"Samaritan Snare" – Starfleet, Sandwiches, and the Not-So-Clever Cleverness of the Pakleds or the Enterprise crew for that matter!

Apologies for the terrible sound for this episode. James was not smart. The mic was broken.

In this week’s episode, James and Andrew boldly go…into one of The Next Generation's more baffling outings: “Samaritan Snare.” The Pakleds make their infamous debut as a seemingly simple-minded alien race who somehow manage to pull a fast one on the highly trained Starfleet crew—much to the dismay (and amusement) of our hosts.

Is this episode fun? Sure. Is it good? Absolutely not. James and Andrew break down how this bizarre mix of unintentional comedy, lazy plotting, and deeply questionable decision-making turns the Enterprise crew into spacefaring fools. And yet, it’s oddly entertaining.

The real highlight? A surprisingly heartfelt shuttle ride with Wesley Crusher and Captain Picard, complete with awkward small talk, medical confessions, and… sandwiches.

It’s a strange ride through the stars this week—join us as we try to understand how the Pakleds “look for things” and somehow find a place in Star Trek history.