The Redshirts dive into one of Starfleet Academy’s most intense and emotionally charged episodes yet as SP, Jake, and Carolyn break down the cadets’ first real training mission gone disastrously wrong. The Redshirts tackle loss, sacrifice, and hard lessons about duty as the Academy crew faces a deadly derelict ship, a brutal new enemy, and the reality that Starfleet service comes with real consequences. The discussion covers Tarima’s dangerous telepathic gamble, if Caleb has a growing discomfort with others sacrificing themselves for him, the delivering of a deliciously hateable villain in Nus, and whether the episode finally proves this series is willing to raise the stakes. Along the way, the hosts debate writing choices, villain motivation, Academy preparedness, standout performances, and the emotional impact of losing a cadet, before closing out with ratings, classic Trek connections, listener feedback, and the always-chaotic Trek trivia segment.

Thank you so much for listening to our coverage of Starfleet Academy.

Email: strangenewworldscast@gmail.com

Best place to find SP: http://www.GonnaGeek.com/discord

Best place to find Jake: https://www.tiktok.com/@nerdy_old_man74

Best place to find Carolyn: https://x.com/ocean363

The Redshirts continue their Starfleet Academy watch with episode five as SP, Jake, and Carolyn break down what may be their favorite episode of the series so far, spotlighting the introduction of a photonic cadet and the surprisingly heartfelt questions of identity, autonomy, and belonging that come with her arrival. The discussion covers holographic life and consent, comparisons to Data, Odo, and the Voyager Doctor, midterm chaos at the Academy, Caleb’s ongoing distraction and search for his mother, and how humor—flattening fish, Academy announcements, and drunk Sam—balances heavier themes. The hosts also dive into the episode’s standout bar fight, guest voice performances, creative team pedigree, and whether this episode represents a turning point for the series overall. As always, the conversation wanders into classic Trek connections, season-structure frustrations, listener feedback, and wraps up with another round of Trek trivia before signing off.

Thank you so much for listening to our coverage of Starfleet Academy.

Email: strangenewworldscast@gmail.com

Best place to find SP: http://www.GonnaGeek.com/discord

Best place to find Jake: https://www.tiktok.com/@nerdy_old_man74

Best place to find Carolyn: https://x.com/ocean363

The Redshirts continue their Starfleet Academy watch with episode four, “Vox in Excelso,” as SP, Jake, and Carolyn dig into a Jay-Den Kraag focused Klingon episode. The discussion covers Jay-Den’s debate meltdown and eventual breakthrough, how the episode reframes Klingons, Caleb’s rule-based debate personality versus community experience, and Chancellor Ake and Admiral Vance attempts to steer political and cultural outcomes in a Federation-based solution. Along the way, the Redshirt reacts to classic Trek callbacks, Academy weirdness, moments of unexpected humor, and whether the episode solves complex ideas a little too neatly, before closing out with thoughts on character growth, lingering season frustrations, and where the show seems to be heading next. And don't forget the Trek trivial segment at the end, and some great listener feedback.

Thank you so much for listening to our coverage of Starfleet Academy.

Email: strangenewworldscast@gmail.com

Best place to find SP: http://www.GonnaGeek.com/discord

Best place to find Jake: https://www.tiktok.com/@nerdy_old_man74

Best place to find Carolyn: https://x.com/ocean363

Alexander Rozhenko's Mother: https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/K%27Ehleyr K'Ehleyr actor: https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Suzie_Plakson

Duras Sisters: Lursa: https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Lursa B'Etor: https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/B%27Etor

The Redshirts give you an extra long review of the Star Trek series Starfleet Academy third episode "Vitus Reflux." In this 32rd Century version of Hogwarts, the episode dives headfirst into a classic underdog showdown, using a flashy competition with the War College to explore something much deeper: trust, leadership, and growing beyond fear. As rival cadets trade smug Vulcan smack talk, Klingon muscle, and the occasional exploding replicator, the real battle becomes internal—especially for Caleb, whose instinct to brute-force every problem finally gives way to a hard-won realization that teamwork matters more than ego. Genesis steps into true leadership, Tig delivers some of the episode’s sharpest emotional truths about chosen family, and Chancellor Ake quietly proves she’s playing a much longer, smarter game than anyone realizes. While familiar tropes and a divisive dash of teen romance spark debate with Carolyn, Jake, and SP, the episode ultimately lands as a character-driven turning point—one that shows Starfleet’s future learning to move past survival, fear, and isolation, toward cooperation, trust, and growth.

