Ceti Alpha 3: A Star Trek Podcast

S03 EP06 | Orions in the MistIt's Discovery like you've never seen it before! Gimme an A! Break off the nacelles! New comm badges! What does that spell? An episode that combines inter-command conflict with a prison breakout. We continue to learn more about our new and old crew members, see what this new future is all about, and wonder about how Orions and Andorians managed to start working together. What are your guesses about what caused the Great Burn? The trio looks at where we are going and where we have been in this new Discovery review.

S03 EP05 | It’s a Barzan-centered episode for this trio as they see the USS Discovery officially meet the future Federation and go on their first future mission. Is the new Starfleet head a badmiral or a skeptical...miral? Have we stumbled upon a Section 31 representative already? And what else is there to learn about Commander Nhan? Join us for another “Star Trek: Discovery” review episode and let us know where you think this season is going.

Trill, Trill, Trill/Boosting Crew Morale | DSC S03 EP04What happens when a human host, carrying a Trill symbiont, travels to Trill to learn more about their ... Trill-ness? The trio looks at the latest entry from "Star Trek: Discovery" that explores this new character Adira and what makes her tick. There is heart, romance, and mystery -- and then they look at Captain Saru and Dr. Culber trying to boost crew morale and invent the role of ship's counselor. What do you think is going on with this crew (and the ship's computer), and what can be done to help?

Captains of Diplomacy | DSC S03 EP03The U.S.S. Discovery arrives home ... kind of. Future Earth gives the crew a rude welcome, a decision must be made about the captain's chair, and the show gets a new crewman. This episode also serves as an opportunity to examine other Starfleet captain's diplomatic skills. From Archer to Kirk, Picard to Janeway, Sisko to Saru -- what opportunities have these leaders have to show what abilities they have? Let us know which captain has the highest "diplomatic ranking."

Episode Review | DSC S03 Ep 02Discovery is back! The ship and non-Michael crew, that is. It's time to see how they've survived the 950 year trip into the future. The trio looks at Saru's leadership skills, how much of this episode is a "space western," and try to predict what is to come for rebuilding the Federation.

What is the Federation? | DSC S03 Ep 01. Michael Burnham falls back into our lives as “Star Trek: Discovery” begins its third season ... and it’s into an unknown future. The trio review “That Hope Is You, Part 1” and then look into the question that the episode poses - what is the Federation? What could topple it? What could save it? Let us know what you think about the feasibility of the United Federation of Planets surviving for centuries.

"No Small Parts" - Star Trek: Lower DecksThe first season of Trek's second animated series comes to an end - and there is a lot jammed into it! The episode begins with an unexpectedly serious turn of events and soon the ensigns of the U.S.S. Cerritos are facing some life-changing events. What did you think of this season finale, and now that one season is in the bag, what do we think about "Lower Decks" overall?

Crisis Point - It's movie time! Grab the popcorn and soda (in the safety of your living room) and join the trio as they talk about the newest entry into the Star Trek feature film pantheon, thanks to Beckett Mariner. There are lots of gags and references to Trek films, both recent and older, that help bring this episode to life. Most of the characters have a moment to reveal a little more of themselves - and the surprise ending sets up the next episode, the season one finale. Let us know your favorite moments!

"Star Trek: Lower Decks" - VeritasThe trio is joined by Aaron Harvey of the podcast "Infinite Trek" to talk about an episode that balances individual storylines for our four animated characters. In this homage to "Star Trek VI," what does the perspectives tell us about the four ensigns and how does a hidden balloon explain everything? Let us know your favorite moment.

“Much Ado About Boimler.” The first season of “Lower Decks” is almost over ... and is their potentially some character development afoot? The trio is joined by Sue from the Roddenberry podcast “Women at Warp” to look at Mariner battling alongside an Academy friend - what has Beckett lost by clinging to her single pip with a death grip and not pursuing that captain rank? We also take a trip to The Farm with Boimler and Dog. What references did we miss? And how could more Rutherford be added to this episode?

"Lower Decks" - Terminal ProvocationsIt's "danger in the Holodeck" time - so the trio is joined by Jessica from "Time & Space: A Doctor Who Podcast" to tackle Badge-y and a maniac new-to-use ensign. From the "Chu Chu" dance to learning how to stay diplomatic with aliens, this latest episode from "Lower Decks" throws a lot at the audience. What were your favorite moments?

