First First Contact: Lower Decks S02 E10

With the prospect of a move to another ship, Captain Freeman has one final mission to conduct as commander of the USS Cerritos.

That's to escort Captain Sonya Gomez (Q Who, Samaritan Snare) to first contact in the Laap System. 

While the return of Lycia Naff to voice TNG's Gomez is a big win for the series finale, it still doesn't quite hit the pace of previous entries this year.  The crew's displeasure of Freeman's imminent departure is quite funny with the senior staff all spitting their dummies out but then uniting with the crew when disaster strikes the USS Archimedes captained by Gomez.

Take also the storyline that Tendi thinks she's being transferred and you have a decent enough episode. There are some good references in here to - Captain Styles for one, the appearance of a Captain's Yacht for another. If you want a massive, head explosing one, check out Boimler's passion for Captain Freeman Day (it's really for the kids) or more spectacularly - Cetacean Ops!!! I mean, this is something that's been in Star Trek since the Enterprise-D but has never been seen. Here, thanks to the blank canvas, it's finally onscreen with some very narky and nudity obsessed dolphins.

But again, it doesn't feel overwhelmed by the references as it did at one point mid-season which ultimately failed the show and caused, in my opinion, a slight deterioration in the quality of the stories. The distractions here are minimal and are much more focused on the efforts of the crew to rescue the Archimedes when it is damaged and spinning towards the world that is their heading for first contact.

Plus we do see the indigenous people for once which adds a little element of "realism" and danger to the story. Previously - Generations being a good example - viewers never had the chance to see what was at stake (we never got to see Veridian III).

The mother/daughter dynamic in the show has gone through a big change a well since this point in season one. With the pair now acknowledging each other and working together when they're not falling out, there's a new slant on the stories and a bit more humanising. 

But don't be lured into believing that this episode is going to round events off as No Small Parts did for season one. For Rutherford there's a big reveal around his character and the cyborg implant while the ending leaves a big question mark around someone else.

This season finale does work a lot better than the already great end to season one and the batch feels more complete. The decision to include a cliff-hanger not just seals the deal for another year but confirms that while Lower Decks can be a little crazy, haphazard and certainly off the wall when it comes to Star Trek, it can still pull in the drama and offer up some questions all at the same time.

As for the Sonia Gomez inclusion; it's nice but not overwhelming when it comes to the episode and great to see another figure from the early days of TNG getting a bit more recognition which seems to be another nuance of Lower Decks - giving the lesser elements of the franchise a decent airing (looking at you The Final Frontier).

This might not be the highest point of the second season but it rounds off the year with the level of quality that Lower Decks has, for the most part, maintained since the first episode some three months ago. For now it stands as the jewel in the Kurtzman era crown. Is there anything coming that can surpass it? 

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wej Duj: Lower Decks S02 E09

After labelling last week's Lower Decks as a landmark I'll take a second breath in.

This one surpassed it.

The first episode ever to be titled in Klingon (even on screen), wej Duj marked another step outside of the bounds that confine regular series but can be easily accomplished through animation.

Instead of just isolating this week's story to a single spot, the Cerritos, Lower Decks has branched out to show us life on a Klingon vessel and a Vulcan science ship with spectacular results.

But wej Duj is much, much more clever than you initially give it credit because not only does it spike off into different tales but it also ties into established storylines from the series and make a heck of a lot of sense.

What this episode succeeds at doing is expanding the Lower Decks corner of the Star Trek universe. It feels as though the series has become more than just one ship. There's still that nudge and wink formula, the in jokes and action but this episode feels alive with growth and not an over reliance on the background easter eggs. I appreciated the story more, found that I connected with the characters and was more engrossed than before because the important points were kept to the front of the screen and I wasn't trying to focus massively on the backgrounds. This felt like a more rounded entry to the series and one where the main plot captured my attention from the start. Unusually I may have to go back and watch wej Duj a second time to pick up on all the hidden "nods" that I missed on first viewing.

The choice of characters aboard the Klingon and Vulcan ships help make this a top level episode. Aboard the Klingon Bird of Prey Che'Ta' we have aspiring captain Ma'ah who is given all the dog-awful (and I mean that sincerely) tasks on the ship; disposing of the old dead captain and walking the targ being just two. Over on the Vulcan Sh'Vaal, T'Lynn is stepping outside the bounds of logic and starting to do her own thing which is, frustratingly, illogical. 

