIKE'S FORMER CRUSH has a secret and this week we have guest co-host Cassie Soliday from The Ink & Paint Folk Podcast to talk about it! Is the perfect world of Majalis too good to be true or does it just seem that way to Federation outsiders? 

Meanwhile, Cadet Uhura gets exposed to La'an's list of security rules -- which are more like guidelines -- and Dr. M'Benga's doctor goes on a playdate. Does this episode setup a disturbing motif in this new Star Trek series, or were the writers really just horny for the ending they wrote and worked backwards from that? 

THIS EPISODE ENDS IN A SPLIT VOTE! What grade do you think this episode deserves? Vote via Twitter (@trekmarrykpod), our website, or through the Spotify app! 

If you're interested in animation, check out Cassie's podcast, and if you're enjoying our show, consider rating us five stars on Apple Podcasts and leaving a review. For a list of all our episodes and our Trek/Marry/Kill standings, check out our website, trekmarrykillpod.com.

SPOCK BECOMES T'PRING after a Vulcan Soul Swap goes awry and it's all thanks to Spock's pesky humanity! This week, Bryan is joined by Aliza Pearl from the Women at Warp Podcast, the Star Trek Adventures campaign called Clear Skies: Perseverance and she's created an interactive story you can playthrough right now on StoryLoom called Welcome to the Blood Bar.

Will Spock and T'Pring learn a valuable lesson about radical empathy in time to repair the Federation's delicate negotiations with the Rongovians and T'Pring's task to bring in a wayward Vulcan, or will the preponderance of hijinks sink their efforts?

If you're liking our show, be sure to rate us five stars on Apple Podcasts and leave a review! Curious about how many Treks, Marrys, and Kills we've handed out? See all that and more at our website, trekmarrykillpod.com!

HOT GORN ACTION! The Enterprise comes face to face with the mysterious Gorn, realizing La'an's worst nightmare! With the entire ship under constant attack, the episode splits into multiple storylines: Cadet Uhura and Lt. Hemmer are trapped in the cargo bay; and, Number One is trapped in Sickbay with the manic pixie dream Nurse Chapel. 

Listen to this one to find out what Bryan and Krsiten think about using mind melds to help with psychotherapy, a glistening Anson Mount, and the movie Interstellar. 

SECRETS AND LIES invade the Enterprise while investigating a distant planet that once was home to the mysterious race called the Illyrians. Has this genetically modified people been hunted to extinction or have they evolved? Bryan and Kristen conduct their own investigation into an episode that's heavy on incident and light on consequences. 

They also talk about the production realities that affected this one and how much the story owes to shooting TV during COVID-19 lockdowns and safety protocols. Does the show manage to do more than just remind us of the beginning of the pandemic? Does it borrow too much from The Next Generation?  Find out all that and more in this week's all new episode.

ARBITER OF LIFE? Second episodes can be as difficult as the pilot episode of a new show, and Bryan and Kristen don't see an exception with Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Does the combination of Anson Mount's charisma and Celia Rose Gooding's talent sell a sometimes sweaty script or does the Star Trek-ness of the whole thing wind up saving the day? 

The Enterprise tries to stop a comet from colliding with a planet only to be intercepted by The Shepherds, an alien species that views the comet as a religious figure. Meanwhile, Uhura doesn't know if she belongs in Starfleet, despite being great at everything. Can she find the thrill in time to save the landing party that's trapped on the comet as it hurtles towards its destination? 

If you're enjoying our show, consider writing a review on Apple Podcasts and rating us five stars there or whichever platform you listen to Trek, Marry, Kill -- and don't forget: all our standings can be seen on trekmarrykillpod.com. 

A BUREAUCRAT'S OFFICE! That's all Captain Picard seems good for to rogue Captain Benjamin Maxwell, but little does he understand that the USS Enterprise is the top diplomatic vessel at the Federation's disposal! Trek, Marry, Kill wraps up its Star Trek: Picard Season Three prep by watching this 4th season episode that introduces Cardassians to the world of Star Trek ... and maybe the world to the Kardashian family?

Joining Bryan this week is Rian from podcast network QCODE to discuss what might be the perfect example of Captain Picard in action playing to his strengths. How does he (via Patrick Stewart's performance) convey so much power without firing a phaser or delivering a drop kick? That's Shakespearean training for you! In this one, he's up against two all-time great Star Trek performances, one from Bob Gunton as Maxwell and Marc Alaimo as Gul Macet, a great preview of his performance for many years on Deep Space Nine as Gul Dukat.