Star Trek Discovery Podcast, featuring Picard, Lower Decks, and Strange New Worlds (Brian Meloche & Laurence Todd)

it's finally time for our Post-Season 2 roundtable! We hope you will enjoy this Season 2 Roundtable episode, which was recorded on Saturday, June 22, 2019. We are joined by our man with the screen captures and voicemails, Fred from The Netherlands, as well as James (The Augmented Sailor) Robbins and Laurence Todd (LT from NC), who have all been contributing their feedback all through the season!

Ruthie and I complete our discussion of Season 2 Episode 14 of Star Trek: Discovery, Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 2. This episode, our third of three, we go through voicemails and other general feedback, our notes, and news. We recommend you start our coverage of the season finale by listening to episode 39 and then listen to episode 40 if you haven't already done so. In episode 39, we go over feedback from the previous episode, as well as ratings and Yeses. In episode 40, we cover Nos and Hold Your Horses.

It's episode 40 of The Star Trek Discovery Podcast, and Ruthie and Brian continue their analysis and discuss your feedback for Star Trek: Discovery - S2E14, which is titled Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 2; this time, focussing on No's and Hold Your Horses. This episode was written by Michelle Paradise & Jenny Lumet & Alex Kurtzman, and directed by Olatunde Osunsanmi. Like last week, this episode is a shining example of an episode being greater than the sum of its parts, but we isolate the parts that aren't as good or at least make us question.

For episode 30 of The Star Trek Discovery Podcast, Ruthie is back, as we discuss Star Trek: Discovery - S2E5, which is titled, Saints of Imperfection. This episode is written by Kirsten Beyer, and directed by David Barrett. This episode continues the search for Spock (no pun intended), but comes up with a dead end, as Georgiou and Section 31 appear. Stamets and Burnham enter the network to rescue Tilly but end up finding another long lost character, too. By the way, we LOVED it!!!

Ruthie interviews Nana Visitor, who played Major Kira Nerys on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. She also goes over her experiences attending Soonercon earlier this month. We also talk about the Picard teaser trailer and go over some recent iTunes reviews.

Welcome to the first episode of The Star Trek Picard Cast! We bring you this introduction to us, Brian Meloche and Ruthie Rink, if you don't know us already from The Star Trek Discovery Podcast, and details everything we know so far about Star Trek: Picard!

We're finally back! Ruthie and Brian are back with The Star Trek Discovery Podcast, with the first of six mini-episodes, covering the Short Treks. We discuss the Season 3 trailer that was released at New York Comic Con, and the first Short Trek of Season 2, with a focus on Ensign Spock and his first day on board the USS Enterprise, titled Q&A. We both loved it but Brian felt like it had a few minor issues, as he unleashes a new character onto the podcast. We also talk about the issues that we are currently having with Facebook.

We're back! Ruthie and Brian are back with the second of six Season 2 Short Treks, this time covering The Trouble with Edward. This one's part Tribble origin story, part farce, and all funny. Despite it being a Short Trek, we had a LOT to say!!! We both loved it but Brian let his new alter-ego character onto the podcast again, Nitpicking Brian, to speak about all the things the nitpicking side of him had issues with. He fights with Ruthie and regular Brian about why they think it was a great episode but he doesn't.

Ruthie and Brian discuss the third of six Season 2 Short Treks, this time covering Ask Not, written by Kalinda Vazquez and directed by Sanji Senaka. A cadet has been ordered to guard Pike, who has been arrested for treasonThis one's a tense story, but a short one, even for a Short Trek.

Ruthie and Brian discuss the fourth and fifth of six Season 2 Short Treks, this time covering the animated shorts: Ephraim and Dot, written by Chris Silvestri & Anthony Maranville and directed by veteran composer Michael Giacchino; and The Girl Who Made the Stars, written by Brandon Schultz and directed by Olatunde Osunsanmi.

