Star Trek: Lower Decks: Parth Ferengi's Heart Place
October 5, 2023 9:32 AM - Season 4, Episode 6 - Subscribe
Ferenginar, joining the Federation? Cerritos better hope that all that latinum doesn't flatten 'em.
Wow. Oh, Memory Alpha's like what heaven would look like if God was stupid:
- The title is a fairly labored pun on Garth Marenghi's Darkplace, a parody horror show (that is, a parody both of horror tropes and genre creators) that co-stars Matt Berry of What We Do In the Shadows.
- The episode features the return in canon of Rom (Max Grodénchik) and Leeta (Chase Masterson), although the two actors have reprised the roles in Star Trek Online.
- Mariner's friend Quimp first appeared way back in s1e2, "Envoys."
"We also need someone to act as a couple, and since Cerritos is statistically the horniest and least romantically committed crew in Starfleet, we have no married officers on board."
--Ransom, not counting Freeman since her admiral husband is elsewhere, obviously
Poster's Log (1701 credits, latinum/CashApp/Venmo/Apple Pay/beskar accepted, no crypto please):
Wow, we get to see some of Ferenginar outside of Moogie's apartment and the Divine Treasury (I think that that's it, there may have been a couple of other places) on DS9. It does seem a little odd that they have a place where romantic couples are, uh, pretty open about their love lives; maybe that's something relatively new since Rom's reforms let women wear clothing and whatnot. The "we're only pretending to be a couple for [absurdly contrived reason]" is a very shopworn rom-com trope, but Tendi and Rutherford are cute enough about their panic and embarrassment to make it work; plus, before it gets really egregious, they come up with "pudding bear" and "muffin skunk." Plus, the closing scene where there's something, well, evocative about their feet poking out of that duct is a great capper to the subplot. And Boimler's going all The Lost Away Mission on must-see TV is the best anti-drug PSA that the franchise has probably ever done. And it was also cute that the hotel viewscreens looked like the CBS logo.
Poster's Log, supplemental: The Mysterious Little Ship has now taken a Ferengi ship. And is it a coincidence that every attack so far has been on a different species?
Wow. Oh, Memory Alpha's like what heaven would look like if God was stupid:
- The title is a fairly labored pun on Garth Marenghi's Darkplace, a parody horror show (that is, a parody both of horror tropes and genre creators) that co-stars Matt Berry of What We Do In the Shadows.
- The episode features the return in canon of Rom (Max Grodénchik) and Leeta (Chase Masterson), although the two actors have reprised the roles in Star Trek Online.
- Mariner's friend Quimp first appeared way back in s1e2, "Envoys."
"We also need someone to act as a couple, and since Cerritos is statistically the horniest and least romantically committed crew in Starfleet, we have no married officers on board."
--Ransom, not counting Freeman since her admiral husband is elsewhere, obviously
Poster's Log (1701 credits, latinum/CashApp/Venmo/Apple Pay/beskar accepted, no crypto please):
Wow, we get to see some of Ferenginar outside of Moogie's apartment and the Divine Treasury (I think that that's it, there may have been a couple of other places) on DS9. It does seem a little odd that they have a place where romantic couples are, uh, pretty open about their love lives; maybe that's something relatively new since Rom's reforms let women wear clothing and whatnot. The "we're only pretending to be a couple for [absurdly contrived reason]" is a very shopworn rom-com trope, but Tendi and Rutherford are cute enough about their panic and embarrassment to make it work; plus, before it gets really egregious, they come up with "pudding bear" and "muffin skunk." Plus, the closing scene where there's something, well, evocative about their feet poking out of that duct is a great capper to the subplot. And Boimler's going all The Lost Away Mission on must-see TV is the best anti-drug PSA that the franchise has probably ever done. And it was also cute that the hotel viewscreens looked like the CBS logo.
Poster's Log, supplemental: The Mysterious Little Ship has now taken a Ferengi ship. And is it a coincidence that every attack so far has been on a different species?
Poster's Log, supplemental: The Mysterious Little Ship has now taken a Ferengi ship. And is it a coincidence that every attack so far has been on a different species?
This "destruction" was different, though - all the others showed bits floating through space afterwards, this one was just a blinding white flash.
"I'm a wild rogue, living on the edge of chaos, I sit weird in chairs." Yes Mariner, you give off that exact energy.
