TrekRanks 229: Top 5 Starfleet Academy Season 1 Moments

The first season of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is truly special from top to bottom and we joyously break it all down in our usual TrekRanks style this week with the "Top 5 Starfleet Academy Season 1 Moments." From the introduction to Trek of Holly Hunter and Paul Giamatti to the sheer youthful enthusiasm and vigor of the new cast and cadets, this show aced every test thrown its way. Our expert panel of host Jim Moorhouse and guest Jenn Tifft and Michael Bentley cover the entire SFA syllabus with their picks (and also commiserate on the bad timing of learning about the series' long-term demise). This one is non-stop joy. Episode Rundown: Diagnostic Cycle: We break down the five distinct categories we use in our season recap shows. In order, this week's panelists reveal their picks in the following categories: Production Design, Behind-the-Scenes Creative MVP, Dabo Round Wildcard, Character and Episode! We also take a few minutes to discuss the show's cancellation, which occurred just hours before recording. Prime Directive: Our crew breaks down exactly how they defined their lists. The Order of Things: Everyone reveals their picks with the usual "Five word Summary and a Hashtag," along with one episode that helps frame their choice. Secondary Systems: Our guests each rattle off a few additional selections for the picks that just missed our lists! Regeneration Cycle: Everyone recaps their picks and we discuss some of the interesting statistical anomalies that arose from the discussion. Temporal Inversion: We flashback to a previous episode of TrekRanks and relay some of the feedback received from listeners. If you have your own picks you would like to relay to us, please hail us at 757-828-RANK (7265) and record your own personal TrekRanks log to let us know your Top 5 Starfleet Academy Season 1 Moments. (Or you can record it yourself and just DM us @TrekRanks.com on Bluesky.) Your comments could be used as part of a Temporal Causality Loop on an upcoming episode (and might get you a chance to be a guest on a future episode, too). And don't forget to check out TrekRanks.com for our entire back catalog of episodes and a detailed rundown on every episode of Star Trek ever.

It's classic TrekRanks this week as we tackle the "Top 5 Loudest Episodes" in Star Trek history in a fun, bombastic topic in which you better keep your hand on the volume of your podcast player of a choice! Our expert panel of host Jim Moorhouse and guests Ryan Riddle and Jonathan B. get loud and broad with their definition of "loudest episodes" in a cool companion piece podcast to our previous show on the "Top 5 Quietest Episodes," way back on Episode 152. And the best thing about this episode (spoiler alert) is that it is also a mini-Starfleet Academy Season 1 preview/recap episode. This is episode is loud and awesome! Don't miss it! Episode Rundown: Diagnostic Cycle: Where we briefly get into the details of defining the show's specific topic. In other words: we get loud! Prime Directive: Each guest on this week's panel reveals exactly how they narrowed down their list and made their final choices. The Order of Things: All the picks are revealed with the TrekRanks' original "Five words and a hashtag" summary, along with one episode that helps frame their choice. Secondary Systems: For a few extra picks that just missed our final list. Regeneration Cycle: The panel recaps their picks and we dissect some of the interesting statistical anomalies that arose from the discussion. Temporal Inversion: We flashback to a previous episode of TrekRanks and relay some of the feedback received from listeners. If you have your own picks you would like to relay to us, please hail us at 757-828-RANK (7265) and record your own personal TrekRanks log to let us know your Top 5 Loudest Episodes. (Or you can record it yourself and just DM us @TrekRanks.com on Bluesky.) Your comments could be used as part of a Temporal Causality Loop on an upcoming episode (and might get you a chance to be a guest on a future episode, too). And don't forget to check out TrekRanks.com for our entire back catalog of episodes and a detailed rundown on every episode of Star Trek ever.

