Because of the December timing, Nick & Todd make one more slight detour from "Alien Nation" to talk about the 2014 "Doctor Who" Christmas special, "Last Christmas."
- What are each co-host's respective journeys with "Doctor Who"? Do they both love it, or do one or both co-hosts have mixed feelings? How much has each one seen of the show? Who are their favorite Doctor(s)?
- How many gaps in viewing does Todd have during the new era of DW? Which Doctors has he seen all of? Which episode -- or more accurately, which half-episode from Matt Smith's era -- does Todd love & defend? Which two episodes from Jodie Whitaker's first season does Todd appreciate?
- What did Nick like most about classic DW? Which family member recommended to him the Jodie Whitaker era?
- What were the co-hosts' opinions of "Last Christmas"? Did Todd think it was better than most DW Christmas specials he's seen? How often does Nick watch this episode? Is it a part of his Christmas viewing rotation?
- How did Nick compare this special to other Christmas-themed movies & TV episodes? Does he feel this special is suffiently "Christmas-y" enough?
- What did the co-hosts feel about Nick Frost's portrayal of Santa Claus?
- Was Peter Capaldi's more curmudgeon & less affectionate portrayal considered a good thing or bad?
- Did Nick & Todd like Clara as a companion?
- What musical moment in the episode did Nick appreciate?
- What good (even if slightly somber/sobering) message did Todd feel was the main point of the episode?
- How did Todd compare this episode to some things he doesn't like in certain episodes of "Star Trek: The Next Generation"?
- Is this special an homage or a rip-off of "Alien," and does "hanging a lantern" on the similarities make it all okay?
- How did Nick compare this special to things from "Rick & Morty," "Inception," "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," and typical sitcoms?
- What were Todd's two nitpicks about the old-Clara scene?
- How did Todd compare this special to something bad from season 3 of "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds"?
- What bit of trivia did Todd have about how close Faye Marsay was to continuing her role of Shona McCullough in more DW?
- What did the co-hosts enjoy about this special's take on Santa Claus & elves?
- Which quotes & comedic moments did Todd appreciate?
- Who is Todd's favorite version of The Doctor, and what are all his reasons for this odd choice? Which scene for that one Doctor does Todd think is so cool that he doesn't care how or why it happened?
- What are Nick's choices for favorite Doctor overall and his favorite specifically from the new era?
Listen now for the answers to these and other festive questions as we explore space, time, and the realm of the mind, in the 2014 "Doctor Who" Christmas special, "Last Christmas."
Please rate or review us wherever you listen to podcasts. You can leave comments on episodes via the Spotify or GoodPods apps. Our e-mail address is alienatingourselves@gmail.com.
Royalty-free music in this episode comes from Pixabay.com.
- "twelve-days-of-chaos-443478" - Music by Alexander Nakarada / https://www.creatorchords.com
- "jingle-roll-262183" - Music by BFCMusic
After a two-week "Star Trek" detour, we're back to "Alien Nation" with an episode about taxes, bribes, scams, and gangs. This week's episode, called "The First Cigar" involves a Tenctonese business owner who may have a surprise hidden up her sleeve...literally. Meanwhile, Buck sells real estate, George deals with the IRS, and Matt & George give each other guilt trips over morally-ambiguous gifts & favors.
- What purpose was served by having Cathy back but only for two quick scenes?
- What bit of camera work impressed both Todd & Nick?
- What would an ideal Tenctonese community look like?
- What good lessons were both learned & taught by 10-year-old Emily Francisco this week?
- What guest star in this week's episode has a full movie & TV filmography and unfortunately passed away a couple days before this episode is being published?
- Is Matt any less frustrating this week, and is there much hope that he'll get better before the end of the season?
- Was the subplot involving the IRS interesting at all?
- Was the real estate subplot any better than the tax subplot?
- What strange oddities occurred in this week's episode with certain actors getting quick minor scenes, non-speaking moments, blink-and-you-miss-it cameos, and mentions in the credits even if not actually appearing in the episode? What theories does one co-host have about how & why actors should have appeared more but didn't?
- In what new ways does Matt act like a caveman with poor communication skills this week?
- What do Matt & Cathy see in each other (or not see in each other)?
- Are there any noticeable trends yet between writers & episode quality?
- What factoids about cold opens did Todd learn & teach this week?
- Which scene might have been "queer-coded"?
- How strange was Dobbs Watch this week?
