Episode 38 – When the Future Comes True
Sisko as Gabriel Bell in Past Tense Part 2 - DS9
The guys open up on how things are going in Ukraine and Mac asks the enthralling questions about logistics and prepping an army and why Russia seems to be having a hard time of it. DT is hardly surprised and is patient in his answers. Then they get into the part that matters and discuss how real life was predicted by Sci-Fi not only with devices but with homelessness and Sanctuary Districts as shown in DS9. And then things go off topic but that’s ok.
Episode 37 – A Winter on Fire but with Sci-Fi Food
Ukraine is the Bread Basket of Europe
Mac opens the show with his despair about the Russian invasion of Ukraine. DT listens and has the best answer: War just sucks. There is nothing good about it. After a sufficient venting period the Guys dive into different foods shown in different sci-fi episodes. It strangely focuses on Futurama.
Episode 36 – The Book of the Mandalorian?
Credit: Disney Plus
The guys talk about how the internet has backlashed against the revival of Futurama without the voice of Bender. Then how Mac didn’t resonate with Disenchantment, the other Matt Groening project on Netflix that is most definitely NOT cancelled. They eventually move on to discuss the Book of Boba Fett, it’s ups and downs, and their confusion on what it was originally meant to be versus what we got.
Episode 35 – The Biggest Score
Alan Silvestri: Credit Marvel Studios
Mac opens up with how his last few days went along with seeing Jackass Forever with his brother in the middle of a weekday. Then he goes on to detail how his brother roped him into playing Call of Duty Zombies. Then they discuss playing Call of Duty while deployed. DT details the Blizzard that ran through New England. Eventually they get into the topic of the day which is their favorite Sci-Fi movie scores. There are glaring omissions but McKay makes it very clear he loves horns.
Episode 34 – The DeLorean isn’t a Small Ship
Courtesy Universal Pictures
Mack opens the show with how the ground hog refuses to predict an early winter and DT makes a Covid joke. They talk about how they could live life without shaking hands again and how that benefitted DT in Iraq. After discussing maritime law and how the drinking laws work on cruises, the guys move on to discuss various small ships in Sci-Fi. And Mack of course brings up the DeLorean where DT vehemently disagrees. It goes downhill from there.
Episode 33 – Where is Phase 4 Going?
Comic-Con San Diego
This episode the guys open up on the blizzard DT went through and how Mack reflects on how he could never have been an elementary school teacher. They discuss how children somehow can’t follow direction but when they do, it’s a blessing. They also go over the blessings of always being prepared for any eventuality. They pay tribute to Tom Brady’s retirement and then move on to discuss Marvel Phase 4. They talk about their thoughts so far and where it’s going. Does Phase 4 have a direction?
Episode 32 – The Big Ships Part Deux
Courtesy of Prologic
The guys move into the second portion of their second second parter ever by discussing the different Enterprises. Mac tries to make the case for Moya from Farscape but it doesn’t go well. Then they talk about how The Enterprise A had only one movie where it was fully functional and how Mac Loves the D… From the Next Generation…
Episode 31 – The Ship Shape Episode
Independent Rendering of the Prometheus from Voyager
The guys spend the episode discussing the different “Starships” of Sci-Fi but that was only when DT decides to mix it up at the last minute before the episode (but not the recording) begins. After that minor marriage spat, the dig into the different ships that made a difference in Sci-Fi including those form Star Trek, Stargate, Firefly and others. Stick around until the very end to see how it all started.
Episode 30 – Maybe He was a Blowhard
Babylon 5’s John Sheridan
The guys continue their analysis of the best Sci-Fi captains. And DT continues to crap on Mac’s examples and thoughts. Ultimately they feel they have a good list and Mac steals a good one from DT.
Episode 29 – Horacio Hornblower was the biggest Blowhard?
J.T. Marsh and Admiral Winfield - Exosquad
This time, the guys decide to discuss Sci-Fi’s greatest Captains (or commanders) depending on the definition form the show or movie. First Mac discusses how he is chaperoning Mac Jr’s 6th grade class to the mountains ina few weeks and DT has some survival advice for him which include bringing a weapon… among 6th graders… Then they delve into the world of Sci-Fi and who was a great Captain/Commander ranging from Battlestar to Star Trek, to Exosquad to Forbidden Planet. The list keeps going that this became Part 1 of an analysis of the captains of Sci-Fi. Don’t worry, Part 2 is coming very soon.
