Primitive Culture: A Star Trek History and Culture Podcast

Music in Star Trek From Alexander Courage's “bright galactic beguine” in The Original Series to Jeff Russo's churning, Game of Thrones-style theme for Discovery, the music of Star Trek has always embodied the spirit of its time, as much as it looks to the future. Rick Berman famously sacked composer Ron Jones from The Next Generation because he felt his scores drew too much attention to themselves. In his mind, the underscore should be a kind of wallpaper, as unobtrusive as the soft pastel carpet stuck to the walls of the Enterprise-D.  And yet the music of Star Trek—in particular the film scores by Jerry Goldsmith, James Horner, and others—has become an iconic part of the franchise's cultural legacy, and of popular culture more broadly. In this episode of Primitive Culture, host Duncan Barrett is joined by musicologists Jessica Getman and Evan Ware. Together with Brooke McCorkle Okazaki, they are the editors of the recently published Music in Star Trek: Sound, Utopia, and the Future. Here, they share some key observations from the 15 essays collected in their book, as well as consider the future of the Star Trek franchise—in music and beyond.   Chapters Intro (00:00:00) Blue Skies Thinking (00:09:15) Beware the Borg Fugue (00:17:00) Losing Faith … (00:24:45) Course Correction (00:37:20)   Scoring the Sausage (00:49:50) Host Duncan Barrett Guests Jessica Getman and Evan Ware Production Duncan Barrett (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

Half a Decade of Primitive Culture Star Trek's original five-year mission was brought to a premature end in 1969. But over the ensuing half-century and more, the franchise has continued boldly going to new frontiers. By the 1980s, when a second generation of fans came to seek out fresh adventures, the voyage had become a continuing mission … with no end in sight. In this episode of Primitive Culture, recorded earlier this year on our own five-year anniversary, host Duncan Barrett is joined by show co-founder Tony Black to look back on a half-decade of podcasting, and to consider how Star Trek has changed since the good ship Primitive Culture left spacedock in 2017. We also share some news about the future of the podcast. Because, as we know, all good things … Host Duncan Barrett Guest Tony Black Production Tony Black (Editor) Duncan Barrett (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

Cardassian war crimes and The Man in the Glass Booth For many fans of Deep Space Nine, the penultimate installment of Season 1, “Duet,” is also the show's first classic episode. A bleak exploration of guilt, responsibility, and forgiveness in the aftermath of war, it's a story that could scarcely have been told on any other Star Trek series. One of Trek's most popular bottle episodes, “Duet” is built on intense two-hander scenes between Nana Visitor and guest star Harris Yuelin, giving it the air of an intimate theater production. It's perhaps no surprise, then, that the episode's central conceit—a case of mistaken identity at the center of a potential war crimes trial—is lifted from a stage play, Robert Shaw's The Man in the Glass Booth, which was later adapted into an Oscar-winning movie. In this episode of Primitive Culture, host Duncan Barrett is joined by Clara Cook to discuss the parallels between “Duet” and this enigmatic source material, which in turn borrows from the real-life trial of Adolf Eichmann, the original man in a (bullet-proof) glass booth. Broadening the conversation to include Star Trek's approach to war crimes more generally, we consider whether the Eichmann trial—as well as the Nuremberg trials immediately after the war—offer a valid precedent for Federation and Bajoran justice. Host Duncan Barrett Guest Clara Cook Production Duncan Barrett (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

Autistic representation in Star Trek “Perhaps you're just different,” Tam Elbrun tells Data in the Next Generation episode “Tin Man.” “Not a sin, you know, though you may have heard otherwise.” Both characters—the emotionally sensitive Betazoid and the supposedly emotionless android—have been seen by fans as allegories of a particular kind of difference, standing in for those on the broad spectrum of neurodiversity. In this episode of Primitive Culture, host Duncan Barrett is joined by autistic Star Trek fan Thad Hait to discuss how Trek has encoded the experiences of neurodiverse people—often accidentally—over the course of its long history. Looking at characters such as Data, Seven of Nine, Reginald Barclay, and Sylvia Tilly, we consider how Starfleet's approach to difference both mirrors and differs from our own, and ask whether the time is ripe for Trek's first explicitly neurodiverse character. Host Duncan Barrett Guest Thad Hait Production Duncan Barrett (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

Star Trek's Double Troubles Don't they say you die if you meet yourself? Our intrepid Starfleet officers had better hope the answer is no, since encounters with doubles, doppelgängers, and duplicates appear to be just part of the job. From the two Kirks in “The Enemy Within” to Lower Decks's twinned Boimlers, Star Trek has offered up a host of alt versions of our regular characters over the years. In this episode of Primitive Culture, host Duncan Barrett is joined by Clara Cook for a look at Star Trek's doubles, setting them in the context of their literary and cultural forebears, all the way back to Dostoevsky. We consider Sigmund Freud's work on The Uncanny, Carl Jung's idea of the shadow projection, and the sinister interplay between doubles and death. We also ponder why some characters seem to get on with their other selves just fine while the very notion that they aren't entirely unique in the universe is enough to prompt an existential crisis for others. Host Duncan Barrett Guest Clara Cook Production Duncan Barrett (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

