Alienating Ourselves Podcast

Alienating Ourselves Podcast
  • 5.0 (1)
  • TV Reviews
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Nick and Todd explore sci-fi entertainment, with a focus on aliens and the humans that interact with them. Nick & Todd started by reviewing the theatrical movie, TV series, and TV movies for the "Alien Nation" franchise. They have also started reviewing their top 20 episodes of "Star Trek: The Next Generation." Along the way, they've also reviewed a "Doctor Who" Christmas special, movies & TV shows of 2025, and season 1 of "Star Trek: Starfleet Academy."

  1. 6d ago

    #037 - Star Trek TNG 3.22 "The Most Toys" (with special intro memorial for Patrick Stewart & Walter Koenig)

    Note: This episode begins with a special 7-minute memorial to two actors we lost within the last 8 days, Walter Koenig of "Star Trek" and "Babylon 5" and Patrick Stewart of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and the "X-Men" movies. This week we take a long & detailed look into the classic & possibly under-rated TNG episode, "The Most Toys." Data's death is faked so that he can become a part of a criminals collection of one-of-a-kind treasures. - Note: A snippet of the memorial intro comes from a Walter Koenig panel at Phoenix Comic Con 2013, a panel Todd attended as part of the "Babylon 5" 20th anniversary weekend. Also, this episode was recorded before Walter & Patrick passed away, as was our next TNG review. - This was one of Nick's top 10 choices, but how highly did Todd think of the episode? Did he change his score while recording, like he did with "The Measure of a Man"? - How much did the performance of Saul Rubinek, as criminal trader & collector Kivas Fajo, factor in to the co-hosts loving this episode? - What line of Shakespeare is highlighted in this episode? - How does one scene of Geordi & Wesley going through Data's things, thinking he's dead, hit closer to home for Todd due to recent losses in real life? - What psychology do the co-hosts appreciate regarding Kivas Fajo's urge to collect things and Geordi being distracted by suspicions of how Data supposedly died? - Out of respect of Patrick Stewart's recent passing, Todd edited out a moment of criticism for "Star Trek: Picard." Which "new Trek" show didn't escape criticism in the final edit? - What moments of great dialogue did the co-hosts highlight? Was Data either lying or in denial when blaming the discharge of his weapon on the transporter? - How did the co-hosts fill 55 whole minutes with just the good stuff about this episode? - As the first negative, what did Nick think Data should have done in this episode to anger his captor? - What other very minor logic issues did the co-hosts find with this episode? - What are some interesting things about the background of actor Saul Rubinek? - How many times & ways did the crew of the original Enterprise think Captain Kirk was dead? - What are other Data-centric episodes throughout the series? - What other episodes throughout the franchise have abduction as a theme? - Which movie did a friend suggest to Nick as having a similar theme to a subplot of this episode? - Todd came up with 12 similarities between Kivas Fajo and...someone else...and, Claude AI gave him four more similarities. Nick had concerns about leaving that segment in. What creative but possibly incoherent editing method is used to downplay who Todd is comparing to Kivas Fajo, and can you tell who he's talking about anyway? - During the "Neighboring Sectors" segment which episode did Todd originally put at the bottom of season 3, which got regraded & bumped up three spots after the recording of this review? - Which other episode came up again as one Todd ranks at or near the bottom of season 3 but that Nick really loves? - Which two Trek fans compiled a list of all appearances of Shakespeare books throughout "Star Trek: The Next Generation"? - What is the tragic backstory of why Saul Rubinek had to be cast very quickly to replace British actor David Rappaport, who had already filmed for two days? - For the "Captain's Chair" segment, how did the co-hosts split their vote for MVP, and how were neither one the obvious choice? - How is this review almost 2.5 hours long, and if we should have moved something to a bonus episode instead, what exactly should we have moved? Listen now for the answers to these and other unique questions as we collect..."The Most Toys." Please rate or review us wherever you listen to podcasts. Our e-mail address is alienatingourselves@gmail.com. Royalty-free music in this episode comes from Pixabay.com.

