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