Ceti Alpha 3: A Star Trek Podcast

Season Four - Star Trek: Lower DecksThe season four finale of the second Trek animated series provided endings, new beginnings, and some mystery for our USS Cerritos crew. The trio looks at what happened with the unexpected return of Nick Lacarno (and how he looks ... familiar ...), the story arc of Lt(jg) Beckett Mariner, and what the future holds for everyone else. This era of Star Trek tends to have season-ending stories with galaxy-wide consequences, impressive battle sequences, and final answers to lingering questions. Even in the cartoon world, "Old Friends, New Planets" brings that same structure, but with lots of jokes and Trek-references thrown in. But how did we get here? How does "Lower Decks" deal with season arcs, compared to its sister Trek shows? Join us as we search for answers in the 10 episodes long season.This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3169638/advertisement

Main Actors in Other Trek RolesWe all know and love the Trek phenom that is Jeffrey Combs. His many notable Trek roles have led fans to think he may be playing them in everyday life! What is even more noticable about actors who play multiple roles is when it is someone who plays a "main character." A recent "Lower Decks" reminded fans about the Nick Locarno/Tom Paris double-billing. The trio looks at the "main" actors in Trek who have played multiple roles. Remember seeing Ensign Ro before we saw her? Did you know Tim Russ can be seen a few times in the franchise before joining the Voyager bridge? And what about those actors who played "guest roles" after their main series ended?Join us as we see double (or triple) in actor appearances, including a continuing argument about how to count appearances in TNG's "Shades of Gray".This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3169638/advertisement

Creating a Section 31 TV MovieWith the end of the writers' strike, pre-production continues on various new (and current) Star Trek projects. One such idea that keeps popping up from official channels is the idea of a "Section 31" story. From the initial promise of a series to the new evolution of a "TV Movie Event", it remains unclear what this will look like in the end. The trio try their hand at shaping a story that would become a Section 31 TV movie. They turn their attention to Julian Bashir as the central character, with the story set after season three of "Star Trek: Picard." We revisit old faces with Miles O'Brien, along with potential new faces from Section 31, Romulans, and maybe even the next generation from Deep Space Nine. In this thriller surrounding the assassination of a Federation official, will Section 31 finally meet its end?This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3169638/advertisement

Ferengi Federation MembershipIn the "Lower Decks" episode "Parth Ferengi's Heart Place", viewers are surprised to see Grand Nagus Rom (and his wife Leeta) spearheading efforts for the Ferengi Alliance to join the United Federation of Planets. The trio looks at how Ferengi culture does (and does not) fit into what we understand of the Federation.From the extremes of capitalism to the "opportunities" available to Federation members, why should the Ferengi join the Federation? Or is it actually a bad deal?This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3169638/advertisement

Star Trek Toy PitchesFirst, there was Star Trek. Quite quickly thereafter, there was ... merchandise! Trek has been a franchise full of toys for over 50 years. From Mego to Playmates to Diamond Select to Eaglemoss, there have been many manufacturers of Trek action figures, playsets, accessories, and more. The trio looks back at the 90s era of Trek and asks - what would have been other great choices down the Trek toy aisle?This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3169638/advertisement

The Evolution of FandomThe trio are all (on a spectrum...) children of the 90s. They all embraced "Star Trek: The Next Generation" as their first Trek and expanded their love of the Trek franchise from there. They discuss how they entered the fandom and how it evolved over the decades until the 2009 "reboot" movie. Did their favorite series remain the same? How did they get to know The Original Series' episodes and movies? How did they engage with "Deep Space Nine," "Voyager," and "Enterprise"? They also examine the different ways they engaged from fandom, from cons, games, podcasts, and more.This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3169638/advertisement

What If ... All Series Had Season 6 Character Deaths?In the last episode of season six of "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," audiences were in for the shock of their lives - Lt. Cmdr. Jadzia Dax was killed by a possessed Gul Dukat. No one saw it coming, and many fans were left bereft that one of their favorite main characters had been taken away. Whatever the behind the scenes story was of contracts and labor-management negotiations, this meant the final season of the series would be missing one its main stays - and introduced a replacement "Dax" with the character of Ezri.The trio asks ... what if this happened in every Trek series?They look at The Original Series, The Next Generation, Voyager, and Enterprise, determining which "main" character would shuffle off the mortal coil in the finale of a series' penultimate season and how it would be handled with a replacement (or not).This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker

