Star Trek: Asterisk "Star Trek Into Darkness"

Vital Information
Series: The Alternate Universe Series
Episode: MovieXII
Release Date: May 16, 2013
Written by: Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman, Damon Lindelof
Directed by: J.J. Abrams

Premise
After a series of terrorist attacks on Earth, Kirk takes the Enterprise out to find the man responsible and the Enterprise promptly shuts down, not wanting to know.

Review
I'm going to give some general thoughts up front and then move into spoiler territory under the jump. I'd like to start by saying that this movie is awesome and everyone should go see it, Trekkies and non-Trekkies alike. There have been several reviews stating that it's merely another popcorn action film without any artistic merit, but they must have seen a different movie because there are lessons to be learned all over the place here. I have always said that it's easy to glean a lesson from a movie that slows down enough for you to meditate on it, but it takes some skill to learn at the feet of an action movie.

Star Trek: Asterisk "Star Trek Into Asterisk"

After four long years of waiting, the new Star Trek movie is out! Is it worth it? Should you spend your hard earned money at the theater for it? Listen to my review and find out. Hint: yes.

Thanks to everyone who has been following Star Trek: Asterisk so far. Come back next Friday at 6pm EST for a continuation of reviews of Star Trek: The Next Generation season 3. They will include "The Offspring," "Sins of the Father," and "Allegiance." So, without further adieu...

Here's the podcast! Click play and enjoy...

Star Trek: Asterisk "Yesterday's Enterprise"

Vital Information
Series: The Next Generation
Episode: S03E15
Air Date: February 19, 1990
Written by: Ira Steven Behr & Richard Manning & Hans Beimler & Ronald D. Moore, Trent Christopher Ganino & Eric A. Stillwell and a partridge in a pear tree
Directed by: David Carson

Premise
The Enterprise-C inadvertently brings Tasha Yar back from the dead by temporarily fracturing the timeline.

Review
We start in 10-Forward where Worf is enjoying some alone time until Guinan hands him a glass of prune juice. He tastes it and declares it to be a warrior's drink. The two of them chat for a bit about Worf finding companionship, but then an odd phenomenon happens outside the window and Worf is called to the bridge. On the bridge, Picard asks Worf to scan the phenomenon and Worf says that there's a ship inside. When the ship exits the rift, everything on board the Enterprise changes. The lighting is darker, the uniforms are more militaristic, even the bridge itself is more streamlined. And when Picard turns around to ask for more details, it's not Worf, but Tasha Yar who responds to him. And she's not a zombie, either!

Star Trek: Asterisk "A Matter of Perspective"

Vital Information
Series: The Next Generation
Episode: S03E14
Air Date: February 12, 1990
Written by: Ed Zuckerman
Directed by: Cliff Bole

Premise
Riker stands accused of both adultery and murder via blown up space station. The life of a pimp is hard one.

Review
We start in the ship's art studio. Here, Picard is painting a naked model along with two other students as Data walks in to inform him that Riker has finished his mission and is about to return. Because he couldn't have done that via communicator. While he's there, Picard invites him to take a look at the other students' works. Data takes a good look at each of them and describes them perfectly, then he gets to Picard's painting and says "...interesting." It just goes to show how different people can see the same thing differently. Eh? Eh?? Yeah? See where I'm goin' with that? I know you do.

Star Trek: Asterisk "Déjà Q"

Vital Information
Series: The Next Generation
Episode: S03E13
Air Date: February 5, 1990
Written by: Richard Danus
Directed by: Les Landau

Premise
Q becomes human and orders TEN CHOCOLATE SUNDAES.

Review
So, the Enterprise's mission this time is to go to Bre'el IV and move its moon because the moon is about to crash into the planet and kill all its civilization. They get right to the daunting task, but in the middle of figuring things out, they hear a high pitched noise and a bright light and after a few seconds of this, Q appears in all his naked glory floating over the floor of the bridge. "Red Alert!" he says saucily as he looks up from the ground. Apparently, the Q Continuum has punished him for being such a jerk and he chose as his punishment to be made a mortal human. That's his story and he's sticking to it.

