I find that I need to do some other activity while listening to podcasts. Often it’s a puzzle game or other phone activity that doesn’t require unbroken concentration.

But the quality of the sound and voiceovers or voice acting is really crucial to holding my attention.

In this case, it’s really unfortunate that Sonja Cassidy was cast as Dr. Lear. Or, perhaps it’s just unfortunate that she was asked to use an American accent. While some actors can maintain the quality of their performances in another accent, there are British actors who end up with muddy enunciation or less credible performances even if the accent is fine.

Cassidy’s performance as Dr. Lear sounds more like reading than acting for much of the opening minutes. Alternately, her expression, when it does happen, seems artificial. The unpolished performance is all the more noticeable in contrast to the excellent performances by George Takei as Sulu, Tim Russ as Tuvok and Wrenn Schmidt as Marla McGiver, and even the brief interjections of chair of the review committee are more compelling.

Given how many lines she’s given in the opening minutes as the framing story sets the stage, it’s truly unfortunate.