  2. Oct 14

    #036 - Alien Nation TV Movie 2 "Body & Soul":

    This week Nick & Todd review the 2nd "Alien Nation" TV movie "Body & Soul," in which a giant Tencotnese man escapes from a secret installation along with a small physically disabled girl for whom the giant seems to have some kind of psychic connection. After they are separated, it is up to our regular characters Matt, George, and Cathy, to unravel the mystery behind this unlikely pairing and protect them from harm, while subverting harm themselves. Note: Due to a crunch time trying to release "Discerning Geeks Portal" episode #206, "Alienating Ourselves" episode #036, and "Discerning Lurkers Portal: A Babylon 5 Podcast" episode #019, all in the same morning before lunch...no long summaries this time (at least not at first; maybe I'll come back and edit the episode summaries later). Please rate or review us wherever you listen to podcasts. E-Mail addresses: - discerninggeeks@gmail.com - alienatingourselves@gmail.com - discerninglurkers@gmail.com Some royalty-free music used in these episodes comes from Pixabay.com. The theme song used in "Discerning Lurkers Portal" is "Putin's Lullaby" by Alexander Nakarada, CC04 (royalty-free with attribution).

  3. Sep 15

    #035 - Star Trek TNG 3.17 "Sins of the Father"

    This week we set course for the Klingon homeworld as Lt. Worf defends his family honor against a high council that blames his father for collusion with the Romulans. - Is this objectively an impressive & respectable episode, subjectively a highly likable favorite, or a little bit of both? - How impressed were the co-hosts with the performance of Tony Todd as Kurn? - What mixed feelings did one co-host have regarding both Kurn & Picard being attacked during their stints as cha'DIch? - How much plot armor does Picard have? - Why is one co-host so impressed by the writing of this episode? How does that quality in this episode lead to a mini-rant about the lack of that same care in a particular episode of "Star Trek: Starfleet Academy"? - How well does this episode plant seeds for future storytelling? - What behavior of Kurn's plus the way the crew reacts to it were counted as a positive from one co-host and a negative from the other? - What were some of the great moments of Worf & Picard sticking up for themselves? - How did one co-host's praise of Michael Dorn's long-standing performance as Worf lead to another specific mini-rant about the Klingon character Jay-Den from "Starfleet Academy"? - Which co-host claims that Klingon honor is "stupid as hell"? - How did the topic of Klingon honor lead to another mini-rant about one specific Worf behavior from season 3 of "Star Trek: Picard"? - How does one specific nitpick about Worf's sash in this episode lead to a very broad nitpick about his sash in general? - How nasty is the Duras character, and are his other relatives that we meet in future episodes even worse? - How did Riker's previous participation in the officer exchange program lead to one co-host's nitpick about his reaction to Kurn in this episode? - In the "Resonant Frequencies" segment, what are some Klingon-centric episodes, characters, and storylines, throughout the rest of the franchise? - In the Neighboring Sectors segment, how did the co-hosts disagree over the episode "Tin Man"? - And, for the Prime Directive segment, what are the lessons we can learn from this episode? Listen now for the answers to these and other honorable questions as we put on trial..."Sins of the Father." Please rate or review us wherever you listen to podcasts. You can leave comments on individual episodes via the Spotify & GoodPods apps. Our e-mail address is alienatingourselves@gmail.com. Royalty-free music used in this episode comes from Pixabay.com.

  4. Sep 5

    #034 - Star Trek TNG 3.15 "Yesterday's Enterprise"

    Note: I'm publishing this literally 16 minutes before the parade on Saturday at Dragon Con, so I'll come back to type an actual episode summary later. Stay tuned for that update. Enjoy our review of TNG episode "Yesterday's Enterprise."

