Set Phasers: A Highly illogical Star Trek Discovery Podcast

It is the end. And the end. And the end! Will Michael find the progenitor's technology? Will Moll be able to bring L'ak back to life? Will Rayner and DISCO be able to hold off the Breen? Will Saru be able to engage in diplomacy with Primarch Tahal? And most importantly: is there going to be a wedding at the end? Come for the science fiction, the pew-pew, and the fate of all the galaxy -- stay for a cute wedding sequence. Hope everyone you love got out alive. It's time to say goodbye, old friends. Live long -- and prosper.

A race to find the progenitor's tech between Discover and the newly minted Moll's Dreadnaught. DiSCO gets there about a moment before Moll, only to spend a few minutes indulging in wonder get scooped by the Breen.   While Michael, Book, Adira, and Rhys go undercover to get the progenitor's "structure", folks back at Fed HQ are concern because Primarch Tahal (a different Breen overlord) is steaming for the same location to absorb Ruhn's former soldiers into her squad as the Breen prepare for a possible civil war.   The Federation and the Breen; DISCO and Moll et al -- and we torn between (at a lagrange point of sorts) wondering what will befall the galaxy!

To the Archive! A beautiful, harry potter-esque, castle-in-the-sky full of books and things.  There, Book finds a piece of Kwejian and Michael finds an artifact in Dr. Derex's book Labyrinths of the Mind. When she touches it, she is transported to a literal figurative labyrinth and her body goes catatonic.   Meanwhile, the Breen (and Moll) follow DISCO's trail to the Archive and begin to bombard it. Raynor and Book do their best to fight off Breen incursions as Michael hunts through the maze with an AI Book. And DISCO (with Cmmdr Rhys at the helm) does their best to keep the Breen incursion limited.   Everything comes to a head -- and the poor, poor books! What will become of them?!   Join us on Patreon for more! http://patreon.com/setphasers

Finally, Moll and L'ak are finally caught. L'ak is still in pretty bad shape after the fisticuffs on the ISS Enterprise. When they are brought to Federation HQ on Discovery, it is just as a "primarch" of the Breen Imperium is headed there to collect the prisoners and their blood-bounty (see: "erigah").   Culber races to heal L'ak. Adira and Tilly (with the help of Commander Reno) begin to decipher the location of the final clue. President T'rina is in charge of diplomacy as the Breen make contact with the Federation for the first time since The Burn.  And Raynor is hiding something about his past. Should work out just fine...   Join us on Patreon for more! http://patreon.com/setphasers

The penultimate clue to the "progenitor tech" leads Discovery to a pre-warp, pre-industrial world called Halem'no, where the denizens speak via voice *and* a form of "whistlespeak." Michael and Tilly go undercover as Halemnians and have to run a race up a mountain to gain access to a temple where the fifth clue may be hidden! In a classic Trek turn of events, the race's reward is not exactly what it seems and the clue is not exactly where it seems -- and, briefly, all hell breaks loose.   Meanwhile, on the ship, Dr. Culber is experiencing a spiritual awakening and an emotionally remediated Commander Rayner does an "ok" job of helping Adira overcome their self-confidence issues. Also, Book plays pong‽    Join us over on patreon http://patreon.com/setphasers to join our community chats and get early access ro episodes!

Discovery figures out where Moll and L'ak have gone. It was right in front of their faces the whole time! A blinking wormhole made of exotic matter that leads into interdimensional space. No biggie. Michael and Book head in to find the next clue, Rayner has the conn, and the science folks work to find ways to keep up communications and/or get the ship back.   Inside the wormhole? Why, there's the Mirror Universe Enterprise, a stranded couple of courier-lovers with an extensive, operatic backstory -- and, the next clue. Much is revealed but, perhaps the most staggering thing of all: the Breen have two faces(?!)!   Join us over on patreon http://patreon.com/setphasers to join our community chats and get early access ro episodes!

The time is getting VERY *wimey* in this episode of Discovery. Just as the crew heads to the coordinates they got from the ancient Trill host Jinaal scratching their heads at an empty pocket of space, Moll's trap is sprung. Apparently, she put a "time bug" on their ship which, once it connected to the ship's engineering, causes them to hop about willy-nilly in time. Thus, are Michael and Rayner sent on a merry chase through Discovery's past -- and one harrowing presentiment of their future.    They'll have to band together with Stamets, who is always somewhat out of time (so to speak), to kill the bug and get back to the present. And the race to get to the Progenitor Tech. Should be simple... unless Michael and her past-self have to duke it out in an elevator. But what are the chances? Join us over on patreon http://patreon.com/setphasers to join our community chats and get early access ro episodes!

