The Joy of Trek

In the Cards (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (DS9), S5 E25) was recommended by Shay, She/Her, saying:"I love this episode for what it represents. It is the breath of fresh air right before the shit hits the fan regarding the Dominion War. The plot is light-hearted and doesn't take itself too seriously. Even Weyoun gets a cute moment at the end. And after this episode, everything basically changes forever. You don't really go back to these low stakes romps around the station with Nog and Jake once Season 5 ends"Was also recommended by Lauren Rivers who said:When it aired, I didn't think much of this episode. It wasn't bad, by any means, but it has come to mean a lot more to me over the years as it is one of the episodes to feature the friendship between Jake and Nog front and center. In an effort to surprise his father, he and his best friend go through a series of events to acquire a Willie Mays rookie card. Unable to tell anyone why, they must do favors for the senior staff to get what they need. Along the way, they are even captured by the Dominion.What makes this episode so wonderful is not only does it focus on the great chemistry between Cirroc Lofton and Aron Eisenberg, but it also reminds us of how much little things people do can have a butterfly effect. Do they save the universe? No. But everyone in the episode comes out of it a little bit happier, and sometimes that makes all the difference for what comes next. On a personal note, Aron Eisenberg was one of the few celebrities who I felt I knew on a somewhat personal level, and he is one of the few celebrity deaths to hit me as hard as a member of my own family. Any chance to highlight the remarkable talent and spirit that Aron had is a huge positive for me.In the Cards first aired on June 9, 1997, written by story by Truly Barr Clark & Scott J. Neal, teleplay by Ronald D. Moore, and directed by Michael DornJake wants to give his father a present to cheer him up, a 1951 Willie Mays baseball card. He enlists Nog to help him obtain it, but they run into complications with a mysterious geneticist, Dr. Giger. Kai Winn, worried over the prospect of a Federation/Dominion war and its effects on Bajor, meets with Dominion representative Weyoun.The Joy of Trek is hosted by Khaki & Kay, with editing & production by Chief Engineer Greg and music by Fox Amoore (Bandcamp | Bluesky)Send us your recommendations, or support us on Patreon.Find us at joyoftrek.com · Twitter · Facebook

I, Excretus (Star Trek: Lower Decks, S2 E8) was recommended by Chief Engineer Greg, who said: Going mildly mad with power, I wanted to suggest an episode myself.The first time I saw a Lower Decks cosplay, it was a Boimler and a Shaxs together. I had just started watching the show and conventions were beginning to come back in the post-Covid environment. And seeing a Boimler covered in Borg babies was such a delight to see. Lower Decks is the show made of deep cuts to obscure bits of Star Trek lore (Borg Maturation chambers) and also send up of the Franchise. This show is steeped in love for how silly the franchise is, while never getting jaded about it, and even fighting against the more jaded elements you can see when you get too close.This is an episode that openly admits to the workaholism of the Federation and uses it to great effect. It causes the trainer to break down because everyone gets perfect scores, yet Boimler's striving for that perfection. To paraphrase Homer Simpson, "Workahol. The cause of, and solution to, all life's problems."I, Excretus first aired on September 30, 2021, written by Ann Kim, and directed by Kim ArndtA consultant arrives on the U.S.S. Cerritos to run drills that require the lower deckers and bridge crew to swap duties.The Joy of Trek is hosted by Khaki & Kay, with editing & production by Chief Engineer Greg and music by Fox Amoore (Bandcamp | Bluesky)Send us your recommendations, or support us on Patreon.Find us at joyoftrek.com · Twitter · Facebook

Cause And Effect (Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG), S5 E18) was recommended by he/him, who said: All right, I realize we're supposed to recommend the... less than stellar episodes of Trek, but Cause and Effect is a classic TNG episode for good reason. While time travel episodes have been done to death in the franchise, the Groundhog Day loop in this one presents the crew with a genuine mystery that they have to puzzle out, which comes across with slowly dawning horror as they piece the puzzle together and realize that they may have no way out. Plus, it's got a literal banger of a teaser which has yet to be topped :)Cause And Effect first aired on March 23, 1992, written by Brannon Braga, and directed by Jonathan FrakesThe Enterprise becomes stuck in a time loop but the crew retain some memory of previous instances. Guest star Kelsey Grammer as Morgan Bateson.The Joy of Trek is hosted by Khaki & Kay, with editing & production by Chief Engineer Greg and music by Fox Amoore (Bandcamp | Bluesky)Send us your recommendations, or support us on Patreon.Find us at joyoftrek.com · Twitter · Facebook

