Spoilers Star Trek: Lower Decks 1x04 - "Moist Vessel"

[ToddCam]

And you're going to base this quota on which Country's population ratios? The US?

Quotas for representation? You mean racially and ethnically? If I had control of Star Trek, amongst the Human population, I would have it be reflective of the actual distribution of people of our world, not the United States. White people would be a minority because that's what they are on Earth. I suppose if I were going to get real nitty gritty, there'd be a lot more Singhs and Wangs than Smiths and Johnsons.

If you mean in terms of sex/gender, I think there is probably no real difference across countries. Just because Americans' LGBTQ+ people are more open and out, I don't think it means we have a proportionately larger population of them than Malaysia, Pakistan, Eswatini, or Uruguay.

Outside of human diversity, Starfleet seems overwhelmingly dominated by our species. I'd probably address that issue more broadly, by either highlighting why Starfleet is less attractive to non-humans, or why are the crews so segregated, and if that is the case, why are the human-dominated ones still the most prominent?

 

[Amasov]

So-so this week. I don't know if it's just me, but, I feel like the premise of the show is quickly being watered down and just not becoming any different than the other shows. And I'm not saying that's a bad thing, but, I feel like the unique perspective that was initially presented to us isn't as prevalent anymore. Not only does the lower decks crew interact with the senior staff regularly, the senior staff is getting just as much as screen time and focus.

But other than that, my all-time favorite moment was Brad plotting to be difficult and he quickly realizes the comm officer heard everything he said. Then blames it on the holodeck and even goes as far is to throw in a Professor Moriarty reference. LOL

 

[Crewman6]

Yes. "Moist vessel" makes me think of "moist towel". Why is the Cerritos like a moist towel?

I think you mean a "moist towelette." Which is what you want all your towelettes to be.

A moist towel, on the other hand, is deeply gross.

 

[Paul755]

The only bit I didn’t like was the opening yawn fest.

loved the sarcastic Vulcan salutes, Boimler getting caught on the communicator then intentionally spilling the hot coffee on Ransom at the wrong time, the gigantic Koala and the mom/daughter stuff. Even her making fun of the Admiral was fun.

 

[The Old Mixer]

The writers are INTENSE nerds. She's probably got a vast Orion backstory.

We've yet to see any indication of that. Have they even said that she's Orion on the show?

 

[Charles Phipps]

We've yet to see any indication of that.

Well every panel is full of obscure Star Trek trivia and in-jokes.

Have they even said that she's Orion on the show?

Yes, they had her ask to see Orion on the holodeck and it was populated with people exactly like her. She's also identified as Orion on Will Wheaton's TV show by the creator.

 

[NCC-73515]

Outside of human diversity, Starfleet seems overwhelmingly dominated by our species. I'd probably address that issue more broadly, by either highlighting why Starfleet is less attractive to non-humans, or why are the crews so segregated, and if that is the case, why are the human-dominated ones still the most prominent?

ENT suggested that Earth became so important because all the other groups didn't trust each other and had a history of conflicts, but all of them trusted the humans. Each member probably also has their own fleet still, although they say on DS9 that Bajor's fleet has to be absorbed into Starfleet or something like that. Maybe the ships we see are Earth ships within Starfleet, but there are also Vulcan, Andorian, etc. ships that have their own designs and are still part of Starfleet in the broader sense XD

 

[Crewman6]

I get where you're coming from but shows are so full of jerks nowadays that a nice guy character is exactly what I want. Same with Tendi..

You can still be "nice" and be funny and have a specific, comic personality.

"Brooklyn 99" is a cast of "nice" people, but they are all distinct characters with specific voices that are inherently funny and bounce off each other in amusing ways.

Betty White was "nice" on Golden Girls, but also funny.

"Parks and Rec" - "nice" characters, but again, they had strong comic character traits.

The Lower Decks guy is "nice"....and nothing else.

 

[Crewman6]

Mariner has been my favorite character up to this point, but I really didn't care for her in this one.

I really didn't care much for the first half of this episode at all.

I had hoped that the portrayal of Freeman as an incompetent Captain last week was an aberration, but they seem to be doubling down on it and expanding it to include captains of other California class ships.

Tendi and Boimler were also pretty obnoxious.

The sci-fi premise was pretty interesting, although the ship appeared to be a sleeper ship rather than a generational ship.

The second half of the episode was more enjoyable, it picked up a lot once the ship started transforming.

The show has the potential to be both a great comedy and great Star Trek, but right now it's neither.

Agree with this 100%. The beginning of this episode is awful, but it gets better. That said, the show is still deeply uneven and still doesn't know what it is yet.

 

[rfmcdpei]

I am enjoying this. It is fun; it makes me laugh.

 

[Turtletrekker]

Also god is a giant koala, or something

"Why is it smiling? What does it know?"

 

[rhllot]

Ok that damn Koala cracked me up.

that koala must be a Q or a prophet

 

[rhllot]

I will say just because we know that all of the four main ensigns are attracted to the opposite sex, it doesn't mean that any or all of them couldnt be bi.

As to the bridge crew, we don't really know anything about the proclivities of Shaxs and T'ana yet.

I think T'ana is asexual, I don't think she's attracted to anyone, she's a grumpy cat who doesn't want anyone around

 

[rhllot]

Do you honestly not know what ascension is?

Do you remember the blonde girl in Voyager?

 

[Cyrus]

6. It was OK.

 

[Hythlodeus]

Do you remember the blonde girl in Voyager?

Naomi?

 

[Trekker4747]

Naomi?

Yeah, there were several "blonde girls" on Voyager.

 

[Hythlodeus]

Yeah, there were several "blonde girls" on Voyager.

and most of them were women

 

[bookworm8571]

I am not interested in any sort of “quota” for the characters on this show.

Mariner is annoying as hell, even fora cartoon character in a Star Trek parody intended for 14 year olds.

I mildly enjoyed the bit about Tendi and the character who was into “ascension” if not the final result. As far as religion goes on Trek, I’ve always thought humans would continue to practice a wide variety, including some alien religions, and sometimes blend them. I would like to see them explore the Orion culture.

 

[ToddCam]

My point about quotas is not that I want quotas, but since it's used so often as some kind of knee jerk response to desire for representation ("It's not like there's a quota"), we might as well go ahead and use them, specifically for straight white men. At least one per show.