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The arrival of Riker's Beard heralded the start of the shift towards a more updated, distinct Star Trek, ready for the Next Generation of fans. While many will tell new explorers of Trek to skip over season 2, we love it for its inconsistency and the truly high highs that you only get by introducing the Borg, or debating the nature of sentience (should be sapience but we'll let it slide) on behalf of our beloved Data. Join us as we discuss those highs (and some of the lows), as well as give a bit of a history of what was going on behind the scenes. Episode Sponsor: SudVPN! Keep your data safe in these trying times! Bicks Log: Does artificial intelligence require sentience to be considered intelligent? Do AIs as we understand them now deserve rights? What will happen when computer systems are given – or acquire – consciousness? Notes: As a reminder, this was recorded before Picard Season 3 aired, so there may be some odd references. If, for some reason you haven't seen the greatest short film of the 21st century so far, please do check out Too Many Cooks. Lindsay deeply regrets her comments about the 1988 WGA Strike. At least Aidan assumes so, since she's been happy to see the 2023 version. The novel that Lindsay mentions involving the Trill's connection to the Conspiracy bugs is called Trill: Unjoined, which you can read about on Memory Beta. Aidan's Tier Ranking of Season 2 Episodes: S-Tier: Measure of a Man (9), Q Who (16) A-Tier: Elementary Dear Data (3), A Matter of Honour (8), The Royale (12), The Emissary (20) B-Tier: Peak Performance (21), Pen Pals (15) C-Tier: The Child (1), Outrageous Okona (4), Loud as a Whisper (5), The Dauphin (10), Time Squared (13), Samaritan Snare (17), Manhunt (19) D-Tier: Schizoid Man (6), The Icarus Factor (14), Up The Long Ladder (18) F-Tier: Shades of Gray (22), Where Silence Has Lease (2) Lindsay's Tier Ranking: S-Tier: Measure of a Man (9), Q Who (16), Elementary Dear Data (3) A-Tier: Pen Pals (15), The Royale (12), The Emissary (20) B-Tier: Peak Performance (21), Manhunt (19), A Matter of Honour (8) C-Tier: Outrageous Okona (4), Loud as a Whisper (5), Time Squared (13), Samaritan Snare (17), Schizoid Man (6) D-Tier: The Icarus Factor (14), Up The Long Ladder (18), The Dauphin (10) F-Tier: Shades of Gray (22), Where Silence Has Lease (2), The Child (1) Twin Peaks actors appearing this season: David L. Lander Madchen Amick (Who we forgot to mention in the episode somehow!!!) Intro Music: Chasing Stars by AG Music Outro Music: Idle Hands by The Impossibulls

Watchalong episodes are back baby! Today we're watching Season 1 Episode 15 of Star Trek: The Next Generation "11001001" (the one with the Bynars).

Boldly going where no one in 1987 was really sure they wanted to go - 100 years into the future - Paramount greenlit Star Trek: The Next Generation. And a seed was planted. Join us as we talk about the behind the scenes work that eventually led to one of the most iconic of Star Trek series' and heralded the rebirth of Gene Rodenberry's vision of the future - ready to go for a new generation (your hosts' generation, as it turned out). We also discuss the characters, episodes, and issues that cropped up repeatedly in the first season, as well as the bones of the show that we grew to love and idolize. Episode Sponsor: CubeSpace - it's time to build your online presence! Bicks Log: What are the things in Season 1 that the show messed up the worst, but was corrected over the course of the show? Notes: As a reminder, this was recorded before Picard Season 3, so there may be some odd references Sadly "Crusher is a mom" has remained extremely true Aidan had this large (for a child) version of the mini phaser used frequently in the first few seasons He also had the rounded tip version of the fuller handheld phaser, though he can't find any photos so he might be imagining that Lindsay had the more ubiquitous and cool-looking pointed-tip phaser Chaos on the Bridge is the Shatner-hosted documentary that provides a great insight into the crazy ship that was TNG Seasons 1 & 2 For clarity's sake around syndication: the local station would sell 5 minutes of local advertising per episode, and Paramount got the money from 7 minutes of national advertisements The UK didn't receive any TNG until September 26, 1990, three years after "Encounter at Farpoint" first aired in the United States "You'll have to speak up, I'm wearing a towel." Other videos to learn more about Season 1 include: Rowan J. Coleman's Retrospective Part 8: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LB08m-d1hhc&ab_channel=RowanJColeman  Was TNG Season 1 Really That Bad?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPGSKOIu1dI&ab_channel=OrangeRiver Twin Peaks actors appearing this season: Brenda Strong Carel Struycken Robert Knepper  

