Transporter Room 3: The Star Trek Podcast

And we're back with a look at one of Star Trek: Voyager Season 1's best -- "Faces," aka the episode where B'Elanna Torres gets split in two and that guy Lt. Pete Durst gets what he's had coming! (OK, not really on that last part.)But before that, we take a quick detour to discuss a few weird Star Trek movie plot holes that we never really noticed before. Are there more that you can think of? Hit us up and we'll talk about them on the next episode!

TrekCore's Ken Reilly joins us to discuss the news that Starfleet Academy has been cancelled. Caleb and his fellow cadets have one more season left, so we unpack what led to the show's abrupt end... and what might be in store for Star Trek’s future. If it even has a future, that is.So get in your school that's also a spaceship and blast off for the latest TR3!

This week, Transporter Room 3 beams up our review of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy's freshman season finale, "Rubincon." And, nope, that's not a typo.Ake (Holly Hunter) struggles through a very chatty tribunal, while the rest of the cadets must save the Earth in a way that, if we were them, we'd expect to skip a few years and go straight to graduation (zing!).A trip to the Replimat and a TNG Red Shirt are also in order, so get comfy in your Captain's chairs and listen now!

This week, we review Jonathan Frakes' intense Starfleet Academy episode, "300th Night." The penultimate episode of the season features Caleb's reunion with his mom, lots of punching and, of course, a wall of space mines. But, is it good? Listen to find out.We also walk on over to the Replimat for some movie picks and eulogize another Red Shirt from The Original Series. So watch out for the Omega particles and listen now!

Welcome back to Transporter Room 3, as we delve into the mid-season Starfleet Academy episodes "Come, Let's Away," "Ko'Zeine," and "The Life of the Stars" -- aka the one with the USS Miyazaki, the one with the wedding, and the one where Tilly comes back!We also pay tribute this week to a lost soul from the Dominion War. Plus, Phil's dog pays us a visit, so be sure to listen now!

And the Starfleet Academy train (shuttlepod?) keeps on rolling (flying?) as we jump in to talk about Episodes 4 and 5, "Vox in Excelso" and "Series Acclimation Mil," aka the one with the Klingons and the one with... well, that's a spoiler, actually.Suffice to say, you do NOT want to miss this episode of TR3, as special guest star Ken Reilly from TrekCore returns to dig in on a wormhole-sized Trek event. So cook up some gumbo, put on your Niners uniform, and listen now!

And we're back with a review of the third episode of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Season 1, "Vitus Reflux, "as Caleb, Darem, Genesis and the rest of the cadets find themselves up against those jerks over at the War College... and yes, that does include Tarima, the Betazoid with the mysterious power inhibitor...Speaking of which, we talk about the question many of you have been asking -- are Betazoids empaths or telepaths or all of the above? We also hit the Replimat for some Cold War fun and we have a really good Red Shirt from DS9!

New year, new episode of TR3! And a new Star Trek show, Starfleet Academy. So what did we think of it? You literally won’t believe Phil’s review...We also visit the Replimat for some Rage virus to go with our hot earl grey teas. So take off your Starfleet-issue boots, get extra comfy in your captain’s chairs, and listen now!

It’s Christmas, Romulan style!A review of Star Trek: The Next Generation’s riveting “Face of the Enemy” wraps Transporter Room 3 for the year. We also unpack the original idea for this episode and why Troi was ultimately selected to pose as a Romulan to help her enemy smuggle some defectors into Federation space.As Spock once said via Christmas ornament: “Happy holidays. Live long and prosper.”

This week, we mourn the loss of nuTrek, as Variety unceremoniously announced in an article about Paramount’s new (and problematic) leadership that the J.J. Abrams era of Star Trek seems to be no more.The studio is reportedly moving on from Chris Pine’s Kirk and into, well, darkness. So we revisit the three films from the Kelvin Timeline, what worked, what didn't, and why Hollywood is closing the door on this chapter from the Final Frontier.

