The Joy of Trek

"Venom in the Blood" by Lady_Sci_Fi, can be found at https://archiveofourown.org/works/37568197"The Defiant responds to the distress signal from Empok Nor, to find a simple salvage mission gone wrong, and Julian finding Garak in a state he never imagined."The Joy of Trek is hosted by Khaki & Kay, with editing & production by Chief Engineer Greg and music by Fox Amoore (Bandcamp | Bluesky)Send us your recommendations, or support us on Patreon.Find us at joyoftrek.com · Twitter · Facebook

By Any Other Name (Star Trek: The Original Series (TOS), S2 E22) was recommended by Toledo (toe-LEE-dough), he/him, who said: I first encountered this episode, as I did many TOS episodes, in elementary school while I read collections of James Blish's novelizations from the 70s. Even in text, there were elements I found to be genuinely horrifying: super-powerful aliens that apparently are normally giant, tentacled Lovecraftian creatures; they're coming to conquer the galaxy; machines give them the power to immobilize people and to transform them into helpless, easily- and callously-destroyed polyhedra.It give us a rare example of intergalactic travel in Star Trek: the Kelvans are from Andromeda, arrived in a generation ship, and wish to return.It offers a very clever narrative use of aliens looking exactly human: it's a necessary shapeshifting adaptation for the Kelvans to use the Enterprise, but it's also the key to their demise.I think this episode offers some early vocal callbacks to previous episodes, demonstrating how TOS sometimes handled continuity -- and foreshadowing later Trek. Examples include callouts to "Where No Man Has Gone Before" (galactic barrier) and "A Taste of Armageddon" _Vulcan mind tricks).Tons of genuine silliness: the Kelvans' reactions to humans, Scotty's iconic "it is green."By Any Other Name first aired on February 9, 1968, written by story by Jerome Bixby, teleplay by D. C. Fontana and Jerome Bixby, and directed by Marc DanielsTelepathic aliens take control of Kirk and Spock's bodies with the intention to build new, mechanized bodies for themselves. After receiving a distress signal from a planet deep in the galaxy and far from the last charted area, the Enterprise is contacted by a life form of pure energy that wishes Kirk, Spock, Dr. Mulhall and Bones to beam down. They meet Sargon, a conscious mind trapped in a machine. Sargon explains that their civilization travelled space just like Kirk centuries ago and left people in various star systems to colonize. But this planet suffered a war where all but a few people destroyed themselves. Sargon, his wife and another remain alive like this and wish to take control of Kirk, Spock and Dr. Mulhall's bodies to make android bodies for themselves. The Enterprise accepts their offer after deliberation and Sargon begins work. To allow the body to sustain this transformation, Henock, the third alien, makes a potion to help but has other plans. Sargon devizes a plan to destroy him, apologizes to the Enterprise and accepts their fate thereby ceasing to exist.[2]The Joy of Trek is hosted by Khaki & Kay, with editing & production by Chief Engineer Greg and music by Fox Amoore (Bandcamp | Bluesky)Send us your recommendations, or support us on Patreon.Find us at joyoftrek.com · Twitter · Facebook

"Nyota’s Wish" by Daxs10thHost, can be found at https://archiveofourown.org/works/49312207"“Okay,” Mariner says, slamming her glass down so hard its contents slosh onto the bar. “I think we should have a slumber party. Like now.”"The Joy of Trek is hosted by Khaki & Kay, with editing & production by Chief Engineer Greg and music by Fox Amoore (Bandcamp | Bluesky)Send us your recommendations, or support us on Patreon.Find us at joyoftrek.com · Twitter · Facebook

