The Lost Episodes, Part 7. There are many scripts, script outlines, and episode and movie concepts that never made it onto the screen on The Next Generation . These lost episodes can provide a fascinating window into what might have been, what characters and concepts ended up being modified and used later, and into the behind-the-scenes writing process. In this episode of Earl Grey, hosts Richard Marquez, Amy Nelson, and Justin Oser discuss the never-produced season 5 episode "I.Q. Test" by Herb...
Apr 30, 2019•57 min•Ep. 273
Favorite Badass Beverly Crusher Moments. Beverly Crusher is known for being a Starfleet doctor dedicated to saving lives and avoiding harm for her patients and fellow crew. However, we think that Beverly does have her share of badass moments throughout the course of The Next Generation episodes and movies . In this episode of Earl Grey , hosts Amy Nelson and Justin Oser list their three favorite badass Beverly Crusher moments from The Next Generation . Each choice is discussed and highlights Bev...
Apr 23, 2019•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 272
Deleted Scenes, Part 1. Scenes that were filmed, but not seen by the audience in the final aired productions are available for every season and movie of The Next Generation . These deleted scenes can provide a fascinating window into what might have been, including some scenes that would have had a far-reaching impact on the show and the films. In this episode of Earl Grey , hosts Amy Nelson, Richard Marquez, and Justin Oser talk about the deleted scenes from seasons 1 and 2 of The Next Generati...
Apr 16, 2019•1 hr 38 min•Ep. 271
Favorite Friendships in TNG. From the very beginning, the friendships that we see in Star Trek have been a significant part of the show's appeal and The Next Generation is no exception. Over the course of seven seasons and four movies, we see many different moments that highlight the value of friendships and reveal important aspects of the characters. In this episode of Earl Grey , hosts Amy Nelson and Justin Oser list their three favorite friendships from The Next Generation . Each host talks a...
Apr 02, 2019•59 min•Ep. 270
Science in TNG, Part 1. Science is an essential part of Star Trek that has inspired generations of fans to learn more about science, to become scientists, and to make influential discoveries. The Next Generation is no exception and includes many episodes that include new inventions, the application of existing science, and important scientific questions. In this episode of Earl Grey , hosts Amy Nelson and Justin Oser are joined by science teacher Joe Keegan to talk about science in seasons 1 thr...
Mar 26, 2019•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 269
Section 31 in TNG. Section 31 first appeared in the Deep Space Nine season 6 episode "Inquisition," which aired in April 1998. Section 31 appeared in 2 more episodes of Deep Space Nine , 4 episodes of Enterprise , the movie Into Darkness , and 5 episodes of Discovery (so far). What would Section 31 have looked like if it had been introduced on The Next Generation instead of Deep Space Nine ? In the episodes and movies of The Next Generation that we did get, are there hints of Section 31 that we ...
Mar 12, 2019•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 268
Death in TNG. Although we don't see deaths on The Next Generation very often, when a character does die, it can have a profound impact on the viewer. How are the effects of death portrayed on the show and what does it mean in our own lives? In this episode of Earl Grey, hosts Richard Marquez, Amy Nelson, and Justin Oser discuss death on The Next Generation . Topics discussed include how religion and death are shown, how mourning is depicted, deaths we wish hadn't happened, and how the age and im...
Mar 05, 2019•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 267
The Lost Episodes, Part 6. There are many scripts, script outlines, and episode and movie concepts that never made it onto the screen on The Next Generation . These lost episodes can provide a fascinating window into what might have been, what characters and concepts ended up being modified and used later, and into the behind-the-scenes writing process. In this episode of Earl Grey, hosts Richard Marquez, Amy Nelson, and Justin Oser discuss the never-produced episodes "Ferengi Gold" by Gene Rodd...
Feb 26, 2019•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 266
"Masks." The season seven episode "Masks" is often seen as one of the worst episodes of The Next Generation , but it does have its fans that love its unorthodox storytelling style. Written by Joe Menosky, who is well-known for his frequently unusual Star Trek episodes, "Masks" has a lot of layers and interpretations to explore. In this episode of Earl Grey , hosts Amy Nelson and Justin Oser are joined by guest Christopher D. Littlefield to talk about The Next Generation episode "Masks." The disc...
Feb 19, 2019•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 265
Troi's Dishonor. Star Trek never shies away from an issue - usually tackling things such as racism, sexism, the evils of war, and human rights violations, with assault and rape being no exception. The way Counselor Troi's assaults were portrayed on The Next Generation as a psychic rape instead of a physical rape brings the issue to the forefront of conversation of the issue. In this episode of Earl Grey , host Amy Nelson is joined by Zach Moore of Standard Orbit to discuss the character of Troi ...
