Roddenberry Podcasts

In the Star Trek: Voyager episode, Critical Care, the Doctor is forced to confront a system where medical care is doled out based on social status.

Good thing that’s just science fiction.

No parallels to the modern world at all.

Mission Log administers Critical Care.

Hosted by John Champion and Norman Lao

SPECIAL OFFER – take 10% off your first order at Factory Entertainment with code “missionlog” at checkout! Be sure to visit Facotry Entertainment at San Diego Comic Con (July 24-27, 2025) and Star Trek Las Vegas (August 7-10, 2025).

Welcome to Mission Log, a Roddenberry Entertainment podcast, where we explore the Star Trek universe one episode at a time. Each week, Mission Log examines a single episode of Star Trek, diving into its ethical subtext, metaphors, and cultural significance. From the show’s most iconic moments to its hidden gems, we analyze what makes Star Trek one of the greatest science fiction sagas of all time. In every episode of Mission Log we…

Recap the story and analyze key moments.
Discuss the morals, messages, and meanings of the dilemmas presented.
Debate whether the episode holds up and if the themes are still relevant.

Join the Conversation: For as little as $1 a month, you can gain access to our exclusive Discord Community! There, we continue the discussion with dedicated channels and weekly video chats with the hosts. Become a member of our Patreon today! https://www.Patreon.com/MissionLog

SPECIAL THANKS the supporters of this week’s show: Chris Garis, Julie Miller, Stuart, Michael Park, Paul Shadwell, Matt Esposito, Alan Simonis, Mike Richards, David Takechi, Mike Schiable, VADM Erickson, and Lars Seme Thanks to all of our Patreon Supporters https://www.missionlogpodcast.com/sponsors/ Want to share your thoughts on an upcoming episode? Email us at MissionLog@Roddenberry.com for a chance to be featured during the episode. Follow us on Social Media:

INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/RoddenberryEntertainment

THREADS https://www.threads.net/@roddenberrypodcasts

FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/MissionLogPod Did you know we’re on YouTube? Find the video versions of your favorite shows like Mission Log: Prodigy, The Orville, as well as exclusive content only available on YouTube.

Subscribe now: https://www.youtube.com/@RoddenberryEntertainment?sub_confirmation=1

Our shows are part of the Roddenberry Entertainment family. For more great shows and to learn more about how we live the legacy of Gene Roddenberry, creator of Star Trek, follow us here:

RODDENBERRY PODCASTS https://www.instagram.com/roddenberrypodcasts

RODDENBERRY ENTERTAINMENT https://www.instagram.com/roddenberryofficial

THE RODDENBERRY FOUNDATION https://www.instagram.com/theroddenberryfoundation

THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY:

Listeners like you – Support Mission Log on Patreon for early access to shows and the Mission Log Discord!

Subscribe and Stay Updated:

Never miss an episode! Subscribe on your preferred podcast player, leave a review, and join Mission Log on the journey of weekly deep dives into the Star Trek universe. Technical Director – Earl Green Producer – John Champion Associate Producer – Jessica Lynn Verdi Executive Producer – Eugene “Rod” Roddenberry Roddenberry Entertainment | All Rights Reserved

Star Trek: Voyager, Season 7, Episode 5, “Critical Care”

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Mission Log

Mission Log Live

In this supplemental episode of Mission Log: Prodigy, Char and Marina welcome writer Jennifer Muro to the show. Muro has worked with several well-known franchises, such as DC, Marvel, and Star Wars, but as a lifelong Star Trek fan, working on Star Trek has been one of her favorite experiences in her career. Char and Marina learn details about working on Prodigy’s second season, the contributions Jen’s most proud of, and tidbits about scenes cut from the four episodes she wrote for the show.

🌟 About Prodigy: Star Trek: Prodigy follows a group of young aliens who stumble upon an abandoned Starfleet ship, igniting an adventure to seek a better future. Packed with thrilling adventures, moral lessons, and the iconic Star Trek values, this series captivates audiences with its compelling storytelling and dynamic characters.

🔍 In This Episode:

Our hosts break down the Messages, Morals, and Meanings woven into this episode.
Explore how the events of this episode fit into the bigger picture of the season’s storyline.
We’ll discuss pivotal moments, major character developments, and what this episode reveals about the characters’ journeys.
Uncover connections to previous Star Trek lore and explore how this episode ties into the larger Star Trek universe.

