Crossing the TOS and TNG streams, with high levels of danger and excitement episode four of Lower Decks feels as though the brakes might have been applied slightly.
In brief; the Cerritos is called to Frylon IV where Denobulan scientists have been getting all puffed up (literally) due to sightings of the Mugato. Dispatched as part of the away team, Mariner, Boimler and Rutherford discover there's a rampant market for Gumato horns. On the ship Tendi is tasked with tracking down the select few individuals who have avoided the annual medical including the elusive Patient 080119.
There's a clear moral story here around poaching, rhinos etc which isn't even subtle but somehow the nuances of Lower Decks' humour seems to detract from the importance of the narrative and launches a little too much into Homage Central.
Wow... ok, that was a bit of a shock because I expected to be writing about how amazing it was but no, Mugato, Gumato actually falls apart a little because the show is trying to tackle something fairly serious yet remain true to its comedic/satiric Trek vibes. Not that it doesn't work, but I'm not sure it's fitting of the series model. Ok, the tracking of the Mugatos, the inclusion of this classic TOS creature and the continued rotation of the matchups does work to a degree but did we necessarily need THAT sex joke? Was it a bit too much for once? The choice to have Boimler and Rutherford in control and be the ones to engineer the final act of the episode as a good twist on the Mariner-saves-the-day formula that's evident through a lot of the aired episodes but somehow the writers make them out to be much more incompetent than ever before.
In a sense, Lower Decks latest episode doesn't do either of the characters justice and makes Mariner just seem ridiculous. Suggesting Mariner was a secret operations agent was always going to be ridiculous and having Rutherford and Boimler both believing it could be true was just as far fetched - as was their lack of knowledge around the Mugato and its venom. Their meeting with the apparent Mugato expert (a Tellarite) is hilarious too with him quickly succumbing to his own stupidity (read five books on them...he' an expert). While maintaining it's humour, this one does carry a few nice surprises and that's one of them.
It just doesn't hold together very well and I can't see the Ferengi changing their ways for a more difficult way to make money as is played out at the end of the story. Everything about the characters feels a bit wrong in this one however because of the presence of the Mugatoos and the Ferengi you tend not to see the implausibility of the episode until a second watch.
Seriously, take a watch back and while you'll be looking out for the usual (and seemingly getting larger per week) number of references, have a breath and watch the characters because something feels a little off.
Then there's the Tendi plot which is very much a B to C grade arc in the episode. While it plays to her exuberance straight away, the big question of who the final patient is on her list is so obvious you know who it'll be before the reveal that there IS a final, unknown patient. I do admit that the fact she's given this seemingly impossible task by T'Ana because the Caitian doctor knows it's a no hope job is clever however she omit to account for Tendi's focus and drive. This is much more true to the character than the A plot with some nice sparring and bluffing as Tendi completes her assignment. It's also not overly seen with her sections of the episode almost clipped into the main thread however it does paralle in pace and does advance the character (there's even a reference in there to just how fast she's changed).
UPDATE: I've watched this a second time and it's definitely an "ok" episode. The appearance of early TNG Ferengi certainly spices it up especially with a laser whip and the odd element of Quark's wardrobe (these are Last Outpost Ferengi of course...!) but then there's also the clever spin with the diplomacy game that Boimler and Rutherford are playing at the beginning. Now if you think back to any of Star Trek's ambassadorial missions they all tend to end up at some form of impasse. While it's there for dramatic purposes in the episode, Mugato, Gumato parodies the scenario so that by losing and actually having no hope you've jointly won. It's almost as if there's no no win scenario...spooky.
I also really, really liked the pretitles with the Amb-Jistu match leading into the "revelation" about Mariner being a secret agent. The accuracy of the show is insane on every level from the script and to call back to that was fantastic. Seasons one and two of TNG seems to be a favourite to be pulling randoms from - watch out for more!
This one's a solid entry to the season if nothing quite as spectacular as the previous three entries this year. Good mix up in the pairings, rather logical way of bringing it all together in the final minutes and 100% enjoyable. Keep it up Lower Decks!
Enjoyed this article? Why not subscribe and share to spread the word! Come and talk to us below about your thoughts on this week's episode.
ALSO check out our full set of season one and two reviews HERE!
No comments:
Post a Comment