027 - You stupid cow

This week we discuss: The Empath, Elaan of Troyius, and Whom Gods Destroy Star Trek: Saw What do you do if you have limited resources and can’t save everyone? Low-percentage vs no-percentage Intellect alone is not sufficient Kirk acting in slow motion? Book recommendation – Shadow Divers – don’t get the bends! Star Trek’s Helen of Troy? Stories about things that the stories aren’t about Elaan hit first Tony Soprano is a bad person who does bad things Kirk has bad moments but isn’t a bad guy How was non-slapstick violence received in the late-1960s? Old tropes that are uncommon today Power struggles over resources When does the Prime Directive apply? Warp speed, physics, and suspension of disbelief Baggage when watching Star Trek A Spaceballs connection Litmus tests for how much I enjoy an episode Two Kirks and memories of X-men Pirates of the Caribbean and too much of a good thing Ensemble strength Powerful, yet helpless. Art imitating reality Episodes that are less than the sum of their parts Fan fiction from a simple line The Cochrane Deceleration High-stress turns in space? Planning some competitive trivia