💬 Join the Conversation: We want to hear your thoughts! What messages stood out to you? How do you think this episode shapes the season’s narrative? Share your theories and reactions with us by leaving a comment!

🔔 Subscribe and Stay Connected: Never miss an episode! Subscribe using your favorite Podcast player and leave a 5-Star Review while you’re at it! Thank you in advance!

👉 Follow the Hosts:

Charlynn Schmiedt: Twitter
Marina Kravchuk: Twitter | Instagram Marina’s Trek Events Database: Trek Calendar

Mission Log: Prodigy is produced by Roddenberry Entertainment. Executive Producer: Eugene “Rod” Roddenberry. For more great content, visit Roddenberry Podcasts.

Produced and edited by Earl Green.

💖 Support the Show: Join our Patreon community for just $1/month and get access to our exclusive Discord, where you can chat about Prodigy and more with fellow fans! Your support helps us continue to bring in-depth analysis to the Star Trek universe. Visit https://www.Patreon.com/MissionLog

Thank you for listening, and let’s keep exploring the stars together!

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Mission Log: Prodigy

Mission Log: Orville

Welcome to Gene-ology, a podcast by Roddenberry Entertainment that dives deep into the early TV writing works of Gene Roddenberry.

DeForest Kelley appeared in Gene scripts in Boots and Saddles, Shannon, and the unsold legal drama pilot 333 Montgomery. It’s obvious Gene was a DeForest Kelley fan. In this supplemental episode, we welcome another DeForest Kelley fan, Trek Files host Larry Nemecek, to explore the long friendship between an actor and a writer whose work together would lead to an iconic Star Trek character.

This extensive conversation has been edited for length; the unedited conversation can be heard by our Patreon subscribers. Join them at: https://www.Patreon.com/MissionLog

See DeForest Kelley pitch “333 Montgomery” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILul7OES778

Hosted by Earl Green & Ashley Thomas Special Guest: Larry Nemecek

About Gene-ology

Gene-ology explores Gene Roddenberry’s early television scripts, including his lesser-known works before Star Trek using the Mission Log format popularized by Roddenberry Podcasts. We analyze the themes, writing style, and cultural impact of his scripts, and we even unearth stories from the Roddenberry archives that were never produced. Join us as we trace the roots of Gene’s creative genius.

In This Episode

Examining DeForest Kelley’s recurring work with Gene Roddenberry in random episodes, pilots, and of course Star Trek.
Exploring Gene Roddenberry’s evolving style and storytelling.

Join the Conversation What did you think of this episode? Share your thoughts, theories, and favorite moments in the comments or reach out to us on social media or email us at missionlog@roddenberry.com

Did you know Roddenberry Podcasts is on YouTube? Find the video versions of your favorite shows like Mission Log: Prodigy, Mission Log: The Orville, as well as exclusive content only available on YouTube.

Subscribe now! https://www.youtube.com/@RoddenberryEntertainment?sub_confirmation=1

Follow us on Social Media: INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/roddenberrypodcasts BLUESKY https://bsky.app/profile/roddenberrypod.bsky.social THREADS https://www.threads.net/@roddenberrypodcasts FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/MissionLogPod

Our shows are part of the Roddenberry Entertainment family. For more great shows and to learn how we live the legacy of Gene Roddenberry, the creator of Star Trek, follow us here: RODDENBERRY PODCASTS https://www.instagram.com/RoddenberryPodcasts RODDENBERRY ENTERTAINMENT https://www.instagram.com/RoddenberryOfficial RODDENBERRY FOUNDATION https://www.instagram.com/TheRoddenberryFoundation

Support the Show For as little as $1 a month, you can gain access to our Mission Log Discord Community! There, we continue the discussion with dedicated channels and a weekly video chat with the hosts. Become a member of our Patreon today! https://www.Patreon.com/MissionLog

Subscribe and Stay Tuned Be sure to subscribe to Gene-ology for more deep dives into Gene Roddenberry’s early works. New episodes are released regularly as we uncover more of Gene’s television legacy.

–

Gene-ology is produced by Roddenberry Entertainment. Executive producer Eugene “Rod” Roddenberry. Visit https://Podcasts.Roddenberry.com for more great content. Edited by Earl Green.

