After Enterprise rescues a pair of aliens with a mysterious cargo, Trip finds himself in a major predicament after he accidentally opens the cargo. In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss "Precious Cargo" and the troubles that many seem to have with writing a Star Trek script. Plus! The guys talk about Archer talking T'Pol into his tribunal charade, getting into an escape pod ass first, and the Brannon Braga method of breaking a story. Are you looking for older episodes? Find this a...
Oct 20, 2020•1 hr 3 min
Burnham navigates a strange, new galaxy, 930 years in her future, looking for the rest of the Discovery crew. In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss "That Hope is You, Part I" and lay the ground work for how they're going to approach the latest season of Star Trek: Discovery. Plus! The guys talk about Star Trek becoming more ethereal and religious in its storytelling, the lack of suburbs on alien planets, and the resetting of Michael Burnham. Are you looking for older episodes? Fin...
Oct 16, 2020•1 hr 4 min
Following her first experience with the transporter, an eerie series of events makes Hoshi think she is becoming invisible to the rest of the crew. In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss "Vanishing Point" and the awkwardness of a phone call where you have to inform someone that a loved one is dead. Plus! The guys talk about episodes that are different every 10 minutes, Enterprise's surprising success with subtlety, and learning a lesson through a dream. Are you looking for older ep...
Oct 14, 2020•49 min
The USS Cerritos encounters a familiar enemy. Tendi helps a struggling recruit find her footing. In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss "No Small Parts" and why Lower Decks is more true to Star Trek than the Picard series pretends to be. Plus! The guys talk about cinematic animation, shuffling the cards at the end of a season, and why Mariner is no Michael Burnham. Are you looking for older episodes? Find this and every other episode at The Pensky Podcast ! Thanks for listening. St...
Oct 09, 2020•35 min
Upon approaching a black hole, the crew starts exhibiting strange behavior and uncharacteristically obsesses over trivial matters. In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss "Singularity" and debate whether or not being weird is enough to carry an episode. Plus! The guys talk about can openers, those desks from high school, and how Enterprise chooses to end episodes. Are you looking for older episodes? Find this and every other episode at The Pensky Podcast ! Thanks for listening. Stay...
Oct 06, 2020•43 min
Mariner repurposes Boimler's holodeck program to cast herself as the villain in a "lower decks"-style movie. In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss "Crisis Point" and why Mariner is the heart and soul of Lower Decks. Plus! The guys talk about the walking-back of Boimler, sneaky marijuana references, and balancing Star Trek and cynicism. Are you looking for older episodes? Find this and every other episode at The Pensky Podcast ! Thanks for listening. Stay connected: • https://thepe...
Oct 03, 2020•44 min
During an investigation of a pre-warp alien planet, Reed accidentally leaves his communicator behind. When he returns with Archer to get the piece of technology, they are captured by soldiers who accuse them of being enemy spies. In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss "The Communicator" and how it's as if someone took seven random episodes of Enterprise and stuck them in a blender. Plus! The guys talk about Reed's masochistic streak, Archer making a bad situation worse, and the fru...
Sep 29, 2020•1 hr 4 min
Mariner, Boimler, Tendi, and Rutherford are caught off guard when aliens force them to testify about a series of seemingly unrelated events. In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss "Veritas" and explain why it's the strongest episode that Lower Decks has produced. Plus! The guys talk about modern sound mixing, getting stressed out when everyone starts yelling, and the need for the show to branch out from referencing The Next Generation! Are you looking for older episodes? Find this ...
Sep 25, 2020•44 min
T'Pol asks Archer to accompany her on a top secret mission to capture a fugitive that has eluded the Vulcan High Command for two decades. In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss "The Seventh" and why being down on Enterprise episodes is different from being down on every other Trek series. Plus! The guys talk about Trip being unwilling to inflict diarrhea on his shipmates, Mayweather in bokeh, and no one being concerned about the Vulcans fiddling with other cultures. Are you looking...
Sep 22, 2020•1 hr 1 min
Mariner tries to impress her best friend from Starfleet Academy who is now a visiting captain. Boimler is sent to a Starfleet medical ship after a transporter accident puts him “out of phase.” In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss "Much Ado About Boimler" and wonder about the relationship to Shakepeare's original work. Plus! The guys talk about Lower Decks riding a joke, the show mixing up its character pairings, and turning your TV around to watch it in "handheld" mode! Are you l...
