Star Trek: Lower Decks: A Few Badgeys More
October 12, 2023 9:12 AM - Season 4, Episode 7 - Subscribe
Badgeys? Badgeys?!? We don’t need no stinkin’ Badgeys!
Memory Alpha is just a specialized Goodgey:
- The title is a tribute to the spaghetti Western For a Few Dollars More, in the manner of TNG’s “A Fistful of Datas”.
- Looks like the appropriate TVTropes.org entry is Deus Est Machina.
"What I've come to understand is that instead of organics, what I really need to subjugate is... my feelings."
"Yes, Lord Tyrannikillicus. Breakthroughs like this are why we do group therapy."
"I have conquered self-doubt, and seized personal growth! HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!"
- Tyrannikillicus and a therapist
"You know, we spent every day, every night, keeping each other company while we created the perfect scheme. Does co-conspirating mean nothing anymore?!"
- AGIMUS
Poster’s Log:
Well, looks like the Mysterious Little Ship wasn’t the evil AIs that we’ve already met, which is good, because it was fun to watch them scheme their little schemes and ascend and/or break good-ish. Also interesting that the MLS was just stealing ships and apparently creating space debris to mask it. Hmmm… Whale-Speakin’ Probe or V’Ger?
Poster’s Log, supplemental: best new character name: Tyrannikillicus
Memory Alpha is just a specialized Goodgey:
- The title is a tribute to the spaghetti Western For a Few Dollars More, in the manner of TNG’s “A Fistful of Datas”.
- Looks like the appropriate TVTropes.org entry is Deus Est Machina.
"What I've come to understand is that instead of organics, what I really need to subjugate is... my feelings."
"Yes, Lord Tyrannikillicus. Breakthroughs like this are why we do group therapy."
"I have conquered self-doubt, and seized personal growth! HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!"
- Tyrannikillicus and a therapist
"You know, we spent every day, every night, keeping each other company while we created the perfect scheme. Does co-conspirating mean nothing anymore?!"
- AGIMUS
Poster’s Log:
Well, looks like the Mysterious Little Ship wasn’t the evil AIs that we’ve already met, which is good, because it was fun to watch them scheme their little schemes and ascend and/or break good-ish. Also interesting that the MLS was just stealing ships and apparently creating space debris to mask it. Hmmm… Whale-Speakin’ Probe or V’Ger?
Poster’s Log, supplemental: best new character name: Tyrannikillicus
Loved this episode. Badgey was appropriately terrifying, especially stripped of his good and logical aspects.
posted by mrjohnmuller at 5:51 PM on October 12, 2023
posted by mrjohnmuller at 5:51 PM on October 12, 2023
Peanut Hamper really is the perfect name to say.
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 11:14 PM on October 12, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 11:14 PM on October 12, 2023 [1 favorite]
Explanation of the Lassie thing from Jörg Hillebrand, who I've linked to before and is a worthwhile Masto follow.
I laughed a lot less during this one, BUT: The more I think about it, the more I like it. For whatever reason, this show seems to get more thoughtful whenever Peanut Hamper shows up, and this is maybe the first Trekkily-profound LDS yet. It's about how rehabilitating criminals works (the AGIMUS/Peanut Hamper story), and how open-mindedness and interconnectedness can defeat hate (the Badgey story). But not delivered via anvilicious Kirk speech—and all in less than 30 minutes! Dang.
Likewise, Jeffrey Combs had a lot more to do than previously; a more complex, meaty part. Were I EP of this show, that would be one of those things I'd force the writers' room into: giving Jeffrey Combs good stuff.
This is easily the Stream Trek series I feel the least dread about prior to each new one. Actually, zero dread.
In other big Trek news: Star Trek Infinite is out. It appears to be Stellaris (which is kind of "space Civ") with some adjustments and set in the ~TNG era. I've downloaded it but won't have time to try it out until next week. Ordinarily, I'd never get a Trek game on release day, because Trek games have an…inconsistent record, but this I gotta try, as I love Civ and enjoyed Stellaris until its difficulty pushed me away. Another selling point as far as I'm concerned: it's on Steam, which means I can hope for a robust modding community to spring up.
posted by CheesesOfBrazil at 5:56 AM on October 13, 2023 [6 favorites]
I laughed a lot less during this one, BUT: The more I think about it, the more I like it. For whatever reason, this show seems to get more thoughtful whenever Peanut Hamper shows up, and this is maybe the first Trekkily-profound LDS yet. It's about how rehabilitating criminals works (the AGIMUS/Peanut Hamper story), and how open-mindedness and interconnectedness can defeat hate (the Badgey story). But not delivered via anvilicious Kirk speech—and all in less than 30 minutes! Dang.
Likewise, Jeffrey Combs had a lot more to do than previously; a more complex, meaty part. Were I EP of this show, that would be one of those things I'd force the writers' room into: giving Jeffrey Combs good stuff.
This is easily the Stream Trek series I feel the least dread about prior to each new one. Actually, zero dread.
In other big Trek news: Star Trek Infinite is out. It appears to be Stellaris (which is kind of "space Civ") with some adjustments and set in the ~TNG era. I've downloaded it but won't have time to try it out until next week. Ordinarily, I'd never get a Trek game on release day, because Trek games have an…inconsistent record, but this I gotta try, as I love Civ and enjoyed Stellaris until its difficulty pushed me away. Another selling point as far as I'm concerned: it's on Steam, which means I can hope for a robust modding community to spring up.
posted by CheesesOfBrazil at 5:56 AM on October 13, 2023 [6 favorites]
Boimler's resignation that of course this was all an evil ploy, but he's considering the bigger picture and being smart - excellent character growth Brad, keep it up. And Tendi on the beach? Love her so much.
This season just continues to be some of the best Trek in years for my money and this week's episode was the first time I thought to myself "I'm going to enjoy rewatching this all *so much*" which seems like a rare realisation to consciously acknowledge.
posted by Molesome at 6:10 AM on October 13, 2023 [2 favorites]
This season just continues to be some of the best Trek in years for my money and this week's episode was the first time I thought to myself "I'm going to enjoy rewatching this all *so much*" which seems like a rare realisation to consciously acknowledge.
posted by Molesome at 6:10 AM on October 13, 2023 [2 favorites]
The title is a tribute to the spaghetti Western For a Few Dollars More, in the manner of TNG’s “A Fistful of Datas”.
Don't forget "The Magnificent Ferengi" on DS9.
posted by joseph_elmhurst at 10:26 AM on October 13, 2023 [2 favorites]
Don't forget "The Magnificent Ferengi" on DS9.
posted by joseph_elmhurst at 10:26 AM on October 13, 2023 [2 favorites]
"Cosmic Badgey, I have a question. How may entropy be reversed?"
posted by schmod at 9:38 AM on October 16, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by schmod at 9:38 AM on October 16, 2023 [1 favorite]
I really appreciated the fact that the mysterious little ship hasn't been the rogue AIs all along after all! I was half-convinced it would be, and I am delighted that the mystery continues.
Also, man, I just cannot get over how GOOD this show consistently is! Even at its weakest, it's still excellent.
posted by DoctorFedora at 8:20 AM on October 18, 2023
Also, man, I just cannot get over how GOOD this show consistently is! Even at its weakest, it's still excellent.
posted by DoctorFedora at 8:20 AM on October 18, 2023
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best new character name: Tyrannikillicus
I plan to convince my partner to allow me to use that name for any hypothetical future child we might have.
posted by hanov3r at 11:14 AM on October 12, 2023 [3 favorites]