I have a few, my fav is Jessie Gender, who gives insightful reviews but doesnt shy away from criticism of Trek. I also like how she looks at things from a gender critical angle, which is something few peoppe think about. Sean Ferrick is another cool one, as are the guys from Trekyards who are more focussed on tech and ships. Who else should I look up on?
I’m not sure that “gender critical” is the right phrase to describe her approach? I associate that more with the gang opposed to her existence.
Those might be the wrong words. I wanted to say that she analyzes Trek through the lens of the critical theory as applied to gender and inclusive feminism.
Jessie Gender, Steve Shives, TriAngulum Studios, Junkball (when he uploads), and he isn’t strictly Trek but I also like Certifiably Ingame.
Naturally Trek Culture is pretty cool too.
I often disagree , but I find the reviews by Treklit author Keith Di Candido on TOR interesting, and the comments participation of another author Christopher L Bennet interesting to follow. Both know the history of onscreen canon very well and have spent a lot of time working around it as tie-in writers. It’s good to see their takes and their debates.
I agree that Jessie Gender has some solid reviews as well.
As for most of the rest, the reviews of Picard season three have really made me reassess who I find worth my time to pay attention to. Many revealed themselves to be just locked in a a gatekeeping idea that 90s Berman Trek is the only ‘real’ Trek and it’s not something I want to give my views to.
That is, some reviewers whom I had considered sometimes tough but balanced, seemed to turn off any criticism of Picard season three as the nostalgic hits rolled out. Many of the same flaws they had repeatedly criticized in Discovery or earlier seasons of Picard were given a complete pass. And they are back being hypercritical of SNW now.
As someone who eventually stopped supporting the 80s fanzines run by TOS fans that couldn’t accept TNG was its own different thing, I feel the same way about Berman-era fans who are now gatekeeping what Trek can evolve to.
The Picard issue feels like most of what I hear online about it. I suspect in a few years the consensus on season 3 of Picard will have changed.
Rowan J Coleman’s Star Trek Retrospective series is superb and is what made his YouTube channel famous. He has now branched to other SciFi movies too which are equally interesting.
It’s unfortunate that he said that he won’t have in depth retrospectives about new Trek series but hopefully he’ll change his minds when series like Discovery will end.
The two that I used to love either have disappeared or significantly slowed down their posting:
Ketwolski - just gone, I hope he’s ok
Trekspertise - use to do a lot of video essays on Trek, I think he got caught up in making a movie (good for him!) so even when they do post it’s just not the same
Holy shit, I forgot about Ketwolski.
Hope they’re safe and well.
Not a full-on reviewer but Junkball. That guy’s enthusiasm for starship design appeals to a part of me I didn’t know existed, and I wound up watching half of his videos one weekend not long ago.
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I assume you know the Nitpicker’s Guide to […] Trekkers book series? It was such a fun book series from the 1990s. I even submitted my own nitpicks and Phil send me a membership card. Fun times.
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Steve Shives is someone I’ve been watching. He’s a little crass yet his observations are pretty decent. Otherwise, same as you…Jessie Gender, and Sean from TrekCulture
I like Steve Shives too. I started watching him a long time ago for his atheist videos, but stayed for his Trek and other stuff.
Steve Shives is my go-to Trek Guy. Mostly reviews and revisits older episodes, but also discusses the new shows.
This post makes me feel very old
Whenever the RedLetterMedia guys talk Trek it’s a good time. It’s not their bread and butter though.
