Episode Reviews Episodes

106
Oct. 27, 2022

Prodigy Mid-Season Premiere: "Asylum" Review

Star Trek Prodigy is back with its mid-season premiere with episode 111, "Asylum!" Join Girafe, Hawk, and Julian as they welcome the show back and break down the latest adventure onboard the Protostar!

What happens when Dal and the team rolls up on a Deep Space Relay Station and request asylum? How does the hidden weapon aboard the Protostar put everything in jeopardy? Why is Dal’s species hidden at Starfleet Command? And finally, what are the ramifications of Gwyn regaining her memories? The S...
105
Oct. 21, 2022

Lower Decks "Trusted Sources" Review

Join the Section 31 contingent of Strange New Pod (Erik, Girafe, and Hawk) for hijinks and chaos as they review and break down the penultimate episode of Star Trek Lower Decks season three, "Trusted Sources."

What happens when a reporter from the Federation News Network comes on board the Cerritos to cover Carol’s new Second Contact checkup initiative? What does Mariner do to finally get thrown off the ship and sent to Starbase 80? And finally, after a sneak attack by the Breen, and Project Swi...
104
Oct. 14, 2022

Lower Decks "Crisis Point II: Paradoxus" Review

With only two more weeks to go before Lower Decks season three wraps up, the show gives us one of its best episodes to date, "Crisis Point II: Paradoxus!" Join Erik, Girafe, Hawk, and Julian as they break this one down.

Even numbers are usually better in the Trek universe! Did that theory hold? What happens when Boimler is hit with some tragic news? Does he find the meaning of life inside his own movie? Also, why is Tendi taking the film so seriously, and what revelation does she find out about...
103
Oct. 7, 2022

Lower Decks "A Mathematically Perfect Redemption" Review

There are only three more episodes of Lower Decks season three left after this week's seventh installment, "A Mathematically Perfect Redemption." Join Erik, Girafe, Hawk, and Julian as they review and break down this divisive Peanut Hamper-centered episode.

This episode is all about redemption….or is it? Does the little Exocomp that couldn’t redeem herself? How many times does she break the prime directive, and what happens when the crew of the Cerritos answers her distress call? The crew does ...
102
Sept. 30, 2022

Fred Tatasciore Interview + Lower Decks "Hear All, Trust Nothing" Review

This week the SNP crew review Lower Decks' sixth episode of season three, "Hear All, Trust Nothing." The Cerritos crew unexpectedly spends a day on Deep Space Nine!

We also welcome Lt. Shaxs himself onto the pod! Fred Tatasciore joins SNP to talk about his role on Lower Decks and his amazing voice-over career.

Plus, the Strange New Loop and so much more on episode 102 of Strange New Pod!

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101
Sept. 23, 2022

Lower Decks "Reflections" Review

We've hit the halfway point on Star Trek Lower Decks' third season! Join Erik, Girafe, and Hawk as they break down and review what is arguably one of the show's best episodes ever, "Reflections."

What happens when Rutherford’s younger self and personality takes over his body? What do we learn about him and his implant? And when Boimler and Mariner are on Starfleet Booth Duty on Tulgana IV, who ends up losing their cool, and why ISN’T it Mariner? The crew has all the answers and more!

Plus, the...
100
Sept. 16, 2022

Episode 100 | Lower Decks "Room For Growth" Review

On this very special edition of Strange New Pod, the crew celebrates the show's 100th episode! Join Julian, Erik, Brittany, Hawk, and Girafe for a night of throwbacks, fun, and of course, their review of this week's episode of Lower Decks, "Room For Growth."

What happens when a senior officer room comes up for grabs on Deck One? Who knows the Cerritos better, Boimler, Mariner, and Tendi, or their arch-rivals, Delta Shift? Also, does forced shore leave work for Rutherford and Billups and their t...
99
Sept. 8, 2022

Lower Decks "Mining the Mind's Mines" Review

Join Erik, Girafe, Hawk, and Julian for another week of Lower Decks shenanigans with their review and deep dive of episode 303, "Mining the Mind's Mines!"

