Birthright, Pt 1

Derek is actually pretty right about the trend in TNG two-parters, which is kind of embarrassing and kind of makin' me proud. Granted, I only have so many, "pride in my son" moments left as Derek's 'Trek cred comes to rival my own.

Would Jaglom Shrek is the only Yridian we've met and he'd still be the worst if we met a Yridian corpse in a decaying orbit around a gas giant comprised primarily of farts. What I'm saying is that the Shrek children's book was written in 1990, so he wasn't even the best Shrek in popular media.

Is Data's story good or not? I say 'no' because it undermines Data's growth. It is well-structured and works with the themes of this episode though.

The Beige and The Bold is hosted on Anchor and is available on most podcasting platforms. New episodes are posted on Sunday nights at 9:00 PM CST.

source https://anchor.fm/tbntb/episodes/Birthright--Pt-1-elm38t

The Passenger

I am 100% more compelled by the first five minutes of this episode than the sci-fi idea behind it. Bashir is a legitimately good doctor and has every right to take criticism as validation instead of a humbling gift. I just really like Bashir.

This is the first of a duo of episodes without O'Brien, and so we get Diet Caffeine-Free O'Brien, which is bizarre. I don't think it's a spoiler to say that we to the Starfleet security versus Odo thing but better later in the series. 

Maybe that feeds into the "we forgot how this universe works" thing I've brought up a few times. Like when characters beam into a hostile environment for the first time ever because we forgot that we can scan for that kind of thing in advance, and maybe bring gear if it's bad. Similarly, we kind of forget that Dax and Kira should have staff. But they just...don't.

Also, because we bring it up: does Star Trek have immortality now?

Nine Deeps of Space is a Star Trek: Deep Space Nine watchalong podcast. New episodes usually go up Sunday evenings at 10 PM CST. Episodes are hosted on Anchor, but are available on most podcast platforms.

This episode is a rough edit. I'll post a final edit later this week.

source https://anchor.fm/ndos/episodes/The-Passenger-el8jp4

Dax

I'd be angrier if this episode called itself "Jadzia," because that would have been misleading. We learn a lot about Curzon here, but very little about Jadzia.

Also, where's our feminist compass for this episode? Bashir is clearly creepy for not taking an explicit "no" as a "yes," but his refusal to hit someone (ostensibly) because they're a woman? How the story makes it good that he follows Jadzia? That Sisko wants to punch Curzon, but doesn't punch Jadzia, but only because she's a woman? Trill episodes, to their merit, put gender reckoning into a tailspin so I'm at a loss.

Nine Deeps of Space is a Star Trek: Deep Space Nine watchalong podcast. New episodes usually go up Sunday evenings at 10 PM CST. Episodes are hosted on Anchor, but are available on most podcast platforms.

This is a roughcut episode which will be updated this week.

source https://anchor.fm/ndos/episodes/Dax-ekui30

Tapestry

I know it's a classic, but can we agree that this TNG run has revealed a few hidden gems and a bit too much fool's gold? Look, is old Picard too impulsive or not impulsive enough? Is he altering his character or just a few actions that young Picard is going to retroactively justify? Given that Picard straight up chooses to DIE rather than not be a Starfleet Captain, what's up with later episodes pretending that he might have become an archaeologist? 

I feel like if our lesson is clear then that's fine, but I don't see any message here about coming terms with your past action that isn't just a status quo bias. "You're comfortable in the world your flaws made, so isn't it better to live in this world built on your sin because it's easier?" It sounds insane!

I think Derek nails it; learn from your past, but don't regret or idealize it.

Most importantly: Did he or did he not crack a yo-mama joke to a Nausican?

The Beige and The Bold is hosted on Anchor and is available on most  podcasting platforms. New episodes are posted on Sunday nights  at 9:00 PM CST.

This is a rough cut episode and will be updated later this week.

source https://anchor.fm/tbntb/episodes/Tapestry-ekuh33