The Ready Room 205: Disco Vulcan Zombies / by Trek fm

Impulse.

Running Time: 1 hour 54 minutes 45 seconds
Download / RSS / Send us a message / Discuss the show / Support Trek.fm

Some things never go out of style. Take zombies, for instance. They’re wildly popular on 21st-century Earth, and they can be found in the 22nd-century Expanse as well. But what happens when you mix the living dead with logic? That’s what Archer and the crew of the Enterprise had to find out when they stumbled upon a zombified Vulcan crew in “Impulse.”

In this episode of The Ready Room, we’re joined by Mike Morrison, Dennis Castello, and Phillip Gilfus to discuss this horror story from Enterprise’s third season. We explore the Trellium-D conundrum, Jolene Blalock’s portrayal of a Vulcan losing control, parallels to DS9’s “Empok Nor,” and the importance of the coda that almost wasn’t. We also discuss the episodes’s amazing visuals and ponder the design of Starfleet’s 22nd-century hospital garb.

Plus, in our news segment, we look at details of the next Star Trek series as revealed by executive producer and showrunner Bryan Fuller, and we share our thoughts on Rihanna’s “Sledgehammer” and the use of non-orchestral music in Star Trek.

News

Bryan Fuller Reveals Star Trek 2017 Details (00:04:53)
Rihanna’s “Sledgehammer” and Star Trek Beyond (00:29:26)
Sponsor: The Eaglemoss Official Star Trek Starships Collection (00:34:45)

Feature: Impulse

Synopsis and Initial Thoughts (00:39:21)
Vulcan Zombies (00:48:17)
Jolene’s Portrayal (00:54:39)
The Trellium-D Conundrum (00:59:26)
B-Plot Padding (01:09:39)
Parallels to “Empok Nor” (01:16:42)
A Nightmare Coda (01:26:24)
The Visuals (01:31:12)
Final Thoughts (01:37:12)

Hosts

C Bryan Jones and Mike Morrison

Guests

Dennis Castello and Phillip Gilfus

Production

C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Renee Roberts (Associate Producer) Zachary Fruhling (Associate Producer) Sam Piassick (Associate Producer) Kay Elizabeth Janeway (Associate Producer) Tim Robertson (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Will Nguyen (Content Manager)

Sponsor

This episode is brought to you by the Star Trek Starships Collection from Eaglemoss, the ultimate collection officially authorized by CBS Studios. Featuring vessels from 50 years of Star Trek, each is expertly sculpted, hand-painted, and comes with an authoritative collector’s magazine.

Support The Ready Room and get the USS Enterprise 1701-D for only $4.95 with FREE shipping.

More recent episodes of The Ready Room…
The Ready Room 234: When You Orb an Orb [Anything Is Possible]
The Ready Room 234: When You Orb an Orb [Anything Is Possible]

The State of Star Trek 2022. We discuss each of the “modern” series, dig into the fan split over old and new, and imagine what new series might be on the horizon. We also debate the pros and cons of the streaming model for storytelling and talk about how Star Trek and Star Wars are pushing each other forward.

The Ready Room 233: Too Many Licks and Not Enough Tongue
The Ready Room 233: Too Many Licks and Not Enough Tongue

Star Trek: Lower Decks after two seasons. We take a broad look back at the first two seasons and discuss how the series has connected with fans, why it has won over many early skeptics, and how it serves as a brilliant love letter to the franchise. We also ask whether some moments are a rebuke of modern Star Trek.

The Ready Room 232: What a Genius That Guy Was!
The Ready Room 232: What a Genius That Guy Was!

Marking our 10th anniversary. We deep-dive into Star Trek’s return to television, which way the fan pendulum is swinging today, screen vs. visual canon, whether Star Trek is an historical piece, dealing with toxic fandom, the status of The Con of Wrath, and more.

