Spinning cubes in space, tense, sweaty close-ups, massive ship shakes, a bald hobbit with a funny voice – MAN! This episode has EVERYTHING!

Join Tim and I as we discuss not only Janice Rand’s unreasonably strong desire to make coffee in the middle of a crisis, but also the truest tests of character and the value of mercy.

For those of you confused as to why we’re doing the tenth episode of TOS third, we are going in production order. We hope you enjoy it. Let us know what you think!

For those of you expecting a TOS commentary, our apologies. We had a big ol’ computer malfunction. For those of you who weren’t, our apologies. This episode of TNG has some big ol’ malfunctions of its own. But the commentary’s good!

The Seven Deadly Sins don’t sound like a very interesting topic to most people (unless you’re David Fincher) and they surely are not intended as a theme in this episode. But, when we jokingly discussed the possibility of looking for the infamous list of transgressions in this TOS homage/sequel, we were surprised to actually find them. We’ll talk about where the Seven Deadly Sins come from, why they’re not what you might expect and whether this archaic idea has any relevance for today’s Christians. Also, Worf needs a hug.

We’ll be talking about the interesting common element among the premier episodes for almost every Star Trek series, the relationship between command and compassion and what qualifies a being to be called God. In this iconic episode, the innate attraction of divine power is at war with human nobility and brings Kirk to the intersection of compassion and survival.

In this installment, we’ll talk about Q as both a judge and a God figure. Even as he mostly reflects Greek gods or other powerful mythological beings, he also holds strange congruence with Yahweh, sometimes in surprising ways. This episode also covers some of the philosophical core of Star Trek and some of the unusual ways in which the series’ chronology reflects Biblical ideas.

We’ll also be discussing ideas about bondage and liberty, deception and guilt, and why telling someone else what buttons to press passes for “manual” operation in the 24th Century. This episode is full of wonderful things – writers groping for Counselor Troi’s narrative purpose (and sometimes finding it), men in skirts, Miles O’Brien before he was Miles O’Brien and even some good dialogue and compelling performances.

Of course, for us, it’s all about the Zorn.

This episode also features our guest commentator, Beth. We’re really excited about this because, while they were dating when we recorded this commentary, Tim and Beth have just recently gotten married. Congratulations, guys!!

So, join us for “Encounter at Farpoint.” We hope you’ll enjoy the adventure, the romance and the space jellyfish.

We’re launching the series by starting at the beginning – the very beginning – the rejected Star Trek pilot episode “The Cage!” We talk about the earliest days of Star Trek and how “The Cage” sets the stage for so much of thematic underpinnings of the Trek universe.

“The Cage” is a curious creature. It shows us a very different U.S.S. Enterprise – different captain, different crew and even a slightly different version of Mr. Spock – but it also explores many ideas that will continue throughout the history of the franchise. There are great ideas here about humankind’s animal nature, captivity and freedom and the introduction of the Garden of Eden as a recurring symbol in Kirk and crew’s adventures.

We’ll be going through every episode of the Original Series in production order, watching as the series and its philosophical viewpoints develop. As each episode progresses, many of the same ideas and themes are re-stated and articulated in different ways. But it all begins here.

Join me and my First Officer, Tim Van Orden, as we begin our journey. You can download the podcast on iTunes. As always, if you like what you hear, please click the “Donate” button at the top of the UCP website or below. And please share your comments below!

“Code of Honor.” Matt from The Delta Quadrant and Charlynn from To the Journey take over the show to get drunk while watching one of Star Trek’s most racially questionable episodes. – See more at: http://maxhegel.podbean.com/2013/02/28/cts-babies-star-trek-the-next-generation-13-commentary/#sthash.D9xcewsh.dpuf

“The Pegasus” Mike and Max are joined by Adam and Paul of Previously in the Alpha Quadrant to discuss the episode that spawned the ENTERPRISE finale.

Here’s a very special little blast from the past. An episode of Make It So that was recorded in April 2011, and never released. It has spent the last year and a half sat on one of my hard drives, doing absolutely nothing. It’s only right that you guys should get to hear it.

So without further a do, I present to you episode 120 of Make It So.

Tinker, Tenor, Doctor, Spy.

2013 is a new year, so Tristan, Charlynn, and Lorrie kick it off with something new: an episode commentary of “Tinker, Tenor, Doctor, Spy”. Follow along on Netflix or with your DVD as we discuss the ins and outs of the Doctor’s daydreaming experiment.

Welcome Trek Traks, a Star Trek commentary track podcast. This is a podcast where I give a live commentary as I watch an episode of Star Trek. Today I am reviewing Twisted from season 2 of Star Trek: Voyager.

Welcome Trek Traks, a Star Trek commentary track podcast. This is a podcast where I give a live commentary as I watch an episode of Star Trek. Today I am reviewing Parallax from season 1 of Star Trek: Voyager.

Welcome Trek Traks, a Star Trek commentary track podcast. This is a podcast where I give a live commentary as I watch an episode of Star Trek. Today I am reviewing Remember Me from season 5 of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

The Xindi.

