Warp Five 113: Pick Up His Own Dead Body
Running Time: 1 hour 12 minutes 35 seconds
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Mike Sussman Interview.
Mike Sussman began his writing career on Star Trek with a last minute pitch of the Star Trek: Voyager episode "Meld." After several years of working for Voyager, and working closely with his friend Phyllis Strong, the two of them would take the reigns as Executive Story Editors for the new series, and later, Sussman would become a producer for that show.
In this episode of Warp Five, Brandon-Shea Mutala is joined by Mike Sussman to discuss his writing career on Enterprise. We also discuss working with Michael Piller on Voyager, who the dead guy was in "Future Tense," and how Mike's favorite episode from Enterprise originally began as a Janeway and Chakotay story.
Chapters
Intro (00:00:00)
Welcome, Boomers! (00:01:21)
First Episode (00:02:23)
12 Monkeys (00:06:27)
TV Has Changed (00:10:47)
"Meld" (00:16:27)
Phyllis Strong (00:23:50)
"Future Tense" (00:25:50)
"In A Mirror Darkly" (00:29:46)
Writing "Kir'Shara" (00:33:06)
"Twilight" (00:39:20)
Writing Differences and Similarities (00:44:07)
Vulcans (00:48:13)
"Age of the Empress" (00:50:34)
Most Proud Of (00:52:52)
"These Are the Voyages..." (00:57:31)
Finding Mike (01:05:42)
Closing (01:08:19)
Hosts
Brandon-Shea Mutala
Guest
Mike Sussman
Production
Brandon-Shea Mutal (Editor) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Justin Oser (Associate Producer) Tim Cooper (Associate Producer) Mike Morrison (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)
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“Bounty” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss how the story marks the end of the show’s original concept, sets a course for serialization, adds texture to pon farr, and proves that Tellarites are terrible travel guides.
“First Flight” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss how the story serves as a resounding proof of concept for the original idea for the series, meeting Trip, how Archer’s experiences with AG Robinson prepared him to be a leader, and more.
“Regeneration” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss using the Borg at a time long before they were known to Starfleet, how to do a prequel right, how the story sets up Archer and his crew for the challenges of Season 3, and more.
“Cogenitor” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss first contact, equal rights, cultural relativism, missed opportunities, and why we wish this important story had been expanded and revisited.
“The Breach” 20th-anniversary reflections. We explore caves and discuss lingering animosity, overcoming preconceived notions, Archer as the voice of reason, adding depth to Denobulans, and that very special guest star.
“Horizon” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss family dynamics, what could have been for Travis, Archer’s leadership, T’Pol's book club, and the unxpected connection between the Mayweather and Janeway families.
“Judgment” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss how the story revisits The Undiscovered Country, works to maintain continuity, and challenges the concept of Klingon society..
“The Crossing” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss the story’s promising start, the Wisps, Archer’s actions, and missed opportunities to really explore the heart of Star Trek.
“Canamar” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss the frightening encounters humans have with aliens during these early days of deep space exploration, how the story came to be, and what it has to say about attempts to control people and curb crime in real world societies.
“Future Tense” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss how the story reminds viewers that the Temporal Cold War storyline still exists while saving itself from filler status by delivering important chartacter growth for T’Pol, plus some fun with time along the way.
“Cease Fire” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss how the story brings the Federation’s founding worlds closer together through a growing relationship and trust among unlikely players.
“Stigma” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss how this story, which aired during Viacom’s HIV awareness campaign in 2003, advances the development of Vulcan society while deftly balancing serious and comedic stories to make a strong statement about cultural differences and unfounded prejudice.
“Dawn” 20th-anniversary reflections. We ask whether this story is just an attempt to recreate the magic of “Darmok,” a clone of the film Enemy Mine, or something much more.
“The Catwalk” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss how a bag of Star Trek tropes is reassembled into a story which only this series could tell, and how the situation brings the whole crew together for the better.
“Precious Cargo” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss why the story is perfect for Trip’s character, try to explain away Padma Lakshmi’s cardboard delivery, revel in bad cop T’Pol, and consider why the creators themselves see this as one of the worst episodes they ever produced.
“Vanishing Point” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss how the mind plays tricks on us, boogeymen in the transport beam, and how the story’s mystery unfolds. We also debate what Mr. Sato’s confusion over physics and family says about how Hoshi views her dad.
“Singularity” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss discuss a story that’s been told many times before and ask how well it works this time around. We also search for the ideal klaxon, the perfect soup, and one kick-ass chair.
“The Communicator” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss how the story takes a throwaway ending to an Original Series episode and addresses the real-world repurcussions of leaving technology behind on a less-advanced planet.
“The Seventh” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss what the episode has to say about Vulcan society, how it connects to the world 20 years after it was written, what is does for the Archer–T’Pol relationship, and more.
“Marauders” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss how the story mirrors its Akira Kurosawa inspiration, Seven Samurai, grows the relationship between Archer and T’Pol, and gets the full crew involved.
“A Night in Sickbay” 20th-anniversary reflections. We take a look inside the heads of Archer and Phlox, chase bats, and explore sexy canines and shipping.
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“Carbon Creek” 20th-anniversary reflections. We explore the rewriting of history, diversity among Vulcans, how the writers turned a grab bag of Star Trek's greatest time travel hits into a delightful chance to decompress, and the franchise’s tribute to Lucille Ball.
“Shockwave, Part II” 20th-anniversary reflections. We explore a future in jeopardy, how portrayal of the future has changed over 20 years, the transformation of T'Pol, and how Jonathan Archer is so pivotal to the future of the Federation.
“Shockwave” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss how this story moves the Temporal Cold War toward a hot one, Archer's guilt, the use of time travel, and the repercussions of the efforts of the Suliban and Future Guy to change history.
“Two Days and Two Nights” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss this fun shore leave story that brings some serious commentary, contrasting Hoshi's experience with that of Trip and Malcolm and discussing the portrayal of language, technology, and the ongoing Suliban plot.
“Desert Crossing” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss how the episode serves as a proto-Prime Directive story, Archer's reputation, shades of gray, and how the story could have benefited from more information and the mini-arc format found in Season 4.
“Fallen Hero” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss how the story brings us an unexpected take on Vulcans and an ambassador who we wish we'd seen more of, as well as the realities of life in deep space and picking the right Hawaiian shirt.