Trans representation in Star Trek. In 2022, trans characters in Star Trek have become part of the fabric of humanity's shared future in space. In addition to Adira and Gray Tal in Discovery, we've been treated to the villainess Captain Angel in Strange New Worlds and even an explicitly non-binary character, the Medusan Zero, in Prodigy. But a few decades ago, Star Trek's most direct engagement with trans culture was the truly toe-curling Deep Space Nine episode “Profit and Lace.” That said, a number of stories from both The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine had touched on trans issues more obliquely—in many cases unintentionally. In this episode of Primitive Culture, originally released as part of Tony Black's podcast The Sanctuary, Tony is joined by Orion Armstrong for a look at the TNG episode “The Outcast,”which was intended by writer Jeri Taylor as an allegory about gay conversion therapy but is open to very different readings today as a trans story. They also discuss TNG's “The Host,” DS9's “Rejoined,” and more. And, in a new introduction, Duncan and Tony catch up with developments since the podcast was originally released. Hosts Duncan Barrett and Tony Black Guest Orion Armstrong Production Duncan Barrett (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

The Alien franchise and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. In space, no one can hear you scream. But for unlucky Starfleet landing parties, meeting a nightmarish alien menace can prove as traumatic as deadly. For La'an Noonien-Singh, who carries the burden of having survived captivity in a Gorn breeding colony during childhood, another encounter with the monstrous lizards proves both physically and mentally challenging. And to make sure the audience is equally freaked out by the terrifying encounter, Strange New Worlds leans heavily on the imagery of the Alien franchise—the epitome of sf horror. In this episode of Primitive Culture, host Duncan Barrett is joined by Lee Hutchison to look at the latest episode of Star Trek: trange New Worlds, “All Those Who Wander,” alongside the films that inspired it, from the chest-burster scene in the original 1979 movie to Ripley's final moments in Alien 3. We also take in reference points from the beloved movies we grew up with, including Predator, Jurassic Park, The Thing, and more. What new life forms are birthed when these iconic stories creep in through the Star Trek airlock? Grab a flamethrower and join us on the express elevator to hell as we attempt to find out. Chapters Intro (00:00:00) Gorn Yesterday (00:09:50) Strange Newt Worlds (00:23:55) No Sex, Please, We're Star Trek (00:31:15) That Which Survives (00:50:00) La'an Time No See? (01:04:00) Host Duncan Barrett Guest Lee Hutchison Production Duncan Barrett (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

How Star Trek's leaders reflect our own. Young, charismatic, and a bit of a ladies' man, Captain James T. Kirk was cast in the mould of President John F. Kennedy, the beloved US leader who had been killed just three years before Star Trek debuted. But over the course of more than half a century, Star Trek's captains have often echoed the great politicians of the day; and sometimes they may even have paved the way for political careers in the real world. In this episode of Primitive Culture, originally released as an installment of The Sanctuary, Tony Black speaks to guest Mac Boyle about the parallels between Star Trek's leaders and our own. Where do the likes of former UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, former US President Donald Trump, and current US President Joe Biden find their counterparts in the Star Trek universe? And what kind of characters can we expect in the future to take their cues from Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky? With Star Trek: Discovery's Federation President Laira Rillak taking an ongoing role, has Trek finally managed to marry the military ethos of Starfleet with the business of intergalactic politics? Chapters Intro (00:00:00) Assignment: Earth (00:03:25) The Maquis (00:16:30) Strange New Worlds (00:48:30) Hosts Duncan Barrett and Tony Black Guest Mac Boyle Production Tony Black (Editor) Duncan Barrett (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

Star Trek's backdoor pilots. The year is 1968. As Star Trek goes off the air for good, a new show—Assignment: Earth—debuts from some of the same creative team. For dedicated Trekkies, the premise is already familiar and the two leads, Gary Seven and Roberta Lincoln, have a head start garnering fans of their own. That, at least, is what might have been had Star Trek not been renewed for a third season. As things turned out, the episode featuring Seven and Lincoln was simply the finale of Star Trek's second-season, not the series, and “Assignment: Earth” was never picked up as a show in its own right. In this episode of Primitive Culture, host Duncan Barrett is joined by Tony Black for a look at Star Trek's most famous backdoor pilot, an episode that lays out the premise for a potential future show, using the budget and production infrastructure of an existing one. “Assignment: Earth” might be Star Trek's most blatant use of this sneaky approach, but more recent examples include “Point of Light,” “Terra Firma,” and “All Is Possible.” These three installments of Star Trek: Discovery seem to hint pretty strongly at shows that might be coming down the pipe. And then there's Discovery's entire second season, which set up not only Strange New Worlds—and introduced new actors in the roles of Captain Pike, Spock, and the original Number One—but the long-awaited Section 31 show as well. What are the benefits—and pitfalls—of taking the backdoor route to a new project? And do such stories inevitably struggle to function as episodes of two different shows simultaneously? Host Duncan Barrett Guest Tony Black Production Tony Black (Editor) Duncan Barrett (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

… it wasn't the Vulcans who made first contact? April 5, 2063. In Star Trek's imagined history, it was on this date that humanity made first contact with an alien race. The event led to societal transformation on a global scale and ushered in a bright future. But what if it wasn't the Vulcans who happened to be passing by that day? What if first contact had been made with the Klingons or Romulans instead? In this episode of Primitive Culture, originally recorded for The Sanctuary, but never released, Tony Black is joined by Mike Slamer to imagine how things could have played out differently. Hosts Duncan Barrett and Tony Black Guest Mike Slamer Production Tony Black (Editor) Duncan Barrett (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