That's not roguishness, that's just being bisexual
posted by coriolisdave at 3:24 PM on October 5, 2023 [10 favorites]
This "destruction" was different, though - all the others showed bits floating through space afterwards, this one was just a blinding white flash.
"I'm a wild rogue, living on the edge of chaos, I sit weird in chairs." Yes Mariner, you give off that exact energy.
That's not roguishness, that's just being bisexual
posted by coriolisdave at 3:24 PM on October 5, 2023 [10 favorites]
"Best anti-drug PSA": I lol'ed.
I also laughed more during this one than is typical, which is saying something. Was I hoping that the social commentary of an LDS visit to Ferenginar would be more venomous? Absolutely. Was I disappointed in the episode as a whole? Not even close.
I mean, it had an A-, B-, and C-story and not only did it do them ALL justice, but it did Rom and Leeta justice. That is just so impressive.
Almost completely off-topic: I realized in the shower this morning that I want—no, need—this show to establish a canonical name for Kurtwood Smith's character in Undiscovered Country.
posted by CheesesOfBrazil at 4:25 PM on October 5, 2023 [3 favorites]
I also laughed more during this one than is typical, which is saying something. Was I hoping that the social commentary of an LDS visit to Ferenginar would be more venomous? Absolutely. Was I disappointed in the episode as a whole? Not even close.
I mean, it had an A-, B-, and C-story and not only did it do them ALL justice, but it did Rom and Leeta justice. That is just so impressive.
Almost completely off-topic: I realized in the shower this morning that I want—no, need—this show to establish a canonical name for Kurtwood Smith's character in Undiscovered Country.
posted by CheesesOfBrazil at 4:25 PM on October 5, 2023 [3 favorites]
Okay, I’ve complained a fair amount about this season, but this one was delightful. I particularly liked the subplot of Boimler watching TV.
posted by wittgenstein at 4:49 PM on October 5, 2023
posted by wittgenstein at 4:49 PM on October 5, 2023
The Ferengi male/female icons on the dressing rooms were extremely funny.
posted by tomboko at 6:17 PM on October 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by tomboko at 6:17 PM on October 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
I missed the dressing room icons, is there a screengrab?
Tendiford sure clean up nice.
And Paul F Tompkins is always a delight "You don't have to vomit in my mouth twice."
posted by Marticus at 6:29 PM on October 5, 2023 [5 favorites]
Tendiford sure clean up nice.
And Paul F Tompkins is always a delight "You don't have to vomit in my mouth twice."
posted by Marticus at 6:29 PM on October 5, 2023 [5 favorites]
I thought Boimler saying "they put commercials right in the show? that's like mind control!" while sitting underneath a shimmering Paramount logo was a nice touch.
posted by mrjohnmuller at 6:53 PM on October 5, 2023 [14 favorites]
posted by mrjohnmuller at 6:53 PM on October 5, 2023 [14 favorites]
It was a delight to have Masterson and Grodénchik back (I had totally forgotten that Rom was the Nagus!) and yeah, probably the most laughs were in Boimler's storyline, due to just getting to see a lot of Ferengi TV clips, but let's not just jump over Tendi & Rutherford's Romantic Photo Shoot!
posted by Navelgazer at 9:31 PM on October 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Navelgazer at 9:31 PM on October 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
I missed the dressing room icons, is there a screengrab?
Here's a still of the shot in question.
posted by Navelgazer at 9:35 PM on October 5, 2023 [6 favorites]
Here's a still of the shot in question.
posted by Navelgazer at 9:35 PM on October 5, 2023 [6 favorites]
And then there’s this in case you’re as oblivious as me and missed the product placement visual gag
posted by DoctorFedora at 4:59 AM on October 6, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by DoctorFedora at 4:59 AM on October 6, 2023 [1 favorite]
A superfluous "e" spoils DoctorFedora's link comparing the art on the wall above the headboard in Boimler's room at Lobe's Lodge to the geologic feature-based logo of a certain motion picture/television/streaming company.
posted by channaher at 7:21 AM on October 6, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by channaher at 7:21 AM on October 6, 2023 [3 favorites]
It was a delight to have Masterson and Grodénchik back (I had totally forgotten that Rom was the Nagus!)
