Trek Wars

Thanks to Mike Moody-Garcia for letting Kenny guest on his pod! We’re back with another ESSENTIAL BABYLON 5 episode. Kenny Madison from the ⁠Trek Wars podcast⁠ joins Mike to discuss how Babylon 5: The Road Home is very, very good for the franchise. Despite the movie not blowing them away, they feel it can only help inspire more people to watch Babylon 5 and, fingers crossed, pave the way for eithe...

Does Dave Filoni have a brother? That's the topic of the week. Also, Star Trek and Star Wars are the topics, too. Aspen talks about "the Filoni Zone." Kenny, naturally, talks about Dave Filoni pulling a George Lucas and synthesizing his favorite aesthetics into something new. Aspen talks about the Trek Triumverate playing Idiotball in this week's episode. And Kenny pulls some thematics out of his...

Aspen is sick! And suffering from The Paradise Syndrome ! Star Trek fails to show up this week as we act out of character and nitpick the flaws in Paradise Syndrome . Kenny talks about the Malevolence as an analog to the German Battleship Bismarck . And we dunk on Rise of Skywalker  some more (sorry TROS lovers). Also, both franchises deal with commanding stuff. _________________ Get early, extend...

Our friend Andrea DiMauro-Walton joins us to talk AHSOKA . And Star Trek, too, I guess. Aspen and Andrea talk about the Romulan Commander. Kenny talks about how Anakin just seems like a guy now (and why that's GOOD). Andrea talks about her experience with The Clone Wars and how kids aren't stupid.  And Aspen talks about Star Trek as Regency Drama. _________________ Get early, extended episodes on...

We start two new seasons at once! Kenny talks about the bold mission statement that is Ambush . Aspen talks about individualizing the clones. We both talk about The Clone Wars - chronological order versus release order. And Kenny introduces listeners to Fred Freiberger and sets Aspen up for a new season-long arc. _________________ Get early, extended episodes on our Patreon at https://www.patreon....

We've got two backdoor pilots! Both Gene and George get unprecious with what's come before. They break canon and create a new character that becomes the focus. One is the American Doctor Who. The other one is Aspen's favorite Star Wars character. YOU DECIDE WHICH IS WHICH! _________________ Get early, extended episodes on our Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/trekwarspod Theme by Tosin Awofeso So...

Neoliberalism! Aspen talks about Neoliberalism and Revenge of the Sith . Kenny asks for a definition of what Neoliberalism means. We also talk about what morality looks like in Bread and Circuses . Also, auteur theory is the only consistent way to talk about the Star Wars Prequel Trilogy (sorry not sorry) And Joel T. Partner makes his yearly appearance (see you in 2025, Joel!) _________________ Ge...

Great! Star Trek predicted tech bros taking over everything in 1968! The Ultimate Computer rips up everything thanks to Dorothy Fontana. Meanwhile, Clone Wars expands to 12 minutes an episode and we're all the better for it. Aspen talks about how Grievous rules. And Kenny hates Grand Admiral Thrawn (a tangent). _________________ Get early, extended episodes on our Patreon at https://www.patreon.co...

Aspen watches Genndy Tartakovsky's Clone Wars for the first time. Kenny geeks out at how visually clever it is. Also, The Omega Glory is an exercise in how to pat yourself on the back for being a great American. It is certainly a week for TV. _________________ Get early, extended episodes on our Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/trekwarspod Theme by Tosin Awofeso Social Media: https://www.instagr...

We talk about Attack of the Clones being both reactionary filmmaking and REVOLUTIONARY filmmaking. Aspen talks about the infantilization of women and how Kirk Drift might be wrong. Also, we talk about how RedLetterMedia accidentally ruined all film criticism. Oh, and Aspen ranks the 15 best outfits in Episode II #slaysenatorslay _________________ Get early, extended episodes on our Patreon at http...

This week, we watched an episode of a popular sci-fi franchise that was about a phantom menace co-opting a charismatic figurehead to allow fascism to spread across the galaxy. But enough about Patterns of Force from Star Trek ! We also litigate how sassy Spock is.  And how hot Nimoy is without his shirt. _________________ Get early, extended episodes on our Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/trekw...

This week, "Risk is our business!" Aspen loves the ending changes of Return of the Jedi . Kenny points out this week's human propaganda of Return to Tomorrow . We talk about being complicit in empire (both being residents of the U.S. and of the Empire). And Kenny talks about Lucas messing with the Special Edition leading to "this is not my Star Wars ." And Kenny makes Aspen cry by repeating a poin...

Aspen and Kenny dive into the depths of proxy wars and American jingoism. Are we the baddies, they ask? And the answer is yes, yes we are. They're also joined by dead and made up guests alike, including Jeff Trekworthy, Irvin Kershner, the Lucas himself, and Francine the Popcorn Lady. What an ep, folks. _________________ Get early, extended episodes on our Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/trekwa...