  5. Aug 28

    #033 - Dragon Con 2026 Pre-Game Show

    We take a slight departure from TV reviews this week to discuss Dragon Con, the huge pop culture event that occurs every Labor Day weekend in Atlanta, Georgia. It's part of the reason this podcast exists, and Dragon Con 2026, the 40th anniversary of the event, is just a few days away. - How did Nick & Todd get started with Dragon Con? - Do either co-host have any specific favorite thing about Dragon Con? - What does one co-host mean when he says that Dragon Con is a very customizable con? - What is special about the Dragon Con parade? - What are Dragon Con's tracks all about? - What are the advantages & disadvantages of Dragon Con being so huge and having so many things to do? - What different strategies do people use to schedule (or not schedule) their preferred activities at Dragon Con? - How did Nick get started speaking on panels? - Last year, Nick and a friend from the "Fandom Hybrid" podcast defended "Howard the Duck" in last year's sci-fi court on the classics track. How did that go, and how much did Nick enjoy it? - How does the Walk of Fame work, and how do fans get autographs from and/or photos with celebrity guests? - How & why did Todd miss out on the Walk of Fame in his first year, 2012, and how did he make up for it starting in 2013? - Which celebrities have Todd & Nick interacted with at Dragon Con? - Which celebrity dressed up like a Ghostbuster? Which celebrity dumped a pitcher of ice water on himself during a panel, the year people were doing the ALS ice bucket challenges? Which celebrity should have had a line but didn't at one point, making a convenient moment for Nick to chat with him? - If you're too shy to talk to celebrities and/or don't want to spend money on autographs or photos, why is it still interesting to go to Walk of Fame? - What are some of Nick & Todd's favorite tracks & types of panels? - What is the layout of Dragon Con's five hotels & two buildings of the Americas Mart? - Does the con suite exist, where is it, and what is it for? - What is meant by Hotel Hunger Games? - What are Todd's experiences with hotel reservations and what are some helpful hints & tricks for seeking hotel rooms? - What are Todd's favorite & least favorites hotel ballrooms where the big actor panels and other major events take place? - Is there really a never-ending odor outside the American Sci-Fi & Fantasy Media track room, or is Todd just crazy and imagining things (or was there only an odor one year, and he just can't let it go)? - What unofficial Wednesday night event does Nick really enjoy? - What other information do the co-hosts have about the parade, concerts, costume contests, the vendors hall, and more? - How did Nick & Todd meet and how was Dragon Con involved in them starting this podcast? - Since recording this episode, the Dragon Con 2026 schedule has come out? Which panels will Nick be speaking on? What example does Todd already have of schedule conflicts which inevitably occur? - And, how many meals, hours of sleep, and showers, should every Dragon Con goer get every day? Listen now for the answers to these and other convention-al and un-convention-al questions, as Nick & Todd explore...Dragon Con. Please rate or review us wherever you listen to podcasts. You can leave comments on individual episodes via the Spotify & GoodPods apps. Our e-mail address is alienatingourselves@gmail.com. Royalty-free music used in this episode comes from Pixabay.com.

  6. Aug 12

    #032 - Alien Nation TV Movie 1 "Dark Horizon"

    Nick and Todd return to "Alien Nation" to review the show's first TV movie continuation, "Dark Horizon." Retconning a few minor details, the movie essentially picks up where the cliffhanging season/series finale left off. Two members of the Francisco family are poisoned by purists, and a stranger from the desert emerges to help Cathy find a cure. But, there's more to Ahpossno and his motivations than meets the eye. - What is the "most comforting & reassuring thing" about the movie? - What is a major flaw in the purists' plan to poison high-profile Tenctonese rather than ones that are under the radar? - The TV movie comes four years after the TV show but is supposed to be a direct continuation. How many things stayed the same, how many things got slightly adjusted, and which aspects were retconned, downplayed, or dropped altogether? - Which respected support characters returned for the TV movies? - What does Ahpossno say that causes Albert to lose his confidence and call off his wedding to May? - How did a TV movie budget help the production quality, and did every special effect work well for both co-hosts? - What are some really nice character moments throughout the movie, including George & Matt singing Susan's favorite Dionne Warwick song to her? - In the final scene, what is special about the bridge where Albert & May are married and the person playing the role of the ceremony officiant? - What is the "most shocking & alarming thing" about the movie? - For two guys who aren't experts on make-up, what issue did both co-hosts have with the eye & forehead make-up used on the Cathy Frankel character? - The Tenctonese Overseers pick up a signal from Earth, tempting them to pick up slaves, but why is there confusion over where that signal originates from? - How did some special effects in this movie lead to comparisons with "Babylon 5" and "The Last Starfighter"? - In what ways were George's plan to defeat Ahpossno and the Overseers clever, convenient, and lucky, all at the same time? - How did the casting of Ahpossno lead to some references to "Gilmore Girls," a show at least partially enjoyed by both co-hosts? - How did the re-casting of Lorraine lead to references to "Arrow" and two "Star Trek" shows? - The officiant at the wedding was played by the wife of creator/writer/director/showrunner Kenneth Johnson. How many different ways were their two daughters & two sons -- plus Kenneth's personal assistant -- involved both behind the scenes and on-camera, both in & out of alien make-up? - Which actor did Nick feature in his "Nick Falls Down the Rabbit Hole" segment? - What types of trivia were learned from "The Unofficial Companion to Alien Nation," the press kit, and the DVD commentary by Kenneth Johnson & one of his daughters? How extensive were the details that Kenneth either remembered or had written down? Listen now for the answers to these and other illuminating questions as we shine a light on..."Dark Horizon." Stay tuned for reviews of the other four "Alien Nation" TV movies as we intersperse those with our reviews of our top 20 favorite "Star Trek: The Next Generation" episodes. Please rate or review us wherever you listen to podcasts. You can leave comments on individual episodes via the Spotify & GoodPods apps. Our e-mail address is alienatingourselves@gmail.com Royalty-free music used in this episode mostly comes from Pixabay.com with one song coming from what used to be freepd.com (now closed down; hopefully everything is still royalty-free).