Everyone is simply trying to settle in. Book is settling in as a "consultant" on Discovery as they hunt down the map pieces to the Progenitors' "treasure." First Officer Raynor (nee Captain of the Antares) is trying integrate with the DISCO crew... sorta of. And the consciousness of an 800 year old Trill scientist is trying (and succeeding) to settle into the body of Dr. Hugh Culber so that he can lead and/or mystically cajole Michael and Book toward the hidden second piece of the puzzle.    Saru, in his new gig, gets a hint of what arguments will be like with his Vulcan wife-to-be (and, possibly, with the folks on her planet); Grey and Adira come together after months apart... and break up; and giant angry carnivorous fly-bears give everyone's favorite space druid a walloping.   Join us over on patreon http://patreon.com/setphasers to join our community chats and get early access ro episodes!    

The hunt is on for the hiding place of the Progenitors' tech. The couriers/outlaws Moll and L'ak have a head start on the Federation — but the Federation has DISCO! Captain Burnham is excited be off on an adventure to uncover the origins of sentient life in the galaxy, but changes are afoot. Book is back on board. Tilly is back on board! Joy is back on board the starship Discovery.   Alas, though, Saru is leaving to become an ambassador. He and Michael have one last away mission romp on a mysterious planet with curious clues, dangerous drones, and marvelous mysteries!   Join us over on patreon http://patreon.com/setphasers to join our community chats and get early access ro episodes!

The opening episode to Star Trek: Discovery's final season has EVERYTHING. There's phaser fights and fisticuffs, hover-bike chases, love burgeoning, love quickening, and love fading — hell, there's Soong style android with a love of speech pathology. Aaaaaand there's a top-secret Red Directive to find a journal which contains secrets pertaining to the advent of all life in the galaxy that *must not* fall into the wrong hands, else life as we know it will inherit the whirlwind! As such, Akie and Stevie have reconvened to discuss these goings-on and what might come in future. It's good to be back! Togetherness, yes? (Yes!) Join us over on patreon http://patreon.com/setphasers to join our community chats and get early access ro episodes! Check out our video episodes on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@setphaserspodcast

It is the finale. It is a Gorn attack. It is Captain Marie Betel down on a planet with 5000 colonists and the USS Cayuga blown to bits in orbit (save a healthy chunk of saucer section and a single survivor). It is the Gorn drawing a demarcation line in space and getting ready to feed.  And: it is Pike et al to the rescue (sorta)! At least, there's tactical gear and there are phase rifles and there is a death-defying flight down to the planet (her name is Erica Ortegas -- and she flies the ship).    We'll make some *new* friends and meet some *old* enemies (and there will be some pew-pews and some boom-bangs) but all's well that en--   Wait. What? How does it end?   A CLIFFHANGER?!?!?! Oh, for the love of Khaless. 

In a *literally* musical episode of Strange New Worlds, the folks on the Enterprise throw themselves into the the thick of it. Singing? Check. Dancing? Check? Harmony and counterpoint and a big cast number? CHECK.   It is very possible that viewers thereof will be as divided and passionate in their reactions to this episode as the characters themselves are about their own lives. We disagreed.    And yet, debate is the spice of life, is it not? Also, music. And love -- which, apart from figuring out what subspace instability has caused them all to break out in song and how to fix it, is the front and center in this penultimate episode of the season!

In a very special episode of Strange New Worlds, a very special guest is on board the ship: former Klingon warlord turned Federation diplomat Dak'Rah. While he may charm a lot of folks on board with his mild-mannered temperament and his charms, the veterans of the Federation-Klingon war are not so easily won over by the former "Butchet of J'Gal."   Among them, two of the Enterprises finest -- who happen to also have been on J'Gal when Dak'Rah committed atrocities -- Doctor M'Benga and Nurse Chapel.

An accidental portaling causes Ensign Boimler, of the USS Cerritos, to travel back in time to Pike's Enterprise. Boimler is ecstatic to meet his heroes, but they are more concerned with him not screwing up the timeline.    An attempt to send him back is thwarted by Orion scientist/pirates who steal the portal. Once that's back, a second attempt is thwarted by Ensign Mariner coming through to rescue Boimler -- using up the last of the specific element the portal needs to work.   Cerritos/Enterprise mash-up ensues. Orion hurricanes, Vulcan laughter, and a whole lot of shenanigans. 

