Re:Engage TNG
Four friends return to a sci-fi series we all have a strong connection to - Star Trek: The Next Generation. It debuted in 1987 when we were all young, and now in 2020, we re-engage with the series, one episode at a time, and re-consider Star Trek from a new perspective as grown-up fans.
Listen on:
Episodes
Tuesday Nov 28, 2023
Tuesday Nov 28, 2023
It's remarkable that a early 90s sci-fi show examined the idea of rape. The Enterprise plays host to a race of psychic spelunkers on a quest to catalog the galaxy's memories for history's sake. The father is a flirty fool, saying some inappropriate things to the Dr. Beverly Crusher after he skillfully illuminates a memory for Keiko. But it's the son who is the real monster. He attaches himself to a memory of Troi and Riker lingering after a poker game and turns it ugly. He then terrorizes more of the crew until Troi kicks him in the balls. Good.
Get in touch with us on BlueSky @ReEngageTNG.bsky.social!
Host: Jimmie G (@thejimmieg on IG & Twitter)
Panel: Erik Gratton (@erikfallsdown on Twitter & IG), Kate Jaeger (@jaegerlicious on Twitter and IG), and Greg Tito (Gregtito.com, @GregTito on Bluesky, @gregtito on Twitter, @greg_tito on IG)
Audio Editor: Jimmie G (@thejimmieg on IG & Twitter)
Logo artwork: @mojojojo_97 on Twitter, mojo97.com
Theme music: Ryan Marth
Next up is s5e13 "The Masterpiece Society" hosted by Erik!
Monday Nov 20, 2023
Monday Nov 20, 2023
Data gets a not-so-secret admirer in the form a little kid saved from a Federation research ship in the middle of a dark cluster. Timothy loves that android life so much that he pretends to be a poseur positronic lifeform to cope with his parents' death and everybody else on the ship. He says it was attacked but then things get weird. Thankfully Troi gets to do more counseling and the kid actor, Joshua Harris, is pretty badass playing off Brent Spiner in this episode directed by Patrick Stewart.
Get in touch with us on BlueSky @ReEngageTNG.bsky.social!
Host: Greg Tito (Gregtito.com, @GregTito on Bluesky, @gregtito on Twitter, @greg_tito on IG)
Panel: Erik Gratton (@erikfallsdown on Twitter & IG), Kate Jaeger (@jaegerlicious on Twitter and IG), and Jimmie G (@thejimmieg on IG & Twitter)
Audio Editor: Greg Tito (Gregtito.com, @GregTito on Bluesky, @gregtito on Twitter, @greg_tito on IG)
Logo artwork: @mojojojo_97 on Twitter, mojo97.com
Theme music: Ryan Marth
Next up is s5e12 "Violations" hosted by Jimmie!
Monday Nov 13, 2023
Monday Nov 13, 2023
Fatherhood - that's what brings here together today. Brian Bonsall accepts the challenge of playing Alexander Rozhenko, once again being introduced late into an ongoing series. (He played the kid in Family Ties, y'all.) This B-plot of riding the wave all the way to warp speed doesn't hold a lot of dramatic weight, but Worf transforming into a solid single dad in 47 minutes is quite the feat. They even saved some puppets along the way! Alexander is a welcome addition to the family, despite being scolded by the blonde schoolmarm on the Enterprise.
Get in touch with us on BlueSky @ReEngageTNG.bsky.social on Twitter @ReEngageTNG!
Host: Kate Jaeger (@jaegerlicious on Twitter and IG)
Panel: Erik Gratton (@erikfallsdown on Twitter & IG) , Greg Tito (Gregtito.com, @GregTito on Bluesky, @gregtito on Twitter, @greg_tito on IG), and Jimmie G (@thejimmieg on IG & Twitter)
Audio Editor: Kate Jaeger (@jaegerlicious on Twitter and IG)
Logo artwork: @mojojojo_97 on Twitter, mojo97.com
Theme music: Ryan Marth
Next up is s5e11 "Hero Worship" hosted by Greg!
Monday Nov 06, 2023
Monday Nov 06, 2023
M-, m-, m-, mmmmMatt Frewer is the featured guest star, playing Professor Berlinghoff Rasmussen. He shows up in a fancy-looking timepod made of a material even Geordi is impressed by. Rasmussen claims to be there to witness historical events bearing flash drives full of *gasp* questionnaires! I hate questionnaires. At the same time, the people on Penthara IV may be dying and/or saved by the Enterprise, which gets us into some time quandaries. Each castmember has time with Frewer, but he loves Data a little more than Dr. Crusher. The abduction goes wrong, and they trap Max Headroom as a fish out of time. And never mention him again. Trek fandom turns its lonely eyes to you, Berlinghoff Rasmussen.