Lower Decks UpdateIt has been a celebration of Star Trek animation this month with the 50th anniversary of "Star Trek: The Animated Series." The trio talks about the state of animation in the franchise, as well as the beginning of season four of "Star Trek: Lower Decks." The current animated series dropped its first two episodes, and not only featured everyone's favorite Intrepid-class starship but also some promotions for our USS Cerritos heroes. Join us for how this changes the Lower Decks universe and what we anticipate for the future.This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3169638/advertisement

Fixing "Code of Honor"It's the worst episode of Star Trek. Or, at least, one of the worst."Code of Honor" from the first season of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" has been written off by most of the cast as a racist, inappropriate episode that should never be included in the series canon again. The trio dips their toes dangerously into the waters of ... could this episode have been saved?This heavily TOS-influenced episode features many cliche elements and unfortunate casts & cultural references that most likely doom this episode, no matter how it was approach. But the trio try to take this 0 to at least a 5 in how "Code of Honor" could have been redeemed with several notable changes.This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3169638/advertisement

Writing a DS9 "Q" EpisodeThe trickster Q bedeviled both Captains Picard and Janeway in his many outrageous appearances. However, there was only one "Deep Space Nine" episode that featured the omnipotent being in "Q-Less", a first season episode that is largely forgettable. It seemed for most that Q just didn't work in the world of Sisko and the tone of DS9 stories. The trio put on their writing hats and tackle another outing for Q on the space station - how could it work in the later seasons of DS9? They look at how Q would interact with the other "god-like" beings of the series, the Prophets (or "wormhole aliens"). Sisko centers his role as the Emissary, as Q joins him in an adventure that examines both the role of the Emissary and the mysterious agenda of The Prophets. This leads to a larger discussion about what the nature of these beings living in the Celestial Temple.This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.c

Megaprojects in TrekIt takes a lot of resources to build a starship - but starships are not the biggest infrastruture in the Trek franchise. The trio look at the mega projects we see in the Star Trek future, from the shipbuilding facilities at Utopia Planetia to moving Deep Space Nine.What does it take the move a starbase from planet to planet, like we see in "Star Trek: Picard"? What about terraforming efforts? All these future endeavours and more may be beyond today's techonogy, but what are the implications in this imaginary sci-fi universe?This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3169638/advertisement

Strange, New Worlds Season Two Wrap-UpCaptain Pike and his crew of the NCC-1701 complete their second season with some very memorable highlights. "Star Trek: Strange, New Worlds" has received plenty of acclaim as the leading live-action Star Trek series, but what's behind these past 10 episodes? From musicals to "Lower Decks" crossovers, what journey and complications did we encouter? What makes this series unique and what does it mean for the future?The trio look back at season two of "Strange, New Worlds" and relive our favorite moments and our questions about what the characters have gone through. So join the randomly reoccuring Jim Kirk on this trip through the latest adventures of the 23rd Century.This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3169638/advertisement

A Look Back at Star Trek: Prodigy, Season 1, Part 2Not since the cancelation of "Star Trek: Enterprise" has a Trek series been in quite the challenge that "Prodigy" currently faces. It completed its (delayed?) second half to its first season, and then, just a few months later, it was removed from the Paramount+ streaming service. While its second season is nearing production completion, the series' future remains stuck in a time anamoly. The trio look back at the last 10 episodes of "Prodigy" to see exactly what mysteries remain to be solved in a second season (wherever it pops up). Join us as we take the form of holographic Janeway, accompanying Gwyn, Dal, Rok-Tahk, Jankom Pog, Zero, and the ever-evolving Murf on their journey back to Starfleet and the "real" Janeway.This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3169638/advertisement

