Saddle Up! A Star Trek Strange New Worlds Podcast

"New Life and New Civilizations" Cleared to return to active duty as director of the Starfleet Judge Advocate General's Office, Captain Batel sees a bright future ahead—at least until she learns that she is actually a statue. And not just any statue, but the one that keeps the ancient evil known as the Vezda sealed away so they can't wreak havoc on the universe. That's a job she really needs to get back to because the reconstituted body of Nurse Gamble has greeted Doctor Korby on the planet Skygowan, and things are not looking good for galactic peace. But before she can step back onto the pedestal, she has to take Captain Pike on a trip down memory lane to share their life together in a future where he was never injured while training cadets. And also, Kirk and Spock become one. In this episode of Saddle Up! hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our journey through Strange New Worlds with "New Life and New Civilizations." We discuss the resolution to the Batel and Vezda stories, potential pathways for Pike, and look back at Season 3 as a whole. Chapters Intro (0:00:00) Batel Transformed (00:02:44) A Walk Down Future Memory Lane (00:14:32) Many Pathways for Pike? (00:28:59) The Original Evil (00:34:13) The Importance of a Guiding Vision (00:39:40) Could Have Been the Series Finale? (00:43:53) Kirk and Spock Become One (00:47:48) Introducing: Plot Magic! (00:53:22) The State of Strange New Worlds (00:57:35) Final Thoughts and Ratings (01:16:06) Closing (01:18:45) Hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

"Terrarium" While investigating a peculiar area of uncharted space—a region legendary for strange phenomena—the Enterprise finds it impossible to get proper reading from probes due to highly volatile gravimetric waves. Ortegas flies the shuttle Archimedes into the turmoil to gather data firsthand. But when a wormhole suddenly opens up and sends the shuttle tumbling into a moon orbiting a gas giant, Ortegas must fight to survive. She has to find shelter, food, and water, but there's one obstacle she wasn't counting on: the Gorn. With the clock ticking before the moon passes through the planet's thermosphere, the two enemies find common ground. When the Enterprise finally arrives to rescue them, it is revealed that the whole situation was just a test staged by the Metrons. In this episode of Saddle Up! hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our journey through Strange New Worlds with "Terrarium." We discuss the connection to the Original Series classic "Arena," character development for Ortegas, Uhura's stint as a scientist, the Metrons, and more. Chapters Intro (0:00:00) Fixing Ortegas (00:02:57) Differing Responses (00:13:38) Seeking Understanding (00:17:49) Uhura the Scientist (00:24:08) Hey, Hey, We're the Metrons! (00:27:49) A Setup for the Finale? (00:37:00) Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:44:50) Closing (00:55:03) Hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

"Four-and-a-Half Vulcans" What's the best way to pass as a Vulcan? Become one! That's what Pike, Uhura, La'an, and Chapel do in order to save a pre-warp civilization without violating the Prime Directive. Doesn't make sense? Don't worry, it's all just a setup for a story that aims to shed light on what goes on in the Vulcan mind. After their one-minute mission is done, the foursome is unable to transform back into humans but finds that they like being Vulcan more. This is a very troubling development for the crew as they watch Nurse Chapel shun all relationships in favor of work, Pike fall in love with 42-minute rotating shifts for more efficient operations, Uhura brainwash her boyfriend, and La'an try to take over the ship and start an interstellar war. The only hope for returning things to normal? A Vulcan called Doug. In this episode of Saddle Up! hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our journey through Strange New Worlds with "Four-and-a-Half Vulcans." We discuss the concept, the setup, the humor, and what each character's situation reveals about Vulcans and themselves. Chapters Intro (0:00:00) First Reactions (00:02:39) All In on Silly (00:14:11) Biology Is Not Culture (00:16:24) Superficially Vulcan (00:24:43) Everyone Has a Soul? (00:29:42) Ideas Out of Focus (00:37:43) Four Facets of Vulcans (00:42:54) Una Digs Doug (00:45:23) And Kirk Shows Up (00:48:43) Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:50:57) Closing (00:57:10) Hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

"What Is Starfleet?" The long-teased documentary by Umberto Ortegas has finally been released. "Starfleet presents themselves as our quadrant's shining example of duty, honor, peacekeeping," says the little brother of Erica Ortegas, who flies the ship. "But what separates a federation from an empire? Both colonize. Both impose their laws and doctrines on others. Are they explorers as they claim? Or soldiers as they appear? They call their vessels starships. What distinguishes them from warships?" Filming a mission during which the Enterprise is ordered to transport cargo that turns out to be a sentient being that turns out to have been transformed into a weapon certainly begs answers to those questions. As viewers, we watch the findings of this young investigative reporter unfold and lead him down a path he may not have expected. In this episode of Saddle Up! hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our journey through Strange New Worlds with "What Is Starfleet?" We discuss the documentary concept, Beto's agenda, and pacing in short seasons as well as the big question (and whether the story answers it). Chapters Intro (0:00:00) An Age-Old Question (00:03:26) Speed Bump for the Season? (00:17:36) Journalistic Standards (00:21:49) Are We Too Impatient As Viewers Today? (00:27:46) Core Elements (00:36:43) Seeking Out New Life (00:41:04) There Be Whales Here! (00:47:57) Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:51:09) Closing (01:01:57) Hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

"The Sehlat Who Ate Its Tail" During a survey mission to Helicon Gamma, Commander James T. Kirk of the USS Farragut thinks it would be a good idea to put boots on the ground and explore the world firsthand. Think again. Just as he pitches the idea to his Vulcan captain, the planet is vaporized by an incredibly powerful weapon fired from a ship that looks like a giant sea creature. With most of the crew, including Captain V'rel, injured, Kirk takes command of the Farragut. His first time in the chair under pressure takes a life-or-death turn when the Enterprise is captured by space pirates and swallowed by the beast. He must overcome his crisis of confidence and rise to the occasion to save both ships, a tall task aided by a group that will one day become his own trusted crew. In this episode of Saddle Up! hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our journey through Strange New Worlds with "The Sehlat Who Ate Its Tail." We discuss Kirk's backstory and evolution, bringing together the original series crew, pack rat Pelia and her '80s solution, and the story's closing twist. Chapters Intro (0:00:00) Playing Kirk (00:02:12) Building Kirk (00:14:38) Bringing the TOS Crew Together (00:18:29) Pack Rat Pelia Saves the Day (00:27:29) The Twist Ending (00:32:10) When Star Trek Is at Its Best (00:42:48) Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:49:00) Closing (00:52:34) Hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)