Ceti Alpha 3: A Star Trek Podcast

Star Trek: Voyager at 25"Star Trek: Picard" is the newest entry into the Trek franchise in 2020 - and this year also marks the 25th anniversary of "Star Trek: Voyager." The seven year saga arrived on the air waves on January 16, 1995 and introduced us to characters that we would long remember. The trio talks about their favorite characters, episodes, and moments that would ensure "Voyager" would remain a permanent part of the Trek legacy. As Seven continues her journey on "Picard," what other "Voyager" characters will continue to live on the screen?

“Star Trek: Captains” Story Pitches. As we eagerly await the premiere of “Star Trek: Picard,” the trio imagine similar TV series starring the other captains of the Star Trek franchise. What would “Star Trek: Sisko” look like, as the Emissary of the Prophets travels across time and space? What would Kirk be up to if a series was set after his “death” in the film “Generations”? Join us in this journey of TV series never-to-be and let us know your favorites.

The Star Trek Toys That Weren'tWith the beginning of 2020, the Star Trek franchise is exploding and will no doubt expand their merchandise in the coming year. But what about the Playmates line and all the toys that weren't made? The trio brainstorm what a Founder's Planet playset would be like, a floor mat Discovery bridge layout, and why would be happy with a simple Next Gen quarters for our existing toys. Let us know your idea for the toys that never were.

Trek 2020/Bynars. We all know that 2020 begins a new era for the Star Trek franchise. We will see the debut of new Trek series ("Star Trek: Picard" and "Star Trek: Lower Decks") and the continuation of "Star Trek: Discovery." The trio discuss what they are looking forward to the most and what questions they have. They also examine what little is known of the Bynar species, as introduced in the TNG episode "11001001." As Daniel asks, "Do they make sense?" Let us know any of your New Trek Resolutions for 20202.

René Auberjonois (1940-2019)Star Trek, and the world, lost a good man with the passing of Deep Space Nine's Odo, René Auberjonois. The trio talk about the characters René portrayed and how they evolved and, ahem, changed shape over the years. Let us know your favorite Odo moment.

In Remembrance: D.C. FontanaOne of Star Trek's brightest stars, Dorothy Catherine Fontana (1939-2019), left a lasting legacy for the franchise. Darren, Daniel, and Phillip pick their top D.C.-penned episodes of Trek and how they moved the series forward. From TOS to TAS to TNG and more, Fontana's left an imprint on Star Trek that will guide future generation of writers and showrunners.

Betazed Society. Star Trek: The Next Generation first introduced the telepathic alien race of Betazeds - and we never got much more from them. Certainly the Trois showed up in other Trek series, and an occasional Betazed character would pop up elsewhere. But viewers never learned all that much about the planet, its people, and the society. Daniel, Phillip, and Darren examine what a telepathic species would be like in the 24th century and how often one really has to be naked. What’s your favorite Betazed cultural aspect?

Galaxy Quest"The Best Star Trek Movie!"Whether you agree with that assessment about the 1999 film "Galaxy Quest," there's no denying its deep ties to the Star Trek franchise. Phillip, Darren, and Daniel look at how this movie made fun of Trek while also showing a deep appreciation to the fandom, before that was "cool." What are your favorite "Quest" lines?

Trek Tech Economic Destruction. Fans often speculate about the nature of the 24th century economy and society - but what would happen today? The trio looks at the various bits of Trek technology and how it would affect society if it was introduced today. How would phasers change things? Would transporters make cars obsolete? Would there be a gaming industry if we had Holodecks? Let us know what you think!

Requiem for Data. ​The death of Data in Star Trek: Nemesis remains controversial. Some see it as a logical end to his story. Others see it as a random checklist event that leaves a bitter after taste. No matter your opinion, fans know that Brent Spiner and his android character will be returning to the franchise in Star Trek: Picard. What form will it take? What has happened in the intervening years? Do we all acknowledge B4? Join the discussion as we dive into the legacy of Data’s death.

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.