This Side of Paradise.
We all strive for happiness, but true contentment is difficult to achieve—and perhaps for good reason. A group of Federation colonists found just that, however, when Berthold radiation-hungry flowers gave them complete joy… with no side effects. In this episode of The Ready Room we’re joined by John Champion of Mission Log: A Roddenberry Star Trek Podcast and Kate Walsh to discuss the classic TOS episode “This Side of Paradise,” the roles of happiness and strife in the evolution of society, the parallels between the spores and drug addiction, whether or not this episode was a response to the growing hippie movement of the 1960s, and how mint juleps make you more and more Southern by the sip.
In news we remember set decorator James Mees, find out what role Marina Sirtis will be playing on NCIS, and we relive the epic fight between Kirk and the Gorn—this time with pillows. We also discuss the possibility of Netflix bringing Enterprise back for a fifth season, IDW’s comic sequel After Darkness, and check out Empire’s May 2013 J.J. Abrams issue and fold-out Into Darkness cover. Oh… we also come to terms with the fact that Lefler won’t be making us obey her laws after all and unveil Star Trek: The Next Generation’s long lost Easter episode.
Running Time: 2 hours 11 minutes
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Hosts
Christopher Jones and Drew Stewart
Guests
John Champion and Drew Stewart
Show Notes
Remember TNG, Voyager, and Enterprise set decorator James Mees
StarTrek.com video interview with James Mees: Part 1 | Part 2
Leonard Nimoy turns 82
A showcase of Leonard Nimoy’s photography
Ashley Judd decides against Senate run in Kentucky
Marina Sirtis turns 58… and is cast in NCIS!
Larry Nemecek’s TREKLAND video interview with Marina Sirtis
Shatner and the Gorn reunited in video game commercial… and it feels so good!
Brannon Braga suggests Netflix could revive Enterprise for a fifth season
TrekCore video interview with Brannon Braga: Part 1 | Part 2
IDW announces comic sequel to Star Trek Into Darkness, titled After Darkness
Empire magazine’s May 2013 issue features J.J. Abrams, Into Darkness cast
Feature: This Side of Paradise
Parallels to Drug Addiction
Love Spock, Angry Kirk
A Reaction to the Hippie Movement?
Starfleet and Kirk’s Motivations
The True Nature of the Spores
Final Thoughts
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