The Ready Room: A Star Trek Podcast (Lower Decks)

Star Trek: Lower Decks after two seasons.

When it was announced that a Star Trek comedy was being developed—and that it would be animated—the news was met with a bit more trepidation than usual. Could Star Trek and comedy really mix? Was Rick and Morty-style humor really appropriate for Gene Roddenberry’s vision of the future?

In this episode of The Ready Room, hosts C Bryan Jones and Larry Nemecek take a broad look back at the first two seasons of Star Trek: Lower Decks and discuss how the series has connected with fans, why it has won over many early skeptics, and how it serves as a brilliant love letter to the franchise. Along the way we touch on many topics, including how the writing has matured, finding the perfect balance in storytelling, sprinkling in guest stars, selling commemorative plates, and adding texture to the universe. We also ask whether some moments are a rebuke of modern Star Trek.

Hosts
C Bryan Jones and Larry Nemecek

Production
C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Renee Roberts (Associate Producer)

Direct download: trr-233.mp3
Category:Lower Decks -- posted at: 4:45am MDT

Lower Decks midseason review.
 
After a long wait and much speculation on what an animated comedy take on Star Trek might mean, we’re now halfway through the first season of Mike McMahan’s Star Trek: Lower Decks. And in a short time, the adventures and banter of Beckett Mariner, Bradward Boimler, D’Vana Tendi, Sam Rutherford—and even Durango and Ron Emmanuel Docent, Jr. —have won over many fans, even some who were highly skeptical going in.
 
In this episode of The Ready Room, hosts C Bryan Jones and Larry Nemecek pay a visit to the insignificant little USS Cerritos as its journey reaches midseason to share our thoughts on this animated rendition of Star Trek, the comedic elements, recreation of the 24th-century aesthetic, nods to Trek past, and much more.
 
Chapters
Intro 00:00:00  
Initial Thoughts 00:03:11  
Reference Density 00:10:03  
Promoting Mariner 00:18:14  
Character Pairings 00:23:39  
Sometimes a Bit Sitcomish 00:25:44  
Tendi and Rutherford … Sitting in a Tree 00:28:09  
The Upper Deckers 00:32:17  
Tropes 00:38:26  
Prodigy Young-Adult Sidebar 00:46:34  
Profane Break 00:49:09  
Alien Diversity 00:56:37  
Bland Names and Zany Lines 01:05:24  
Fan Reception 01:09:27  
Character Development 01:14:14  
Second Contact 01:22:34  
Envoys 01:35:59  
Moist Vessel 01:44:24  
Temporal Edict 01:50:30  
Cupid’s Errant Arrow 01:58:36  
Final Thoughts 02:04:49
 
Hosts
C Bryan Jones and Larry Nemecek
 
Production
C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Renee Roberts (Associate Producer)
Direct download: trr-228.mp3
Category:Lower Decks -- posted at: 8:09am MDT

Lower Decks pre-launch thoughts and Star Trek Emmy nominations.

After almost five decades, Star Trek is returning to animation under the guidance of Mike McMahan, writer and producer of the Cartoon Network animated comedy series Rick and Morty and creator of the Hulu animated series Solar Opposites. What does he have in store for Star Trek fans?

In this episode of The Ready Room, hosts C Bryan Jones and Larry Nemecek explore the upcoming series and what it could mesan for the franchise, as well their expectations for this excursion to the Lower Decks. We also discuss the Star Trek franchise’s six Emmy nominations and how virtual cons are changing the nature of fan interaction in the age of coronavirus.

Hosts
C Bryan Jones and Larry Nemecek

Production
C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Renee Roberts (Associate Producer)

Direct download: TRR-226.mp3
Category:Lower Decks -- posted at: 12:29pm MDT

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