- And, what caveat did Todd learn about the episode count for the Moodri recurring character, who apparently should have been in this episode but wasn't?
Listen now for the answer to these and other taxing questions as Nick & Todd audit "The First Cigar."
Note: Due to a last-minute decision to work in a holiday episode, there will be another detour next week, when Nick & Todd review the "Doctor Who" Christmas special, "Last Christmas."
Please rate or review us wherever you listen to podcasts. You can leave comments on episodes via the Spotify or GoodPods apps. Our e-mail address is alienatingourselves@gmail.com.
Royalty-free music used in this episode comes from Pixabay.com
Nick & Todd continue their discussion of the "Star Trek" franchise.
- What was Nick's hot take about "TNG" season 2, teased at the end of Part 1?
- What "TNG" season 2 improvements did Nick point out?
- Which "TNG" episodes from each season did Nick highlight?
- Nick & Todd agree that "TNG" season 7 is a bit of a decline, but which redeeming episodes did Todd point out?
- What were Todd's hot takes about episodes "The Measure of a Man" and "All Good Things..."?
- What were Todd's grades for the four "TNG" theatrical movies, and how did he compare "Generations" to "Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace"?
- What were some obvious flaws pointed out about three of the four "TNG" movies? Which one did Todd say Brannon Braga, writer of at least one of the movies, admitted on a podcast that he was guilty of, but he didn't realize it until he saw someone else commit the sin in another movie or TV franchise.
- What were some of Todd's main reasons for loving "Deep Space Nine" so much, and was one of those reasons hyperbole or accurate?
- What were Nick's main criticisms of "Deep Space Nine"?
- How much does Todd love the "DS9" list of recurring characters? Which recurring character does he feel might have the best character development arc of the whole franchise?
- Why were there mentions of the TV show "Spenser for Hire" and the first "Batman" movie?
- What disagreements did Nick & Todd have about "In the Pale Moonlight," one of the most popular episodes of "DS9"?
- What did Nick have to say about the "DS9" characters of Gul Damar and Kai Winn Adami?
- Why did Nick & Todd not have much to say about "Voyager," "Enterprise," the Kelvin Universe movies, and the new era of the franchise (sometimes referred to as NuTrek)?
- Which parts of the "Star Trek" (2009) movie did Todd love & hate, leading to very mixed feelings. What experience related to that movie and "Star Trek Beyond" were related to one of Todd's trips to London?
- Which season(s) of "Discovery" were so bad that Todd skipped one or more seasons of "Discovery," and which season was actually pretty redeeming?
- What drastic things did Todd have to say about "Star Trek: Picard"? Note: Some of his most detailed -- and spoilery -- opinions about "Picard" are saved for a post-show section he recorded on his own, which is tacked on the end of this episode.
- What is Todd's main criticism of "Lower Decks," which might be unfair since he's only seen one episode (at the time of recording; he's seen one more since then)?
- Does Todd feel any better about "Strange New Worlds," the preview for "Starfleet Academy," or some people's wishful thinking about the theoretical show "Legacy"?
- What frustration did Todd express about background bridge officers in "Discovery"?
- What were Nick & Todd's opinions about Tilly from "Discovery"?
- What is next week's return to the "Alien Nation" rewatch all about?
- In the post-show segment Todd recorded on his own, what grades did he give each season of "Deep Space Nine"? Which clarifications did Todd give about "wokeness" in Star Trek, women in Star Trek, and things that drive Todd bananas about newer Trek shows, especially "Picard"? What character arc from one show in the franchise was stolen from a movie in the franchise?
Listen now to discover the answers to these and other deep, enterprising questions, as Nick & Todd continue their voyage through the strange world of the "Star Trek" franchise.
Please rate or review us wherever you listen to podcasts. You can leave comments on episodes via the Spotify or GoodPods apps. Our e-mail address is alienatingourselves@gmail.com
Royalty-free music used in this episode came from Pixabay.com.
The "Alien Nation" rewatch will definitely continue, but this week (and next), Nick & Todd take a detour to talk about one of the biggest sci-fi franchises of all..."Star Trek." We're calling it a primer because we discuss the whole franchise in broad strokes, comparing notes on what we've seen, haven't seen, loved, liked, disliked, hated, and still want to see. It ended up being such a big topic, we had to split it into a two-parter.
- What opening advice did Todd & Nick give regarding "Star Trek" and "Toy Story" action figures?
- What did Todd say the "Star Trek" franchise means to him, and what annoying way did he still find for comparing it to "Babylon 5"?