Starfleet's very own "miracle worker" is celebrated this week on an extremely special episode of TrekRanks. It's the "Top 5 Scotty Episodes" as we highlight one of the most popular characters in the history of Star Trek, portrayed now across TOS, the Kelvin Timeline and Strange New Worlds by James Doohan, Simon Pegg and Martin Quinn. From b-story, third-in-command triumphs to engineering heroics, our panel of host Jim Moorhouse and uber-Scotty fans Jenn Tifft and Daniel Martin have every corner covered of this deep-dive analysis. The haggis is surely in the fire for this one! Episode Rundown: Diagnostic Cycle: It's never a dull moment, when we go through our roll call of past "character deep dive episodes" (this is the 22nd!). Prime Directive: Each guest on this week's panel reveals exactly how they narrowed down their list and made their final choices, and everyone reveals their one-word to help define Engineer Montgomery Scott, and one of our panelists reveals an extremely personal connection to their affinity for the miracle worker. The Order of Things: All the picks are revealed with the TrekRanks' original "Five words and a hashtag" summary. Secondary Systems: For a few extra picks that just missed our final list. Regeneration Cycle: The panel recaps their picks and we dissect some of the interesting statistical anomalies that arose from the discussion. Temporal Inversion: We flashback to a previous episode of TrekRanks and relay some of the feedback received from listeners. If you have your own picks you would like to relay to us, please hail us at 757-828-RANK (7265) and record your own personal TrekRanks log to let us know your Top 5 Scotty Episodes. (Or you can record it yourself and just DM us @TrekRanks.com on Bluesky.) Your comments could be used as part of a Temporal Causality Loop on an upcoming episode (and might get you a chance to be a guest on a future episode, too). And don't forget to check out TrekRanks.com for our entire back catalog of episodes and a detailed rundown on every episode of Star Trek ever.  

We celebrate a true legend of Star Trek this week with a deep dive into the "Top 5 Jeffrey Combs Moments." There is no one more revered in the Star Trek fandom for his unique skillsets and broad range through more than 50 on-screen appearances, and our panel of host Jim Moorhouse and guests Adam Hunault and Mike Rittenhouse celebrate it all via his portrayal of nine major characters across four different series. We've been waiting a long time to tackle this one, so follow along and let us know your favorites from Jeffrey Combs' vast catalog! Episode Rundown: Diagnostic Cycle: We break down Jeffrey Combs specific history in Star Trek, with a rundown and appearance count on his nine major characters. Prime Directive: Each guest on this week's panel reveals exactly how they narrowed down their list and made their final choices, and also reveal one word that they think of when they think of Jeffrey Combs. The Order of Things: All the picks are revealed with the TrekRanks' original "Five words and a hashtag" summary. Secondary Systems: For a few extra picks that just missed our final list. Regeneration Cycle: The panel recaps their picks and we dissect some of the interesting statistical anomalies that arose from the discussion. Temporal Inversion: We flashback to our "Top 5 One-Word Episodes" edition of TrekRanks with an all-time great voicemail that we received that you won't want to miss. If you have your own picks you would like to relay to us, please hail us at 757-828-RANK (7265) and record your own personal TrekRanks log to let us know your Top 5 Jeffrey Combs Moments. (Or you can record it yourself and just DM us @TrekRanks.com on Bluesky.) Your comments could be used as part of a Temporal Causality Loop on an upcoming episode (and might get you a chance to be a guest on a future episode, too). And don't forget to check out TrekRanks.com for our entire back catalog of episodes and a detailed rundown on every episode of Star Trek ever.      

We are commemorating the launch of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy by diving deep into the Top 5 "Coming of Age" Episodes in Trek lore. Our expert panel of host Jim Moorhouse and guests Teresa Jusino and Todd Kehoe discuss those key episodes and moments where characters move through life – often from childhood to adulthood – while learning "coming of age" really never stops throughout a lifetime. This one will have you thinking about Trek in new and different ways. Episode Rundown: Diagnostic Cycle: We get into the breakdown of what "coming of age" really means in the context of this topic. Prime Directive: Each member of our panel discuss how they defined "Coming of Age: as a topic and narrowed down their picks. The Order of Things: All the picks are revealed with the TrekRanks' original "Five words and a hashtag" summary. Secondary Systems: For a few extra picks that just missed our final list. Regeneration Cycle: The panel recaps their picks and we dissect some of the interesting statistical anomalies that arose from the discussion. Temporal Inversion: We flashback to a previous episode of TrekRanks and relay some of the feedback received from listeners. If you have your own picks you would like to relay to us, please hail us at 757-828-RANK (7265) and record your own personal TrekRanks log to let us know your Top 5 "Coming of Age" Episodes. (Or you can record it yourself and just DM us @TrekRanks.com on Bluesky.) Your comments could be used as part of a Temporal Causality Loop on an upcoming episode (and might get you a chance to be a guest on a future episode, too).   And don't forget to check out TrekRanks.com for our entire back catalog of episodes and a detailed rundown on every episode of Star Trek ever. A very special thank you to our guests Teresa Jusino and Todd Kehoe. Teresa can be reached at PomonokEntertainment.com, while Todd's podcast Three For the Show can be downloaded via your favorite podcast app.      

