Spoilers Star Trek: Lower Decks 1x07 - "Much Ado About Boimler"

[Roald]

This was actually my favourite episode so far! The callbacks were hilarious (Threshold!) and both A and B stories were very interesting I think (and C story too, with Tendi's dog). I never thought I'd warm up to this series so quickly, but I have..! Love it..!!!

 

[ToddCam]

This was actually my favourite episode so far! The callbacks were hilarious (Threshold!) and both A and B stories were very interesting I think (and C story too, with Tendi's dog). I never thought I'd warm up to this series so quickly, but I have..! Love it..!!!

Oh man. I forgot that. That was hilarious!

 

[KennyB]

This was actually my favourite episode so far! The callbacks were hilarious (Threshold!) and both A and B stories were very interesting I think (and C story too, with Tendi's dog). I never thought I'd warm up to this series so quickly, but I have..! Love it..!!!

I was wondering if that catfish was a Threshold salamander! LOL.

 

[Sarcastic Vulcan Salute]

This was definitely my least favorite episode of the season. I'll rewatch it later, but some of the schticks are starting to get old. Mariner's endless "don't promote me!" self-sabotage with no (that I can see) hint behind the why is a bit tedious at this point, and its amusement value was limited to begin with.

The Boimler plot was ok until the end, when we got the most trite Gen-X type cynical crap from Boimler: damage me so I can go to a spa planet where two women, one of whom gave a vague indication that she found me attractive might... what? Fuck him? I can't stand 'do anything to get laid' type motivation and it's never funny. TV comedy did that so much in the 1990s and 2000s, and I am glad we've moved away from that crap. I know in this story it's harmless, but ugh, if I have to see someone betray a friendship for it...

Luckily, the references (except the Jellico one, which annoyed me for some reason) were fun. Tendi and Sam were wonderful as usual. I liked The Dog.

Going back to my own diversity schtick, the pattern of most named characters having Anglo-Saxon/European names is getting on my nerves. Also, with Shaxs's kissing T'Ana (admittedly she's a cat so it feels weird) last week all eight primary characters have been involved in some heterosexual attraction/pairing, with no hint of anything else. Bleh.

The show has had Mariner state several times that she believes being an ensign is where the real action is, that ranking officers are unnecessarily obsessed with seeking glory and a place in the history books, that Starfleet has too much red tape. There's the implcation that she has issues with her captain mommy and admiral daddy. The whole subplot with her being promoted to lieutenant was about having to do a bunch of BS as a ranking officer she found tedious, which is saying something since she could derive joy from even the crappiest of ensign jobs. Basically, what she likes out of Starfleet (space exploration, mysteries, saving people, cool friends) she can get out of her current position, being a ranking officer doesn't really get her more of those things and comes with a bunch of stuff she doesn't want or like (obnoxious glory-seekers, following every stupid protocol to the letter).

I don't know what the Boimler line had to do with "Gen-X-type cynical crap," as I'm sure that sort of notion could be found in comedy dating way before Gen-X was a twinkle in their parents' eyes. Nor do I understand where the betrayal of a friendship comes in.

With three of the five main human characters being people of color, why does it matter that their names happen to be Anglo sounding? Would it make a difference, really, if Sam Rutherford were Sam Ramirez or Beckett Mariner were Bahati M'benga?

 

[thribs]

An okay episode but it needed more Badgey.

 

[Sarcastic Vulcan Salute]

Thinking back over what was said, it seems the writers are moving away from Mariner and Boimler being about the same age, for Ramsey described the amusing Academy story as taking place a long time ago.

It's still not quite clear why Beckett arrived at the decision to be a perpetual ensign. She excelled at the Academy with the potential to be a captain faster than anyone else in her class.

Has there been any character development so far for the main characters?

I don't think the show ever meant that Boimler and Mariner were literally both, 22, or whatever, despite Boimler's reaction that they were "the same age" when she talked about having done ops with K'orin "back in the day."

