EGTNGRPG.

Earl Grey celebrates 100 consistent weekly episodes of dissecting, celebrating, and laughing about Star Trek: The Next Generation with a role-playing game, "Earl Grey: The Next Generation Role-Playing Game" (EGTNGRPG). Phillip, aka The Narrator, serves as the Game Master (GM) for Darren (a.k.a., Bolian operations officer Hegg) and Daniel (a.k.a., Andorian science officer Thovin) as they play through an original episode of TNG. 

The story is set during the middle of the 100th episode of Next Gen ("Redemption, Parts 1 and 2"), and includes special appearances by recognizable members of theNCC-1701-D, as well as new characters onboard the Federation's flagship. Daniel and Darren must use their assigned skills and specializations, along with some dice rolls, to make it through a harrowing away mission that features a mysterious Romulan ship near the Klingon border. Along the way, they encounter familiar voices from other Trek.fm podcasts. So get your character sheet ready, have a d6 handy, and join in the 100th episode of Earl Grey with a fun-filled role-playing game. 

Hosts
Daniel Proulx, Phillip Gilfus, & Darren Moser

Guests
Drew Stewart
Charlynn Schmiedt
Tristan Riddell
Christopher Jones
Colin Higgins
Mike Schindler
Andi Vanderkolk

Editor / Producer
Darren Moser

Executive Producers
Norman C. Lao, Matthew Rushing, & C Bryan Jones

Will Nguyen

These Are the Voyages. 

Star Trek fans generally decry the series finale of Enterprise as being an extended episode of The Next Generation - so Darren, Daniel, and Phillip discuss it from their TNG perspective, with the help of special guest Will Nguyen, co-host of "Warp 5." 

"These Are the Voyages..." is an episode featuring many things - action, adventure, the finale to the prequel series, the continuing story of TNG's episode "Pegasus," a 24th Century perspective on the 22nd Century, and a so-called "valentine" to the Star Trek franchise itself. Viewers get to revisit the NCC-1701-Dfor the first time in years, from CGI external shots to rebuilt sets that almost look like the real thing. This episode also features a ten year fast forward from the penultimate ENT episode "Terra Prime," featuring uniform changes and ... no apparent promotions. Earl Grey discusses how well (or ill) the episode closed the series, what it meant to have the Next Gen predominately featured, and whether this episode deserves all the criticism it receives in the Trek community. So put on your nametag, switch to objective mode on the Holdeck, and join Earl Grey as they discuss the Enterprise series finale "These Are the Voyages..."

Hosts
Daniel Proulx, Phillip Gilfus, & Darren Moser

Guests
Will Nguyen

Editor / Producer
Darren Moser

Executive Producers
Norman C. Lao, Matthew Rushing, & C Bryan Jones

Will Nguyen

Season Seven Overview.

All good things must come to end, and so it was with the seventh and final season of The Next Generation on television. Daniel, Darren, and Phillip compare this final year to previous seasons and discuss how the quality ebbed and flowed during these final episodes. They sort through their favorite episodes like "Pegasus," "Parallels," "Gambit, Parts 1 and 2," and "Lower Decks," as well as "Sub Rosa"-level episodes ... like "Sub Rosa." 

This season also serves as an ultimate family reunion for the NCC-1701-D crew, including family members we never knew existed, like Data's "mom" ("Inheritance"), Captain Picard's "son" ("Bloodlines"), and Counselor Troi's sister ("Dark Page"). We also meet Worf's brother ("Homeward") and Chief Engineer La Forge's parents ("Interface"). There are attempts to wrap up character story lines, with Wesley turning into an energy being ("Journey's End") and Lieutenant Ro finding a new place for herself with the Maquis ("Preemptive Strike"). The brilliant series finale "All Good Things...", of course, ends the continuing mission of TNG on the small screen. So put on a mask, grab a slice of cellular peptide cake (with mint frosting), and join Earl Grey as they discuss Next Gen's final season.    

Hosts
Daniel Proulx, Phillip Gilfus, & Darren Moser

Editor / Producer
Darren Moser

Executive Producers
Norman C. Lao, Matthew Rushing, & C Bryan Jones

Will Nguyen

Yar/Sela.

Star Trek: The Next Generation was not the first, nor the last, Trek series to kill off a main character. Lieutenant Natasha Yar, the first tactical officer of the NCC-1701-D, appeared in 22 episodes of season one before being unceremoniously killed off, due to conflict between Denise Crosby and the studio. However, Yar (and Crosby) did not end her TNG journey with "Skin of Evil." Phillip, Darren, and Daniel are joined by Andi VanderKolk and Jarrah Hodge (co-hosts of Women at Warp) in a character profile of Lt. Yar, as well as her half-Romulan daughter, Commander Sela.  

