Ceti Alpha 3: A Star Trek Podcast

Discovery/Prodigy PredictionsThere's been a taste of both season one of "Star Trek: Prodigy" and season four of "Star Trek: Discovery" so far. Is it enough to guess how both series will unfold in their entirety? Probably not - but the trio tries to speculate anyway! Join us as we try to lay out the stories for our Delta Quadrant and 33rd Century-based crews. What further adventures await the intrepide crew of the Protostar? What will Captain Burnham and her crew encounter? What does the Star Trek franchise offer in 2022? Let us know if we are on the right or wrong track, and what your predictions are.

Title Card Game. The trio takes a break from "new Trek episodes reviews" to play a game. Can Phillip and Daniel guess the title of a "Star Trek: The Next Generation" story merely be looking at the episode's first image? Darren blurs the title cards from several episodes as his co-hosts try to name the right episode -- will they get it right? Will they guess every episode from an entire season? How many shots of the Enterprise-D at warp exist? All these questions and more are answered in this game.

"Star Trek: Prodigy" - Episodes 1-3Welcome to the franchise! The newest Trek series began this month, introducing new characters, new ships, new villains, and a familiar looking hologram. The trio joins in the kid adventure with the accidental crew of the starship Protostar. This prototype vessel with a middle school crew offers comedy, adventure, and an unexpected dark beginning. Let us know what "lessons" you learned, what characters you're excited to see more of, and what you think will happen to this non-Starfleet crew of masquerading cadets.

Star Trek: Lower Decks, Season Two Wrap-Up. With a flash of “To Be Continued…” on the screen, the sophomore season of “Lower Decks” comes to an end. The trio take a look back at the animated journey of the Cerritos this year. From new characters, new pairings, new stories, and new running gags, it seems like this Star Trek show just keeps improving. Join the discussion of what we liked, what we grumbled about, and what we look forward to in season three.

Lower Decks" - I, Excretus. Listening to this podcast may not get you to 100%, but it will give you a chance to laugh at this "Lower Decks" episode featuring references to "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan," the Mirror universe, the TNG episode "Ethics," and much more. This story also brings back a species from the original animated series, as both the bridge crew and our lovable ensigns switch places to test their aptitude. Let us know which was your favorite scenario in the "holo-pod," and how you would score.

"Lower Decks" - Where Pleasant Fountains LieThe Cerritos crew encounters a Ren Faire-class ship that happens to be the home race of the ship's chief engineer - and Jeffrey Combs guest stars as an evil computer. What more could you ask from an episode of "Lower Decks"? Season two continues providing adventures with Boimler/Mariner and Rutherford/Tendi pair-ups, along with misadventures from the bridge crew. Our trio examines the ins and outs of this episode, and what made them laugh. What was your favorite part?

"Lower Decks" - The Spy Humongous​Boimler teams up with a sharp group of red shirts while down on Pakled Planet the captain tries to determine what a Pakled spy would want. This crazy episode shifts around the group pairings and creates fun moments with a recurring foe. Your helmet may not be big enough to listen but we sure you, you're still welcome.

"Lower Decks" - An Embarrassment of DooplersThere's a lot of duplication going on with the Cerritos - and maybe it's the plot lines? A crazy occurrence with the bridge crew provides the background to this episode featuring a Boimler/Mariner misadventure and a Tendi/Rutherford team-up. We get car chases, model-building, and a chance to catch up on some familiar characters and their Number Ones. Are you enjoying the "Lower Decks" formula? Or are you looking for the show to mix it up more? Let us know your favorite moments from this episode.

“Lower Decks” - Mugato, Gumato. It’s time to bring back a TOS-era “monster,” the Mugato! The trio look at his Boimler, Rutherford, and Mariner tackle some “Last Outpost”-type Ferengi and … really earn that “SV” rating. They also chat about Tendi’s sidequest adventure … and the C story we almost forgot about. Is Captain Freeman on course for a promotion? Let us know your favorite parts!

"Lower Decks" - We'll Always Have Tom ParisThey got our e-mails! Or at least listened to our podcasts.Okay, maybe the writers of "Lower Decks" just know what they are doing. But the third episode of season two finally brings "new pairings" for our intrepid ensigns on the Cerritos. We get Mariner and Tendi on a misadventure, Rutherford fighting against finding the truth about Lt. Shaxs', and Boimler crawling thru Jeffries tubes accompanied by his VOY-themed collector plate. There's something for everyone (though the trio disagree about what exactly works) in this episode. What was your favorite storyline? And how did you enjoy the return of Lieutenant Paris (in non-plate form)?

