Ep. 08-05: Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979) & Star Trek: Nemesis (2002)

STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE (1979)—When a mysterious and massive alien cloud destroys several Klingon ships and heads straight for Earth, Admiral James T. Kirk resumes command of the newly refitted USS Enterprise. Joined by his familiar crew and new science officer, Kirk must unravel the nature of the powerful entity known as V’Ger. What begins as a standard mission soon becomes a metaphysical journey about identity, evolution, and the search for meaning among the stars.

STAR TREK: NEMESIS (2002)—Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the crew of the Enterprise-E are dispatched to Romulus to meet with its new leader, a clone of Picard named Shinzon, who claims to want peace. But Shinzon’s true motives are far more sinister, involving a deadly weapon and a plan to destroy Earth. As Picard confronts a darker version of himself, the crew faces their most personal and devastating challenge yet—one that will demand sacrifice, courage, and resolve.

This week, we journey boldly into both the beginning and the near-end of two legendary Starfleet captains. Join us as we examine the contrasting visions of Star Trek: The Motion Picture and Star Trek: Nemesis—one cerebral and expansive, the other emotional and introspective. We’ll explore design aesthetics, shifting tones, and the evolution of Trek storytelling. Listen, as Johnny Has the Keys beams aboard two very different Enterprises and contemplates the meaning of legacy across the final frontier.

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Ep. 07-02: Star Trek (2009)

STAR TREK (2009), directed by J.J. Abrams, is a reboot of the iconic sci-fi franchise. The film follows young James T. Kirk and Spock as they join the crew of the USS Enterprise to combat the vengeful Romulan, Nero, who threatens the Federation with a powerful weapon. With time travel altering their destinies, the film attempts to blend action, humor, and character-driven drama, to revitalize the series for a new generation while honoring its legacy.

Join us as we boldly go where (doubt it) no podcast has gone before, venturing into the reboot of Star Trek (2009). In this episode, we dive into the pros and cons of the film, examining the screenplay, the visual effects, and the fresh yet familiar performances by the cast. Listen as Johnny Has the Keys embarks on a cosmic journey, crossing paths with iconic characters and exploring the uncharted territories of this revitalized sci-fi universe.

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Ep. 03-35: Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)

Admiral James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and Captain Spock (Leonard Nimoy) are monitoring trainees at Starfleet Academy. The United Federation of Planets is experimenting with the planet-creating Genesis Device. Meanwhile, two of Kirk’s officers are captured by Khan, long-marooned on a desolate planet. Khan forces these two to commit treasonous acts and steal the Genesis Device. Now, with the assistance of a novice Enterprise crew, Admiral Kirk must stop Khan from using the life-generating Genesis Device as the ultimate weapon.

Episode 35 – Star Trek II – The Wrath of Khan

This one’s a landmark and in both Tim and David’s top 20 of all time. Nicholas Meyer captured the magic that IS Star Trek with this incredible movie… and it has never been fully captured like this again. Join us as we discuss the minute details, motifs, tropes, and scenery-chewing acting that makes this movie a Science Fiction classic. Listen, as Johnny Has the Keys takes you to the Mutara Nebula for a Moby Dick-inspired showdown between two of the universe’s ultimate badasses.

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Ep. 03-37: Galaxy Quest (1999)

The actors of an old sci-fi TV show—now barely scraping a living through re-runs and sci-fi conventions—suddenly find themselves mistaken by an alien race for their TV counterparts, believing that the cast’s heroics are historical documentation of real-life adventures. The aliens turn to the celebrities for help in their quest to overcome an oppressive regime in their solar system.

Episode 37 Galaxy Quest

Welcome to the fifth of six genre hybrids (comedy) we’re covering this year. Galaxy Quest (1999) is what many fans refer to as an unofficial Star Trek film… and rightly so. Aside from the laughs, this film touches on many of the elements that made Trek successful including production details, the actors themselves, and behind-the-scenes gossip. Join us as we discuss these many attributes and the obvious love and respect that went into this homage to the granddaddy of all space operas. Listen, as Johnny Has the Keys blasts into space with a novice crew, going where no man has gone before in order to discover that which makes us human.