Spoilers Star Trek: Lower Decks 1x01 - "Second Contact"

[Tim Thomason]

Of course, "Envoys" had that little reference to Boimler knowing who Section 31 are, but I'm okay with just ignoring that as a cartoonish exaggeration that's not binding on canon.

Boimler went to the Academy from 2375 to 2379, so he joined just as the Dominion War was closing down (probably one of a large group of patriotic Federationists who signed up during the Dominion War, and its likely that the Academy lowered its TNG-era prerequisites to admit a larger contingent of citizens). I think its likely that Section 31 was exposed and blamed (rightfully) for the Founder virus and there part in ending the war. Starfleet (proper) and the Federation don't want that on their conscience, and they have a perfectly acceptable rogue organization to shove the atrocities onto.

So Boimler would've been learning about the recently exposed (and defrocked) Section 31 and still talking about them four years later, even if they had slipped into the shadows in the meantime. Heck, he may have studied under Academy Professor Miles O'Brien, who we all know spent the better part of an afternoon rummaging through a Section 31 agent's subconscious. O'Brien might be even more willing to talk about Section 31 and their mistakes to the next generation of Starfleet recruits, and they can't "stop him" or "take him out" because he's an untouchable Dominion War hero.

 

[NCC-73515]

I like that explanation. News from all over the Federation will have covered the end of the war, and how the founder was convinced to surrender, and how the cure was found, so there must have been some deep investigation there.
So 31 officially no longer exists in 2380 then? Boims spoke in present tense, but why would they keep the organization, or even its name, after such a scandal?

 

[137th Gebirg]

There are doubtless many Admirals in the fleet structure that can do spin control on it. Eventually, people forget, things cool down, and they'll be back in business a few years down the road.

 

[BillJ]

Boims spoke in present tense, but why would they keep the organization, or even its name, after such a scandal?

If Section 31 has existed for three centuries, then they are likely deeply ingrained in Federation government and culture. They aren't going anywhere.

 

[Tim Thomason]

I like that explanation. News from all over the Federation will have covered the end of the war, and how the founder was convinced to surrender, and how the cure was found, so there must have been some deep investigation there.
So 31 officially no longer exists in 2380 then? Boims spoke in present tense, but why would they keep the organization, or even its name, after such a scandal?

I'm sure it's public knowledge that Section 31 was dismantled and some high-up former Cabinet Minister somewhere arrested for its crimes. But Boimler and anyone with half-a-brain knows that they're still around in secret, even if everyone swears up and down that they're not.

 

[Skipper]

I'm sure it's public knowledge that Section 31 was dismantled and some high-up former Cabinet Minister somewhere arrested for its crimes. But Boimler and anyone with half-a-brain knows that they're still around in secret, even if everyone swears up and down that they're not.

You can identify them by the speed-walking.

 

[Albertese]

I just watched the sampler episode CBS posted to YouTube, and hot-damn! I actually liked it! I know, I'm as surprised as you. But I actually laughed a few times and ended it wanting to see more, which so far, CBS Trek has failed to do for me.

Not sure I want to call it canon... more like fiction within fiction. But it was fun and that's enough for me.

Will be looking for more.

--Alex

 

[Qonundrum]

9..5 and rounded up.

The premiere starts out with some confidence and never lets up.

The acting is top notch.

The graphic design style is top notch.

The storyline explores something new (post-first contact) and would work in a more serious show, but

The writing for the characters and storyline are fresh and... top notch.

There's no villain of the week - just incidental stuff happens and they deal with it. Ditto for the people on the planet. (Yes, I'm sure there will be an episode with a villain or evil admiral once in a while. But LD starts out by doing something different and it's a really nice shakeup. )

The self-parody nature is as unexpected as it is well-handled.

The moral plays are there and are, you guessed it, top notch.

I found some of the more subtle build-up to big-payoff jokes to be the best. While physical guts as comedy isn't the best, for some reason this show manages to make some really goofy scenarios work.

Absolutely loved the episode and a premiere that sets the tone for the show and having everything else fall into place so quickly is so rare to begin with... this show is likely going to be a winner.

 

[Michael]

I just watched the sampler episode CBS posted to YouTube, and hot-damn! I actually liked it! I know, I'm as surprised as you. But I actually laughed a few times and ended it wanting to see more, which so far, CBS Trek has failed to do for me.

Not sure I want to call it canon... more like fiction within fiction. But it was fun and that's enough for me.

Will be looking for more.

--Alex

I'm glad you enjoyed it, @Albertese!

Don't mind me beaming your post into the already existing review thread for episode one.

 

[BillJ]

Not sure I want to call it canon...

