Episodes
Destroy Malevolence vs. And the Children Shall Lead
Does Dave Filoni have a brother? That's the topic of the week. Also, Star Trek and Star Wars are the topics, too. Aspen talks about "the Filoni Zone." Kenny, naturally, talks about Dave Filoni pulling a George Lucas and synthesizing …
Shadow of Malevolence vs. The Paradise Syndrome
Aspen is sick! And suffering from The Paradise Syndrome! Star Trek fails to show up this week as we act out of character and nitpick the flaws in Paradise Syndrome. Kenny talks about the Malevolence as an analog to the …
Rising Malevolence vs. The Enterprise Incident
Our friend Andrea DiMauro-Walton joins us to talk AHSOKA. And Star Trek, too, I guess. Aspen and Andrea talk about the Romulan Commander. Kenny talks about how Anakin just seems like a guy now (and why that's GOOD). Andrea talks …
Ambush vs. Spock's Brain
We start two new seasons at once! Kenny talks about the bold mission statement that is Ambush. Aspen talks about individualizing the clones. We both talk about The Clone Wars - chronological order versus release order. And Kenny introduces...
Star Wars: The Clone Wars vs. Assignment: Earth
We've got two backdoor pilots! Both Gene and George get unprecious with what's come before. They break canon and create a new character that becomes the focus. One is the American Doctor Who. The other one is Aspen's favorite Star …
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith vs. Bread and Circuses
Neoliberalism! Aspen talks about Neoliberalism and Revenge of the Sith. Kenny asks for a definition of what Neoliberalism means. We also talk about what morality looks like in Bread and Circuses. Also, auteur theory is the only consistent way to...
Clone Wars Volume 2 vs. The Ultimate Computer
Great! Star Trek predicted tech bros taking over everything in 1968! The Ultimate Computer rips up everything thanks to Dorothy Fontana. Meanwhile, Clone Wars expands to 12 minutes an episode and we're all the better for it. Aspen talks about …
Clone Wars Volume 1 vs. The Omega Glory
Aspen watches Genndy Tartakovsky's Clone Wars for the first time. Kenny geeks out at how visually clever it is. Also, The Omega Glory is an exercise in how to pat yourself on the back for being a great American. It …
Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones vs. By Any Other Name
We talk about Attack of the Clones being both reactionary filmmaking and REVOLUTIONARY filmmaking. Aspen talks about the infantilization of women and how Kirk Drift might be wrong. Also, we talk about how RedLetterMedia accidentally ruined all film...
Star Wars: Episode I - Phantom Menace vs. Patterns of Force
This week, we watched an episode of a popular sci-fi franchise that was about a phantom menace co-opting a charismatic figurehead to allow fascism to spread across the galaxy. But enough about Patterns of Force from Star Trek! We also …
Return of the Jedi Special Edition vs. Return to Tomorrow
This week, "Risk is our business!" Aspen loves the ending changes of Return of the Jedi. Kenny points out this week's human propaganda of Return to Tomorrow. We talk about being complicit in empire (both being residents of the U.S. …
Empire Strikes Back v. A Private Little War
Aspen and Kenny dive into the depths of proxy wars and American jingoism. Are we the baddies, they ask? And the answer is yes, yes we are. They're also joined by dead and made up guests alike, including Jeff Trekworthy, …
Star Wars vs. The Immunity Syndrome
MACLUNKEY! Kenny gives a tiny history lesson about where Star Wars comes from and how it takes a village to make a movie. Meanwhile, Aspen REALLY likes the episode where the Enterprise fights a Space Amoeba™ (thanks in part to …
An Elegy for Ewoks (The TV Show)
Party Ewok/Malani the Warrior (Star Wars: Ewoks) vs. A Piece of the Action (Star Trek: TOS) We've finally finished Ewoks! Aspen can't get enough of Drut's & Bothel's accents in Malani the Warrior. And Kenny can't get enough of fizzbin! …
The Gamesters of Triskelion vs. Battle for the Sunstar
The Gamesters of Triskelion (Star Trek: TOS) vs. Battle for the Sunstar (Star Wars: Ewoks) Ewoks meet the Empire! This week, we talk about all the cool ships in Battle for the Sunstar. Aspen litigates iterations of Gamesters of Triskelion. …
The Trouble with Tribbles vs. Just My Luck/Bringing Up Norky
The Trouble with Tribbles (Star Trek: TOS) vs. Just My Luck/Bringing Up Norky (Star Wars: Ewoks) Aspen and Kenny talk Star Trek bureaucracy, the excellent origin of the Tribbles script, shenanigans and luck, and how much they HATE the Ewoks …
Orientalism, Sexualization, and Fear
Wolf in the Fold (Star Trek: TOS) vs. Horville's Hut of Horrors/The Tragic Flute (Star Wars: Ewoks) Fear! Fear will keep the podcast in line. Fear of these 3 episodes, since Jack the Ripper is on the Enterprise. And Wicket …
Shame & Plot Motivation
Obsession (Star Trek: TOS) vs. Prow Beaten/Baga's Rival (Star Wars: Ewoks) This week, both shows tackle shame. Kenny talks about plot motivation versus character motivation. Aspen talks about a lack of consequences for characters. And did you know...
Age-ism & The Wizard of Oz
The Deadly Years (Star Trek: TOS) vs. The Season Scepter (Star Wars: Ewoks) Aspen & Kenny talk about age-ism and how Deadly Years sabotages its own heroes. Kenny mentions the superb sequel to Deadly Years, To Serve All My Days. …
Wrath of Khan v. Empire Strikes Back
It's a competition of second chapters with Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan VERSUS Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back! Kenny and Aspen are joined by noted Ron Howard lookalike (and good friend) Ryan Hill to discuss …
What Does it Mean to Be Culturally Humble?
Friday's Child (Star Trek: TOS) vs. Hard Sell/A Warrior and a Lurdo (Star Wars: Ewoks) Three mid episodes. Aspen talks about cultural relativism versus cultural absolutism. Kenny talks about a writerly POV becoming diminished. And we both struggle to...
Butt Talk with Kenny
Journey to Babel (Star Trek: TOS) vs. Gone With The Mimphs / The First Apprentice (Star Wars: Ewoks) The word "iconic" gets thrown liberally. We talk about Linda Woolverton and D.C. Fontana. Kenny talks about Spock as a reflection of …
Sexy Lady Electricity Cloud
Metamorphosis (Star Trek: TOS) vs. Night of the Stranger (Star Wars: Ewoks) Surprise! Aspen likes scary things. Which is one of the big reasons she loves Night of the Spirit. She correctly identifies Ewoks as the Goonies of Star Wars. …
Do We Watch Too Much Content?
I, Mudd (Star Trek: TOS) vs. The Totem Master/A Gift for Shodu (Star Wars: Ewoks) We are delighted by both episodes. But Aspen has an existential breakdown that causes us to spiral and talk about Mando-verse and NüTrek. __________________________...