  7. Aug 3

    #031 - Star Trek TNG - BONUS - Extras from "The Measure of a Man" & "Deja Q" Reviews

    This special "Star Trek: The Next Generation" bonus episode contains extra material from our reviews of "The Measure of a Man" and "Deja Q." - Why did Todd think Captain Phillipa Louvois was such a terrible judge? - Why does Todd think that "The Measure of a Man" shouldn't exist in the first place (regardless of how good it is)? - What complaint about Riker did Todd throw in here that he didn't even fit in the main episode? - What did Nick & Todd think about the three episodes that came right before "The Measure of a Man" and the three that came right after? - And, which four background characters did Nick research for their frequent recurring appearances throughout "Star Trek: The Next Generation," including "Deja Q"? Listen now for even more material from our extensive reviews of "The Measure of a Man" and "Deja Q" that didn't fit in the main episodes. And, stay tuned for more reviews of our favorite "Star Trek: The Next Generation" episodes and the "Alien Nation" TV movies. Check out our reviews of the "Alien Nation" TV show, if you haven't already. Please rate or review us wherever you listen to podcasts. You can leave comments on individual episodes via the Spotify and GoodPods apps. Our e-mail address is alienatingourselves@gmail.com. Royalty-free music in this episode comes from Pixabay.com.

  8. Jul 31

    #030 - Star Trek TNG 3.13 "Deja Q"

    Have your ever lost your powers and sought refuge amongst those you've previously tormented to protect yourself from others you've also tormented. Well, then maybe you'll relate to this week's review of the "Star Trek: The Next Generation" season 3 episode "Deja Q" where the once all powerful Q depends on the good will of the Enterprise crew, especially its artificial 2nd officer. Note: The special bonus episode with additional material from our review of "The Measure of Man" will be next. It was pushed out one release because it now also includes one segment from this review too. - Which three recurring characters (including Q) typically detract from an episode for one of our co-hosts? - Which co-host loves the way Q reacts to aspects of being mortal and the various ways the crew reacts to him? - Which co-host appreciates unlikely pairings, such as the one between Q and Data in this episode? - Do both co-hosts agree about the tightness of the script? - What good things does the recurring character of Guinan add to the story? - What are some of the best quotes from the episode, both longer dialogue and one-word retorts? - What is one co-host's argument that Data is more Star-Trek-y than Spock? - What are some of the nitpicks about the episode, some of which are specifically about Q himself? - How is one nitpick about 24th century fashion related to one co-host's tiny bladder? - What is Roddenberry logic when it comes to zippers and other fasteners? - What are some of the actor connections between "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and "L.A. Law"? - What one detail in this episode, liked by one co-host, led to some good advise to writers about writing characters? And, how did that lead to references of other "Star Trek" shows? - What "head canon" does one co-host have about additional off-camera run-ins with Q? - How did some references to some "Star Trek" novels lead to some compliments & memories about the late great sci-fi author Peter David? - Is loss a valid theme for this episode, and what are some other episodes & movies, in & out of the "Star Trek" franchise, that deal with some form of loss? - What episodes were written or directed by this episode's writer & director? And, what are some other behind-the-scenes tidbits? - Who is the MVP character this time? - Though meant to be a humorous episode in some ways, are there any good morals or lessons that can be taken from the episode? Listen now for the answers to these and other powerful questions as we experience..."Deja Q." Please rate or review us wherever you listen to podcasts. You can leave comments for individual episodes on the Spotify or GoodPods apps. Our e-mail address is alienatingourselves@gmail.com. Royalty-free music used in the episode comes from Pixabay.com.

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About

Nick and Todd explore sci-fi entertainment, with a focus on aliens and the humans that interact with them. Nick & Todd started by reviewing the theatrical movie, TV series, and TV movies for the "Alien Nation" franchise. They have also started reviewing their top 20 episodes of "Star Trek: The Next Generation." Along the way, they've also reviewed a "Doctor Who" Christmas special, movies & TV shows of 2025, and season 1 of "Star Trek: Starfleet Academy."

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  • Creator
    Alienating Ourselves Podcast
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    37
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Alienating Ourselves Podcast
  • Show Website
    Alienating Ourselves Podcast