Mariner has served on four ships prior to the Cerritos. Even if each is a relatively short stint, that would probably mean she has been out of the academy for several years and as she keeps reminding us, she has seen some things. Boimler, by contrast, as of the first episode in the series had only been to five planets, including Earth, Vulcan and the one they were visiting.I think it's fair to assume based on that that the Cerritos is his first assignment and he came on board basically around the time Mariner got there. (Given that in the relatively little time since that mission, he has been to three additional planets: the one with the embassy, the one where he was infected with the parasite, and this one).

Again, the show makes it pretty clear why Mariner wants to remain an ensign. Maybe there's a deeper reason lurking beyond avoiding brown-nosing, overly ambitious, bureaucratic worker drones or mommy/daddy issues, but I don't really think that there needs to be.

Most comedies/cartoons aren't going to have much in the way of character development. I'd be hardpressed to think of any where the characters really had an arc in the whole run of the series, let alone in their first season. I assume that for the foreseeable future, Mariner will be the "cool" slacker, Boimler will be the by-the-book captain wannabe, Rutherford will be the nerd and Tendi will be the eager-to-please noob.

 

[eschaton]

I thought the episode this week was quite mixed:

• The "A plot" with Mariner and the acting captain who was her academy friend was good, though as was the case for others, I am left a bit confused regarding age. My headcanon at the moment is basically Mariner lied about her age to Boimler when they first met because she was vaguely embarassed to be an ensign in her early 30s. I do have to say the continued focus on Mariner's "hidden depths" is getting a bit tiresome however, as there are other characters on the show.
• I thought the Boimler B plot was predictable and really out of place. It felt like something from Futurama which was ported onto the show. The second we saw the "evil" ship I knew it would all be a misunderstanding and "the Farm" would be real.
• I loved the stuff with Tendi and "the dog."
• The Easter eggs in this episode were mostly lovely. Loved seeing the Warp 10 salamander and the jellyfish thing from Encounter at Farpoint.

 

[Jadeb]

• I thought the Boimler B plot was predictable and really out of place. It felt like something from Futurama which was ported onto the show. The second we saw the "evil" ship I knew it would all be a misunderstanding and "the Farm" would be real.

I figured it would play out like that, but after the franchise’s recent obsession with inserting ugliness into Starfleet, I was happy to have it turn out as it did.

 

[CorporalClegg]

I thought it was the weakest episode so far, but still thoroughly enjoyed it.

Also, over the course of seven seasons of TNG, how much development did any one character get?

 

[cooleddie74]

Great visual tips of the hat but yeah, the story did little for me. A soft 5.

I did laugh at the "Threshold(VOY)" reference, though.

 

[ToddCam]

The show has had Mariner state several times that she believes being an ensign is where the real action is, that ranking officers are unnecessarily obsessed with seeking glory and a place in the history books, that Starfleet has too much red tape. There's the implcation that she has issues with her captain mommy and admiral daddy. The whole subplot with her being promoted to lieutenant was about having to do a bunch of BS as a ranking officer she found tedious, which is saying something since she could derive joy from even the crappiest of ensign jobs. Basically, what she likes out of Starfleet (space exploration, mysteries, saving people, cool friends) she can get out of her current position, being a ranking officer doesn't really get her more of those things and comes with a bunch of stuff she doesn't want or like (obnoxious glory-seekers, following every stupid protocol to the letter).

I don't know what the Boimler line had to do with "Gen-X-type cynical crap," as I'm sure that sort of notion could be found in comedy dating way before Gen-X was a twinkle in their parents' eyes. Nor do I understand where the betrayal of a friendship comes in.

With three of the five main human characters being people of color, why does it matter that their names happen to be Anglo sounding? Would it make a difference, really, if Sam Rutherford were Sam Ramirez or Beckett Mariner were Bahati M'benga?

I guess in terms of Mariner's motivations, that's fine, but if that is it, it's pretty boring, which is a different issue that leads me to the same place; tedious repetition of plot points.