Just a regular ol' deuterium mining operation in Bannon's nebula on the edge of Gorn space. Pike is made fleet captain over the refinery and the USS Farragut as they try to get things online securing a future refuel hub for Star Fleet ships to come. Meanwhile, Uhura is hearing things and having hallucinations. She isn't sleeping well and no one aboard the Enterprise thinks it is anything more than lack of sleep and slight deuterium poisoning. Fortunately, the Farragut's new First Officer, James T. Kirk, is aboard the ship engaging in fraught family-time with his brother Sam -- and *he* believes Uhura might be on to something (after she punches him the face).   Will Uhura and "the Kirks" be able to save the day? Probably. But it'll be a helluva time getting there! And maybe we'll make friends along the way?

Just a cute little episode in which Spock and Chapel head down to a moon of Vulcan, inexplicably live through a shuttle crash, and Spock is changed (by advanced beings on the far side of a tear in spacetime) into a full human -- with emotions and body odor, and everything.   It would be cute, at least, if Spock's fiancee, T'Pring, and her parents were not coming aboard the Enterprise to have a formal Vulcan engagement dinner -- and if T'Pring's mom didn't already REALLY dislike her future son-in-law.   Yes, shenanigans. Yes, matters of the heart. and, YES, there is passionate KISSY KISSY in the offing!

Well. It's a bronze age planet where an officer thought to be KIA years back has actually given the locals Starfleet tech and made himself king. Also, he is bitter because he was left behind by the Enterprise. Also there are asteroids on the planet that give off radiation that affect a person's memory and make them forget nearly everything -- their name, their history. So the landing part of Pike, La'An, and M'Benga are up a creek.   And it's just as bad on the Enterprise. Everyone is forgetting. Thankfully, there is a hero waiting in the wings. She flies the ship!

How would you feel about a La'an episode? Like *just* La'an, you know, chief security officer dealing with her job, her demons, her heritage, her past? That's a yes, isn't it?! Now, what if we told you we would do that but *also* add in some time travel (to the 21st century), slick leather outfits, a hot (red) muscle car, a massive explosion, gun fights, street food... AND a little side-quest romance with none other than James Tiberius Kirk? Double-yes? I mean, is it confusing? You betcha. But is it also delightful?  Yes. Yes. A thousand times, yes.

It is one of the mightiest of all Trek tropes: a court case! Full with all the pomp and drama of courtroom procedurals. Stodgy judges, tense side bars, esteemed witnesses and surprise cross-examinations, and even a delightful micro-mystery running through out. One that is, of course, solved by our plucky lawyer/investigator. It's a real romp, is what we're saying. And all of it save Una's career -- and prevent her from having to serve TWENTY years in a Federation penal colony. All rise, baby!   Http://patreon.com/setphasers

Set Phasers returns to run down the new season of Strange New Worlds!! And we begin... Enterprise is in space dock at Starbase 1. Pike is taking some personal days to find a lawyer (maybe?) to help Una Chin-Riley get out of jail and leaves Spock in charge. It should be a sleepy couple of days. Except, Spock is kind of in love with Nurse Chapel these days and his Vulcan emotional barriers have come down in a big way. Also, former security chief La'an calls with an emergency and so, against orders, acting captain and crew steal the Enterprise to go to the edge of Klingon space. There they discover a radical syndicate called The Broken Circle who are attempting to get the Federation-Klingon Empire war started back up again.     Also, M'Benga and Chapel get kidnapped, then take drugs, the kick a lot of Klingon ass, and then nearly get completely blown up and space-froze.   And Spock is put through the ringer.   Join us at http://patreon.com/setphasers and get behind the scenes access including live viewing of our run downs on YouTube for subscribers only!

It's over. It's all over. And it's so hard to say goodbye!    But before that, Picard et al have to save his son from the clutches of a vengeful Borg Queen [in a giant borg cube on Jupiter] *and* save Earth (and, indeed, the galaxy) from being assimilated by the new, youngling *bio-borgs*! It's all about parents and children and generations -- and passing the baton. These are the voyages, right? stiff upper lip, and all that.    We're not crying, you're crying.   Join us for more BTS and early access Set Phasers fun at http://patreon.com/setphasers

The truth is out about Jack -- he's Borg, baby!  That's how he's been able to mysteriously control other people (for better or worse). Upon discovering this about himself, Jack absconds on a shuttle to a mysterious place in space where he will meet the Borg Queen that has been calling for him all of his life.   Meanwhile, the crew of the Titan head to Sol System to warn Star Fleet about the Changeling/Borg conspiracy-- showing up just a bit too late. Assimilation goes off all over the fleet (via biological borg tech). Only the young people are affected, the Olds have to make a run for it.   The La Forges fall under the sway; Captain Shaw dies so the others may flee; and the original crew of TNG return to their old ship. The Enterprise NC 1701-D is back! ENGAGE!   Join us on http://patreon.com/setphasers to boldly go with us for more Star Trek fun!