If Discovery and Picard are "canon", then I have no issues with calling Lower Decks canon.

 

[cooleddie74]

There are fans who insist "The Cage(TOS)" isn't canon. If they'll tell people with a straight face that the story and visuals in the original Star Trek adventure aren't canon then you know they'll rip apart something like Lower Decks.

 

[fireproof78]

There are fans who insist "The Cage(TOS)" isn't canon. If they'll tell people with a straight face that the story and visuals in the original Star Trek adventure aren't canon then you know they'll rip apart something like Lower Decks.

Actually, I only consider TOS in broadcast order with no remastering on VHS (no streaming) and TMP to be canon.

 

[BillJ]

Actually, I only consider TOS in broadcast order with no remastering on VHS (no streaming) and TMP to be canon.

Only “The Cage” and “Threshold” are canon. Fuck the rest.

 

[cooleddie74]

ENT and my fanfilms. But only the fanfilm I spent the most time on.

 

[Nerys Myk]

The Cage, but only to the point where we discover the survivor camp is an illusion.

 

[Charles Phipps]

I've got to say I LOVE THIS SHOW. It is fantastic and the characters are adorable. It's basically GRAVITY FALLS for Star Trek versus Twin Peaks/The X-Files. The characters are all earnest and sweet but trapped in a life of being Red Shirts in a typical Roddenberry death ship.

Is it serious? But it doesn't have to be!

Then again, I loved Star Trek: New Frontier and that had the same tone.

 

[The Librarian]

She does, yeah. She has no respect for protocol, bends some of the rules and has no regard for rank, but she's in it to do altruistic, heroic stuff. She's what Kirk or Picard were in their youth.

The funny thing to me, though, is that you've got that partially wrong. Yes, Mariner is Picard as an ensign. But Kirk? The stuffy walking pile of books? Boimler's young Kirk.

 

[Charles Phipps]

The funny thing to me, though, is that you've got that partially wrong. Yes, Mariner is Picard as an ensign. But Kirk? The stuffy walking pile of books? Boimler's young Kirk.

The thing about Boimler is he seems to me to be a nice adjustment of Wesley's concept. He's a teen genius who knows vast amounts of things from books but he doesn't have any real life experience because he's apparently grown up sheltered on Earth vs. Mariner being one of those kids who grew up on starships (and thus has lots of practical experience on starships).

He has some of Wesley's annoying qualities but the fact that his book learning isn't immediately translatable to RL is something that balances them out. Mariner is also a good character in the fact that she's throwing away a promising career because of her adolescent rebellion ala Tom Paris and his dad. The fact that her parents shoved her into Starfleet before she was ready is on them too.

That's just my "too serious take on two cartoon characters" at least.

 

[dupersuper]

I like that explanation. News from all over the Federation will have covered the end of the war, and how the founder was convinced to surrender, and how the cure was found, so there must have been some deep investigation there.
So 31 officially no longer exists in 2380 then? Boims spoke in present tense, but why would they keep the organization, or even its name, after such a scandal?

I haven't read these, but my understanding is that in the novels Bashir takes down or severely injures Section 31. They show up a bit after that in Star Trek Online, but on their last legs. I'm fine with that: as good as some of the Section 31 stories have been, I really prefer a Starfleet that won't tolerate it.

 

[Charles Phipps]

I don't think the holodeck joke was a bad thing at all, as it was or had it been guys starting up a programme full of naked women. But with regards to your second point, I think it works both ways. Yes "if guys can do this, so can women", absolutely, but are guys able to do this anymore these days? I'm not so sure. Which seems like double standards to me.

I think the implication being that it's her personal porn stash. Which as far as I know both men and women keep in RL all the time. It's only weird to D'vana because it's not the sort of thing you usually share.

I think people would be complaining if Mariner and the main guy switched positions and it was a guy in Mariner's role. Swinging the klingon weapon and accidentally injuring someone? Joking they should take their uniform off and then laughing as they chewed on by an alien, and their nakedness is a joke? A holodeck of naked women? It's a little weird that's funny in this case and I hope the jokes get a little less mean spirited to that main character.

I feel like Mariner is actually meant to be flawed and not perfect. The fact she accidentally stabs Brad is a sign that she's not as knowledgeable or well-rounded as she thinks.

As for joking about he's eaten, I remind you he pulled a phaser on Mariner and accused her of being a weapons dealer while agreeing to spy on her. He's not exactly an innocent victim in all this.

Incorrect. It might be unusual or rare or over the top but I've seen such behavior in adults.

Also, while it's understated, Mariner has apparently torpedoed her career and is one mistake away from being cashiered.