It's time to tackle the horros of ageing - or at least the horrors of old-age makeup - as The Deadly Years hoves into view. And along to cope with all that latex (not as fun as it sounds) is Rachel Novak! How effective is the attempts to age up our crew? Does the episode do anything with its central premise? And just how off-handed is the ending? P…

Trade agreement required? Check. Savage local population causing trouble? Check. Lone Klingon making things worse? Check. Dumbest "ruse" in Starfleet history? Check. Why it must be Friday's Child! And to deal with a trade mission that needs all the help it can get, Dais Johnston is along for the ride! Does the episode stand up to modern television …

It's time to take a journey. To Babel (well, some of the way there anyway) as the Enterprise is off on a diplomatic mission. And to help us sift through the raft of ambassadors and murder plots we have Jack McDonald! How do the Federation politics work out? Is the family drama succesful? And given how much of a founding text this is, does it stand …

What is, as Shakespeare definitely didn't write, such love between a man and a cloud? Well, let's answer that question as we tackle Metamorphosis. And to help judge the relationship between humanity and water vapour we have Jon D Arthur! How does the episode manage to juggle its themes? Can the episode bear the weight of how significant Zephram Coc…

We're back! After taking a festive break, Talking Trek is back among the stars and ready to discuss... er, I, Mudd. And to join us in this tale of robot sex women and comedy shenanigans we have Lenny Burnham returning to the podcast! Is the return of Harry Mudd something worth celebrating? Does the comedy of the episode land? And how do the gender …

It's time for a Halloween special (just in time for Christmas) as Star Trek goes - allegedly - spooky with "Catspaw". And we have a welcome return to the podcast from Sarah Gulick, here to make sure that nothing gets too scary (the fluffy kitten does help with that as well, to be fair...). How effective is this as a Halloween episode? Does the camp…

Roaming alien sock from another galaxy threatening civilizaiton, you say? Why it must be time for "The Doomsday Machine"! A powerful entity needs a powerful extra podcaster, so Carl Garcia is back for a second stab at TTTY. How does the titular Machine work as an advesary? Is Decker a credible threat to the situation? And does the episode deserve t…

The 1960s are left behind in favour of the 2020s this week as TOS is carefully placed to one side for coverage of Lower Decks Season 4. And to join us on our animated adventure we have Jonathan Callan! Does Season 4 improve of Season 3s generally weaker reception? How does new regular character T'Lyn fit in with the crew? And can the season stick i…

It's time take a bite of The Apple on TTTY as we venture to a planet of exploding rocks, snake-caves (not a euphemism) and curiously-coloured natives. And to help us hack through the jungle (well, "jungle") it's a welcome return for Alice Ebenhoe! How does The Apple hold up after all these years? Does this work as an analogy of Communism/Christanit…

It's time to oil our traps and slap on a fake beard as we slip into the Mirror Universe with the impossible-to-escape Mirror, Mirror. And to help us navigate such a brutal and unrelenting alternate dimension we have a welcome return from Tony Whitt! Does the "classic" status afforded this episode get wholly earned? Does the episode justify so (so, …

It's time to get mind wiped and/or killed and ressurected on Talking Trek this episode as we cover The Changeling! And resisting such a serious (it says here) probe will need help so it's a welcome return to Jonathan Boehle! How does the old Uhura-mind-wipe stand up? Does the alien-probe-from-beyond storyline convince? And just how much damage can …

A giant green hand has the podcast in its grip this time, as we tackle the... um, iconic? Sure let's go with that! The iconic "Who Mourns For Adoanis?". But wrestling with gods requires a mighty hero, so Michael Darling is on hand to help! How do the effects hold up so long after the 60s and does the Giant Green Hand (tm) deserve to be remembered? …

We leave behind the strange new worlds of old and embrace, instead, the strange new worlds of today as JG and Kev cover the second season of Strange New Worlds. And to help with the task of discussing all ten episodes of the season Rachel Novak is warmly welcomed back to the podcast. Does the second season manage to live up to the promise of the fi…

We dive headfirst into the second season of the original show as we get to grips - in more ways than one - with the might Amok Time. But we can't wrestle this one into submission alone so we welcome Ellie Warren back to the podcast! Does the episode retain its power after all these years? Just how much homo-eroticism can be - cough - squeezed into …