Captain Picard and Indiana Jones. Wise, measured, and distinctly unromantic, Captain Jean-Luc Picard was conceived from the start as very different from his predecessor, James T. Kirk. But for Patrick Stewart, the lack of physical drama felt creatively unsatisfying. In October 1988, he wrote a letter to Gene Roddenberry outlining his desire for Picard to get some “action”—in more ways than one. It would be over a year before Stewart's request was granted, in the third-season episode “Captain's Holiday.” As writer Ira Steven Behr recalled, the instructions he was given were, “Just get the Captain laid.” This he accomplished, somewhat incongruously, by marrying the normally cool captain with a contemporary action-adventure hero: Indiana Jones. The curious melding stuck, and in episodes such as “The Chase,” “Gambit,” and “QPid,” Picard's passion for archaeology—along with his swashbuckling heroism—added an extra arrow to the good captain's quiver. In this episode of Primitive Culture, recorded last year when the fifth Indiana Jones movie was filming in Glasgow, host Duncan Barrett is joined by Indy super fan Carlos Miranda to compare and contrast these adventuring archaeologists, both returning for their latest escapades well into their golden years. Is the staid life of a university professor—or a Federation diplomat—really compatible with the thrills and spills of derring-do? And what might these two men's fascination with the lives of their ancient forebears reveal about their relationships with the fathers who went before them? Host Duncan Barrett Guest Carlos Miranda Production Duncan Barrett (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

Lisa Klink on Writing for Deep Space Nine and Voyager. Starting with a short-term position as a writing intern on Deep Space Nine, Lisa Klink rose rapidly through the Star Trek ranks, penning more than a dozen episodes over the course of just three years. In episodes such as “Resistance” and “Sacred Ground,” she proved her skill at handling character-based drama, while “Blood Fever,” “Message in a Bottle” and “The Omega Directive” cemented her credentials as one of the series' finest storytellers. In this episode of Primitive Culture, host Duncan Barrett talks to Klink about working in the Star Trek sandbox, from penning DS9's “Hippocratic Oath” before jumping ship to Voyager, to contributing short stories 25 years later to the new Star Trek Explorer magazine. Host Duncan Barrett Guest Lisa Klink Production Tony Black (Editor) Duncan Barrett (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

How Star Trek tackled the Vietnam War. Every Star Trek series has engaged with the issues of the time, and perhaps none more so than *The Original Series*. Episodes touching on the hippy counterculture and NASA's bold Apollo program grounded the show as much in the 1960s as the 2260s. But perhaps no contemporary subject loomed over TOS more so than the Vietnam War. Sometimes quite bluntly and at other times more obliquely, over the course of three seasons the show charted a constantly developing view of the conflict, embodying a range of perspectives as diverse as its collective writing staff. In this episode of Primitive Culture, originally released as part of Tony Black's podcast The Sanctuary, he is joined by critic Darren Mooney to look at how Vietnam played out across TOS and beyond. Tackling key episodes such as “A Private Little War” and “The Omega Glory,” as well as less obvious reference points including “The City on the Edge of Forever,” they consider the role the conflict played not just in Star Trek but American thought more generally, and in particular how Gene Rodenberry's own views developed during the run of the series. Hosts Duncan Barrett and Tony Black Production Tony Black (Editor) Duncan Barrett (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

Jack Bauer and Jonathan Archer. Premiering just after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, Enterprise took another two seasons to fully engage with the radically changed real world in its storytelling. When the show did reveal its own 9/11 story in the third season, it followed in the wake of another intensely serialized, monster-hit TV show: 24. Jack Bauer might seem an unlikely model for a Starfleet captain, but throughout the course of the Xindi arch Jonathan Archer found himself repeating many of Bauer's signature moves—including torture and cold-blooded killing In this episode of Primitive Culture, host Duncan Barrett is joined by 24 aficionado Lee Hutchison to compare and contrast the two shows' approaches to dramatizing the momentous events of the time. We discuss how Manny Coto and Brannon Braga went on to breathe new life into 24 once Star Trek: Enterprise was canceled, whether the problematic aspects of both series are, to some extent, explained by the hawkish mood of the time, and whether Archer and Bauer are actually more similar than they first appear. Host Duncan Barrett Guest Lee Hutchison Production Duncan Barrett (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Tony Black (Associate Producer) Clara Cook (Associate Producer)

Naren Shankar on a life in science fiction. While Ronald D. Moore and Brannon Braga took the Star Trek: Next Generation cast to the big screen—not to mention reinventing classic space shows Battlestar Galactica and Cosmos—it was another young writer from the TNG stable, Naren Shankar, who would contribute to the most science-fiction TV in his post-Trek career. Over three decades as a screenwriter and showrunner, Shankar has worked on genre classics such as SeaQuest, Farscape, The Outer Limits, and, most recently, the phenomenally successful adaptation of James S.A. Corey's Expanse novels, currently in its final season on Amazon Prime. In this episode of Primitive Culture, host Duncan Barrett speaks to Shankar about a life in science-fiction TV—from his early days as a writer-scientist in the Star Trek: Next Generation writers' room to his current role at the head of one of the most lauded sf shows to hit the small screen in decades. We discuss where the science ends and the fiction begins—from the rather cavalier “teching the tech” of nineties' Star Trek to the precise physics demanded by The Expanse—and ponder why the current historical moment seems to be heralding something of an sf renaissance. Host Duncan Barrett Guest Naren Shankar Production Duncan Barrett (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Tony Black (Associate Producer) Clara Cook (Associate Producer)

Live from Destination Star Trek London 2021. After the cancellation of last year's Destination Star Trek (DST) in London, anticipation for 2021 event, billed as Europe's largest Trek convention, was greater than ever. A slew of last-minute guest dropouts—combined with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic—didn't stop thousands of Trekkies from descending on ExCel London exhibition and convention center for the three-day celebration. In this episode of Primitive Culture, host Duncan Barrett speaks to more than 20 convention attendees—a mixture of guests and fans—to learn their impressions of the con. It may not have turned out to be the grand celebration originally billed, but, for most, it remained a great opportunity to interact with their extended Star Trek family after almost two years of isolation. From Captain Janeway's coffee mornings to Dungeons and Dragons with the crew of Star Trek: Discovery, DST 2021 seemed to have something for everyone—even Boris Johnson, the improbable Trek fan who is prime minister of Great Britain! Host Duncan Barrett Guests Carlos Miranda, Nick Jones, Rashid Uzzaman, John and Olivia (I Quit Star Trek), Faux BoJo, Drew and Tracy Barker, Sam Darragh, Kate Mulgrew, John Billingsley, Noah Averbach-Katz, Hannah Cheeseman, Elizabeth Dennehy, Wilson Cruz, Andrew Robinson, Martha Hackett, Garrett Wang, and Tony Lee Production Tony Black (Editor) Duncan Barrett (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

