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Channel • 3 Shows

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TV Reviews

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TV & Film

Updated 12/04/2024
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After Shows

Updated 05/05/2023

04/03/2024

Series VIII Reviews: Back in The Red (Part III)

In this edition of our continuing celebration of Series VIII’s 25th anniversary, we look back at the third episode of the series, Back in The Red – Part 3. Is the dance sequcne there to give the casta. chance to do their ‘bit’? Does the sentancing make any sense whatsoever? And when did Aardman move into screensavers? All these questions are more will addressed as Alex, James and Andrew pause to mull over the concluding part of this most unusual trilogy. The post Series VIII Reviews: Back in The Red (Part III) appeared first on The Spoilist.

04/03/2024

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29 min
11/04/2024

Back To Earth Retrospective: Part Two

In our continuing celebration of Back to Earth’s 15th anniversary, we look back at the story’s second part in our penultimate podcast. Does this part have some similarities with another British televisual institution? Just why won’t real life Fan Club chairman James Bull change his name to Reg Wharf? And at what point in the production did it occur to anyone that a Smart car only has two seats? All these compact questions and more will be covered as Alex, James and Andrew reminisce about what is arguably the strangest episode of Red Dwarf ever made. The post Back To Earth Retrospective: Part Two appeared first on The Spoilist.

11/04/2024

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35 min
07/06/2014

First Contact: ‘Where Silence Has Lease’ Season 2 Episode 2

FIRST CONTACT: ‘WHERE SILENCE HAS LEASE’ SEASON 2 EPISODE 2 The Enterprise gets sucked into a hole in space. They get put through a series of weird tests by a big floaty headed alien called Nagilum. Will they be able to escape? Ensign Haskell fans might not want to watch this one. Listen to the previous episode, ‘The Child’ here The post First Contact: ‘Where Silence Has Lease’ Season 2 Episode 2 appeared first on The Spoilist.

07/06/2014

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30 min
02/09/2018

First Contact: ‘Suddenly Human’ Season 4 Episode 4

FIRST CONTACT: ‘SUDDENLY HUMAN’ SEASON 4 EPISODE 4 The Enterprise answers a distress call and finds a training ship with four young Talarians on board…and one human. It turns out this young man has been raised as a Talarian after his Starfleet serving parents were killed in battle. He shows signs of abuse and is reluctant to acknowledge his human heritage. The only person he will respond to is Picard, who teaches him about his past and tries to convince him that he should return to humanity. When the boy’s Tallerian father arrives, he threatens war if his son is not returned, but what is the right thing to do? Andrew, Alex and James discuss this somewhat controversial episode from Star Trek: The Next Generation’s fourth season. Listen to the previous episode, ‘Brothers’ here. The post First Contact: ‘Suddenly Human’ Season 4 Episode 4 appeared first on The Spoilist.

02/09/2018

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38 min
01/11/2021

First Contact: ‘Darmok’ Season 5 Episode 2

The Enterprise is on a mission to begin a new relationship with the Tamarians, a race who have been in contact with the Federation but have up until now, not been understood. The trend continues with Picard unable to establish a meaningful dialogue. The Tamarian Captain Dathon beams himself and Picard down the planet, offering Picard a knife. Picard refuses to fight but it is clear that is not the intention. While the Enterprise crew attempt to rescue their Captain, the Tamarians are more than a match for them as they aim not to escalate to a battle. Picard begins to understand Dathon, his species talks in metaphors, every situation references a story from their past. In their history Darmok and Jalad bonded over fighting a beast at Tanagra and Dathon has placed Picard in the same situation. When the captain finally understands, it’s almost too late as the beast fatally wounds Dathon. But on returning to the ship, Picard is able to use their form of language and begin communications. Listen to the previous episode ‘You Must Remember This: Season 4’ here. The post First Contact: ‘Darmok’ Season 5 Episode 2 appeared first on The Spoilist.

01/11/2021

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31 min
11/08/2019

First Contact: ‘The Loss’ Season 4 Episode 10

FIRST CONTACT: ‘THE LOSS’ SEASON 4 EPISODE 10 Following some unusual sensor readings, the Enterprise finds it is unable to resume its course with both warp and impulse engines failing to have any impact on the ship’s new course towards a weird purple thing that will probably crush them. Meanwhile Counsellor Troi experiences extreme pain and soon realises she’s lost her empathic abilities. From this point forward, she’s horrible to everyone including Riker, Crusher and Picard and then patronising to Guinan. She even hands in her resignation. But of course, what ship could cope without a therapist? It is only with Troi’s insights that the crew are able to solve the sci fi problem of the week. Some two dimensional beings are dragging the ship towards their favourite part of space, and once their needs are understood the ship can break away and Troi regains her vague magic powers. The post First Contact: ‘The Loss’ Season 4 Episode 10 appeared first on The Spoilist.