And now, the conclusion… of our deep dive into Star Trek’s first three-part episode arc ever, wrapping up with DS9’s “The Siege.”This week, Kira and Dax get their Top Gun on while Sisko, O’Brien and Odo play Die Hard on the station. Does this 32-year-old episode still hold up? You’ll have to listen to find out.We also recap New York Comic Con and the new, cool toys coming from Nacelle. And yes, we have a Red Shirt. So snack on a palukoo and listen now! 

Sisko and Odo work to stop a coup in “The Circle,” the second episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine’s three-part Season 2 premiere, and we have another commentary track for you!This week’s TR3 is full of behind the scenes trivia — from the first appearance of Sisko’s baseball to the typo in the opening credits and much more (interesting, we hope, stuff). Listen now!

The first part of DS9’s three-part Season 2 premiere, “The Homecoming,” gets the review treatment this week on TR3.After we unpack Kira and O’Brien’s mission behind enemy lines to free a legendary Bajoran figure, we take a trip to the Replimat and hold a Red Shirt funeral. So get your hasperat and listen now!

Captain Pike and the crew of the Enterprise are back in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3 - and we have our spoiler-filled review of the first two episodes.We’ve seen the first 5 episodes and… well, we have some opinions - but no spoilers beyond Episode 2. To find out what they are, listen now!

With the sad passing of actor Harris Yulin, who played the Cardassian Aamin Marritza in Deep Space Nine's "Duet," we're going back to rewatch the classic Season 1 episode. Yulin's performance is one of the greats of Star Trek, and alongside Nana Visitor as Kira, the pair gave us an unforgettable hour of Trek.We also discuss the cancellation of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and why Paramount+ announced it now with two and a half seasons still to go...

Our pal Justin Bolger beams on down once again as we wrap up Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's Season 6 opening Dominion War arc with our reviews of "Favor the Bold" and "Sacrifice of Angels."Sisko's finest hour, and Star Trek's biggest space battle at the time, conclude one of sci-fi TV's greatest episodes ever. 

This week, to paraphrase Martok, we give our one good eye to review Star Trek: Deep Space Nine’s next two installments of the Dominion War arc: “Sons and Daughters” and “Behind the Lines.”Justin Bolger returns to boldly go with us as Worf struggles to re-connect with his estranged son while fighting the war, Klingon-style. We also go behind the lines of “Behind the Lines,” a.k.a. The One Where Dax Adds Another Phaser Power Cell to the Collection as Odo gets way too close to a Founder.“Glory to you, and to the empire!”And for those who want to learn more about the Dabo girl actress who helped catch a real-life serial killer, follow the link!

This week, as promised, we revisit Deep Space Nine’s Season 6 Dominion War arc - with special guest, friend of the pod Justin Bolger!Trek’s first serialized storyline ever, which fittingly kicked off DS9’s sixth season with a run of six consecutive episodes, begins with the action-packed “A Time to Stand” and Ron Moore’s riveting “Rocks and Shoals.” So power up your stolen enemy spaceships and listen now!

Even though Section 31 only appeared/was mentioned in three Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episodes, the shady institution made a considerable impression on both fans and the franchise.With the Section 31 movie now streaming, this week we look back at the origins of Starfleet's morally-flexible spy service and its overall role in the franchise by revisiting its early appearances on DS9. We also discuss how Star Trek: Enterprise teased Section 31 in two very underrated episodes. So watch out for Sloan and listen now to TR3!

This week, we celebrate Star Trek: Voyager’s 30th anniversary with a commentary track for “Caretaker, Part I” that’s filled to the brim of the Delta Quadrant with behind-the-scenes trivia. (Want “Part II”? Check out our Patreon!)We also offer our two cents on Star Trek: Section 31. (Spoiler: It stinks!) So pour yourself a cup of Janeway’s coffee and listen now.

That's right, Star Trek: Lower Decks has come to an end, with the final episode of Season 5 now out there in the multiverse. Phil and Scott look back on the end of an animated era, while also delving into the guest-star-filled last few episodes.We also reminisce about Star Trek: The Motion Picture, which just turned 45 years young. ("I feel young," the movie said, not realizing it was quoting its own sequel!) So get ready to steal your co-worker's job, and listen now!(And by the way, here's that TMP mobile set that we discuss.)

