Spoilers Star Trek: Lower Decks 3x01 - "Grounded"

Discussion in 'Star Trek: Lower Decks' started by Commander Richard, Aug 24, 2022.

?

Rate the episode...

  1. 10 - Excellent!

    16.9%
  2. 9

    28.0%
  3. 8

    39.0%
  4. 7

    7.6%
  5. 6

    5.1%
  6. 5

    0.8%
  7. 4

    1.7%
  8. 3

    0.8%
  9. 2

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  10. 1 - What a boimler!

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  1. Voltron64

    Voltron64 Lieutenant Junior Grade Red Shirt

    Joined:
    Jul 2, 2022
    Firm believer in just #1 and that also he's "tasted all their wares" before, and not interested in doing it again.
     
    JRob94 likes this.
  2. eschaton

    eschaton Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2017
    A decent opening. Hell, given in Seasons 1/2 the first episode was arguably the worst of each season, if that's the case here then Season 3 will be incredible. A great continuation of Mariner's character arc with real feeling, and some nice deep cuts in Trek lore.

    That said, it wasn't perfect. I can forgive the way that Freeman was exonerated off-camera because in retrospect it totally makes sense, both in terms of how the show subverts expectations and because...realistically lower deckers shouldn't be able to do this. The lack of actual funny humor however was a bigger issue. At least for me the episode was clever and "cute" but it wasn't actively amusing.
     
    Deledrius, Markonian, Cyfa and 4 others like this.
  3. Dukhat

    Dukhat Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Dec 26, 2007
    Location:
    Maryland, USA
    Being a comedy has nothing to do with it. Michael Burnham is a Mary Sue as well.

    And do you really think her parents covering for her will make her stop her antics in the future? No.

    I know exactly what a Mary Sue is, thank you.




    ...And despite all that, I liked the episode.
     
    Enterprise1701 likes this.
  4. Tuskin38

    Tuskin38 Fleet Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Jul 24, 2011
    No she isn't. She does not fit the definition.

    But that's not for this thread.
     
    AresB, Skipper, burningoil and 7 others like this.
  5. SG-17

    SG-17 Commodore Commodore

    Joined:
    Nov 28, 2008
    I don't think you do.

    But I'm sure you know that from the very first time the term was coined it was used a misogynistic dismissal of female characters in fiction, right?
     
    AresB, Skipper, burningoil and 8 others like this.
  6. Dukhat

    Dukhat Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Dec 26, 2007
    Location:
    Maryland, USA
    You're welcome to think whatever you want.

    The etymology of the term has nothing to do with anything. Mariner could be a guy and the way the character is written, they'd still deserve the moniker. A Mary Sue can do no wrong; their ends justify their means; and all other characters serve to reinforce that notion.

    You're correct about one thing; this isn't for this thread.
     
    Last edited: Aug 25, 2022
    Enterprise1701 likes this.
  7. Tuskin38

    Tuskin38 Fleet Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Jul 24, 2011
    Mary Sue's are also author self-inserts.

    Who is Mariner a self insert of?
     
  8. Amaris

    Amaris Fleet Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Dec 25, 2002
    Location:
    United States
    I started tearing up at the First Contact music.

    10/10
    Would tear up again.
     
  9. Dukhat

    Dukhat Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Dec 26, 2007
    Location:
    Maryland, USA
    You'd have to ask the people who created the character.

    I thought this wasn't for this thread?
     
    Enterprise1701 likes this.
  10. KamenRiderBlade

    KamenRiderBlade Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

    Joined:
    Oct 24, 2012
    I would think that Boimler would have standards in the women he's interested in.

    Boimler is hyper competent and intelligent. He'd want somebody on a similar level.

    Not somebody who is "Hired Help" who picks grapes in his vineyard.
     
    JRob94 and Voltron64 like this.
  11. fireproof78

    fireproof78 Fleet Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Apr 11, 2014
    Location:
    Journeying onwards
    Or people who need hand holding to do their job are not of interest.

    I think Boimler just gets singularly focused. He has a job to do and will do that. If he were not doing the job maybe there would be interest but if not then no.

    Black and white thinking at play perhaps.
     