This week we take a look at some recent news stories including the Star Trek KRE-O toys and KREON figures being unveiled by Hasbro at San Diego Comic-Con, the smart phone app voiced by Garret Wang for Vulcan Tourism in Canada, the grand slam returning to Star Trek Las Vegas next year, and Karl Urban letting slip the (possible) identity of the bad guy in the next film. Then Colin brings us a commentary track for the Enterprise episode “The Xindi.”

The Big Goodbye.

Holodeck malfunctions became a staple of Star Trek plot devices, and Picard’s Dixon Hill program is the glitch that started it all. In this week’s Trek News & Views, Colin offers up his commentary for this first-season episode, “The Big Goodbye.” Plus, we touch on a number of recent news items including Neil Armstrong singing Scotty’s praise, the La-La Land Records anniversary celebration, ThinkGeek’s tribble slippers and Spock oven mitt, Bruce Greenwood’s thoughts on the secrecy surrounding Star Trek Into Darkness, and Shatner’s new iOS app Shatoetry.

The scientist who developed a weapon that killed 300,000 of Neelix’s people in a war fifteen years ago boardsVoyager, claiming that Neelix is terminally ill.

The Voyager Bunch recorded a review of Jetrel, howover, there was a snafu while recording and the episode was lost. But sweeping in to come our aid are fellow podcasters Mike and Max of Commentary Track Stars. They graciously opted to review of Jetrel for TDQ so we would not have to review Jetrel once again (as doing so would be hard to do as we would have to attempt recreate our conversations and debates). In return The Voyager Bunch will appear on an episode of Commentary Track Stars – Commentary Track Star Babies. In this guesting appearence we shall provide a running commentary for any one of the numerous Star Trek episodes. Be on the look out for that soon.

In the meantime please check out Commentary Track Stars. They’re a great set of down to earth guys with a wealth of content. Most are commentaries either on episodes of various series or films but they have plenty of off topic content for listenters to digest.

“Jetrel” Charlynn and Matt of The Delta Quadrant sit in for Mike and Max in a very special episode of Commentary Track Star Babies. Part 2 of 2.

This week we take a look at some recent news stories including the Star Trek KRE-O toys and KREON figures being unveiled by Hasbro at San Diego Comic-Con, the smart phone app voiced by Garret Wang for Vulcan Tourism in Canada, the grand slam returning to Star Trek Las Vegas next year, and Karl Urban letting slip the (possible) identity of the bad guy in the next film. Then Colin brings us a commentary track for the Enterprise episode “The Xindi.”

A scientific team in the Arctic discovers two mysterious cyborgs, similar to those described by Zefram Cochrane. When they assimilate the scientists and move into space, Enterprise is called upon to find the cybernetic beings and stop them.

“The Ultimate Computer” Max and Mike discuss the state of digital projection

On today’s GFR Steve V. tempts the wrath of his fellow Star Trek fans with his solo commentary over the classic episode “Space Seed,” which introduced the villainous Khan, deliciously portrayed by Ricardo Montalban! Will Steve make the grade or will Trekkers eat him for breakfast??

“Shades of Grey” Mike is joined by Josh and Justin of the Soulless Minions of Orthodoxy to discuss the pros and cons of clip shows.

From Delta Quadrant:

Commander Riker fights for his life in sick-bay after he is infected by an alien parasite while on an away-mission. Dr. Pulaski soon discovers that the only way to save Riker’s life is to force his mind to relive painful memories. (Season finale)

Josh is once again accompanied by his brother, Justin – co host of The Soulless Minions of Orthodoxy – and Mike from Commentary Track Stars for the special episode commentary on the TNG episode Shaes of Gray.

So get out your DVD or stream it through Netflix if you’d like to watch it with us. To sync up just get your counter clock to all zeros and listen for the que to start.

Commentary Track Stars

Delta Quadrant

“More Tribbles, More Troubles” Max and Mike dissect STAR TREK: THE ANIMATED SERIES.

“Take Me Out to the Holosuite” Mike bitches to Max and Melissa about the baseball inaccuracies in the episode.

Yet another race of hyper-intelligent all-powerful beings try to mess with The Kirk. Those glowing brains never stood a chance!

In the middle of an epic space war, the crew of Deep Space Nine decide to play a baseball game. Yup. That’s the entire plot. They play baseball against a team of Vulcans. As one critic pointed out: “I’ve never seen a show jump 1000 sharks before.” Help cheer on Captain Sisko and the “9ers” in this…um…game, with the help of Jeff, Danny, Shane and “Fancy” Dan. And perhaps we can answer the age old question: What IS a “Fancy Dan,” anyways?

*For Netflix users, this is season 7, episode 4 of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

Really? Do you really need me to convince you to listen to THIS episode?

Killer Piglet!!!!

ANOTHER Herman Melville homage, but this time the White Whale is a Vampire Cloud. Seriously.

Ok, let’s all take a break from combating the DEADLY RADIATION POISONING to make fun of Kirk’s old man makeup. Good idea.