Feb 12, 2019•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 264
Durinda Wood Interview. Durinda Wood was the costume designer for the second season of The Next Generation, a pivotal season that saw the introduction of Guinan and the Borg (among a number of other changes) and a huge range of costumes for the 22 episodes of the season. Durinda Wood is an award-winning costumer designer who was also nominated for an Emmy for Best Costume Design for the episode "Elementary Dear Data." In this episode of Earl Grey, hosts Justin Oser, Amy Nelson, and Richard Marqu...
Feb 05, 2019•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 263
Best and Worst Will Riker Moments. For 15 years, Will Riker is Captain Picard's loyal first officer before being promoted to captain of the Titan in Nemesis. Throughout that long association as part of the crew of the Enterprise-D and the Enterprise-E on The Next Generation , we see Riker being part of many of the best moments of the show as well as some of the worst moments. In this episode of Earl Grey , hosts Amy Nelson and Justin Oser are joined by guest Wes Huntington of The Minnesota Star ...
Jan 29, 2019•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 262
Favorite Character Moments from Nemesis . The Next Generation has a mostly episodic format, but over the course of the show and the movies, there are many great character moments. Those moments, both great and small, can enhance our experience of the show and lead to a new understanding of both regular and recurring characters. In this episode of Earl Grey , hosts Amy Nelson, Richard Marquez, and Justin Oser list their three favorite character moments from Nemesis . Each host discusses why their...
Jan 15, 2019•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 261
The Lost Episodes, Part 5. There are many scripts, script outlines, and episode and movie concepts that never made it onto the screen on The Next Generation . These lost episodes can provide a fascinating window into what might have been, what characters and concepts ended up being modified and used later, and into the behind-the-scenes writing process. In this episode of Earl Grey, hosts Richard Marquez, Amy Nelson, and Justin Oser discuss the never-produced episode "Blood and Fire" by David Ge...
Jan 08, 2019•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 260
Weapons of TNG, Part 2. The primary mission of the crew of The Next Generation is one of exploration. However, they need the means to defend themselves from any danger or combat situations that they encounter. Just about every species that they interact with also has weapons of various kinds at their disposal. What kinds of weapons do we see and what do the types and abilities of those weapons say about both Federation and non-Federations species? In this episode of Earl Grey, hosts Richard Marq...
Jan 01, 2019•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 259
Captain Jellico. Captain Edward Jellico comes in like a whirlwind in the season 6 "Chain of Command" two-parter of The Next Generation to take command of the Enterprise-D during an important confrontation with the Cardassians. Jellico moves to implement a number of changes very quickly that leads to conflict with the crew, especially Commander Riker. What do we think of Jellico's command style, his effectiveness, and how the crew reacts to him? In this episode of Earl Grey , hosts Richard Marque...
Dec 25, 2018•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 258
Weapons of TNG, Part 1. The primary mission of the crew of The Next Generation is one of exploration. However, they need the means to defend themselves from any danger or combat situations that they encounter. Just about every species that they interact with also has weapons of various kinds at their disposal. What kinds of weapons do we see and what do the types and abilities of those weapons say about both Federation and non-Federations species? In this episode of Earl Grey, hosts Richard Marq...
Dec 18, 2018•56 min•Ep. 257
Favorite Character Moments from Insurrection . The Next Generation has a mostly episodic format, but over the course of the show and the movies, there are many great character moments. Those moments, both great and small, can enhance our experience of the show and lead to a new understanding of both regular and recurring characters. In this episode of Earl Grey , hosts Amy Nelson, Richard Marquez, and Justin Oser list their three favorite character moments from Insurrection . Each host discusses...
Dec 11, 2018•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 256
Favorite Badass Troi Moments. Deanna Troi is often thought of for her counseling abilities and her empathy and not as often for her toughness in the different aspects of her character. However, Troi does have her share of badass moments throughout the course of The Next Generation episodes and movies . In this episode of Earl Grey , hosts Amy Nelson, Richard Marquez, and Justin Oser list their three favorite badass Deanna Troi moments from The Next Generation . Each choice is discussed and highl...
Dec 04, 2018•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 255
The Lost Episodes, Part 4. There are many scripts, script outlines, and episode and movie concepts that never made it onto the screen on The Next Generation . These lost episodes can provide a fascinating window into what might have been, what characters and concepts ended up being modified and used later, and into the behind-the-scenes writing process. In this episode of Earl Grey, hosts Richard Marquez, Amy Nelson, and Justin Oser discuss the never-produced episode "The Crystal Skull," which w...