The story on the Cerritos, focusing on Boimler attempting to find himself a senior officer best friend doesn't seem to be going anywhere however it's more important seeing how the other members of the lead Lower Decks quartet spend their time while waiting for the ship to reach its destination. Over the 12 hour trip T'Ana and Tendi go rock climbing, Rutherford joins Shaxs at a pottery class and Mariner puts in some mum time.  Note the chunk of references to Star Trek V in here - once again seems that McMahan and co really like to nod to that movie!

wej Duj works in not only broadening the vision of the series but also continuing the running Pakled story which seems to be an undercurrent of both seasons one and two. While not an overpowering element of the show it's interesting to see this pop up again and again.

What is also super successful is in the execution of the Vulcan and Klingon scenes. The animation and backgrounds aside, the practicalities aboard the two ships are just as you would hope and expect. Yes, there is a Lower Decks slant in terms of humour but the two craft run almost diametrically opposite to each other; order and chaos if you will; but with both somehow maintaining structure. 

Overall a good episode for the series with lots to get stuck into in terms of characters and stories. Both the lead Klingon (Ma'ah) and lead Vulcan (T'Lynn) thoroughly deserve to turn up again in future episodes and it might even be a suggestion to focus an episode on each of them and away from the Cerritos? 

Definitely a season highlight and one that didn't overindulge in fan service for the sake of it.  

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I, Excretus; Lower Decks S02 E08

I LOVED this one.

Providing a real ensemble performance from both the four main cast members and the senior staff, I, Excretus is one of the finest moments this season has produced to date.

Choosing to head a single storyline really works with the crew of the Cerritos lined up for evaluations at the behest of Shar Yen Yeb who is a Pandronian, the same species as Bem from TAS's episode of the same name. 

The opening skit with the quartet stranded on the satellite sets up the story clearly with the difference in rank and standing highlighted, precisely pinpointing the lower decks expendability in life or death situations.

Allowing Lower Decks to step outside of its own confines, the crew get the chance to step inside personal simulators (mini one-person holodecks) and be assessed. The scores certainly aren't racking up but as the episode progresses we are witness to a succession of famous encounters and moments from the past 55 years. The ensigns y'see re now placed into the positions of the senior officers and vice versa to see how the other half lives and for both it's eye opening.

Rutherford has to perform a life-threatening warp reactor repair (The Wrath of Khan), Tendi

must end a Klingon's life after a crippling injury (TNG's Ethics), Mariner is placed into the Mirror Universe and a Western town while Boimler handles the Borg. In at least three instances (plus the rest of the crew), the results are a disaster but the experience here is phenomenal and steps up the quality of Lower Decks yet another rung.

It's inspired to be able to freely enter all of these classic environments so easily and as part of the plot AND we have a guest voice provided by the Queen herself, Alice Krige. The Borg bits are classic. There's the changing of phaser frequencies (and throwing the weapon when it fails) all backed with the classic orchestral score from The Best of Both Worlds. Amazing.

This episode is again awash with references and while the last couple have been hat-tip light, it's a kick to remind viewers that actually that's one of the key elements that makes Lower Decks work. Yes, some of the situations are ludicrous and the execution of duties by the crew horrendous on virtually every occasion but it's the ability of this show - and the nature of it  - to poke fun at the absurdities of the past five and a half decades that kills it. 

Lower Decks has stomped on the stuffiness and occasional pretentiousness of Star Trek with a firm size 11 this week, even having the "gall" to trek back to the famous Spock death scene from the second movie and fluff the "Steal the ship" piece from The Search for Spock.  Both are executed magnificently and failed perfectly in the most extreme Cerritos way possible - spot on with a script and pacing to match.

Flipping the script, the senior officers realise how poor rations are and also just how much they are kept out of the loop. Initially their time in simpler quarters (a corridor) looks to be a quiet life. That's spat out when they have to stack hexagonal boxes while the rest of the ship deals with Klingons and then the Q - however they aren't involved in any way. Don't worry about it, those crates won't stack themselves.

Bringing the cast all together for one story is another brilliant strike actioned here. There's no inner bickering, no fighting or whining but a crew that is united and working as one for a desired goal. It might not be completely ethical but you can't help but root for the crew to win through in the end.