Today's Trek and AnimationWith the "Strange News Worlds" crossover with the animated "Lower Decks", the history of "two-dimensional" Trek took the next step. The trio re-visit the most significant recent moments from the many shows, as well as what's to come. Several trailers and teasers dropped featuring season four of "Lower Decks," upcoming SNW episodes, and a taste of the final season of "Discovery." There's lots still happening with Star Trek in 2023 (and 2024) - what are you looking forward to the most?This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3169638/advertisement

Star Trek: Writers and Actors on StrikeWith the WGA and SAG-AFTRA on strike, there are both immediate and potential future effects on the Star Trek franchise and fandom. With the caveat that these are minor matters compared to the larger issues labor-management issues involved, the trio looks at how current, completed (but unaired), and planned Trek series will be changed. Adding these issues to the current challenges facing Paramount+ (and Paramount, in general) ... it's a strange, new world out there.The trio also share their thoughts about season four of "Star Trek: Enterprise", in light of the passing of showrunner Manny Coto. What were your favorite moments from that time of the show?This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3169638/advertisement

DS9/TNG Crossover - Creating an EpisodeIn the late 90s, we had our first instance of two Star Trek television series airing at the same time. As "Star Trek: The Next Generation" began to end, "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" took its first few steps into the franchise. There were some small crossovers of major characters - with Dr. Bashir and Quark making small appearances with the Enterprise-D, and Picard and "a" Riker showing up on Deep Space Nine (not counting O'Brien and Worf's ultimate transfers to the station). What about a cross-over episode that made more use of our major characters?The trio transport themselves back in time in shaping what an epiosde of DS9 would look like with the appearance of some "major" TNG characters. Spoiler alert - the planned story goes slightly off the rails when it becomes clear that DS9 will be home to a cooking competition between Quark's new replicator and Commander Sisko's "home cooking", along with some familiar faces in the Trek franchise.Join us in this brand new cross-

The Past, Present, and Future of Star Trek StreamingThe Great Trek War begins. Or so it seems.Fans were shook when it was announced that not only was "Star Trek: Prodigy" seemingly canceled (with a season two still hanging in post-production), but that it would be almost instantly removed from Paramount+. Only a few days later, episodes 11-20 of "Star Trek: Prodigy" no longer existed in any format (except for purchase as a digital download on a few services). The trio tackles this debacle, as well as a recent "glitch" that caused season four of "Star Trek: Enterprise" to disappear from Paramount+ for 48 hours in at least the US and UK, as well as a season three episode that remained missing for almost a week.How have we watched Trek in the past? And what does the nebulous future of Paramount and streaming mean for how we'll watch Trek in the future? And what is the future of a franchise in the absence of a dedicated streaming service? Join us as we consider how to watch Trek before the advent of the Eugenics

Previously on ... "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds"It's new Star Trek time!Season two of "Strange New Worlds" begins, as we ended on a cliffhanger last year, and we all await the new adventures of Captain Pike and the Enterprise. The trio revists season one (some of us watching it for the first time!) and go through all the characters and storylines. What made this new live action series such a hit? How does it work as both a new and a prequel series? How does it depart as a "spin-off" of "Discovery"? And were some stories (and characters) ended too soon?This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3169638/advertisement

Creating a New Trek Series: Gamma Station OneIn the wake of "Star Trek: Picard," and fan hopes for a "Star Trek: Legacy" series with the Enterprise-G, the trio create the next 25th Century live action Trek series.They begin with the initial premise of a "Star Trek: Janeway" but quickly find themselves in the Gamma Quadrant, as a new Bajoran space station is completed. This quadrant, formerly dominated by the Founder-led Dominion, is now in crisis. The changelings have disappeared, and the formerly oppressed worlds are now engaged in civil strife. With Starfleet still seeking Bajoran Federation membership, what adventures await our new crew (with some familiar faces) in the Gamma Quadrant?This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3169638/advertisement

Best of ... Star Trek!With the arrival of 300 episodes, stranded here on Ceti Alpha 3, the trio opens up about their favorite scenes from almost 60 years of Star Trek. They span the centuries of the franchise for moments that continue to echo throughout the years. Join us in this retrospective of the Best of Star Trek!This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3169638/advertisement