The Joy of Trek

If Wishes Were Horses (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (DS9), S1 E16) was recommended by Rugger (They/Them), who said: This is the episode where the crew of DS9 figured out their chemistry. The plot doesn't matter and just strings together the hijinks. But this is the episode where the crew really enjoys each other—where they become a team.
If Wishes Were Horses first aired on May 16, 1993, written by story by Nell McCue Crawford & William L. Crawford, teleplay by Nell McCue Crawford, William L. Crawford and Michael Piller, and directed by Robert Legato
Deep Space Nine is put in jeopardy when the crew's thoughts manifest themselves, and such figures as Rumpelstiltskin appear.
The Joy of Trek is hosted by Khaki & Kay, with editing & production by Chief Engineer Greg and music by Fox Amoore (Bandcamp | Bluesky)
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"Cultural Context" by coolbreezemage, can be found at https://archiveofourown.org/works/36881002
"Tuvok and Neelix go on an away mission to gather supplies to boost Voyager's dwindling resources, a mission where they will need to make use of both their talents."
The Joy of Trek is hosted by Khaki & Kay, with editing & production by Chief Engineer Greg and music by Fox Amoore (Bandcamp | Bluesky)
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Riddles (Star Trek: Voyager, S6 E6) was recommended by Annalise (she/her) pronounced: ahna-lease, who said: Every re-watch of Voyager, my partner and I have lightly different feelings about Neelix. During a rewatch in 2020, as we were isolated from our loved ones, his desire to make their journey more comfortable, to find connections to their homes, really makes him endearing. A little of that has stuck with me during the rewatches since then.
His relationship with Tuvok is one I find amusing and where you see how hard Neelix tries to make people feel seen and connected. Suddenly, in this episode Tuvok needs Neelix and recognizes that he feels safe with Neelix, is evidence of all of Neelix's hard work paying off. It would have been so easy (and natural) for Tuvok and Neelix to be mutually antagonistic for the whole series (Tuvok hating him for being silly, and Neelix hating Tuvok for being so serious), but Neelix genuinely likes Tuvok. He doesn't understand how Vulcans work in the slightest, but his responses to Tuvok show a genuine care and good intentions, like a kid who sees an adult in distress and offers them a favorite toy.
As a Neurodivergent person, I do love quotable TV, and I also find myself quoting the riddle about the calendar often when I'm working on my own scheduling and a little bit hungry.
Riddles first aired on November 3, 1999, written by story by André Bormanis, teleplay by Robert Doherty, and directed by Roxann Dawson
Returning from a diplomatic mission, Tuvok is attacked by a cloaked intruder and suffers neurological damage.
The Joy of Trek is hosted by Khaki & Kay, with editing & production by Chief Engineer Greg and music by Fox Amoore (Bandcamp | Bluesky)
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"To Break in a Glove
" by TARDISTraveller42, can be found at https://archiveofourown.org/works/22854793
"Picard spends some fatherly bonding time with the three members of his crew that need a father-figure the most: Will, Wesley, and Data. Can a game of catch on the Holodeck bring out the father in Jean-Luc Picard?"
The Joy of Trek is hosted by Khaki & Kay, with editing & production by Chief Engineer Greg and music by Fox Amoore (Bandcamp | Bluesky)
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Allegiance (Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG), S3 E18) was recommended by NightCat He/Him, who said: Picard gets captured and sent to a room with a few other aliens.Then PseudoPicard is running the ship, singing drinking songs and apparently fascinated with dangerous pulsars!
There was a guy in that episode, one of the aliens in the room. He had a kind of robe on. His species was reputed for having been conquered over and over again. I found it interesting that they used that same concept in a Doctor Who episode during the Matt Smith era called "The God Complex". There was a kind of ratlike guy whose species had the same reputation! I've seen a lot of borrows in the new Doctor Who, although I adore the show! But this was a pretty direct lift and it was hard to miss.
I also found the PseudoPicard to be really interesting. The strange date he has with Beverly Crusher before he just kicks her out. Sometimes I remember the drinking song he does and I find myself trying to remember the lyrics. Weird stuff! But it really caught my attention.
Allegiance first aired on March 26, 1990, written by Richard Manning & Hans Beimler, and directed by Winrich Kolbe
Aliens kidnap Captain Picard and replace him with a duplicate who sends the Enterprise to a pulsar. Meanwhile, the real Picard and three other captives try to escape from their prison.
The Joy of Trek is hosted by Khaki & Kay, with editing & production by Chief Engineer Greg and music by Fox Amoore (Bandcamp | Bluesky)
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