Mark Donaldson
804 articles published since March 06, 2021
Author Details
Mark Donaldson is a writer, podcaster, and freelance film programmer based in the North East of England, where he lives with his partner and greyhound. When not writing or podcasting about Star Trek or Doctor Who, Mark can be found talking about Star Trek or Doctor Who down the pub. He's also currently working on a documentary about Doctor Who fandom in the 1990s.
Industry Focus
Mark has been with Screen Rant since 2022, and recently became a full-time Core Features Writer, specializing in Star Trek and Doctor Who. Mark has podcasted about Doctor Who since 2014, co-hosting On the Time Lash, and regularly appearing on other Doctor Who podcasts to discuss all eras of the show.
Favorite Media
Mark grew up in the 1990s, which was a rich time for science-fiction on British TV. He was raised on a diet of Star Trek: the Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and Star Trek: Voyager. These shows have left a profound effect on him, and he continues to enjoy them 30 years later. During the 90s, Mark also became a huge Doctor Who fan, which was difficult because the BBC had canceled it. The lack of new Doctor Who on TV allowed Mark to cultivate a broad knowledge of Doctor Who's entire history from 1963 to 1989, and the extensive spinoff media. It's an obsession that continued when the show returned in 2005.
Star Trek’s Biobed Medical Tech Explained
Star Trek's biobeds are an integral part of Starfleet medicine and have various functions designed to ensure the health and well-being of the crew.
Quentin Tarantino’s Star Trek Movie & Why It Didn’t Happen Explained
Quentin Tarantino's unmade gangster movie is one of the great Star Trek "What If?" questions - here's why Tarantino's Star Trek 4 never got made.
Star Trek Musicals History: Why It Never Happened Before Strange New Worlds
Strange New Worlds' history-making "Subspace Rhapsody" fulfilled the musical ambitions of many luminaries from across Star Trek's past and present.
Strange New Worlds’ Musical Set Up A New Captain Pike Star Trek Tragedy
Captain Pike's TOS future hints that Captain Batel's priority one mission may not end well in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' season 2 finale.
Strange New Worlds Confirms Kirk Was A Father In Star Trek TOS All Along
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has finally confirmed when Kirk's son David Marcus was conceived, adding a tragic dimension to Star Trek: TOS.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Cast & Character Guide
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine had the biggest cast of characters of any Trek show, meaning that Captain Sisko had numerous allies in the Dominion War.
Khan & Every Augment Super Power In Star Trek
The superpowers of Khan Noonien Singh and Star Trek's Augments are impressive, but potentially deadly, perhaps justifying Starfleet's fear.
How Star Trek: Enterprise Characters Could Return In Strange New Worlds
The love for Captain Archer and his crew in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds makes a Star Trek: Enterprise crossover inevitable - here's how it may work.
Picard Almost Had A Star Trek Musical Before Strange New Worlds
Despite many attempts in the past, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' musical episode is a franchise first, but Star Trek: Picard almost got there first.
Strange New Worlds’ Musical Has A First-Ever Star Trek Team-Up After 57 Years
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' historic musical is also the first time that two famous Starfleet officers join forces aboard the USS Enterprise.
Is Jess Bush's Nurse Christine Chapel Leaving Star Trek: Strange New Worlds?
Nurse Chapel is leaving the Enterprise to study under Doctor Roger Korby, but is this the end for Jess Bush's Star Trek: Strange New Worlds character?
Strange New Worlds Sets Up Nurse Chapel's Star Trek TOS Fiance
Strange New Worlds' musical episode provides Nurse Chapel with a great career opportunity that will introduce her to her Star Trek: TOS fiance.
Justified City Primeval Season 1 Episode 4 Recap - 7 Biggest Story Reveals
Raylan Givens' hunt for Clement Mansell gets even more complicated with the introduction of the Albanian mob in Justified: City Primeval episode 4.
Kirk Meeting Spock In J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek Vs. Strange New Worlds: Which Is Better?
Star Trek has finally revealed how Kirk and Spock first met, in an understated scene in Strange New Worlds, but is it better than the Abrams version?
Star Trek Legacy: Why Hasn’t Paramount Plus Greenlit Picard’s Spinoff
Star Trek: Legacy is at the top of fan's Most Wanted list of possible Trek shows, but the Picard spinoff is yet to receive the greenlight. Here's why.
Strange New Worlds Resurrects Star Trek: Discovery’s Haunting Klingon Catchphrase
Star Trek: Discovery's new-look Klingons may have been abandoned, but their chilling battle cry left its mark on Strange New Worlds' Ortegas.
Strange New Worlds Makes Dr. M'Benga Like Star Trek DS9's Bashir In 2 Big Ways
Flashbacks to Star Trek's Klingon War reveal that M'Benga and Bashir's wartime experiences in Strange New Worlds and Star Trek: DS9 are very similar.
Strange New Worlds' Crossover Episode Sets Up Scott Bakula's Star Trek Return
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' Romulan time agents and the revelation that Captain Pike is Captain Archer's biggest fan sets up Scott Bakula's return.
Star Trek Strange New Worlds Season 2 Episode 8 Ending Explained
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds returns to the aftermath of Discovery's Klingon war, in a dark episode that ends with an Enterprise crew divided.
Star Trek Show Purged From Paramount Plus Ruins Voyager Sequel Plans
Star Trek: Prodigy's search for Chakotay could have been the perfect sequel to Star Trek: Voyager. Sadly, Paramount's purge puts this in jeopardy.