Subspace Transmissions: A Star Trek Podcast

Wednesday, June 20, 2018

#197 - STAR TREK: EXTREME MAKEOVER EDITION

Attend any convention and it's clear fans have preferred versions of their favorite Trek icons. You'll see a gaggle of bearded Riker clones, for example, but nary a single clean-shaven one. Why is that? And what do these various looks truly mean to the popular characters and their personal narrative? This week hosts Cam Smith and Tyler Orton attempt to decide between bobs or ponytails while examining the evolution and symbolic meaning of the personal styles of the franchise's biggest power players. In addition to Number One's season 2 facial hair, the duo also ponder the changing hairstyles of Janeway, Worf and Kirk, Voq's seamless Ash Tyler makeover, Lorca's sweet leather jacket and more! Plus, in a bonus segment, the hosts weigh in on Alex Kurtzman's recent promotion to Trek TV mastermind and the potential of Captain Picard and Starfleet Academy spin-offs.

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Related Podcast Episodes:

Best & Worst Star Trek Uniforms

TNG's Lost Years

Star Trek's Turning Points

The Psychology of Geordi La Forge

Join us next week as we participate once again in The Killing Game!

Wednesday, June 13, 2018

#196 - THE EVOLUTION OF THE ROMULANS

Sure, the Klingons are Trek's numero uno alien antagonists as far as pop-culture is concerned. But what about the Romulans, who were originally envisioned as being TOS's primary big bads? This week hosts Cam Smith and Tyler Orton embrace ambiguity and stealthy, multi-layered tactics while charting the history of one of the franchise's most endlessly fascinating and sophisticated creations. From their unforgettable introduction in Balance of Terror, and many prominent TNG showcases, all the way down to J.J. Abrams' 2009 reboot, the residents of Romulus and Remus have seen considerable evolution and mythology expansion. So join the duo as they attempt to pin down the Federation's most notoriously slippery adversaries and imagine where Discovery and future incarnations may take them.

The Evolution of the Klingons

The Evolution of the Borg

Cardassians: Trek's Greatest Aliens?
All About the Andorians!
Talkin' About Tellarites!
Going Green with the Orions & Gorn

Tracing the Tribble Trilogy

Join us next week as we ponder popular characters' major visual makeovers.

Thursday, June 7, 2018

#195 - DRAFTING THE STAR TREK DREAM TEAM

Ever since the Trek-verse expanded beyond TOS fans have loved to argue and debate over which Starfleet personnel they would love to assemble in their own fantasy crew. Picard or Kirk for captain? Odo or Worf for security? Michael Burnham or Spock for XO or science officer? This week hosts Cam Smith and Tyler Orton, along with special guest Patrick Johnson, compete in a tense head-to-head competition to draft the most ideal, hyper-capable ship staff humanly possible. With several hot commodities, and a few amusing duds, on the table there's plenty of hilarity, hair-pulling and defensive attempts to justify oddball choices. So join the party and decide where you stand on the trio's very unique personal preferences.

Who is the Ultimate Star Trek Fighter?

Take Me to Your Alien Leader

Join us next week as we chart the history of the Romulans!

Wednesday, May 30, 2018

#194 - ALIENS OF THE DELTA QUADRANT

Vulcans. Klingons. Romulans. Orions. Since the dawn of Roddenberry's universe the creative minds tasked with populating it have tirelessly sought to fill the Alpha Quadrant with countless fascinating, layered and compelling alien denizens guaranteed to goose dramatic potential. But what about Voyager, the show that dared to begin with a blank page and build its own world? This week hosts Cam Smith and Tyler Orton follow the Caretaker's directions right back to the Delta Quadrant in order to analyze the most memorable species to cross Captain Janeway and crew's path. From early stand-outs the Kazon and the Vidiians, to Trek's first all-CG race Species 8472 and the waste-dumping Malon, the duo debate which of these original creations worked, and whether any of them would ever be worth revisiting in the future. Plus, as an added bonus, the hosts jump over to a galaxy far, far away in order to provide their non-spoilery thoughts on Solo: A Star Wars Story.