The Wounded (Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG), S4 E12) was recommended by Crimson (he/him), who said: This is another watershed episode: We get Cardassians for the first time! Furthermore, we have Marc Alaimo playing a Cardassian, though not the one we're used to (he still chews it up nicely here...though those mutton chops, woof). It's also a great episode for giving Colm Meany a chance to stretch his legs, especially as he and Rosalind Chao carry the B plot. I love that this episode digs into war trauma and the prejudices it can breed that you don't even notice, as well as the difficulty when you move on from something and someone you respect doesn't. Plus we get some quite nice singing -- Minstrel Boy is one of my favorite tunes, though I first recall hearing it from Black Hawk Down. (And as an aside, Minstrel Boy is a prime example of how the Irish and Klingons might find a lot in common. Who else has an upbeat song about dying gloriously in righteous battle?)The Wounded first aired on January 28, 1991, written by story by Stuart Charno & Sara Charno & Cy Chermak, teleplay by Jeri Taylor, and directed by Chip ChalmersA rogue Starfleet Captain (Bob Gunton) jeopardizes the Cardassian peace treaty.The Joy of Trek is hosted by Khaki & Kay, with editing & production by Chief Engineer Greg and music by Fox Amoore (Bandcamp | Bluesky)Send us your recommendations, or support us on Patreon.Find us at joyoftrek.com · Twitter · Facebook

"Distant Origin - Painful Truth" by GrayRainbow173, can be found at https://archiveofourown.org/works/40365432"The Captain and her First Officer are being debriefed about their encounter with the Voth.Takes place several years after the episode "Distant Origin" (S03E23)."The Joy of Trek is hosted by Khaki & Kay, with editing & production by Chief Engineer Greg and music by Fox Amoore (Bandcamp | Bluesky)Send us your recommendations, or support us on Patreon.Find us at joyoftrek.com · Twitter · Facebook

That Hope Is You, Part 1 (Star Trek: Discovery, S3 E1) was recommended by Lauren Alexis Rivers She/Her, who said: The first episode when Discovery arrives in the future, it introduces one of Discovery's most complex characters, Cleveland Booker, aka Book. A courier, he is our guide to one of the furthest points in the future we have ever seen. The episode largely features Burnham alone in a strange land, much like the Alice in Wonderland she had once quoted. It introduces the new world and a galaxy very different from the one we know.I always liked this episode because rebooting a series, soft or otherwise, is very hard to do. Most shows never manage to successfully transition their characters to a new setting. But Discovery not only does it well, but they also create a unique story in star trek where for the first time we see a broken Federation and a hurting universe, and these hopeful kids are going to do what they can to make the galaxy better.That Hope Is You, Part 1 first aired on October 15, 2020, written by Michelle Paradise & Jenny Lumet & Alex Kurtzman, and directed by Olatunde OsunsanmiArriving 930 years in the future, Burnham navigates a galaxy she no longer recognizes while searching for the rest of the U.S.S. Discovery crew.The Joy of Trek is hosted by Khaki & Kay, with editing & production by Chief Engineer Greg and music by Fox Amoore (Bandcamp | Bluesky)Send us your recommendations, or support us on Patreon.Find us at joyoftrek.com · Twitter · Facebook

"The missing 5 hours" by Miss_Inquisitive_Sci_fi, can be found at https://archiveofourown.org/works/40112271"A missing scene where the crew catchup for dinner at the Captain's and discuss strange anomalies after the missing 5 hours."The Joy of Trek is hosted by Khaki & Kay, with editing & production by Chief Engineer Greg and music by Fox Amoore (Bandcamp | Bluesky)Send us your recommendations, or support us on Patreon.Find us at joyoftrek.com · Twitter · Facebook