However, there is one sequence that may or may not have further consequences off screen. One of Mariner's experiences is The Naked Time in which the crew shed their inhibitions as per the classic (and TNG) episodes. Now, Lower Decks has never been for kids (that's Prodigy) but there are definitely a couple of jokes and at least one visual that may have stepped over the line from funny to possibly offensive. Was I personally that bothered? Not really but I'm sure there will be a line of fandom spouting about it "Not being my Star Trek" which is all well and good - so don't watch it.

The episode itself does play like a Greatest Hits collection and nails every one of them absolutely perfectly. To be fair, even that Naked Time sequence was generally hinted at in the episodes but never seen. Here we've just been a little closer to the "action" so to speak.

With the whole crew working as one there is a much more united goal this week although Boimler takes more than just one for the team to ensure that they don't utterly flunk the tests. While returning the Borg Queen it clearly pastiche's First Contact and just a little of the assimilation probes from The Best of Both Worlds with even a sprinkling of early Borg babies and long johns more likely to be seen in Q Who. Visually you have to say that the recreated sequences are perfect with the fun of a Lower Decks episode and a percentage of comedic "What If...?" added to the mix.

I, Excretus is a benchmark for the show, exposing its brilliance and attention to detail as well as the series' ability to make something new from the established every single week. Mariner has mellowed this season. While still occasionally extreme it's now more Boimler's turn to be stretching the boundaries thanks to his numerous and repeatedly mentioned time on the Titan.

Episode eight is, aside from maybe one graphic moment, a superb story that does everything you'd want from Lower Decks. Absurdity, canon nods and a surprise or two that you won't have seen in the trailers. Overall, the best of the season to date.

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Where Pleasant Fountains Lie: Lower Decks S02 E07

Tables are turned a little for Where Pleasant Fountains Lie with a focus on Chief Engineer Billups.

Hailed by a troubled starship, it turns out that it's from Billups' own culture (the planet Hyspiria) which is based around medieval fantasy. Billups himself is the heir to the throne although he has renounced his heritage. Problem is, his mother hasn't and has committed her efforts to trick him into having intercourse. Usually this wouldn't be an issue but if he does then Billups will become king; something he is actively trying to avoid.

You sort of know where it's going from the beginning here and even the episode's event signposts the direction of the story. Yes, it's a little obvious where it's heading but this storyline is fairly entertaining and certainly geeky enough with the fantasy beliefs of Billups' own people. How space travel and castles collide is a headache but it's just ridiculous enough that it works even if you do question it. It also means some nice uses of LCARS on screen through the episode in relation to the Queen's starship. Rutherford is assigned to hep with repairs and things seem to go from bad to worse but there's a nod to The Most Toys here (maybe) with Tendi not believing it's all as bleak as events go.

Flipping the channel over, Boimler and Mariner are tasked with transporting an evil computer to a safe archive. Plus points in the episode since the computer is voiced by the man of a thousand Star Trek faces, Jeffery Combs and is vainly hoping that someone will plug it back into a terminal and continue its plan for universal domination and worship as a god.

Taking in every good Star Trek cliché, the shuttle on which the pair are transporting their evil cargo crash-lands and it becomes all about survival. The sarcasm, chastising and dry wit of Combs computer is great fun and it's just as interesting to watch the sparring between Mariner and Boimler. The latter's brief visit to the USS Titan is really playing hell with Mariner particularly with its frequent mentions and comparisons, driving a wedge between them. 

The paranoia and desperation kicks in but is everything what it seems especially when you
have an evil computer in tow? 

Combs return to the Trek fold is more than welcome and maybe even a little late. The marooning due to a shuttle crash is a oft-used (and wisely used here) situation allowing for some good soul searching and a few fisticuffs as well. We know that the pair will work things out but the gem here is working out precisely why Boimler has gone space-happy and if there's a cunning plan buried in there. 

The writing on this arc of the episode is fantastically written, again proving that Lower Decks is currently the best series in Trek at the moment. The combination of humour and lateral thinking really pulls together and actually parallels the obvious Billups challenge with his over-enthusiastic and duplicitous mother.

Where Pleasant Fountains Lie is a charming little episode that fits snuggly into the season. Memorable for the cameo from Combs it's still not one of the season's best but the challenge with Lower Decks is that it is now setting its own standards as it goes meaning each new episode has a huge hill to climb.

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The Spy Humongous: Lower Decks S02 E06

If episode six tells us anything about Lower Decks it's that the last couple of weeks actually haven't been as brilliant as they should have been.

