While we could have done an entire episode full of jokes about how the producer, the writer, and two stars in this story were “flamers,” we didn’t. (Besides, our host has no room to talk.) Instead, we came to have a short discussion and ended up having one of our longest discussions to date, about a book that is surprisingly good. Come join Tony Wh…

Eric Saward’s novelization of his 1984 was almost 40 years in the making. Was it worth the wait? …Seriously, we’re asking. Oh, and we read a much better version by Paul Scoones, too. Come join Tony Whitt, Dalton Hughes, and Danny Celedon for a special 150th episode as they discuss both the fan and official novelizations of RESURRECTION OF THE DALEK…

Why are there two novelizations of RESURRECTION OF THE DALEKS – and why is only one of them any good? This time we discuss the fan version of the novelization with its author, Paul Scoones, to find out what led to the creation of this version, why it took so long for an official version to come out, and why the Daleks are doing what they’re doing i…

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 …

What could be worse than being sucked through the earth? Having our panelists make dirty jokes about it. (Heh. “Dirty” jokes.) Come join Tony Whitt, Alyson Fitch-Safreed, Dalton Hughes, and special guest J.G. McQuarrie as they discuss Christopher H. Bidmead’s novelization of FRONTIOS.We are now a proud part of the Direction Point Podcast Network, i…

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 does Kate Chopin’s 1899 novel about a woman cheating on her husband before drowning herself have to do with a two-part DOCTOR WHO story from 1984? Absolutely f*ck all. Come join Tony Whitt, Alyson Fitch-Safreed, Dalton Hughes, and special guest Jim Sangster as they discuss why, with certain types of Pringles, you CAN eat just one.We are now a …

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…

Come on in, the water’s fine! Mind you, it’s infested with Sea Bases, Silurians, and Sea Devils, with the occasional foreign saboteur thrown in, but it’s still warmer than being on dry land in Chicago right now! Come join Tony Whitt, Alyson Fitch-Safreed, Dalton Hughes, and special guest Jim Sangster as they take a deep dive into the first story of…

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 (still, barely) the 60th anniversary of DOCTOR WHO, and to celebrate, we’ve decided to take a little trip back in time ourselves, to discuss the novelization of the very first story of the series, AN UNEARTHLY CHILD! Come join Tony Whitt, Alyson Fitch-Safreed, and Dalton Hughes as they revisit a novel that two of them have never read before. (…

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…

It’s the 60th anniversary of DOCTOR WHO, and the moment has been prepared for! Well, mostly, if you consider a PowerPoint presented at Chicago TARDIS “preparing for” anything. Come join Tony Whitt and special guest Larry VanMersbergen as they look at a few of the most notable times an author has gone off target (get it?) to tell a different story o…

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…

We’re back from hiatus, and it’s about time! Actually, this time it isn’t about time, for once. It’s about James Bond pastiches, mid-life crises, and both Freudian and Jungian interpretations of a plot that really makes no damn sense. Join Tony Whitt, Dalton Hughes, and Alyson Fitch-Safreed to discuss Ian Marter’s last, and definitely strangest, bo…

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…

One day we shall come back. Yes, we shall come back. But we’re going on hiatus until November, so you’ll just have to wait. Till then, there must be no tears, no regrets. Just join Tony Whitt, Dalton Hughes, Alyson Fitch-Safreed, and special guests J.G. McQuarrie and Jim Sangster as the Five Critics discuss that sweet confectionery, Terrance Dicks’…

How did the Master seduce a young fan to the Dark Side using only a cricket ball? And why are the Doctor and Tegan suddenly so bitchy with each other? Come join Tony Whitt, Dalton Hughes, Alyson Fitch-Safreed, and special guest Trey Korte as we discuss Terence Dudley’s latest attempt to make a sprawling historical novel out of a two-part story, THE…

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…

Ahoy there, landlubbers! Come join Tony Whitt, Dalton Hughes, and Alyson Fitch-Safreed as we discuss Barbara Clegg’s novelization of ENLIGHTENMENT, leading to questions about what Eternals actually do when they’re not existing, whether Turlough is really a developed character or not, and why the White and Black Guardians are wasting their time host…