The Lower Deckers are on clean-up duty again, this time helping the crew of another Cali class ship, the Carlsbad, clean up fantasy orbs and tear down a research station. But not all is as it seems on the planet home to the Scrubble. Meanwhile, Tendi begins her Senior science officer training program with…Dr. Migleemo? When things go wrong, w...
98
Sept. 2, 2022

Lower Decks "The Least Dangerous Game" Review

This week, Girafe, Hawk, and Julian review and break down Lower Decks' second episode of season two, "The Least Dangerous Game."

Brad Boimler is a new man…he’s BOLD Boimler? But does he go too far when he lets K’Ranch hunt him? Meanwhile, Ransoms makes Mariner fix a space elevator with him, but when things go wrong on the surface with Billups and Rutherford, does Mariner follow Ransom’s orders or go off mission again? We break it all down!

Plus, the Strange New Loop, news about an upcoming cha...
Aug. 31, 2022

The Orville New Horizons Episode 9-10 Review & Season Wrap Up

Join Julian, Karyn, and Matt for the final episode of their Orville New Horizons three-part review series! Part three covers the following episodes:

309: "Domino"

310: "Future Unknown"

The team also wraps up the season, discusses The Orville's unknown fate, and much more!

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97
Aug. 26, 2022

Lower Decks S3 Premiere: "Grounded" Review

Star Trek Lower Decks is finally back, and the SNP crew is joined by the Borg Queen of Puns herself, Brittany Tomes, who makes her puntastic return to help break the third season premiere down.

How long did it take for Mariner to go rogue? How bad does Captain Freeman's trial look? And why are our lower deckers heading to the site of first contact? Brittany and the rest of the team take a deep dive into the short but sweet season premiere, "Grounded."

Plus, the Strange New Loop, news about our...
Aug. 24, 2022

The Orville New Horizons Episodes 5-8 Review

SNP's Orville New Horizons bonus pod series continues with reviews of the back half of season three.

Join Julian, Karyn, and Matt as they dive into the following episodes:

305: "A Tale of Two Topas"

306: "Twice in a Lifetime"

307: "From Unknown Graves"

308: "Midnight Blue"

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July 25, 2022

The Orville New Horizons Episodes 1-4 Review

Join Julian, Karyn, and Matt for episode one of our three-part Orville review series!

This bonus podcast covers The Orville New Horizons episodes "Electric Sheep," "Shadow Realms," Mortality Paradox," and "Gently Falling Rain."

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Guest: Matt Reppert
91
July 8, 2022

"A Quality of Mercy" Strange New Worlds S1 Finale Review w/ Rhianna Herd

After an amazing freshman season, Strange New Worlds' first run has come to an end with an explosive finale! Join the SNP crew along with one-half of the Duras Sisters, Rhianna Herd, as they deep dive and review "A Quality of Mercy."

What happens when Captain Pike is visited by the ghost of Balance of Terror’s future? How does Captain Kirk factor into the future events Pike inadvertently sets into motion? Can he make a case for peace with the Romulans? And what about that bombshell cliffhanger ...
90
July 1, 2022

SNW "All Those Who Wander" Review

It's the penultimate episode of Strange New Worlds season one, and "All Those Who Wander" Proves to be the series' most divisive episode yet. Join Erik, Girafe, Hawk, and Julian as they review this classic sci-fi horror episode with a tragic and heartbreaking ending.

What happens when the Enterprise responds to a distress call from the USS Peregrine? What shocking and terrifying discovery do Pike and his away team find on board? And what does the team think about that BIG sacrifice at the end o...
89
June 24, 2022

SNW "The Elysian Kingdom" Review + Bernadette Croft Interview

On this special edition of Strange New Pod, the crew welcomes Strange New Worlds Costume Designer Bernadette Croft to the show! Plus, Erik, Erin, Girafe, Hawk, and Julian review the fantastical 8th episode of the series, 'The Elysian Kingdom."

Timestamps:

2:05-30:07: Bernadette Croft Interview - Bernadette shares what it was like attending her first convention at Missions Chicago, her inspiration for the fantasy costumes of "The Elysian Kingdom," and much more. Don't worry, we talk about the r...
88
June 17, 2022

SNW "The Serene Squall" Review

Arrrr, it's Strange New Pod's review of episode 107 of Strange New Worlds, "The Serene Squall!" Join Erik, Girafe, Hawk, Julian, and Erin who makes her triumphant and surprise return to the pod as they break down this amazing pirate romp of an episode.

