The Pensky Podcast

Archer needs the help of a criminal to prevent war with the Klingons. In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss "Borderland" and Star Trek: Enterprise enthusiastically digging into franchise canon. Plus! The guys chat about the acting chops of Brent Spiner, forgetting to augment your acting genes, and the versatility of the Orions. Are you looking for older episodes? Find this and every...

In "An Embarrassment of Dooplers", Mariner and Boimler try to track down the location of a legendary Starfleet party while the bridge crew deals with an insecure alien diplomat. In "A Spy Humongous", Anomaly Consolidation Day on the USS Cerritos leaves the Lower Deckers with mixed emotions. Captain Freeman attempts to negotiate peace on the Pakled homeworld. In this episode of the podcast, Wes and...

An overzealous Starfleet admiral begins a witch-hunt aboard the Enterprise, determined to find a conspiracy, and eventually accuses Captain Picard of treason. In this episode of the podcast, Lore Reloaded sits down with Wes to revisit "The Drumhead" from TNG's fourth season. The two discuss the three languages of politics, Picard as an "outdated" liberal, and why "The Drumhead" is so timeless. Are...

Once Enterprise finally returns to Earth, the weary crew face repercussions from their journeys, both positive and negative. In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss "Home" and how character-based episodes work at this point in the series run. Plus! The guys talk about the worst aspects of digital video, Vulcans wanting other Vulcans to be happy, and the continuing impact of the first...

In "We'll Always Have Tom Paris", Mariner and Tendi team up for a mission to retrieve an heirloom for Dr. T'Ana. Meanwhile, the Cerritos is visited by Lieutenant Tom Paris, much to the excitement of Boimler, who is hoping to meet him. While all this happens, Rutherford is haunted by the mystery surrounding the reappearance of a familiar presence on the Cerritos. In "Mugato, Gumato", the USS Cerrit...

In an upcoming run of podcasts, we'll be revisiting episodes we've already covered. Let's see if we have any new perspectives! Wesley Crusher visits the Enterprise only to see everyone behaving strangely on account of an addictive, mind-controlling game. In this episode of the podcast, long-time friend of the show Modi Operandus returns to give some new thoughts about "The Game". Plus! He and Wes...

Archer and his crew find themselves in Earth's past, with events of World War II altered by the Temporal Cold War. In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss both episodes of "Storm Front" and the end of the Temporal Cold War (huzzah!). Plus! The guys chat about the move to digital video, the logistics of changing the outcome of World War II, and the pointlessness of discussing time trav...

In "Strange Energies", the USS Cerritos is dispatched on a mission where it ends up in a sci-fi event resulting in "strange energy," which Commander Ransom inadvertently absorbs. In "Kayshon, His Eyes Open", our Lower Deckers have trouble bonding with Ensign Jet Manhaver, who has been assigned Boimler's bunk and shift duties. Meanwhile, we get a glimpse of Boimler's life on the USS Titan, which is...

The third season of Star Trek: Enterprise focuses on Enterprise NX-01's mission to prevent a second Xindi attack from destroying Earth. Unlike the show's second season, Enterprise's third season embraces a heavily serialized format dedicated to the search for the Xindi primary weapon. In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay break down Star Trek: Enterprise Season 3 and discuss the year as a w...

With the weapon on its way to Earth, Archer leads a small team to intercept it before it can strike; T'Pol leads Enterprise on a mission to destroy one of the spheres in the Expanse. In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay finish the third season of Enterprise with a discussion about "Zero Hour". Plus! The guys talk about the worst character in the entire Star Trek franchise, Jeffrey Combs au...

With help from some Xindi factions, the Enterprise crew attempts to stop the arming of the Xindi weapon. In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss "Countdown" and Enterprise reverting to familiar action set pieces. Plus! The guys chat about the death of Major Hayes, motivating the Aquatics, and fish tanks in space. Are you looking for older episodes? Find this and every other episode at...

Archer confronts the Xindi Council while T'Pol, Reed and Mayweather infiltrate an Expanse Sphere to gather info about the Sphere Builders. In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss "The Council" and its incredible info dump of exposition. Plus! The guys talk about Elder Scrolls RPGs, not being sure about what is going on, and knowing someone is going to die. Are you looking for older ep...

