With The First Link: A Star Trek TNG Podcast

TNG: SEASON 3, EPISODE 3 The Enterprise arrives at a distress to discover a planet completely decimated except for one small patch of land, a house, and a mysterious pair of survivors who say their planet was destroyed by a species of "hideous intelligence". Ruthie and Matthew discuss aging in the Star Trek future vs in our own present society, and the excuses that are made to justify genocide.

It's SEASON 3 of TNG and the series seems to have gotten a bit of a revamp with new uniforms, new opening sequence, and new lighting on the sets! Did our 80's Star Trek just become 90's Star Trek!? We think so! Also Dr. Crusher is back! Join us as Wesley Crusher accidentally creates a new microscopic civilization, Doctor Paul Stubbs is willing to sacrifice the Enterprise just to make the history books, and Ruthie and Matthew talk about the darker side of success obsession.

Did Yoda get it wrong when he said "Do or Do Not, There is No Try?" Picard has an answer to that when this episode features one of his most quoted lines "It is possible to commit no mistakes and still lose. That is not a weakness. That is life." In this episode, Ruthie and Matthew talk about failure, the difficulty in being bad at something before getting good at something, and how we handle the burden of perfectionism - especially as an android! It's Peak Performance!

While ferrying the fish-like Antedeans to a diplomatic conference, the Enterprise is intercepted by a shuttle transporting Lwaxana Troi! Not seen since season 1, Lwaxana has returned and is experiencing "The Phase", a time in the mid-life of a Betazed woman where her libido has quadrupled - she's on the hunt for a new husband! Also, Dixon Hill comes back this episode! Ruthie and Matthew talk about consent in dating culture, trigonometry, and how they actually enjoy Data's anecdotes.

LaForge is placed in grave danger when the Enterprise responds to distress call from the Pakleds who need things to make them go...like our chief engineer! On a shuttlecraft road-trip with Wesley, Picard shares details of his "cocky" youth which led to a (literally) broken heart requiring surgery. But the surgeons can't stop the "heterocyclic declination"!! Matthew and Ruthie talk about being awkward in social situations, the soul of exploration, and geometry in SPAAAAACE!

When Data receives a distress call from a planet on the verge of collapse, he needs to decide whether to ignore the distress call or violate the Prime Directive and send a reply. Data's decision not only shocks the crew, but leaves Captain Picard in the dark for weeks. Pulaski finally stands up for Data. And Wesley learns about the Ensigns of Command. Ruthie and Matthew talk about the implications of the Prime Directive, stories set in the Star Trek Universe that discuss the Prime Directive, and how the Prime Directive has had real-world influence on their own lives and decision making.

The Enterprise encounters a derelict shuttle craft which appears to be from the future. But when the shuttle is determined to be one of the Enterprise's own containing a second version of Picard, the crew fear the premonition of doom the craft contains. Ruthie and Matthew talk about how we sometimes become trapped in a cycle of poor decisions and how we can face a version of ourselves we may not like to escape the cycle. Please also consider donating to Matthew's Star Trek community fundraiser for his non-profit organization, Esther's Echo. Esther's Echo supports Sierra Leone community leader Esther Kanu who founded and operates a school for vulnerable women and girls called the Women in Action Development Program. https://www.gofundme.com/f/esthers-echo-star-trek-fundraiser

The Enterprise responds to a call for help from Galaxy Class sister ship U.S.S. Yamato. But when the Yamato suddenly explodes the Enterprise crew must determine if the ship's destruction is caused by Romulans or by the relics of a long lost civilization. Data gets to do some physical comedy, Romulans are terrible bluffers, and the city of Toronto is featured as an alien space building. Ruthie and Matthew talk about the coolness of space archeology but also the destructive effects of colonial archeology and anthropology in our own history.

Data's sentience and freedom of choice is on trial when he refuses orders to undergo a dangerous procedure. Ruthie and Matthew talk about parallels from this episode to the present-day crisis of body autonomy and how society excludes some humans when considering human rights. With the First Link is excited to cover this first of the "classic" TNG episodes in our review of the series. Join us as we get into the deep metaphysical stuff while also stopping to throw shade at the ultimate TNG entitled whiner - Bruce Maddox. Main Cover art by Nathan Nun, www.nathannun.ca Theme Music by Flame Lion Studios

In this episode, the scientists at a genetic research station all suffer from rapid onset geriatric phenomena. But when Pulaski tries to save their genetically created children, she finds out that they are, in fact, the cause of it! Matthew and Ruthie talk about aging and try to figure out the difference between genetic engineering and genetic creation, and Ruthie interviews an actual real scientist about DNA and the immune system! Main cover art by Nathan Nun, www.nathannun.ca Theme music is An Amazing Adventure by Flame Lion Studio

The Enterprise transports Riva, a deaf mediator, to the Solais system to help negotiate an end to 1500 years of civil war. Troi helps Riva cope with failure, Data learns a new language, and Matthew and Ruthie talk about how much better our society could be if we acknowledged our interdependence. Main cover art by Nathan Nun, www.nathannun.ca Theme Music is An Amazing Adventure by Flame Lion Studio

How do we define intelligence? Is an android incapable of original thought just because they have every Sherlock Holmes mystery memorized? In this episode, Matthew and Ruthie try not to be too angry with Pulaski for asking unfair questions, or with the ship's computer for creating a self-aware holographic villain. Matthew also reflects on moderating the "Trektivism" panel during the Trek Geeks "TrekTalks" telethon fundraiser for the Hollywood Food Coalition Main cover art by Nathan Nun, www.nathannun.ca Theme Music is An Amazing Adventure by Flame Lion Studios Trektivism Panel: https://youtu.be/vicnd7GQdl0?t=21204 Trektivism Organizations to visit: Hollywood Food Coalition https://hofoco.org OR donate.trektalks.net T1 International https://www.t1international.com Roddenberry Foundation https://roddenberryfoundation.org Pop Culture Hero Coalition https://www.popculturehero.org Pancreatic Cancer Action Network https://secure.pancan.org/site/TR?fr_id=2359&pg=team&team_id=32808 Esther's Echo https://www.esthersecho.org

It's the second season premiere of TNG, and the Enterprise has a brand-new Chief Medical Officer, along with a new Chief Engineer and Chief of Security. And, of course, Riker has a new beard and Troi very briefly has a child. Matthew and Ruthie discuss the unfortunate implications of the mystical pregnancy trope in stories and wonder why this new doctor can't pronounce Data's name. Main cover art by Nathan Nun, www.nathannun.ca Theme Music is An Amazing Adventure by Flame Lion Studio