The Pensky Podcast

With DS9 over, Wes and Clay get together to give some final thoughts about the series as a whole. Is DS9 better than TNG? Does it matter? The guys try to understand the complexities that make DS9 unique and both amazing and awful (but mostly amazing). Are you looking for older episodes? Find this and every other episode at The Pensky Podcast ! Thanks for listening. Stay connected: • https://thepen...

This is it. The final episode of DS9. "What You Leave Behind" serves to close out both the Dominion War and the series itself. It has action, drama, comedy and retrospection in spades. It's a brilliant ending to a fascinating series. But it's not perfect. In this podcast, Wes and Clay discuss what the finale does right and what it does wrong. They try to determine if "What you Leave Behind" is a f...

The two year journey through DS9 is almost finished! But before they tackle the DS9 finale, Wes and Clay head back to where it all began by revisiting the DS9 pilot, "Emissary". In this podcast, the guys discuss Are you looking for older episodes? Find this and every other episode at The Pensky Podcast ! Thanks for listening. Stay connected: • https://thepenskyfile.com/links/ • e-mail: thepenskyfi...

In the penultimate episode of DS9, Damar becomes the leader of a Cardassian revolution. Bashir and Ezri hook up. The Siskos get some big news. And Quark gets some exciting, and then upsetting, news. Clay and Wes get together to discuss the choice to involve the Ferengi so heavily in the second to last episode of the show. Plus! They defend their choice of O'Brien as the weakest character in the se...

Odo is dying. The disease that has infected the Founders has spread to Odo, and he does not look well. To cure him, Bashir and O'Brien lure Section 31's Sloan to DS9. They plan to enter his mind and steal the cure, and hopefully end Section 31 once and for all. In this podcast, Wes and Clay discuss the last Bashir and O'Brien adventure and the end of Luther Sloan. Plus! They talk about the ease of...

The Short Trek series returns with a double header of animated shorts, "The Girl Who Made the Stars" and "Ephraim and Dot". Wes and Clay discuss how Star Trek works as animated shorts and whether or not it was a worthwhile experiment. Plus! The guys talk about vinyl versus digital and why so many animation studios shut down. Are you looking for older episodes? Find this and every other episode at...

In this special episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay are joined by Sean to sample some "Star Trek Wine" which was generously provided by Wines That Rock! In addition to uninformed opinions about fermented grape juice, they guys also provide uninformed opinions about geography, the new Picard series, and The Irishman! We hope you enjoy this wide-ranging conversation! If the wine interests you, plea...

"When it rains, it pours." Things go from bad to worse as Gowron arrives at DS9 and takes command of the Klingon forces. Odo discovers he is infected with the sickness ravaging the Founders. Bashir and O'Brien learn that Section 31 is responsible for the infection. Kira, Odo and Garak are sent to train Damar's soldiers. Dukat goes blind. In this podcast, Wes and Clay discuss an episode with an imp...

The Breen have attacked Earth. Dukat has convinced Kai Winn to review the ancient texts of the Pah-Wraiths. Damar rebels against the Dominion. In this podcast, Wes and Clay discuss "The Changing Face of Evil". Plus! The guys discuss burning the peppers, the abrupt lethargy of the "final chapter", and the failures of the Winn/Dukat story line. Are you looking for older episodes? Find this and every...

In "Strange Bedfellows", the Dominion and Breen alliance could prove costly for the Federation. Worf and Ezri discover an unexpected ally on Cardassia. Dukat manages to turn Kai Winn to the Dark Side. Wes and Clay discuss an episode that seems like a superior reboot of "Til Death Do Us Part". Plus! The guys explore the potential redemption of Damar, the narrative need for Dukat, and the close out...