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Mission Log: Gene-ology

The Trek Files

Sci-Fi 5

“You’ve got ME? Who’s got YOU?!?

Lois Lane

With a new Superman movie now in theaters (James Gunn’s aptly titled Superman) it’s time to take a look at one of the biggest conundrums in all of popular culture. Just where do Superman’s powers come from? While there have been conflicting explanations for this given by comics, TV shows, animated series, and movies through the decades, one point has taken hold pretty solidly for most of the character’s eight-plus decades: many of Superman’s powers come from the fact that he comes from a race of aliens who developed under a red sun, which means our more intensely radiant yellow sun charges up his cells and gives him his amazing abilities.

The nature of Superman’s powers had been addressed in different ways in the comics over the years (at one point, ALL Kryptonians were simply born with super powers, before explanations like Earth’s lighter gravity, our yellow sun, and others were added to the mythos). But the first media adaptation that really tried to address the source of his powers came with Richard Donner’s masterful Superman: The Movie (1978). In that film, no less than Marlon Brando as Jor-El patiently explains to the audience the ways a Kryptonian would adapt to Earth’s environment and the powers one might get.

Look, there’s only so much realism we can expect with a character like Superman, who is more of an ideal to strive for than a hard science fiction character. But we dive into the science and the story, and also discuss the timeless vibes that make that first proper Superman movie such an enduring classic in this episode.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9jeGwHn57E

FURTHER VIEWING

Much of this episode’s discussion was based around two of the best superhero movies ever made, Superman (1978) and Superman II (1980). While Christopher Reeve might be the most perfect piece of superhero casting ever, the other two movies in that franchise are uneven at best. But there’s other Superman media that address the source of the Man of Steel’s powers!

While divisive, Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel made a valiant effort to explain why Superman can do the things he does (including the yellow sun). And James Gunn’s currently in theaters Superman (2025) leans heavily on the solar power angle. It’s also just an absolute blast and the best superhero movie in years.

FURTHER READING

Krypton and Its Sun

There are two main ingredients in Superman’s home planet that are said to contribute to his powers on Earth. One is that Krypton itself is habitable (and potentially with heavier gravity), and in order for that to be the case, it has to exist in the habitable zone of the star it orbits. Proxima Centauri B is one such world that has captured scientists’ attention.

The one more relevant to today’s discussion is that Superman was born under a red sun, which makes Earth’s yellow sun supercharge his cells. In Krypton’s case, that’s a dying star known as a red giant. Which brings us to…A quick guide to the different colors of stars. Although, as Hakeem points out, Earth’s sun isn’t yellow, but green! Eventually, it will turn red, but that’s a problem none of us will be around to see.

Kryptochondria

We all remember photosynthesis from elementary school, right? But in order for human (or animal in the case of Krypto the Superdog) cells to be charged up with solar radiation to the degree necessary for superheroics, cellular organelles and ribosomes would have to function differently. Also the amount of the neurotransmitter known as adenosine triphosphate (creatine devotees know all about ATP) it would take to generate the energy for super-feats is prohibitive.

We confess that following Hakeem on the matter of the absorption spectrum is a little challenging, but don’t just take our word for it!

Failed Flying Techniques and More!

Tamara gives us a red giant batch of story analysis and background info in this one, but because seeing is believing, some stuff is better watched than read. For more context on Superman: The Movie and the incredible effort it took to make you believe a man could fly, check out The Magic Behind the Cape (where we get the “best special effect of all” that Tamara quotes) and Front Projection 101.

Also, somewhere on a Superman: The Movie Blu-ray extra that doesn’t appear to be online, there is video evidence of the “dummy shot out of an air cannon” failed flying technique Tamara brings up, but we can’t link it here!

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Does It Fly? Presents: The Ultimate Nerd Giveaway

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Want to know how to enter and win?

The main thing you’ll want to do is watch and listen for the secret word which will be mentioned in this and upcoming episodes. You’ll see the word appear on screen at a random point in the broadcast as our hosts say it, and it will be accompanied by a tone for our audio listeners. The secret word will appear in Does it Fly? episodes released between July 2 and August 22 so don’t miss ‘em!

But there are SO MANY OTHER WAYS TO ENTER! So log in at this link and learn all the different ways you can enter to win! https://gleam.io/IhJtq/dif-ultimate-nerd-giveaway

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