"It was... fun." Star Trek: Generations turns 30 (!) years old this week (on Nov. 18) and Scott and Phil can't believe that or the fact that we didn't mark the occasion by doing our usual joke/reference to Checkov and Kirk's "No, you were younger" exchange.But what we did do was mine the memory banks to repost our fascinating Generations commentary track, recorded with our good friend Matt Fowler. Here, we break down the making of the first Star Trek: The Next Generation movie and the first encounter between Captains Kirk and Picard.Speaking of Captain Kirk, we also passionately weigh in on Jim Kirk's resurrection-ish in the new "Unification" short film. Also, we celebrate the career and life of another Star Trek great that recently passed away, Tony Todd.

In honor of Star Trek's Jeri Taylor, we look back on her landmark career and revisit some of her most memorable episodes of The Next Generation and Voyager. She helped bring Spock to Picard and introduced audiences to Captain Kathryn Janeway, and both the franchise and its fans are all the better for it and her considerable contributions.

Phil is vacationing on Rura Penthe (again), but we have a very special guest this week to make up for his absence! You may know Jon Lovett from the podcasts Pod Save America and Love It or Leave It, and he's beaming into TR3 to talk about the special Trek the Vote event he's hosting on Wednesday... as well as his Trek fandom, of course. He even picks a Red Shirt of the Week, so ready your arguments for what the best Trek movie is, and listen now!

Hell hath no fury like a Ferengi scorned. This week on TR3, we revisit “The Battle” from TNG’s first season. It has mind-altering devices, the Stargazer and LOTS of 1987 flame effects. But is it any good? You’ll find out. We also beam down to the Replimat and launch another Red Shirt into space. So put your derelict starships in park and listen now!

Star Trek Prodigy aired its second (and potentially final) season on Netflix in July and we finally got a chance to put it in our eyeballs. Check out our review of another fantastic season of this charming show, one of Trek's best. We also recap the big Star Trek news out of Comic-Con and Vegas before committing another Red Shirt to their photon torpedo tube. So put on your best Wesley Crusher sweater and listen now!

Riker himself, Jonathan Frakes, beams down this week to discuss all things “All Good Things…” (See what we did there?)Frakes shares his experience working with the late director Winrich Kolbe while filming Star Trek: The Next Generation’s landmark series finale, as well as what it was like to put on Admiral Riker’s grey hair and beard, not to mention what it was like to shoot that final poker scene (and recreate it on Picard.) There are some great behind-the-scenes stories here that you don’t want to miss!

With Star Trek: Discovery officially wrapped, TrekCore.com's Ken Reilly beams down to review Disco's series finale and the show overall. Find out what we liked about it and what we struggled with, and we also give our two cents about how effective that epilogue was. And then the three of us take a stroll to the Replimat before offering up another Red Shirt casualty - this time from the Mirror Universe. So power down your spore drives and listen now!

"I don't know how, or why, but I am moving... back and forth... through time."That line reading from "All Good Things..." has been echoing in our heads for 30 years and today on Transporter Room 3 -- we have the actor who said it: Sir Patrick Stewart. Captain Picard beams on down to share behind the scenes memories of making Star Trek: The Next Generation's series finale, "All Good Things..." Stewart shares what it was like directing TNG's penultimate episode before appearing in nearly every scene of its last, while also telling a story we've never heard before about the making of "A Fistful of Datas." So stop running around in your pajamas and bare feet and listen now!

With Star Trek: Discovery in its fifth and final season, Transporter Room 3 beams down with a snapshot review of the first four episodes so far. We discuss what’s working, what could work better (another MacGuffin puzzle plot, really?), and what we thought of “Face the Strange” going full time travel.Listen now and also take a trip to the Replimat with us for some 1999 Steven Soderbergh, a ballerina vampire, and a Red Shirt from Disco!