Yar is a surprisingly complex character, introduced with perhaps the most definite backstory of all the main crew in "Encounter at Farpoint." However, season one did not give Yar many character-focused stories, and the episodes that did focus on Yar are probably best not mentioned. However, Yar's memorable appearances in two outstanding episodes, "Yesterday's Enterprise" and "All Good Things...", provided the audience and Crosby with a more complete Tasha Yar. Earl Grey explores Yar's role in Data's development, the best/worst Yar moments, and if Crosby's portrayal of Commander Sela ("The Mind's Eye," "Redemption, Parts I and II," and "Unification, Part II") added anything to Next Gen. Put on your skin tight yellow unitard, open hailing frequencies, and join Earl Grey (along with Women at Warp 2) as they discuss their character profile of Lt. Tasha Yar. 

Hosts
Daniel Proulx, Phillip Gilfus, & Darren Moser

Guests
Andi VanderKolk
Jarrah Hodge

Editor / Producer
Darren Moser

Executive Producers
Norman C. Lao, Matthew Rushing, & C Bryan Jones

Will Nguyen

Chaos on the Bridge.

Star Trek on television again? What a wacky-doodle idea! 

So begins the documentary "William Shatner Presents: Chaos on the Bridge" that interviews all the major players involved in the creation of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Shatner interviews the studio presidents, executives, producers, writers, and actors involved in making TNG and charts the story of the first three seasons of the television series. The film concentrates on the late Trek creator Gene Roddenberry and his interactions in making Next Gen possible, interspersed with a country twang soundtrack and illustrations that depict those interactions from 1986 to 1990.   

Darren, Phillip, and Daniel review the documentary itself and discuss their reactions to Shatner's interviews. They discuss Roddenberry's approach to Star Trek, how other people affected that vision for good and ill, and how all the "behind the scenes" conflict contributed to what we saw on screen from "Encounter at Farpoint" to "The Best of Both Worlds, Part I." So ante up with your poker chips, get our your banjo, and join Earl Grey as they discuss "Chaos on the Bridge."  

Hosts
Daniel Proulx, Phillip Gilfus, & Darren Moser

Editor / Producer
Darren Moser

Executive Producers
Norman C. Lao, Matthew Rushing, & C Bryan Jones

Will Nguyen

Echoes from the Past.

When it comes to Star Trek-based video games, there are many hits, misses, and self-destructs. In 1994, Star Trek: The Next Generation came to the Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo (SNES) video game consoles. Daniel, Darren, and Phillip fire up their Sega Genesis emulators and discuss the game play of "Echoes from the Past." From the graphics, bridge mechanics, "awayteam" adventures, ship battles, and solving puzzle after endless puzzle, this game captures many TNG elements, including a storyline that resembles the season six episode "The Chase." 

Earl Grey also discusses the game's music, what could have been improved, and how it compares to its sister game, SNES' "Future's Past." They also debate how it compares to 21st century Trek-based games, whether "Echoes from the Past" is a "must play" for die-hard Next Gen-ers, and why the tactical station on the NCC-1701-D needs to be in a different spot. Fire up your emulators, meet Captain Picard in his darkened ready room, and join this episode about Sega Genesis' "Echoes from the Past."
 

Hosts
Daniel Proulx, Phillip Gilfus, & Darren Moser

Editor / Producer
Darren Moser

Executive Producers
Norman C. Lao, Matthew Rushing, & C Bryan Jones

Will Nguyen

Ageing in TNG.

The writers of The Next Generation, despite being mostly young men, crafted several stories that tackle the nature of growing older. Phillip, Darren, and Daniel analyze how the movies and television episodes treat the issue of ageing in the 24th century. The inaugural TNG film, Star Trek: Generations, features Captain James T. Kirk dealing with life transitions (and death), Captain Jean-Luc Picard struggling with issues of family and mortality, and the antagonist Dr. Tolian Soran sacrificing entire planets to kill the "predator" of time. The third film, Star Trek: Insurrection, is centrally focused on the idea of a "fountain of youth," and theEnterprise-E crew, as well as the Son'a and Baku, react to "growing younger" in different ways. 

