Episodes
The Academy faculty begin a special series of podcasts rewatching Star Trek Discovery, seasons 1 & 2. This time, they look at the first four episodes, considering the production design as well as the philosophy and messages of the four episodes.
Published 01/07/24
The Academy faculty talks Star Trek Lower Decks S4xE10, Old Friends, New Planets, including the important context between the Mariner and Locarno characters, and the take-away lessons of the season finale.
Published 11/05/23
The Academy faculty deconstructs Star Trek Lower Decks S4xE9, The Inner Fight, including a lot of talk about what we learn about Mariner in this episode and a huge prediction about next week's season finale.
Published 10/29/23
The Academy faculty deconstructs Star Trek Lower Decks S4xE8, Caves, including a lot of talk about the lessons about conspiracy theory, friendship, and storytelling in the episode.
Published 10/22/23
The Academy faculty considers Star Trek Lower Decks S4xE7, A Few Badgeys More. Badgey, Peanut Hamper, and Agimus return for a story filled with messages about parenting and decision-making.
Published 10/16/23
The Academy faculty considers Star Trek Lower Decks S4xE6,
Parth Ferengi's Heart Place, featuring the return of Rom and Leeta as Ferenginar asks to join the Federation, and Mariner grappling with her chaotic lifestyle.
Published 10/09/23
The Academy faculty considers Star Trek Lower Decks S4xE5, Empathological Fallacies, including T'Lyn's questioning whether she is "Vulcan enough" and...poetry slams.
Published 10/01/23
The Academy faculty considers the Star Trek Lower Decks S4xE4, Something Borrowed, Something Green, including how the episode addresses feminism and Riverboats related to Star Trek nobody else is talking about.
Published 09/24/23
The Academy faculty considers the Star Trek Lower Decks Season 4, episode 3, In the Cradle of Vexilon, including production details and the messages of the episode about leadership.
Published 09/17/23
The Academy faculty considers the Star Trek Lower Decks Season 4 double-feature premiere, including the plots, production details, and their distinctive take on the two episodes, including a solid look at the philosophy and ethics.
Published 09/10/23
Professors Michael and Rodney deconstruct the story and the ethical dilemmas in Star Trek Strange New Worlds S2xE10, Hegemony, including how the massive cliffhanger may be resolved in season 3.
Published 08/14/23
Professors Rodney and Michael explore the first-ever Star Trek musical episode, Strange New Worlds S2xE9, Subspace Rhapsody. They talk about the music as well as the deep character development in the story.
Published 08/06/23
Professors Michael and Rodney do a deep dive into the ethics and philosophy in Star Trek Strange New Worlds S2xE8, Under the Cloak of War. The episode explores how war affects those who survive it, and the characters face multiple ethical dilemmas.
Published 07/31/23
Professors Rodney and Michael deconstruct the Star Trek Strange New Worlds and Lower Decks crossover episode, "Those Old Scientists," going beyond the humor and Easter eggs to talk about the production design, character development, themes, and messages of the episode.
Published 07/26/23
Professors Michael and Rodney deconstruct Star Trek Strange New Worlds S2xE6, "Lost in Translation." We look at the primary story, about an unusual alien encounter, but also at the complex character development of multiple characters.
Published 07/23/23
Professors Rodney and Michael discuss Star Trek Strange New Worlds S2xE5, "Charades." It focuses on the complicated relationship between Spock and Chapel, addressing social and ethical issues, as aliens temporarily turn Spock completely human.
Published 07/16/23
Professors Michael and Rodney reflect on Star Trek Strange New Worlds S2xE4, "Among the Lotus Eaters." It continues the story from the very first ever episode of Star Trek, and has intriguing messages about how memory and past painful experiences shape our lives.
Published 07/09/23
Professors Rodney and Michael really liked the Star Trek Strange New Worlds S2xE3 episode "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow" except for it throwing out 50 years of Star Trek continuity and moving the Eugenics Wars to a different century.
Published 07/02/23
Professors Michael and Rodney analyze the Star Trek Strange New Worlds S2xE2 episode "Ad Astra per Aspera." This stand-out episode is filled with social commentary, strong acting, and beautiful visual design.
Published 06/26/23
Professors Rodney and Michael analyze the Star Trek Strange New Worlds Season 2 premiere, "The Broken Circle," including production details, storytelling, and ethics from their academic/faculty perspective.
Published 06/18/23
Professors Michael and Rodney deconstruct the Star Trek Picard series finale, "the Last Generation" including production details, storytelling, ethics, and thoughts about the series as a whole.
Published 04/23/23
Professors Rodney and Michael deconstruct Star Trek Picard season 3, episode 9, "VÕX," which is sure to be a long-term fan favorite because of [massive mega spoilers deleted].
Published 04/16/23
Professors Michael and Rodney analyze Star Trek Picard season 3, episode 8, "Surrender," which has strong themes of family and connection.
Published 04/10/23
Professors Rodney and Michael deconstruct Picard season 3, episode 7, "Dominion," which represents the end of the "second act" of the Picard series. In particular, they comment on the many questions of ethics in this Picard episode.
Published 04/02/23
Professors Michael and Rodney consider Picard season 3, episode 6, The Bounty, including a LOT of familiar returning characters and ships, and comment on the episode's story, continuity, philosophy, ethics, and messages, plus thoughts about what is coming next.
Published 03/26/23