Ignoring the will of The Prophets, Sisko and Kasidy Yates get married. Meanwhile, the captured Worf and Ezri are interrogated by the Breen. On DS9, Dukat works to lure Kai Winn to the Dark Side. Wes and Clay get together to discuss "'Til Death Do Us Part" and how it works as the second hour of the Final Chapter. Plus! The guys talk about the Breen popping up out of nowhere, treading water as a nar...

DS9 has entered "The Final Chapter"! In 'Penumbra', Sisko and Kasidy announce their plans to marry, and Ezri tries to rescue Worf. The "Final Chapter" is the series ending run of nine episodes that finish out DS9. in this podcast, Wes and Clay discuss the problems with DS9's serialized storytelling, when characters get "too real", and the series treading water to get to this point! Are you looking...

In "Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges", Section 31 recruits Dr. Bashir to aid them in making sure that the Romulan Star Empire remains on the righteous" side of the Dominion War. Special guest Darren joins Wes and Clay to discuss the final "regular" episode of Star Trek: DS9. Plus! The three discuss pushing Star Trek to its moral limits, making a fashion statement with leather, and beaming out in the n...

When Starbase 28 is attacked, Cadet Sidhu is given the responsibility of watching a surprise prisoner: Christopher Pike. In this podcast, Wes and Clay get together to discuss the final Enterprise-centric Short Trek! Plus, the guys talk about quoting technical language, supporting brands, and their own dream Short Trek plot lines! Are you looking for older episodes? Find this and every other episod...

In "Badda-Bing, Badda-Bang", holographic mobsters try to run Vic Fontaine out of town. It's up the crew of DS9 to perform the heist of the century. Wes and Clay discuss being attacked while playing in the holosuite, a heist without much difficulty, and the powerful sexuality of Nana Visitor! Are you looking for older episodes? Find this and every other episode at The Pensky Podcast ! Thanks for li...

A Changeling, Laas, finds Odo returning from a conference. Laas reveals that he is another of the Hundred Changelings. Laas tries to convince Odo to leave DS9 and join him in the search for the other Changelings, but things are not so easy for a "Chimera" such as Odo. In this podcast, Wes and Clay get together to talk about the redemption of DS9's seventh season and the complexities of the Changel...

A series of strange murders rock the station. A killer is on the loose. In response, Ezri consults with Joran, a previous Dax host, in order to enter the mind of a serial killer and find out who is responsible before it's too late. In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss "Field of Fire" and find some brilliance amidst a lot of terrible rubble. Plus! The guys discuss a choir of angels...

Grand Nagus Zek has gone missing in the Mirror Universe. Quark and Rom, with the aid of Mirror Universe Ezri, head into the "alternate universe" to rescue him. Many hilarious situations ensue! Wes and Clay discuss the final DS9 episode to deal with the Mirror Universe, "The Emperor's New Cloak". Plus! The guys talk about DS9 wasting everyone's time, the logistics of non-hologram Vic, and Ezri bein...

O'Brien has gone missing while looking for the widow of his old friend Bilby, and Ezri heads home to see if her family can help find the chief. Unfortunately, Ezri's family has its fair share of skeletons in the closet. Wes and Clay discuss "Prodigal Daughter" and try to determine if it has the worst script in the entire DS9 series. Plus! The guys talk about Trill not being supportive of being joi...

In "The Siege of AR-558", Nog lost his leg. In "It's Only a Paper Moon" he loses his enthusiasm for life and it's up to Vic Fontaine to pull him out of his depression. Clay and Wes get together to discuss an episode that quietly examines PTSD and phantom pain, as well as the distractions that tear us away from reality. Plus! The guys talk about making an episode without your main cast, getting pun...

During a supply run to AR-558, Sisko meets a group of Starfleet officers who have been pushed to the brink trying to hold a vital Dominion communications array. When a group of Jem'Hadar attack, Sisko and his crew experience, first hand, the horrors of front line combat. Wes and Clay discuss DS9 embracing the wretchedness of the Dominion War in "The Siege of AR-558"! Plus! The guys talk about taki...