As we say goodbye to Star Trek: Picard after three seasons, lit in the warm glow of nostalgia, we'll take a look at the entirety of the series, our likes and dislikes, what's next for these characters and what we might have done differently to address the shortcomings we felt took away from our experience of these stories. Episode Sponsor: PokerGalaxy.net Bicks Log Double-Header: Question #1 - If you could make one change to Picard Season 3 to better reflect what you wanted out of the series, what would it be? Question #2 - If you had to pick your "Engage" one-liner, what would it be? Notes and Recognitions: Intro Music: Chasing Stars by AG Music Ad Music: "Swing Time" by Music by Pedro Outro Music: Idle Hands by The Impossibulls Borg Shootout Remixes feat. The Beach Boys as well as the always-good Beastie Boys  The Reddit post both Lindsay and I read that discussed how the season just didn't address all the issues it raised After we recorded, we came across this amazing review of Season 3 that really summed up Aidan's feelings and thoughts better than he managed to get across at all in the episode. It's truly a great read of what failed in Season 3.

You hear that? The voices of those we've come to know and those we've missed for years now, coming back to shepherd us towards the endgame for Star Trek Picard. Join us as we talk a lot about that one moment we were waiting for all season, as well as even more talk about many other moments of this episode that we could have frankly done without. Despite our ups and downs from this episode and others, we are excited for the finale and hope you'll join us next week as well!   Episode Sponsor: Tuvix Instant Transporter Services (Aidan apologizes for the terrible acronym, he was very tired when he wrote this and thought it was funny, even though it's not). Bicks Log: Which kid of the Enterprise D crew would perform which function in the renewed Enterprise D? Notes and Recognitions: Aidan has an epic rant-down from about 24:45 to 34:10 all about Jack Crusher and the sequence at the start of the episode where he delivers himself to the Borg. A quick rundown of TikTok's congressional hearings and the sad state of US Congress' understanding of technology. Lindsay's own rant goes from 46:30 to 50:30, all about Seasons 1 & 2 of Picard and how it's been completely abandoned in this Season. Soji was the Data-type android that survived, Dahj was the one who did not make it. We needed to look it up. Intro Music: Chasing Stars by AG Music Outro Music: Idle Hands by The Impossibulls

Surrender with us as we mentally prepare for the final voyage of The Next Generation crew, finally re-united in this week's episode. While we found this episode repeated a few of the foibles from previous Picard that have turned up earlier in the season, we nonetheless enjoyed this week's outing and are eagerly looking forward to the final two episodes with the characters we grew up loving so dearly. Episode Sponsor: Vadic's Frozen Foods Bicks Log: Has this season done a good job adapting the TNG characters for a future 25 years removed from the last episode of the television series? Notes and Recognitions: Swear Trek (in case you haven't seen it before) Ad music: "Fly the Friendly Skies" "Dance of the Dream Man" by Angelo Badalamenti RIP Paul Cattermole of S Club 7 Intro Music: Chasing Stars by AG Music Outro Music: Idle Hands by The Impossibulls

