Subspace Transmissions: A Star Trek Podcast

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!

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Related Podcast Episodes:

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

The Evolution of the Klingons

Star Trek TNG: Birthright

Join us next week as we explore the franchise's obsession with prequels!

Wednesday, May 2, 2018

#190 - THE CURRENT STATE OF TREK 2018

At this time last year fandom was waiting with bated breath to experience its first new season of TV Trek in over a decade. And boy was it exciting! But now that Discovery has finished its inaugural run how are we feeling about the future of Roddenberry's universe? This week hosts Cam Smith and Tyler Orton suit up in vibrant new Constellation-class uniforms in order to hold their annual forum on the state of our beloved franchise. What can we hope to see when DSC returns, and how successful is its recently dropped season 2 teaser at building hype? The duo also check in with the movie-verse, and the two big screen projects currently under development from Quentin Tarantino and S.J. Clarkson, as well as weigh in on potential merch opportunities and more!

The Current State of Trek 2017
The Current State of Trek 2016
The Current State of Trek 2015
Beyond Star Trek Beyond
Las Vegas Star Trek Con 2017 Memories
Star Trek: Discovery: Best First Season Ever?

Join us next week as we hang out with Jeffrey Combs's many Trek identities!

Wednesday, April 25, 2018

#189 - STAR TREK DS9: FAVOR THE BOLD & SACRIFICE OF ANGELS

As a climax to the incredible Dominion invasion arc Favor the Bold & Sacrifice of Angels inarguably left a major mark on the series. But how much credit do they deserve as an isolated two-hour tale versus being key parts of a grander whole? This week hosts Cam Smith and Tyler Orton, along with special guest Waylon Snedker, solemnly pass the baseball around while delving into this spectacular sixth season shakeup, wherein Starfleet battles to take back the titular space station from Gul Dukat and his Dominion accomplices. Does this mark the beginning of the narrative end for the Cardassian villain? Is Sisko being strategically smart or just plain reckless in his dogged attempts to win the day? And what does the death of Ziyal truly mean to the show and viewers? Tune in as the trio break down the themes, concepts and unforgettable moments contained within this crucial wrap-up story.

DS9: Emissary
DS9: The Maquis
DS9: The Search
DS9: Past Tense
DS9: Improbable Cause/The Die is Cast
DS9: The Way of the Warrior

DS9: Homefront & Paradise Lost
DS9: In Purgatory's Shadow & By Inferno's Light

Join us next week as we hang out with Jeffrey Combs's many Trek identities!

Wednesday, April 18, 2018

#188 - WHEN STAR TREK GOES DARK

For all of its beaming optimism and can-do pluck Star Trek loves to occasionally journey... into darkness. This week hosts Cam Smith and Tyler Orton decide what they can and can't live with while exploring the most uncomfortable, grim and challenging episodes in the franchise's canon. From Sisko's dirty dealings in In the Pale Moonlight, to Discovery's Mirror Universe moral murkiness and TOS's eternally warring duo-chromatic aliens, the duo underline the episodes that left them shaken, weary and even a little scarred. And, in reliving these often unpleasant television hours, they ask the fundamental question: do these emotionally draining adventures fit into Roddenberry's utopia?

Time for a Court Martial

Star Trek TNG: Chain of Command

Star Trek DSC: Vaulting Ambition

Hidden Gems of Star Trek

Join us next week as we revisit the DS9 two-parter Favor the Bold/Sacrifice of Angels!

Wednesday, April 11, 2018

#187 - STAR TREK'S BEST & WORST CROSSOVERS

Who can ever forget when the Flintstones met the Jetsons? Or Batman & Robin teamed up with the Green Hornet & Kato? Since nearly the beginning of the TV era crossovers have been a proven means of boosting ratings and injecting energy into a series. And Star Trek has definitely gone to this particular well more than a few times. This week hosts Cam Smith and Tyler Orton take a reflective look at the many times the people in charge of the franchise have attempted to grab eyeballs and generate fan excitement by mashing up their titanic properties. From the Enterprise-D swinging by Deep Space 9, to Sisko's Tribble troubles and Tuvok and Janeway's mind meld tour of Captain Sulu's Excelsior, the duo debate how successfully these attention-grabbing stunts have held up beyond their initial hype. Also, as an added bonus, Cam reviews IDW's new Stamets-centric Discovery double-sized annual.

Best & Worst Fan Service Moments

Star Trek: Generations

Star Trek TNG: Birthright
The Evolution of Q

Join us next week as we delve into Trek's darkest hours...