- How young was Nick when he first started watching "The Original Series" before "The Next Generation" even came out, and how did Nick compare "Star Trek" to "Star Wars"?
- What were some of Nick's favorite episodes of "The Original Series"?
- What are the merits of "Star Trek: The Animated Series," and despite low-budget animation, does it deserve to be canon?
- Why did Todd insist on including a fan-funded web series called "Star Trek Continues" into this discussion? How authentic was the web series to the original look & feel of "Star Trek;" and what are the merits of its storytelling, including something it did similar to "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story"?
- Are spoofs & stereotypes about Captain Kirk, especially his mannerisms, vocal cadence, and reputation with women, all completely deserved; or is Kirk usually portrayed as a fully professional yet possibly lonely military officer?
- How surprising is it which "Star Trek" movie is Nick's favorite?
- What continuity errors does Todd (via Joanna) point out about the rocketboot scene in the turbolift shaft in "Star Trek V: The Final Frontier"?
- When trying to narrow down "The Next Generation" for key episodes to show his son, what number did Nick get down to?
- What hot take did Nick have about TNG season 1?
- What do Nick & Todd feel about the infamous "Sub Rosa" episode, where Dr. Crusher has sex with an alleged ghost?
- Which TNG episodes does Nick hate?
- What letter grade does Todd give each TNG season?
Listen now for the answers to these and other enterprising questions, as Nick & Todd explore sci-fi's greatest universe in their Star Trek Primer.
And, stay tuned for Part 2, as Nick & Todd will continue discussing "The Next Generation" as well as more Trek movies, "Deep Space Nine," and beyond...
Please rate or review us wherever you listen to podcasts. You can comment on individual episodes using the Spotify or GoodPods apps. Our e-mail is alienatingourselves@gmail.com.
Royalty-free music in this episode comes from Pixabay.com and FreePD.com.
This week, Nick & Todd review the 5th "Alien Nation" episode, "The Takeover," a story about a police station siege during a city riot, with the themes of control and...smells(???). Along the way, we get to see a remnant of the controlling ship gas, from the Tenctonese slave ship, in action.
- Why does one co-host think command and...smells...are the two main themes of the episode?
- How many ways does Albert save the day in the episode?
- How many ways are George's frustrations & harsh words in this episode interesting or add variety to his demeanor?
- What do we learn about Tenctonese language, gestures, and culture, in this episode?
- How well can Nick imitate the clicking noise that Tenctonese use in their language?
- In what way does one guest character actually say the title of the show out loud?
- Which moment of slow motion did Nick & Todd both note as being awkward?
- Just how annoying was the Matt Sikes character in the first half of the episode?
- Did this episode include more instances of bad police work, or just Humans being bad people in general?
- Were Todd or Nick impressed at all by the subplot where Captain Bryon Grazer suggests an end to the riots using a thesis he wrote in school about ancient city strategies?
- What did Nick & Todd find strange and/or silly about a subplot in which Matt is helping to catch an old girlfriend's stalker?
- Does the episode do enough...or nothing at all...to explain where the canister of ship gas came from?
- Which guest star played a female Klingon in several installments of the "Star Trek" franchise, including episodes in two series and one of the movies?
- What other connections did Nick make between guest stars in this episode and other TV series & movies?
- Which guest star did Todd recognize from the movie "Erin Brockovich" just because of how the character put his hand over his mouth. And, which character did Nick say that actor played in a "Batman" movie?
- How much is Dobbs given to do in this episode, and how many main & support characters are missing from this episode?
- In what way does a Tenctonese character win this week's Albert Einstein Award...on a technicality?
- When Todd listed things he would do if he had a gas that could control people, like the one in the episode, what eight TV-related things did he choose, what one totally random thing did he choose, and was a reboot of "Firefly" one of the choices? Improvising some ideas of his own, what did Nick come up with, related to Star Wars & movie theaters?
- And, what were Nick & Todd's final grades and feelings about whether this could be skipped or not?
Listen now for the answers to these and other...commanding...questions, as Nick & Todd try to survive..."The Takeover."
Note: The next two weeks will be a two-parter about Nick & Todd's loves, likes, dislikes, and gaps in viewing, of the "Star Trek" franchise. Reviews of "Alien Nation" will resume after the two-week Star Trek "primer."
Please rate or review us wherever you listen to podcasts. You can post comments directly on episodes in Spotify & GoodPods apps. Our e-mail is alienatingourselves@gmail.com.