As we continue on into the back half of Season 3 of Picard, we are starting to see the outlines of an endgame, and, well, we have thoughts. Less about the endgame itself than about how we're getting there, as we found this particular episode a little more uneven than the previous ones, all the while loving certain elements and craving more of others. It's another bickering filled episode for your listening pleasure (or pain? we don't know why anyone listens to us). Episode Sponsor: Masterclass Bicks Log: How has this season of Picard changed our interpretation of the utopianism that the TNG era was known for? Notes and Recognitions:  Intro Music: Chasing Stars by AG Music Ad muzak: "Sixty Second Commercial #1" by Mmigo/Michael Reynolds Outro Music: Idle Hands by The Impossibulls

For a show that we all knew was going to be (at least partially) about getting the gang back together, this week's episode of Star Trek: Picard did a lot of work getting the gang back together. Join us for a discussion of the sentimentality of those reunions, the plot mysteries still waiting to be discovered, and our thoughts about this season's level of fan service!   Episode Sponsor: World of Warships! Bicks Log: Does this season sport too much fan service? Notes and Recognitions:  The director's name is Dan Liu, who also directed the stellar episode of Strange New Worlds: "Memento Mori". Intro Music: Chasing Stars by AG Music Ad Muzak: "Friendly Skies" from Fly the Friendly Skies of United Outro Music: Idle Hands by The Impossibulls 

Season Three of Picard reaches its midpoint with a compelling mystery amping up to new heights of tension as a familiar face returns to confront an old mentor about new threats to the entire Federation. Aidan and Lindsay take a flyby of Episode 5 -- "Imposters" -- to discuss Captain Sassypants, Jack Crusher's subconscious, and that cameo in this week's Bicks Pod. Episode Sponsor: Bajoran's Box Bicks Log: Would you change how Ro Laren was used in this episode? Notes and Recognitions:  If you're into this sort of thing: Dreams about Doors "The Hedgehog's Dilemma" from Neon Genesis: Evangelion TV Tropes' entry on "fridging" Intro Music: Chasing Stars by AG Music Ad muzak: "Sixty Second Commercial #1" by Mmigo/Michael Reynolds Outro Music: Idle Hands by The Impossibulls 

Is "No Win Scenario" a winner? Join us to find out! We talk about the exploration of new characters like Captain Shaw and Vadic, as well as the (sometimes strained) characterization of old favourites like Picard and Riker. We also discuss the mysteries being presented, the cool moments and the heartfelt scenes that are starting to become the backbone of this season of the show.  Episode Sponsor: Space Junk Clean-up Crew Bicks Log: If we had to identify one another as a Changeling, how would we do it? Notes and Recognitions: Jessie Gender (After Dark) on YouTube - "Star Trek Picard 3.04 'No Win Scenario' Review" Another Reddit thread where Aidan got into it with the community, this time about fan service. Yet another Reddit thread about the holodeck (though the writer was more forgiving than either of us). And yet another Reddit thread (with link to video) comparing the scenes from First Contact (Jean-Luc) and this episode (Jack). We do actually have access to Paramount Plus in Canada. But we're still a Crave household. Intro Music: Chasing Stars by AG Music Ad Muzak: "Friendly Skies" from Fly the Friendly Skies of United Outro Music: Idle Hands by The Impossibulls 

Is the sophomore slump over for Picard Season 3? Join us to find out! We talk about the highs and lows of the third episode, start delving into some of the fan theories, and dive head first into that conversation from this week's episode. In summary: the wait between Thursdays is getting a bit too long for our liking!   Episode Sponsor: Hail - the Federation's Premier Home Surveillance System Bicks Log: Who was right - Picard or Crusher? Notes and Recognitions: Trek Culture on YouTube - "Ups and Downs From Star Trek Picard: Picard 3.3 - Seventeen Seconds" Lindsay was (probably) thinking of "17 People" the West Wing episode where the staff are told that President Bartlet has Multiple Sclerosis. The Reddit thread where Aidan got really pedantic. Intro Music: Chasing Stars by AG Music Ad Muzak: "Friendly Skies" from Fly the Friendly Skies of United Outro Music: Idle Hands by The Impossibulls 