Critical Care (Star Trek: Voyager, S7 E5) was recommended by Marky See He/Him, who said: Hi Folks,I am loving the show. Growing up, my Dad and I weren't very close, he was much more inclined to sports where I am cut from a much nerdier cloth. We do however share a love of Sci Fi and I remember vividly sitting down together to watch Voyager when it came out.Inspired by the Joy of Trek, I set out to rewatch Voyager as I haven't watched an episode since the early 00s.As a teen, I loved Voyager for the danger, action and adventure, but on the rewatch I have really enjoyed the study of humanity portrayed by characters like Seven and The Doctor.I love this episode as it adds to the numerous other discussions and the theme of whether or not The Doctor is a sentient being or just a piece of very smart technology. Building on his morals being overwritten in Equinox so he could experiment on Seven, his memory being erased in latent image so he could keep functioning and now in climax Critical Care, choosing a path of action that could actually cause harm to a patient in a tiered system of health care that sadly is not unfamiliar to us 23 years after it was aired.Critical Care first aired on November 1, 2000, written by story by Kenneth Biller and Robert Doherty, teleplay by James Kahn, and directed by Terry WindellThe Doctor's program is stolen and he is forced to work in an alien hospital, where he skillfully manipulates the system to provide ethical medical care.The Joy of Trek is hosted by Khaki & Kay, with editing & production by Chief Engineer Greg and music by Fox Amoore (Bandcamp | Bluesky)Send us your recommendations, or support us on Patreon.Find us at joyoftrek.com · Twitter · Facebook

"When on Risa..." by SeemaG, can be found at https://archiveofourown.org/works/19760191"Worf and Dax discover one of the hidden delights of Risa."The Joy of Trek is hosted by Khaki & Kay, with editing & production by Chief Engineer Greg and music by Fox Amoore (Bandcamp | Bluesky)Send us your recommendations, or support us on Patreon.Find us at joyoftrek.com · Twitter · Facebook

Masks (Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG), S7 E17) was recommended by He/him, who said: Although many find the episodes "incomprehensible" or "incoherent," I find it a joy.First, Brent Spiner gets to really through himself into an array of personality types. He gets to show off his acting chops in ways that he rarely gets to, and almost never gets to on Star Trek.Second, I truly enjoy this quick peek at a mythology where we can recognize all the parts as familiar to Earth mythologies, but they fit together in ways that we don't normally see. We get to follow Picard into seeing how he, as an archology student himself, would piece together that mythology from just the few pieces given to him.Masks first aired on February 21, 1994, written by Joe Menosky, and directed by Robert WiemerThe Enterprise finds an ancient library that recreates its civilization by taking possession of Data and transforming the ship.The Joy of Trek is hosted by Khaki & Kay, with editing & production by Chief Engineer Greg and music by Fox Amoore (Bandcamp | Bluesky)Send us your recommendations, or support us on Patreon.Find us at joyoftrek.com · Twitter · Facebook

"The Adventures of Proton Junior" by stardustinthesky, can be found at https://archiveofourown.org/works/3717790"It was supposed to be a quiet Saturday. Tom, Harry and Miral have a different kind of day planned for B'Elanna."The Joy of Trek is hosted by Khaki & Kay, with editing & production by Chief Engineer Greg and music by Fox Amoore (Bandcamp | Bluesky)Send us your recommendations, or support us on Patreon.Find us at joyoftrek.com · Twitter · Facebook

Empok Nor (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (DS9), S5 E24) was recommended by Nerdimus Prime, who said: Empok Nor, like The Omega Directive, is an unusual episodeWe have tough characters in Star Trek. We have brave ones. We have smart and sassy characters as well. And we had evil characters (looking at you Gul Ducat).But Garrak, as it turns out, is the only Terrifying character in Star Trek.And we put him against the most competent. Oh. My.Empok Nor first aired on May 19, 1997, written by story by Bryan Fuller, teleplay by Hans Beimler, and directed by Mike VejarO'Brien, Garak, Nog and an engineering team go to Deep Space Nine's abandoned sister space station, Empok Nor, to salvage components. The away team soon discover that all is not as it seems.The Joy of Trek is hosted by Khaki & Kay, with editing & production by Chief Engineer Greg and music by Fox Amoore (Bandcamp | Bluesky)Send us your recommendations, or support us on Patreon.Find us at joyoftrek.com · Twitter · Facebook

"Life, When It Gives You Lemons" by theladygeneral, can be found at https://archiveofourown.org/works/58070146"When another workplace accident on the Cerritos leaves the hydroponics bay and Kayshon's garden in shambles, it's Ransom to the rescue."The Joy of Trek is hosted by Khaki & Kay, with editing & production by Chief Engineer Greg and music by Fox Amoore (Bandcamp | Bluesky)Send us your recommendations, or support us on Patreon.Find us at joyoftrek.com · Twitter · Facebook

