The Ready Room: A Star Trek Podcast
20: Shaving the Head

The Way of the Warrior.

DS9 promised a new kind of Star Trek from the very start, yet the early seasons had more in common with the TNG method of storytelling than the rich and intricate Deep Space Nine we came to love. Just as TNG grew the beard with “The Best of Both Worlds,” so did DS9 with “The Way of the Warrior.” Shaving the head set DS9 on a course for greatness and its place as the most unique series in the Star Trek franchise. In this episode of The Ready Room we discuss “The Way of the Warrior” and how it changed Deep Space Nine. In news we look at the official music video for William Shatner’s cover of “Bohemian Rhapsody,” Five Year Missions “Errand of Mercy,” a comparison of Star Trek technology to real-world progress, Microsoft’s progress in holodeck technology, John de Lancie reading “The Raven,” and the Roddenberry Foundation’s $5 million dollar gift to the Gladstone Institutes for stem cell research. 

Direct download: trr-020.mp3
Category:Deep Space Nine -- posted at: 9:00pm MDT

19: It Doesn't Have to Be Seven Years Apart

The Star Trek Pendulum.

With the reboot of Star Trek in 2009 the TOS time period came back into style. But is TNG poised for a comeback? Is the Star Trek Pendulum about to swing back toward the Enterprise-D? In this episode of The Ready Room we’re joined by Larry Nemecek to discuss how fandom moves back and forth between the series. We also talk about how each series was a reaction to the one before it, and about the future of Star Trek on television.

In our news segment we look at what it might be like if Seth MacFarlane were to reboot Trek on TV, play with the Star Trek Deck Builder Card Game, William Shatner’s new album Seeking Major Tom, Apple’s Siri, how Quinto may be prepping for the next Star Trek movie, and we cast the next Starfleet engineer. 

Direct download: trr-019.mp3
Category:Special Features -- posted at: 9:00pm MDT

18: They Spray-painted the Llamas

Insurrection.

In 1998 Paramount followed up the great success of First Contact with a film called Insurrection. This third outing of the TNG cast on the big screen received mixed reviews from critics and a lukewarm reception from fans. It’s a movie that’s not as great as fans had hoped and not as bad as many make it out to be. In this episode of The Ready Room we discuss Insurrection and look at where it succeeds and where it falls short. In news we cover Leonard Nimoy’s final convention appearance, Creation’s 2012 convention plans, the experience of watching Star Trek in IMAX, the new Star Trek: Expeditions expansion set, Trek.fm games, Star Trek: Phase II “Mind-Sifter,” and the surge in popularity for TNG.

Direct download: trr-018.mp3
Category:Movies -- posted at: 9:00pm MDT

17: Maybe They Could Go to Neptune

Star Trek Ongoing.

Leading up to the 2009 J.J. Abrams reboot of Star Trek, IDW released a series of comics that told the backstory of the movie. Now the publisher has launched a monthly series that is set in the alternate timeline of the Abramsverse. Titled Star Trek Ongoing, this new series re-imagines episodes of The Original Series under the creative direction of Star Trek 2009 writer Roberto Orci. In this episode of The Ready Room we're joined by Five Year Mission's Mike Rittenhouse to discuss the first issue, where this series may be headed, and how it may tie in to the next J.J. Abrams movie.

In our news segment we cover the details that have finally emerged about TNG HD on Blu-ray, the Star Trek.com poll that named First Contact the most underrated TNG movie, upcoming IDW titles for autumn, hear Ethan Phillips talking about Neelix, get our chocolate fix with M&M’s Star Trek figurines, and discuss Brannon Braga saying that he takes responsibility for decisions that some believe hurt the Star Trek franchise. 

Direct download: trr-017.mp3
Category:Comics -- posted at: 9:00pm MDT

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