Star Trek: Picard is off to rip-roaring start, introducing us to new villainy and adventures and reintroducing us to fan fave characters we haven't seen in decades. It doesn't mean there hasn't been any controversy with the various plot points and character moments we've seen in the past two episodes so far...and The Bicks are not immune to this. Join us as we bicker our way through Picard Season 3 Episode 2 "Disengage". Episode Sponsor: Accomplishment Allotment Bicks Log: What's the deal with Captain Liam Shaw? Notes and Recognitions: Trek Culture on YouTube - "Ups and Downs from Star Trek: Picard 3.2 - Disengage" Jesse Gender After Dark on YouTube - "Star Trek Picard 3.02 'Disengage' REVIEW" The Reddit thread about milking the reveals And the Reddit one about Jack Crusher being wanted because of Wesley's abilities Turians from Mass Effect Vox: "Why we all need subtitles now" Intro Music: Chasing Stars by AG Music Ad Muzak: "Friendly Skies" from Fly the Friendly Skies of United Outro Music: Idle Hands by The Impossibulls 

After a brief 5 year hiatus, we're returning to our roots with a weekly, episodic podcast devoted to covering a media in media res - in this case, Star Trek: Picard, Season 3. Join us for a look at this early hint of the storytelling to come, as well as our takes on the characters displayed so far, the numerous easter eggs, and which of our gripes about Seasons 1 and 2 of Picard are still ringing in our ears early in Season 3. Notes: Couldn't find any reference to Q turning Picard human again at the end of Season 2, just for clarity's sake. Episode Sponsor: Today's episode is brought to you by the near-mythical Portal 3! Now you're thinking with portals! Bicks Log: We dig into the question: "Do you think this season is going to live up to the hype, or will it be another disappointment?" Credits: Intro Music: Chasing Stars by AG Music Outro Music: Idle Hands by The Impossibulls

Modern fanfiction may very well have had its start with the original trio of Kirk, McCoy, and Spock. So today we're joining the numerous fans before us who decided to tell stories about the crew of the USS Enterprise (no bloody B, C, or D). Join us as we talk about our process for writing these stories, the issues we ran into along the way, and even have a bit of a mini writing workshop right on the podcast. After years of hearing us call ourselves writers, now you can judge for yourselves! Notes: Aidan's story is called "Middle Decks" and is all about the four secondary characters of the series who never got quite the love of the main trio. Lindsay's story is called "Rumours" and is a peek behind what preceded Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country - the series of phone calls that got the gang back together. Credits: Intro Music: Chasing Stars by AG Music Outro Music: Idle Hands by The Impossibulls

The final farewell of The Original Series crew is a great summation of all the threads that we've touched on in our previous episodes and which have constituted some of the best parts of the series. The conclusion of the Klingon/Soviet cold war, the gathering of the film series' creative dream team, and the three main characters being front and centre - with Kirk being most central of all - provides a fitting end to the characters and setting that had been running for over 20 years. Join us for a chat about this classic (possibly science fiction) film, as we bid farewell to these characters (at least in their first iteration). Notes: Nancy Meyers is indeed a romantic-comedy legend. No relation to Nicholas Meyer beyond the last names. Plummer and Shatner were said to have a long-standing friendship, but the story of Shatner getting his big break as Plummer's understudy in Henry V is a real one, apparently.  Animorphs most certainly did have a TV Series.  This was Aidan's original movie box-set, which was actually released in the later 90s: https://images.app.goo.gl/KoaVtRsWrWg3UJPB8  Neither of us have acquainted ourselves with any of the definitions of Science Fiction. Though Aidan may regret his stance on the Doctor Who franchise, he otherwise stands by his belief that Science Fiction can be pretty much anything. Today's Sponsor: So happy to be partnered with the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, located in Bar' Dak, Qo'nos. Make sure to visit today, and tell them the Bicks sent ya! Bicks Log: Does Star Trek VI (and similarly themed Star Trek films/episodes) count as Science Fiction, or not? Credits: Intro Music: Chasing Stars by AG Music Outro Music: Idle Hands by The Impossibulls