James Bond and Julian Bashir. Not many film franchises can boast 25 installments over the course of more than half a century, so for sheer longevity the James Bond cinematic franchise certainly gives Star Trek a run for its money. In some ways, the old-fashioned brutal masculine ethos of Bond feels very much out of place in the utopian Trek future, and yet both are properties forged in the cultural crucible of the 1960s that have been forced to reinvent themselves with every passing generation. In this episode of Primitive Culture, host Duncan Barrett is joined by Carlos Miranda for a trip to the Double-Oh Heaven of Julian Bashir's favorite spy holoprogram. We consider the lasting influence of “Our Man Bashir”—not just on the good doctor's story arc but on the shape of Deep Space Nine as a whole— and try to answer the thorny question of what our fantasy lives have to say about our innermost character. We also ponder whether Commander Bond of M16 would feel more at home in Starfleet or the Obsidian Order. Host Duncan Barrett Guest Carlos Miranda Production Duncan Barrett (Editor, Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

Tony Black's new book: *Star Trek, History and Us*     From 1960s hippies in “The Way to Eden” to the War on Terror in Enterprise Season 3, Star Trek has always reflected the cultural moment from which it springs. In his new book, Star Trek, History and Us, Tony Black brings the Primitive Culture approach to print, taking a long view of the past half-century through the prism of Star Trek's 800 episodes and films. In this episode of Primitive Culture, host Duncan Barrett is joined by Tony to discuss the book's journey from idea to publication. We look at how—from the 1960s up to the 2020s—Star Trek has continually shifted with the times, reflecting and interrogating the various eras of its production. From the religious right in the 1970s to Monica Lewinsky in the 1990s, Tony draws on some surprising sources of inspiration in a book that is always illuminating and sure to appeal to Primitive Culture listeners old and new. Chapters Intro (00:00:00) Genesis (00:01:20) The Lost Era (00:11:05) Faith in the Future (00:21:05) #WeAreWokeTrek (00:32:25) Above the Law? (00:43:15) Don't Walk, Run! (00:49:00)   Host Duncan Barrett   Guest Tony Black   Production Tony Black (Editor) Duncan Barrett (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Tony Black (Associate Producer) Clara Cook (Associate Producer)

Robert Duncan McNeill on Star Trek's Directors' School. To Star Trek fans, he is Tom Paris, the cocksure pilot of the USS Voyager. But in Hollywood, Robert Duncan McNeill is better known as a different kind of helmsman. From his first day of filming on the Voyager pilot "Caretaker," McNeill declared his intention to take a shot at the director's chair, following in the footsteps of fellow Trek such as stars Jonathan Frakes, Levar Burton, and Leonard Nimoy. Two years later, when Frakes was forced to pull out of shooting the third-season episode "Sacred Ground," McNeill got his chance. It was to be the first of eight Star Trek episodes he directed, four on Voyager and four on Enterprise, and would lead to an illustrious career working on everything from Dawson's Creek to The Orville. In this episode of Primitive Culture, host Duncan Barrett is joined by McNeill to look back on his time at the Star Trek Directors' School, and to consider how those early experiences helped shape his career. We discuss the limited scope for auteurist flamboyance when playing within Trek's strict sandbox, the varied approaches that hired guns brought to the Voyager set week by week, and how the deftly handled comedy of "Someone to Watch Over Me" helped prepare him for his most recent work on Resident Alien and Turner & Hooch. Chapters Intro (00:00:00) Eyeing Up the Chair (00:02:27) In Berman's Box (00:12:15) Voyager (00:27:25) Enterprise (00:45:50) Tom Paris Returns? (00:58:49) Host Duncan Barrett Guest Robert Duncan McNeill Production Duncan Barrett (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

Twenty Thousand Leagues across the Delta Quadrant.  Throughout Star Trek: Voyager's seven seasons, Tom Paris repeatedly proved his credentials as a mid-20th-century history buff, with his replicated TV set, black-and-white B-movie holonovels, and even his own 3D cinema. But in the fifth-season episode “Thirty Days,” he reveals a boyhood fascination with a much earlier period of history and literature: the age of great nautical exploration. In particular, young Tom was obsessed with Jules Verne's 1870 novel Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, a pioneering work of science fiction that—in its vivid depiction of the wonders of the ocean—anticipated much of Star Trek's fascination with another vast unknown: space. In this episode of Primitive Culture, host Duncan Barrett is joined by Lee Hutchison to discuss Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea (and the popular 1954 Disney adaptation) in relation to “Thirty Days” and the fourth-season Voyager episode “Year of Hell,” which borrows much of its plot from Verne's novel, transposing the action from Captain Nemo's submarine Nautilus to Annorax's temporal weapon ship. Join us for a deep-dive into the murky depths of this remarkable book, in which madness, monsters, and mutiny are never that far from the surface. Chapters Intro (00:00:00) Diving the Starry Sea (00:05:00)   “Year of Hell” (00:20:55)   Temporal Psychosis (00:51:00)   Mutiny (01:07:00)   Final Thoughts (01:13:45)   Host Duncan Barrett Guest Lee Hutchison Production Duncan Barrett (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