An accident during an attempt to use a Xindi subspace corridor places the Enterprise in a bizarre confrontation… with itself. In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss "E²" and Enterprise returning, yet again, to time travel. Plus! The guys chat about unnecessary ret-conning, switching the parents and children, and the continuing development of the Trip and T'Pol relationship. Are you l...

Two members of the Xindi Council offer to stop the launch of the weapon if Archer can prove that the Xindi have been manipulated; the crew holds a memorial for their dead shipmates. In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss "The Forgotten" and whether or not some storylines were truly forgotten. Plus! The guys talk about the best actor in the ensemble, Temporal Agent Daniels being a no-...

The Enterprise crew must cope with devastating damage to the ship, with another alien ship needing assistance nearby. T'Pol seeks help from Phlox with a personal problem, and dissent grows in the Xindi Council. In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss "Damage" and the trouble with chasing the dragon of emotion. Plus! The guys chat about Phlox taking his oath too literally, Enterprise's...

The crew discovers the Xindi weapon and plans to launch a suicide mission to destroy it, with Archer insisting that he be at the helm. But, when Archer is captured, he must convince Degra and the other Xindi leaders, that Humanity is no threat to the Xindi. Meanwhile, the Xindi launch a heavy attack on Enterprise that leaves the ship defenseless and almost destroyed. In this episode of the podcast...

Enterprise finds a derelict Xindi-Insectoid starship carrying a cache of unhatched eggs and Archer takes an increasingly obsessive interest in preserving them. In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss "Hatchery" and additional reasons to avoid close contact with alien eggs. Plus! The guys chat about disrespecting dead alien babies, taking off your helmet, and no one noticing you've gon...

In order to traverse a trans-dimensional disturbance safely, Phlox must put the rest of the crew in stasis and pilot Enterprise himself. In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss "Doctor's Orders" and chat about an "Austin Powers" influenced episode of Star Trek. Plus! The guys talk about choosing neither character work nor plot, the worst way to see Hoshi in the shower, and smashing th...

Enterprise rescues an alien from a massive spatial anomaly, but its lone pilot refuses to explain why he was there. Reed and Hayes confront each other over their roles on the ship. In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss "Harbinger" and the potential WB-ness of Star Trek: Enterprise. Plus! The guys chat about the sexual tension between Reed and Hayes, Trip's massage technique, and not...

Enterprise captures Degra, the mastermind behind the Xindi weapon project, and Archer tries to trick him into revealing the location of the final weapon. In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss "Stratagem" and solving a problem without fighting. Plus! The guys chat about sticking around, blaming the Insectoid Xindi for everything, and not having any other choice. Are you looking for o...

An Andorian ship commanded by Shran unexpectedly appears in the Expanse to help the Enterprise locate the Xindi primary weapon. In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss "Proving Ground" and the benefit of characterization. Plus! The guys chat about getting to know the Xindi, ways the show could have developed the Andorians and Vulcans, and showing respect to the Andorian Mining Consort...

Enterprise is hijacked by a group of religious extremists who worship the mysterious spheres in the Expanse. In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss "Chosen Realm" and the utter failure of the M.A.C.O.'s. Plus! The guys chat about charismatic villains, not having a backup hard drive, and homages to The Original Series. Are you looking for older episodes? Find this and every other epis...

Archer and T'Pol travel back in time to stop the Xindi-Reptilians in 21st century Detroit. In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss "Carpenter Street" and the logic of the Xindi travelling back to 2004. Plus! The guys chat about the lack of excitement for a Red Sox World Series victory, not finding a purple spacesuit to be all that strange, and using a pizza parlor's ventilation fan to...

During an engine performance test, Trip Tucker is critically injured and left comatose in sickbay. Phlox suggests that Tucker's only hope for survival is the creation of a "mimetic simbiot" – in other words, a clone. The crew and Trip's clone have to face the unforeseen emotional ramifications of his creation. In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss "Similitude" and unusual massage po...

Archer and the crew try to discover why a 19th century-era Human settlement has been placed in the middle of the Expanse. In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss "North Star" and Enterprise finding a genre to match its storytelling habits. Plus! The guys chat about avoiding the Prime Directive, bad alien acne, and not having enough room to give someone a ride. Are you looking for olde...