MACLUNKEY! Kenny gives a tiny history lesson about where Star Wars comes from and how it takes a village to make a movie. Meanwhile, Aspen REALLY likes the episode where the Enterprise fights a Space Amoeba™ (thanks in part to her boyfriends). And we dive deep into the Great Man Narratives™ with Gene Roddenberry and ESPECIALLY George Lucas as the Special Edition serving as major historical revisio...

Party Ewok/Malani the Warrior (Star Wars: Ewoks) vs. A Piece of the Action (Star Trek: TOS ) We've finally finished Ewoks! Aspen can't get enough of Drut's & Bothel's accents in Malani the Warrior. And Kenny can't get enough of fizzbin! And the gangster episode of Star Trek. Aspen talks about cultural humility. And we finally close the book on this chapter of Star Wars. _________________ Get e...

The Gamesters of Triskelion (Star Trek: TOS ) vs. Battle for the Sunstar (Star Wars: Ewoks) Ewoks meet the Empire! This week, we talk about all the cool ships in Battle for the Sunstar. Aspen litigates iterations of Gamesters of Triskelion. And we also poke holes in Great Man narratives. _________________ Get early, extended episodes on our Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/trekwarspod Theme by T...

The Trouble with Tribbles (Star Trek: TOS ) vs. Just My Luck/Bringing Up Norky ( Star Wars: Ewoks) Aspen and Kenny talk Star Trek bureaucracy, the excellent origin of the Tribbles script, shenanigans and luck, and how much they HATE the Ewoks character Norky. _________________ Get early, extended episodes on our Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/trekwarspod Theme by Tosin Awofeso Social Media: ht...

Wolf in the Fold (Star Trek: TOS ) vs. Horville's Hut of Horrors/The Tragic Flute (Star Wars: Ewoks) Fear! Fear will keep the podcast in line. Fear of these 3 episodes, since Jack the Ripper is on the Enterprise. And Wicket took the Woklings to the Hut of Horrors. And also Latara lies, getting dragged to the depths of Endor. We talk mysticism in relation to exotic cultures (and women). And we also...

Obsession (Star Trek: TOS) vs. Prow Beaten/Baga's Rival (Star Wars: Ewoks) This week, both shows tackle shame. Kenny talks about plot motivation versus character motivation. Aspen talks about a lack of consequences for characters. And did you know that Obsession is a ReTeLLInG oF mObY dIcK?!!? Also, Kenny keeps updating the sound board. _________________ Get early, extended episodes on our Patreon...

The Deadly Years (Star Trek: TOS) vs. The Season Scepter (Star Wars: Ewoks) Aspen & Kenny talk about age-ism and how Deadly Years sabotages its own heroes. Kenny mentions the superb sequel to Deadly Years, To Serve All My Days. Aspen talks about discussions of apathy being "cool" and emotion as "feminine". So, y'know...a normal episode! Links: To Serve All My Days _________________ Get early,...

It's a competition of second chapters with Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan VERSUS Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back! Kenny and Aspen are joined by noted Ron Howard lookalike (and good friend) Ryan Hill to discuss his personal experiences watching these two films in the theater when they premiered. We also explore questions like: Do Jedis really embrace Buddhist philosophy? How can stori...

Friday's Child (Star Trek: TOS) vs. Hard Sell/A Warrior and a Lurdo (Star Wars: Ewoks) Three mid episodes. Aspen talks about cultural relativism versus cultural absolutism. Kenny talks about a writerly POV becoming diminished. And we both struggle to talk about this week's episode of Ewoks. __________________________ Get early, extended episodes on our Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/trekwarspo...

Journey to Babel (Star Trek: TOS) vs. Gone With The Mimphs / The First Apprentice (Star Wars: Ewoks) The word "iconic" gets thrown liberally. We talk about Linda Woolverton and D.C. Fontana. Kenny talks about Spock as a reflection of post-WWII masculinity. Aspen talks about how amazing the Mimphs are. And we get silly. __________________________ Get early, extended episodes on our Patreon at https...

Metamorphosis (Star Trek: TOS) vs. Night of the Stranger (Star Wars: Ewoks) Surprise! Aspen likes scary things. Which is one of the big reasons she loves Night of the Spirit. She correctly identifies Ewoks as the Goonies of Star Wars. Meanwhile, Kenny leads the charge on the muddled themes of Star Trek this week. __________________________ Get early, extended episodes on our Patreon at https://www...

I, Mudd (Star Trek: TOS) vs. The Totem Master/A Gift for Shodu (Star Wars: Ewoks) We are delighted by both episodes. But Aspen has an existential breakdown that causes us to spiral and talk about Mando-verse and NüTrek. __________________________ Get early, extended episodes on our Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/trekwarspod Theme by Tosin Awofeso Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/trekwar...