Vadic has control of the USS Titan and she is planning to off bridge-crew members every ten minutes if Jack doesn't turn himself over. It springs many desperate plans into motion. Among them, trying to wake Data up to take control of the ship (even though the mind of his brother threatens to devour him) and Jack going to the bridge with a bomb in-hand to "negotiate" with Vadic.     To put it shortly, things are tense. Also, Riker and Trio have a lovely conversation while stuck in a jail cell on the Shrike.   Join us at http://patreon.com/setphasers for BTS fun and early access and more!

A "bottle" episode, as they say. The action takes place primarily on the Titan. With Picard et al, realizing that their backs are against the wall and no one can help them, allow Vadic and the Shrike to find them.    When Vadic and her boarding party come to the Titan, the crew tries desperately to trap them all and to get some answers out of them. Beverly and Picard talk to Vadic and learn about Project Proteus; Jack and Sydney LaForge have to team up against some baddies and that has... unexpected consequences.    And Data and Geordi have a heart to heart -- with occasional interruptions by Lore, who is hell-bent on creating utter chaos.    Join us on Patreon for early access, behind the scenes fun and hang outs at https://patreon.com/setphasers

The USS Titan is on the run! Not only from Starfleet but from a still-kicking Vadic on the Shrike. Things are getting pretty intense, but at the same time: it is an episode of reunions (keep your tissue box close). Worf and Geordi and Raffi and Seven and... Data?!?!   An away team beams aboard the Daystrom Station to find out what the changeling radicals have stolen; Picard's son and Geordi's daughter get up to some "minor larceny"; Riker is taken prisoner by Vadic -- *and* Data returns to (most of) his old crew. Oh... And it's almost Frontier Day!   Key moments timestamped! 5:23 Run down 22:41 Quick Chat 27:21 Easter Eggs 32:07 Quotable Moments 35: 16 Next Time!   Join us on Patreon for watch parties, zoom hangs, exclusives and more at http://patreon.com/setphasers

The plot thickens. The USS Titan has returned to Federation Space after the brutal battle with the Shrike in the nebula. Effecting repairs to their ailing vessel. Riker gives control of the ship back to Captain Shaw — who has already notified the Federation about his and Riker's shenanigans.  Picard prepared to take the blame only to discover the person sent to investigate is none other than former ensign (now Commander!) Ro! As Jack struggles with his, let's say, sanity, Ro drops her guard to tell Picard that Starfleet is compromised by changelings! Meanwhile, Worf and Raffi take on a brutal Vulcan gangster on Matalas IV.  It's bleak, folks! 2:19 Akie runs down the major plot points of this changeling filled episode! 16:15 Quick chat - Akie and Stevie decide their favourite plot lines involving Ro and Picard 13:02 Easter Eggs how many did you spot... or hear?? Terry Matalas gives us some retro throwbacks if you're ears are keen enough to find them 30:06 Tribute to our fallen cast members... 31:12 Quotable moments! Raffi held it down this time in Stevie's opinion! 33:08 A special next time where WE throw it back to some retro Trek music... Don't forget patron-only hang Sun 26th for a Ro Laren watchalong http://patreon.com/setphasers Join us!    