I didn't say that stuff is exclusive to Gen X. I meant that Gen X-era cynicism ran with it and abused it, and often the way that it went in comedy was elevation of the sex act over everything else (hence betrayal of friendships). Don't get me wrong, sex is great. Also, by some definitions I am Generation X (I like the term Xennial if I have to choose), and I think generations are pretty stupid and arbitrary, so no need to take it personally. I associate it with an era, and one that was during my life time.

Names do matter. First, it shows the writers can see beyond the United States as the source for Earth's people. Your own example points out that 3/5 of the humans are POC, but 2 are white. It's still disproportionate, and reflective of the USA, not Earth. Second, the Anglo/Euro names are inextricably linked with colonization and slavery, and the continued domination of American/British culture over the human population is not a good look for the 24th century, especially when the creators are American. Third, it's boring. Show some imagination and/or research. Finally, I don't need to be satisfied with what they give me just because they have taken some steps. Showing diversity is ongoing and can continuously be improved.

On a positive addendum to all that, visually Lower Decks is extremely appealing with its diverse background characters. And I still love the Andorian named Jennifer.

 

[juventuz]

Does anyone know what race Pratchett is? He's the Security officer that Captain Ramsey brought over with her. He reminds me of Jaylah.

 

[Orphalesion]

Well this...

this had EVERYTHING

It was funny (everything about the Dog, the bamboozling with the farm, the secret mission to plant seeds)
Awesome references (Anthony, Boimler being out of phase)
It had creative alien designs (the Axolotl aliens, the Elosian captain, and the purple guy Amina brought. I'm also kinda curious what species those elf nurses with the brightly coloured hair were)

And it was a very good Star Trek episodes to boot; the space dwelling alien, Mariner's personal issues while also showing how competent she is. It was awesome as a character study for her.
And I loved how ominous the Elosian captain and his ship were. Not gonna lie, for a moment I was kinda worried this would go into deep Rick and Morty territory (didn't help that the "main freak" kidna looked like Morty) but then you relaize that's what they want you to think and it turns out the paradise planet is real hahaha. And of course Boimler doesn't get to stay

10 out of 10!

 

[KennyB]

A soft 5.

That's my wife's pet name for me.

 

[Tuskin38]

If you look carefully, you can see the tricorder bag in the background before the team beans down.

Also this episode finally confirms that the view screen is a window.

The shape of the Osler reminds me of Warhammer

 

[BillJ]

8.

More great fun.

Mariner's endless "don't promote me!" self-sabotage with no (that I can see) hint behind the why is a bit tedious at this point, and its amusement value was limited to begin with.

Mariner says in the episode that she still has some things to figure out. Probably still trying to decide if she wants to follow in her parents footsteps. We all figure these things out at different times.

 

[Bad Thoughts]

With three of the five main human characters being people of color, why does it matter that their names happen to be Anglo sounding? Would it make a difference, really, if Sam Rutherford were Sam Ramirez or Beckett Mariner were Bahati M'benga?

That would void their minority status. They would (suggestively) be members of the dominant ethnicity of other nations rather than having the experiences of minorities within their respective nations and cultures.

 

[Romulan_spy]

Nice call backs to past Trek. I laughed at the "Threshold" salamanders.

But boy was this episode ADHD! No pauses, no breaks between lines of dialogue or scenes. Just rapid fire dialogue and new scenes. The episode basically crammed two A plots into 25 minutes.

 

[NCC-73515]

Better than wasting precious time with "they added a chu and made the chu chu dance a chu chu chu dance!!!" stuff

 

[fireproof78]

Again, the show makes it pretty clear why Mariner wants to remain an ensign. Maybe there's a deeper reason lurking beyond avoiding brown-nosing, overly ambitious, bureaucratic worker drones or mommy/daddy issues, but I don't really think that there needs to be.

I think that's exactly it. Mariner doesn't see much good being an upper officer when they seem less focused on benefiting the aliens they are making contact with. So, despite her abilities, she remains lower down so she can do what she sees as Starfleet's work.