“Lower Decks” - Kayshon, His Eyes Open. The animated adventures of the USS Cerritos continue with the introduction (or even “re-introduction”) of new characters, the parallel stories of the trio on the California-class ship and Ensign Boimler on the USS Titan, and a resolution that may hit the “reset” button for the series. We try to collect as many references as we can in this episode - what were your favorite parts?

"Lower Decks" - Strange EnergiesIt's back! The wacky crew of the starship Cerritos returns in their second season opener with an episode that catches up new viewers and entertains existing fans. The trio look at how a mostly Boimler-less episode holds up, and what made them laugh the most. Did the B story overshadow the A story? How much Captain Freeman/Ensign Mariner arguing is there? And how much do we love the Titan? Maybe enough to blow our heads into space. Let us know what you think of this season two kick-off story!

Phillip, Daniel and Darren discuss what the rest of the core crew members in Star Trek: The Next Generation may be up to during the time of Picard. How might we see these characters and their interactions with the new crew and story coming in Season 2.

David Warner in TrekDavid Warner is an accomplished actor, in both the U.S. and U.K., who has portrayed many dramatic characters, especially those in sci-fi/fantasy genres. He memorably appears three times in the Trek franchise - "Star Trek V: The Final Frontier," "Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country," and 'Chain of Command, Parts 1 and 2' from "Star Trek: The Next Generation." We look at these three vastly different characters of St. John Talbot, Chancellor Gorkon, and Gul Madred and how Warner developed them in those Trek stories.

New Trek Animation. It’s time for season two of “Star Trek: Lower Decks,” and the trio couldn’t be more excited. And waiting in the wings is one the newest editions to the franchise - “Star Trek: Prodigy.” The trio look over the latest news concerning these two animated series. What new characters and stories will we see? How does animation add to the possibilities? Let us know what you’re excited about!

Discovery Season Four Wish ListNew episodes in the Star Trek franchise will begin this fall - and we're excited. It won't be long until season four of "Star Trek: Discovery" drops - and the trio have created a "wish list" for all the main (and not-so-main) characters. What conflict would be like to see for Captain Burnham? Can Lt. Cmdr. Stamets have two job titles? Could Ensign Tilley leave the U.S.S. Discovery? Join us as we imagine what could happen in season four, and let us know your own wish list.

Fan Set Pitches. For those Trek fans who shopped during the “peak” DVD era, we remember the various themes, characters, etc. used to bundle together episodes from across similar and separate series. In the age of streaming, it’s a lot easier to pick a random Trek episode - but what if we could “build” our own playlists? What concepts, common storyline themes, or general characters would we use to “binge” seemingly disparate episodes from the franchise? Let us know which “compilation” we’ve created is the best, and let us know what playlist you would make.

What if ... K'Ehleyr Lived?Two episodes. That's all it took for the half-Klingon, half-human K'Ehleyr to create a lasting impression to Trek fans. The trio thinks she deserved more - so what if she had survived her fatal encounter with Duras and continued her adventures with Klingon politics? We look at what her appearances in The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine would have looked like ... and how much Alexander would be involved. Suzie Plakson's portrayal of the character lends more depth and limitless possibilities to her potential future storylines. The trio imagines her further involvement with the High Council and the consequences of the Klingon invasion of Cardassia. Does she maintain a romantic relationship with Worf? Or does she find happiness elsewhere? Let us know how she would have faired in later appearances in the Trek franchise.

Woman in Motion. We know Nichelle Nichols at Lt. Uhura from the original Enterprise. But after the cancellation of The Original Series, Nichelle began another space adventure - changing the history of NASA. The trio looks at the documentary “Woman in Motion” which chronicles her mission in expanding the diversity of NASA astronauts and opening up space to a broader cross-section of Americans. Learn about the shuttle period of NASA and meet the real life explorers of the “final frontier” from the 70s, 80s, and 90s. This movie opens up a new side of Nichols’ legacy that will live on into the 23rd century and beyond.

Star Trek Series Pitch, Part 2Last episode, the trio pitched a new Trek series set on an alien Starfleet Academy-based campus. The fresh-faced class of cadets, along with some familiar faces as professors, established a series promising adventure and drama. But now it's time to go deeper! The trio looks closer at their characters, fleshes out the world of this Academy (along with a "driver's ed" starship), and looks at what season one would bring. Let us know your favorite characters and what storylines would make "Star Trek: Cadets" a great entry into the Star Trek franchise.