A Star to Steer Her By

The search for truth is on this week in DS9! First up: election of the new Bajoran Space Pope nears and Vedek Bareil is the clear favorite. But the return of a long-exiled turncoat bureaucrat could dig up past crimes and ruin everything in "The Collaborator"! After that, O'Brien just wants to relax with some technical manuals until he gets caught up in the Cardassian "legal system" with only a ham...

Bashir is in the thick of things this week on DS9. First up, in "The Wire" his lunch buddy Garak has a mystery ailment that gives clues to his past and points directly to a single source: Cardassia's infamous Obsidian Order! After that, in "Crossover", technobabble sends the good Doctor and Major Kira hurtling where Kirk and company went before: the mirror universe! Also this week: Obsidian Order...

SPOILERS! Seriously, they are there from the off, so if you've not yet watched all of the first season of "Star Trek: Picard" and don't want to be spoiled, skip this episode! We'll be back next week with more DS9! Otherwise, kick back and chill with your SSHB friends as we do a very broad, slightly meandering overview of the first season of the latest "Trek" series. This isn't a deep dive, more a...

It's just one episode this week as we settle in to talk about some of the ideas presented by "The Maquis" parts one and two, but not so much about the episodes themselves. Former Federation colonists now living in Cardassian space have decided they're getting the short shrift and have decided to take matters into their own hands, which could reignite war between The Federation and the Cardassian E...

The past is dropping by DS9 this week! First up, an old flame of Quark's shows up in "Profit and Loss", and she's running from both the Cardassians...and her feelings. After that, a trio of TOS Klingons ridge up and suit up for revenge and Dax wants to go along for the ride in "Blood Oath"! Also this week: fashion as metaphor, a Dax episode that works, and a bonus poem! [Timestamps: "Profit and Lo...

This week's episodes don't have much in common, but their titles sure did mash together handily! Isn't that nice? First up, Odo and Dax look into mysterious disappearances on an alien world in "Shadowplay", and the truth should have mind-shattering consequences! Emphasis on the SHOULD. After that, we could've had an awesome episode about a proto-universe but someone decided we'd rather follow some...

Lots of O'Brien this week, which means a lot of misery. But not entirely for him! First up, a conspiracy is afoot in "Whispers", and the Chief is the only person not corrupted by it...right? After that, Sisko and O'Brien end up stranded with a bizarre Luddite cult led by an astoundingly hateable villain in "Paradise"! Also this week: trying to edit around a bad intro, James Joyce facts, and the da...

There's some pretty good ideas on display this week on DS9, but the execution leaves us wanting. First up: Odo's "Dad" drops by and causes his boy enough stress that the Constable starts wrecking up the joint in "The Alternate". After that The Chief and Bashir are on the run from the dumbest peace plan in history in "Armageddon Game". Also this week: the Trek "other", abysmal hair, and our first e...

DS9 is loaded down with visitors this week on SSHB! First up, the Oatmeal people arrive from the Gamma Quadrant and decide Bajor would make a great home in "Sanctuary". After that, Jack Skellington (and Prince Humperdinck) himself, Chris Sarandon, plays an El-Aurian con man who gets his hands on a magical device that the story fails to make scientific in "Rivals"! Also this week: a "Trek" legacy g...

Spirits abound on DS9 this week, but it's not a spooky episode. Rather, Odo is haunted by his past and an unsolved case in "Necessary Evil". After that, Sisko questions the nature of a woman in red who can appear and disappear seemingly instantly in "Second Sight". Also this week: how Odo met Justice, "Columbo" connections, and romantic Sisko. Timestamps: "Necessary Evil": 00:45; "Second Sight": 2...

All the guest stars are underestimated this week on SSHB. First up: the titular "Melora", a native of a low-gravity world who struggles in most other environments, fights to be treated like anyone else before literally fighting the dumbest "Trek" alien ever. After that, Pel the Ferengi disguises herself as a man to prove that she has the best lobes of anyone in "Rules of Acquisition". Also this we...

Can everyone be brought back together successfully this week on DS9?! First up, Jadzia has the Dax symbiont stolen by some crappy little milquetoast in "Invasive Procedures", and it can only be gone so long before she'll die! After that, Cardassian scheming is at the epicenter of a custody dispute when a Cardassian orphan raised by Bajorans is revealed to be the son of a prominent politician in "C...

We tackle a "Trek" 3-parter this week on SSHB! "The Homecoming", "The Circle" and "The Siege" join forces to bring us one big (possibly too big?) story about a legendary Bajoran hero who barely matters in the grand scheme of things, a Bajoran supremacist movement, and the DS9 crew fighting to stop a coup that is secretly being armed by the Cardassians. Yes, it's about as complicated as it sounds!...