The Spy Humongous brings us once again back to the events of season one and the Pakleds and shows us some of the less fun activities waiting for junior officers.

Following a now typical three thread story, episode six has us watching a hostage negotiation for the release of Captain Freeman and Lt Shaxs while the Cerritos hosts a Pakled "terrorist". Then there's Boimler taking lessons from the pretentious Redshirts on how to step up and become an acting captain. Third there's Mariner, Tendi and Rutherford assigned to Anomaly Consolidation  Duty (ACD). It's trash day as Mariner points out as this is the activity to go round the ship and clean up all the materials collected on away missions. As you would expect from Lower Decks it's less than plain sailing.

The Spy Humongous succeeds in every way with all three lines of narrative proving to be great attention grabbers. While Freeman and Shaxs are under guard on Pakled Planet seeking the highest ranking leader (the one with the biggest hat), Ransom and Kayshon have to deal with the universe's most inept Pakled spy. Like ACD he thoroughly lives up to expectations and the play on the Pakleds simple nature and self-belief of brilliance is both clever and fun to watch. Feeding him with merchandise and a pointless tour of the ship, the seemingly stupid Pakled loses his hosts (rather, it would seem than managing to evade them). That in turn causes some issues when the Pakleds on the surface want to talk to their absconding associate.

Boimler's journey with the Redshirts is so quintessential command it could be direct from TNG. The posturing, the speeches and the air of superiority seethes from each of the quartet as they seek promotion. The inclusion of a Kzinti nods nicely to a reference in Picard's Nepenthe and also more significantly back to TAS where the pink-clothed cat-like creatures originated. This group of ensigns see everything menial as below their status on the Cerritos which is, ironically, itself pretty far down the pecking list when it comes to starships!

While this does dovetail into the story arc with Mariner, Tendi and Rutherford, it stands alone pretty firmly as every command cliche is pumped in although there's a decent moral twist at the end of the line.

The best bit of The Spy Humongous and the element that downright had me laughing out loud this week was ACD. Haphazard crystals, dangerous skulls and rogue cubes of energy can clearly be a plague for any ship but then not every ship will have a clean up crew like this one. Each of the event does verge on slapstick but there's a lovable quality to each that you can't avoid.

Separating Boimler here does allow the other three main characters time to gel more although it all looks, initially, as though Mariner is getting the worst end of the deal while Tendi's intentions all the way through have been only to bring the team closer together. In fact she's responsible for the grouping in the first place.

As an exploration of friendship versus duty, The Spy Humongous is a great attempt and actually thrives on the fact that it's not background overloaded with references to other series. As usual there are some but it feels toned down with the story and its repercussions front and centre all the way through. Lighthearted, suspenseful and with the most impressive speed-listing of food items ever, episode six of the run is a tour de force for Lower Decks. This is now a show that really understands both its characters and its audience, delivering fun with a slightly deeper theme each week and something that requires two or even three watches to get to the core of the narrative. 

Oh - one more thing - the last minute of the show this time; GENIUS. Pure and simple brilliance and an inspired way to round off the episode. It's about as near perfect a moment as Lower Decks has ever scripted.

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An Embarrassment of Dooplers: Lower Decks S02 E05

Mid season and episode five is a mixed as episode four.

Charged with escorting the Doopler emissary to Starbase 25, the senior staff of the Cerritos have been on tenterhooks to avoid upsetting him. If they cause any sort of emotional imbalance then he could duplicate and fill the ship Tribble-like. So you can guess where this is heading already.

What episode five also manages to do is address the not-mentioned-so-far mental reset of Ensign Rutherford after the season one finale wiped his memory. The building of a miniature and fully working USS Cerritos is a high five for a good portion of the fan community whether as collectors or builders themselves. The added bonus that this one helps nurture the friendship between Rutherford and Tendi.

OK, An Embarrassment of Dooplers does revert to the more "favourable" pairings of Boimler/Mariner and Tendi/Rutherford and it only goes to prove how strong the duos are. The latter's modelling tale does weave into the senior staff's peril on the ship while Brad and Beckett's adventure on the surface joins everything back up right at the end.

It's definitely an action packed half hour to get all three strands to tie in with a slew of reappearing aliens from TOS' Tellarites to TAS' Aurelians and even a Mizarian from TNG's Allegiance, the references are now just everywhere as well as right in front of you. 