Thank you so much for listening to our coverage of Starfleet Academy.

Email: strangenewworldscast@gmail.com

Best place to find SP: http://www.GonnaGeek.com/discord

Best place to find Jake: https://www.tiktok.com/@nerdy_old_man74

Best place to find Carolyn: https://x.com/ocean363

What is a Mugato?

• War College Mascot: Mugato
• The Original Series S2E16 “A Private Little War”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZP1VoH_0l-E
• Lower Decks S2E4 “Mugato, Gumato”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6r1gpILmww

The Redshirts continue their watch of the Star Trek series Starfleet Academy with the second episode "Beta Test." SP, Jake and Carolyn discuss Caleb's rule bending noncommittal attitude, ask why Betazoids need to use sign language, where the center of the Federation should be, the mystery of why Tarima chose her college, Academy roommate chaos, all the great Tig moments, and why Jake considers the weak series writing so far. The trio ends the episode with some more fun Star Trek trivia.

Thank you so much for listening to our coverage of Starfleet Academy.

Email: strangenewworldscast@gmail.com

Best place to find SP: http://www.GonnaGeek.com/discord

Best place to find Jake: https://www.tiktok.com/@nerdy_old_man74

Best place to find Carolyn: https://x.com/ocean363

It's the offseason for Star Trek Strange New Worlds so we decided to pickup the new Star Trek series Starfleet Academy while we wait. SP, Jake and Carolyn watch with open minds but bring all their bias of their previous trek viewing. They enjoy all the Starfleet nods of both old and new Trek, the 60th anniversary Trek intro, and the ship that is also a school. SP is concerned about teen angst, Jake is concerned about the writings knowing Trek lore, and Carolyn just needs to know what the Athena ship's registry number stands for (NCC 392023). Bear with us as we slightly confuse episodes as we record and try to catch up to real time in the face of real-life obstacles. The trio does bring back some 2016 Star trek trivia which Jake bests us all. Let us know what you think! We'll read your e-mails on the show.

Thank you so much for listening to our coverage of Starfleet Academy.

Email: strangenewworldscast@gmail.com

Best place to find SP: http://www.GonnaGeek.com/discord

Best place to find Jake: https://www.tiktok.com/@nerdy_old_man74

Best place to find Carolyn: https://x.com/ocean363

It is the end of the third season and there's a full crew to discuss if all the individual great moments combine to a great finale. SP, Jake and Carolyn touch on the good, the bad, and the tangents. From Batel and Pike's Inner Light sequence to Doctor Who and timey whimey timelines to the Spock-Kirk mind meld. They also have fun discussing how close of a relative La'An is to Khan, the lunar manure shuttle run, great Doctor Who - Strange New Worlds Character pair-ups, and the Vulcan Doug's best friend. Carolyn gives a brief summary of the 2025 Rose City Comic Con, and the trio get one last game of Star Trek Trivial Pursuit in for the season.

Thank you so much for listening to our coverage of Strange New Worlds.

Email: strangenewworldscast@gmail.com Twitter: https://x.com/trek_worlds

Best place to find SP: http://www.GonnaGeek.com/discord

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Best place to find Carolyn: https://x.com/ocean363

It's just SP and Jake this week as Redshirt Number Stitch is enjoying her time with the Traveller Wesley Crusher. The two keep themselves entertained by discussing the ninth episode of the 3rd season titled "Terrarium." Jake's Gorn Battlecat attacks him, SP cannot pronounce Terrarium to save his warp core, the two discuss all the previous like-scifi movies and episodes like Terrarium, they touch on all the TOS references, Uhura's lying lottery, 24th Century butt dialing, how Jake is jealous of Division 12, SP makes a warehouse 13 reference, how the crew will transition into Kirk's Enterprise, a short update on Star Trek Legacy, how the Enterprise held up in the wormhole without an engineer, predictions for the season finale, read some listener feedback, and finish up with some great Star Trek Trivial Pursuit.

Thank you so much for listening to our coverage of Strange New Worlds.

Email: strangenewworldscast@gmail.com Twitter: https://x.com/trek_worlds

Best place to find SP: http://www.GonnaGeek.com/discord

Best place to find Jake: https://x.com/cynicaloldman48

Best place to find Carolyn: https://x.com/ocean363