Cease Fire (Star Trek: Enterprise, S2 E15) was recommended by nazzy (she/her), who said: For being a founding member of the Federation, the Andorians have gotten seriously short shrift over the years by various Trek series. Enterprise made that up to us, giving us more Andorians per capita than any Trek before or since! And best of all, it gave us Shran, quite possibly Jeffrey Combs's best role in a career full of them.And Cease Fire is a great showcase for the Andorians, and for Shran. We learn more about the long, ugly war between Andoria and Vulcan, and how that conflict has poisoned perceptions on both sides, leaving humans (in the form of Jonathan Archer) as possibly the only group capable of bridging the gap. And for a delightful bonus, we get the wonderful Gary Graham in fine form as Ambassador Soval, whose Vulcan reserve can't hide the fact he doesn't think Archer can hack it either.Cease Fire first aired on February 12, 2003, written by Chris Black, and directed by David StraitonCaptain Archer negotiates a cease fire between the Andorians and the Vulcans.The Joy of Trek is hosted by Khaki & Kay, with editing & production by Chief Engineer Greg and music by Fox Amoore (Bandcamp | Bluesky)Send us your recommendations, or support us on Patreon.Find us at joyoftrek.com · Twitter · Facebook

"Wearing Your Colours" by apolesen, can be found at https://archiveofourown.org/works/19244734"Many years after the castellanship of Elim Garak, a young man finds the courage to wear a pin of his hero in an unusual colour scheme."The Joy of Trek is hosted by Khaki & Kay, with editing & production by Chief Engineer Greg and music by Fox Amoore (Bandcamp | Bluesky)Send us your recommendations, or support us on Patreon.Find us at joyoftrek.com · Twitter · Facebook

Bride of Chaotica! (Star Trek: Voyager, S5 E12) was recommended by Tonks (they/them) , who said: Mwahahaha! Intrepid crew of the USS JOYager and your Chief! You have finally met your match, for I, Tonks, present you with this truly magnificent episode to end your Voyager related woes!*cough* *cough* *cough*Where was I?This episode is a beautiful homage to a piece of media that inspired so many properties from Star Wars to Power Rangers to Doctor Who and a legacy that Star Trek is but one of many proud torchbearer of... That is of course the original Flash Gordon serials & its contemporaries.Just like your podcast, there's no hedging of bets, as this episode spends an impressive amount of time in glorious black & white. It revels in every single moment while injecting that vibrant Voyager charm & giving us a great Trek episode to boot!Fantastic (often over the top) acting, amazing whit, excellent one liners. It gave me an appreciation of older scifi like Flash Gordon, Asimov's Foundation, and 60s Who. Here's to Captain Proton! Here's to the Bride of Chaotica!Bride of Chaotica! first aired on January 27, 1999, written by story by Bryan Fuller, teleplay by Bryan Fuller and Michael Taylor, and directed by Allan KroekerParis' latest holodeck adventure The Adventures of Captain Proton takes an unexpected turn.The Joy of Trek is hosted by Khaki & Kay, with editing & production by Chief Engineer Greg and music by Fox Amoore (Bandcamp | Bluesky)Send us your recommendations, or support us on Patreon.Find us at joyoftrek.com · Twitter · Facebook

"Not ready" by TFALokiwriter, can be found at https://archiveofourown.org/works/33361315"Q fights for Picard not to be forcibly ascended by doing it the best way that he knows."The Joy of Trek is hosted by Khaki & Kay, with editing & production by Chief Engineer Greg and music by Fox Amoore (Bandcamp | Bluesky)Send us your recommendations, or support us on Patreon.Find us at joyoftrek.com · Twitter · Facebook