We take a break from individual episodes for a retrospective on the whole of the first season, as JG and Kev discuss the mission so far. No guests this week either - it's just our bold hosts getting into things! How has the season stacked up? Have the budget and scripts been able to keep pace with the ideas? And a third of the way through, has it a…

We reach the conclusion of the first season of the original show with Operation: Annihilate! But dealing with flying pancakes requires assistance, so Bri Marino is along for the ride. How does the episode work as a capper to the first season? Does the mystery hold together convincingly? And how does the loss of Spock's sight work in the episode? eM…

It's arguably the episode with the best reputation of them all that falls under the TTTY lense this episode as Kev and JG tackle The City on The Edge of Forever. But to explore such a territory help is of course needed, so Rowan Kaiser is along for the journey (in both space and time). Does the episode manage to live up to its outsized reputation? …

It's time to deal with a factor that may, in fact, lean towards being alternaticve as Kev and JG face not one but two universes in peril (and some dodgy facial hair to boot). And to help battle this (alleged) universe-spanning threat Abby Denton is along for a helping hand. Does this continue the run of Star Trek's great Season One episodes (hint: …

It's time to go on an Errand of Mercy this week as Kev and JG encouter the Klingons for the very first time (and surprisingly late in the season to boot). Naturallly, confronting such an epic enemy needs help, so Alasdair Wilkins is along as this podcast's resident Klingon Correspondent! How well does the politics of the episode stand up? Is one pe…

It's another one of the all-time classics this week, as JG and Kev are forced to confront The Devil In The Dark. And to guide them through the gloom, Tony Whitt is along to help navigate those treacherous mining tunnels! Does the episode deserve its reputation as one of the very best? Why, of all things, does Into Darkness get some kind of defence?…

We explore This Side Of Paradise on Talking Trek this week as Kev and JG take a wander amongst the spores. But surviving such an environment requires help so this week's gest, William McKenna, is along for the ride. Or should that be trip? How does the episode deal with the strange conflict at the heart of it? Does it manage to deal with the devlop…

It's time to sample A Taste Of Armageddon this episode as Kev and JG face a "humane" war. But, unable to tackle such a conflict alone, Rachel S. Bernstein is along for the journey. How does the episode deal with its approach to pacificsm? Is this a progressive story or does the desire for Kirk to be Always Right overwhelm things? And how does it fi…

There are classics and then... there's Khan! Yes, putting in his first appearace - shiny go-go boy outfit and all - it's time to welcome the apparently-unstoppable influence of everyone's favourite genocidal loony to Star Trek as Kev and JG tackle Space Seed. But dealing with a monster (well, "monster") of Khan's stature requires help so Matt Fink …

Welcome, friends, to the podcast about Return of the Archons, and may peace be with you. Yes, it's time to tackle a number of firsts on Star Trek, with Return of the Archons and guest Lenny Burnham! How does Star Trek's first whacking big anti-Communist screed go? Why does the episode grind to a halt about halfway through? And how convicing IS it t…

It's time for Kev and JG to face a Court Martial this week, as Kirk is put on trial for the death of a crewmember. But they're not taking the stand alone , and Jonathan Boehle is along to help with the defense! How does Star Trek take to doing a legal procedual? How screwy is the Federation legal system? And just how far wrong can one closing fight…

It's time for some time travel shenangians this week as Star Trek (and TTTY) head back to the 60s for the first time with Tomorrow Is Yestserday. But there's no slingshotting around the sun for just two, so this week JG and Kev are joined by Sarah Gulick! How does the episode capture the period detail? Is there a good sense of place and time? And d…

We venture into strange, possibly occupied, territory this episode as Kev and JG step into the Arena. But fortunately they're not battling alone - Graham Blackaby is along for the fight! How does the Gorn stand up, all these years later? How effective is the introductory section on the colony? And does the morality of the episode work? Plus in Reco…

It's time for some godly comedy shenanigans on Talking Trek this episode as JG and Kev encounter The Squire Of Gothos. And along to help deal with any the ride are childish tantrums from super-powerful beings are Abbie Phelps and Natalie Marlin! How does the Squire of Gothos compare to other Star Trek comedy episodes? How long does it take for JG t…

This episode we're stranded on a lonely planet with only an unconvincing plastic spear to keep us company as JG and Kev hunker down to survive "The Galileo Seven". Does the episode deserve a classic status? How do the production effects work out (you may gather from the opening sentence - not all perfectly!)? And does the character work stand the t…