For the second episode of The Star Trek Picard Cast, Brian and Ruthie focus on the other Star Trek characters that are returning for Picard that aren't Picard. We speculate on what they might be doing on the show. We also speculate on what other characters we think might also return to Picard, and what other characters we'd like to see return.

Ruthie and Brian discuss the finale of the Season 2 Short Treks, Children of Mars, written by Kirsten Beyer & Jenny Lumet & Alex Kurtzman, and directed by Mark Pellington. This Short Trek is categorized as an episode of The Star Trek Picard Cast because it has ties to Star Trek: Picard. We both loved it, Brian probably more than Ruthie.

Brian and Ruthie are joined by Dr. Trek, Larry Nemecek from The Trek Files podcast on the Roddenberry Podcast Network, Portal47.net, and Trekland Tuesdays Live on Facebook, Mark Kirkman of The Walking Dead Talk Through, Fear the Walking Dead Talk Through, and the Panels to Pixels Podcast, and Patrons Fred Petrij (AKA Fred from The Netherlands), James Robbins (James the Augmented Sailor), and Laurence Todd (LT from NC) as we discuss a topic submitted as a Patreon perk by LT: What makes Picard such a compelling character? After going a couple of rounds around the roundtable on that topic, we give our thoughts about this show just a few days before it debuts! We give our impressions, hopes, and fears for what is the biggest event in Star Trek fandom since Discovery premiered!

Brian and Ruthie are so happy to give you super-sized talk through of S1E1 of Star Trek: Picard, titled Remembrance. As usual, we received have tons of feedback for the episode, and we bring it all to you, along with our reaction to it, and add our own thoughts and reactions. TLDR: We both loved it... a lot!

For episode 6 of The Star Trek Picard Cast, Brian and Ruthie talk through Season 1, Episode 2 of Star Trek: Picard, titled Maps and Legends. Another great episode, although this one was a lot more exposition than the premiere.

For episode 7 of The Star Trek Picard Cast, Brian and Ruthie talk through your feedback on Season 1, Episode 3 of Star Trek: Picard, titled The End is the Beginning. We're finally in space! It was a decent episode, but Brian took some issue with the cold open. And then, there's the long-standing issue with the Federation economy... but we got to see Hugh! We also respond to some feedback we have gotten back from our listeners about the acting. And we had to talk about Commodore Oh's ears, which you'll see in our blog post!

For episode 8 of The Star Trek Picard Cast, Brian and Ruthie talk through your feedback on Season 1, Episode 4 of Star Trek: Picard, titled Absolute Candor. This one has us meet someone we've been waiting for, and someone else Picard left behind.

For episode 9 of The Star Trek Picard Cast, Brian and Ruthie talk through your feedback on Season 1, Episode 5 of Star Trek: Picard, titled Stardust City Rag. This episode was written by Kirsten Beyer, and it was directed again by Jean-Luc Picard's former Number One, Jonathan Frakes.

For episode 10 of The Star Trek Picard Cast, Brian and Ruthie talk through your feedback on Season 1, Episode 6 of Star Trek: Picard, titled The Impossible Box. This written by Nick Zayas, and directed by Maja Vrvilo.

For episode 11 of The Star Trek Picard Cast, Brian and Ruthie talk through your feedback on Season 1, Episode 7 of Star Trek: Picard, titled Nepenthe. This written by Samantha Humphrey and Michael Chabon, and directed by Doug Aarniokoski.

For episode 12 of The Star Trek Picard Cast, Brian and Ruthie talk through your feedback on Season 1, Episode 8 of Star Trek: Picard, titled Broken Pieces. This written by Michael Chabon, and directed by Maja Vrvilo.

For episode 13 of The Star Trek Picard Cast, Brian and Ruthie talk through your feedback on Season 1, Episode 9 of Star Trek: Picard, titled Et in Arcadia Ego, Part 1. This episode's teleplay was by Michael Chabon & Ayelet Waldman, its story was by Michael Chabon & Ayelet Waldman & Akiva Goldsman. It was directed by Akiva Goldsman. The short version: We didn't like this one very much.

