Spoilers Star Trek: Lower Decks 3x08 - "Crisis Point Ⅱ: Paradoxus"

[Sci]

George Takei is back! Other than Leonard Nimoy in the Abrams films, I think this is the first time a TOS cast member has appeared in a contemporary ST production since Takei and Grace Lee Whitney appeared in "Flashback" in 1996!

Some Trek history!

I kind of wish they hadn't gone for this shot. This would seem to imply that the Federation's founding ceremony was held on what looks like Starfleet Headquarters campus. That's what it represented when the matte painting this was based on was used in TNG "Conspiracy," and it's what it looked like when it was used as the establishing shot for Kirk and company's court-martial in ST4... although in fairness, it was never clear if that was just a Starfleet court-martial or a special session of the Federation Council. Either way, I think it would have made more sense if the ceremony had been held at a civilian auditorium. But it's not a big deal either.

WARNING - Rant Section 31 Ahead

I'm worried about them doing a S31 plot in LD.

Section 31 is fine when it's essentially a paramilitary group unconnected to Star Fleet. I'm cynical enough that I believe the Federation would have a cult/reactionaries who think they need to do unethical science and sabotage of enemy powers. Basically, Cerberus from MASS EFFECT. It's a criminal organization motivated by ideology.

I have serious issues when they act like Starfleet Intelligence or the UFOP itself is actually employing it, which was the case in DISCO. It went from being Cerberus or Hydra to being the CIA/SHIELD. Which is a massive change in its handling. Is Ross using terrorists in "Inter arma enim silent leges" or is it a "legitimate" black operation.

Weirdly, I'd like Lower Decks to clear this up. Maybe have Trip Tucker show up.

Boimler: You guys are not actually Starfleet. You're a bunch of criminals who pretend to be spies!

Boimler 2: That's what they WANT you to think.

Boimler: Because it's true!

Boimler 2: But these guys are legit! They were part of the original Starfleet Charter and were a really important part of Starfleet after the Klingon War!

Boimler: And then when Ash Tyler was assigned to "reform" them, he discovered all the orders "establishing" Section 31 had been falsified and exposed them! They had been a rogue organization within Starfleet from the get-go and people only thought they were legit because of an illegal conspiracy!

Boimler 2: .... then how come they're still around...?

Boimler: Because it's still an illegal conspiracy!

 

[NCC-73515]

Question for those who have already seen it:

Is this episode family-friendly?

I only remember a warp core burn victim with a bad wound over half his body

 

[CorporalCaptain]

Simulated characters were killed on screen, but you don't know it's a simulation before the first death.

In the real world, a character threatens to kill another character.

 

[Markonian]

I'd say this ep is not child-friendly.

 

[jackoverfull]

Well since Mariner and Boilmer will both be appearing on an episode of STRANGE NEW WORLDS, I guess that will be the time.

indeed. Can’t wait!

 

[Charles Phipps]

I'd say this ep is not child-friendly.

I'd say it's PG and not even PG-13 like many Lower Decks.

 

[1001001]

Very good this week.

The subtle dig at the Kelvin timeline was pretty funny.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

Question for those who have already seen it:

Is this episode family-friendly?

Depends on your personal standards for being family friendly. Lower Decks always has cartoon violence but not graphic violence. And implied sexual content with the occasional naked cat hanging on large man with claws but no graphic sexual content. But this episode doesn’t have anything like that.

 

[Argosy]

It was cool how the narrative of the holodeck adventure became more muddled the more the Lower Decks crew wrestled with their issues, but it did almost become a bit of a slog to keep track of it all. T'Ana's choice words at the end cracked me up - very on character. Wasn't really expecting the existentialism from this episode - that cut pretty deep.

More like 'Existential Crisis Point II' amirite?

 

[ToddCam]

I had guessed at some point Bashir or somebody must have publicized Section 31, at least within Starfleet. Brad mentioned some kind of Section 31 power walk in Season 1, and at the time it made my verisimilitude alarm go off with the unlikeliness of such knowledge being public. Maybe it wasn't public, and Brad had an intimate knowledge of the group, perhaps through a connection. He seems pretty young, so I would guess a parent or mentor. William's recruitment might make more sense in that context.

 

[Vger23]

People are obsessed with Section 31. And Star Trek is obsessed with Section 31.

 

[Paul755]

People are obsessed with Section 31. And Star Trek is obsessed with Section 31.

More like nu-Trek has an obsession with Section 31. I’m honestly surprised the haven’t shown up in Picard or 32nd Century Discovery…yet.

liked the episode a lot. Tendi and Rutherford were great. Loved the holo-Doctor not knowing what to do when Boimler passed.

The Sulu cameo was good. The “even better…” line when Boims sees who it is kinda explains some stuff about him lol. I don’t see why anyone would think it was a Takei ego flex or dig at Shatner though.

loved seeing Lower Decks styled Soverigne and Defiant classes. And a true TOS era Connie.

 

[Saul]

I loved seeing a certain legacy character return. Gets me in the feels. The section 31 joke was perfect too.

 

[Charles Phipps]

People are obsessed with Section 31. And Star Trek is obsessed with Section 31.

I like Section 31. I just think its overused.

Like the Borg.

 

[fireproof78]

I like Section 31. I just think its overused.

Like the Borg.

Same here. The Borg came about as an exploration of how technology can be dangerous, as much as a tool. Section 31 is an interesting exploration of the response to external threats to the Federation, with the other, outside powers. It's a reaction to the hostility or unwillingness to be cooperative and mutually supportive in the values of the Federation.

 

[matthunter]

Knowing Boilmer, he’s pretending. Probably some undercover mission for Riker

[FONT=Georgia]
Fucking weird font tags I didn't use so damn you thribs!!!!

OK, my guess?

Spoiler

Not Riker's idea, but Brad's.

Boims is playing a long con. Just like when he beat Agimus. He and William are in cahoots to infiltrate S31 and find out the truth about Rutherford, but he has to play along with the "mourning my dead transporter clone" act even in front of Mariner and the others, lest S31 get suspicious.

William is more attractive a recruit for S31 having served on the Titan under Riker, hence why Brad isn't doing it.[/quote]

[/FONT]

 

[Borgminister]

Very nice episode that fleshed out the characters of Boimler and Tendi perfectly, with only Rutherford's initially annoying, overly adolescent behavior taking away from the overall execution in my mind. The Section 31 twist at the end was probably unnecessary, but it didn't really lessen the impact of mirror Boim's "death" on original Brad, so... Give it a 9.

 

[daedalus5]

Wow, loved Takei appearing. This series is so generous with the Easter eggs. I love it. Well done writers if you’re reading this!

 

[Dukhat]

Very nice episode that fleshed out the characters of Boimler and Tendi perfectly, with only Rutherford's initially annoying, overly adolescent behavior taking away from the overall execution in my mind. The Section 31 twist at the end was probably unnecessary, but it didn't really lessen the impact of mirror Boim's "death" on original Brad, so... Give it a 9.

Well, never let it be said that they’ll make someone act completely out of character just for a laugh!

(I noticed Rutherford’s odd behavior as well.)

 

[F. King Daniel]

Boimler losing his shit at the nonsense V'ger reveal was hilarious, as was the "scientifically implausible" reboot timeline. I liked everyone's different way of enjoying the "movie" and the holodeck AI having to come up with shit on the fly.

Otherwise, meh. Not enough of a hook, just the peeps having a bit of roleplay fun. Reminded me a bit of that ENT novel which was half the crew playing D&D. I like fluff, but this was too fluff.