Spoilers Star Trek: Lower Decks 2x06 - "The Spy Humongous"

Do we have new info on what part(s) of the galaxy the Pakleds claim as "theirs"?

 

Everywhere is the only logical answer.

They believe they own it all.

 

Pakled Planet may be the most perfect name for a world in Modern Trek. It sounds both like something a Federation cartographer would call a planet as well as something this mess of a native civilization would call its homeworld.

 

This is a sold 8 for me.

 

So, any T'Ana antics this week?

 

I love that when the Kzinti officer was showing an example of bad posture, he slouched over and stood like the Kzinti did in TAS.

Also all of those officers were in the background of most of the previous episodes of this season (or last). I love that. They did that last year too with minor characters. They'd be in the background for a few episodes before getting a speaking role.

 

I was kinda hoping that the Pakled queen would be Supersmart, hiding an enormous brain under her helmet….!
In any case, terrific episode..! And the scene with the Pakled spy floating in space was the funniest scene I’ve ever seen on LDS..! Brilliant stuff..!!
I do hope that what they alluded to in ep 2 (that there’s a ‘puppet master’ controlling the Pakleds) will be addressed in the future..!

 

Not even a T'Ana sighting. The Kzin crewmember gets dialog though.

 

Must have been catnap time.

 

I saw screen captures of the felid in earlier episodes, but I just assumed it was a non-speaking background extra. Neat to learn the "rat-cat" has a line or two!

 

The Armus bit wasn’t even that funny, but it was so random and out-of-the-blue that I enjoyed it immensely. I particularly liked the planet establishing shot before and after. This show is all about the little details.

“Pakled Planet” also great.

 

Tasha Yar is avenged.

 

Kind of cool there were four plot threads. My favourite stuffs were the Ent-D Bridge, Pakled leader structure and Armus.

 

I love the Redshirts, which are pretty much a group of Season 1 Boimlers, and how they contrast with the new Boimler trying to find his place on the Cerritos.

Casey has been at the conn since episode 1, and we get a great exploration of his character.

This is our introduction to Castro, a potential love interest to Boimler (she asks him on a date, it seems), who was only mentioned once before in Envoys as an Enterprise-E veteran. Lots of potential there.

Jennifer, born of an ad-lib in Season 1, is great as always. They're really building up the Cerritos cast this year.

And, of course, the still unnamed Kzinti (didn't notice a name in captioning) is the only new edition this season, probably due to securing rights issues and cutting red tape. I'm sure there's more planned for him, and it was great they dropped him, specifically, into the background of the last two episodes.

I don't know if we'll see the Redshirts again, as a group, but they all (sans Casey) seem to be allies of Boimler now, and likely will play a part in what is shaping up to be a big finale.

 

T'ana has a brief scene in Sickbay, helping to fix things after a Pakled does Pakled stuff. She swears. It's all good.

Mark

 

Yep. Pakleds can survive in outer space for the better part of a half hour (probably even longer). They are strong.

 

probably just big shoulder pads

 

ARMUS! I have been waiting so long for a return to Armus, I loved that.

Another winner from Lower Decks! This writing staff is so gifted. The amount of material they effectively fit into these compact running times is incredible.

 

This episode oozed charm. Perhaps it wasn't a huge spectacle, but it had a great theme, and followed through on various fronts: the Pakleds, the captain, the lower Deckers. "Be your own captain" is a great way to summarize leadership.

9.5

 

Score for this week's episode? An 8. Entertaining, though still annoyed with Mariner's attitude with "artifact disposal duty". I would be thrilled to see what trinkets the crew found, especially the ones that are of use and workable (like the one used to contact Armus). Surprised Rutherford wasn't thrilled about the assignment. Nice character growth for Boimler.
But I am calling it now: Peanut Hamper is the mastermind behind the Pakleds now, and will go all "Wrath of Khan" on the Cerritos crew.