Get in touch with us on BlueSky @ReEngageTNG.bsky.social on Twitter @ReEngageTNG!
Host: Erik Gratton (@erikfallsdown on Twitter & IG)
Panel: Kate Jaeger (@jaegerlicious on Twitter and IG), Greg Tito (Gregtito.com, @GregTito on Bluesky, @gregtito on Twitter, @greg_tito on IG), and Jimmie G (@thejimmieg on IG & Twitter)
Audio Editor: Greg Tito (Gregtito.com, @GregTito on Bluesky, @gregtito on Twitter, @greg_tito on IG)
Logo artwork: @mojojojo_97 on Twitter, mojo97.com
Theme music: Ryan Marth
Next up is s5e10 "New Ground" hosted by Kate!
Monday Oct 23, 2023
Monday Oct 23, 2023
Another writer from the more contemporary Star Trek: Discovery, Eric J. Robbins, joins in a very in-depth discussion of the conclusion to this seminal two-parter while the WGA strike was going strong. Thankfully that work-stoppage is over with most of the demands met, and our very demanding podcast must have been a big part of that. Spock is back and we actually get the highly anticipated scenes between Leonard Nimoy, Patrick Stewart and Brent Spiner. Fascinating, indeed! Denise Crosby returns as well, and she's nasty, except when it comes to the startegizing as she goes full Bond villain by underestimating two of the smartest people in the galaxy. Eric (with a "c") is a wonderful addition to our cultural bridge crew and he helps break down why this episode is so great. Strap in, this is a LONG one!
Get in touch with us on BlueSky @ReEngageTNG.bsky.social on Twitter @ReEngageTNG!
Host: Jimmie G (@thejimmieg on IG & Twitter)
Special Guest: Eric Robbins (On Instagram)
Panel: Kate Jaeger (@jaegerlicious on Twitter and IG), Greg Tito (Gregtito.com, @GregTito on Bluesky, @gregtito on Twitter, @greg_tito on IG), and Erik Gratton (@erikfallsdown on Twitter & IG)
Audio Editor: Jimmie G (@thejimmieg on IG & Twitter)
Logo artwork: @mojojojo_97 on Twitter, mojo97.com
Theme music: Ryan Marth
Next up is s5e9 "A Matter of Time" hosted by Erik!
Monday Oct 16, 2023
Monday Oct 16, 2023
One of the writers of Star Trek Discovery joins to discuss their take on Unification in season 3 alongside our discussion of this Next Generation episode. Please welcome Carlos Cisco to our cultural bridge crew! A delicious slow burn leading up to the introduction of one Mr. Spock to this cast. The Romulans are up to something, and have brought Spock there to Romulus for some reason, but his father Sarek passed away off screen after a touching last scene with Picard. The Klingons make an appearance, and the captain sets up some fine comic relief in the form of Data not sleeping. Bring me my red stapler!
Get in touch with us on BlueSky @ReEngageTNG.bsky.social on Twitter @ReEngageTNG!
Host: Greg Tito (Gregtito.com, @GregTito on Bluesky, @gregtito on Twitter, @greg_tito on IG)
Special Guest: Carlos Cisco (On Twitter, @carloscisco.bsky.social)
Panel: Kate Jaeger (@jaegerlicious on Twitter and IG), Jimmie G (@thejimmieg on IG & Twitter), and Erik Gratton (@erikfallsdown on Twitter & IG)
Audio Editor: Greg Tito (Gregtito.com, @GregTito on Bluesky, @gregtito on Twitter, @greg_tito on IG),
Logo artwork: @mojojojo_97 on Twitter, mojo97.com
Theme music: Ryan Marth
Next up is s5e8 "Unification II" hosted by Jimmie and featuring ANOTHER Star Trek: Discovery writer Eric Robbins as guest!
Monday Oct 09, 2023
Monday Oct 09, 2023
It's those dang vidya games ya Boomers play all the dang time! The incomparable Wesley Crusher AND Cicero Holmes return for this cautionary tale on the dangers of screwing an alien on Risa. Riker gets introduced to an augmented reality game that quickly controls the mind of the Enterprise crew. But Wesley and engineering darling Lefler played by Ashely Judd make out in the arboretum after saving the day from the dastardly plot hatched by Riker's fuck buddy. Cicero still likes this game after all of that. Check out his modern Trek podcast Discovery Debrief!
Get in touch with us on BlueSky @ReEngageTNG.bsky.social on Twitter @ReEngageTNG!