What happens when former Starfleet counselor Dr. Aspen joins the crew to help find a group of missing colonists? What is her fascination with Spock? And when Pike and Una are captured by an Orion pirate, how do they wiggle their way out of the si...
87
June 10, 2022

SNW "Lift Us Where Suffering Cannot Reach" Review

We are officially into the back half of Strange New Worlds with episode 106. This week, after a comedic break, SNW delivers with its deepest and most powerful episode yet. And as always, Erik, Girafe, Hawk, and Julian are here to break it all down?

What happens when Captain Pike rescues an old flame along with a very important child? Who is at the heart of the conspiracy to kidnap him? And what horrible discovery does Pike make planetside? And how did Uhura do on her rotational shift with La'an...
86
June 3, 2022

SNW "Spock Amok" Review w/ Karyn Brown

Strange New Worlds' first season hits its midway point with the show's most lighthearted and hilarious episode yet in "Spock Amok." With Girafe on an away mission over to Star Trek Discovery Pod, the SNP team welcome Julian's wife Karyn back to the show to help them break it all down.

What happens when Spock and T’Pring swap bodies after a soul-sharing ritual goes wrong? Are Number and La’an able to complete the entire Enterprise Bingo list? Should Chapel and Ortegas be giving relationship advi...
Guest: Karyn Brown
85
May 27, 2022

SNW "Memento Mori" Review w/ Michael Schaus

Strange New Pod celebrates its two-year anniversary with a review of what is possibly Strange New Worlds' best episode to date, "Memento Mori." SNP also welcomes back a friend of the show and Geeks with Kids contributor Michael Schaus to help break down the episode.

Opening up new hunting grounds, the Enterprise is decimated after a surprise Gorn attack, surviving the initial first few attacks thanks to La’an’s previous experience with the vicious hunter race. How was the Enterprise and her cre...
84
May 20, 2022

SNW "Ghosts of Illyria" Review w/ Matthew Kaplowitz

They say good things come in threes, but Strange New Worlds' third episode of its freshman season, "Ghosts of Illyria," seems to be the most polarizing episode among the SNP crew so far. Joining the team this week to help them break this one down: Matthew Kaplowitz from Trek Untold.
LIGHT! We need more light!! Ghosts of Illyria is an awesome Una-centered episode that pays homage to classic TOS episodes "Naked Time" and "The Naked Now," as well as a couple of classic horror episodes. How does Num...
83
May 13, 2022

SNW "Children of the Comet" Review

Strange New Worlds is two weeks in and it's already shaping out to be one of the top Star Trek shows of all time. Join Erik, Girafe, Hawk, and Julian as they review and break down episode 102, "Children of the Comet."

What happens when Pike and the crew find out that the comet they are tracking isn’t just an icy piece of rock? How does Cadet Uhura do on her very first away mission? And which character ALMOST becomes our first tick on the red shirt counter?

Plus, the team fulfill their promise ...
82
May 6, 2022

Strange New Worlds Series Premiere: "Strange New Worlds" Review w/ Jessie Gender

It's the moment we've been waiting for as a podcast for almost two years; Strange New Worlds is finally here, and the team is here to review and break it all down with a very special guest, Jessie Gender!

What is so urgent that Robert April has to order Captain Pike out of his self-imposed exile? Why is Spock naked? How does Pike’s knowledge of his future affect his captaincy early on? And can the crew not only rescue Number One but prevent a planet from making the same mistakes as Earth? Erik,...
Guest: Jessie Gender
81
May 5, 2022

"Farewell" Picard S2 Finale Review

It's another finale edition of Strange New Pod as Star Trek Picard season two comes to a close. Join Erik, Girafe, Hawk, and Julian as they deep dive and break down yet another polarizing Picard finale.

Were Tallinn and Picard able to make sure Renee's Europa mission was launched? Or did Adam Soong kill any chance of a brighter tomorrow? Were Q and Jean-Luc able to reconcile? Who stayed in the past, and who is the Borg Queen on the Stargazer? The crew answers all these questions and many more i...