Season Six Overview.

When "Encounter at Farpoint" premiered in 1987, it was considered the "Great Experiment" of Star Trek - could The Original Series' "lightning in a bottle" be captured again? The sixth season of The Next Generation began the second "Great Experiment" - could two syndicated Star Trek television shows successfully air at the same time? Many TNG fans think of seasons three through six as the epitome of the series; this specific season would feature the return of "Scotty" (James Doohan), the memorable torture of Captain Picard ("Chain of Command, Parts 1 and 2"), and the return appearances of Lieutenant Reg Barclay ("Realm of Fear" and "Ship in a Bottle"), Q ("True Q" and "Tapestry"), and the Borg, along with Lore ("Descent, Part 1").

Daniel, Darren, and Phillip discuss how the sixth season continued to raise the bar of TNG, with only a sparse number of clunker episodes, like "Aquiel." From Crusher playing Quincy, M.D. in "Suspicions," Troi taking command of Romulans in "Face of the Enemy," and Picard making emoticons in warp corp breeches in "Timescape," the sixth season continues to show the power of The Next Generation. Join Earl Grey as they travel from 19th Century San Francisco to the Ancient West as they provide an overview of season six of Next Gen, as well as lost crossover opportunities with the new series Deep Space Nine.  

Hosts
Daniel Proulx, Phillip Gilfus, & Darren Moser

Editor / Producer
Darren Moser

BridgeMates.

Bridge officers get to know each other after years of service together, forming friendships just like Data and Geordi La Forge's, that last a lifetime. But how well do they really know each other? That question is put to the test with the newestStar Trek: The Next Generation based-game, "BridgeMates." Phillip Gilfus plays game show host in a three-round competition (plus bonus round!) that places the remaining Earl Grey co-hosts Darren Moser and Daniel Proulx against the co-hosts of the sister Trek.fm podcast To the Journey, Charlynn Schmiedt and Tristan Riddell. The two teams must answer TNG-based questions and see if they can correctly match the same answer that their co-host gives. Will the Next Genexperts Darren and Daniel get to have their "arms raised in victory" at the end? Or will the more "seasoned" duo of Charlynn and Tristan use their Delta Quadrant-based Borg knowledge to think with one hive mind? Join this fun-filled crossover podcast game show that asks the question, "How well do you know your #BridgeMates?"

Hosts
Daniel Proulx, Phillip Gilfus, & Darren Moser

Guests
Charlynn Schmiedt & Tristan Riddell

Editor / Producer
Darren Moser

The Picard Conspiracy.

An adventure in Sherwood Forest? A temporal anomaly that repeats every 14 hours? The accidental creation of sentient life in the Holodeck? Viewers of The Next Generation realize that many of our favorite (and not-so-favorite) episodes contain plots that sound crazy when summarized. Darren, Daniel, and Phillip discover that they do not sound any saner when sent as log entries to Starfleet Command. The trio goes on a comic romp this episode and attempts to explain the logical reaction of Starfleet Headquarters to Captain Jean-Luc Picard's trek through space. Whether the good captain is suffering early from early symptoms of his neurological disease or whether he is the lead conspirator among his crew in covering up a range of ghastly serial killings, Earl Grey goes through seven years and the feature films. They explain how the U.S.S. Enterprise's mission logs paint a disturbing picture of our favorite Starfleet officers ... and may have, in fact, never happened.  

Hosts
Daniel Proulx, Phillip Gilfus, & Darren Moser

Editor / Producer
Darren Moser

Scotty in TNG.

The continuing mission of the characters from Star Trek The Original Series was left a verboten topic for the first half of The Next Generation. However, after the appearance of Ambassador Sarek in season three ("Sarek"), as well as the cameo of a certain ornery admiral in the pilot episode "Encounter at Farpoint," the floodgates were open for TOS characters to "special" guest star in the second incarnation of Trek on television. 

Captain Montgomery "Scotty" Scott beamed into the 24th century in the sixth season episode "Relics" and found it difficult to find a place on this new Enterprise, with its "bloody" D suffix. Daniel Proulx, Darren Moser, and guest co-host Andy Farber explore Scotty's difficulties of being a man out of his time, and whether theTNG writers were faithful to his character. The interplay between the competingEnterprise chief engineers, Scotty and Lt. Cmdr. Geordi LaForge, reveal not only the differences between those two characters, but also the differences between the two beloved Trek television shows. Join Earl Grey as they mourn poor Franklin, drink something green, and remember times past on the Holodeck for their discussion of Scotty's appearance on TNG.

Hosts
Daniel Proulx and Darren Moser

Editor / Producer
Darren Moser

Troi.

The introduction of a counselor to the bridge of U.S.S. Enterprise, NCC-1701-D was seen as a product of the therapy-happy 1980s. The character of Deanna Troi went through many changes during her seven seasons on television and four feature films - from wearing a blue skant in "Encounter at Farpoint" to a wedding dress inStar Trek: Nemesis. Troi's role as a bridge officer often fluctuated from merely stating the obvious to making a significant contribution to the conflict du jour. Phillip, Darren, and Daniel discuss the evolution of the character from an accented, "exotic" empath to an in-charge uniform-wearing commander. They discuss her relationships with her Imzadi Commander William T. Riker, her mother Lwaxana, her captain and patient Jean-Luc Picard, and her brief boyfriend, Worf. The trio also struggles with why the writers ignored and "victimized" Troi on far too many occasions. So replicate your favorite chocolate concoction, avoid anything called "tequila," and join Earl Grey for a character profile of Counselor Deanna Troi.

Hosts
Daniel Proulx, Phillip Gilfus, & Darren Moser

Editor / Producer
Darren Moser

Cast Direct Episodes.