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? …

Space pirates who look like gay 80s glam rockers! Shambling walking undead zombies! Exposition Patient Zero! Oh, and Nyssa leaves, too. Sounds like a hot mess, and on TV, it is. On the printed page…it’s something entirely different. Join Tony Whitt, Dalton Hughes, and Alyson Fitch-Safreed as we discuss John Lydecker’s novelization of TERMINUS!We ar…

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: …

When is a Time Lord not a Time Lord? When is an English schoolboy not an English schoolboy? And for the love of all that’s holy, when, oh when, were the UNIT stories actually set?! Come join Tony Whitt, Dalton Hughes, and Alyson Fitch-Safreed as we discuss Peter Grimwade’s novelization of MAWDRYN UNDEAD and try to figure these oh so important quest…

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…

We can dance, we can dance, everybody’s taking the chance, it’s the Snakeydance! Come join Tony Whitt, Dalton Hughes, and Alyson Fitch-Safreed as we discuss the sequel no one was really asking for and how, just sometimes, the first movie really IS better.We are now a proud part of the Direction Point Podcast Network, including such fine shows as TH…

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?…

Omega’s back, and it’s about…something or other in Amsterdam, apparently. What is the Arc, and why is it infinite? Does it have f**k all to do with the plot? And who thought that giant pile of chicken bones was a good idea? Come join Tony Whitt, Dalton Hughes, Alyson Fitch-Safreed, and special guest J.G. McQuarrie as we discuss these and other abso…

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 often been said that the main reason that TIME-FLIGHT is considered such a poor story is its utter lack of budget. But the wonderful thing about novelizations is that budget is no longer a consideration, and when a writer adapts his own script for the page, it’s generally going to be much better than it ever was onscreen. Isn’t it? Come join T…

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…

It’s the end of an era. Never again will we be able to make jokes about Matthew Waterhouse – at least, not any good ones, anyway. Come join Tony Whitt, Alyson Fitch-Safreed, Dalton Hughes, and special guest Jim Sangster as we discuss why we’ve all been unfair to Waterhouse, to Adric, and even to Ian Marter as we talk about his novelization of Eric …

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 …

In our newest episode, Tony gets lost in the walls of a stately manor, Dalton gets lost in the labrynthine rules of cricket, and special guest Jason Miller gets lost in showing us just how much his podcast and ours are “Two peas in a pod…positively two peas in a pod.” It’s time for murder, cricket, and horticulture as we discuss the somewhat overgr…

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 the very first Peter Davison novelization, the very first novel by Eric Saward, and the very first photo cover that doesn’t suck. It’s also the very first appearance on our show of special guest Jim Sangster, as he, Tony Whitt, and Dalton Hughes discuss the novelization of the story that put gaudily decorated androids and plague mice on the ma…

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…

And you think you woke up on the wrong side of the bed... When Tegan takes a nap on an alien planet and wakes up in a bad mood, everyone has to deal with the consequences. Oh, and Matthew Waterhouse tries to teach acting. This and more are in store as Tony Whitt, Alyson Fitch-Safreed, and Dalton Hughes discuss Terrance Dicks’ novelization of KINDA!…

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…

Alyson claims she’s never heard Tony sputter with rage before this episode. (She has, but that’s beside the point.) Come join them and Dalton as the three discuss the sheer stupidity that is FOUR TO DOOMSDAY, made only nominally better by the novelization by Terrance Dicks. As Adric would say, it’s “silly.” As Peter Davison would say of Matthew Wat…

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 the beginning, and the moment…ah, you get it. Come join Tony Whitt, Alyson Fitch-Safreed, Dalton Hughes, and special guest J.G. McQuarrie as we discuss Christopher H. Bidmead’s introduction to the Fifth Doctor, CASTROVALVA, and try to figure out if the new guy is actually going to work out. (Come to think of it, we’ll likely be talking about t…