The Best Star Trek Episodes Ever – The Secrets of Star Trek

To celebrate their 300th episode, Dom Bettinelli, Jimmy Akin, and Fr. Cory Sticha give their lists of the best episodes in each of the Star Trek series, from The Original Series to Strange New Worlds. The ones they agree on are predictable, but where do they disagree?

https://youtu.be/AHeCcKWhPGs

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The Myth Makers (1st Doctor) – The Secrets of Doctor Who

The First Doctor in the Trojan War! Dom Bettinelli and Jimmy Akin discuss the humor and history of the Doctor’s visit to Troy; the departure of Vicki; connections to the Iliad and the Odyssey; and the “true” origin of the Trojan Horse.

https://youtu.be/t-JZhR8MQKc

“Billy Hartnell’s Cranky Time Lord Band” (a 1st Doctor Who/Beatles parody medley) – YouTube

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Mudd’s Passion (TAS) – The Secrets of Star Trek

Mudd’s back. Dom Bettinelli and Jimmy Akin discuss the animated return of con man Harry Mudd, including the eyebrow-raising content for a kid’s cartoon, the ethical problems of love potions and their portrayal in popular media, and why Rainn Wilson’s Mudd may have been the best.

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The Robots of Death – The Secrets of Doctor Who

The 4th Doctor needs to solve an Agatha Christie style set of murders. Dom Bettinelli, Jimmy Akin, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss this story that includes good and bad robots, a decadent culture, and a giant sand crawling transport.

https://youtu.be/ILhNt-PVrBo

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A Taste of Armageddon (TOS) – The Secrets of Star Trek

Death by computer. Dom Bettinelli, Jimmy Akin, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss this story’s moral implications and real-world parallels with themes of war’s human cost, technology’s role in conflict, and ethical leadership. Plus Kirk killing another megalomaniacal computer.

https://youtu.be/4nssAPlx7dI

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Neverland – The Secrets of Doctor Who

Romana is back! Dom Bettinelli, Jimmy Akin, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss this 8th Doctor audio story that resolves Charlie’s paradox, including a dicussion on free will, the ethical and moral implications of the manipulation of time, the impact of power, and more.

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Vox Sola (ENT) – The Secrets of Star Trek

Psychic goo alien! Dom Bettinelli, Jimmy Akin, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss the Enterprise’s encounter with an unusual lifeform where they have to discern motive and morality and debate the ethics of extreme measures to save their crew.

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The Ratings War – The Secrets of Doctor Who

The 6th Doctor meets Beep the Meep in this audio story. Dom Bettinelli, Jimmy Akin, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss this pre-2023 appearance of the villain; the story’s commentary of television media and especially reality TV in the early 2000s; and how appearances can be deceiving.

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Nemesis (VOY) – The Secrets of Star Trek

Nullified! Dom Bettinelli, Jimmy Akin, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss this Chakotay story in all its weird alien word choice, its “don’t judge a book by its cover” morale, and the themes of courage, indoctrination, and cross-cultural understanding.

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Progress (DS9) – The Secrets of Star Trek

Eminent domain! Dom Bettinelli, Jimmy Akin, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss DS9’s “Progress,” including themes of societal good vs. individual rights; the limits of governmental authority, and Kira’s transition from rebel to government official and her ethical and moral dilemmas.

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