Transporter Lock - A Star Trek: Discovery podcast

Picard S1E05: Stardust City Rag

February 24, 2020

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Seven of Nine returns in an episode that should’ve opened with a content warning. Ken and Bri debate Seven’s motivations, what’s happened to her since Voyager returned to the Alpha Quadrant, and whether we’ve seen the last of this character. Meanwhile, two different characters bid adieu to their sons this episode, and Agnes is all too briefly reunited with her lover. We have a theory about why she does what she does — a Transporter Lock original!

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Picard S1E04: Absolute Candor

February 16, 2020

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Even those whom Jean-Luc Picard has wronged recognize a worthy, if lost, cause when they see it. Our beloved captain continues to assemble his party as Ken, Bri, and Amanda — appearing together for the first time! — admire Romulan warrior nuns, roll their eyes at ancient Borg rituals, and get hyped for a reunion of liberated Borg, old and new.

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Picard S1E03: The End Is the Beginning

February 10, 2020

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Captain Sabriel returns, as does Chief Archivist Amanda, to review the third-ever episode of Picard. As things heat up at the château, Jean-Luc assembles a crew to help him track down Soji and Maddox. Engage!

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Picard S1E02: Maps and Legends

February 2, 2020

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The second episode of Picard introduces new characters and intrigue, rapidly advancing the plot while still not putting Jean-Luc on a starship. Ken and guest co-host Amanda are okay with this as we pull apart the threads of the Romulan’s Tal Shiar and Zhat Vash, our empathy (or lack thereof) for synthetic lifeforms, the integration of non-canon characters, and colorful metaphors in Trek.

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Picard S1E01: Remembrance

January 26, 2020

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Patrick Stewart returns as Jean-Luc Picard in “Remembrance”, the pilot episode of Star Trek: Picard. Bri and Ken react to the return of this iconic character, how he’s changed over the last twenty years, and his ability to be the action star of this new series. We also puzzle over the connection between synthetics, Borg, and Romulan, and we spot the many tie-ins to the universe of The Next Generation as well as the 2009 movie.

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Short Treks: Children of Mars

January 12, 2020

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The second season of Short Treks ends with "Children of Mars", giving Ken and Bri plenty to talk about! We examine the Starfleet educational system; the prevalence of shuttlecraft, bullying, and physical books; how labor laws and vacation time work; and how First Contact Day is observed.

More important, we piece together how this episode leads into next week’s debut of the Picard series. What involvement did Admiral Picard have in the attack of the rogue synths? What role do Section 31 and the Borg play, if any? There are many fine details hiding in "Children of Mars"; if you missed them, fear not, as we didn’t!

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Short Treks: Ephraim and Dot & The Girl Who Made the Stars

January 7, 2020

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For the first time in 45 years, Star Trek ventures into the frontier of animation! "Ephraim and Dot" is a comedic documentary about a tardigrade’s reproductive cycle, and "The Girl Who Made the Stars" is a tale of conquering one’s fear of the unknown. Ken and Bri review these two animated Short Treks, their place in Star Trek canon, and the promise they hold for future Star Trek series.

Finally, we look back at the cast and crew we lost in 2019: D.C. Fontana, Robert Walker, Michael Lamper, Aron Eisenberg, and René Auberjonois. We encourage all listeners who are able to make a donation to Doctors Without Borders in René’s memory.

Rene Auberjonois—Odo from DS9—has passed away. 😭

When he autographed a photo for me, he asked if I would make a donation to Doctors Without Borders in return. I did.

Let's all make a donation to @MSF_USA in Rene's memory. https://t.co/3wBQyC7ShL #RIPReneAuberjonois #StarTrek

— Ken Gagne (@gamebits) December 9, 2019

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Short Treks: Ask Not

November 17, 2019

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When a decorated but dishonored Starfleet captain puts Cadet Thira Sidhu in an impossible situation, she must choose a side with lives on the line. To be or not to be? That is the question Sabriel and Ken pose to our guest, Dori Robinson, Boston theatre director and co-host of Shakespearean podcast The Mousetrap. Was Cadet Sidhu’s test calculating or cruel? How would we have responded in that same situation? Is any internship worth psychological torture? And what does it say about Number One? From Hamlet to Alexander Dumas’ man in the iron mask, the shortest Short Trek to date spawns the most literary episode of Transporter Lock!

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Short Treks: The Trouble with Edward

October 21, 2019

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What would Star Trek look like if it were a comedy series? We don’t need to wait for the debut of Lower Decks, as the Short Treks episode "The Trouble with Edward" features both tribbles and the comedic talents of H. Jon Benjamin (Archer) and Rosa Salazar (Alita: Battle Angel). Ken and Bri ponder the consequences of this tale on Star Trek canon, from tribbles’ rate of breeding to the VCR-style post-credits commercial for breakfast cereal.

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Short Treks: Q&A

October 20, 2019

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New York Comic-Con featured the surprise debut of "Q&A", the first in a new season of Short Treks. The premiere episode does not in fact feature the return of John de Lancie’s recurring villain; instead, it’s a blast from the past as Ensign Spock arrives for his first day of duty aboard the USS Enterprise. As Number One escorts him to the bridge, Spock takes the opportunity to barrage her with questions, just as Ken and Sabriel barrage the listener with their take on this mysterious commanding officer, the morality and defensibility of the Prime Directive, and the Gilbert & Sullivan musical The Pirate of Penzance.

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