To Baldly Go

Aaron Emery
  • 5.0 (1)
  • TV & Film
  • Updated Weekly

Join me as I watch through Star Trek for the first time and discuss with my Trekkie friends

  1. 1d ago

    Star Trek TNG S04E13-15 Devil’s Due, Clues, First Contact – “Ron Swanson Loves Riddles” | First Time Reaction – To Baldly Go Podcast (Ep. 062)

    First-Time Watch – Star Trek: The Next Generation, Season 4, Episodes 13-15 This week on The To Baldly Go Podcast, we continue our first-time, release-order journey through Star Trek with three episodes from the fourth season of The Next Generation. This week, we get: Feeling like a TOS episode Ron Swanson’s favorite Star Trek episode What happens when a society learns they are not alone in the universe? We covered: Devil’s Due Clues First Contact In “Devil’s Due,” the Enterprise arrives at Ventax II just as the planet’s people prepare to surrender themselves to Ardra, a supposedly supernatural figure returning to collect on a thousand-year-old contract. The episode feels like a lost TOS story performed by the TNG cast, leading us into discussions about Q, religion, explanations, knowledge problems, Troi’s empathic range, and whether Ardra would make a good Dungeons & Dragons villain. “Clues” gives us a tightly constructed mystery after the Enterprise crew apparently loses only thirty seconds while passing through a wormhole. The evidence says otherwise, but Data refuses to explain what really happened. We discuss the episode’s handling of time, warp speed, relativity, the one explanation that might have improved everything, and plant reconciliation studies. In “First Contact”—not the movie—Riker is injured while secretly observing a civilization approaching warp capability. Picard must decide how and when to reveal that the people of Malcor III are not alone in the universe. We discuss fear, uncertainty and doubt, the Prime Directive, Bebe Neuwirth’s unmistakable voice, and the discovery that Riker is apparently a freak. Join us as we discuss Star Trek: The Next Generation, Season 4, Episodes 13-15: “Devil’s Due,” “Clues,” and “First Contact.”

  2. Jul 21

    Star Trek TNG S04E10-12 The Loss, Data’s Day, The Wounded – “Keeping Up with the Cardassians” | First Time Reaction – To Baldly Go Podcast (Ep. 061)

    First-Time Watch – Star Trek: The Next Generation, Season 4, Episodes 10-12 This week on The To Baldly Go Podcast, we continue our first-time watch of Star Trek: The Next Generation with The Loss, Data’s Day, and The Wounded. This week, we get: Counselor Troi working through the five stages of grief after losing her empathic abilities Data documenting an ordinary day aboard the Enterprise The introduction of the Cardassians Great performances elevating material that does not always live up to them A tense confrontation with a decorated Starfleet captain who may be right for the wrong reasons We covered: The Loss Troi suddenly loses her empathic abilities and struggles with the possibility that an essential part of her identity may be gone forever. We discuss the episode’s exploration of grief, Marina Sirtis’s performance, the infamous “space seed,” and whether this story needed more than a single episode to reach its full potential. Data’s Day Data records a day aboard the Enterprise for Commander Maddox, giving us weddings, dancing, mispronounced names, Spot the cat, and something pulled directly from Nate’s nightmares. We discuss Brent Spiner’s performance, the passage of time aboard a starship, missed opportunities, and the question of what “night” means when traveling through space. The Wounded A celebrated Starfleet captain launches unauthorized attacks against Cardassian ships, forcing Picard to stop one of his own officers while navigating a fragile peace. We discuss the introduction of the Cardassians, the episode’s constant tension, its restrained use of action, combat distances, and the uncomfortable possibility of being right for the wrong reasons. Final Thoughts: The Loss and Data’s Day both give talented performers material that does not completely work for us, but The Wounded delivers one of the strongest episodes of the season so far. It introduces a major new adversary, raises difficult questions without offering simple answers, and keeps the tension high from beginning to end. Next time: Devil’s Due | Clues | First Contact Never give up. Never surrender.

  3. Jul 14

    Star Trek TNG S04E07-09 Reunion, Future Imperfect, Final Mission – “Star Trek: Inception?” | First Time Reaction – To Baldly Go Podcast (Ep. 060)

    Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 4, Episodes 7-9: Reunion | Future Imperfect | Final Mission This week on The To Baldly Go Podcast, Aaron and Nate continue their release-order watchthrough with three more episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation. This week, we get: Worf confronting the consequences of his past decisions Riker trapped inside Star Trek: Inception What appears to be Wesley Crusher’s final mission We covered: Reunion K’Ehleyr returns to the Enterprise with a surprise: Worf has a son. Her investigation into the Klingon succession brings Worf face-to-face with Duras and forces him to decide how far he is willing to go to protect his family and restore his honor. We discuss IMDb burying the lede, the return of K’Ehleyr, the increased depth of TNG compared with The Original Series, Picard being both disappointed and angry, and whether the bat’leth is a decent weapon after all. Future Imperfect After an away mission goes wrong, Riker awakens sixteen years in the future. He is now captain of the Enterprise, has a son he does not remember, and is negotiating peace with the Romulans—but pieces of his new life do not add up. We discuss a well-constructed mystery, callbacks to one-off characters from the first season, Riker recognizing the flaws in the illusion, and a strong episode weakened by a dumb ending. Final Mission Wesley joins Picard on what is supposed to be a routine diplomatic mission before leaving the Enterprise. When their shuttle crashes on a desert moon, Wesley must solve an ancient mystery while Picard’s condition grows worse. Aaron and Nate see the episode differently, despite giving it similar ratings. We discuss strong character moments with weak setups, Beverly’s absence from the bridge, protection from the “sun,” comparisons with Tasha Yar’s departure, Code of Honor, and the show’s attempted sendoff for Wil Wheaton. Join us as we discuss Reunion, Future Imperfect, and Final Mission on The To Baldly Go Podcast.

  4. Jul 7

    Star Trek TNG S04E04-06 Suddenly Human, Remember Me, Legacy – “Futuristic Enterprise Racquetball” | First Time Reaction – To Baldly Go Podcast (Ep. 059)

    This week on The To Baldly Go Podcast, Aaron and Nate continue their journey with the next three episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 4: Suddenly Human, Remember Me, and Legacy. This week, we get: Different cultures, children making decisions, and abuse The importance of appreciating people when they are still around A not-very-good episode, so we talk about other stuff We covered: Suddenly Human Remember Me Legacy In Suddenly Human, we talk about futuristic Enterprise racquetball, whether the title is trying to be too clever, and why Nate may hate this episode. The conversation gets into the limits of network TV, kids making lasting decisions, adults making decisions for kids, internal series inconsistencies, and whether Picard and the crew get this one wrong. In Remember Me, we discuss a much stronger episode built around worry, anxiety, confusion, and clarity. Beverly Crusher has to figure out the nature of the universe as the people around her disappear, and the episode works because it lets the audience figure things out at the right time. We also touch on the Star Trek: The Original Series intro lyrics and how TNG is finding more depth than TOS. In Legacy, we hit one of the weakest episodes we have seen in a while, which means the side conversations take over. We talk about bad TV poker, 2-7 triple draw, card tricks on YouTube, Penn & Teller, and the milestone of The Next Generation surpassing The Original Series in total episodes. Join us as we discuss Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 4 episodes Suddenly Human, Remember Me, and Legacy. Nestor Hato card trick on Fool Us

  5. Jun 30

    Star Trek TNG S04E01-03 The Best of Both Worlds Part II, Family, Brothers – “TNG Season 4 Kickoff” | First Time Reaction – To Baldly Go Podcast (Ep. 058)

    Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 4, Episodes 1-3: The Best of Both Worlds, Part II | Family | Brothers This week on The To Baldly Go Podcast, we kick off Season 4 of Star Trek: The Next Generation with the fallout from one of the biggest cliffhangers in Star Trek history, a quiet but powerful family story, and Brent Spiner putting on a full acting showcase. This week, we get: Triumph and consequences All in the Family Is there anything Brent Spiner can’t do? We covered: The Best of Both Worlds, Part II The Borg crisis comes to a close, but the emotional fallout is just beginning. We talk about the drop in tension from Part I, Picard’s trauma, the somber ending, the aftermath of the battle, the Captain’s chair, impulse power, and whether seeing the wreckage was more effective than seeing the battle itself. Family Nate revisits an episode he hated when he was younger and now loves. We discuss why Family feels different from a typical Star Trek episode, how it still fits the series, Picard in crisis, family dynamics, the limits of technology, and whether this is really The Best of Both Worlds, Part III. Brothers Brent Spiner takes center stage in an episode that feels like another mini movie in TNG’s growing run of weekly stories. We talk about Data, Lore, Dr. Soong, 24th-century deep fakes, how standalone episodes can still build something larger, and, somehow, 2025 movies and Minnesota versus Florida summer weather. Join us as we continue our first-time watch through Star Trek: The Next Generation.