The Ready Room 231: Hope Is a Powerful Thing
The Ready Room 231: Hope Is a Powerful Thing

Adil Hussain interview. We’re to talk about the Covid-19 situation in India, the art of acting and what inspired Adil’s portrayal of Sahil, as well as Star Trek and entertainment as a coping mechanism during difficult times. He also shares thoughts on how we might reach that more prosperous future that Gene Roddenberry envisioned.

The Ready Room 230: Nacelles Sold Separately
The Ready Room 230: Nacelles Sold Separately

Looking Back at *Discovery* Season Three. We reflect on the story, how it played out compared with what we expected, how we feel about key plot points, and how it all fits into the overall Star Trek picture.

The Ready Room 229: Grudge Cat Is a Big Nirvana Fan
The Ready Room 229: Grudge Cat Is a Big Nirvana Fan

Discovery Season 3 preview. We discuss the premise, what the episode titles may reveal about the story, potential real world parallels, the addition of transgender and binary characters, and more.

The Ready Room 228: Real-World Star Trek Dripping In
The Ready Room 228: Real-World Star Trek Dripping In

Lower Decks midseason review. We pay a visit to the insignificant little USS Cerritos as its journey reaches the halfway point to share our thoughts on this animated rendition of Star Trek.

The Ready Room 227: Way Bigger Than Praxis
The Ready Room 227: Way Bigger Than Praxis

Expanding the Star Trek universe. Using Alex Kurtzman’s interviews from the Star Trek Emmy promotion campaign as a springboard, we explore Section 31, Lower Decks, Strange New Worlds, Prodigy, and the overall expansion of the Star Trek universe—including risks and rewards.

The Ready Room 226: Waiting Naked in a Shuttlepod
The Ready Room 226: Waiting Naked in a Shuttlepod

Lower Decks pre-launch thoughts and Star Trek Emmy nominations. We look ahead to the Lower Decks premiere and discuss the Star Trek franchise’s six Emmy nominations as well as how virtual cons are changing the nature of fan interaction in the age of coronavirus.

The Ready Room 225: Monty Python’s Contractual Obligation Album
The Ready Room 225: Monty Python’s Contractual Obligation Album

Picard Recap and Strange New Worlds. We look back at the full season of Star Trek: Picard and take a first look at the recently announced Captain Pike series.

The Ready Room 224: Emergency Double Agent Hologram
The Ready Room 224: Emergency Double Agent Hologram

Midseason Picard. We share our thoughts on the tone and direction of the new show, characters old and new, what happened in the first five episodes, what we feel has and has not worked in the writing and pacing, and where we would like things to go from here.

The Ready Room 223: As Canon Adjacent As Possible
The Ready Room 223: As Canon Adjacent As Possible

Star Trek’s second golden age. We look ahead to the flood of new content headed to our screens in 2020—including Picard and Discovery, Season 3—and remember Aron Eisenberg, Dorothy “D.C.” Fontana, and René Auberjonois.

The Ready Room 222: Dig Your Own Time Crystals State Park
The Ready Room 222: Dig Your Own Time Crystals State Park

Looking Back at Discovery Season Two. We reflect on the story that never happened, the crew that never existed, and how the show’s sophomore mission did—or did not—change the Star Trek universe.

The Ready Room 221: Close Canon Quarters
The Ready Room 221: Close Canon Quarters

Future Trek. Along with Larry Nemecek, we ride a subspace shockwave through a list of Star Treks to come, from Discovery to Picard to Ceti Alpha V … and much more.

The Ready Room 220: Holding Out for Tan
The Ready Room 220: Holding Out for Tan

Patrick Stewart’s Return, Kelvin Trouble, and Discovery Changes. We discuss some of the biggest news to come out of Star Trek Las Vegas 2018 along with what we see as the maturation of CBS’s approach to Star Trek.

The Ready Room 219: Kurtzman’s Five-Year Mission
The Ready Room 219: Kurtzman’s Five-Year Mission

The Expansion of Star Trek. Larry Nemecek joins us to discuss Alex Kurtzman’s new deal with CBS, the studio’s plans for new Star Trek content, and the possible return of Patrick Stewart. Plus, we remember Harlan Ellison.

