Star Trek: Enterprise

After stomping through several desert planets and other, more interesting space environs for the past few weeks it's so very nice to be home for "Star Trek"! Too bad we're then INSTANTLY lost in the Delta quadrant when the USS Voyager and the Maquis they were chasing are yoinked across the Galaxy by an alien who probably should've come up with a better plan. We think. Aspects of it are kind of vague in the series premier: "Caretaker".
Also this week! Everyone had bad hair, Admiral Paris got around, and we played a game!
[Timestamps: "Caretaker": 00:02:20; A game!: 1:31:13]
[Play along with our tagline game: https://sshbpodcast.tumblr.com/post/667511445916909568/match-the-star-trek-tagline-with-the-movie]

SSHB

Episode 234: An Intrepid Start

Oops! The EMH has gone EVIL this week, through various means! First up, his body is hijacked by the AI that was formerly running a doomsday missile that insists on finishing the job in "Warhead". After that, his subroutines get rejiggered by Starfleet personnel who've had a much rougher time in the Delta Quadrant than their intrepid counterparts and have the psychological scars to show for it in "Equinox"!
Also this week: seen it before, puppetmaxter, and wrapping season five!
[Timestamps: Warhead: 01:21; Equinox: 34:31; Wrap: 1:27:17]
[Tumblwraps: https://at.tumblr.com/sshbpodcast/is-season-5-the-best-season-for-voyager-are-all/mwia5zc3c4gs]

Episode 292: EMH, but the E is for EVIL

Right! Break time is over, back to the "Trek" mines as we dive face-first into "Enterprise"! But now we're going back to an earlier point in the future as we join Captain Archer and his crew on the first warp-five Starfleet ship taking tentative steps out into the galaxy a century-ish before TOS! A Klingon has crash landed in the titular "Broken Bow", and it's up to the "Enterprise" NX-01 crew to ferry him home...but some new enemies would prefer they fail!
Also this week: you know what we have to talk about first, nepo-babies, and Kirk!
[Timestamps: Broken Bow: 1:47; Kirk-chat: 1:08:40]
https://www.tumblr.com/sshbpodcast/728368986902970368/character-spotlight-james-kirk?source=share

Episode 317: Metric Seconds

And we're off! Yes, with the pilot out of the way it's time for "Enterprise" to hit the ground running, and...ah...oh, did they not hear the starting pistol? First up: space is pretty empty and it's making everyone antsy until things get kinda scary in "Fight or Flight". After that: drugs bring out the worst in everyone in "Strange New World".
Also this week: everyone is jerks, just stun people, and Spock Talk!
[Timetamps: Fight or Flight; 03:09; Strange New World: 36:05; Spock Blog: 1:05:00]
[Vulcan Tumbl: https://www.tumblr.com/sshbpodcast/729009866626170880/character-spotlight-spock?source=share]

Episode 318: Bad Trips

Descendants are all over the place this week on "Enterprise"! First up, Trip finds out the hard way he's biologically compatible with an alien species in "Unexpected". After that, the "Enterprise" goes looking for a missing Earth colony and finds some rather unexpected residents in "Terra Nova".
Also this week: bad safety, bad naming, and Doctor McCoy!
[Timestamps: Unexpected: 01:04; Terra Nova: 36:25; Doc Talk: 1:04:23]
[Tumbl with Bones:https://www.tumblr.com/sshbpodcast/729664631136747520/character-spotlight-leonard-mccoy?source=share]

Episode 319: Progeny

Archer is SO BAD at subtlety and diplomacy, guys. Seriously. Watch as he buys time badly and then declares himself simultaneous King of two civilizations in "The Andorian Incident". After that, nothing will get in the way of his prejudices when Vulcans are hanging around in "Breaking the Ice".
Also this week: vampire assignment, puffy poop boots, and Montgomery Scotty!
[timestamps: Incident: 01:32; Ice: 24:41; engineering Scotty: 46:48]
[Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/sshbpodcast/730276089262489600/character-spotlight-montgomery-scott?source=share]

Episode 320: Archer Can't Diplomat

Meeting a lot of jerks this week on "Enterprise", and no we don't mean more members of the NX-01 crew! First up: a developing alien world is being poisoned by a different, more advanced alien who claims he's just chilling there because he likes the culture and TOTALLY isn't up to no good in "Civilization". After that, some cargo haulers are trying to keep Archer from finding out about their attempts to extract information from a prisoner in "Fortunate Son".
Also this week: 90s sitcom issues, a better pirate option, and Sulu!
[timestamps: Civilization: 04:44; Fortunate Son: 41:31; Talkin' Sulu: 1:19:43]
[Blog: https://www.tumblr.com/sshbpodcast/731542674163793920/character-spotlight-hikaru-sulu?source=share]