It's time for a bit of a break this episode as Kev and JG take a little Shore Leave. And along for what will doubtless prove to be a relaxing time with absolutely no large bunnies or inexplicable deaths is Anthony Strand! How do the comic elements stack up against the drama? How goes 60s sexism this episode? And can anyone praise DeForest Kelley mo…

There can be few episodes of television more well-known than Balance of Terror, and few which have contributed quite as much to popular culture. So this week, it's time to tackle an episode that really does live up to the title of "all-time classc". But does the episode deserve that reputation? Can William Shatner manage to carry the dramatic heft …

It's time for something a little classical and fruity this time on Talking Trek, as JG and Kev tackle The Conscience of the King with Alice Ebenhoe along for the performance. Do Shakespeare and space mix? Just how melodramatic can things get? And how satisfactory is "she's mad" as an episode ending? Plus in Recommendations we have a TV drama, a mov…

This episode we tackle TOS's only two-parater as JG and Kev take a stroll around "The Menagerie", with the help of Paul Coughlan! How does the two-part framing device work? Do we REALLY believe Spock is going to betray all he stands for? And how does the original footage from The Cage compare to the newer footage shot around it? Plus in Recommendat…

It's one of the classics this episode as Kev and JG tackle "The Corbomite Manoeuvre". And beaming over from JG's other podcast, Beatles Stuffology, is Andrew Deacon to help them get to the bottom of things. Does the episode stand the test of time? How are the utility players? And is Clint Howard really freaky? Plus in Recommendations we have a 70's…

It's time to sharpen both our blades and our brains as we confront "Dagger of the Mind". What does the episode have to say about the criminal justice system, if anything? How does the depiction of madness work out? And does the episode live up to the show's progressive values? To help Kev and JG along, this week they are joined by Carl Garceia! Plu…

We turn our attention to Miri this week, as we deal with the most wonderful thing on Star Trek of all - cough - child actors! Just how soon does the episode get icky? Does it stand the test of time even given the era in which it was made? And as Yeoman Rand's last substantial part, how does she and Grace Lee Whitney fare? Joining us for all the unc…

This week we poder the questions What Are Little Girls Made Of? Although, we also ponder the question of what drove anyone to design the fashions in this episode, how low anyone can survive on the surface of a planet, and whether Shatner can out-act... er, Shatner. And to help us along we have some familial assistance, in the shape of Kev's brother…

Oh good, comedy in a Star Trek episode (said nobody ever)! It's the first of two encounters with Harry Mudd this episode, and Kev and JG get to grips with the lovable scamp (it says here) and all he brings to the table. And this week they're joined by Michael Chau, who's along to help sort through all this... stuff. How successful is the western-in…

Roll up, roll up, come and get 'em! Two Shatners for the price of one! While stocks last! Yes, it's the debut of the transporter accident on TTTY, as Kev and JG tackle The Enemy Within. How Shatner-y can Evil Kirk get? Just how uncomfortable can one episode become? And how does fanfic play into the discussion? Helping tackle Multiple Shatners with …

We return to the first season of TOS after the last episode's diversion with The Naked Time. Yes, it's time for the crew to lose all their inhibitions and listen to one really, REALLY annoying ballad while Scotty cannae change the laws o'physics. Lovely. To help Kev and JG on their exploration of infectious diseases and randomly-invented time-trave…

We take a temporary leave of absense from the classic series this week and dive into the first season of the era-adjescant Strange New Worlds. And to help Kev and JG tackle a whole season of TV we have this week's guest, Ellie Warren! The format of this episode is slightly different, with each host taking one character each to discuss in-depth, and…

It's time to tackle an annoying horny teenager (well, "teenager") with super-powers on Talking Trek To You this week, as Charlie X comes aboard. How successful is this as a portrayal of adolescance? Do the regular crew work with a whole "teenage god" premise? And what are we to make of a shirtless William Shatner in red tights? Plus in Recommendati…

Having been Where No Man Has Gone Before, it's time for JG and Kev to forge forward and see if they can avoid falling into The Man Trap. How does the episode fare as a first introduction to McCoy? Does the whole "salt vampire" thing work? And how are the supporting cast? But they are not facing the plight of the last creature of its kind alone - th…

Greetings! And welcome to a brand new podcast on the original series of Star Trek, where an expert (allegedly) and a newbie (definitely) boldly work their way through the original show episode-by-episode. Normally JG and Kev have a guest every week to help them unravel the episode but this week they're tackling the pilot (second attempt) episode on…