For episode 14 of The Star Trek Picard Cast, Brian and Ruthie talk through your feedback on Season 1, Episode 10 of Star Trek: Picard, titled Et in Arcadia Ego, Part 2. This episode's teleplay was by Michael Chabon, its story was by Michael Chabon & Akiva Goldsman. It was directed by Akiva Goldsman. This was better than the previous episode, though not as good as it could have been.

James and Kim dive into Season 1 Episode 2 of DS9: Past Prologue. Kira's loyalties are put to the test as her past comes back to haunt her.

James and Kim dive into Season 1 Episode 1 of DS9: Emissary. They discuss PTSD and debate rampant ear touching.

James and Kim dive into Season 1 Episode 3 of DS9: A Man Alone. Odo is accused of murder when someone from his past suddenly dies.

Kyle, Mark, Ruthie and Lara discuss Sci-fi, Cons, Pop Culture influences that the movie Galaxy Quest beautifully portrayed and the behind the scenes shown in Never Surrender: A Galaxy Quest Documentary.

James and Kim dive into Season 1 Episode 4 of DS9: Babel. Miles is acting funny and not in a good way.

We're back for Episode 15 with our latest Patreon call-in show, which we are bringing to our regular listeners later than Patreon subscribers got it. This was recorded on April 18, 2020. Joining Brian and Ruthie are Kim Voegele, Laurence Todd (AKA LT from NC), Leigh Radtke (AKA Cybermam), Wes Huntington, Arend Mayes, and Mark Boaldin. We discuss Picard Season 1, Discovery Season 3, and the new Rebinge DS9 and Let's Talk Through podcasts.

James and Kim dive into Season 1 Episode 5 of DS9: Captive Pursit. Miles makes a new friend from the Gamma Quadrant and he's a little green.

Ruthie & Brian sit down with Uma McCormack, author of Star Trek: Picard - The Last Best Hope and discuss writing the novel, finding the characters' voices, and other story details from the novel. If you haven't read the novel but are planning to, you may want to read it first. There are spoilers in this episode!

James and Kim dive into Season 1 Episode 6 of DS9: Q-Less. Vash and Q arrive at the station and everything goes very badly.

James and Kim dive into Season 1 Episode 7 of DS9: Dax. Jadzia has to stand trial for crimes committed by Dax's previous host.

For Patreon call-in show #5, Brian and Ruthie are joined by Kim Voegele, Laurence Todd, James Robbins, Brian Shiro, and Jim Matthews. We discuss Star Trek: Picard - The Last Best Hope and the Star Trek: Strange New Worlds announcement.

James and Kim dive into Season 1 Episode 8 of DS9: The Passenger. Kira and Bashir return from a mission with an unexpected (and invisible) passenger.

Allamaraine! James and Kim analyze Season 1 Episode 9 of DS9: Move Along Home. Quark's shenanigans gets the crew in some hot water.

James and Kim analyze Season 1 Episode 10 of DS9: The Nagus. The Nagus arrives at DS9 and promptly drops dead. What has Quark done now?

James and Kim analyze Season 1 Episode 11 of DS9: Vortex. Quark tries to scam some nasty dudes in bad costumes and another dude takes Odo for a bit of a ride.

James and Kim analyze S1 Ep 12 of DS9: Battle Lines. Kai Opaka asks for a ride through the wormhole, but will it be a one way trip?

James and Kim analyze S1 Ep 13 of DS9: The Storyteller. Miles and Julian have their first away mission together and it does not go well.

James and Kim analyze S1 Ep 14 of DS9: Progress. Kira is fighting a balance between her past, her present and the future of Bajor.