How Nicholas Meyer’s other time-travel caper inspired The Voyage Home When Nicholas Meyer was called in to write a new script for Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, just weeks before pre-production was due to begin, he must have been struck with a bad case of déjà vu. Leonard Nimoy explained that the story outline he would be working from involved the crew of the Enterprise traveling back to present-day San Francisco for a nice fish-out-of-water comedy. Just a few years earlier, Meyer had made his own directorial debut with Time After Time, a film he had written based on a friend's unfinished novel. In this story, 19th-century novelist H.G. Wells travels back to present-day San Francisco with equally amusing results. Time After Time had married nice comedy with a distinctly nasty streak, since Wells's burgeoning romance with an emancipated 20th-century woman was threatened by another time-traveler, Jack the Ripper. But tonal differences aside, the films would prove to have a lot in common, and Meyer's script for Star Trek IV (he wrote the "historical" sections, while Harve Bennett provided the 23rd-century wraparound) recycled—and in some cases upcycled—specific moments, and even specific jokes, from his earlier movie. In this episode of Primitive Culture, host Duncan Barrett is joined by Tony Black for a side-by-side look at these two films. Did Meyer's "second draft" of the time-travel romp succeed in eliminating the flaws of his debut? What does it mean for Spock and Kirk to be mapped onto the roles of Wells and the Ripper respectively? And does our enjoyment of the one film affect how we experience the other? Host Duncan Barrett Guest Tony Black Production Tony Black (Editor) Duncan Barrett (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

The Scopes Monkey Trial, Inherit the Wind, and DS9’s “In the Hands of the Prophets.” The trial of US high school teacher John Scopes in 1925 was perhaps the definitive 20th-century showdown between religion and science. Indicted for teaching Darwin’s theory of evolution in defiance of creationist state law, Scopes turned the small town of Dayton, Tennessee, into the center of a political carnival. Household names headed up the legal teams on both sides, vast crowds packed into the courthouse, and performing chimps were stationed outside among the lemonade stands to provide entertainment for those who couldn't get a ringside seat. In this episode of Primitive Culture, host Duncan Barrett is joined by Clara Cook to look at how the Scopes Trial—and it’s most well-known cinematic recreation in the lightly fictionalized 1960 film Inherit the Wind—featured as a major inspiration for Deep Space Nine’s Season-One finale, “In the Hands of the Prophets.” Penned by Robert Hewitt Wolfe, this classic episode eschewed the temptation of a shocking cliffhanger ending in favor of a complex political and philosophical drama which staked a claim to the kind of show DS9 would go on to be. Chapters Intro (00:00:00) Inherit the Wind (00:04:25)   Fire and Brimstone (00:29:05)   Galileo, Galileo (01:06:40)   Religious Education (01:28:30) Host Duncan Barrett Guest Clara Cook Production Tony Black (Editor) Duncan Barrett (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

Suspiria and “Cold Fire” Despite being teased in the series premiere, it took Star Trek: Voyager well over a year to actually introduce its female caretaker, a being with the power to send the ship home on a whim. And when the entity did appear, in the second-season episode “Cold Fire,” she turned out to have a surprising and distinctly sinister name: Suspiria. An apparent reference to Dario Aregnto’s 1977 film of the same name, in which a young ballet student stumbles into a coven of witches, it was a clear sign that the female caretaker would prove less benign than her male counterpart. In this episode of Primitive Culture, host Duncan Barrett is joined by Lee Hutchison for a look at some of the links between Argento’s remarkable movie and this unusually creepy Voyager installment. We discuss episode writer Brannon Braga’s well-documented love of horror, the repurposing of Kes as the archetypal Scream Queen, and whether the horror genre’s conflicted feminism is a good or bad fit for the gender politics of Trek’s first female-led show. Host Duncan Barrett Guest Lee Hutchison Production Tony Black (Editor) Duncan Barrett (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

Episode titles since 2009. Concluding our look at Star Trek’s 800-plus episode titles to date, in this episode of Primitive Culture host Duncan Barrett is joined by Tony Black to consider naming strategies for the Kelvin films, Short Treks, Discovery, Picard, and Lower Decks. What exactly lies “beyond” the final frontier? Can magic really make the sanest man go mad? And how moist can a vessel get before it becomes little more than broken pieces? Host Duncan Barrett Guest Tony Black Production Tony Black (Editor) Duncan Barrett (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

The original reset button. It’s one of the oldest of literary tropes: a sudden, last-minute reveal that an apparent fictional reality is actually doubly invented. From Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland on, writers have thrilled in pulling the rug out from under readers and characters alike, allowing carefully constructed scenarios to collapse like a house of cards as their protagonists awake from an alarmingly realistic fantasy. The medical drama St. Elsewhere went as far as to imply that its hundred-plus episodes were no more than a young boy’s daydreams, while Dallas famously reset an entire season of continuity when Pamela Ewing awoke to find her supposedly long-dead husband taking a shower. In this episode of Primitive Culture, host Duncan Barrett is joined by Lee Hutchison to look at Star Trek’s responses to the dreamland trope, in episodes such as The Next Generation’s “Future Imperfect,” Deep Space Nine’s “The Search, Part II,” and Enterprise’s “Vanishing Point.” Why do some wake-up turnarounds leave the viewer feeling cheated, while others play as a brilliant coup de théâtre on the part of the writers? Is the ambiguity baked into episodes such as Voyager’s “Barge of the Dead” and DS9’s “Far Beyond the Stars” a cop-out or a smart creative move? And can we ever truly be sure that we’re awake and not still dreaming? Host Duncan Barrett Guest Lee Hutchison Production Duncan Barrett (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