Star Trek VOY: Basics
Star Trek VOY: Scorpion

Star Trek vs. Star Wars

Join us next week as we go head-to-head drafting the perfect Trek crew!

Thursday, May 24, 2018

#193 - STAR TREK VOY: YEAR OF HELL

Regardless of overall quality, it's tough to argue against the inherent strength of Voyager's central premise. A crew lost in the wilderness trying to find its way home while overcoming adversity both internal and external? Bursting with dramatic potential! And although most regular episodes fell short of exploiting this concept, the two-parters were another story. This week hosts Cam Smith and Tyler Orton, along with special guest Janine Smith, stare longingly at their antique pocket watches while revisiting the tremendous Year of Hell saga, arguably Captain Janeway's most punishing and traumatic challenge as a leader. In addition to breaking down the well-known story elements of this hard-hitting fourth season highlight, the trio also discuss Annorax's similarities to classic Bond villains, the series' woefully underexplored Tuvok/Seven dynamic and the alleged sexiness of Tom Paris. Enjoy!

The Bad Boys of Star Trek

Star Trek's Most Iconic Moments, Part I
Star Trek VOY: Basics
Star Trek VOY: Caretaker
Star Trek VOY: Future's End

Star Trek VOY: Scorpion

Join us next week as we showcase the Delta Quadrant's most memorable aliens!

Thursday, May 17, 2018

#192 - DOES STAR TREK HAVE A PREQUEL PROBLEM?

Although there's been plenty of new Trek adventures over the last 15-plus years little attempt has been made to properly develop a future beyond Nemesis, which hit theatres waaaaay back in Winter 2002. Is this a cause for concern? This week hosts Cam Smith and Tyler Orton, along with special guest Taylor Ramone of Vancouver's premiere nerd bar Storm Crow, analyze the franchise's ongoing obsession with prequel storytelling, which began with the (post-Phantom Menace) launch of Enterprise and continues to this very day with Discovery. By continually looking backwards are those overseeing the franchise still able to spin vital and exciting tales befitting the brand? And how successful have the two most recent series, along with J.J. Abrams' Kelvin-verse movies, been at properly leading into or evoking the classic episodes and films set further down the timeline? Plus, the trio offer their hopes for where they'd like to see Star Trek go if it ever manages to journey past the 24th century.

Right-click to download!

Or, you can beam on over to iTunes or Stitcher Radio and subscribe to the show! Leave a review while you're there!

Join our Facebook page for exclusive content such as videos and bonus episodes!

And you can also follow us on Twitter and YouTube!

Send any other questions, topic ideas or feedback to subspacetransmissionspod@gmail.com!

Related Podcast Episodes:

Star Trek: Discovery: Best First Season Ever?
The Weirdest & Wildest Trek Spin-Offs That Never Were

Star Trek 2009

Join us next week as we relive the Year of Hell!

Wednesday, May 9, 2018

#191 - WHY TREK NEEDS ACTORS LIKE JEFFREY COMBS

Since the franchise's earliest days there's been a proud tradition of recycling character actors under heavy alien makeup. And while many proud individuals have inhabited multiple personas, nobody's done it better than Mr. Jeffrey Combs. This week hosts Cam Smith and Tyler Orton undergo several costume changes while taking a look at the actor's many unforgettable creations, from modest early beginnings as a pervy creep in the DS9 episode Meridian, to fan-fave icons Weyoun and Shran. In addition, the duo also celebrate the contributions of Combs' fellow 'Men & Women of a thousand Trek faces' including J.G. Hertzler, Vaughn Armstrong, Tony Todd and Susanna Thompson, and determine which species they should portray on Discovery and beyond.

All About the Andorians!

Star Trek's Most Badass Characters

Star Trek's Best Recurring Characters