Inside Man (Star Trek: Voyager, S7 E6) was recommended by Rugger (They/them), who said: When people talk of this episode, they usually say it's a repeat of season 6's Pathfinder, where Barclay is clever but is ignored by Commander Harkins, so Barclay has to prove himself right. And it's two episodes after the Starfleet data stream was hacked by another party, to the detriment of Voyager.Plot-wise, they're right. But the plot isn't why I love this episode.Barclay instantly became one of my favourite Star Trek characters from his introduction as Lieutenant Broccoli, and Voyager made me love him even more. Barclay is the socially-inept, self-doubting genius, and, aside from when he merged with the Enterprise, he has remained in that role.In this episode, awkward Barclay cannot save the day with engineering or cleverness. All he can do is talk. It is a fantastic moment that serves as an excellent capstone on a side character's arc, who found confidence in his engineering, and, after 10 years, in his voice.Also, it is sheer delight to watch Dwight portray two vastly different characters with such zest. Dwight played Murdoch on the A-Team, and that versatility really shows in this episode.Inside Man first aired on November 8, 2000, written by Robert Doherty, and directed by Allan KroekerA hologram of Reginald Barclay is sent to Voyager, supposedly to implement a dangerous plan to bring them home; but the hologram has been tampered with by some Ferengi, who are trying to steal valuable Borg nanoprobes from Seven of Nine.The Joy of Trek is hosted by Khaki & Kay, with editing & production by Chief Engineer Greg and music by Fox Amoore (Bandcamp | Bluesky)Send us your recommendations, or support us on Patreon.Find us at joyoftrek.com · Twitter · Facebook

The Way to Eden (Star Trek: The Original Series (TOS), S3 E20) was recommended by Ria, who said: Listen to the Joy of Trek BrotherListen to the Joy of Trek BrotherStar Trek Episodes Not everybody likesKay & Khaki talk about the joys that they findChief Engineer Greg keeps them both in line.Yea, gay brothers, yeaHello, Keiko and Kai Winn and with just enough Scottish blood to warrant the title, Chief Engineer Greg. This is Ria from beautiful Phoenix, AZ USA where citrus trees abound and it is very easy to become an actual lemon stealing whore if one is not vigilant. If you recognized the little diddy earlier than you probably guessed the episode I'm recommending is TOS 320, the Way to Eden.I grew up on TOS and I always loved this episode without question and it was only within the last six to eight years that I was shocked to find out this is not considered to be a good episode? I wholeheartedly disagree. This is the original Star Trek musical, you have catchy songs that are great to sing along to, you've got purple-haired aliens, aliens with bizarro ears, you've got awesome hippie costumes, a shirtless Charles Napir, Chekov with an old flame. You've got Herberts, fabulous one-liners, you've got the tension between an increasingly mechanized and artificial society and our inherent human desire to remain close to nature. You've got a somewhat nerdy and uptight Captain Kirk, you've got Biblical references, Spock jamming on the Vulcan lyre and showing off his Vulcan hippie side. What is there not to love?So if you're not Herberts, man, and we reach, how bout a session on the way to Eden? It would sound!Do not give up your search for Eden. I have no doubt you will find it, or make it yourselves.The Way to Eden first aired on February 21, 1969, written by story by D. C. Fontana[b] and Arthur Heinemann, teleplay by Arthur Heinemann, and directed by David AlexanderThe Enterprise is hijacked by a criminal doctor and his loyal, hippie-like followers who are attempting to find paradise.The Joy of Trek is hosted by Khaki & Kay, with editing & production by Chief Engineer Greg and music by Fox Amoore (Bandcamp | Bluesky)Send us your recommendations, or support us on Patreon.Find us at joyoftrek.com · Twitter · Facebook

The Vulcan Hello (Star Trek: Discovery, S1 E1) was recommended by Advik Goel (he/him) - Add-vic Go-El, who said: This episode was actually my entry point into the Star Trek franchise, outside of the first of the Kelvin-verse movies, so it holds a place in my heart even if DIS as a whole doesn't relative to other series anymore.Beyond that, I think the debate over the Vulcan Hello and its merits has always fascinated me. The show lays it out as a debate between the Federation's principles of not being the people to fire the first shot in a potential conflict, and a signal which will ensure the Klingons' respect and prevent a war.I think there is something delightfully contradictory about Vulcan and Klingon cultural norms and signals being seen as oppositional to the Federation's doctrine, despite the Vulcan's being core members of the Federation.While Burnham's mutiny is clearly the wrong way to win an argument, I have to question why the characters meant to represent a more typical Federation viewpoint, like Georgiou, are unfamiliar or unwilling to entertain the merits of something like a Vulcan Hello. At least based on what the show reveals, T'Kumva would have been badly undermined if a Vulcan Hello was delivered rather than the perceived disrespect of diplomatic entreaty.The Vulcan Hello first aired on September 24, 2017, written by story by Bryan Fuller & Alex Kurtzman, teleplay by Akiva Goldsman & Bryan Fuller, and directed by David SemelWhile patrolling Federation space, the U.S.S. Shenzhou encounters an object of unknown origin, putting First Officer Michael Burnham to her greatest test yet.The Joy of Trek is hosted by Khaki & Kay, with editing & production by Chief Engineer Greg and music by Fox Amoore (Bandcamp | Bluesky)Send us your recommendations, or support us on Patreon.Find us at joyoftrek.com · Twitter · Facebook

