Synopsis
Mariner, Boimler, Tendi, and Rutherford are caught off guard when aliens force them to testify about a series of seemingly unrelated events.
Review
I think it’s finally safe to say that, for me, Star Trek: Lower Decks has hit a creative sweet spot. I spoke in my review of the last episode (read it here) that I felt like I needed to see the core cast brought together for a future story.
Well in rolls “Veritas” where that exact reforming of the four key cast members is carried out. For almost the entire of this episode we get to see Mariner, Boimler, Tendi and Rutherford sharing scenes together for more than just a brief moment.
The setup for “Veritas” feels, like much of Star Trek: Lower Decks, inspired by The Next Generation. The whole season so far feels like a comedic love letter to the first “modern” incarnation of the show following The Original Series. But here it feels less like an emulation of that show’s formula and more of a loving recreation.
Every few episodes TNG would throw you a curveball with an episode which steps outside the norm. “Veritas” does that by putting the team on what appears to be trial to save the lives of the USS Cerritos’ senior team. The setup feels straightforward but the execution is pure Lower Decks magic.
Written by Garrick Bernard, the episode brilliantly takes each of the teams story and twists it to become something hilarious. It focusses in on their key characteristics: Boimler ever ready to try and impress (and fall flat on his face), Mariner’s ability to land on her feet whilst questioning authority, Rutherford’s over reliance on technology and Tendi’s need to make connections.
It all perfectly ties back in to the characters without compromising on the story. It makes “Veritas” by far the most successful episode of the season to-date.
Added in to the mix that we get a guest spot from John De Lancie as Q this week and every Trek fan should be easily pleased with how “Veritas” presents Lower Decks self-referential nature.
Verdict
“Veritas” doubles down on the series self-referential nature without becoming caricature. Hilarious but still able to reflect the formula of Trek‘s past.
8/10
Created by Rick & Morty writer Mike McHMahan, Star Trek: Lower Decks features the voices of Tawny Newsome, Jack Quaid, Noël Wells and Eugene Cordero as the support crew serving on one of Starfleet’s least important ships, the U.S.S. Cerritos.
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