Well, the USS Titan has far too many captains (and would-be Captains on it). It isa falling into the gravity well of mysterious nebula, it is being pursued by a warship captained by a psychopath, and everybody is mad at everybody.   Nevertheless, they will band together (as Starfleet crews do) to win the day. Seven-of-Nine will hunt down the changeling saboteur on board, Picard will connect with his son, Beverly will determine that the nebula is really a womb, Jack will come up with a plan to ride the energy waves of the nebula to get out, Riker will think of using it to charge the warp core, and even Captain Shaw (a former, self-avowed, "grease monkey") will hotwire the nacelles to make it all work.   If they just. Work. Together!   3:19 - Rundown: Akie gives us a run down of all the key moments in the episode. 25:03 - Quick Chat: What did we make of the No Win Scenario and Shaw's big reveal... 29:04 - Easter Eggs: What fun Star Trek Easter Eggs did you spot this episode? Think back to Ten Forward and perhaps some space babies... 34:03 - Quotable Moments: Our favourite quotes from the ep! 38:44 - Stevie raps... 40:00 - Next Time! What's coming up next episode!   Join us and boldly go where we do at http://patreon.com/setphasers

With the USS Titan delving deeper into the nebula and the Shrike on its tail, tensions heat up on the ship. Picard and Beverly confront each other about Jack. The surly captain Shaw, injured in one of the Shrike's attacks, gives the command codes to Riker. Riker and Picard then face off about whether to fight or run. It's *pretty* intense on the Titan.   Meanwhile, Raffi meets Worf and they have tea and go interrogate a baddie about stolen weapons. Jack and Seven discover sabotage on the Titan and manage to get it fixed. Sadly, the sabateur (whose work is not done) and the baddie *both* turn out to be changelings! Which is not good. And then the warp coils get exploded on the Titan and it falls into the nebula. Which, oh, I might have mentioned: ain't just a nebula.  Good times.   3:52 - Rundown: Akie gives us a run down of all the key moments in the episode. 22:42 - Quick Chat: What did we make of the big chat with Beverly and Picard and what else struck us? 28:30 - Easter Eggs: What fun Star Trek Easter Eggs did you spot this episode? Some really deep cuts here from Seven's quarters through to Worf's choice in opera... 34:03 - Quotable Moments: Our favourite quotes from the ep! 35:50 - News: What is the latest Star Trek news from the Trek verse? Big announcement this week for Disco Season 6...   Join us for some patreon fun at http://patreon.com/setphasers 

A real romp in the offing now, as things heat up in the nebula. Picard, Riker and Jack Crusher are narrowly saved from complete destruction by a reluctant Captain Shaw of the Titan -- only to then have the mercurial Captain Vadic introduce herself and her heavily armed ship (the Shrike!) and give them one hour to turn Jack over or be annihilated.   Meanwhile, Raffi continues to hunt down the missing Daystrom weapons. In a rendevous with a ferengi arms deal named Sneed, she attempts to uncover who *actually* has the weapons. When things take a bad turn there, she too is saved from near annihilation by a mysterious silver-haired, black-clad Klingon who looks *very* familiar.   So, everyone is in danger and everyone is fighting their way out of it -- and Picard has a son!   Join us on Patreon for early access to episodes, video episodes, zoom hangs and MORE at http://patreon.com/setphasers

So, how's things in the 25th century? Well, Dr. Beverly Crusher is vaporizing baddies trying to board her beleaguered ship and sending coded messages to Picard -- whom she has not spoken with in 20 years. Raffi is working undercover to find stolen weapons on M'talas IV. Seven of Nine is working as first officer (under a pig-head of a captain) on the USS Titan.   As for Jean-Luc? He is moving house to join his girlfriend(?)-bodyguard(?)-housekeeper(?) Laris on her diplomatic posting in the Chaltok system. And, you know, letting go of the past.   And *that* is when he gets the message from Beverly -- and, as is typical, all hell(bird) breaks loose.    Join us and go boldly with our Patreon crew at http://patreon.com/setphasers  

Calling all Star Trek fans! Do you love deep dives inside the latest episodes of Star Trek? Do you long to nerd out over the best parts with other fans? You're in luck, on Set Phasers, we will fill your Klingon blood wine goblet with all the Star Trek goodness you need! From Pt'ach to ponfar! Join us as we uncover the easter eggs, the plot twists, the Trek tropes and more in our after-show, Set Phasers A Highly Illogical Star Trek Podcast. Subscribe to Set Phasers now!