The Ready Room 218: I Have This Piece of Paper
The Ready Room 218: I Have This Piece of Paper

Proto-TNG and the Pike Memo. Larry Nemecek joins us for an in-depth look at the 1986 memo that presents a version of Star Trek: The Next Generation that is very different from the one we know.

The Ready Room 217: Doctor T and His Files
The Ready Room 217: Doctor T and His Files

DS9 at 25. Larry Nemecek joins us to look back at 25 years of the series that turned the Star Trek model on its head and ushered in a new age of storytelling.

The Ready Room 216: I Only Saw Seven of Them Guys!
The Ready Room 216: I Only Saw Seven of Them Guys!

Discovery Post-Premiere. Larry Nemecek joins us to revisit some of the topics from our last discussion, including Klingons, Vulcans, and the business side of Discovery.

The Ready Room 215: The Edge of Discovery
The Ready Room 215: The Edge of Discovery

Star Trek: Discovery Latest Details and Summer Con Preview. Two months out from the launch of Discovery, Larry Nemecek join us to discuss the latest news and fill us in on what to expect in San Diego and Las Vegas.

The Ready Room 214: You Don’t Have to Breathe that Zenite
The Ready Room 214: You Don’t Have to Breathe that Zenite

The Cloud Minders. We discuss this story of a city in the sky, cave dwellers, the stratification of society, deadly gas, and debate what it means to be a member of the Federation.

The Ready Room 213: Welcome to Cyrusville
The Ready Room 213: Welcome to Cyrusville

Vanishing Point. Early transporters were a scary thing for Starfleet officers. We discuss Hoshi’s eight-second adventure that almost made her the next Cyrus Ramsey.

The Ready Room 212: Erin Gray’s Blue Jumpsuit
The Ready Room 212: Erin Gray’s Blue Jumpsuit

Workforce + Discovery Trailer. We discuss Voyager’s seventh-season amnesia story plus new Klingons and the CBS upfronts trailer for the newest chapter in Star Trek.

The Ready Room 211: To Hoof or Not to Hoof
The Ready Room 211: To Hoof or Not to Hoof

Star Trek: Discovery and a Look Back at 50. Larry Nemecek joins host C Bryan Jones, who returns from medical leave, to discuss all aspects of the next Star Trek television series and much more.

The Ready Room 210: Disastrous Consequences
The Ready Room 210: Disastrous Consequences

Crossover. Sometimes actions can have unexpected consequences. Such was the case with Kirk and his speech to Mirror Spock. We discuss DS9’s return to the Mirror Universe and how life turned out for the humans living there.

The Ready Room 209: Just Don’t Smell the Flowers
The Ready Room 209: Just Don’t Smell the Flowers

Justice. When visiting Rubicun III, you’d better stay out of the flowerbeds. If you don’t, there’s only one punishment: death. We debate the concept of absolute law and the boy, Wesley Crusher.

The Ready Room 208: Star Trek: Discovery, with Larry Nemecek
The Ready Room 208: Star Trek: Discovery, with Larry Nemecek

Breaking Down the Latest Details. Larry Nemecek joins us to break down 13 points about Star Trek: Discovery and what they might mean for the next Star Trek series.

The Ready Room 207: Big Ball of Progress
The Ready Room 207: Big Ball of Progress

Star Trek Beyond. We discuss how Simon Pegg, Justin  Lin, and the cast and crew of this rebooted Star Trek deliver a film that celebrates the 50th anniversary and surprises fans and critics alike.

The Ready Room 206: Flamenco Stunt Dancer
The Ready Room 206: Flamenco Stunt Dancer

Plato’s Stepchildren. Uncontrolled power will turn even saints into savages. We discuss the episode that—despite being amongst TOS’s campiest—has been an inspiration to many.

The Ready Room 205: Disco Vulcan Zombies
The Ready Room 205: Disco Vulcan Zombies

Impulse. Some things never go out of style. Take zombies, for instance. We discuss why even Vulcans are into them in the 22nd century as we dive into Enterprise’s horror flick.