Episode 28 – The Guys Hit the Target No Way Home
Credit: Sony Pictures
The guys come back from their break and discuss what they did. DT talks about the last Pat’s game in Gillette Stadium and McKay talks about a near tropics new year. Then they talk about the culmination of Hawkeye, their thoughts on the Marvel Studios TV shows, and how they thought it could have ended differently but not in a bad way. Then they slide into Spiderman and their thoughts on the latest film. Overall, it was a great break!
Episode 27 – So This is Christmas… In Sci-fi
The guys start out talking about DT’s plans for the holidays. Then they dive right into the idea of religion in sci-fi, such as Babylon5, Star Wars, and Star Trek. They question the writers’ motives for withholding religion from the stories at least on the human side. And then immediately point out Seth MacFarland is an atheist and how that is reflected in The Orville. Then they discuss the value of religion in sci-fi at all.
Episode 26 – The Great Deflation
The guys open up with their frustrations on tech issues and the fact that Mac should have been more prepared than otherwise. They then discuss the merits of have Geordi or Miles O’Brian as an engineer on their ship. Then they discuss how Geordi was the most undeserved character on TNG, but then they discover how others in the main cast are underserved too. Then they explore the representation of the founding members of the Federation.
Episode 25 – Let’s Dig La Brea
Courtesy NBC Universal
They guys dig right into the NBC show La Brea. The guys discuss the difference of California Cold versus rest the country cold. Then they talk about old man medicines. Mac talks about the stress of setting up Christmas decorations and they then analyze the characters and how the pilot is a solid foundation for a show that has been renewed despite it being a paleolithic Lost.
Episode 23 – Kobayashi Maru You Say?
The Butterfly Guys in Discovery. Courtesy of Paramount Plus
The guys open up with other people’s takes on Ghostbusters Afterlife, how some usually critical people loved it, others were more fair and some, who should have liked it, just downright hated it like Redlettermedia. Then they move on to discuss the season 4 premier of Star Trek Discovery. McKay is disgusted with the lack of scientific thought in the writing but is jealous of the visuals. DT is more forgiving as he narrates the plot and tries to reign in McKay to varying degrees of success. But he DOES have issues with how the hierarchy is portrayed in a supposed military.
Episode 22 – Who You Gonna Call in the Afterlife?
Ghostbusters Afterlife: Courtesy of Sony Pictures
The guys discuss going back to the movies and how good it feels and then they get into their thoughts on a complete spoiler filled review of Ghostbusters Afterlife. The mostly good, some missed opportunities, and how Mac Jr. is not as afraid of scary movies as McKay is.
Episode 21 – What’s the Deal with Comedy in Sci-Fi?
Tinker, Tenor, Doctor, Spy - Courtesy of Paramount+
The guys open up with a discussion of the final Spider-Man No Way Home trailer. They then talk about the previous Spider-Man movies and how they tie into the MCU now. They also throw out the idea of their wish to have Bruce Campbell become the new recurring watcher that Stan Lee played until his untimely death. Then they talk about the role of comedy in sci-fi and how some shows were geared towards it like Stargate, and others like Star Trek who used situational comedy with varying degrees of success.
Episode 20 – The Military Depictions in Sci-Fi
Riker in MACO Gear
A very Veteran’s Day themed episode where Mac opens up about thanking DT for his service. They then go over proper protocols in thanking a veteran for their service, how a veteran should respond, and that awkward moment when a veteran goes to cash in on a free item and the employee is not familiar with that fact. They then engage into a spirited discussion about the use of military in Star Trek, Babylon 5, and other shows. The idea of competent representation of the skilled services and how it sometimes gets pigeonholed by Hollywood with stereotypes.
Episode 19 – Chevron 7 Engaged
MGM Studios
This week’s, the guys discuss the sad passing of Dean Stockwell. They delve into how they reacted to other celebrity deaths in Sci-fi and how Mac cried when Leonard Nimoy departed. The conversation takes a turn which the discussion of the passage of time and the future loss of other icons. Then DT discusses watching the pilot episode of Stargate SG1 and how he almost was caught with an unexpected scene that neither guy anticipated.