Transporter Room 3: The Star Trek Podcast

Welcome back to Transporter Room 3, as we delve into the mid-season Starfleet Academy episodes "Come, Let's Away," "Ko'Zeine," and "The Life of the Stars" -- aka the one with the USS Miyazaki, the one with the wedding, and the one where Tilly comes back!We also pay tribute this week to a lost soul from the Dominion War. Plus, Phil's dog pays us a visit, so be sure to listen now!

And the Starfleet Academy train (shuttlepod?) keeps on rolling (flying?) as we jump in to talk about Episodes 4 and 5, "Vox in Excelso" and "Series Acclimation Mil," aka the one with the Klingons and the one with... well, that's a spoiler, actually.Suffice to say, you do NOT want to miss this episode of TR3, as special guest star Ken Reilly from TrekCore returns to dig in on a wormhole-sized Trek event. So cook up some gumbo, put on your Niners uniform, and listen now!

And we're back with a review of the third episode of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Season 1, "Vitus Reflux, "as Caleb, Darem, Genesis and the rest of the cadets find themselves up against those jerks over at the War College... and yes, that does include Tarima, the Betazoid with the mysterious power inhibitor...Speaking of which, we talk about the question many of you have been asking -- are Betazoids empaths or telepaths or all of the above? We also hit the Replimat for some Cold War fun and we have a really good Red Shirt from DS9!

New year, new episode of TR3! And a new Star Trek show, Starfleet Academy. So what did we think of it? You literally won’t believe Phil’s review...We also visit the Replimat for some Rage virus to go with our hot earl grey teas. So take off your Starfleet-issue boots, get extra comfy in your captain’s chairs, and listen now!

It’s Christmas, Romulan style!A review of Star Trek: The Next Generation’s riveting “Face of the Enemy” wraps Transporter Room 3 for the year. We also unpack the original idea for this episode and why Troi was ultimately selected to pose as a Romulan to help her enemy smuggle some defectors into Federation space.As Spock once said via Christmas ornament: “Happy holidays. Live long and prosper.”

This week, we mourn the loss of nuTrek, as Variety unceremoniously announced in an article about Paramount’s new (and problematic) leadership that the J.J. Abrams era of Star Trek seems to be no more.The studio is reportedly moving on from Chris Pine’s Kirk and into, well, darkness. So we revisit the three films from the Kelvin Timeline, what worked, what didn't, and why Hollywood is closing the door on this chapter from the Final Frontier.

And now, the conclusion… of our deep dive into Star Trek’s first three-part episode arc ever, wrapping up with DS9’s “The Siege.”This week, Kira and Dax get their Top Gun on while Sisko, O’Brien and Odo play Die Hard on the station. Does this 32-year-old episode still hold up? You’ll have to listen to find out.We also recap New York Comic Con and the new, cool toys coming from Nacelle. And yes, we have a Red Shirt. So snack on a palukoo and listen now! 

Sisko and Odo work to stop a coup in “The Circle,” the second episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine’s three-part Season 2 premiere, and we have another commentary track for you!This week’s TR3 is full of behind the scenes trivia — from the first appearance of Sisko’s baseball to the typo in the opening credits and much more (interesting, we hope, stuff). Listen now!

The first part of DS9’s three-part Season 2 premiere, “The Homecoming,” gets the review treatment this week on TR3.After we unpack Kira and O’Brien’s mission behind enemy lines to free a legendary Bajoran figure, we take a trip to the Replimat and hold a Red Shirt funeral. So get your hasperat and listen now!

Captain Pike and the crew of the Enterprise are back in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3 - and we have our spoiler-filled review of the first two episodes.We’ve seen the first 5 episodes and… well, we have some opinions - but no spoilers beyond Episode 2. To find out what they are, listen now!

With the sad passing of actor Harris Yulin, who played the Cardassian Aamin Marritza in Deep Space Nine's "Duet," we're going back to rewatch the classic Season 1 episode. Yulin's performance is one of the greats of Star Trek, and alongside Nana Visitor as Kira, the pair gave us an unforgettable hour of Trek.We also discuss the cancellation of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and why Paramount+ announced it now with two and a half seasons still to go...