Sep 18, 2020•40 min
Enterprise discovers a deuterium mining colony that is being controlled by Klingon marauders. The crew trains the colonists to defend themselves and prepare for battle against their Klingon oppressors. In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss "Marauders" and why genre shows need to abandon doing their own version of The Magnificent Seven. Plus! The guys talk about Klingons not acting like Klingons, training montages, and beige landscapes! Are you looking for older episodes? Find this...
Sep 15, 2020•57 min
The lovable but awkward Ensign Fletcher makes work difficult for Mariner and Boimler. Rutherford introduces Tendi to a holodeck training program he created. In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss getting what we wished for in regards to Star Trek: Lower Decks. Plus! The guys talk about bringing aboard a new main cast member, the hyper-violence of a holodeck gone bad, and give their thoughts about the recent trailer for Discovery's third season! Are you looking for older episodes? F...
Sep 11, 2020•49 min
Archer spends a night in sickbay with Dr. Phlox after Porthos picks up a deadly virus on an alien planet. In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss bringing your dog everywhere you go! Plus, the guys talk about using a chainsaw while very sweaty, T'Pol being the focus of the male gaze, and choosing whether to save your dog or a random stranger! Are you looking for older episodes? Find this and every other episode at The Pensky Podcast ! Thanks for listening. Stay connected: • https://...
Sep 08, 2020•1 hr 5 min
Mariner is suspicious of Boimler’s new girlfriend. Tendi and Rutherford grow jealous of a bigger starship's gear. In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay analyze "Cupid's Errant Arrow" and wonder if Lower Decks would be better suited to exploring the dark edge of Star Trek lore. Plus! The guys talk about sitcom plots versus Star Trek plots, mixing up the characters, and Wes gives some truncated thoughts about the latest trailer for "The Batman"! Are you looking for older episodes? Find this...
Sep 05, 2020•43 min
Enterprise docks with a strange, automated repair space station, which proves too good to be true. In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss Enterprise switching up its "mystery" formula! Plus, the guys talk about the characterization of Malcolm Reed, Mayweather's twelve-pack, and trying to delay an automated phone service! Are you looking for older episodes? Find this and every other episode at The Pensky Podcast ! Thanks for listening. Stay connected: • https://thepenskyfile.com/lin...
Sep 01, 2020•1 hr
Captain Freeman seeks the ultimate payback after Mariner blatantly disrespects her in front of the crew. A well-meaning Tendi accidentally messes up a lieutenant's attempt at spiritual ascension and tries to make it right. In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss the latest Star Trek: Lower Decks episode, "Moist Vessel"! They break down society's discomfort with the word "moist", the success (or not) of the show's attempts to be emotionally grounded, and over-stuffing an episode with...
Aug 28, 2020•51 min
The Enterprise NX-01 strays into a Romulan "Minefield" and is disabled by a cloaked mine. Meanwhile, Reed is pinned to the hull of the ship. In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay describe how to pay extra attention to make sure you're truly bored. Plus! The guys talk about watching an episode of Enterprise while angry, the survival of soccer into the 22nd century, and surfing an explosion to safety! Are you looking for older episodes? Find this and every other episode at The Pensky Podcas...
Aug 25, 2020•1 hr 4 min
A new work protocol eliminating “buffer time” has the Cerritos crew running ragged as they try to keep up with their tightened schedules. Ensign Mariner and Commander Ransom's mutual lack of respect comes to a head during an away mission. In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss an episode that makes you expect some time travel, only to end up with some new timekeeping habits. Plus! The guys chat about the screen time of the senior officers, cultural misunderstandings, and balancing ...
Aug 21, 2020•49 min
When Star Trek: Picard started, Clay and I went back to re-watch "The Measure of a Man". The themes are characters seemed like they were going to be important to the first season of Star Trek: Picard. Since our original coverage of the episode was a solo affair by me, the re-watch also allowed us to hear Clay's thoughts about an episode that many consider to be one of TNG's finest. So, what did we think? This episode was originally available to only our supporters on Patreon. If you wish to get ...
Aug 18, 2020•48 min
After a high-profile mission goes awry, Boimler is further plagued with self-doubt when Mariner proves herself to be a more naturally talented sci-fi badass than he. Rutherford quits his job in engineering and explores other departments on the USS Cerritos. In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss "Envoys" and wonder if Lower Decks is a series that will be able to survive on its own once the supply of references runs low. Plus! The guys chat about the potential issues with Mariner, w...