Star Trek: Asterisk "Yesterday's Perspective on Q"

Today on the podcast I give a summary of "Déjà Q," "A Matter of Perspective," "Yesterday's Enterprise," three of the best consecutive episodes in Star Trek: The Next Generation which just happen to run in season three.

I don't want to spoil too much for you, but Q turns human, Riker gets accused of both murder and adultery, and Tasha reappears to die a meaningful death. Was that too much? Sorry.

Speaking of spoilers, don't miss next week when the podcast will be all about Star Trek Into Darkness! Don't worry, there will be a clear delineation between general thoughts and spoiler territory. You'll know when to stop listening if you haven't seen it yet. But suffice it to say that I'm excited about seeing this movie!!

Okay, here's the podcast. Press play and enjoy, my friends!

Star Trek: Asterisk "Yesterday's Perspective on Q" Officer's Lounge

Sit back and enjoy a little audio drama, or play the episode on Netflix along with the podcast and listen to me blather on over the audio. It's time for the Officer's Lounge!

Today I'll be providing commentary for "Déjà Q," "A Matter of Perspective," and "Yesterday's Enterprise." Three fine episodes from season three of Star Trek: The Next Generation. And if you don't agree, you can take it up with Henry Spencer, Don Héctor "Tio" Salamanca, and Scooter McGavin. That's right! They're all in there!

Press play and enjoy, my friends...

Star Trek: Asterisk "The High Ground"

Vital Information
Series: The Next Generation
Episode: S03E12
Air Date: January 29, 1990
Written by: Melinda M. Snodgrass
Directed by: Gabrielle Beaumont

Premise
Dr. Crusher becomes sympathetic to the rebels after suffering a mild case of Stockholm Syndrome.

Review
We learn right from the captain's log that things aren't right on Rutia IV. After a generation of peace, they're suffering from terrorist attacks from rebels who wish to gain autonomy. So it's no big surprise when a bomb goes off in the middle of the town and the rebels start kidnapping, but what's a little more surprising is who they kidnap. Rutia IV is not aligned with the Federation, so it's odd that they would kidnap Dr. Crusher, who has nothing to do with their fight. It's not like they could us a competent doctor or anything, right?

Star Trek: Asterisk "The Hunted"

Vital Information
Series: The Next Generation
Episode: S03E11
Air Date: January 8, 1990
Written by: Robin Bernheim
Directed by: Cliff Bole

Premise
A super soldier escapes from prison on an idyllic world and reveals it to be not so idyllic after all.

Review
So Riker and Picard are taking a tour of Angosia III lead by the Prime Minister Zephram Cochrane Nayrok. When they get to the end of it, some aid or something pulls Nayrok aside to whisper in his ear, giving Riker and Picard a chance to talk about the Angosians who Riker finds to be stuffy, but otherwise good candidates for entry into the Federation. Meanwhile, the aid has told Nayrok that there's been a prison break. And Nayrok subtly asks for the Enterprise to take care of it. Should be easy right? Yeah, right up until Data reports that the prisoner has eluded them. "Eluded the Enterprise?" Picard asks incredulously... aaaaand cut to commercial.

Star Trek: Asterisk "The Defector"

Vital Information
Series: The Next Generation
Episode: S03E10
Air Date: January 1, 1990
Written by: Ronald D. Moore
Directed by: Robert Scheerer

Premise
Picard considers taking the word of a Romulan. Which is always a good idea.

Review
It starts with Data in a play. He's playing the part of Henry V in the Bard's tale of the same name on the holodeck while Picard watches. Data gives a great performance and Picard praises him before the holodeck character based on his likeness kills him. Data freezes the program and then is given the opportunity to ask why a king would want to mingle with the commoners instead of lead. Picard explains that taking the temperature of morale is part of the job. Riker then interrupts them to say that some Romulans are on their way through the Neutral Zone. So screw Shakespeare.