So this was the first half of what was intended to be an extra-long/extra-special edition of the Irreverent Cineastes Podcast covering Star Trey Beyond and Rogue One, but we instead decided to make it into two regular-long and regular-special episodes (which is still plenty special...and plenty long).  Having the recording device run out of storage space during the second half also didn’t help.  ANYWAY, this first half allowed us to revisit a series whose previous, terrible installment actually kind of spawned this podcast in the first place.  Fortunately for us, however, the Star Trek guys were able to rewrite the creative woes of the franchise and right the proverbial ship of the series (despite destroying the Enterprise AGAIN) with a fun, exciting, poignant installment that tried to ground itself in story and character instead of blindly grasping onto every reference possible - while also embracing diversity and raging against the evils of colonialism. A great discussion here - though apologies for forgetting both the name of Sofia Boutella’s character and the name of Sofia Boutella.  What’s that character’s name, you ask? Well, it’s...um...hey look! It’s time for the “Explicit Language” warning! Explicit Language. Recorded April 2017.

Content Advisory: Star Trek (obviously), the original series, Is it...Jayna? (nope), Spock, Colonialism, the Federation and hegemony, Jalla? (also no), Bones and the awesomeness of Karl Urban, Justin Lin, DIVERSITY!, Jalia? (getting colder there buddy), Sulu’s sexuality, Takei’s criticism, and...I give up, can we just call her the white girl? (oh yeah, because THAT wouldn’t be problematic)