Absolute Candor (Picard) – The Secrets of Star Trek

In Absolute Candor, Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli talk about Picard’s revisiting his past failings and having to reckon with them, reconnecting with a boy that he’d become a father figure for and abandoned, and seeking help from an order of Romulan warrior-nuns who only speak the truth without any filter.

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Can You Hear Me? – The Secrets of Doctor Who

The Doctor and friends face their nightmares and some old foes from the Classic series. Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss the Eternals and Guardians as well as the new character developments in the Doctor’s Companions.

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The End is the Beginning (Picard) – The Secrets of Star Trek

Picard returns to space, fights Romulan ninjas, and deals with the aftermath of his own decisions that led to the collapse of a friends’ life. Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha also discuss whether the creation of a religion ex nihilo for ex-Borg is really a good idea.

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Praxeus – The Secrets of Doctor Who

Was Praxeus a terrible mess or a perfectly good episode of Doctor Who? This time Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha have a diversity of opinion on this episode. One thing they agree on is they were expecting more about that other Doctor.

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Maps & Legends (Picard) – The Secrets of Star Trek

Should we treat robots humanely? Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss a central question of the Picard series that asks how much an android is akin to humans, how we should treat them, and what our behavior toward them says about us. Plus the interesting new exploration of Romulans and Borg.

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Fugitive of the Judoon – The Secrets of Doctor Who

The unexpected return of a fan favorite character isn’t even the biggest surprise of this episode. Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss the big twist that could potentially change everything and use their extensive Who knowledge to come up with credible theories for what to expect next.

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Nikola Tesla’s Night of Terror – The Secrets of Doctor Who

The Doctor encounters the mysterious inventor Nikola Tesla and has to save him from aliens. Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss the real history of Tesla and Edison and how much the episode pulled from actual events, plus the story’s connections to classic Who.

DOCTOR WHO: “Orphan 55” review but it’s “Mambo #5.” – Sycorax Rock

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Short Treks, Season 2 – The Secrets of Star Trek

The 2nd season of Short Treks gave us the broadest range of stories yet, including two animated shorts, the origin story for Tribbles, and a revealing sneak peek at Picard. Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha look at the good, the bad, and what they say Trekkies have to look forward to.

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Orphan 55 – The Secrets of Doctor Who

The Doctor takes a cut-rate vacation at a spa on a toxic planet and then lectures the audience. Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss why this episode falls flat, starting with the messy plot and unrealized characters and ending with heavy-handed preaching that breaks the fourth wall.

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Ex Post Facto (Voyager) – The Secrets of Star Trek

When Tom Paris is convicted of murdering a jealous husband, Tuvok is on the case. Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss the film noir inspiration for the story, where it works and where it doesn’t, and how the episode puts the answer in front of the viewer from the beginning.

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