Leonard Nimoy and William Shatner began the tradition of Star Trek actors getting behind the camera as directors. In The Next Generation, Jonathan Frakes was the first to "take the helm" of an episode as a director, beginning with the season four episode "The Offspring" and spanned all the way to the third TNG feature film, Star Trek: Insurrection. Darren, Daniel, and Phillip examine the Frakes' led stories, as well as Patrick Stewart's, Gates McFadden's, and LeVar Burton's adventures in directing TNG episodes. Earl Grey also follows Burton's directing work into all subsequent Star Trek incarnations (Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise). They also discuss when Micheal Dorn eventually got a chair ... a director's chair that is ... for three episodes of DS9 and one of ENT. Take off your Starfleet uniform, get into some comfortable clothes, and get ready to tell your friends what to do in this episode about cast directed TNG episodes.

Hosts
Daniel Proulx, Phillip Gilfus, & Darren Moser

Editor / Producer
Darren Moser

State of the Federation.

The United Federation of Planets is a great place to live, find a career, and raise a family. However, during the time of the NCC-1701-D and NCC-1701-E, there were major crises that affected the life of Federation citizens. Star Trek The Next Generation is a Starfleet-centered show, but the missions of the U.S.S. Enterprise impacted those working outside of Starfleet, from the events of "Conspiracy," to the strategic threat posed by the reemergence of the Romulan Empire ("The Neutral Zone"), to the fateful attacks on Earth by the Borg ("The Best of Both Worlds, Parts 1 and 2"/Star Trek: First Contact). Daniel, Darren, and Phillip explore what these impacts, what we wish we could have seen about the political and social life of Federation citizens, and inadvertently uncover the greatest Starfleet conspiracy since Lieutenant Commander Remmick's slug exploded. So get your favorite drink from the replicator, stop reading your copy of "Utopia," and join Earl Grey as they discuss life in the United Federation of Planets.

Hosts
Daniel Proulx, Phillip Gilfus, & Darren Moser

Editor / Producer
Darren Moser

Sexuality and Relationships.

The Next Generation was not bashful about examining issues of sexuality and relationships during its seven seasons. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, episodes like "Justice" and "Captain's Holiday" portrayed a 24th Century where sexual expression was much more open and equal for both sexes. TNG also introduced alien species like the Betazed (in the forms of Lwaxana and Deanna Troi), the J'naii ("The Outcast"), and the Trill ("The Host") who have completely different perspectives on romantic relationships. Phillip. Daniel, and Darren examine how Gene Roddenberry's vision of futuristic sexual expression compares to modern day attitudes, and how people will view relationships 300 years from now. The Earl Grey trio attempt to explain how the Commander William T. Riker/Counselor Troi relationship best represents 24th Century mores. So set your coordinates for Risa, bring along your horga'hn, and join in on the discussion of sexuality and relationships in TNG.

Hosts

Daniel Proulx, Phillip Gilfus, & Darren Moser

Editor / Producer

Darren Moser

Production Manager

Richard Marquez

Content Coordinator

Will Nguyen

Chapters

TNG is a Sexy Show (00:03:04)  

The Edo (00:04:40)  

Risa (00:12:50)  

J'nali (00:18:43)  

Trill (00:23:24)  

Betazeds (00:38:00)  

Human (00:44:10)  

Closing Thoughts (00:52:56)  

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Reginald Barclay.

There are few characters who achieved success in more than one Star Trek series. Lieutenant Junior Grade Reginald Barclay was introduced in The Next Generation's season three episode "Hollow Pursuits" and would appear in four more episodes of TNG, in addition to a cameo in the feature film Star Trek: First Contact. 

However, when Mr. Barclay appeared in the Star Trek: Voyager episode "Projections," fans may have thought it was a one-time TNG special appearance on the sister show. However, Reg would eventually become an honorary member of the Voyager crew by establishing himself as their lifeline to the Alpha Quadrant. Darren, Daniel, and Phillip fire up the Pathfinder Project and beam aboard "To the Journey" co-host Charlynn Schmiedt to discuss Starfleet's most neurotic lieutenant. So pull yourself away from the Holodeck and join Earl Grey as they do an in-depth character profile of Mr. Broccoli.    

Hosts
Daniel Proulx, Phillip Gilfus, & Darren Moser

Guest
Charlynn Schmiedt

Editor / Producer
Darren Moser

Production Manager

Season Five Overview.

The Next Generation peaked during its fifth season, featuring its highest viewer ratings and the long-anticipated return of a main cast member from the originalStar Trek. The season begins by completing the Klingon and Romulan-focused two-parter "Redemption," and then covers new ground with a metaphor-speaking alien species ("Darmok"), the introduction of a new featured character ("Ensign Ro"), and a multi-story episode in "Disaster." Fans of both Star Trek generations finally received their wish with the return of Spock to the television screen in the two-parter "Unification." 

This was unfortunately the same year that Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry died. However his legacy lived on in season five as it sought new perspectives on established TNG characters with the returns of Lwaxana Troi ("Cost of Living"), Wesley Crusher ("The Game" and "First Duty"), and the Borg ("I, Borg"). Captain Jean-Luc Picard was faced with one of his greatest challenges in the critically acclaimed "The Inner Light," while the season ended with fan-debated episode "Time's Arrow, Part 1." Join Daniel Proulx, Darren Moser, and Phillip Gilfus as they put on their brand new captain's jackets and examine the fifth season of Star Trek: The Next Generation. 

Hosts
Daniel Proulx, Phillip Gilfus, & Darren Moser

Editor / Producer
Darren Moser