Whispers (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (DS9), S2 E14) was recommended by He/Him, who said: Hello! Tis I, Nerdimus Prime! (Or is it The Derp Prime, we don't know yet, but we will figure it out one day... HUSH YOU, I AM TALKING RIGHT NOW!)In Whispers we se Chief Brien'O once again. And a hint as to why I(we) called him the most Competent in Star Trek.Here we see his investigative abilities. His skill. But remember, he keeps a station with Three Species variations of technology working properly. No Star Fleet Tech Shenanigans!And his troubleshooting skills are exemplified here. He notices a problem, he solves it. As much as the Duplicate is not our Brien'O, he is.Chief O'Brien is simply put, the greatest Engineer in the series. To. Date.Whispers first aired on February 6, 1994, written by Paul Robert Coyle, and directed by Les LandauWhile preparing the station for upcoming peace talks, O'Brien discovers that the crew have been hiding information from him and giving orders behind his back. O'Brien begins to suspect everyone on the station is gradually being altered or replaced by an unknown force.The Joy of Trek is hosted by Khaki & Kay, with editing & production by Chief Engineer Greg and music by Fox Amoore (Bandcamp | Bluesky)Send us your recommendations, or support us on Patreon.Find us at joyoftrek.com · Twitter · Facebook

Breaking the Ice (Star Trek: Enterprise, S1 E8) was recommended by nazzy, she/her, who said: This one is having fun with the show's premise - that these are the first humans to do genuine deep space exploration - as well as a great T'Pol subplot that hints at the fantastic odd-ball chemistry that would develop between her and Trip.Breaking the Ice first aired on November 7, 2001, written by Andre Jacquemetton & Maria Jacquemetton, and directed by Terry WindellLieutenant Reed and Ensign Mayweather extract a rare chemical on a comet while Sub-Commander T'Pol considers marriage to Koss.The Joy of Trek is hosted by Khaki & Kay, with editing & production by Chief Engineer Greg and music by Fox Amoore (Bandcamp | Bluesky)Send us your recommendations, or support us on Patreon.Find us at joyoftrek.com · Twitter · Facebook

The Savage Curtain (Star Trek: The Original Series (TOS), S3 E22) was recommended by Kaleb, he/him, who said: So, other than that Mrs. Lincoln, how did you enjoy the deathmatch?This is always a good episode to sit down with a friend and just take the absolute piss out of; it's an episode that has a strangely high amount of warp cores given how much I like it.The awful Lincoln makeup, mischaracterizing my favorite historical war criminal, and the comment to Uhura (which I know was trying to Make A Point, but kinda just makes me go “oh god Uhura, darling, if you wanna start punching I'm behind you all the way”).Relatedly, though, I actually really like how Lincoln is characterized- it might just be because I'm from the same area, but I've always had a soft spot for the guy. In this episode, he has both admirable qualities and also prompts my above warp core, as would most guys from the 1800s.I think the aliens are really cool looking, kinda like the Horta where their biology is so different from humans, especially given that they're filling the “advanced culture fucking with us for philosophical reasons” role usually given to disembodied beings or some beautiful twink.It's ridiculous and stupid and I love it so much.The Savage Curtain first aired on March 7, 1969, written by story by Gene Roddenberry, teleplay by Gene Roddenberry and Arthur Heinemann, and directed by Herschel DaughertyAliens force Kirk and Spock to battle illusionary villains in a test of good versus evil.[2]The Joy of Trek is hosted by Khaki & Kay, with editing & production by Chief Engineer Greg and music by Fox Amoore (Bandcamp | Bluesky)Send us your recommendations, or support us on Patreon.Find us at joyoftrek.com · Twitter · Facebook