One of our patrons jokingly asked for a Star Trek style meditation after Akie and I were messing around during an episode, and so here it is! The first of a bonus mini-series of immersive Star Trek styled soundscape to put YOU inside the world of Star Trek. In this meditation you head to Ten Forward for an after-shift beverage, are served by none of than Guinan herself and enjoy the musical 'stylings' of Commander Riker... Close your eyes and follow along! HEADPHONES RECOMMENDED FOR THE FULL IMMERSIVE AUDIO EXPERIENCE If you would like to submit an idea, join our patreon at http://patreon.com/setphasers

Mariner's gone; the Cerritos is in dry dock; and the new Texas-class ships are all the rage. In a meeting with the admiralty, Freeman learns of Buenamigo's plans to scrub all the Cali-class ships and replace them with automated Texas class. In response, she challenges him (and the USS Aledo) to a “mission race.” Meanwhile, Mariner tries to uncover what mystery benefactors are behind her new gig as a private (pirate) space archeologist. The LDers play John Henry and they can't win for losing — until a dangling thread gets pulled...   Just your nerdy friends Stevie and Akie at https://patreon.com/setphasers

Finally, Captain Freeman's initiative for "follow-up" missions is getting underway. The Cerritos is headed to the planet Ornara (where Picard made first contact 17 years prior) to, you know, see how they're doing. If it goes well, it could become an initiative for all California class ships. And the admiralty is so stoked about it that they're sending an FNN news anchor to cover this maiden voyage of the program.    Freeman is free-ked out about a reporter seeing how bonker the Cerritos can be. It sends her into a tizzy. At the same time, Mariner is getting the cold shoulder because she seems like the source of much of the "shenanigans".   Things come to a head, but it's penultimate episode of the season, so we're sure everything is gonna work out fine...

It's time for the big movie episode of Lower Decks! How about a sequel?! Crisis Point 2?! Time travel? Mysterious super-beings?! Romulan baddies?! Sounds like fun. Weirdly, though this sequel was written by Boimler, he seems uninterested in following his own wacky plot after learning that his transporter clone, William, is dead. And yet, the adventure continues, nevertheless.   Other things to note: Tendi is in charge; time-travel is absurd; gods spout empty aphorisms; and, last but not least: it was friendship all along.    Join us on patreon https://patreon.com/setphasers

A very peculiar episode of Lower Decks. Well, we find out what happened to the exocomp Peanut Hamper after they abandoned the crew of the Cerritos at the end of Season One. They wandered around for a bit, found their way to pre-warp planet, and do what Peanut Hampers do.   There's some romance, some flying snakes, some more *explicit* romance, a bunch of secret places shared, and a big reveal (or two) at the end. So to speak.    What have we learned from this episode? Peanut Hamper gonna Peanut Hamper. ANNNNND - we find out about all the latest Trek News from NYCC!   And don't forget to join us on http://patreon.com/setphasers

We're on Deep Space Nine, people. This is not a drill! We are on DEEP. SPACE. NINE!  Yes, the Cerritos is headed to that tacky Cardassian eye-sore, just next to the Bajoran Celestial Temple / Wormhole to the Gamma Quadrant to help with some diplomatic negotiations.   ...And when those negotiations go terribly wrong (because of, you guessed it, Quark!), it's just a good thing the right people were in the right place at the right time. This episode has everything: romance, interpretive dance, piracy, and gambling.   And [akie cries a single tear]: Sisko's baseball!!!!!!!

This episode is all about the Ruthefords, baby. Because there are two of him! One is the original Samathan – and the other is *EEEVIL!?*   Or, really, is an amalgam of the erased memories of Rutherford ten years past. They spend the episode fighting over control of Rutherford's body and it leads to some brief shenanigans on the ship. Who will win out in the end? Only a deadly space race will give us an answer!   Also, Mariner and Boimler go to a sort of career day festival/bazaar on Tulgana IV and Boimler loses his cool – all the way.   http://patreon.com/setphasers

In third episode of the fourth season, the Lower Deckers are getting back to business as usual. Where "business" is: crawling through jeffries tube in order to be their mortal enemies, Delta Shift, to a hidden terminal that will determine the winners of a lottery for a handful of luxury rooms on the first deck.    And where "usual: is: just after Captain Freeman has been possessed by a cursed mask that gave her strange technological powers in the name of some ancient entity named Minooki that wanted to turn the Cerritos into a early civilization-style temple.   Also, Rutherford and the engineering team attempt to relax on a spa space station.   Http://patreon.com/setphasers

Remote science planet. Glowing orbs that make your fantasies come to life. A hidden spy-plot. Klingon clowns with bat'leth's for arms. An amorous Dr. Leah Brahms. A guy gets his foot cut off with a chainsaw. Oh, and remember the Zaldan race from TNG?!   These are all things that appear in S3E3 of Star Trek: Lower Decks. Believe us, it makes sense. Eventually. Well, sorta.    Join us to go more boldly than you ever have before at hhtp://patreon.com/setphasers