Yes to both of these statements! I hear faint echoes of Quark going "My idiot brother is the Grand Nagus...." in my mind, and I don't know if that's a quote or just an appropriate idea of what Quark would say. One of the best things about Rom's character is a refusal to let him play not as quick or smart as other characters, when it would be easy to do so, especially for ill-gotten laughs. Leeta continuing to be a mastermind was great.
Boimler being hypnotized by tv was perfect.
Rutherford and Tendi, oof. It felt like the episode definitely played into the idea that this "most platonic relationship aboard the Cerritos" had much more of a subconscious romantic affection built into it than either character wanted to admit. If this wasn't Lower Decks, I would have been rather irritated that we only got to see the end of the "tell us something attractive about your partner" game. This would have been a prime moment in a romantic comedy for both parties to slowly realize how they felt about each other.
At first I was a little tired of Mariner being a bit self-destructive after her promotion, but now I'm on board as it's definitely a process with an end goal in sight of acceptance and moving forward. If only Ransom wasn't so good looking, GEEZ.
posted by Atreides at 7:22 AM on October 6, 2023
Yes to both of these statements! I hear faint echoes of Quark going "My idiot brother is the Grand Nagus...." in my mind, and I don't know if that's a quote or just an appropriate idea of what Quark would say. One of the best things about Rom's character is a refusal to let him play not as quick or smart as other characters, when it would be easy to do so, especially for ill-gotten laughs. Leeta continuing to be a mastermind was great.
Boimler being hypnotized by tv was perfect.
Rutherford and Tendi, oof. It felt like the episode definitely played into the idea that this "most platonic relationship aboard the Cerritos" had much more of a subconscious romantic affection built into it than either character wanted to admit. If this wasn't Lower Decks, I would have been rather irritated that we only got to see the end of the "tell us something attractive about your partner" game. This would have been a prime moment in a romantic comedy for both parties to slowly realize how they felt about each other.
At first I was a little tired of Mariner being a bit self-destructive after her promotion, but now I'm on board as it's definitely a process with an end goal in sight of acceptance and moving forward. If only Ransom wasn't so good looking, GEEZ.
posted by Atreides at 7:22 AM on October 6, 2023
I loved everything about this episode except Mariner. They really need to move her character along a little more.
posted by rhymedirective at 8:22 AM on October 6, 2023
posted by rhymedirective at 8:22 AM on October 6, 2023
I thought the whole point of the Mariner subplot this week was to show HER that she needs to move on, so I actually thought it worked.
For a split-second, I thought they were going to go there with Tendi and Rutherford when he mentioned her green eyes, but the contrivances of the love hotel kinda killed the whole thing for me. The only part I thought was funny was dragging Migglemo into it at the end.
posted by briank at 10:44 AM on October 6, 2023 [3 favorites]
For a split-second, I thought they were going to go there with Tendi and Rutherford when he mentioned her green eyes, but the contrivances of the love hotel kinda killed the whole thing for me. The only part I thought was funny was dragging Migglemo into it at the end.
posted by briank at 10:44 AM on October 6, 2023 [3 favorites]
I loved everything about this episode except Mariner. They really need to move her character along a little more.
We've definitely gone over the middle way of this character arc and it's time to start angling for a landing.
posted by Atreides at 11:29 AM on October 6, 2023 [5 favorites]
We've definitely gone over the middle way of this character arc and it's time to start angling for a landing.
posted by Atreides at 11:29 AM on October 6, 2023 [5 favorites]
I thought the whole point of the Mariner subplot this week was to show HER that she needs to move on, so I actually thought it worked.
Agreed. The tough-love speech that Mariner recieved after getting bailed out by her Ferengi pal hit hard.
posted by mrjohnmuller at 6:49 PM on October 6, 2023 [5 favorites]
Landlord Cops is the perfect show to illustrate how awful American late-stage capitalism Ferengi society was. I hope we see more Ferengi media studies, that was great.
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 7:06 PM on October 6, 2023 [8 favorites]
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 7:06 PM on October 6, 2023 [8 favorites]
I agree this episode had me laughing out loud even more than usual. Just a really tightly crafted half hour of comedy.
posted by potrzebie at 10:42 PM on October 15, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by potrzebie at 10:42 PM on October 15, 2023 [1 favorite]
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posted by ewan at 11:54 AM on October 5, 2023 [4 favorites]