Lower Decks - "Cupid's Errant Arrow"Love is in the ventilation system - and Mariner's suspicions about Boimler's girlfriend lead to (predictable?) hijinks, whilst Rutherford and Tendi look at the grass being greener on another starship. The trio is joined by Sabriel of the "Transporter Lock" podcast to talk about the latest shenanigans onboard the starship Cerritos. As the series reaches its season one midpoint, has the tone been established? What do we think of the characters? And what would Star Trek: Saved By the Bell look like? Let us know what jokes you enjoyed the most in the latest "Lower Decks."

Moist Vessel. The animated Cerritos engages in its first sister-ship mission that involves a promoted Mariner, a spastic Tendi, and an almost non-existent Rutherford (boo!). The trio is joined by Char to see how the characters are (or are not) moving along, our favorite jokes, and how we could “punch it” with some of the storylines.

Lower Decks Review - "Temporal Edict""Star Trek: Lower Decks" gets comfortable this week with its usual A and B "Ship Story" and "Planet Story." The former finds the lower decks "buffer time" policy going awry, whilst the Cerritos' first officer and Ensign Mariner tangle with conflicting ideas about protecting the crew. Grace, co-host of the "Women At Warp" podcast joins the trio to look at the jokes, characters, and all things animated in this third episode of the newest Trek series. What was your favorite moment?

Envoys. There's a history of new Star Trek series hitting a bump in their second episode. Once all the characters have been introduced in the first episode, we know have to let them journey on their own. Does "Star Trek: Lower Decks" succeed in its second outing? The trio is joined by Robyn of the podcast network "Black Girls Create" to talk about the continuing adventures of the U.S.S. Cerritos ensigns. We explore the ship's various departments as Rutherford keeps changing uniforms, and we get more planetside antics with the wild duo of Boimler and Mariner. What were your favorite moments?

Star Trek: Lower Decks, S01E01Welcome to the newest Star Trek series! It's time to shuttle aboard the California-class U.S.S. Cerritos and meet the ... ensigns. The trio is joined by Trek podcast veteran Drew Stewart to look at these new characters, the tone and pacing of the show, and what our favorite jokes were. What did we like? What did we love? And what are we looking forward to improving in the next nine episodes of season one? Let us know your stand-out moments from this first episode of "Star Trek: Lower Decks."

An Animated Series Sample. “Star Trek: Lower Decks” becomes the second animated series in the Trek franchise. So let’s look at the first! “Star Trek” The Animated Series lasted two seasons (or a season and half...). The trio share their reflections on the last two episodes of TAS, “How Sharper Than a Serpant’s Tooth” and “The Counter-Clock Incident.” How did this ‘70s cartoon set the stage for 2020’s Trek cartoon?

Favorite Secondary Ship As we begin adding new series to the Star Trek franchise, the trio does a round-robin pick of their favorite ships in each series ... that's not the "main ship." Darren, Daniel, and Phillip look at every series, from the Original Series to Picard, and pick a ship that stands out to them. Whether it be Romulan, Klingon, or Starfleet, they look at the vessels that brought something new to the franchise. Let us know if we picked your favorites or if you have a different group of favorites!

Episode in Focus: “Lower Decks.” The concept of a “lower decks” episode or series in Star Trek began in the last season of Next Generation. The trio look at the story that began it all - four young ensigns on the Enterprise-D trying to get that extra pip. This unique perspective helps shed new light about life onboard a starship. What’s your favorite moment?

Pon FarrLet's talk about sex ... Vulcan sex, that is. The concept of the seven-year mating cycle was introduced in The Original Series episodes "Amok Time." Spock, however, is not the only Vulcan character in the Trek franchise, so it was inevitable that this taboo topic would be touched on in subsequent series. The trio looks at two incidents - Subcommander T'Pol in the Enterprise episode "Bounty" and Ensign Vorik & B'Elanna Torres in the Voyager episode "Blood Fever." What new information do we get with each outing? Does this add anything to the Vulcan story? How do the episodes treat this vulnerable time? Join in this respectful discussion about Vulcan sex, and let us know if you have a particular favorite episode or moment.