Our pal Justin Bolger beams on down once again as we wrap up Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's Season 6 opening Dominion War arc with our reviews of "Favor the Bold" and "Sacrifice of Angels."Sisko's finest hour, and Star Trek's biggest space battle at the time, conclude one of sci-fi TV's greatest episodes ever. 

This week, to paraphrase Martok, we give our one good eye to review Star Trek: Deep Space Nine’s next two installments of the Dominion War arc: “Sons and Daughters” and “Behind the Lines.”Justin Bolger returns to boldly go with us as Worf struggles to re-connect with his estranged son while fighting the war, Klingon-style. We also go behind the lines of “Behind the Lines,” a.k.a. The One Where Dax Adds Another Phaser Power Cell to the Collection as Odo gets way too close to a Founder.“Glory to you, and to the empire!”And for those who want to learn more about the Dabo girl actress who helped catch a real-life serial killer, follow the link!

This week, as promised, we revisit Deep Space Nine’s Season 6 Dominion War arc - with special guest, friend of the pod Justin Bolger!Trek’s first serialized storyline ever, which fittingly kicked off DS9’s sixth season with a run of six consecutive episodes, begins with the action-packed “A Time to Stand” and Ron Moore’s riveting “Rocks and Shoals.” So power up your stolen enemy spaceships and listen now!

Even though Section 31 only appeared/was mentioned in three Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episodes, the shady institution made a considerable impression on both fans and the franchise.With the Section 31 movie now streaming, this week we look back at the origins of Starfleet's morally-flexible spy service and its overall role in the franchise by revisiting its early appearances on DS9. We also discuss how Star Trek: Enterprise teased Section 31 in two very underrated episodes. So watch out for Sloan and listen now to TR3!

This week, we celebrate Star Trek: Voyager’s 30th anniversary with a commentary track for “Caretaker, Part I” that’s filled to the brim of the Delta Quadrant with behind-the-scenes trivia. (Want “Part II”? Check out our Patreon!)We also offer our two cents on Star Trek: Section 31. (Spoiler: It stinks!) So pour yourself a cup of Janeway’s coffee and listen now.

That's right, Star Trek: Lower Decks has come to an end, with the final episode of Season 5 now out there in the multiverse. Phil and Scott look back on the end of an animated era, while also delving into the guest-star-filled last few episodes.We also reminisce about Star Trek: The Motion Picture, which just turned 45 years young. ("I feel young," the movie said, not realizing it was quoting its own sequel!) So get ready to steal your co-worker's job, and listen now!(And by the way, here's that TMP mobile set that we discuss.)

"It was... fun." Star Trek: Generations turns 30 (!) years old this week (on Nov. 18) and Scott and Phil can't believe that or the fact that we didn't mark the occasion by doing our usual joke/reference to Checkov and Kirk's "No, you were younger" exchange.But what we did do was mine the memory banks to repost our fascinating Generations commentary track, recorded with our good friend Matt Fowler. Here, we break down the making of the first Star Trek: The Next Generation movie and the first encounter between Captains Kirk and Picard.Speaking of Captain Kirk, we also passionately weigh in on Jim Kirk's resurrection-ish in the new "Unification" short film. Also, we celebrate the career and life of another Star Trek great that recently passed away, Tony Todd.

In honor of Star Trek's Jeri Taylor, we look back on her landmark career and revisit some of her most memorable episodes of The Next Generation and Voyager. She helped bring Spock to Picard and introduced audiences to Captain Kathryn Janeway, and both the franchise and its fans are all the better for it and her considerable contributions.

Phil is vacationing on Rura Penthe (again), but we have a very special guest this week to make up for his absence! You may know Jon Lovett from the podcasts Pod Save America and Love It or Leave It, and he's beaming into TR3 to talk about the special Trek the Vote event he's hosting on Wednesday... as well as his Trek fandom, of course. He even picks a Red Shirt of the Week, so ready your arguments for what the best Trek movie is, and listen now!