  6. Jun 23

    Star Trek TNG S03E25-26 Transfigurations, The Best of Both Worlds – “X-Men did it better” | First Time Reaction – To Baldly Go Podcast (Ep. 057)

    First-Time Watch – Star Trek: The Next Generation, Season 3, Episodes 25-26 This week on The To Baldly Go Podcast, Abbie is back as we finish Season 3 of Star Trek: The Next Generation with “Transfigurations” and “The Best of Both Worlds.” This week, we get: A conversation about evolution that may be more interesting than the episode itself A return to the Sarek discussion from last week More awkward Geordi romance, whether we wanted it or not The starship dating scene and a surprisingly long 10 Forward discussion A near-perfect slow-burn Borg episode Captain Picard absolutely not surrendering the Enterprise Shelby making waves without necessarily being wrong A cliffhanger that leaves Aaron genuinely unsure how Star Trek gets out of this We covered: Transfigurations: “Transfigurations” gives us a mysterious patient, questions about evolution, and a society afraid of what its people may become. We talk about how groups respond to customs and beliefs that clash with their own, especially when they are visitors in someone else’s house. We also spend time on the starship social scene, 10 Forward, and why the awkward Geordi episodes are starting to wear out their welcome. In the end, our conversation may have gone deeper than the episode did. The Best of Both Worlds: Then comes “The Best of Both Worlds,” one of the biggest episodes we have watched so far. We talk about the Borg, the perfectly executed slow burn, Shelby’s role, Riker’s dilemma, the cost to the crew, and whether this episode represents a turning point for the franchise. Aaron also insists that Picard did not surrender the Enterprise, and we struggle our way through some Season 3 trivia. Final Thoughts: As Season 3 comes to a close, we reflect on how much stronger The Next Generation has become. The storytelling is improving, the performances are more consistent, and the whole show feels like it has found another gear. A rising tide lifts all ships, and this season may be the clearest example yet. Next time: Star Trek: The Next Generation S04E01-03 – The Best of Both Worlds, Part II | Family | Brothers Never give up. Never surrender.

  7. Jun 16

    Star Trek TNG S03E22-24 The Most Toys, Sarek, Ménage à Troi – “We don't talk about Spock” | First Time Reaction – To Baldly Go Podcast (Ep. 056)

    This week on The To Baldly Go Podcast, Aaron and Nate continue their release-order watchthrough with three more episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation: "The Most Toys," "Sarek," and "Ménage à Troi." This week, we get: Evil, terrifying characters Allegory Shakespeare We covered: The Most Toys Sarek Ménage à Troi In "The Most Toys," Data is left for dead and finds himself in the possession of a truly evil collector. We discuss how the episode works as part of the well-oiled machine of Season 3, the challenge of building tension when we know major characters are probably safe, and whether Data may be one of the most terrifying characters on the Enterprise when pushed far enough. In "Sarek," The Next Generation continues to stand on its own while still maintaining a strong connection to The Original Series. We talk about Patrick Stewart’s remarkable performance, Sarek’s emotional decline, aging, dignity, and whether the episode works as an allegory for Alzheimer’s or dementia. We also discuss the apparent rule against referencing Spock. In "Ménage à Troi," Lwaxana Troi returns, Shakespeare takes center stage, and the Ferengi are once again very Ferengi. We discuss judging episodes by their titles, whether Lwaxana is growing on Aaron, and how this episode lands after two heavier stories.

  8. Jun 9

    Star Trek TNG S3E19-21 Captain’s Holiday, Tin Man, Hollow Pursuits - “Science Words” | First Time Reaction – To Baldly Go Podcast (Ep. 055)

    Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 3, Episodes 19-21: Captain’s Holiday | Tin Man | Hollow Pursuits This week on To Baldly Go, we continue our first-time watchthrough of Star Trek: The Next Generation with Captain’s Holiday, Tin Man, and Hollow Pursuits. This week we get: - An archaeological adventure looking for artifacts from the future - All the elements to make a great episode, but just missing the mark - Impostor syndrome In Captain’s Holiday, Picard takes some much-needed time away from the Enterprise, only to end up pulled into a time-travel archaeological adventure. We discuss the difficulties of time-travel stories, whether Picard is too trusting, unexpected chemistry between actors and characters, Star Trek shovels, Parks and Rec, and the real-life ramifications from this episode. In Tin Man, we talk about an episode that seems to have so many of the right ingredients, but never quite comes together the way it should. We get into The Story of the Tin Woodsman, fairy tales, the lack of tension, the music, strange sound-effect techniques, the number 47, and Starship Farragut. Finally, in Hollow Pursuits, we meet Barclay and discuss impostor syndrome, holodeck fantasies, unclear messaging, the fact that the holodeck apparently doesn’t lock, and whether the ending was inevitable. Join us as we discuss Captain’s Holiday, Tin Man, and Hollow Pursuits. Find us on X @BaldlyGoPodcast, on Facebook at To Baldly Go Podcast, and at tobaldlygopodcast.com.

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Join me as I watch through Star Trek for the first time and discuss with my Trekkie friends

Information

  • Creator
    Aaron Emery
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    64
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    To Baldly Go