The Joy of Trek

The Thaw (Star Trek: Voyager, S2 E23) was recommended by Tonks Moriarty (they/them) , who said: Quite frankly, I love malevolent clowns, the idea something that is outwardly supposed to be joyous or happy is actually twisted and evil. This episode is so surreal, and strange, and weird and it isn't /afraid/ to be that. The Fear Clown establishes himself as a threat, and his interactions with Robert...

Singularity (Star Trek: Enterprise, S2 E09) was recommended by nazzy, she/her, who said: We've encountered A Spatial Anomaly and everyone except T'Pol is going a little nuts. Trip's obsessed with a chair, Hoshi's going crazy in the kitchen, Phlox is definitely about to commit medical malpractice, and Malcolm accidentally invents the next two hundred years of Starfleet security. Singularity first a...

Invasive Procedures (DS9 S2 E04) was recommended by Rhaen, who said: "I saw it as a rerun, I had to have been 7-8 years old. As a kid I identified with the Trill since I felt like my consciousness and body are separate things, like my consciousness was some other being living inside me. Anyway the episode has some rando show up and hijack the Dax symbiont for a little while, and there are these ki...

Magic to Make the Sanest Man Go Mad (DSC S1 E07) first aired on October 29, 2017, written by Aron Eli Coleite & Jesse Alexander, and directed by David M. Barrett The Joy of Trek is hosted by Khaki & Kay, with editing & production by Chief Engineer Greg and music by Fox Amoore ( Bandcamp | Bluesky ) Send us your recommendations , or support us on Patreon . Find us at joyoftrek.com · Twi...

We'll Always Have Tom Paris (LDS S2 E03) first aired on August 26, 2021, written by M. Willis, and directed by Bob Suarez The Joy of Trek is hosted by Khaki & Kay, with editing & production by Chief Engineer Greg and music by Fox Amoore ( Bandcamp | Bluesky ) Send us your recommendations , or support us on Patreon . Find us at joyoftrek.com | Bluesky | Instagram

Distant Origin (VOY S3 E23) was recommended by Toledo, who says: "1. The theme of "people discovering that their past is different, interesting, and complicated" is a favorite of mine 2. The idea of humans finding, basically, cousins in space is really cool (and raises so many unknown questions, like "how did they get there?") 3. It's one ST episode that deals with issues of religion/mythology, an...

Time Amok (PRO S1 E08) first aired on January 20, 2022, written by Nikhil S. Jayaram, and directed by Olga Ulanova & Sung Shin The Joy of Trek is hosted by Khaki & Kay, with editing & production by Chief Engineer Greg and music by Fox Amoore ( Bandcamp | Bluesky ) Send us your recommendations , or support us on Patreon . Find us at joyoftrek.com | Bluesky | Instagram

Cost Of Living (TNG S5 E20) first aired on April 20, 1992, written by Peter Allan Fields, and directed by Winrich Kolbe The Joy of Trek is hosted by Khaki & Kay, with editing & production by Chief Engineer Greg and music by Fox Amoore ( Bandcamp | Bluesky ) Send us your recommendations , or support us on Patreon . Find us at joyoftrek.com | Bluesky | Instagram

Strange New Worlds (SNW S1 E01) first aired on May 5, 2022, written by Akiva Goldsman & Alex Kurtzman & Jenny Lumet, and directed by Akiva Goldsman The Joy of Trek is hosted by Khaki & Kay, with editing & production by Chief Engineer Greg and music by Fox Amoore ( Bandcamp | Bluesky ) Send us your recommendations , or support us on Patreon . Find us at joyoftrek.com | Bluesky | Ins...

Explorers (DS9 S3 E22) was recommended by Miyabi, and by Hoofburd , who says: "Does this episode have the most impact on the show's plot? No. Is it the most dramatic of DS9's episodes? Also no. But it does have Sisko being a giant nerd and engaging in wanton acts of experimental archaeology (or dare I say: creative anachronism) while going on a father-son trip. As someone who engages in involved,...

The Infinite Vulcan (TAS S1 E07) first aired on October 20, 1973, written by Walter Koenig, and directed by Hal Sutherland The Joy of Trek is hosted by Khaki & Kay, with editing & production by Chief Engineer Greg and music by Fox Amoore ( Bandcamp | Bluesky ) Send us your recommendations , or support us on Patreon . Find us at joyoftrek.com | Bluesky | Instagram

Nepenthe (PIC S1 E07) was recommended by Lauren Alexis Rivers, who says: "There are so many answers I could give, but I think I would have to say probably Nepenthe. Seeing Riker and Troi together on Picard even though I knew it was coming, it did my heart so much good because I grew up with that cast. I always enjoy seeing them on screen or in person and it's a slow episode in terms of action but...

A Night in Sickbay (ENT S2 E05) first aired on October 16, 2002, written by Rick Berman & Brannon Braga, and directed by David Straiton The Joy of Trek is hosted by Khaki & Kay, with editing & production by Chief Engineer Greg and music by Fox Amoore ( Bandcamp | Bluesky ) Send us your recommendations , or support us on Patreon . Find us at joyoftrek.com | Bluesky | Instagram

Recommended by Rugger:: "I think a problem with a lot of sci-fi is their propensity to one-note species. And Trek is often no exception: The Klingon and honourable and violent, the Vulcans are logical, the Ferengi are profit-obsessed and misogynistic—and then we meet Ishka. This episode is funny, but also manages to really develop and complicate the characters of Quark and Rom while keeping the fl...

First aired on September 20, 1968, written by Gene L. Coon, and directed by Vincent McEveety The Joy of Trek is hosted by Khaki & Kay, with editing & production by Chief Engineer Greg and music by Fox Amoore ( Bandcamp | Bluesky ) Send us your recommendations , or support us on Patreon . Find us at joyoftrek.com | Bluesky | Instagram

Picked by Khaki: "This episode encapsulates everything I love about modern Star Trek: High concepts, high stakes and high energy; smart people working hard to solve problems and do the right thing. Three "A" plots jostle against one another and yet none of them feel rushed, diminised or tacked on. And this episode contains my absolute favorite scene in all of Star Trek, ever!" An Obol for Charon f...

Recommended by Greg: "Threshold is a controversial episode, and in rewatch, I can see all the reasons NOT to like it. But also, it's such a corny episode, and the premise drives it forward a lot until we get to what I love most: Threshold is a monster movie. It's like the original Universal monster movies Frankenstein, The Fly, Wolfman, Dracula and movies I watched with my brother as a kid. The se...

Recommended by Leah, who says: "There is some suspension of disbelief like with most episodes of this show, but I dont understand why this got so much hate! I always wanted better episodes for Beverly and Troi than their usual ‘hot alien boyfriend of the week’, and this one feels different. It’s not great, but it is far weirder and more fun than it has any right being! Mixing a pervy sex ghost wit...

Ahoy, fellow space cadets, and climb aboard the Joy of Trek! A brand new podcast exploring the living tar pits and salamander nurseries of Star Trek. All of it. Two big-hearted besties and their trusty Chief Engineer voyage through the badlands of Star Trek to find the good in every episode — even the clunkers. You know what? Especially the clunkers! Because every episode must be someone’s favouri...