11/08/2019

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40 min
17/01/2018

First Contact: ‘Ménage à Troi’ Season 3 Episode 24

FIRST CONTACT: ‘MÉNAGE À TROI’ SEASON 3 EPISODE 24 ‘Ménage à Troi’ sees the Enterprise arrive at Betazed for a trade conference, a landmark event with the Ferengi in attendance for the first time. Lwaxana Troi is invited giving her and Deanna a chance to catch up and fight about her lack of husband. Unfortunately all is not well as the Enterprise begins another dull mission. While Riker and Troi are enjoying some shore leave and a picnic with Lwaxana, the three are kidnapped by the Ferengi as Daimon Tog desires the Betazed ambassador to be his lover and partner in crime. After many uncomfortable scenes and some pillow talk, Riker sends out a signal to the Enterprise. Meanwhile, Wesley is accepted to the academy if he can only impress them with his oral skills, but will he make the transport? Join Andrew, Alex and James as they continue their audio odyssey with their Star Trek: The Next Generation podcast. Listen to the previous episode ‘Sarek’ here The post First Contact: ‘Ménage à Troi’ Season 3 Episode 24 appeared first on The Spoilist.

17/01/2018

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38 min
08/04/2018

First Contact: ‘You Must Remember This’ Season 3

FIRST CONTACT: ‘YOU MUST REMEMBER THIS’ SEASON 3 The First Contact podcast team starting listening to season 3 of Star Trek: The Next Generation way back in 2015. Now, three years later, they’ve come back together to see if TNG newbie Alex remembers anything at all about the last 26 episodes or if this podcast experiment was a complete waste of time. Listen in wonder as a man fails to remember even the most basic details of something that he spent a significant amount of his time doing. Listen to the previous episode ‘The Best of Both Worlds’ here. FIRST CONTACT WILL RETURN. The post First Contact: ‘You Must Remember This’ Season 3 appeared first on The Spoilist.

08/04/2018

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31 min
13/05/2018

First Contact: ‘The Best of Both Worlds, Part II’ Season 4 Episode 1

FIRST CONTACT: ‘THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS, PART II’ SEASON 4 EPISODE 1 After the Enterprise’s plan to fire a burst from the deflector fails, the Borg set a course for Earth. A fleet of 40 ships engages the cube at Wolf 359 but the Enterprise is unable to join them having burned out the warp core. When they arrive at the site of the battle they find all the ships destroyed but prepare to engage the Borg once again. An audacious series of manoeuvres sees the Enterprise recapture Picard but he remains in the hostile guise of Locutus. While they can’t separate the man from the machine, Data establishes a way to hack the Borg’s collective consciousness, but can he stop them before Earth is destroyed? And can they save Picard? Yes, because this week’s episode is not a cliffhanger. Alex, James and Andrew spend far too long talking about this slow burning sequel to the greatest Star Trek cliffhanger of all time. Listen to the previous episode, ‘You Must Remember This – Season 3’, here. The post First Contact: ‘The Best of Both Worlds, Part II’ Season 4 Episode 1 appeared first on The Spoilist.

13/05/2018

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53 min
21/10/2014

First Contact: ‘The Dauphin’ Season 2 Episode 10

FIRST CONTACT: ‘THE DAUPHIN’ SEASON 2 EPISODE 10 If you’ve ever wanted to know what a Wesley Crusher love story would be like then ‘The Dauphin’ is the episode for you. This is Star Trek: The Next Generation at its very best demonstrating depth in writing, dynamism in performance and some spectacular visual effects and costumes. Andrew, James and Alex sit in almost silent reverence throughout this podcast only occasionally letting out an involuntary “wow!” Listen to the previous episode, ‘The Measure of a Man’ here The post First Contact: ‘The Dauphin’ Season 2 Episode 10 appeared first on The Spoilist.

21/10/2014

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26 min

Neglected pop culture website based in Scotland. Home of Star Trek podcasts First Contact and P for Picard, and Red Dwarf retrospective show The Garbage Podcast.

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The Spoilist

Top Shows

Series VIII Reviews: Back in The Red (Part III)

Back To Earth Retrospective: Part Two

First Contact: ‘Where Silence Has Lease’ Season 2 Episode 2

First Contact: ‘Suddenly Human’ Season 4 Episode 4

First Contact: ‘Darmok’ Season 5 Episode 2

First Contact: ‘The Loss’ Season 4 Episode 10

First Contact: ‘Ménage à Troi’ Season 3 Episode 24

First Contact: ‘You Must Remember This’ Season 3

First Contact: ‘The Best of Both Worlds, Part II’ Season 4 Episode 1

First Contact: ‘The Dauphin’ Season 2 Episode 10

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