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

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Glad that the show is back and this was a lot of fun. Felt a little subdued but the character work was serviceable. Maybe it could have been a little funnier. I'll admit, I was expecting the conclusion would involve a big adventure of busting out Captain Freeman and solving the mystery, so it was absolutely appropriate and hilarious that the entire "Part 2" of the adventure happened off-screen with the senior officers, in what looked like a WILD season premiere for whatever show they're on; TWO legacy special guest stars, senior officers in casual attire, an Undiscovered Country level conspiracy, everything! Loved that conclusion.

Also, I'm very amused that the theme to First Contact is now canonically just the music they play at his amusement park. It's like playing It's a Small World at the beginning of First Contact and it being dramatic. Love it.
 
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Whilst most times we've seen academy cadets they're teenagers, presumably this doesn't have to be the norm so maybe the same way some people go to university later in life maybe some people don't join Starfleet till their thirties or forties? This is the future after all, people seem to live longer, healthier lives, wasn't Picard supposed to actually be around 60 when Next Gen started, despite Stewart only being in his late 40s?
 
This is the future after all, people seem to live longer, healthier lives, wasn't Picard supposed to actually be around 60 when Next Gen started, despite Stewart only being in his late 40s?

Picard was 59 years old in Season 1 of TNG(born in 2305), twelve years older than Patrick Stewart himself when filming began on the series.
 
Yeah, and since he was born before the Narada arrived in 2233 and changed history that would make McCoy about 28 years old when he enters the Academy.
 
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Whilst most times we've seen academy cadets they're teenagers, presumably this doesn't have to be the norm so maybe the same way some people go to university later in life maybe some people don't join Starfleet till their thirties or forties? This is the future after all, people seem to live longer, healthier lives, wasn't Picard supposed to actually be around 60 when Next Gen started, despite Stewart only being in his late 40s?
I don't see why the hell not? To me it makes perfect sense to have people trying out different career ideas and then try out Starfleet too.
 
Whilst most times we've seen academy cadets they're teenagers, presumably this doesn't have to be the norm so maybe the same way some people go to university later in life maybe some people don't join Starfleet till their thirties or forties? This is the future after all, people seem to live longer, healthier lives,
I’m sure some do. So sure, in fact, that one of the character in the fan film I wrote did exactly this, after a short tenure as civilian researcher.
And even in real life it’s not that uncommon…I started university at 30 and I’ve got two others as old or older than me in my course.

wasn't Picard supposed to actually be around 60 when Next Gen started, despite Stewart only being in his late 40s?
it was probably not intentional originally but Picard being older than Stewart is now canon.
 
7/10 Kinda interesting to see how things were resolved without some Kirk style breaking of the rules, but handwaving away the S2 cliffhanger ending with a minute of intense exposition felt anticlimatic. When the description of the things that happened off screen sound more interesting than what happened on screen I think that's a problem.

I love the dynamic between the main four and that in itself is a joy to watch, which certainly saved the episode for me.
I think that was the point. It was reminding them that despite their notions they are the lower decks and far from the real action.
 
I'm at a loss as to why they used Morgan Bateson as a commando unit leader, completely out of context to his character, other than his link to Bozeman Montana because his ship had the same name (which wasn't even mentioned.) I'm all for TNG callbacks, but this one seemed a bit forced. It's not even like they brought Kelsey Grammer into the studio to record any lines.
 
Would need to be a field that's not super-useful to Starfleet. Someone transferring in with decades of diplomatic experience, or a private medical practice, or a lawyer, or a biologist? If Starfleet works the same way as our militaries when allowing specialists in, such types tend to be recognised by honorary rank of Lieutenant or higher.
 
I'm at a loss as to why they used Morgan Bateson as a commando unit leader, completely out of context to his character, other than his link to Bozeman Montana because his ship had the same name (which wasn't even mentioned.) I'm all for TNG callbacks, but this one seemed a bit forced. It's not even like they brought Kelsey Grammer into the studio to record any lines.

Why did Starfleet use Picard for the commando team in Chain of Command? Some passing familiarity with the tech in question. Bateson may similarly have once performed a mission in the area of space the raid took place as an Ensign or somesuch - that seems to be all the expertise Starfleet Command needs to assign a Captain to something that in reality would be lead by a Lt. Commander at most.
 
I'm at a loss as to why they used Morgan Bateson as a commando unit leader, completely out of context to his character, other than his link to Bozeman Montana because his ship had the same name (which wasn't even mentioned.) I'm all for TNG callbacks, but this one seemed a bit forced. It's not even like they brought Kelsey Grammer into the studio to record any lines.
Anyone in Starfleet can be a commando leader. Tom Paris was one. Picard was one. Captain Kirk was one. Same thing with espionage. It's not like these are specialized skills that require training or practice. Just put on a black suit and you're promoted instantly.
 
Why did Starfleet use Picard for the commando team in Chain of Command?

Because the plot demanded it. There was no logical reason for Picard and Beverly to have gone on that mission, just like there's no logical reason for an entire command staff to beam down to a hostile planet every week. But it happens, because that's what the plot needs. In this case, there wasn't anything plot-wise to necessitate the use of the Bateson character other than illogical fanwank.

Anyone in Starfleet can be a commando leader. Tom Paris was one. Picard was one. Captain Kirk was one. Same thing with espionage. It's not like these are specialized skills that require training or practice. Just put on a black suit and you're promoted instantly.

See above.
 
I think that is who I was thinking of!

And now I am DEPRESSED that my young mind processed this 50 year old as "elderly"
To be fair, the guy did look older. I too was surprised when I looked him up on Memory Alpha for posting in this thread that he was only 50 when he left TNG.
 
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