Bajor continues to make an excellent case for its being kept far away from the Federation as season 1 comes to a close! First up, a complicated scheme that leads to greater understanding is entirely undone by a single, enraged drunk in "Duet". After that, religious types try to meddle in public education and we realize Bajor is basically 95% redneck during "In the Hands of the Prophets". Also this...

It's a couple more clunkers this week on DS9, but we wring what entertainment out of them we can. First up: there's three plots in "The Forsaken", but only the one with Mama Troi hitting on Odo is any good. After that, the whole plot is rubbish but at least we get to watch almost everyone behaving weird in "Dramatis Personae". Also this week: bad metaphors, holy Roman Emperors, and O'Brien headcan...

SPOILERS AHOY! Your stalwarts have all finally gotten around to seeing "The Rise of Skywalker", the latest is Disney's attempt to MCU-ify George Lucas's iconic franchise and we're going to talk about it. Mostly we'll complain. Also this week: fake diversity, bad stereotypes, and Chris is wrong about Endor. Note: aside from spoiling everything about Episode IX, there's also some VERY minor "Mandalo...

Everyone has things they want, wish for, daydream about. In "Progress", one man dreams of being left in peace while Jake and Nog dream of profit. Meanwhile, dreams come to life a little too well and endanger everything in "If Wishes Were Horses". Also this week: stupid fads, the worst "Trek" weekend, and our Jake's business pursuits. [Timestamps: Progress: 01:14; If Wishes Were Horses: 27:41]

DS9 left us in the lurch this week, with two different episodes about conflict resolution of varying quality. First up: an eternal war is being fought by the biggest idiots in the Gamma Quadrant in "Battle Lines". After that, the Chief is dragged into a centuries-old rite to keep a monster at bay while, back on the station, Jake & Nog woo a young ruler as she tries to do right by her people. Also...

Everyone's favorite small business owner is up to his lobes in shenanigans this week! First up, when the Grand Nagus decides to retire and name Quark his heir it paints a target on the back of the bartender's head in "The Nagus"! After that, he stages a robbery that goes awry, kicking off a plot he otherwise features in very little and that gets increasingly convoluted in "Vortex"! Also this week:...

Holy Hannah we've hit one-fifty (ignoring various tens-forward and shore leave, shh) and to celebrate, "Trek" has given us...a real pair of stinkers. Damn. First up, a Starfleet Doctor has someone's consciousness joyriding in their noggin. No, we've not re-watched "The Search for Spock", we were subjected to the utterly obvious "The Passenger". After that, two writers and plenty of research into g...

DS9 is feeling a lot like its predecessor this week on SSHB. First up: Q and Vash are in town, and a mysterious artifact from the Gamma Quadrant is causing trouble in "Q-Less". After that, where TNG debated personhood in "Measure of a Man", DS9 tackles where one person ends and another begins in "Dax". But it's not as good. Whoops. Also this week: all alone, telegraphing twists, and video game ada...

The Chief plays pivotal roles to varying degrees in DS9 this week. First up: his job as head repairman also makes him patient zero for an aphasia virus in "Babel". After that, he goes full Starfleet when morality and the rules clash in "Captive Pursuit". Also this week: Tosks, DS9 security is as silly as "Enterprise" security, and worst contact. Timestamps: Babel: 1:36; Captive Pursuit: 34:40

Knowing where to put your faith when things are at a breaking point can be the difference between life and death this week on DS9. First up: in "Past Prologue" an old comrade of Kira's comes calling, but he's from a faction so violent that even the Bajoran government wants nothing to do with them. Has he really given up the life? After that, an obvious frame-up gives some discontent members of DS9...

Well, vacation is over. We've got an office to de-prank and a bunch of voicemails to answer, but it means we're back to "Trek"! But not just ANY "Trek"! It's time for "Deep Space Nine", with a slew of new faces, a new premise, and a show where our crew's home is a space station instead of a starship! Meet Commander Sisko and his crew as what looks to be a thankless, middle-of-nowhere diplomatic po...

Time to make it look like we didn't take anything from the minibar, because our last day of Shore Leave is here. It's time for the "Firefly" movie, "Serenity"! Wait...like the episode? Dangit, "Firefly", there's a page from the "Trek" playbook you SHOULDN'T have taken! Anyway, the Alliance has finally gotten serious about tracking down River, whose head is boiling over with secrets! But who or wha...