Ceti Alpha 3: A Star Trek Podcast

Trivia and Random RankingsThe trio take a break from hard-hitting, Star Trek analysis for a session of Trek trivia and random rankings. Phillip plays host as Darren and Daniel attempt to answer a slew of questions covering the Star Trek franchise. They also take turns ranking their top four in a variety of off-the-wall categories like Top Four Crew Quarters and Top Four Opening Title Sequences. Join the fun, let us know your rankings, and if you answered all the trivia questions correctly.

The Future of the Enterprise-E. Jean-Luc Picard will return to the small screen in 2020, and fans will get answers to a lot of “What happened to...?” questions. One of those questions is, What happened to the Enterprise-E? Is it still in service? Who’s in command? Was it destroyed? Decommissioned? The trio look at the possibilities and what it could mean to the Star Trek Universe. They also review the latest Short Trek, “The Trouble with Edward.” Let us know if you want to see the Enterprise-E again.

Star Trek Universe UpdatesIt's been a busy fall for the Star Trek franchise! More details have come out about the beginning of "Star Trek: Picard" and season three of "Star Trek: Discovery." The second season of Short Treks has begun, with the initial release of "Q&A," a Spock/Number One vignette set aboard Captain Pike's Enterprise. The trio reacts to all these recent developments and what the future holds for Star Trek in 2020.

Are They Really That Bad? - Star Trek: The Motion Picture. It's the 40th anniversary of Star Trek's first movie - and there are mixed feelings. Franchise fans are glad that TMP led to Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, eventually creating many movies and television series. However, TMP is also the infamous "Motionless Picture." But, is it really that bad? The trio rewatch this 1979 feature film and look at the characters of Captain Decker, potential Badmiral Kirk, a civilian Spock who seems similar to his Star Trek: Discovery counterpart, and everyone's favorite Disco Bones. Do the special effects really take away from the story? Is there an actual story to tell that can fill a movie? And does the enjoyment of the movie depend on how you watch it? Let us know your opinion of TMP and whether it's really that bad.

Building a Star Trek Suicide SquadThere are many heroes in Star Trek, as well as many villains. Then there are those characters who are a bit more grey, or maybe just evil, but who we love to watch. The trio examine which of these characters in the Trek franchise would form the perfect "Suicide Squad." Do you agree with our selections? Who would you also include?

“Episodic” Episodes. ​The Star Trek television franchise has evolved its storytelling format over several decades. In many ways, one can watch episodes of The Original Series in almost any order whilst doing the same with Discovery would cause mass confusion. But what about those truly stand alone episodes? The ones that are either random farces, a fantasy experiment, or just a moment for one or two characters to go on a singular adventure? The trio look at those episodes in the Trek franchise and ask, if serialization is now the way to tell stories, will we miss those episodes as seasons get shorter and stories get tighter?

Command StylesOver the centuries, Starfleet has produced a variety of leaders with a different command styles. How distance are you from the crew? How accessible are you do junior officers? The trio looks at how Archer, Kirk, Picard, Sisko, and Janeway differ in their captain abilities. They examine the pros and cons of each leader from the perspective of a young ensign serving under their command. Which captain do you think has the best command style?

Proposed “Star Trek: Picard” Cameos“Picard” has already teased us the familiar faces: Data, Seven of Nine, and Hugh will be back on television. The trio dives deep into Legacy Trek for other characters who could show up - the more obscure, the better! Do you agree with their “out there” suggestions? Which unlikely character would you love to return?

In Focus: "Star Trek: Beyond"The trio tackles the third (and final?) installment in the Kelvin-verse film franchise - what is the verdict on "Star Trek: Beyond"? Kirk and company find themselves without a ship and stranded on a planet (much like this podcast!). How does this Justin Lin-directed feature compare to its two previous installments? How do the character pairings work? And does it help your role when your write your own script? Let us know your thoughts (and beyond) on this less-talked about Trek film.

The Picard Primer. There’s a lot new and old fans can do to prepare for the 2020 premiere of “Star Trek: Picard.” The trio sip some Earl Grey and put on their too short robes to discuss the pivotal episodes/movies that help establish this new series. From the Borg to Romulans, and from Seven to Data, there’s a weekend’s worth of bingeing to get in the “Picard” mood. Let us know what story best epitomizes the future admiral’s story.

The Symbols of Trek. The universe of Star Trek offers a myriad of cultures, races, and more. Each of those alien species offers various logos and symbology that makes them unique. The trio looks at those symbols - how well do they represent their respective cultures? And are there hidden meanings? What is your favorite Trek logo?

Star Trek: Voyager's Two-Parters, Edition 1It's a hot time in the Star Trek Universe - the trio talks about their hopes and excitement for the upcoming 2020 Star Trek shows. They also look at the long form storytelling of 1990's Star Trek: Voyager. As with many Trek series, they made use of two-parters to either end/start a season or provide a larger story in the middle of the season. They examine the episodes "Basics," "Future's End," "Scorpion," and "Year of Hell." Were these stories worthy of two episodes or could they have been told another way? And did some of the two-parters leave us wanting more? Let us know your favorite VOY two-parter.

Space Vessel "Deaths"In Star Trek, we mourn the loss of many characters - including those many starships that were sacrificed for the great good. Or were just destroyed by a lucky shot. The trio look at each of the ship "deaths" in all of the Star Trek live action series, and whether they were meaningful or just a cool explosion.Which is your most memorable "ship death"?

Talkin’ Ships, Part Two. The trio continue their in-depth coverage of the main vessels in Star Trek. They cover Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and the Enterprise-E. How do some of these ships separate? Is the runabout more shuttle or starship? Should saucers be circles or ovals? Let us know your starship opinions.

Talkin' Ships, Part 1The ships of the line are an oft-discussed topic in Star Trek - the trio look at the "hero" ships from "Enterprise" to "The Next Generation." What is that makes the NX-01, the NCC-1031, the NCC-1701 (in its several incarnations), and the NCC-1701-D stand out? From the outside in, Darren, Daniel, and Phillip talk about what these futuristic ships do to bring our imagination alive. Which is your favorite Starfleet vessel?

Alien Introductions. The trio begin a new series - focusing on the introduction on now-familiar alien species. In this inaugural installment, the trio look at the first episodes featuring the Klingons ("Errand of Mercy" TOS) and the Founders ("The Search, Parts 1 and 2" DS9). How do the "Kling'n's" differ from the ones we've seen throughout the franchise? Commander Kor acts as our first Klingon character, but seems a far cry from those warriors of TNG and DSC. Deep Space Nine introduces the leaders of the Dominion in their season three opener, which will change the course of the series and last until its finale. What do you think of these first episodes? And what changed/kept the same?

The Fathers of Trek, Part 2The trio continue their celebration of Trek dads with a look at TNG, DS9, and VOY. Who were the fathers that really left a galactic mark on their progeny? Let us know your favorites from the 24th Century.

The Fathers of Trek, Part 1. Here in the US, Father’s Day is approaching, so the trio look at the father’s in Star Trek. There is a range of parents, leading many characters to have “daddy issues.” In this first installment, the trio goes thru Discovery, Enterprise, and The Original Series, giving some the award for number one dad. Who is your favorite father in these first three series?

Re-booting Star Trek: CommunicatorThe trio travel back to the '90s and discuss what they would put in the glossy pages of "Star Trek Communicator." They also talk the future of "Star Trek: Picard" and the new Trek game at your local Dave & Busters.

Deep Space 9 Documentary ImpressionsDarren, Daniel, Phillip and Char discuss seeing the amazing What We Left Behind DS9 documentary this past week.