Host: Greg Tito (Gregtito.com, @GregTito on Bluesky, @gregtito on Twitter, @greg_tito on IG)
Special Guest: Cicero Holmes (@stubbystan on Twitter, Instagram)
Panel: Kate Jaeger (@jaegerlicious on Twitter and IG), Jimmie G (@thejimmieg on IG & Twitter), and Erik Gratton (@erikfallsdown on Twitter & IG)
Audio Editor: Greg Tito (Gregtito.com, @GregTito on Bluesky, @gregtito on Twitter, @greg_tito on IG),
Logo artwork: @mojojojo_97 on Twitter, mojo97.com
Theme music: Ryan Marth
Next up is s5e7 "Unification I" hosted by Greg and featuring Star Trek: Discovery writer Carlos Cisco as guest!
Monday Oct 02, 2023
Monday Oct 02, 2023
Disaster Strikes! We remember Picard hates kids, but then loves them. We remember Dr. Crusher knows how to hold on to stuff when being sucked into vortexes. We remember Worf is excellent at midwifery. We remember Data is an android who knows how to keep his head screwed on straight. We also remember Chief O'Brien kicks ass and Ensign Ro is a badass/killer. But who knew Counselor Troi was a Commander? We sure didn't! This is a fun one that gives us more of that slice of life on the Enterprise.
Get in touch with us on BlueSky @ReEngageTNG.bsky.social on Twitter @ReEngageTNG!
Host: Jimmie G (@thejimmieg on IG & Twitter)
Panel: Kate Jaeger (@jaegerlicious on Twitter and IG), Greg Tito (Gregtito.com, @GregTito on Bluesky, @gregtito on Twitter, @greg_tito on IG), and Erik Gratton (@erikfallsdown on Twitter & IG)
Audio Editor: Jimmie G (@thejimmieg on IG & Twitter)
Logo artwork: @mojojojo_97 on Twitter, mojo97.com
Theme music: Ryan Marth
Next up is s5e6 "The Game" hosted by Greg and featuring the return of Cicero Holmes as guest!
Monday Sep 25, 2023
Monday Sep 25, 2023
Fractal fuckery abounds! Data has a whole bunch of memories in his positronic brain, and he's going to share it all with our guest star, but before we get to that, Riker's got a hot honey colonist to woo. But dang, she dead. Thanks, Crystalline Entity, for the ultimate cock-block! In comes the expert on crystals and white whales, played by Ellen Geer. She's not here to talk to Data, but ends up hanging out with him the most anyway. She realizes he's got her son's memories and then almost makes out with our fully functional android friend. We don't quite get the philosophical discussion any of these subjects demand.
Get in touch with us on BlueSky @ReEngageTNG.bsky.social on Twitter @ReEngageTNG!
Host: Erik Gratton (@erikfallsdown on Twitter & IG)
Panel: Kate Jaeger (@jaegerlicious on Twitter and IG), Greg Tito (Gregtito.com, @GregTito on Bluesky, @gregtito on Twitter, @greg_tito on IG), and Jimmie G (@thejimmieg on IG & Twitter)
Audio Editor: Greg Tito (Gregtito.com, @GregTito on Bluesky, @gregtito on Twitter, @greg_tito on IG)
Logo artwork: @mojojojo_97 on Twitter, mojo97.com
Theme music: Ryan Marth
Next up is s5e5 "Disaster" hosted by Jimmie!
Monday Sep 18, 2023
Monday Sep 18, 2023
We meet a new friend and crewmember! Ensign Ro originates the Bajoran people who will come to be a huge ass part of the Star Trek canon. Michelle Forbes returns, having been the daughter in "Half a Life" and knocks Ro's dangerousness and fierceness right out of the park. We learn the Bajorans are a proud people who are down on their luck and that Ro has got some crosses to bear. Luckily, Guinan comes in to guide Picard to trust Ro against the Cardassians, and then she gets a job on the Enterprise. Done and done!
Get in touch with us on BlueSky @ReEngageTNG.bsky.social on Twitter @ReEngageTNG!
Host: Kate Jaeger (@jaegerlicious on Twitter and IG)
Panel: Greg Tito (Gregtito.com, @GregTito on Bluesky, @gregtito on Twitter, @greg_tito on IG), Erik Gratton (@erikfallsdown on Twitter & IG), and Jimmie G (@thejimmieg on IG & Twitter)
Audio Editor: Kate Jaeger (@jaegerlicious on Twitter and IG)
Logo artwork: @mojojojo_97 on Twitter, mojo97.com
Theme music: Ryan Marth
Next up is s5e4 "Silicon Avatar" hosted by Erik!
Re:Engage
Four friends return to a sci-fi series we all have a strong connection to - Star Trek: The Next Generation. It debuted in 1987 when we were all young, and now we re-engage with the series, one episode at a time, and re-consider Star Trek from a new perspective as grown-up fans.