Shuttlepod One: The STINKY Episode | TREKNOPOD Ep. 67

In this episode of TreknoPod, your Star Trek: Enterprise rewatch podcast, the crew boards Season 1, Episode 16 – “Shuttlepod One” and promptly loses their minds in the cold of space… and over the word “stinky.”

Captain Shoff, Captain Vactor, and Captain Linda Paiges break down why this beloved bottle episode has become a fan favorite, following Trip Tucker and Malcolm Reed as they’re stranded in Shuttlepod One, convinced the Enterprise has been destroyed and their oxygen is running out. 

In this episode we talk about:
• Superman becoming canon in Star Trek – the wild comic book references that made Vactor’s brain explode
• Why “Shuttlepod One” is often ranked among Enterprise’s best episodes and even shows up on “greatest Star Trek episodes” lists 
• The episode’s stage-play energy: two guys in a freezing metal can, getting drunk, getting honest, and getting weird
• The infamous sickbay daydream and why the word “stinky” should never be used in a supposed romantic fantasy
• Trip and Malcolm as the ultimate odd couple – sentimental, letter-writing Malcolm vs. problem-solver Trip
• Real production trivia: how the set was turned into a literal igloo with AC units and dry ice so the actors were actually freezing, and why Dominic Keating (Malcolm) called this one of Enterprise’s “finest hours” 
• Mashed potatoes as emergency hull repair, microwaving fish in a sealed shuttle, and the absolute worst ways to conserve oxygen
• How this episode quietly gives us some of the best Malcolm character development in Season 1
• Quick look ahead to “Fusion” (Enterprise 1x17) and its unconventional Vulcans 

Hosts & Where to Find Us
• Captain Shoff – Co-host of TreknoPod
• Captain Vactor – Find his comic book content on YouTube & TikTok: This Comic Cooks, including his ongoing “Heroes Who Broke Bad” series about good guys who turned villainous.
• Captain Linda Paiges – @LindaPaiges on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, plus The Transporter Room on social media for Trek interviews and more.

Support the Show / Connect
• Follow TreknoPod on your favorite podcast app
• Leave a rating & review to help other Star Trek fans find the show
• Share this episode with a friend who loves Star Trek: Enterprise, Trip & Malcolm, or great sci-fi bottle episodes

Episode Info
• Series: Star Trek: Enterprise
• Season 1, Episode 16 – “Shuttlepod One”
• Original air date: February 13, 2002 
• Written by: Rick Berman & Brannon Braga 

Question for listeners:
Do you think “Shuttlepod One” is Enterprise’s best episode, or is it overrated? And would you behave more like Trip or Malcolm if you were stuck in that shuttle? Let us know in the comments or on social media!