Direct from Star Trek: The Cruise, Denise Crosby herself beams into Transporter Room 3 for a wide-ranging chat. We discuss how the Tasha Yar actress got her start in the industry, what it was like growing up with the famous "Crosby" name, why she left Star Trek... and how she's still with Star Trek after all these years! This is a good one, guys. Don't miss it!

This is a big one. Direct from Star Trek: The Cruise, Pavel Chekov himself -- Walter Koenig -- beams in to Transporter Room 3 for a frank discussion about the ups and downs of the Star Trek life. You don't want to miss this one, folks! We were never that young!

Direct from Star Trek: The Cruise! This week, Saru himself - the talented Doug Jones - beams down to Transporter Room 3 and Scott kinda makes him cry, in a good way. Jones takes us behind the scenes of his impressive career, from working with Guillermo del Toro to boldly going onboard Discovery. This is one (sometimes emotional) interview you don't want to miss.

For its 35th anniversary, we're revisiting Star Trek: The Next Generation's "TheMeasure of a Man" -- an all-timer episode of both TNG and all of Trek. It's the one where Picard battles Riker to defend Data's right to be, well, Data. Is he a person, or property? It's a classic Trek-ian argument played out here to courtroom drama perfection, in an episode that holds up especially well after 35 years -- BUT, it's an episode that Gene Roddenberry almost killed. Why? Listen now to find out!

*In vintage TNG trailer for next week’s episode voice* This week, Scott and Phil beam down to the USS Pegasus to help Will Riker retrieve a dangerous cloaking device. Will we succeed before the Romulans catch us? Find out on an all new episode commentary on Transporter Room 3!That’s right, we’re visiting TNG’s Season 7 episode “The Pegasus,” just in time for its 30th anniversary this week. Listen now!

It's a Wonderful Life meets Star Trek this week on TR3, as we take a deep-ish dive into "Tapestry" with another episode commentary. Why didn't Michael Piller like this episode? And who really came up with the story? Listen and find out. We also have two Star Trek VI Red Shirts beaming down for the holidays. So don't mess with any Nausicaans and listen now! And if you want to check out that deleted Marta dialogue that we mentioned, follow this link: https://www.st-minutiae.com/resources/scripts/241.txt

It’s Captain Kirk vs. Commodore Decker vs. the Planet Killer! This week on TR3, we review the classic Star Trek episode “The Doomsday Machine.” We also give our two cents on the recent Lower Decks season finale, with a trip to the Replimat for some movie recs and a stop in the torpedo bay for a massive Red Shirt funeral. So get down to Auxiliary Control and listen now!

ARRRRRRRRRR in Klingon! Join us as we mournfully yell at sickbay's ceiling in honor of this week's review of "Heart of Glory." How well does this Star Trek: TNG Season 1 episode hold up? Listen and find out.We also chat Star Trek: Prodigy heading to Netflix and a lowkey NYCC, as well as take another trip to the Replimat for some vintage Sly Stallone. And, yes, there be Red Shirts here. So stop messing with Geordi's VISOR POV and listen now to a new TR3!

Transporter Room 3 celebrates its 12th anniversary this week (*toasts glass of Kanar*) with another Star Trek episode commentary: “Charlie X.” It’s Captain Kirk vs. a 17-year-old orphan who can vanish sparring partners like Sam (RIP) or disappear a woman’s face with his mind. We have all the behind-the-scenes trivia you could ever want about the episode, so listen now!

Mariner, Boimler, Rutherford, Tendi and the rest of the Lower Decks crew are three episodes in to their newest season and it may be the best one yet - especially after that premiere episode. We review the new season so far and also have a special guest interview: Author Max Evry beams in to discuss his new book about the making of 1984's Dune (starring a pre-TNG Patrick Stewart!) -- A Masterpiece in Disarray: David Lynch’s Dune - An Oral History.So grab some of Neelix’s troublesome Brill cheese and listen now to the newest TR3!