The Earl Grey trio also examine such episodes as "Half a Life" and "Relics" which pose questions about the treatment of older people in society. There are also the story-lines in "Rascals" that deal with "lost youth," with both Ensign Ro and Picard struggling with the consequences of a second childhood. Along with "Too Short a Season," this episode talks about bad "old age" make-up, being considered middle age on alien planets, and how certain scripts could have been improved.       

Hosts
Daniel Proulx, Phillip Gilfus, & Darren Moser

Editor / Producer
Darren Moser

Executive Producers
Norman C. Lao, Matthew Rushing, & C Bryan Jones

Will Nguyen

Single Use Sets.

The U.S.S. Enterprise, NCC-1701-D, is one of the largest starships in 24th century Starfleet. It makes sense that viewers only got to see certain sections of the ship during its seven years on television. In this episode, Darren, Daniel, and Phillip go through the various parts of the ship (and re-dressed sets) that were only rarely seen. From the seldom used battle bridge (with its accompanying Ensign Miles O'Brien action figure) to the torpedo bay featured in the episode "In Theory," these sets were used as other ship rooms throughout TNG and other Star Trekincarnations. The trio also explore the sensor maintenance room ("Lonely Among Us"), the warp nacelle interior ("Eye of the Beholder"), the planetary sciences lab ("Pen Pals"), and the gymnasium, which was often used for patri-combat purposes ("The Icarus Factor").  

This tour of one-off locations also includes the docking port seen in "11001001" and the battle bridge access turbolift. Earl Grey ends up discovering a ship-wide rivalry that literally splits the ship into half, causing all to choose a side. Join this episode for the "blink and you miss it" parts of our favorite Galaxy-class starship as the once used sets of Next Gen are discussed.

Hosts
Daniel Proulx, Phillip Gilfus, & Darren Moser

Editor / Producer
Darren Moser

Executive Producers
Norman C. Lao, Matthew Rushing, & C Bryan Jones

Will Nguyen

The Trial.

Star Trek: The Next Generation is one of the few Trek series to begin and end with the same story - being put on trial by Judge Q. "Encounter at Farpoint" inaugurates the seven seasons of TNG on television with the accusation that humanity is a "dangerous, savage, child race." While the two-hour pilot attempts to refute that charge, the missions of the Enterprise-D can be seen through the lens of those accusations. The finale of "All Good Things..." sees Judge Q telling Captain Jean-Luc Picard that the trial never reached a verdict ... until now, and that humanity is found guilty of being "inferior." Once again, the Next Gen crew must solve a puzzle, one that spans three different time periods, in order to prove that humanity has indeed evolved.

Daniel, Darren, and Phillip join the jury in examining how Q's trial informs what we learn from our favorite Trek series. Do we believe this crew best represents 24th Century humanity? And does humanity simply refer to Terrans or to all of the flagship crew, from andriods to Klingons to Betazoids? Are the "criminal" accusations the same or different in both the pilot and the series finale? Earl Greydeliberates on a verdict of humanity's fate in this episode spanning the entire television run of TNG.
 

Hosts
Daniel Proulx, Phillip Gilfus, & Darren Moser

Editor / Producer
Darren Moser

Executive Producers
Norman C. Lao, Matthew Rushing, & C Bryan Jones

Will Nguyen

Command Styles.

When it comes to command, Captain Jean-Luc Picard is the pinnacle of Starfleet captains. However, many times in The Next Generation, Picard and his first officer Will Riker turn over command to other members of their crew. Phillip, Daniel, and Darren analyze the command styles of the other personnel who sat in the center seat of the U.S.S. Enterprise, and other starships, during various missions. 

They study second officer Lt. Commander Data's command tenure on both theEnterprise and the Sutherland ("Redemption, Part 2" and "Gambit, Parts 1 and 2"), Commander Beverly Crusher's time in the captain's chair ("Descent, Parts 1 and 2" and "All Good Things..."), Lt. Commander Deanna Troi's turn in command ("Disaster"), and Lieutenant junior grade Geordi LaForge's time as acting captain ("Arsenal of Freedom"). Earl Grey also discusses that other captain of theEnterprise-D, Captain Edward Jellico ("Chain of Command, Parts 1 and 2"). 

How did these commanders handle people? What challenges did many of them overcome as first time captains? How many of them consulted Livingston for advice in the ready room? Put on your red shirt so you can tug on it, as Earl Greydiscusses the command styles in TNG.

Hosts
Daniel Proulx, Phillip Gilfus, & Darren Moser

Editor / Producer
Darren Moser

Executive Producers
Norman C. Lao, Matthew Rushing, & C Bryan Jones

Will Nguyen