Episode titles in Voyager and Enterprise. Does hubris always lead to nemesis? What can you see in a mirror, darkly? And how do you know when you’ve finally reached the endgame? In this episode of Primitive Culture, host Duncan Barrett is joined by Tony Black to continue our look at Star Trek episode titles as we wrap up Voyager, Enterprise, and the Next Generation films. Host Duncan Barrett Guest Tony Black Production Tony Black (Editor) Duncan Barrett (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Tony Black (Associate Producer) Clara Cook (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer)

Milestone Episodes of Star Trek. For most TV shows, making it to the one-hundredth episode is a significant achievement. In the Star Trek franchise, only the three 1990s spinoffs—The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, and Voyager were able to reach this milestone. But collectively, more than half a century since Gene Roddenberry’s original show debuted in 1966, the nine series that now comprise Star Trek are about to deliver their 800th installment. In this episode of Primitive Culture, host Duncan Barrett is joined by Tony Black and Clara Cook to celebrate their own milestone as the show reaches its 100th episode. Join us for a trip down memory lane as we discuss some of Star Trek’s landmark installments and find out how your own knowledge of the podcast stacks up against Duncan’s two former co-hosts as we play the inaugural Primitive Culture Quiz! Host Duncan Barrett Guests Tony Black and Clara Cook Production Tony Black (Editor) Duncan Barrett (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Tony Black (Associate Producer) Clara Cook (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer)

A Marxist analysis of “Bar Association,” with Will Nguyen. From lowly dogsbody to Grand Nagus of the Ferengi Alliance, Quark’s brother Rom went on quite a journey during Deep Space Nine’s seven seasons. Perhaps the most pivotal moment for the character came in the episode “Bar Association,” in which Rom outrages Ferengi custom by setting up a union for the bar staff. In this episode of Primitive Culture, host Duncan Barrett is joined by Will Nguyen, better known online as The Trekkie Communist, to take a look at this key episode from a Marxist perspective. How does the utopian Starfleet coexist with Ferengi capitalism? Is the Federation really as classless as it seems? And what changes might it take in the real world for us to approach a Star Trek future? Chapters Intro (00:00:00) A Union Man (00:03:55) Starfleet Soviets (00:18:40) The Rommunist Manifesto (00:37:50) Blood Feudalism (00:50:45) Getting from Here to There (01:08:20) Host Duncan Barrett Guest Will Nguyen Production Tony Black (Editor) Duncan Barrett (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Tony Black (Associate Producer) Clara Cook (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer)

Episode titles up to “What You Leave Behind” When is a scorpion not just a scorpion? What wrongs are darker than death or night? And what happens when you cross a dark frontier to dance with the devil in the pale moonlight? In this episode of Primitive Culture, we continue our trek through Star Trek’s episode titles as host Duncan Barrett is joined by Lee Hutchison for a look at the final seasons of Deep Space Nine and the middle years of Voyager. Host Duncan Barrett Guest Lee Hutchison Production Tony Black (Editor) Duncan Barrett (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Tony Black (Associate Producer) Clara Cook (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer)

Dan Davidson on how “Captive Pursuit” saved his life. For many fans, Star Trek has been a force for good in their lives—but few can say with certainty that they wouldn’t be here now if it weren’t for their favorite show. In this episode of Primitive Culture, a supplement to the previous episode’s look at suicide in Star Trek, host Duncan Barrett shares an interview he conducted last year with Dan Davidson. Twenty years ago, Dan was on the point of ending his own life when the Deep Space Nine episode “Captive Pursuit” caused him to change his mind. He now shares his inspiring story of coming back from rock bottom in the hopes of helping other fans who find themselves in a similarly desperate situation. Need support? In the UK, the Samaritans are on 116 123. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reach at 1-800-273-8255. Host Duncan Barrett Guest Dan Davidson Production Duncan Barrett (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Tony Black (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer)

For Starfleet officers, saving lives is perhaps the most important part of the job, even more so than exploring the galaxy and making contact with new civilizations. So when a character such as Quinn, the Q in the Star Trek: Voyager episode “Death Wish,” chooses to end their own life, it invariably comes as a shock—just as, in our own lives, the death of a loved one by suicide can be a particularly disturbing loss. In this episode of Primitive Culture, host Duncan Barrett is joined by Clara Cook for a look at Star Trek’s depictions of suicide and parasuicidal behavior. We consider how the presentation of such desperate acts—and the impact on those left behind—has shifted in the half-century between The Original Series and Star Trek: Picard. We also dig into the tricky business of the “psychological autopsy,” trying to establish exactly why a person would choose to bring their own life to and end. Can 13—or 47—reasons why ever truly help us make sense of suicide? And what can those of us left behind learn about ourselves from those who’ve made such an irrevocable decision? Host Duncan Barrett Guest Clara Cook Production Duncan Barrett (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Tony Black (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer)

Episode titles from “The Search” to *Star Trek: First Contact*. As we continue our voyage through Star Trek’s episode titles, host Duncan Barrett is joined in this episode of Primitive Culture by Lee Hutchison for a look at some more episode titles from Deep Space Nine and Voyager. What exactly is the way of a warrior? How hard is it to fit through the eye of a needle? And where’s the right place to go looking for par’Mach, after all? Host Duncan Barrett Guest Lee Hutchison Production Duncan Barrett (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Tony Black (Associate Producer) Clara Cook (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer)