We have a super-sized, two-part episode on Transporter Room 3, with special guest star and Star Trek creature designer Neville Page. *insert To Be Continued... title card here*With Titan Books' Star Trek: The Art of Neville Page providing a rare behind-the-scenes look into the makeup and creature designs for nearly the last 15 years of boldly going on screens big and small, Page sat down to discuss how he went from designing wheelchairs to working with Steven Spielberg on Minority Report and James Cameron on Avatar, and eventually bringing his unique and amazing talents to J.J. Abrams' Star Trek films.This interview is full of behind-the-scenes bits, so get comfy and listen now! (Also, check out Neville's new book -- if you love Star Trek 2009 and Star Trek: Picard, you're gonna want to add it to your shelves.) And be sure to check our Patreon for Part 2 of the interview...

It’s been a long road, getting from there to here… Happy 250th episode to us!After 12 years (!), we’ve reached this milestone and we’re celebrating with Pike, the Gorn, Sisko and Shatner’s Captain James T. Kirk! This week, we review “Hegemony,” Strange New Worlds’ Season 2 finale, as well as the recent season. We also take a deep dive into the making of one Deep Space Nine’s best episodes with our commentary track on “Trials and Tribble-ations.” So get comfy, replicate a cup of Klingon coffee and listen now!And watch the Sci-Fi Channel documentary about the DS9 ep right here: https://youtu.be/zc2TJeONGFE

Another classic Star Trek crossover is our topic this week, as Transporter Room 3 reviews Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ “Those Old Scientists," a.k.a. “The One With Lower Decks' Mariner and Boimler.” We also recap Star Trek’s Comic-Con news and pay a visit to the Replimat before a stop at another Red Shirt memorial. So Riker your saddle and listen now!

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is back and we have our review of the Season 2 premiere, “The Broken Circle.” And Batman and Indiana Jones join us in the Replimat this week, with a Red Shirt from Voyager. So clear all moorings and listen now to TR3!

This week, TR3 beams down to a “wilderness of arctic characteristics” with our review of the Star Trek: The Original Series episode “All Our Yesterdays.” Kirk, Spock and McCoy time-travel into an alien world’s past in the penultimate episode of TOS, and we time-travel to the original story outline for the show and revisit some scenes that didn’t make the final cut. And of course, there’s a Red Shirt and a Replimat trip. So pay a visit to Mr. Atoz’s library and listen now!

Now that we’ve recovered from seeing the Enterprise-D one last time, we’re back with a recap of Picard Season 3 with special guest Dr. Arnold T. Blumberg. Come for our favorite moments of Season 3 (Ro! The Enterprise doing a Tokyo Drift!), stay for Arnold’s stories about pitching Voyager episodes to Paramount - like the return of Moriarty. And Patreon subscriber Tom Paynter pays us a visit as well with his Replimat pick. So beam on down and listen now!

Star Trek: Picard's "The Last Generation" makes TV history, to a degree, in giving the Star Trek: The Next Generation cast a second great series finale. We deep-dive into the making of the episode with showrunner Terry Matalas, along with our review of it. We also swing by the Replimat for some quality movie recs and assimilate us some Red Shirts. So swing by Guinan's bar and listen now!

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's "In the Pale Moonlight" turns 25 this week, so special guest Adam Mallinger (a.k.a. Bitter Script Reader) beams in to talk a compromised Sisko, Garak's dead contacts, Senator Vreenak, and more. Plus, it's time to fan-boy out about the episode's co-writer (and Trek legend) Ron Moore before you beam on over to our Patreon exclusive with Ron Moore where he discusses the episode!

We're back to talk about Picard's BIG penultimate episode, as friends reunite, enemies come into focus, and old favorites return. Plus, what is the creepy Danish TV show that Scott can't stop watching, and just how bad is Patrick Stewart's favorite tea? All that, plus a Red Shirt we'll never forget in the latest TR3!

Wow, wow, wow, it's really happening. Picard Season 3 has got the Enterprise gang back together as promised, and Phil and Scott are diving into every nerdy detail from Episodes 6, 7 and 8. From a trip to not one but two Starfleet museums to a certain Vulcan's return to Beverly and Jean-Luc's new kill-first attitude, we cover it all here!