Nov 27, 2018•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 254
Pets of TNG. Pets are an important part of many people's lives in the 21st century here on Earth, but how important are they to the characters of The Next Generation in the 24th century?Many Star Trek fans would name Data's cat Spot, but there are a lot more pets on the show that also make appearances and have an impact on the characters of The Next Generation. In this episode of Earl Grey, host Justin Oser is joined by special guests Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson of Literary Treks to talk about ...
Nov 20, 2018•1 hr 26 min•Ep. 253
Favorite Character Moments from First Contact . The Next Generation has a mostly episodic format, but over the course of the show and the movies, there are many great character moments. Those moments, both great and small, can enhance our experience of the show and lead to a new understanding of both regular and recurring characters. In this episode of Earl Grey , hosts Amy Nelson, Richard Marquez, and Justin Oser list their three favorite character moments from First Contact . Each host discuss...
Nov 13, 2018•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 252
Favorite Badass Geordi Moments. Geordi La Forge is often thought of primarily as the brilliant chief engineer of the Enterprise-D and the Enterprise-E who was born blind but can see with the help of his advanced VISOR. Geordi is also frequently remembered for his difficulty with romantic relationships. However, we think that Geordi does have his share of badass moments throughout the course of The Next Generation episodes and movies . In this episode of Earl Grey , hosts Richard Marquez and Just...
Nov 06, 2018•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 251
TNG Roleplaying Game. The first official Star Trek roleplaying game (RPG), Star Trek: Adventure Gaming in the Final Frontier , was released in 1978 and there have been a number of official Star Trek RPGs since that time. The latest entry in this long tradition is Star Trek Adventures , which includes missions in the eras of The Original Series and The Next Generation. In this episode of Earl Grey, hosts Richard Marquez, Amy Nelson, and Justin Oser play a mission from The Next Generation era from...
Oct 30, 2018•1 hr 49 min•Ep. 250
The Lost Episodes, Part 3. There are many scripts, script outlines, and episode and movie concepts that never made it onto the screen on The Next Generation . These lost episodes can provide a fascinating window into what might have been, what characters and concepts ended up being modified and used later, and into the behind-the-scenes writing process. In this episode of Earl Grey, hosts Richard Marquez, Amy Nelson, and Justin Oser discuss two never-produced episodes of seasons one and two of T...
Oct 23, 2018•1 hr 30 min•Ep. 249
Favorite Character Moments from Generations . The Next Generation has a mostly episodic format, but over the course of the show and the movies, there are many great character moments. Those moments, both great and small, can enhance our experience of the show and lead to a new understanding of both regular and recurring characters. In this episode of Earl Grey , hosts Amy Nelson, Richard Marquez, and Justin Oser list their three favorite character moments from Generations . Each host discusses w...
Oct 09, 2018•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 248
"Lessons." In the sixth season episode "Lessons," we're introduced to the head of Stellar Sciences on the Enterprise-D, Lieutenant Commander Nella Daren. In the course of this episode of The Next Generation , Picard and Daren fall in love, Picard shares with her the importance of his music from his experience in "The Inner Light," and the relationship eventually doesn't work out because of the worry of losing someone to the dangers of serving on a starship. In this episode of Earl Grey, hosts Ju...
Oct 02, 2018•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 247
Jennifer Edwards Interview. Jennifer Edwards appeared as Alexander's teacher, Ms. Kyle, in the fifth season episode of The Next Generation "New Ground." Even though Ms. Kyle only appears in a few scenes in the episode, she makes a very memorable impression as a realistically portrayed teacher navigating the difficulties of a troubled student, Alexander, and his stern father, Worf. In this episode of Earl Grey, hosts Justin Oser, Amy Nelson, and Richard Marquez interview Jennifer Edwards about he...
Sep 25, 2018•58 min•Ep. 246
Picard's Family. In the acclaimed fourth season episode of The Next Generation entitled "Family," we finally get to meet members of Jean-Luc Picard's family in the form of his brother Robert, his sister-in-law Marie, and his nephew Rene on the Picard family vineyard in La Barre, France. What does this encounter tell us about Picard's upbringing and what family means to him? How do the other references to his family and the illusory family that we see throughout the series and in the movie Genera...
Sep 18, 2018•1 hr 23 min•Ep. 245
Tim DeZarn Interview. Tim deZarn appeared as four different aliens across three different Star Trek series from 1993 to 2001. He appeared on The Next Generation episode "Starship Mine" as the alien mercenary Satler, in the Deep Space Nine episode "Wrongs Darker than Death or Night" as a Bajoran, in the Voyager episode "Initiations" as Haliz (leader of the Kazon-Ogla), and in the Voyager episode "Repentance" as the Nygean prison warden Yediq. In this episode of Earl Grey, hosts Justin Oser, Amy N...
Sep 11, 2018•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 244
