Mark Donaldson
949 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.
5 Famous Starship Bars In Star Trek Explained
Every Starfleet officer needs somewhere to unwind after a long day saving the galaxy, so it's vital that most of Star Trek's starships have a bar.
Star Trek’s A.I. Prison Is The Weird Opposite Of Picard’s Daystom Station
Jack Quaid's Boimler visits Star Trek's A.I. prison in Lower Decks season 4, and it could not be more different than Picard's Daystrom Station.
Would Roddenberry Really Have Hated Star Trek: Deep Space Nine?
DS9 has often been criticized for defying Gene Roddenberry's vision - would he actually hate the Star Trek spinoff and would it matter if he did?
10 Star Trek Arch Rivals In Movies & TV
Gene Roddenberry may have objected to conflict in Star Trek, but the best episodes and movies of the past six decades have been rooted in rivalry.
Star Trek: Voyager And DS9 Had The Same Season 1 Problem
DS9 and Voyager set out to differentiate themselves from TNG and expand the Star Trek canon, however they took a while to embrace their potential.
What Does Prodigy's Netflix Renewal Mean For Star Trek's Future?
Prodigy has been saved by Netflix, but what does this new deal mean for Star Trek's future, and does it improve Legacy's chances on Paramount+?
Every New DS9 Reveal In Star Trek Since Sisko's Show Ended
Despite a lack of a proper Deep Space Nine sequel show, Star Trek has provided many exciting updates to Sisko's space station and its beloved crew.
Star Trek Just Introduced Its New Seven Of Nine
As a former Borg drone, Voyager's Seven of Nine faced suspicion but became a valuable member of Starfleet - now Star Trek introduces her successor.
10 Star Trek Movies & Episodes Roddenberry Hated
Gene Roddenberry had strong opinions about what constituted good and bad Star Trek, and he wasn't shy about publicly expressing these views.
Geordi Is Star Trek’s Most Important Commodore & Not Just Because Of Enterprise-D
Commodore Geordi La Forge is the most important Star Trek character to hold the position, as proved by the part he plays in Picard season 3.
USS Saratoga: Sisko’s Other Star Trek Ship Before DS9 Explained
The USS Saratoga was a hugely important starship to Sisko's Star Trek: Deep Space Nine backstory, but it wasn't the only ship to bear the name.
DS9's Odo Had A Sidekick Star Trek Forgot About
Despite Odo's protests, Starfleet Security tried to give Deep Space Nine's Constable a Star Trek sidekick, but DS9's lone wolf cop worked best alone.
Star Trek: DS9’s Quark Family Returns Makes 2 Missing Ferengi Even More Tragic
Quark, Rom, and Leeta have all returned to Star Trek, but two much-missed members of their DS9 Ferengi family are notable by their tragic absences.
Doctor Who's Harshest Truth About The Fifth Doctor Fans Often Refuse To Admit
Sat between Tom Baker and Colin Baker, Peter Davison's Fifth Doctor has a reputation as being too "nice", but his Doctor Who era is full of darkness.
Ron Perlman’s Viceroy: Star Trek: Nemesis' Controversial Villain Explained
Cult icon Ron Perlman played the Reman Viceroy in Star Trek: Nemesis, and played an integral role in the final TNG movie's most controversial scene.
5 Times DS9's Dr. Bashir Was A Star Trek Villain
Bashir began as an idealistic young doctor, but the events of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine forced Alexander Siddig to embrace Julian's darker side.
9 Ways DS9's Ferengi Changed Star Trek History
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine was the making of the Ferengi and Quark, Rom, Nog, and Ishka continue to make a huge impact on the Star Trek universe.
11 Ways Doctor Who Changed Forever Under Chris Chibnall
Chris Chibnall made some massive changes to Doctor Who canon during the Jodie Whittaker era, but some were more controversial than others.
Star Trek’s Ferengi Will Join The Federation, But Will DS9’s Bajor?
DS9's Grand Nagus Rom returns to negotiate Ferenginar's entry into Star Trek's Federation, but will his wife Leeta see Bajor follow their example?
10 New Star Trek Reveals About The Ferengi 24 Years After DS9
Star Trek returns to Ferenginar for the first time since Deep Space Nine, and greatly expands Ferengi culture and the lives of DS9's Leeta and Rom.