It's game night on the Cerritos! The Lower Decks crew is playing Klingon role-playing game with wigs and everything. And that's the whole episode, and we loved it...   ...ok, no. That's a lie. The real plot is one in which Mariner is forced to learn how to follow orders (or seem to) even in the face of poor judgment (on the part of Ransom) and Rutherford gets into diplomatic trouble and almost sacrificed to a volcano on a sexy, pleasurey planet.    And Boimler decides to say yes to everything and winds up being hunted throughout the ship by a creature called K'ranch.    But, in the end, they *do* get back to game night – and it's spectacular.   http://patreon.com/setphasers

The Cerritos Lower Deckers are back!  ...but they are also grounded on Earth while Star Fleet looks into the accusations that Captain Freeman blew up the capital city of Pakled planet. So... it's not great.    Nonetheless, the Lower Deckers are making the most of it. Rutherford and Tendi are making the most of it, seeing the sites on earth. Boimler is working hard at his family's *raisin* vineyard.    And Mariner... well, Mariner, believing Star Fleet is looking for someone to take the fall for the Packled planet incident, is not supremely confident the trial will go well for her mother. Frustrated with the advice from her father to trust in the system, she enlists the rest of the LDers on a desperate (and very much unsanctioned) mission to clear her mother's name.   It goes... well.   Links mentioned in today's episode:   Our website for all things Set Phasers: http://www.setphasers.com    Star Trek Day portals: https://vrscout.com/news/star-trek-day-2022-will-feature-ar-delta-portals/   Lower Decks T-shirts: https://www.startrek.com/gallery/star-trek-lower-decks-t-shirt-collective-season-3/star-trek-lower-decks-t-shirt-collective-week-1-4503/3    Wrath of Khan 40th anniversary screening: https://www.fathomevents.com/events/Star-Trek-II-The-Wrath-of-Khan-40th-Anniversary-presented-by-TCM     

Akie and Stevie get together to discuss all the late-breaking Star Trek news dropped at San Diego Comic Con 2022. From Lower Decks and Strange New Worlds cross-over to the cast announcements from Picard Season 3 to the as-yet-untitled new Star Trek (Kelvin timeline!) movie that might come out in 2023.   It was an eventful few days as SDCC – and this is an eventful podcast, replete with at least a few occasions of bursting into song, some tin-foil hat plot theories, and *yet another* plea for Alex Kurtzman to hire us consult on a musical episode of Star Trek.    So. A totally reasonable episode of the podcast.   Join us for our patreon zoom hang July 31st at 4pm by becoming a patron here: Http://patreon.com/setphasers

In the season finale of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Pike travels forward in time to a future where he has avoided the disastrous explosion that the time-crystals of Boreth showed him. He is sent there by his future self to learn how that alteration to the timeline is bad for the universe.   How so? Well, let's just say there are varied Romulans involved, a noble commander, a snivelling and duplicitous sub-commander, and a mean ol' Praetor. And on the side of Star Fleet, a confused Pike, his crew (sans, Una for some reason)... and Captain James T. Kirk (of the USS Farragut).   Things go awry the future sucks. Pike returns, makes a noble decision. And then his lady-friend, Cpt. Batel, shows up and arrests Una for being an Illyrian. So... I GUESS WE'LL JUST PATIENTLY WAIT FOR SEASON TWO OR WHATEVER.   http://patreon.com/setphasers

NO ONE DIES IN THIS EPISODE. I PROMISE.    The above statement is a lie. In this penultimate episode of the season, Enterprise is called to an L-class planet to rescue a Federation ship that has crashed there. A landing party goes down, it's icy and cold. they get to the ship, no life-signs. The enter and it's full of blood and strewn body parts.   It's not long before they discover that, yes, there are *GORN* (!!!!!!) aboard and the battles for survival begin. An action-packed, heart-wrenching episode of Star Trek is what follows. And though things worked out in the end, I, Akie, may still be somewhat in denial...   At least Uhura decided to stay. There's that.   Join us for a zoom hang at the end of July http://patreon.com/setphasers

Sometimes you just need to get away from it all. Sometimes, you're working so hard on a cure for your terminally ill child that you're just worn out to the bone. Sometimes, a noncorporeal god-like entity living inside of a massive nebula makes the story-book fairytale that you read to your daughter come true in the real world and it transforms your starship into a sort-of middle school production of Little Red Riding Hood and all hell breaks loose because the crews minds have been taken over and they believe that they are who the are cast as – and the only person you can trust is the cantankerous engineer who isn't affected by the entity but has been cast as a powerful wizard and is... sorta taking to the role.   That's *if* you're Dr. M'Benga of the Enterprise in this week's episode of Strange New Worlds.   JOIN US for bowtie madness at http://patreon.com/setphasers