McCarthy, The Crucible, and “The Drumhead” In 1953, Arthur Miller’s play The Crucible used the Salem witch trials of 1692–93 as an allegory for the contemporary persecution of alleged communists by US Senator Joseph McCarthy’s House Un-American Activities Committee. Four decades later, the Star Trek: Next Generation episode “The Drumhead” drew on both the legacy of McCarthyism—as the senator’s search for communists in the US government came to be dubbed—and Miller’s play to craft a cautionary tale of an investigation into alleged Romulan spies on the Federation flagship. In this episode of Primitive Culture, host Duncan Barrett is joined by Amy Nelson for a look at this classic TNG episode along with its historical and literary influences. Is retired Admiral Norah Satie more witchfinder or witch? Is it ever acceptable to trade freedom for security? And what is the price that must be paid to maintain a utopian society? Host Duncan Barrett Guest Any Nelson Production Duncan Barrett (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Tony Black (Associate Producer) Clara Cook (Associate Producer)

Episode titles from “Emissary” to “All Good Things … “ As we continue our voyage through Star Trek’s episode titles, host Duncan Barrett is joined in this episode of Primitive Culture by Lee Hutchison for a look at the tail end of The Next Generation and the early years of Deep Space Nine. What happens when wishes become horses? To whose own self must we be true? And do all good things really have to come to an end? Chapters Intro (00:00:00) Undiscovered Countries (00:08:10) Emissary (00:17:30) Tapestry (00:49:35) Descent (01:15:10) Lower Decks (01:33:04) All Good Things … (01:54:45) Host Duncan Barrett Guest Lee Hutchison Production Duncan Barrett (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Tony Black (Associate Producer) Clara Cook (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer)

Frankenstein and the Star Trek universe. Originally published in 1818, Mary Shelley’s groundbreaking gothic novel Frankenstein has been a major influence on many works of dystopian science fiction—so much so that many critics argue she invented the genre. Star Trek itself has borrowed from the literary masterpiece—as well as it’s most famous film adaptation—on numerous occasions, from Guinan joking that the eponymous scientist was an old friend in “Evolution” to the crew of the NX-01 bickering over the 1931 movie in “Horizon.” In this episode of Primitive Culture, host Duncan Barrett is joined by Brandi Jackola for a look at the pervasive influence of Shelley’s novel on the Star Trek universe, from The Original Series through to Picard. We discuss Trek’s various mad scientists—among them the three Soongs, played by Brent Spiner, all of whom owe a major debt to Shelley’s protagonist—as well as look at how the author’s deep empathy for the hideous, ungodly “creature” at the heart of her novel chimes perfectly with Trek’s own approach to humanizing the most alien of antagonists. Chapters Intro (00:00:00) From Prometheus to Picard (00:06:45) “Prototype,” “Drone,” and “Life Support” (00:19:29) Cheating Death (00:43:00) Mad Soongs (00:56:37) Slippery Slopes (01:08:28) Host Duncan Barrett Guest Brandi Jackola Production Duncan Barrett (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Tony Black (Associate Producer) Clara Cook (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Amy Nelson (Associate Producer)

Episode titles in The Animated Series and The Next Generation. As we continue our look at Star Trek episode titles, host Duncan Barrett is joined in this episode of Primitive Culture by Tony Black for a look at the naming strategies of The Animated Series and The Next Generation. Did Michael Piller really put an end to the era of the poetic, evocative title, or did TNG simply find other ways to play with the weekly nomenclature? What is sharper than a serpent’s tooth? Just who does watch the watchers? And which man was being measured when Data found himself on trial? Guest Tony Black Production Tony Black (Editor) Duncan Barrett (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Tony Black (Associate Producer) Clara Cook (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Amy Nelson (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager)

Talking Horror with Brannon Braga. In space, no one can hear you scream. And while the well-lit corridors of a Federation starship may seem worlds away from the grimy darkness of the Nostromo, even Starfleet’s best and brightest are sometimes caught in the grip of a full on horrorfest. Perhaps no one in Star Trek’s history has penned more chilling and gruesome tales than Brannon Braga, whose hundred-odd franchise installments run the gamut from spine-tinglers such as “Schisms” and “Frame of Mind” to the full-on body horror of “Genesis” and “Phage.” In this episode of Primitive Culture, host Duncan Barrett is joined by Braga for a look at some of his creepiest episodes of Star Trek. Along the way we discuss the thrill of turning the Enterprise into a haunted house, how Star Trek: First Contact narrowly escaped an R rating from the Motion Picture Association of America, and whether or not Star Trek, in the post-network-TV age, should be looking to embrace even more nightmarish imagery. Host Duncan Barrett Guest Brannon Braga Production Duncan Barrett (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Tony Black (Associate Producer) Clara Cook (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Amy Nelson (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager)

Episode Titles in The Original Series. “What’s in a name?” Juliet demands of Romeo. “That which we call a rose. By any other name would smell as sweet.” In 1968, the Star Trek episode “By Any Other Name” took more than just its title from Shakespeare—it used Juliet’s words as a jumping-off point to consider what makes us human. But it was also characteristic of the Original Series scriptwriters to lean on such rich literary source material when it came time to name this particular episode. In fact, throughout Trek’s 50-plus-year history, the names given to individual episodes have often revealed a lot about their content—sometimes providing additional context to what is depicted on screen. In this episode of Primitive Culture, the first in a series looking at episode titles throughout Star Trek, host Duncan Barrett is joined by Tony Black to consider some of the more interesting among Trek’s original 80 installments as we ponder the difference between a cage and a menagerie, work out exactly who does mourn for Adonais, and try to remember just what little girls are supposed to be made of. Chapters Intro (00:00:00) Season One (00:21:40) Season Two (01:00:25) Season Three (01:30:25) Host Duncan Barrett Guest Tony Black Production Tony Black (Editor) Duncan Barrett (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Tony Black (Associate Producer) Clara Cook (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Amy Nelson (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager)

