Is It Really That Bad? Edition - "The Savage Curtain" The trio continues their mission of debunking ... or confirming ... fan-held opinions of "bad" Star Trek episodes. But what happens when their experiment goes awry and one co-host watches the wrong episode? The other two co-hosts must then explain the episode -- will it make it better or worse? Come find out when we tackle the near-final episode of The Original Series. With a floating Space Lincoln, rock monsters, and (another?) fight of good...
Feb 19, 2021•51 min
Star Trek VI. One way to memorialize the passing of Christopher Plummer is watching his performance of General Chang in “Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.” Not only does this memorable Shakespeare-quoting villain almost pop off the screen, we’re also reminded that this is a pretty good film! The trio share their favorite moments from this movie, their nerdy nitpicks, and how this last TOS-era film relates to the rest of the franchise.
Feb 13, 2021•1 hr 4 min
2021 Trek Anniversaries This year promises a lot of Trek shows and content, but there's even more to celebrate in 2021! This year marks anniversary for the film "Star Trek: First Contact " and the series "Star Trek: Enterprise." What did each of bring to Trek? More than that, this year also marks what would have been Gene Roddenberry's 100th birthday. How can be observe all the good works done by the Great Bird of the Galaxy? And to cap it all off - this year also marks the 55th anniversary of t...
Feb 05, 2021•50 min
Story Arcs. In their first non-“Star Trek: Discovery” discussion of the year, the trio talk about the best use of story arcs in television Trek. From the series arc in “Voyager” to the mini-arcs of “Deep Space Nine” to the various season-long arcs in “Enterprise,” there’s been a variety of approaches in storytelling. What type of stories will be in the next series, “Strange, New Worlds”? Let us know know your favorite story arcs!
Jan 30, 2021•50 min
Third Season Finale - Star Trek: Discovery That's all she wrote! Season three of "Discovery" comes to a close with the final revelation about The Burn, the final battle to retake the ship, and how this crew will be lead as they finally settle into their roles in this "future" Federation. There's lots of action and a wrap of storylines - so where does it all leave us?
Jan 14, 2021•1 hr 9 min
Su’Kal/There Is A Tide: The trio is back for a new year of Trek! This month means the closing of season three of “Star Trek: Discovery.” The finale is billed as a three-part adventure, so we look at two of those parts about the cause of The Burn, the Emerald Chain’s diplomatic skills, and what this future Federation is all about. Let us know what you are looking forward to in Trek in 2021!
Jan 09, 2021•59 min
It's the 200th episode of Ceti Alpha 3! Darren, Daniel, and Phillip take a moment to celebrate in the spirit of the season - by creating three different Star Trek holiday specials, spread across the age of the franchise! A Klingon Kristmas - Darren takes us to 1986 and The Original Series crew, as Captain Kruge encounters some issues in his plan to attack the Enterprise-A. Will Scotty be able to decorate the tree in time? Will a certain musical group with the same name as a certain super secret ...
Dec 25, 2020•1 hr 7 min
DSC S03 EP09 | Into the mirror we fall again ... well, a door actually. Next to Carl. Look, it’s complicated ... The trio looks at the newest episode that begins with a quest to find a cure for Georgiou and takes a hard right in returning to the Mirror Universe. What’s going on in this journey through time and space? Are we saying goodbye to Georgiou before she leaves for spin-off land?
Dec 18, 2020•55 min
DSC S03 EP08 | It's finally time to see the home planet of Cleveland "Book" Booker. While Michael and company only get a brief tour of his home, it turns out to be a memorable trip with angry empathic "brother," alien tree-eating sea monkeys, and an angry Orion pirate. We also delve more into Lt. Detmer's recovery, Georgiou's mysterious illness, and Adira coming to terms with their identity. The trio looks to where the trail of The Burn investigation is heading and what awaits this crew for the ...
Dec 10, 2020•49 min
DSC S03 EP07 | There's nothing that Star Trek loves more than a trial! In this case, it's a "logic trial" called by Michael Burnham that pits Vulcans, Romulans, and the Federation against each other, along with science, politics, and ... (record scratch) ... her mom? "Discovery" is a series known for its emotional tugs, so Lindsay joins the trio to look at how Michael's romance and frustration with her place in the universe affects this season. We also talk about a surprise/non-surprise promotio...