Royalty-free music used in this episode comes from Pixabay.com.
Nick & Todd are really enjoying rewatching & podcasting about "Alien Nation." But, even the best things in life aren't always perfect. Join Nick & Todd as they critique the first disappointing episode of the show, "Fifteen With Wanda," while still talking about redeeming qualities and the usual guest cast connections to other shows.
- What was Nick's first really insightful point, and what was Todd's first really bizarre point?
- What observations about Tenctonese culture, language, or religion, did Nick & Todd point out this time?
- What was Todd's favorite funny line from the episode?
- What Tenctonese love potion featured in this episode will we see & hear more about in the future?
- What did Todd ponder about Tenctonese raw meat cuisine?
- Which real human name and fictional alien name did George get mixed up?
- What kind of shout out did Todd give the Susan character this week?
- What did Nick like about the final showdown in the adult store scene?
- In what good ways & bad ways did this episode explore parenthood, and how were Tenctonese not completely allowed to be parents while on the ship (leading to great frustration by George)?
- Did this episode continue the trend of bad police work, and if so, how?
- What did Nick not like about Matt's scenes with his ex-wife?
- What questionable teen fashion statement was dinged by Nick with agreement from Todd?
- What strange tropes did Todd & Nick notice in the episode?
- Nick & Todd both missed a Tenctonese main character absent from this episode. Which "Babylon 5" character did Todd compare her to?
- Todd was frustrated by the character of Matt's daughter in the episode. Which character from the movie "Volcano" did he compare her to?
- How many guest actors this week also had guest roles in the "Star Trek" franchise or other notable properties?
- What did Todd learn about some of the actors in the opening credits by sneaking a peak at episode 14?
- Is this now the 3rd episode to have a strange voiceover at or near the end of the episode?
- Which actor on the show did Todd point out as the saving grace of the whole show so far?
- Did Nick feel this episode is still important to watch or skippable? How low did Todd's score go?
Listen now for the answers to these and other questions as Nick & Todd put "Fifteen With Wanda" into protective custody.
Our e-mail address is alienatingourselves@gmail.com. Please rate or review us wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also leave us comments on individual episodes via the Spotify and Goodpods apps.
Royalty-free music from this episode came from Pixabay.com and FreePD.com.
Nick & Todd return to talk about the 3rd episode of "Alien Nation" in which Detective Matt Sikes tries to protect a teenage Tenctonese girl who's life has taken a bad direction. When the situation takes an unexpected turn, Matt & George go undercover to take down a dangerous Tenctonese prostitution ring.
- How did discussion of this episode start off about goats?
- How much did Todd & Nick enjoy the return of Uncle Moodri and the exploration of Moodri's religion, philosophy, and special abilities?
- What was Todd's favorite part of the episode, and how did dialogue from that scene remind him of something from "Babylon 5" (as so many things do, apparently)?
- The character of Matt Sikes is often hyper and/or annoying, but what good aspects of Matt were pointed out in this episode?
- What weird Matt Sikes fashion statements in this episode did Todd & Nick both flag?
- What nitpicks did Nick & Todd have, including Buck's story line, an alien makeup issue, an overly-convenient voiceover, and inconsistencies in Tenctonese attitudes about attraction & sexuality?
- How did this episode revisit the concept of the Kleezantsun (a.k.a. Overseers), and was it totally consistent with things suggested in previous episodes?
- What connections did Nick & Todd note between support actors in this episode and other TV shows & movies, and which guest actor is a prolific stuntman?
- How many Tenctonese names in this episode were references to authors, actors, famous characters, city names, a line of a Billy Joel song, and even a former presidential press secretary?
- What additional things about Tenctonese biology, culture, religion, and language, get mentioned in this review?
- Which Moodri & Buck moment got Nick emotional?
- What does Todd continue to ponder about whether Tenctonese travel the planet or move to other parts of the U.S.?
Listen now for the answers to these and other dramatic & heart-felt questions, as Nick & Todd protect & serve "Little Lost Lamb."
Our e-mail address is alienatingourselves@gmail.com. Please rate or review us wherever you listen to podcasts. You can comment on individual episodes via the Spotify & GoodPods apps.
Royalty-free music in this episode comes from Pixabay.com.
Nick & Todd are back for the first "Alien Nation" 1-hour episode entitled "Fountain of Youth." This is an episode that explores the topic of aging from two different angles. Something about Tenctonese physiology may help slow or even reverse aging in humans, and Susan struggles to find work in her field due to her age.