Relics (Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG), S6 E4) was recommended by Kyyanno (Kyy for short, rhymes with Sky), he/him, who said: I've always loved the engineering side of Trek, from the designs of the ships to the entirely fictional but awesome systems that make them tick. I've read "Mr Scott's guide to the Enterprise" and the TNG "Technical Manual" from cover to cover many a time. Scotty was my favourite character from TOS, and Geordi from TNG, both making me want to pursue a career in engineering while growing up (which indeed I did!). To have both characters appearing *and* working together in the same episode of TNG was an absolute dream for me when it originally aired!Now that I'm older though, I watch the episode with more experienced eyes. Scotty's just trying to help and feel useful as he would have been, and yet just gets in the way, at least that's the impression he gets from Geordi, who is genuinely just trying to get his job done but doesn't quite realise his impact on Captain Scott's feelings. It's Picard's words to Scott in the holodeck, and then to Geordi later on that all a person wants is to be useful and feel wanted that *REALLY* hit home, 3 decades on.Sure, this episode pushes the fanboy buttons, but deep down it also makes us take a look at how we treat those around us who we feel might be past their prime (or how those of us approaching that age might feel). I did always find the "oh no, we're falling into the sun" part of the episode.... hang on.... *I SAY WE EJECT THE WARP CORE*.... don't they miraculously seem to fix everything amazingly in time to turn around and then get out of there once the doors open? Regardless, both Geordi and Scotty save the day, and the engineer in me squees with glee at it.Relics first aired on October 12, 1992, written by Ronald D. Moore, and directed by Alexander SingerThe Enterprise investigates a vessel that crashed on the surface of a Dyson sphere 75 years ago. A pattern is found in the transporter buffer that turns out to be Montgomery Scott. He is released from the buffer and later agrees to return to the vessel with Geordi to help restore the logs. They become the only hope when the Enterprise is accidentally pulled inside the sphere. Guest Star: James Doohan as Montgomery ScottThe Joy of Trek is hosted by Khaki & Kay, with editing & production by Chief Engineer Greg and music by Fox Amoore (Bandcamp | Bluesky)Send us your recommendations, or support us on Patreon.Find us at joyoftrek.com · Twitter · Facebook

"T'Ana Takes Command" by Wooster, can be found at https://archiveofourown.org/works/25284367"The USS Cerritos is under fire. With Captain Freeman and Commander Ransom out of commission, that leaves Dr. T'Ana in command of the California class ship… even if she has other things to do."The Joy of Trek is hosted by Khaki & Kay, with editing & production by Chief Engineer Greg and music by Fox Amoore (Bandcamp | Bluesky)Send us your recommendations, or support us on Patreon.Find us at joyoftrek.com · Twitter · Facebook

Darmok (Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG), S5 E2) was recommended by Toledo (he), who said: Yes, this is one of the most famous episodes of The Next Generation. That's because it's darn good. There's so many wonderful moments: the rarity of the depiction of aliens initiating a first contact with the Federation, the humor of the Enterprise crew's incomprehension, the exploration of cultural misunderstandings beyond the linguistic (Dathon casts lots, what's the knife for), Picard telling the 4,000-year-old story of Gilgamesh right as Dathon dies, and the centrality of the term "Darmok," leading us to wonder: who in this story *is* Darmok?But one thing I love about it is akin to why I recommended "Distant Origin." Just like that Voyager episode catastrophically misrepresents evolution, "Darmok" butchers linguistics: there is no way that a culture could communicate solely via memes and references. There has to be some linguistic substrate in which the foundational stories could be communicated, after all. The premise of the episode would fall apart under the slightest examination. But it doesn't matter: it serves the story, the story is good, and the story of two strangers willing to risk life for the opportunity to share stories is the heart of Star Trek.Darmok first aired on September 30, 1991, written by story by Philip LaZebnik & Joe Menosky, teleplay by Joe Menosky, and directed by Winrich KolbePicard must learn to communicate with an alien captain who speaks in metaphors before a dangerous beast kills them both. Guest star Paul Winfield as Dathon.The Joy of Trek is hosted by Khaki & Kay, with editing & production by Chief Engineer Greg and music by Fox Amoore (Bandcamp | Bluesky)Send us your recommendations, or support us on Patreon.Find us at joyoftrek.com · Twitter · Facebook