Friday, March 29, 2013

Deep Space Nine, Season 2: The Jem'Hadar

Deep Space Nine, Season 2
"The Jem'Hadar"
Airdate: June 12, 1994
45 of 173 produced
45 of 173 aired

Introduction

Commander Sisko has taken Jake and Nog to Gamma Quadrant to do a planetary survey for a school project. Much to his chagrin, Quark has tagged along. However, the trip is cut short when Quark and Sisko are captured by the Jem'Hadar, fearsome soliders of the Dominion. Now Jake and Nog are left to find a way to help them, and the station is left preparing to face a new and powerful threat.

This one totally wasn't Counselor Troi's fault.


Monday, March 25, 2013

Deep Space Nine, Season 2: Tribunal

Deep Space Nine, Season 2
"Tribunal"
Airdate: June 5, 1994
44 of 173 produced
44 of 173 aired

Introduction

Miles O'Brien, on the cusp of his first vacation in 5 years, finds himself under arrest and on trial for his life in a Cardassian court of law. Unfortunately for him, all defendants are guilty, and the state never loses a case. Will this vacation be his last? 


Oh, Miles, you sweet, pasty, doughball of an Irishman...




Friday, March 22, 2013

Star Trek: TNG Pinball (quickie) review

As Treknobabble's resident pinball aficionado, it is incumbent upon me to inform you of a momentous occasion: the release of Star Trek: The Next Generation as a pinball table on Farsight's pinball game The Pinball Arcade.


The table itself is a real pinball table released by Williams, a Chicago-based pinball manufacturer, in 1993. It's loaded with all sorts of references to the series, including ramps named after the quadrants of the galaxy, missions named after characters like Q and the Ferengi, and prop pieces depicting ships from the series including the Borg thing from Descent, a shuttlecraft, and a Klingon Bird of Prey.


It also features real theme music and sound samples from all of the main actors of the series! And I don't just mean stuff from the shows. Counselor Troi says "I sense a lit Extra Ball." When the ball drains, Data says "Had you aimed the ball at the proper trajectory, you would have been rewarded." And so on. The table has loads of different modes, many multiball scenarios, and is just a lot of fun to play. So, suffice it to say, as pinball tables go, it's quite a bit of fun.

As a video game, it's also pretty darned good. The table can be had for $5. You download the Pinball Arcade game for free, and then buy tables to add to it. You can also play the table for free in a demo mode that ends after you reach a certain score (for me, this takes about 3 minutes, but your mileage may vary depending on how bad you are at pinball). So it's easy to try and see if you like it.

Pinball Arcade is available on PS3, PS Vita, Apple IOS, Android, and Xbox 360. As of right now, the TNG table is available on all of these platforms except the 360. I own the full PS3 and Vita versions myself, and I've played the IOS version on my wife's iPhone 4s, and the Android version on an Acer Iconia tablet running Ice Cream Sandwich. The graphics are great on all three platforms, with by far the best being on PS3. The IOS version runs a close second (I was quite impressed), with Vita being the third best. I imagine performance will take a slight hit on tablet and phone devices that are a bit older (e.g. previous iphones, older tablets). It was a tad slow (but still playable) on my Acer Iconia A500, which is about 2 years old.

For an investment of $5, I think any serious TNG fan who is also a casual gamer will get a lot out of it. I heartily recommend it.

Complete Trek free on Hulu until March 31

FYI cheap Trekkers...

Every live action series is free to watch on Hulu until March 31. A quick napkin calculation indicates that this is 216 hours of viewing time, sans sleep and bathroom breaks, which works out to about 1.5 series. Or, you could scan our past reviews and series recaps to see what the best of each show to this point is, and double your viewing pleasure!

Monday, March 18, 2013

Deep Space Nine, Season 2: The Collaborator

Deep Space Nine, Season 2
"The Collaborator"
Airdate: May 22, 1994
43 of 173 produced
43 of 173 aired

Introduction

A member of the Bajoran Occupational Government appears on the station seeking to return home. Bajoran law forbids it, but he claims to have something to offer in exchange for the right to return home. He claims that Vedek Bareil is the man responsible for betraying a resistance cell to the Cardassians during the Occupation that killed 43 people, including Kai Opaka's son. With Bareil poised to win the upcoming election for Kai, the personal and political stakes for Bajor and Kira are immeasurable, so Kira reluctantly agrees to try and find out the truth, whatever it is.

I've bowed as far as I can bow, and I cain't bows no more!


Friday, March 15, 2013

Deep Space Nine, Season 2: Crossover

Deep Space Nine, Season 2
"Crossover"
Airdate: May 15, 1994
42 of 173 produced
42 of 173 aired

Introduction

When Dr. Bashir and Major Kira go through the wormhole for some reason, they find themselves in the mirror universe. There, they discover that, for other reasons, the people they know and love are all different, and in a bad way, compared to the universe they know and love. Then, Kira gets hit on by herself.



Come on, baby, you know the only thing preventing us from making out is the effects budget... 


Monday, March 11, 2013

Deep Space Nine, Season 2: The Wire

Deep Space Nine, Season 2
"The Wire"
Airdate: May 8, 1994
41 of 173 produced
41 of 173 aired

Introduction

Garak begins exhibiting odd and increasingly hostile behavior. He refuses Dr. Bashir's initial attempts to treat him, but when Garak finally collapses, Bashir find's a strange implant embedded in his brain. What does the implant do? Is it causing Garak's condition? What's the connection between what's happening to Garak and to his mysterious past?

Did I ever tell you about my experiences in Turkish prison, my dear doctor?


Friday, March 8, 2013

Deep Space Nine, Season 2: The Maquis Part II

Deep Space Nine, Season 2
"The Maquis, Part II"
Airdate: May 1, 1994
40 of 173 produced
40 of 173 aired

Introduction

When he discovers that his old friend Cal Hudson has betrayed Starfleet to join the Maquis, Commander Sisko must decide how best to balance his friendship against his duty to Starfleet and the Federation.


Answer: Phasers! Pew pew pew!!!

Monday, March 4, 2013

Deep Space Nine, Season 2: The Maquis, Part I



Deep Space Nine, Season 2
"The Maquis, Part I"
Airdate: April 24, 1994
39 of 173 produced
39 of 173 aired

Introduction

The "morally superior" members of the Federation are tested when it is revealed that its own citizens are engaging in terrorist activity against the Cardassians.


See that model on my shelf? Sweet, huh? Maybe they'll do a show about it someday... sucka!


Sunday, March 3, 2013

Podcast Update

Blood Oath has a podcast and it's been added to the original post. Enjoy.

Friday, March 1, 2013

Deep Space Nine, Season 2: Blood Oath

Deep Space Nine, Season 2
"Blood Oath"
Airdate: March 27, 1994
38 of 173 produced
38 of 173 aired

Introduction

Jadzia is shocked when a person from Curzon's past appears on the station, the aged Klingon warrior Kor. This reunion brings her head to head with an old vendetta of Curzon's - avenging the deaths of the sons of Curzon's friends Kor, Kang, and Koloth. Now she must decide whether the obligations of previous hosts, up to and including revenge killing, apply to her.


Today is a good day to accessorize!