Those Who Ponder

Admiral

The serious obsessive of our Ponderers, Jim Lancaster brought together this team as an excuse to rewatch the seven seasons of Deep Space Nine.

Why Deep Space Nine? It’s not any one thing that makes this show stand above the rest, but it’s the way that everything comes together perfectly that makes it special. The cast is fantastic and they are given amazing, complex, real characters to play. DS9 embraces the hope, diversity, and optimism of Starfleet and the Federation, but it also looks at some of the frayed edges and darker corners of that universe. It isn’t always easy for them to maintain the ideals and directives that they seek to live by. This show isn’t afraid to approach big ideas like prejudice, religion, and war, and it always treats these subjects with intelligence, thoughtfulness, empathy, and meaningful reflection.

Captain

Known for her optimistic outlook, it is no surprise that Rhonda Lancaster is a fan of the eternally optimistic franchise that is Star Trek. Deep Space Nine is often considered the “dark” Trek, but Rhonda wholly disagrees. It is a story of family: a father and son in Benjamin and Jake Sisko; the station leaders in Sisko, Kira, Dax, Chief O’Brien, Doctor Bashier,and Constable Odo; the residents of the Promenade (kept safe by Odo, but led by Quark); and a host of characters who land on the station. An unabashed feminist, Kira Nerys, Jadzia Dax, and Ezri Dax provided strong women for her to admire as she crossed the threshold into adulthood.

Lieutenant

Matt Cirilli has his father to thank for starting him on the journey to lifelong Star Trek fandom. He’s seen it all, but maybe he hasn’t seen everything!¹ Now, he spends his free time (pre-COVID) traveling the convention circuit in search of autographs from the cast of his favorite Trek series.

¹If you haven’t seen the fantastic Extras episode featuring Patrick Stewart. Seek it out today!

Lieutenant

Master of the Mystic Arts. Purveyor of arcane knowledge. Guy who has seen things. Familiar with DS9, but maybe not all in order? Ray Lemansky offers in-the-moment commentary.

Chief Warrant Officer

Adam Felty is a true believer! Former student, adopted family member, huge Star Trek fan. He’s seen it, he loves it, and he’s going to do it all again. His presence always betokens merriment!²

²“The Bridegroom” by Alexander Pushkin, Russian folklore (thanks to 10th grade English class)

Ensign

Becca Heisner is the other next generation! Former student, adopted family member, lawyer, actor, activist, Renaissance woman. Also, a new fan in the making, for sure! Never seen DS9.

The Watchers

Waylon “Lonnie” Walls: Longtime best bud from way back in the day, with a solid, but casual, fan knowledge of Trek. Engineer and tinker. Probably Chief O’Brien’s soul mate. He has never seen DS9!

Keith Blonairz: Adventurer, outdoorsman, philosopher. It may be hard to get him to sit still long enough to watch anything TV, but he’s game to try!

Toni Allen: Sister-in-law, science fiction fan (We’ll forgive her for loving Battlestar Galactica), and Rhonda’s foothold into The Next Generation as teenagers.

Truen Allen: Nephew & our youngest recruit. Can’t wait to see what he thinks!