Episode 321: Shady Creeps

Fresh off last week's desperate attempts, we've got another bit of stunt-casting and then a really...interesting alien design. First up, the writers were really afraid we missed their subtle metaphor when they invite Archer's old buddy Al to play an evil jailer in "Detained". After that, there was a much easier solution to "Vox Sola" but then the episode would've been 15 minutes long.
Also this week: sloppy endings, water polo, and Data!
[Timestamps: Detained: 00:48; Vox Sola: 34:27; Data: 1:03:10]
[I'll take this android over Apple ANY day: https://www.tumblr.com/sshbpodcast/735349348912742400/character-spotlight-data?source=share]

Episode 327: Having a Blast With Reed

"Enterprise" has decided to have an arc, and it's about trying to get to Risa! No, really. But there's some hiccups on the way and even more once they get there! First up: Data's Mom is an inspiration to T'Pol but uh-oh she might be bad in "Fallen Hero". After that, Mr. Krabs wants Archer's help against tyranny in "Desert Crossing". Finally, almost everyone's vacation goes awry in "Two Days and Two Nights"!
Also this week: guest stars, bad governments, and Geordi La Forge!
[timestamps: Hero: 01:34; Crossing: 25:23; Days; 45:56; Geordi: 1:17:39]
[grab a Coco-no-no and settle in to read about Geordie: https://www.tumblr.com/sshbpodcast/735986737078288384/character-spotlight-geordi-la-forge?source=share]

Episode 328: Galactic Lampoon's Risan Vacation

How do you wrap up a season one like the one "Enterprise" just had? By suddenly remembering how to write a halfway-decent episode of "Star Trek"! Despite heavily featuring The Temporal Cold War and the entirely obnoxious Daniels we find ourselves pretty happy with the pacing and feeling of actual stakes! What could this mean going forward?!
Also this week: too excited about disaster, the temporal rules of "Trek", and wrapping season 1!
[timestamps: Shockwave: 00:51; Tops'n'Bottoms: 56:26]
[the list! : https://www.tumblr.com/sshbpodcast/736625472279019520/wake-me-when-season-1-of-enterprise-gets?source=share]

Episode 329: Enterprise Didn't Start the Fire

This week Archer's inability to leave well enough alone drives one plot and is actually pretty integral to solving another. First up: Archer's done some rooting so T'Pol tells an old family tale of cultural contamination in "Carbon Creek". After that: an accident in space has Reed doing his usual "sacrifice me for the good of the ship" schtick and Archer needles him to keep his mind off it in "Minefield".
Also this week: canon quibbles, a solid start, and Deanna Troi!
[stampin': Creek: 02:47; Minefield: 35:16; Troi: 1:09:34]
[therapist's notes: https://www.tumblr.com/sshbpodcast/737255287133732864/character-spotlight-deanna-troi?source=share]

Episode 330: Cap'n Nosy

The past is back to haunt us this week on "Enterprise" – both recent and not. First up: while searching for a fix for the mine damage from last week, the crew is directed to an automated repair station that seems a bit too good to be true in "Dead Stop". After that, Archer has offended the Kreetassans again (but maybe they have a point this time), but he doesn't care because Porthos isn't doing well in "A Night in Sickbay".
Also this week: TOS-style space weirdness, a complete lack of subtlety, and Dr. Pulaski!
[timestamps: Dead Stop: 00:43; Sickbay: 25:34; Dr. Blog: 58:29]
[tumbl to crumpets: https://www.tumblr.com/sshbpodcast/737907276008046592/character-spotlight-katherine-pulaski?source=share]

Episode 331: Continuity Week

Simple solutions abound this week! First up, a very lazy "Seven Samurai" clone is wrapped up with no loss of life thanks, in part, to the worst Klingons we've ever met in "Marauders". After that, T'Pol has a complicated past...no, wait, she's definitively good and her quarry explicitly bad in the lazy "The Seventh".
Also this week: one last dose of the holidays, bug robberies, and Beverly Crusher!
[timestamps: gifts: 01:16; Marauders: 16:06; The Seventh: 39:01: Bev: 1:00:49]
[to the blog, stat!: https://www.tumblr.com/sshbpodcast/738532955103838208/character-spotlight-beverly-crusher?source=share]

