Star Trek: Lower Decks: Strange Energies

August 12, 2021 7:03 AM - Season 2, Episode 1

Ransom takes a full load of strange energies straight to the cortex; complications ensue.

Memory Alpha has a... complicated relationship with organized religion:

- Fred Tatasciore is in the credits, although his character, Lieutenant Shaxs, is, well, gone. (Although that's not necessarily permanent, this being Trek and all.)

- Other voice actors: Randall Park (Jimmy Woo in the MCU) and Missi Pyle (Laliari in Galaxy Quest). Also, Jonathan Frakes.

- The episode references (among other things) Gary Mitchell gaining godlike powers in TOS' "Where No Man Has Gone Before."

Poster's Log: Why does a god need to bite a starship?

posted by Halloween Jack (10 comments total)

The episode references (among other things) Gary Mitchell gaining godlike powers in TOS' "Where No Man Has Gone Before."

I’m having trouble thinking of any other franchise that will throw out callbacks for things and people we last saw more than half a century ago. James Bond has been going longer, but I don’t see Daniel Craig reflecting on Dr. No’s plans or musing on Honey Ryder.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 1:03 PM on August 12, 2021 [5 favorites]

I’m glad they are handling the Mariner/Captain relationship head on. I think it could have gotten tired really fast from a story-telling perspective. (Mom/Captain gets into a situation but Wacky Mariner comes up with a solution.)

Also I’m happy to see Tendi and Rutherford’s sotry moving forward.

For a show that “Flips the A plot and B plot” they do quite a bit in addition to that in 25 minutes.

ETA- if this is too spoilery let me know and I’ll update this post.
posted by BustedCatalyzer at 1:46 PM on August 12, 2021 [1 favorite]

Is this show worth a subscription, because there's not much else that interest me on that network?
posted by Beholder at 4:56 AM on August 13, 2021

Mariner's line about "I know we're not supposed to have interpersonal conflict" is a deeeeep cut, and kind of an ouchy one; I loved it. At the risk of overthinking it, that line (and the mom-Mariner plot here) made me wonder if we're going to see much at all in the way of comparison between the, let's call it, crew cultures of the Cerritos versus Starfleet's more esteemed vessels. I know we got a glimpse of that in the S1 one where Mariner serves under her old friend.

(Side note: the funny thing about that is that yeeeears ago I ran a Trek RPG campaign set on a Starfleet ship at least as small and insignificant as the Cerritos, and utterly without planning on it, the players' character interactions quickly led to a similarly shouty, petulant, humorously self-deprecating crew culture!)

For a show that “Flips the A plot and B plot” they do quite a bit in addition to that in 25 minutes.

I also loved the A-plot literally roaming around outside the viewport while Tendi and Rutherford have their showdown. A subtle, meta tweak at those times (most often on TNG?) when the A and B stories were weirdly unconnected.

Is this show worth a subscription, because there's not much else that interest me on that network?

Despite each season being pretty short, I'd say yes if you (A) love Trek, or (B) like it a lot and know it well. I too find Paramount+'s TV offerings basically irrelevant except for Trek but, FWIW, it has a surprisingly good selection of movies.
posted by CheesesOfBrazil at 5:16 AM on August 13, 2021 [7 favorites]

Is this show worth a subscription, because there's not much else that interest me on that network?

Wait until the 2nd season is complete, then subscribe for one month and binge both seasons. Assuming you're in the US and referring to Paramount Plus, that's $4.99 for a with-commercials subscription or $9.99 for commercial-"free". (In the latter you still get a commercial before an episode, but no commercials during.)
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 9:13 AM on August 13, 2021

Lazy question, but can I sub this through Prime or external only?
posted by Beholder at 2:58 PM on August 13, 2021

You can sub P+ through Prime and skip their app.
posted by Servo5678 at 4:16 PM on August 13, 2021

We’re getting a little off topic, but P+ also has constant promotions that can be applied to active accounts, and they’ll usually throw you a few free months when you click the cancel button.
posted by schmod at 5:40 PM on August 14, 2021

This episode was, painful? Like out of nowhere it started approaching the characters as objects of mockery instead of people. Sure, the fanservice and knowledge of Trek is there but now the gag is look at how over-the-top dumb and emotionally underdeveloped everyone is. The obsessive friend who resorts to torture, the narcissistic guy becomes a god, the rebellious troublemaker gets to kick someone in the balls repeatedly.

I loved season 1 but what the heck.
posted by M Edward at 3:38 PM on August 28, 2021

I’m having trouble thinking of any other franchise that will throw out callbacks for things and people we last saw more than half a century ago.

Doctor Who does it. It's nearly 60 years old and not only does it reference episodes from 50 years ago, it follows up loose plot threads from that long ago, too.
posted by crossoverman at 5:11 AM on September 5, 2021 [1 favorite]