Dec 04, 2020•1 hr 20 min
S03 EP06 | Orions in the Mist It's Discovery like you've never seen it before! Gimme an A! Break off the nacelles! New comm badges! What does that spell? An episode that combines inter-command conflict with a prison breakout. We continue to learn more about our new and old crew members, see what this new future is all about, and wonder about how Orions and Andorians managed to start working together. What are your guesses about what caused the Great Burn? The trio looks at where we are going and...
Nov 26, 2020•1 hr 4 min
S03 EP05 | It’s a Barzan-centered episode for this trio as they see the USS Discovery officially meet the future Federation and go on their first future mission. Is the new Starfleet head a badmiral or a skeptical...miral? Have we stumbled upon a Section 31 representative already? And what else is there to learn about Commander Nhan? Join us for another “Star Trek: Discovery” review episode and let us know where you think this season is going.
Nov 20, 2020•52 min
Trill, Trill, Trill/Boosting Crew Morale | DSC S03 EP04 What happens when a human host, carrying a Trill symbiont, travels to Trill to learn more about their ... Trill-ness? The trio looks at the latest entry from "Star Trek: Discovery" that explores this new character Adira and what makes her tick. There is heart, romance, and mystery -- and then they look at Captain Saru and Dr. Culber trying to boost crew morale and invent the role of ship's counselor. What do you think is going on with this ...
Nov 13, 2020•1 hr 1 min
Captains of Diplomacy | DSC S03 EP03 The U.S.S. Discovery arrives home ... kind of. Future Earth gives the crew a rude welcome, a decision must be made about the captain's chair, and the show gets a new crewman. This episode also serves as an opportunity to examine other Starfleet captain's diplomatic skills. From Archer to Kirk, Picard to Janeway, Sisko to Saru -- what opportunities have these leaders have to show what abilities they have? Let us know which captain has the highest "diplomatic r...
Nov 06, 2020•55 min
Episode Review | DSC S03 Ep 02 Discovery is back! The ship and non-Michael crew, that is. It's time to see how they've survived the 950 year trip into the future. The trio looks at Saru's leadership skills, how much of this episode is a "space western," and try to predict what is to come for rebuilding the Federation.
Oct 31, 2020•51 min
What is the Federation? | DSC S03 Ep 01. Michael Burnham falls back into our lives as “Star Trek: Discovery” begins its third season ... and it’s into an unknown future. The trio review “That Hope Is You, Part 1” and then look into the question that the episode poses - what is the Federation? What could topple it? What could save it? Let us know what you think about the feasibility of the United Federation of Planets surviving for centuries.
Oct 23, 2020•58 min
"No Small Parts" - Star Trek: Lower Decks The first season of Trek's second animated series comes to an end - and there is a lot jammed into it! The episode begins with an unexpectedly serious turn of events and soon the ensigns of the U.S.S. Cerritos are facing some life-changing events. What did you think of this season finale, and now that one season is in the bag, what do we think about "Lower Decks" overall?
Oct 15, 2020•57 min
Crisis Point - It's movie time! Grab the popcorn and soda (in the safety of your living room) and join the trio as they talk about the newest entry into the Star Trek feature film pantheon, thanks to Beckett Mariner. There are lots of gags and references to Trek films, both recent and older, that help bring this episode to life. Most of the characters have a moment to reveal a little more of themselves - and the surprise ending sets up the next episode, the season one finale. Let us know your fa...
Oct 09, 2020•1 hr 2 min
"Star Trek: Lower Decks" - Veritas The trio is joined by Aaron Harvey of the podcast "Infinite Trek" to talk about an episode that balances individual storylines for our four animated characters. In this homage to "Star Trek VI," what does the perspectives tell us about the four ensigns and how does a hidden balloon explain everything? Let us know your favorite moment.
Oct 04, 2020•58 min
“Much Ado About Boimler.” The first season of “Lower Decks” is almost over ... and is their potentially some character development afoot? The trio is joined by Sue from the Roddenberry podcast “Women at Warp” to look at Mariner battling alongside an Academy friend - what has Beckett lost by clinging to her single pip with a death grip and not pursuing that captain rank? We also take a trip to The Farm with Boimler and Dog. What references did we miss? And how could more Rutherford be added to th...