Episode 332: That Was Easy

The solutions this week are such lazy pulls from the writer's behind that calling them deus ex machinas would be an insult to that concept. First up: Archer and Reed are so desparate to not break the nonexistent Prime Directive that they almost get killed until the "Enterprise" crew realizes they have something for that in the trunk in "The Communicator". After that, that old saw Vulcan magic keeps T'Pol from going space crazy like the rest of the crew in "Singularity". 
Also this week: flipped opinions, judging Archer, and Wesley Crusher!
[timestamps: Communicator: 01:59; Singularity: 33:24; Wes: 57:36]
[Travel on over to the tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/sshbpodcast/739154628389797888/character-spotlight-wesley-crusher?source=share]

Episode 333: ...Let's Say Moe

Ooh, it's a chilling week on "Enterprise". First up: is a transporter issue turning Hoshi into a g-g-g-ghost in "Vanishing Point"? After that, YOU decide what's more terrifying: how lazy the very familiar plot of "Precious Cargo" is, or the absolutely abysmal acting of its principal guest star!
Also this week: dreams are stupid, a season one week, and Lwaxana Troi!
[timestamps: Point: 02:35; Cargo: 2:58; Lwaxana: 55:22]
[this way to the house of the fifth daughter:https://www.tumblr.com/sshbpodcast/739788588403851265/character-spotlight-lwaxana-troi?source=share]
[a flashback to Lwaxana Looks: https://www.tumblr.com/sshbpodcast/702814721155514368/fashionably-late-a-lwaxana-troi-appreciation-post?source=share]

Episode 334: Spooky Scary

Things are heating up on "Enterprise"! First up, a radiation storm is going to cook everyone alive unless they cool their heels with some new alien friends in "The Catwalk". After that, we've been there and done that but now the sun's going to broil Trip alive in "Dawn"!
Also this week: avoiding ambiguity, continued familiarity, and Guinan!
[timestamps: Catwalk: 01:05; Dawn: 32:54; Guinan: 1:02:25]
[belly up to the bar: https://www.tumblr.com/sshbpodcast/740428706218180608/character-spotlight-guinan?source=share]

Episode 335: Getting Hot In Here

Warnings UP FRONT:
Unfortunately, "Fusion" is important background to the first episode this week, so the events of that come up. Also we're talking Tasha Yar later so her unfortunately-written history is also discussed.
ALSO: we throw caution to the wind and spoil the ever-living crap out of "Picard" throughout the blogtivity this week. Like almost from the word GO. So yeah.
ANYWAY
First up: it's an unsubtle metaphor some 16 years too late as "Trek" does an AIDS allegory in "Stigma". After that, Archer is the most annoying man in space and that makes him the only person to diplomatize another Vulcan/Andorian spat in "Cease Fire"!
Also this week: AWFUL choice of B-plot, a stacked cast, and Yar v Ro!
[timestamps: Stigma: 01:29; Cease Fire: 32:35; FIGHT!: 50:53]
[Get into the ring!: https://www.tumblr.com/sshbpodcast/741055734378315776/tasha-yar-vs-ro-laren-fight?source=share]

Episode 336: When Did Star Trek Get Political?

Starting off the same but going very different places in both episodes this week! First off: is a drifting ship the final resting place of Zephram Cochrane or, just perhaps, an Admiral From the Future's tomb in "Future Tense". After that, it's another false imprisonment story that ALMOST becomes "Con Air" but refuses to be that cool in "Canamar".
Also this week: dinosaur kids, got guest?, and Worf!
[timestamps: Tense: 03:57; Canamar: 34:23; Honorman: 55:39]
[Tumbling Speed!: https://www.tumblr.com/sshbpodcast/741693646301216768/character-spotlight-worf?source=share]

Episode 337: Ships Adrift

Back to the rehash mines, "Enterprise"! First up: Starfleet meets their first energy beings and we recall all the times they're going to have done it better in their future/our past in "The Crossing". After that, Martok shows up to defend Archer in "we have Star Trek VI at home", otherwise known as "Judgment".
Also this week: bread, a missing key detail, and Sisko!
[timestamps: The Crossing: 01:45; Judgment: 28:38; Check out the Emissary's Pagh: 1:04:00]
[tumbl linearly: https://www.tumblr.com/sshbpodcast/742329127357562880/character-spotlight-benjamin-sisko?source=share]