James and Kim analyze S1 Ep 15 of DS9: If Wishes Were Horses. All kinds of weird stuff starts happening on the station. And oh yeah, we might all die (again).

James and Kim analyze S1 Ep 16 of DS9: The Forsaken. Odo is fighting off Lwaxana's (mostly) unwelcome advances while Dax and Miles are trying to house train a forsaken puppy/computer program.

James and Kim analyze S1 Ep 17 of DS9: Dramatis Personae. Everyone is acting very oddly. Kira is on a power trip and Sisko is weirdly disinterested. What is Odo to do?

This is our August Patreon call-in show, recorded on August 1, 2020. Joining Ruthie and me are Kyle McAdams, who you may know from The Walking Dead Talk Through, Kim Voegle from Rebinge DS9, Lawrence Todd, Arend Mayes, Geoff Gentry, and Jim Matthews.

James and Kim analyze S1 Ep 18 of DS9: Duet. A new Cardassian arrives at the station and he's either an innocent filing clerk or the Butcher of Gallitep.

My TWDTT/FTWDTT co-host Kyle McAdams and I bring you this new animated show on CBS All Access. Ruthie will be back for Discovery in October. This episode, we talk through the first episode of Star Trek: Lower Decks, titled Second Contact. This one was pretty much a split vote. I loved it and thought it was very respectful to the TNG era of the 1990's. Kyle had a lot of issues with it, especially the pacing and format.

James and Kim analyze S1 Ep 19 of DS9: In the Hands of the Prophets. Vedek Winn arrives to complain about the lack of church in Keiko's school and to shout blasphemy at anyone who will listen.

James and Kim wrap up season 1 of their DS9 rebinge with the top and bottom 5 episodes.

We are unfortunately several days late this week, but we talk through the second episode of Star Trek: Lower Decks, titled Envoys. We both liked this one a lot better than the first episode. It had some real laugh out loud moments and some interesting character development. We're enjoying the series so far and look forward to the next one.

Brian and Kyle talk through the third episode of Star Trek: Lower Decks, titled Temporal Edict. The end of Buffer Time on the USS Cerritos brings a frazzled crew; a second contact for Ransom & Mariner goes badly and leads to deadly combat with a new Federation world. We both enjoyed this one, maybe a little less than the last but still good and we're getting used to the show as a whole.

Brian & Kyle talk through S1E4 of Lower Decks, titled Moist Vessel. The USS Cerritos and the USS Merced team up to tow a generational ship in when things go awry. Captain Freeman and Mariner team up to get them out of distress. Tendi helps an ascension.

James and Kim analyze Season 2 Episode 1 of DS9: The Homecoming. Kira and Miles are on a secret mission to Cardassia IV.

Brian & Kyle talk through S1E5 of Lower Decks, titled Cupid's Errant Arrow. The USS Cerritos and the USS Vancouver team up to implode a moon but the natives are not happy. Boimler meets up with his girlfriend on the Vancouver and Mariner thinks she can't be real. Tendi and Rutherford compete to keep a new device.

Brian & Kyle discuss Lower Decks S1E6, titled Terminal Provocations. Lovable but awkward Ensign Fletcher makes it difficult for Mariner & Boimler. Rutherford introduces Tendi to his new holodeck training program and its new assistant, Badgey. The Cerritos & The Drookmani fight over Starfleet salvage.

James and Kim analyze Season 2 Episode 2 of DS9: The Circle. Minister Jaro reveals his true nature and his alliance with Vedek Winn.

James and Kim analyze Season 2 Episode 3 of DS9: The Siege. Lavender soldiers invade the station while Kira and Dax undertake a perilous mission to Bajor.

Brian & Kyle discuss Lower Decks S1E7, titled Much Ado About Boimler. From the title, you may think this was a Boimler episode, but his character was very much a part of the B story this week. Instead, the Cerritos gets a substitute Captain, and it's an Academy classmate of Mariner's, Captain Adira Ramsey.