It's another classic "Scenes in Trek" topic as we head into white out conditions to take on the "Top 5 Scenes in the Snow." Our expert panel of host Jim Moorhouse and guests Debbie Moltisanti, Chris Burris and Adam Sanders, "make it snow" in melting their way through a very narrow list of options for this cool Trek topic. (Meaning: there aren't a whole lot of scenes in the snow in Trek, but we think we have them all covered!) The challenge for you is to let us know if we missed any! Episode Rundown:  Diagnostic Cycle: We break down the history of our "Scenes in Trek" series with a roll call of the previous 18 "Scenes in Trek" topics. Prime Directive: Each guest on this week's panel reveals exactly how they narrowed down their list and made their final choices. The Order of Things: All the picks are revealed with the TrekRanks' original "Five words and a hashtag" summary. Secondary Systems: For a few extra picks that just missed our final list. Regeneration Cycle: The panel recaps their picks and we dissect some of the interesting statistical anomalies that arose from the discussion. Temporal Inversion: We flashback to a previous episode of TrekRanks and relay some of the feedback received from listeners. If you have your own picks you would like to relay to us, please hail us at 757-828-RANK (7265) and record your own personal TrekRanks log to let us know your Top 5 Scenes in the Snow. (Or you can record it yourself and just DM us @TrekRanks.com on Bluesky.) Your comments could be used as part of a Temporal Causality Loop on an upcoming episode (and might get you a chance to be a guest on a future episode, too). And don't forget to check out TrekRanks.com for our entire back catalog of episodes and a detailed rundown on every episode of Star Trek ever.      

We love just picking episodes on TrekRanks and that's what we do this week when we set our sights on the "Top 5 One-Word Episode Titles." It's that simple. It's pure TrekRanks! What are your favorite "one-word episode titles" in Star Trek history? We all know episode titles hit different in the world of Star Trek – they just do – and we get into exactly why that is as our panel of host Jim Moorhouse and guests Josh Zeller and Geoff Owen relay their personal Prime Directives and make their picks covering everything from deep cuts to popular favorites. Episode Rundown: Diagnostic Cycle: We get into a statistical breakdown of "one-word episode titles" throughout Star Trek history (spoiler alert: there are technically 254 one-word Star Trek episode titles). Prime Directive: Each guest on this week's panel reveals exactly how they narrowed down their list and made their final choices. The Order of Things: All the picks are revealed with the TrekRanks' original "Five words and a hashtag" summary. Secondary Systems: For a few extra picks that just missed our final list. Regeneration Cycle: The panel recaps their picks and we dissect some of the interesting statistical anomalies that arose from the discussion. Temporal Inversion: We flashback to a previous episode of TrekRanks and relay a listener voicemail. If you have your own picks you would like to relay to us, please hail us at 757-828-RANK (7265) and record your own personal TrekRanks log to let us know your Top 5 One-Word Episode Titles. (Or you can record it yourself and just DM us @TrekRanks.com on Bluesky.) Your comments could be used as part of a Temporal Causality Loop on an upcoming episode (and might get you a chance to be a guest on a future episode, too). And don't forget to check out TrekRanks.com for our entire back catalog of episodes and a detailed rundown on every episode of Star Trek ever.

