Episode Discussion
The Orb 168: A Father’s Choice
“Cardassians” 30th-anniversary reflections. We discuss how the story expands the rich world created for the series, the return of Garak, and the difficult questions around culture and identity.
The Orb 167: World-Building through Worm-Building
“Invasive Procedures” 30th-anniversary reflections. We discuss how the intimate story sheds light on Trill society and the relationship between symbiont and host.
The Orb 166: Off the Hook
“The Siege” 30th-anniversary reflections. We discuss Li Nalas's fate, what the story has to say about family and community, and how Trek's first TV trilogy ends.
The Orb 165: A Warm Wind Blowing in from Minicoy
“The Circle” 30th-anniversary reflections. We discuss how the Kira/Jaro story mirrors the start of Season 1, the timeless commentary, our fondness for middle stories, and Vedek Bareil's disturbing gaze.
The Orb 164: We Don’t Need No Galacticization
“The Homecoming” 30th-anniversary reflections. We jump into Season 2 as we discuss how this story of Bajoran isolationism transforms storytelling in Star Trek and rings true three decades after it aired.
The Orb 163: Neither Enemy Nor Devil
“In the Hands of the Prophets” 30th-anniversary reflections. We close out Season 1 by discussing how the story bookends the pilot while setting the series on course for its destiny of richly intricate serialized storytelling.
The Orb 162: Pliable Truths
“Duet” 30th-anniversary reflections. We discuss how a story pitched by interns to save budget broke the dam and unleashed the potential of the young series.
The Orb 161: You Told Me This Story This Morning
“Dramatis Personae” 30th-anniversary reflections. We discuss how the writers put a distinctly DS9 twist on a TNG premise to deliver masterful character development.
The Orb 160: Will the Real Lwaxana Please Stand Up?
“The Forsaken” 30th-anniversary reflections. We discuss how the writers put a distinctly DS9 twist on a TNG premise to deliver masterful character development.
The Orb 142: In Awe of the Pylons
“Hear All, Trust Nothing.“ We discuss how this humorous installment in the Star Trek franchise successfully captures the feel of the richest and most serious series while also delivering plenty of laughs.
The Orb 138: Boxes of Memorabilia
Top 10 DS9 episodes. We tackle this question to which answers are very subjective. Chris and Matthew independently created their top 10 lists and did not share before the discussion. How many choices will overlap? Will their top pick be the same?
The Orb 137: A Disturbance in the Link
“The Search, Part II.” We discuss the introduction of the Great Link, the quiet threat of the Dominion, the slowly unfolding absurdity of the Founders’ simulation, and the importance of this episode to Odo’s character development over the course of the series.