  12. Richard S. Ta

    Richard S. Ta Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

    Joined:
    Mar 10, 2021
    But Mariner is massively flawed? She's constantly called out on her behaviour by Freeman, Boimler etc. She should be a bridge officer by now as far as her Mother is concerned, but she's content to be Queen of the Dipshits instead. She's certainly capable, but her career is a dumpster-fire despite her being well connected with the upper reaches of Starfleet. She's not a Mary-Sue.

    Burnham is absolutely not a Mary-Sue.


    Exactly how I felt.

    I'm still feeling it didn't quite land for me, but reading the thread maybe that's because I haven't seen First Contact in about 15 years.

    I liked Ketracel White Hot. I got that one. And I got the 'Samaritan Snare' bit.

    Looking forward to next week.
     
  13. cooleddie74

    cooleddie74 Fleet Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2001
    Location:
    The Warped Sector of the Demented Quadrant
    "The Statue" looks nice. :)
     
  14. Dukhat

    Dukhat Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Dec 26, 2007
    Location:
    Maryland, USA
    Just the fact that her parents help to cover up her behavior is the enabling factor which exactly makes her a Mary Sue.

    I'm tired of talking about this. I'm fine just talking about the episode now.
     
  15. fireproof78

    fireproof78 Fleet Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Apr 11, 2014
    Location:
    Journeying onwards
    I think it is the fact that her behavior lacks any long term consequences. That she is abrasive and has a rebellious nature with no real consequences can rub the wrong way because in the real world such behaviors would not be rewarded with the career she has, which is one she basically enjoys having so no real punishment since, as you say, she is content being herself and where she is at in her career.

    I agree that she is not a Mary Sue, largely because she does not appear to be an author insert and has dramatic flaws and causes problems, especially for Boimler. But, I think the use of the term has far stretched the original meaning for a character who suffers no meaningful consequences. Though, to my mind, Kirk hits that bell too so maybe that's not accurate either... *thoughtful face*
     
  16. Richard S. Ta

    Richard S. Ta Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

    Joined:
    Mar 10, 2021
    I mean, I think that's alright because lightly-serialised comedy as a rule doesn't tend to play with long-term consequences?

    I just finished up watching all of Brooklyn 99 today. There's a whole bunch of irresponsible, careless, borderline criminal cops who do what they want, blow shit up and make holy-assed mistakes only to brush them all under the carpet for more japery next week. Underneath all that are some light character threads that intertwine through selected episodes, but at it's heart the show is first and foremost a comedy.

    Lower Decks is the same kind of thing, but it's Star Trek flavour instead of Cop Flavour. There's a reason Jake Peralta doesn't spend whole episodes being reprimanded and filling in reports miserably and that's that it's not funny. Lower Decks takes place in it's own heightened reality and Mariner's general character fits into that world perfectly.
     
  17. UssGlenn

    UssGlenn Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

    Joined:
    Mar 5, 2003
    Location:
    New Orleans, LA
    It's been an issue since first seen in DS9, but since Sisko's showed up again, I need to point out that the sign violates pretty much every rule about signs in the Vieux Carre.

    Self-illuminated
    too big (25 square feet max for that frontage)
    projects above the first floor past the balcony floor.
    flat mounted

    Even if Sisko's is located on Bourbon between Canal and St. Ann, only neon is allowed for self illumination, and all other sign rules still apply.
     
    Deledrius likes this.
  18. Dukhat

    Dukhat Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Dec 26, 2007
    Location:
    Maryland, USA
    I get your point, but this is the 24th century.
     
  19. fireproof78

    fireproof78 Fleet Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Apr 11, 2014
    Location:
    Journeying onwards
    I agree. When I look at Lower Decks the first thing that springs to my mind is Brooklyn 99. The squad is consistently irresponsible, insubordinate, fails to follow procedures, engage in vandalism, or takes on roles outside their chain of command. In short, it's ridiculous. And it's hilarious. Never mind in the real world the sheer amount of paperwork that they would be doing on the regular.

    I personally love Mariner and enjoy her character. I wouldn't want her in my job but last I checked Star Trek wasn't to represent my reality.
     
  20. Richard S. Ta

    Richard S. Ta Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

    Joined:
    Mar 10, 2021
    @fireproof78

    Mariner is definitely the Jake of the show. Gifted but massively irresponsible.

    By the end of Brooklyn 99, Jake has managed to completely turn things around, growing up whilst still retaining his essence.

    I do suspect that by the end of LDS, Mariner will go through a similar growth process.