For Episode 222 we had to do something unique, since everyone knows how much we love numbers and statistics on TrekRanks. So for an episode with three "twos" in the title, we are finally doing the "Top 5 Duos" (a topic we also can't believe we haven't yet tackled). In this TrekRanks classic, our panel of host Jim Moorhouse and expert guests Kimberly Lawler and Paul Edinger list their favorite pairings and duos of characters from Trek's great history. Nothing cute here. This isn't about 'ships or bromances or a nebulous definition of "duo" – this one is about the great character pairings in Star Trek, with quite a few deep cuts thrown in, as well! Episode Rundown: Diagnostic Cycle: We define exactly what we mean by "duos." (This one is not about 'shipts or bromances or doppelgangers, we did those topics back on Episodes 21 and 50 respectively!) Prime Directive: Each guest on this week's panel reveals exactly how they narrowed down their list and made their final choices. The Order of Things: All our duos are revealed with the TrekRanks' original "Five words and a hashtag" summary, along with one episode that helps frame their choice. Secondary Systems: For a few extra picks that just missed our final list. Regeneration Cycle: The panel recaps their picks and we dissect some of the interesting statistical anomalies that arose from the discussion. Temporal Inversion: We flashback to a previous episode of TrekRanks and relay some of the feedback received from listeners, and this week we have a fantastic "Abstact Color" voicemail for you. If you have your own picks you would like to relay to us, please hail us at 757-828-RANK (7265) and record your own personal TrekRanks log to let us know your Top 5 Duos. (Or you can record it yourself and just DM us @TrekRanks.com on Bluesky.) Your comments could be used as part of a Temporal Causality Loop on an upcoming episode (and might get you a chance to be a guest on a future episode, too). And don't forget to check out TrekRanks.com for our entire back catalog of episodes and a detailed rundown on every episode of Star Trek ever.

"You can't be afraid of the wind" and you can't be afraid of the new TrekRanks as this week we salute the heroic captain of the NX-01 Enterprise with our "Top 5 Archer Episodes." It's a deep dive episode of TrekRanks that traverses the temporal cold war to bring you all of Archer's greatest moments from "Broken Bow" to "Terra Prime." Our expert panel of host Jim Moorhouse and guests Michael Angie and Melanie get deep into the defining actions and motivations of Starfleet's original captain – the one who set the standard for all who followed. This is a very special episode of TrekRanks. Don't miss it. Episode Rundown: Diagnostic Cycle: We go through our role call of past "character deep dive episodes" (this is the 21st!) and break down that it is the fifth and final episode showcasing the legacy Trek captains, coming on the heels of Kirk, Picard, Sisko and Janeway. Prime Directive: Each guest on this week's panel reveals exactly how they narrowed down their list and made their final choices, and everyone reveals their one-word to help define Captain Archer. The Order of Things: All the picks are revealed with the TrekRanks' original "Five words and a hashtag" summary. Secondary Systems: For a few extra picks that just missed our final list. Regeneration Cycle: The panel recaps their picks and we dissect some of the interesting statistical anomalies that arose from the discussion. Temporal Inversion: We reveal a secret temporal inversion hidden inside this week's episode. It's pretty cool, and pretty special. If you have your own picks you would like to relay to us, please hail us at 757-828-RANK (7265) and record your own personal TrekRanks log to let us know your Top 5 Archer Episodes. (Or you can record it yourself and just DM us @TrekRanks.com on Bluesky.) Your comments could be used as part of a Temporal Causality Loop on an upcoming episode (and might get you a chance to be a guest on a future episode, too). And don't forget to check out TrekRanks.com for our entire back catalog of episodes and a detailed rundown on every episode of Star Trek ever.      

It's another "everything goes" abstract topic on TrekRanks as our expert panel tackles "Abstract L," labeling luminous locations and lightships of all sorts that randomly begin with the letter L. This is TrekRanks at its abstract finest! Led by host Jim Moorhouse and guests Alex Perry, Claire Little and Ken Reilly, literally anything is on the table in this fun "flash ranks" episode recorded live at STLV via a temporal anomaly. Log in and let's fly! Episode Rundown: Diagnostic Cycle: We briefly go through not only our "Abstract" roll call, but our "Flash Ranks" roll call to prep for the topic. Prime Directive: Each guest on this week's panel reveals exactly how they narrowed down their list and made their final choices. The Order of Things: All the picks are revealed with the TrekRanks' original "Five words and a hashtag" summary, along with one episode that helps frame their choice. Secondary Systems: For a few extra picks that just missed our final list. Regeneration Cycle: The panel recaps their picks and we dissect some of the interesting statistical anomalies that arose from the discussion. Temporal Inversion: We flashback to a previous episode of TrekRanks and relay some of the feedback received from listeners. If you have your own picks you would like to relay to us, please hail us at 757-828-RANK (7265) and record your own personal TrekRanks log to let us know your picks for Abstract L. (Or you can record it yourself and just DM us @TrekRanks.com on Bluesky.) Your comments could be used as part of a Temporal Causality Loop on an upcoming episode (and might get you a chance to be a guest on a future episode, too). And don't forget to check out TrekRanks.com for our entire back catalog of episodes and a detailed rundown on every episode of Star Trek ever.