Background pictures, locations and even items for sale are all picked out from the background of the franchise again with a strong lineage back to TOS in particular. However, it's easy once more to get tied into the minutae and not really focus on those main story points.

An Embarrassment of Dooplers goes to highlight the ineptitude of the senior officers and just how far down the line of importance the Cerritos is. Starbase 25's Captain's Party is the event to be at - everyone's there including Captain Shelby (The Best of Both Worlds) and Thaduin Okona is DJing - who wouldn't want to get on the list? But the reversion to the pairings this week is more about how far they've both come since the end of season one and it's well thought through. Mariner and Boimler have stuff to work out after he left for the Titan while Rutherford feels inept against his former self pre-memory wipe.

Once more Mariner's questionable past is dredged up and causes a few issues on the starbase but hey, transporting a box full of Data bubblebath should be fine, shouldn't it? One - there might be a couple of Lore's in there and secondly...well, that trouble has a way of coming round.

The car chase sequence is excellent, combining the usual Lower Decks humour with some niche references and visual gags with a fast-paced and genuinely exciting scene. Perfectly entertaining, ...Dooplers does what Trek does best and focuses on the characters and their relationship foibles. It's a great one to rewatch and possibly even one you could use to get new viewers into the show.

It's great that Lower Decks is now becoming aware of its own mythos and lineage as much as it's ramming a lot of earlier franchise references into every corner. These characters are growing each week and now there's the chance to develop their friendships and working relationships off the back of the experiences we as the viewers have seen.

While perhaps not keeping within Starfleet's parameters, the last act of ...Dooplers is poetic if nothing more and only goes to cement the link between the four main characters and the senior staff... for now at least.

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Mugato, Gumato: Lower Decks S02 E04

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!

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Kayshon, His Eyes Open: Lower Decks S02 E02

As if the references and links to the golden era couldn’t get any stronger with Lower Decks, this weeks instalment blows it out of the water.

In a quick overview, the Cerritos is tasked with assisting in the cataloguing of a Collector’s vast collection as well as the arrival of a new Security chief with Starfleet’s first Tamarian Officer.

On the Titan, Boimler is still right at the cliff face of the action dodging phasers and torpedoes every second and ending up making some big decisions.

Perhaps not as impactful an episode as Strange Energies, Kayshon works purely as a vehicle to introduce a mass of familiar concepts into the formula of Lower Decks. The return of a collector a la Kivas Fajo from The Most Toys is an Easter Egg fan’s wet dream. The scenes in amongst the artefacts are incredible and packed full of things to look out for in every corner. Problem is, there’s so much that it starts to distract from the main thread of the episode and dilutes a lot of the impact.

I’m stating now that it’s essential to watch this one twice so as to keep up with events after you spend the first time through going ‘Isn’t that…’ and ‘Look! Over there it’s a…’ plus other predictable quotes. 

Kayshon is a clever introduction thanks to, but not limited to, his multiple Darmok references through his universal translator. He also completely mirrors his predecessor Lt Shax in attitude and mannerisms providing a new dynamic on the bridge of the Cerritos. With a sash perhaps more as a nod to Worf than the Tamarians, his appearance in the episode contains the best twist in what is pure escapism from start to finish.

But let's delve a little deeper here. The mission against the Pakleds with the Titan's covert squad is excellently played out and offers up an interesting view of how the rest of the fleet might view the Enterprise-D's adventures. Is it jealousy? Do others think that Picard and co were a bit "less" Starfleet? It does allow for Boimler's rather brilliant speech about the purpose of Starfleet itself which, if you read a little more into it, could be a prod at both Discovery and Picard which have chosen a more action heavy path than we were used to in the '90's.

Plus the whole battle sequence with the Pakleds is gorgeous to watch with the Titan having received (as with the Cerritos) some serious visual upgrades since season one. The flexibility with animation shines through in every frame and slightly more so in that we have the Titan flipping around to combat their enemy. 

While the Titan arc brings us full circle with Boimler back to No Small Parts via a pretty brilliant twist and hat tip to TNG, the big draw will be that A-story and the Kerner Hauze collection that's booby trapped against anyone removing any part of it. Filled with references to just about everything (yes, that's Khan's necklace...yes, that's a Picard bust from The Pegasus...) the attempted escape is pretty solid with Jet taking on some parts of the usual Boimler role but managing to nark off Mariner even more quickly.

