Why?
Spoilers Star Trek: Lower Decks 4x06 - "Parth Ferengi's Heart Place"
- Thread starter Commander Richard
- Start date
Character Development, Personal Progression past her previous traumas.
IMHO, the best episode of the season yet. It was genuinely funny, and managed to balance out four different storylines without any of them feeling decidedly weak.
I really liked the worldbuilding they did with Ferenginar in this episode. It was pretty much already a cartoon even on DS9, but the budgets of that era meant we never got to see anything much, making it seem like a small town somewhere rather than a bustling planet. The Ferengi TV shows in particular were a highlight for me, but there were so much satire here that worked.
The core of the episode was undoubtedly the Tendi/Rutherford stuff. It was cringe in the best way possible, seeing them be incredibly uncomfortable, even despite both of them clearly having romantic feelings for one another. The status quo returning at the end of the episode felt like a bit of a cop out, but the show does engage in light serialization, and I'd like to think this isn't just going to be a one and done thing.
The Freeman plot with the crappy admiral and Rom/Leeta was cute. I was at first kinda let down that the guest stars played such a minor part in the episode, but I felt Rom in particular was very true to his DS9 character, and I liked that they gave Freeman a chance to be competent here. Plus, we know from Discovery that the Ferengi join the Federation eventually, so it was a nice touch doing it onscreen here.
I'm not sure what to think about the Mariner stuff, mainly because it's left unresolved. I do like they brought back the Ferengi friend from the first season, but we don't really understand why she is unhappy. I think the show is likely hinting at more deep-seated mental health issues. It would be interesting if it went there, because I don't think we've seen a Star Trek handle depression as anything other than an "problem of the week" thing before. Regardless, at least she admitted to herself by the end she had a problem, even if she doesn't know what the problem is.
The Boimler subplot was disposable fluff, but it was funny at the very least.
On the whole, I have absolutely no complaints here. This worked quite well as a "very special episode" and provided forward movement for most of the main characters. More like this please!
I really liked the worldbuilding they did with Ferenginar in this episode. It was pretty much already a cartoon even on DS9, but the budgets of that era meant we never got to see anything much, making it seem like a small town somewhere rather than a bustling planet. The Ferengi TV shows in particular were a highlight for me, but there were so much satire here that worked.
The core of the episode was undoubtedly the Tendi/Rutherford stuff. It was cringe in the best way possible, seeing them be incredibly uncomfortable, even despite both of them clearly having romantic feelings for one another. The status quo returning at the end of the episode felt like a bit of a cop out, but the show does engage in light serialization, and I'd like to think this isn't just going to be a one and done thing.
The Freeman plot with the crappy admiral and Rom/Leeta was cute. I was at first kinda let down that the guest stars played such a minor part in the episode, but I felt Rom in particular was very true to his DS9 character, and I liked that they gave Freeman a chance to be competent here. Plus, we know from Discovery that the Ferengi join the Federation eventually, so it was a nice touch doing it onscreen here.
I'm not sure what to think about the Mariner stuff, mainly because it's left unresolved. I do like they brought back the Ferengi friend from the first season, but we don't really understand why she is unhappy. I think the show is likely hinting at more deep-seated mental health issues. It would be interesting if it went there, because I don't think we've seen a Star Trek handle depression as anything other than an "problem of the week" thing before. Regardless, at least she admitted to herself by the end she had a problem, even if she doesn't know what the problem is.
The Boimler subplot was disposable fluff, but it was funny at the very least.
On the whole, I have absolutely no complaints here. This worked quite well as a "very special episode" and provided forward movement for most of the main characters. More like this please!
Boimler getting turfed out the hotel at the end proper made me laugh out loud
Not expecting this in a comedy.
I mean she has but there's always going to be the occasional relapse.
Then it's a novel trend for a comedy =D
Sort of.
But not in any meaningful way.
And there still is no "why" beyond "story."
It was a decent episode. There were really only two scenes that stuck out to me though. The first was the Income Memorial, which I thought was hilariously clever. The second was we got a new Rule of Acqusition, number 8. I'm glad even with Rom's progressive initiatives, we are still getting the rules. Boimler in the hotel watching Farengi Programming was also funny.
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It also just might be that Max is getting older and just doesn't have the same cadence (is that the right word?) that he used to. That's something that's very noticeable in Billy West's recent performances as Fry in Futurama.
I really enjoyed that, and it's the season's high point so far.
Seeing Max Grodenchik and Chase Masterson again after all of these years was fun, and a great franchise moment when the Ferengi started the alliance proceedings. Freeman makes a good Ferengi.
Mariner's ongoing character crisis is being so well done each week. Really intrigued with how this is all going.
The mystery enemy is now taking out the Ferengi. Who will be left to fight?
Boimler at the end was brilliant!
Seeing Max Grodenchik and Chase Masterson again after all of these years was fun, and a great franchise moment when the Ferengi started the alliance proceedings. Freeman makes a good Ferengi.
Mariner's ongoing character crisis is being so well done each week. Really intrigued with how this is all going.
The mystery enemy is now taking out the Ferengi. Who will be left to fight?
Boimler at the end was brilliant!
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I did NOT expect the title to be a reference to Garth Merengis Dark Place. What an obscure reference.
Not really. Many comedies have character development. I tend to get bored in comedies where the characters are static.
Unrelated, it seemed weird that Tendi blushed red. Have we seen Orion blood before?
I'm glad that both Rom and Leeta still have a ruthless edge to their business dealings. A more progressive Ferengi society or not it wouldn't make much sense for both of them to be complete softies. They'd be eaten alive and the Ferengi government would be in shambles. 
I liked this one. A little on-the-nose and fourth-wall-breaking at times even for this show but I had a good time.
I liked this one. A little on-the-nose and fourth-wall-breaking at times even for this show but I had a good time.
So does this make velour the canon fabric for TOS Era Starfleet tunics or is that the in-joke in late 24th century society like we poke fun at the velour of TOS costume shirts in real life right now?
I thought Mariner having to grow up was the point of that plotLandlord cops
Ok that one made me a giggle a lot. Great to see Carol being a great captain again and outmanoeuvring Rom and Leeta, and how great was it to see (well hear) them!
The Tendi/Rutherford story was great, Boimler's was fun. It's only really Mariner's that didn't quite land for me. At some point she has to grow up, just a little, surely?
Also Tendi in that dress
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