The House of Quark (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (DS9), S3 E3) was recommended by Marky See He/Him, who said: I love that DS9 wasn't afraid to move beyond the stereotypes set out in earlier series, Ferengi are more than gold hungry goblins, Klingons aren't just space vikings.When this first aired in the UK, I missed all but the conclusion of this episode so on my rewatch of DS9 I was excited to see how Quark ended up married to Klingon!This episode delivers a glimpse into the not so simple world of Klingon probate whilst Quark does his best to keep his business afloat and his head on his shoulders amid shotgun weddings and quickie divorces.The House of Quark first aired on October 10, 1994, written by story by Tom Benko, teleplay by Ronald D. Moore, and directed by Les LandauQuark brags falsely about killing a Klingon, Kozak, and is then forced to marry the widow, Grilka, founding his own 'House of Quark'.The Joy of Trek is hosted by Khaki & Kay, with editing & production by Chief Engineer Greg and music by Fox Amoore (Bandcamp | Bluesky)Send us your recommendations, or support us on Patreon.Find us at joyoftrek.com · Twitter · Facebook

Data's Day (Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG), S4 E11) was recommended by He/Him, who said: Speaking as someone with higher functioning autism with ADHD as a cherry on top, I've always found a kinship with characters like Spock, Data and Seven. Data more so as his efforts to become more human tended to mirror my own struggles to understand social norms that made little sense to me. Half the time I was completely clueless that I ever did anything wrong in the first place.Having an entire episode dedicated to seeing things through his eyes was very relatable to me. From completely failing to read the room with relaying Keiko's wedding cancellation to his attempts to use friendly insults. His analytical mindset also resonated with me as my ADHD basically puts my brain into turbo mode, analyzing anything and everything without stopping. Good for brainstorming and creativity, not so good when you need to shut out the nastiness of the world and center yourself.While my life experience is not a one to one with his, there is enough there that an episode dedicated to him is a welcome addition.Data's Day first aired on January 7, 1991, written by story by Harold Apter, teleplay by Harold Apter & Ronald D. Moore, and directed by Robert WiemerData gets dancing lessons from Dr. Crusher in preparation of Chief O'Brien's wedding as the Enterprise brings Ambassador T'Pel to the Romulans for negotiations.The Joy of Trek is hosted by Khaki & Kay, with editing & production by Chief Engineer Greg and music by Fox Amoore (Bandcamp | Bluesky)Send us your recommendations, or support us on Patreon.Find us at joyoftrek.com · Twitter · Facebook

Course: Oblivion (Star Trek: Voyager, S5 E18) was recommended by Pascal Farful, He/Him, who said: I have been watching Voyager alongside TNG and DS9 in date-of-release order. Voyager has somewhat nested in as my third place of three. Last is a disservice, but my expectations for Voyager are... less. The writing clunks more often than it slices. As a viewer, I feel that VOY challenges me the least of the three."Course: Oblivion" is an episode about death. About integrity. About despair and about the meaning of self. It's an episode which does what I want most from art, takes a large, vulgar risk and commits to it. Unlike almost all the Voy episodes I've seen thus far, where the show feels like it's trying to serve me up The Star Trek I Ordered From The Menu, "Course: Oblivion" doesn't care what I want, and I get the distinct impression that it doesn't care if I like it. But I do like it. A lot.It is true that, for all plot related purposes, "Course: Oblivion" doesn't matter. The crew are synthetic copies of the real thing. They explode meaninglessly into nothing, oblivious to (nearly) everyone. But what "Course: Oblivion" does is ask the viewer "if you accomplish nothing, nobody remembers you and you're not even who you think you are, does it matter if you act honourably and with integrity? Do your sins leave scars if no flesh is left to bare them?"Jayneway could have destroyed the mining ship, to have a chance to save what was left of the crew. But it would have been murder, so she doesn't. Jayneway, she of Tuvix, decides that her integrity matters more than her life. Kim consoles Paris over the loss of Torres even though these three people are not those people. But duplicate Kim believes in the principles of the real Kim. So he honours those principles regardless of the reality of self. What is the difference between duplicate Kim and "real" Kim if both honour the same principles and integrities? Are you who you are or are you *what you do*?Yes, the ship explodes. No, nobody will remember them. Yes, if you want to look at it purely in terms of 'getting these people to earth', this is pointless. But the value of these people is not in their home, their destination, and in their intent, but in their dignity and their principles. And Course: Oblivion teaches us that the point of following your principles and having integrity is not to be remembered or to be "the true, definitive self", it's because, even in the bleakest and most hopeless of times, honouring your principles and your integrity matters and is honourable. Even if nobody is around to see it.Course: Oblivion first aired on March 3, 1999, written by story by Bryan Fuller and Nick Sagan, teleplay by Nick Sagan, and directed by Anson WilliamsAfter Torres and Paris get married, subspace radiation causes the crew and their ship to disintegrate.The Joy of Trek is hosted by Khaki & Kay, with editing & production by Chief Engineer Greg and music by Fox Amoore (Bandcamp | Bluesky)Send us your recommendations, or support us on Patreon.Find us at joyoftrek.com · Twitter · Facebook