Jet is in himself a classic - one that appears with no backstory or explanation (that's sort of
pointed at from the start) and then is gone by the closing credits. It's not just a reference to characters in Star Trek that have come and gone but a lot of series across the breadth of TV. I somehow don't think he'll show up again!

It's also nice here that we haven't got that Tendi/Rutherford versus Mariner/plus one split which bodes well for the remainder of the season and does demonstrate that the writers are purposely avoiding something that was a heavily used plot point in season one. 

If you thought that Crisis Point in season one was a love letter to the franchise with its take on the movies then this is a must see. Drawing on TNG lore to provide a scenario to overload even the most hardcore fan is damn fine impressive and one of the best things to have ever popped into the mind of a Star Trek writer. Kayshon triples down on just about everything from the opening moments in the sonic showers to the final seconds. I'm not going to give anything away about how the episode ends but it absolutely fits with the ethos of the series.

Lower Decks has easily excelled when its not taken its heritage too seriously and utilised it for the better of its own stories and continuity. This is 100% where it succeeds over other recent arrivals and will continue to do so. Lower Decks is actually funny and even more hilarious if you're aware of all the running jokes tacked in. It's great to be in a time where you're genuinely excited to see the next episode!

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Strange Energies: Lower Decks S02 E01

How I've waited for the return of Lower Decks and episode one was well worth it.

Following up on the events of the first season finale, Mariner is now best buddies with her captain mum and given virtual free reign over her own side missions whenever she wants. Tendi is concerned that Rutherford's implants aren't working correctly (he has an obsession with eating pear now) and Boimler... well he's over on the USS Titan with Captain Riker.

Revisiting the second contact mission structure that we were introduced to in season one's starter, Ransom is sent to finish off the mission while Captain Freeman allows Mariner to do some jet washing of their buildings and ignore the first officer's orders.

Tendi spends the episode trying to prove that there's something up with Rutherford which is very similar to the time when Mariner was convinced something was all weird with Boimler's girlfriend.

The opening scene is fantastic. Mariner is apparently captured by the Cardassians and attempts an escape, leaving Boimler (still not forgiven him for leaving) chained up. Taking her own torturer with her, the pair board a conveniently parked Miranda Class ship and head out, only for us viewers to discover it's all a holodeck "workout" simulation for Beckett Mariner.

The attention to detail is immense. Mentions of lights, the registry on the Miranda Class ship, the appearance of Hideki fighters and the classic movie era bridge replete with pink chairs is more than enough to hook you in from the first minute. Lower Decks is back and proving straight off that this season is business as usual.

Mariner's good intentions with the Apergosians do, of course, take a comical turn for the worst when she manages to activate an ancient system that turns Commander Ransom into a god-like being. Another great call out here to Gary Mitchell and Where No Man Has Gone Before even down to how the first officer is ultimately stopped. 

The pacing of Strange Energies is superb. We're into the action and the twists right from the start and it runs right the way through. There were more than a couple of laugh out loud moments but they tended to be on the more Star Trek in jokes that perhaps more seasoned fans would get. Casual Lower Decks viewers might also find this first episode a little confusing since there are several nods to the events of season one so it would be well worth a quick refresher on those ten episodes. I for one am glad that I've done a run through in the last week or so as there were things I'd clearly forgotten.

With Boimler out of the picture for a good 99% of the episode, Mariner s very much on her own and the way in which the character has turned does suggest that Brad was an anchor to keep her level in the same way Rimmer was for Lister in Red Dwarf. Boimler is her conscience and sensibility an without it Mariner really is out of control. 

This means we also see Tendi and Rutherford paired up again and while it was great, we were told that there would be less of these distinct pairings for season two - but clearly not in episode one. Not that it distracts from the story which is absolutely spot on.

Parodying every time some form of unknown powers crop up, Strange Energies is both poking that little bit of fun at the franchise and an early overused concept plus honouring and hat-tipping to the classics. Lower Decks has dipped a little bit of continuity in here with links to No Small Parts plus a call back to Rutherford’s date from Second Contact but it feels more welcome development than ongoing storyline.  However I’ve been more impressed that it has, for the most part, stayed away from overly huge story arcs that have pervaded Discovery and Picard. Yet, these are early days and there’s no certainty that season two won’t start to build on Lower Decks’ place in the galaxy. 

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