James and Kim analyze Season 2 Episode 4 of DS9: Invasive Procedures. Another nefarious visitor arrives at the station and puts Jadzia's life at risk.

Brian & Kyle discuss Star Trek: Lower Decks S1E8, titled Veritas. A departure from previous episodes, we thought it was the best of the season. Our ensigns are caught off guard when aliens force them to testify about a series of seemingly unrelated events.

We analyze Season 2 Episode 5 of DS9: Cardassians. Cardassians left behind some unwanted children on Bajor when they withdrew. Now they want them back...well not all, just one.

Brian, Kyle, and special guest LT talk through Star Trek: Lower Decks S1E9, titled Crisis Point. Mariner turns Boimler's holodeck crew simulation into a movie. We all thought this was the best episode of the series.

We analyze Season 2 Episode 6 of DS9: Melora. Melora is a visiting Ensign in need of some special accommodations to get around.

Brian, and Kyle talk through the season finale of Star Trek: Lower Decks S1E10, titled No Small Parts. Now that Boimler knows Mariner's secret, it doesn't take long for the rest of the crew to know, too. With the last several episodes being outstanding, we had some trepidation about this episode. Would Mike McMahan and crew stick the landing? We think YES!!! THEY DID!!!

We analyze Season 2 Episode 7 of DS9: Rules of Acquisition. Pel, a young waiter at Quark's, has a very big (or small) secret.

Brian, and Ruthie talk through the season premiere of Star Trek: Discovery S3E1, titled That Hope Is You, Part 1. Burnham arrives in the future, and everything has changed.

Brian, and Ruthie talk through Star Trek: Discovery S3E2, titled Far From Home. The USS Discovery has arrived in the 32nd Century, and not everything has gone well. They land on a very inhospitable world, nowhere near where they planned, and don't know when they are. This episode was another good one.

We analyze Season 2 Episode 8 of DS9: Necessary Evil. This is a flashback to the days of Terok Nor where Odo first meets Kira.

We analyze S2E9 of DS9: Second Sight. Sisko is seeing double - there's a friendly woman who keeps appearing to him at night who looks an awful lot like the wife of a visiting scientist.

Ruthie couldn't join us this week, so Brian had guests LT from The Walking Dead Talk Through and long-time listener James the Augmented Sailor join him to talk through S3E3 of Star Trek: Discovery, titled People of Earth. We enjoyed this expositional episode, but not as much as the first two. Earth has gone through a lot of changes since 2258, but it's strangely more like modern-day Earth than the one we see in the 23rd Century.

We analyze S2E10 of DS9: Sanctuary. Millions of refugees descend on DS9 in search of a new home. What will Bajor do?

Ruthie couldn't join us again this week, so Brian and guest host LT from The Walking Dead Talk Through talk through S3E4 of Star Trek: Discovery, titled Forget Me Not. We enjoyed this expositional Trill episode combined with an old-fashioned dysfunctional Thanksgiving dinner. All in all, this was a very enjoyable episode.

We analyze S2E11 of DS9: Rivals. Everyone's luck starts to fluctuate as a new visitor opens a casino on the Promenade.

Ruthie is back, as she and Brian talk through S3E5 of Star Trek: Discovery, titled Die Trying. Sorry for the lateness of this episode but it's a good one!

We analyze S2E12 of DS9: The Alternate. Odo's "Dad" drops by to say hi and maybe abuse yet another life form.

Ruthie and Brian talk through S3E6 of Star Trek: Discovery, titled Scavengers. Burnham and Georgiou go on an unsanctioned mission to rescue Book and get a Black Box. Burnham and Saru deal with the reprecussions of that decision. We talk A LOT about that.

We analyze S2E13 of DS9: Armageddon Game. Julian and Miles help two warring alien races destroy bio-mechanical weapons. Miles gets a little dangerous goo on his arm.