Aug 14, 2020•43 min
T'Pol tells Archer and Tucker a story about her great-grandmother and two other Vulcans, who crash landed in a small Pennsylvania town in the year 1957. In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay debate the how much Carbon Creek is to Enterprise as The City on the Edge of Forever is to The Original Series. Plus! The guys talk about Vulcans in disguise, inventions you'd believe to be alien in origin, and the acting prowess of Jolene Blalock! Are you looking for older episodes? Find this and eve...
Aug 11, 2020•1 hr 3 min
Ensign Tendi has her first day of work on Starfleet's USS Cerritos, where she meets fellow support crew members, Ensigns Mariner, Boimler, and Rutherford. Meanwhile, Boimler is tasked with a secret special assignment and Rutherford attempts to keep his dating life intact while a sci-fi disaster strikes the ship. In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss how effectively Star Trek has (once again) moved into animated territory. Plus! They give their thoughts about Ensigns Mariner, Boiml...
Aug 07, 2020•58 min
As the Suliban take the crew hostage, Archer disappears off the ship. While stuck in the 31st century, Archer and Daniels work to find a way to get back to Enterprise and repair the timeline. In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss the second season of Enterprise choosing to bring a few topics into focus. Plus! The guys debate the characterization of Daniels, the confounding nature of Soval, and keeping things a mystery when you don't have much going on. Are you looking for older ep...
Aug 03, 2020•1 hr 10 min
In this episode of the podcast, Wes phones in from a remote cabin in the woods to talk about Enterprise's first season. Clay is more than willing to discuss this latest group of episodes... he just has to remember which one is which. And then remember anything about them. In this recap of the first season, the guys give their general thoughts about how the first season succeeded and failed. Plus, they give a power ranking of the main cast members. And finally, they take out the abacus to determi...
Jul 30, 2020•1 hr 7 min
After apparently causing the destruction of an alien colony, the Enterprise is called back to Earth. Archer learns via Daniels that the Suliban are trying to sabotage Enterprise's mission. In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss the episode that closes out Enterprise's first season and how it serves as a bookend to "Broken Bow". Plus! They talk about Mark Zuckerberg's hair, hand waving away time travel, and how time travel seems to work in the Enterprise universe. Are you looking fo...
Jul 27, 2020•1 hr 25 min
The crew takes shore leave on the famous pleasure planet of Risa. For many, it is anything but a vacation. In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss visiting Risa and never going to the beach. Plus! The guys talk about staying at a Holiday Inn, the personality of Jonathan Archer, and Enterprise exploring sexuality. Are you looking for older episodes? Find this and every other episode at The Pensky Podcast ! Thanks for listening. Stay connected: • https://thepenskyfile.com/links/ • e-m...
Jul 23, 2020•1 hr 20 min
Archer and Tucker are invited to a desert-like planet by an alien leader after they help fix his ship. After arriving, they discover he has invited them under false pretenses. In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss yet another episode of Enterprise that feels like it wants to say something but just can't find the right words. Plus! The guys talk about the consequences of freeing the Suliban, Kirk being the most timeless captain, and having a story with no subtext! Are you looking f...
Jul 20, 2020•1 hr 21 min
Escorting a Vulcan ambassador accused of criminal misconduct, the Enterprise comes under attack by a corrupt race. In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss "Fallen Hero" and why the episode doesn't manage to live up to its title. Plus! The guys talk about Phlox selling the plot, the confusing characterization of V'Lar, and never knowing how fast those ships could go. Are you looking for older episodes? Find this and every other episode at The Pensky Podcast ! Thanks for listening. St...
Jul 13, 2020•57 min
A symbiotic alien comes aboard the Enterprise NX-01 and captures several of the starship's officers in its web. In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss "Vox Sola" and the benefit of giving every character something to do, even if it doesn't amount to much. Plus! The guys talk about being distracted by other peoples thoughts, eating food like you're having sex, and how to determine the worst character of the ensemble. Are you looking for older episodes? Find this and every other epis...
Jul 09, 2020•49 min
Archer and Mayweather accidentally enter a militarized zone and are detained by an alien race called Tandarans, who are at war with the Suliban. Both men find themselves sharing cells with some Suliban detainees who they believe are wrongly imprisoned. In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss the problems with being too obvious with your allegory. Plus! The guys talk about being unfamiliar with the Suliban, returning guest actors, and Archer throwing himself into situations. Are you ...
Jul 06, 2020•1 hr 10 min