Episode 338: Liked It Until I Didn't

Even when they give him something to do, "Enterprise" wastes Mayweather. First up, it's a toothless rehash of "Fortunate Son" as Mayweather visits his family's cargo ship in "Horizon". After that: he gets to lead a rescue mission until he inevitably busts his leg in "The Breach."
Also this week: a memorable opening, needs more bigotry, and Kira Nerys!
[timestamps: Horizon: 01:20; Breach: 27:14; The Major: 56:47]
[the orb of the tumblr is this way: https://www.tumblr.com/sshbpodcast/742958955839586304/character-spotlight-kira-nerys?source=share]

Episode 339: Justice for Mayweather

Content warning: discussion of suicide.
Archer just keeps biffing it this week. First up: he's too blinded by his new friends' toys to realize their society is absolute garbage in "Cogenitor". After that, "Enterprise" betrays the prequel format yet again by having Borg show up in "Regeneration".
Also this week: confused messaging, timeline theories, and Dax (Daxes? Daxae? What in the world is the plural of Dax?)!
[timestamps: Cogenitor: 01:07; Regeneration: 40:52; Trill-ionaire: 1:09:24]
[take a dip in the symbiont pool: https://www.tumblr.com/sshbpodcast/743600901014601728/character-spotlight-dax-all-of-em?source=share]

Episode 340: Too Open Minded

Everyone is so bad at everything they do this week! First up: we find out how Archer went from milquetoast to milquetoast but a Captain in the tension-free "First Flight"! After that: a dude that's way too nice to be a bounty hunter has the misfortune of capturing Archer and having to spend time with him in "Bounty"!
Also this week: three-hander, the B plot we'd rather forget, and Julian Bashir, MD!
[timestamps: Flight: 02:45; Bounty: 31:06; Bashir: 1:00:03]
[down to the infirmary: https://www.tumblr.com/sshbpodcast/744223455936937984/character-spotlight-julian-bashir?source=share]

Episode 341: The Wrongest Stuff

Well, it's here. The end of Season 2 and start of Season 3, where the producers decided "let's do 9/11". First up: the dumbest aliens ever decide to try the test version of their planet-killer ray on their ultimate target, thus giving Earth ample time to plan in "The Expanse". After that, "Enterprise" starts its bold new season with yet ANOTHER prison break episode in "The Xindi".
Also this week: Time Daddy, idiot villains, and wrapping season 2!
[timestamps: Expanse: 03:34; Xindi: 33:34; s.2 highs and lows: 1:03:49]
[tumbl: https://www.tumblr.com/sshbpodcast/744859911830355968/well-season-2-of-enterprise-deescalated-quickly?source=share]

Episode 342: Every Day's a Bad Day in Florida

"Enterprise" is going too fast! First up: Archer ditches his morals faster than you can say "enhanced interrogation" in "Anomaly". After that: maybe "Extinction" would've been more interesting if we didn't know what was happening so early on in it (probably not, tho).
Also this week: moral cowardice, Chekov's peach, and Chief O'Brien!
[timestamps: Anomaly: 01:24; Extinction: 26:21; The Chief: 55:13]
[this way to the Alamo: https://www.tumblr.com/sshbpodcast/745489823824019456/character-spotlight-miles-obrien?source=share]

Episode 343: Too Much Too Soon

When you've got a stun setting, just follow Muldoon's advice and all your problems will be solved. First up: the Xindi come up with a needlessly convoluted plan to get information on human biology in "Rajiin". After that, "Trek" decides to do a pretty humdrum zombie story in "Impulse".
Also this week: rewrites, running short, and Odo!
[timestamps: Rajiin: 01:46; Impulse: 42:36; The Constable: 1:05:53]
[No running to the tumblr!: https://www.tumblr.com/sshbpodcast/746133762181677056/character-spotlight-odo?source=share]

Episode 344: Shoot Her!