Sep 25, 2020•52 min
"Lower Decks" - Terminal Provocations It's "danger in the Holodeck" time - so the trio is joined by Jessica from "Time & Space: A Doctor Who Podcast" to tackle Badge-y and a maniac new-to-use ensign. From the "Chu Chu" dance to learning how to stay diplomatic with aliens, this latest episode from "Lower Decks" throws a lot at the audience. What were your favorite moments?
Sep 17, 2020•39 min
Lower Decks - "Cupid's Errant Arrow" Love is in the ventilation system - and Mariner's suspicions about Boimler's girlfriend lead to (predictable?) hijinks, whilst Rutherford and Tendi look at the grass being greener on another starship. The trio is joined by Sabriel of the "Transporter Lock" podcast to talk about the latest shenanigans onboard the starship Cerritos. As the series reaches its season one midpoint, has the tone been established? What do we think of the characters? And what would S...
Sep 10, 2020•55 min
Moist Vessel. The animated Cerritos engages in its first sister-ship mission that involves a promoted Mariner, a spastic Tendi, and an almost non-existent Rutherford (boo!). The trio is joined by Char to see how the characters are (or are not) moving along, our favorite jokes, and how we could “punch it” with some of the storylines.
Sep 03, 2020•57 min
Lower Decks Review - "Temporal Edict" "Star Trek: Lower Decks" gets comfortable this week with its usual A and B "Ship Story" and "Planet Story." The former finds the lower decks "buffer time" policy going awry, whilst the Cerritos' first officer and Ensign Mariner tangle with conflicting ideas about protecting the crew. Grace, co-host of the "Women At Warp" podcast joins the trio to look at the jokes, characters, and all things animated in this third episode of the newest Trek series. What was ...
Aug 27, 2020•41 min
Envoys. There's a history of new Star Trek series hitting a bump in their second episode. Once all the characters have been introduced in the first episode, we know have to let them journey on their own. Does "Star Trek: Lower Decks" succeed in its second outing? The trio is joined by Robyn of the podcast network "Black Girls Create" to talk about the continuing adventures of the U.S.S. Cerritos ensigns. We explore the ship's various departments as Rutherford keeps changing uniforms, and we get ...
Aug 21, 2020•55 min
Star Trek: Lower Decks, S01E01 Welcome to the newest Star Trek series! It's time to shuttle aboard the California-class U.S.S. Cerritos and meet the ... ensigns. The trio is joined by Trek podcast veteran Drew Stewart to look at these new characters, the tone and pacing of the show, and what our favorite jokes were. What did we like? What did we love? And what are we looking forward to improving in the next nine episodes of season one? Let us know your stand-out moments from this first episode o...
Aug 13, 2020•1 hr 4 min
An Animated Series Sample. “Star Trek: Lower Decks” becomes the second animated series in the Trek franchise. So let’s look at the first! “Star Trek” The Animated Series lasted two seasons (or a season and half...). The trio share their reflections on the last two episodes of TAS, “How Sharper Than a Serpant’s Tooth” and “The Counter-Clock Incident.” How did this ‘70s cartoon set the stage for 2020’s Trek cartoon?
Aug 07, 2020•42 min
Favorite Secondary Ship As we begin adding new series to the Star Trek franchise, the trio does a round-robin pick of their favorite ships in each series ... that's not the "main ship." Darren, Daniel, and Phillip look at every series, from the Original Series to Picard, and pick a ship that stands out to them. Whether it be Romulan, Klingon, or Starfleet, they look at the vessels that brought something new to the franchise. Let us know if we picked your favorites or if you have a different grou...
Jul 31, 2020•45 min
Episode in Focus: “Lower Decks.” The concept of a “lower decks” episode or series in Star Trek began in the last season of Next Generation. The trio look at the story that began it all - four young ensigns on the Enterprise-D trying to get that extra pip. This unique perspective helps shed new light about life onboard a starship. What’s your favorite moment?
Jul 24, 2020•57 min
Pon Farr Let's talk about sex ... Vulcan sex, that is. The concept of the seven-year mating cycle was introduced in The Original Series episodes "Amok Time." Spock, however, is not the only Vulcan character in the Trek franchise, so it was inevitable that this taboo topic would be touched on in subsequent series. The trio looks at two incidents - Subcommander T'Pol in the Enterprise episode "Bounty" and Ensign Vorik & B'Elanna Torres in the Voyager episode "Blood Fever." What new information...
Jul 10, 2020•51 min