Star Trek V: The Final Frontier is widely derided as the worst (or one of the worst) films in the Star Trek canon. Despite this, Lindsay still has fond memories of watching this film as a child and she'll be damned if she lets Aidan bring her down to reality! Join us for a discussion of God, starships, and campfire singalongs in this week's episode Episode Sponsor: Prophetic Titles. Totally not a scam. We promise. One low price gets you the right to title yourself Kai. Own your plot of space in the Celestial Temple today! Bicks Log:  Notes and Recognitions: iMDB trivia page, where we got some of our background details Check out Rowan J Coleman's YouTube channel for a ton of amazing retrospectives and history of Star Trek -- his channel is a repository of info and if you aren't already a fan, you really ought to be! Ad break music: "Beautiful Noise" by the Nick Perito Orchestra "The Mountain" by Jerry Goldsmith Intro Music: Chasing Stars by AG Music Outro Music: Idle Hands by The Impossibulls

Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, collectively known in The Bicks home as "The One with the Whales." A classic 80s film, a classic Trek film, and a unique entry in the series all at once. We loved chatting about this one and hope you'll enjoy our wandering discussion of the most populist of Star Trek movies! Notes: It was Alan Silvestri who did the music for Back to the Future. Moores is a Canadian men's clothing company. The Home Depot is an American hardware and home improvement chain. These two pieces of information will help clarify the odd bit around the 36-37th minute of the podcast. Episode Sponsor: Today's episode is brought to you by Whales Alive, the very real album that really featured Leonard Nimoy really doing spoken word poetry over top of very real whale song. Please go listen right now. Bicks Log: Was the success of The Voyage Home a template that could have saved the second fourth movie of Star Trek - 2002's Star Trek: Nemesis? Would a funnier, less dramatic and serious Next Generation movie have changed the trajectory of the Star Trek franchise?

By the time The Search for Spock was announced, it was fairly clear that the Star Trek brand was more than strong enough to justify its continued return to box offices; within a few years, it would return to TV screens, as well. But not before Kirk & Co. return to the Genesis planet from The Wrath of Khan to rescue Spock. Which is what we're going to be talking about today.  Episode Sponsor: I Can't Believe It's Not Gagh! Bicks Log: Was David's death an earned emotional moment, or mere manipulation? Notes and Recognitions: Intro Music: Chasing Stars by AG Music Outro Music: Idle Hands by The Impossibulls

The second film entry for our original cast -- Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan -- reinvigorated the franchise after The Motion Picture drew big bucks but tepid critical reviews. A lesser version of Khan might have put the nail in Star Trek's coffin. Thankfully, it didn't, and forty years later we're still chugging away through the Alpha Quadrant. Let's explore why, with Kirk & Khaaaaaaan!, Kirk & Spock, Kirk & Carol & David, Chekov and the ear bug (*shudder*), the Enterprise & the Reliant, and the birth of a new  Episode Sponsor: Genesis To-Go! Bicks Log: Is The Wrath of Khan a perfect/the best encapsulation of what makes Star Trek what it is? Notes: Monster Maroon Trek Culture Aidan here: Lindsay...Bruce McLean??? If you're going to reference Die Hard in my presence, you'd best get the name of the main character right... Lindsay here: And yet you sat across from me and listened with your own two ears and didn't correct me, so...check and mate.

Star Trek's first foray onto the big screen has experienced a recent reevaluation by fans, but what we wanted to know is how was it seen by original fans at the time of its release? Lucky for us we have a pair of OG fans in the family -- so today we're welcoming Aidan's parents to the podcast to talk all about that original experience in all its glory! Episode Sponsor: Kivas Fajo's Toy Emporium Bicks Log: We bypassed today's debate in the interest of sparing our guests! Notes: After looking through the depths of the internet, we couldn't find any specific release history for The Animated Series in Canada, which may explain why today's special guests never heard of it until recently. Intro Music: Chasing Stars by AG Music Outro Music: Idle Hands by The Impossibulls