So... how do we feel about pirates?!!? Cool pirates with face tattoos and a stunning command of language and charisma who are, incidentally, posing as an aid worker in order to lure Enterprise out of Federation territory and take over the ship and sell the crew in slavery and exchange Spock for a prisoner in a Vulcan rehabilitation center?!   Because, if you're OK with that, you're going to be *pretty* happy about this episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. It's got everything, folks! Swashbuckling adventure, turnabouts, a phaser shootout on the bridge, a pirate mutiny, star-crossed lovers, AND Spock and Chapel do some HEAVY *kissy-kissy*. 'twas a serene squall, indeed!   Join us on patreon at http://patreon.com/setphasers

Just a routine cartographic survey! Should be pretty boring, actually. Except, the Enterprise comes out of warp and receives a distress signal from a vessel under attack and when they save them and beam the survivors aboard, one of them is old shoulda'/coulda'/woulda' love interest of a young Lieutenant Pike.   Also, one of them is a child monarch/deity of the people on the planet Majalis that is destined lead their people through some unspecified sacrifice. And his dad.   Needless to say, things get hairy. There are crosses and double-crosses, there is romance, and intrigue. And there is a critical moral quandary at the center of things.   Finally, Cadet Uhura is doing her crew rotations in security with La'an Noonien-Singh. She's learning a lot, as usual. And also, breaks the whole things wide open when it counts!   Join us for more in our Patreon community! http://patreon.com/setphasers 

Shenanigans! Rigamarole! HIJINKS!!!   That is the basis of this fifth episode of the season. Enterprise is docked at Starbase 1 for some much needed repairs and also much needed R&R for the crew.    Spock has big ideas of spending some *quality time* with his fiancee, T'Pring – but work keeps getting in the way. Eventually, in an attempt to share their souls in a Vulcan ritual, they swap katras and can get them swapped back. Didn't i say there was hijinks?!   Meanwhile, Number One and La'an are wandering the empty decks of the Enterprise wondering why people think they aren't fun – when they discover the game of "Enterprise Bingo." Nurse Chapel finds her casual relationship has taken a serious turn and has to extricated herself from the poetry-spouting Lt. Devers, even while giving Spock advice on his more serious relationship.   Oh, also, there is a SUPER important diplomatic thing going on with the R'ongovian Protectorate, where the Federation really needs to get a deal together as they own the only safe route through Klingon and Romulan space. But, you know, I'm sure this will all make sense one day.   Join us on patreon for hijinks! http://patreon.com/setphasers

The Enterprise is off to Finibus 3 just to deliver some much needed atmospheric filtering equipment when the find the scientific installation there abandoned and burning. There's blood all over the place and torn scraps of clothing – but no bodies...?!   Then some survivors show up in a cargo ship saying they were attacked but not sure by whom. And that's when La'an talks to a young girl who saw her father get taken and mentions a click noise and we find out it is... dunh dunh dunh! The GORN!!!!!!   AAAAAAAAAAHHH! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES! THERE IS NO ESCAPE, THERE IS NO WAY OUT! WE ARE THE PREY. THEY ARE GOING BITE US OPEN AND FEED US TO THEIR HATCHLINGS.   ...unless, Pike, Spock, La'an and crew can figure a way out of this pickle that involves a dying star with a black hole at its center. but what are the chances of that?!   Join us at http://patreon.com/setphasers to join in the fun with Akie and Stevie!

Everybody's got secrets! As the Enterprise explores an abandoned Illyrian colony planet for evidence of what happened to the gene-experimenting people, Spock and Pike are trapped down on the planet by an ion storm and the Enterprise is beset by a strange disease that makes people super randy for light and heat.   Number One, Una Chin-Riley, appears to be affected by the disease but also not at all affected by it and has to do a lot of heavy lifting to keep the Enterprise under control. Matching wits with Doctor M'Benga, engineer Hemmer, AND chief of security La'an.   Meanwhile, Pike and Spock are dealing with weird ghosts/entities down on the planet that are trying to break into their little shelter.    Secrets are revealed, lives are saved, and friendships tested and renewed. Strawberries!   Join us on Patreon at http://patreon.com/setphasers