Trekonomics, with Manu Saadia. “The economics of the future are somewhat different,” Captain Jean-Luc Picard tells Lily Sloane in Star Trek: First Contact. “You see, money doesn’t exist in the 24th century.” But the “primitive” 21st-century human is instinctively appalled: “No money? You mean you don’t get paid?” To some viewers, the post-scarcity economic system that underpins the Star Trek universe—what author Manu Saadia calls “Trekonomics”—can seem equally baffling. But is the utopian future of the Federation really as improbable as the creation of warp drive or the transporter? Or is Star Trek, as a cultural product of American capitalism, produced by relatively well-paid entertainment professionals, just fundamentally ambivalent when it comes to some of its most sacred ideals? In this episode of Primitive Culture, host Duncan Barrett is joined by Saadia for a look at both the imaginary economics of Star Trek and the real-world economics of getting the show on the air—and turning a profit from it. We also discuss the link between economic conditions and “evolved” human behavior, the thorny question of human nature, and the extent to which—in attempting to predict the future—all economic theories are really little more than science fiction. Host Duncan Barrett Guest Manu Saadia Production Duncan Barrett (Editor and Producer), C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Amy Nelson (Associate Producer) Tony Black (Associate Producer) Clara Cook (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager)

DS9’s “Meridian” and the 1954 Hollywood musical that inspired it. Perhaps more so than any other Star Trek series, Deep Space Nine leaned heavily for inspiration on the world of 20th-century film. But not every futuristic retooling of a classic movie could reach the heights of “Badda-Bing Badda-Bang,” which we discussed in our previous episode. Perhaps the least-successful of DS9’s cinematic adaptations was the third-season episode “Meridian,” which took its central conceit from the 1954 MGM musical Brigadoon, about a magical Scottish village that appears only once a century. So what exactly was lost in translation between the Scottish Highlands and the Gamma Quadrant, and how could the DS9 writers have approached this particular challenge differently? Or was the whole enterprise simply a fool’s errand—Brigadoomed from the start? In this episode of Primitive Culture, Duncan Barrett and Tony Black answer these questions and more. Join us as we strap on our kilts, ready our cabers, and pay a rare visit to this little-loved Star Trek episode and the ersatz Scottish movie that inspired it. Chapters Intro (00:00:00) Brigadoon (00:02:50) To B-Plot or Not to B-Plot (00:22:43) Space Soap Opera (00:39:55) Brigadoomed? (00:55:25) Host Duncan Barrett Guest Tony Black Production Tony Black (Editor) Duncan Barrett (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Tony Black (Associate Producer) Clara Cook (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Amy Nelson (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager)

Ocean’s 11 (1960) and “Badda-Bing, Badda-Bang.” Long before George Clooney assembled his star-studded gang of high-rolling thieves, the original Danny Ocean—Frank Sinatra—successfully knocked off five casinos in a single night in the original 1960 Ocean’s 11. With help from Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., and the rest of the Rat Pack, Sinatra brought his own brand of cool to the caper genre in a film that, arguably, proved more iconic than creatively successful. Three decades later, when the producers of Deep Space Nine began plotting their own casino heist in “Badda-Bing, Badda-Bang,” it was to Sinatra’s job that they turned for inspiration, even renting particular period-specific costumes because they matched those featured in the movie. In this episode of Primitive Culture, host Duncan Barrett is joined by Justin Oser to look at the links between Ocean’s 11 and “Badda-Bing, Badda-Bang,” two stories in which a crack team of decorated war veterans must pull off the most audacious mission of their careers. We consider what the DS9 writers added to the mix (not least a bit of nifty shapeshifting), as well as ponder how high the stakes can be in a film about rich people getting richer—not to mention a robbery committed by those who barely understand the concept of money. Chapters Intro (00:00:00) Hanging with the Rat Pack (00:03:55) The Lie (00:15:25) The Eyes Have It (00:40:35) Monopoly Money (00:54:25) Host Duncan Barrett Guest Justin Oser Production Tony Black (Editor) Duncan Barrett (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Tony Black (Associate Producer) Clara Cook (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Amy Nelson (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager)

Cold War Détente and Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. When Nicholas Meyer returned to the Star Trek cinematic universe with Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, he produced one of the franchise’s most flagrant—and successful—examples of “ripped from the headlines” storytelling, reimagining the collapse of the USSR in space. Gorbachev became Gorkon and Chernobyl became Praxis. And, in the story’s imagined cabal, who will stop at nothing to preserve the Cold War status quo, the film tapped into an anxiety that lingered around this pivotal moment. After the “end of history,” as Francis Fukuyama memorably described it, what kind of future might lie around the corner? Would the old cold warriors still find a place for themselves in this new, as-yet-undiscovered era? In this episode of Primitive Culture, host Duncan Barrett is joined by Tony Black for a look at Fukuyama’s seminal 1989 essay “The End of History” and its influence on The Undiscovered Country. We consider some of the inherent risks—as well as the pleasures—in borrowing from current events and also ponder a tricky question: If only Nixon could go to China, does that make Kirk, who once seemed like an echo of JFK resurrected on the bridge of a starship, the heroic president’s most cynical and untrustworthy successor? Chapters Intro (00:00:00) Discovered Countries (00:08:55) Make Peace or Die (00:15:36) Dinosaurs (00:40:55) Klingon Lives? (00:55:25) Host Duncan Barrett Guest Tony Black Production Tony Black (Editor) Duncan Barrett (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Tony Black (Associate Producer) Clara Cook (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Amy Nelson (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)