Ruthie and Brian talk through S3E7 of Star Trek: Discovery, titled Unification III. The USS Discovery arrives on Vulcan, but it's now called Ni'Var, and the Vulcans share the planet with Romulans, who have unified just as Spock had wished for centuries ago. They hold data for The Burn, but getting it from them turns into a process that may begin to tear them apart.

We analyze S2E14 of DS9: Whispers. Miles returns to the station after a short away mission and finds everyone acting funny.

Ruthie and Brian talk through S3E8 of Star Trek: Discovery, titled The Sanctuary. The USS Discovery arrives at Kwejian, Booker's home planet, where they are threatened by Osyraa and the Emerald Chain.

Ruthie and Brian talk through S3E9 of Star Trek: Discovery, titled Terra Firma, Part 1. Georgiou's condition worsens and the Discovery computer sends them to a distant planet for a remote chance for a cure. What happens there may surprise you.

We analyze S2E15 of DS9: Paradise. Sisko and Miles get trapped on a planet with a powerful cult leader.

Ruthie and Brian talk through S3E10 of Star Trek: Discovery, titled Terra Firma, Part 2. Georgiou is back in the Mirror Universe but determined to rule things differently than before, trying to get Mirror Burnham back in the fold, saving herself in the process.

We analyze S2E16 of DS9: Shadowplay. Dax and Odo stumble into a peculiar little village of people in funny hats.

We analyze S2E17 of DS9: Playing God. Dax gets an intern and there are Cardassian rats in the conduits.

Ruthie & Brian talk through S3E11 of Star Trek: Discovery, titled Su'Kal. Discovery finds the source of The Burn, and Osyraa finds them.

We analyze S2E18 of DS9: Profit and Loss. Quark's ex is on the run from the Cardassian authorities and Garak sees an opportunity to return home.

Ruthie & Brian talk through S3E12 of Star Trek: Discovery, titled There Is A Tide... Osyraa arrives at Federation Headquarters and has a surprising deal to offer Vance: Peace. Burnham and Tilly work separately to take back Discovery.

We analyze S2E19 of DS9: Blood Oath. Jadzia struggles with an oath of vengeance made by Curzon more than 80 years ago.

We analyze S2E20 of DS9: The Maquis, Part 1. We are introduced to some Federation freedom fighters just trying to stay alive in the Cardassian DMZ.

Ruthie & Brian talk through S3E12 of Star Trek: Discovery, titled There Is A Tide... Osyraa arrives at Federation Headquarters and has a surprising deal to offer Vance: Peace. Burnham and Tilly work separately to take back Discovery.

We analyze S2E21 of DS9: The Maquis, Part 2. Sisko tries to get his friend Cal out of the Maquis and back into Starfleet before it's too late.

We analyze S2E22 of DS9: The Wire. Garak is getting some bad headaches and turns out he's in very big trouble. Can Bashir help?

We analyze S2E23 of DS9: Crossover. We find ourselves in the mirror universe where a leather-clad Kira is controlling the station and Sisko is her plaything.

In S2E24 of DS9: The Collaborator, Vedek Bareil is getting cryptic messages from that crazy migraine trigger. Stay away from that thing!

In S2E25 of DS9: Tribunal, the Cardassians arrest Miles and put him on trial for providing weapons to the Maquis.

In S2E26 of DS9: The Jem'Hadar, we meet a new and very scary enemy but we also go on a fun camping trip with bugs and jambalaya.

Ruthie & Brian talk through S3E12 of Star Trek: Discovery, titled There Is A Tide... Osyraa arrives at Federation Headquarters and has a surprising deal to offer Vance: Peace. Burnham and Tilly work separately to take back Discovery.

In the Rebinge Deep Space Nine Season 2 Wrap Up we go through our mailbag and also rank the best and worst episodes of the season.

In S3E1 of DS9: The Search, Part I we meet the famous Defiant starship! And we go on the hunt for the Founders.