- This is the first installment of "Alien Nation" to have a standard weekly opening credit sequence. How did Nick & Todd feel about it and the sequence's very alien-sounding theme song?
- How much alien religion & culture is subtly packed into one quick & low-budget Tenctonese funeral scene? Which shows did Nick & Todd site as also being low budget and them being very forgiving of that for great story?
- Which beloved recurring character is introduced in this episode and what kind of heard-but-not-seen companion(s) does that character come with?
- Which non-cop character from the main cast do the co-hosts really enjoy?
- What did the co-hosts think about how oddly close Matt & George sit on a sofa, about a dark & depressing quote from Matt near the end of the episode, and the prejudice subtly portrayed by one support guest character?
- How frustrating was Matt in this episode as a cop and as a person in general?
- How did this episode lead to a lesson about HIPAA & patient privacy?
- What various issues did the co-hosts have with a party scene in this episode?
- Which movie does Nick site as having a similar premise as this episode?
- How many guest actors in this episode have also been in the "Star Trek" franchise?
- At what rate do Tenctonese age, and how old are Nick & Todd in Tenctonese years?
- And, which fashion statements do Nick & Todd site from this episode?
Listen now for the answers to these questions that will hopefully age well?
You can send us a message at alienatingourselves@gmail.com. Please rate or review us wherever you listen to podcasts. You can leaves us comments or rate individual episodes via Spotify or the Goodpods app.
Royalty-free music in this episode is from Pixabay.com.
Nick & Todd are back and diving in to the "Alien Nation" pilot TV movie (counting as episode 1 of the TV series). This episode is packed with world-building, character development, and social commentary.
- What was Todd's favorite moments, and how did Nick react to it differently?
- Did the TV pilot continue the trend in the theatrical movie of Matt Sikes doing bad police work?
- What in-world alien advertisements did Nick take note of?
- What differences between the theatrical movie and the TV show did Nick & Todd point out?
- What were the opinions on the obnoxious teenage Buck Francisco character?
- How many instances of discrimination, bullying, and racial slurs, were in the TV pilot, proving the show called "Alien Nation" is an exploration of...alienation?
- What did we all learn about Tenctonese physiology from the uncomfortable bedroom scene, and how did that lead to an "Ally McBeal" reference?
- What did we learn about the Tenctonese religions?
- What did Nick & Todd love so much about the conversations Matt had with his new Tenctonese neighbor Cathy Frankel, and how insightful were they about life on the Newcomers' former slave ship?
- How did a conversation between two child characters work its way into Todd's favorite moments?
- Todd's favorite moment came near the beginning of the episode. Which of Nick's favorite moments came near the end of the episode, and how does involve...velcro?
- What bizarre & illogical ways did the makers try so hard to integrate the theatrical movie into the TV pilot while also so blatantly retconning other aspects of the theatrical movie?
- What strange writing, directing, and/or editing choices were made near the end of the episode?
- What flimsy & possibly coincidental connection did Todd make between something in this episode and the novel "Ender's Game"?
- How many connections did Nick & Todd make between the actors in the show and their roles in other shows, and how many of those other roles were in the "Star Trek" franchise?
- How did Nick & Todd work in references to "South Park," "Spaceballs," "Little House on the Prairie," "Mac & Me," and much more?
- How did the vote split this week for the Albert Einstein Award?
- Which exotic & haunting musical instrument, featured in this episode, did Nick love & research further?
- What was Todd's head-canon theory about Emily's friend Jill, and if he's right, how does that fit the themes portrayed more blatantly in the rest of the episode?
- How did Nick & Todd score this episode, and what did Todd give it on his Head-Explode-O-Meter?
Listen now for the answers to these and other questions as Nick & Todd examine the TV pilot of "Alien Nation."
You can contact us at alienatingourselves@gmail.com
Royalty-free music in this episode comes from Pixabay.com.
Welcome to the Alienating Ourselves Podcast, the brand new podcast where Nick & Todd explore sci-fi entertainment with a focus on aliens and the humans they interact with. In the beginning, we'll be reviewing the TV show & movies of the "Alien Nation" franchise.
Listen now to our first episode where we take a deep dive into the theatrical movie that started it all (and stay tuned for next episode where we start reviewing the "Alien Nation" TV show).
You can e-mail us at alienatingourselves@gmail.com.
Royalty-free music used in the episode comes for Pixabay.com.