The Xindi arc continues this week, and the investigation gets stupid. First up: it's a little "Phantom of the Opera", a little "Beauty and the Beast" and maybe a big pile of tell don't show when Hoshi becomes unwilling roommates with a lonely telepath in "Exile". After that, Archer learns a lesson about the Xindi he'll almost definitely forget by next week in "The Shipment".
Also this week: someone's lonely, someone was cocky, and the someone for the blog this week is Quark!
[timestamps: Exile: 00:48; Shipment: 29:39; Quark: 55:53]
[don't walk, run to the tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/sshbpodcast/746764947445448704/character-spotlight-quark?source=share]

Episode 345: The Phantom of the Slothra

We got time travel and cosplay time travel this week on "Enterprise"! First up, Archer has "Fifty First Dates" syndrome and has to be told daily that Earth done gone kablooey over a decade ago in "Twilight". After that, how did old west humans get onto an alien world in the Delphic Expanse? Find out in "North Star"!
Also this week: symbolic stabbing, staggering hypocrisy, and Rom!
[timestamps: Twilight: 03:58; North Star: 34:59; Moogie's favorite boy: 1:01:34]
[Show proper respect to your Nagus at https://www.tumblr.com/sshbpodcast/747414429350658048/character-spotlight-rom?source=share]

Episode 346: They Paradox Horses, Don't They?

John wants his way and he's gonna get it, and to the devil with ethics and sensible choices! First up: Trip is in a coma and the Cap'n'll do anything, including listening to Phlox, to get his friend back in "Similitude". After that, why take a soldier into the past when you can drag your first officer along because reasons in "Carpenter Street".
Also this week: bad Doctor, bad cop, good Nog.
[Timestamps: Similitude: 02:43; Carpenter Street: 41:37; Nog: 1:15:10]
[Cadet on Deck: https://www.tumblr.com/sshbpodcast/748033528631050240/character-spotlight-nog?source=share]

Episode 347: Archer is Selfish

We're taking a bit of an "Enterprise" break to discuss one of the foundations of modern cyberpunk and its legacy sequel: "Blade Runner" and "Blade Runner 2049". In a future where it almost never stops raining, artificial human slaves and their complex, ever-shifting relationship with their human creators/oppressors are the crux on which the world turns. But in neither version are there sufficient sheep.
Also this week: Ford typecasting, Gosling clothes, and Ridley Scott fanfic.

SSHB Ten Forwards

Ten Forward 37: What Is a Unicorn But a Horse With an Extra D*ck?

For pity's sake, John keeps falling for obvious lies this week on "Enterprise". First up: religious extremists take over the ship way too easily in an attempt to end a moronic war for jerks in "Chosen Realm". After that, Shran is back to totally just altruistically help and NOTHING ELSE in "Proving Ground".
Also this week: the dumbest ladder, SpongeBob, and Jake Sisko!
[timestamps: Realm: 02:31; Ground: 30:12; Jakey Boy: 1:01:52]
[tumbl this way to Jake: https://www.tumblr.com/sshbpodcast/749309616486252544/character-spotlight-jake-sisko?source=share]

Episode 348: It Says Gullible on the Ceiling

And so we come to the next phase of the program, as we hit TNG and its first episode, "Encounter at Farpoint"! The groundwork for what will become, for many, the most beloved "Trek" series is laid here, as Captain Picard assembles his staff and has his first encounter with the enigmatic Q! The powerful alien has decided to put humanity on trial via  a mysterious test, which has something to do with the "Enterprise"-D's inaugural mission to Farpoint Station...
Also this week: we try to have a serious discussion about gender, Jake's first outro, and the Watusi.

Timestamps: synopses: 1:15; Encounter at Farpoint: 5:07

Episode 56 The Next Iteration

Well, vacation is over. We've got an office to de-prank and a bunch of voicemails to answer, but it means we're back to "Trek"! But not just ANY "Trek"! It's time for "Deep Space Nine", with a slew of new faces, a new premise, and a show where our crew's home is a space station instead of a starship! Meet Commander Sisko and his crew as what looks to be a thankless, middle-of-nowhere diplomatic posting gets a lot more complicated when a stable wormhole is discovered just nearby!
Also this week: no relation, an awful bird, and Odo's sandwich.

Episode 146: From Zero to OW!

New episodes every Thursday!

Podcasts: a frontier that isn't actually very final at all. These are the voyages of the podcast A Star to Steer Her By. Our continuing mission: to watch every single episode of Star Trek (even the dumb ones), to comment on and snark at whatever suits our fancy, to boldly split infinitives that no man has split before. 

Follow our crew of Chris, Jake, Ames, and Caitlin as we explore the universe of Trek, go on wild tangents, crack wise, and make more fart jokes than necessary.

Mature Content!

A Star to Steer Her By

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