Star Trek: Lower Decks returns to Paramount+ in the UK with two brand new episodes on September 7, 2023. New episodes stream weekly thereafter.
Synopsis
Created by Emmy Award winner Mike McMahan (Rick and Morty, Solar Opposites), in season four of STAR TREK: LOWER DECKS, an unknown force is destroying starships and threatening galactic peace. Luckily, the crew of the U.S.S. Cerritos isn’t important enough for stuff like that! Instead, Ensigns Mariner, Boimler, Tendi, Rutherford and Provisional Ensign T’Lyn are keeping up with their Starfleet duties, avoiding malevolent computers and getting stuck in a couple caves – all while encountering new and classic aliens along the way.
Review
After four seasons you could forgive any Star Trek fan for feeling like they’ve got the measure of Lower Decks. Inspired by all our favourite 90’s Trek series, the Mike McMahan led show has blazed a trail across the Federation poking fun at everything from holodeck waste disposal to the hum of a warp core. But with season 4 the series is entering new territory as it seeks to deepen its character development and storytelling.
I’ve been lucky enough to see eight of the ten episodes of season 4 and it pleases me to report than fans will delight in the latest adventures of Mariner (Tawny Newsome), Boimler (Jack Quaid), Tendi (Noël Wells) and Rutherford (Eugene Cordero). Across eight episodes the team revels in more classic Trek tropes whilst redefining themselves after the events of the explosive season premiere, “Twovix”.
That title will, of course, ring a bell to fans of Star Trek: Voyager as it harkens back to classic episode “Tuvix” from season 2 of that show. As season premieres go, “Twovix” is Lower Decks finest since season 1. Blasting out of the gate at warp 9, Lower Decks swings for the fences as it digs incredibly deep in to Voyager lore to pull some of the finest deep cuts and references for an episode which may leave less familiar fans scratching their heads. But for those in the know “Twovix” is another incredible Lower Decks love letter to the franchise which surprisingly leads to the series’ biggest character development to-date.
It’s no spoiler that our lower deckers are getting promoted in season 4. It’s been discussed in interviews and seen in promo artwork. But the reason and time period over which this happens is yet to become clear. With the crew becoming junior grade lieutenants it offers the show a chance to refresh itself creatively. Leaving behind the communal bunks for new quarters and offering up new, yet somehow strikingly (and hilariously) unimportant duties for them to undertake. As remarked by Boimler, they’re now the lowest rung of the middle grade of officer. Everyone’s gotta start somewhere right?
The promotion means something different to each of our cast and that’s explored across each of the eight episodes I’ve seen. For Boimler it means leading his first away mission in episode 403, “In the Cradle of Vexilon”, an episode which also offers Captain Freeman (Dawnn Lewis) the chance to get stuck in to the action. Quaid is able to further display his range as a voice actor across these episodes, exploring Boimler’s own reluctance to accept the responsibility he’s been given. It’s an unexpected, but entirely plausible, lack of self-confidence which plays out beautifully on screen and offers plenty of opportunities for Shaxs (Fred Tatasciore) to call him “Baby Bear”.
For Mariner, the promotion causes an entirely difference crisis. We see her needing to redefine her relationship with Starfleet, her crew and her mentor (Jerry O’Connell’s Jack Ransom). Whilst Boimler’s development is a little more monumental on screen, we see Mariner edging towards someone much more dedicated to her role across the season. More than in any other season it’s clear that Mariner is probably destined to be one of Starfleet’s most legendary captains and that journey is going to be a joy to watch.
As with previous seasons, Star Trek: Lower Decks mostly balances its ensemble leads. Season 4 feels like the most balanced so far with Tendi and Rutherford having more to do both individually and together. Episode 404, “Something Borrowed, Something Green”, pairs Tendi and Mariner for an adventure on Orion which doubles up as the most backstory and development we’ve ever seen for the character. Something Mariner even picks up on in the episode itself. Rutherford takes centre stage in the seventh episode of the season, “A Few Badgeys More”, which ties up earlier plot lines… at least for now. His storyline is, so far in season 4, the least developed though his character remains consistent throughout.
Perhaps the most interesting development in season 4 is the addition of an overarching plot line. A potential villain who debuts in 401 and whose identity is still a mystery at the end of 408. No doubt being saved for a big finale, it’s a trope of nu-Trek which Lower Decks has yet to implement in this way. Whoever this mysterious villain is their presence slowly ramps up across the episodes I’ve seen in a scintillating slow burn which feels very mature for a show which is rooted in comedy. Another example of how Lower Decks is growing up alongside its characters.
Easter egg hunters will, of course, find plenty to dig in to with every episode of season 4. Keep a close eye on episodes 405, “Empathological Fallacies” and 406, “Parth Ferengi’s Heart Place”, beyond the premiere those episode in particular are treasure troves for long-time fans.
Verdict
Season 4 is shaping up to be the most consistent entry of Lower Decks to-date. New serialised storytelling elements add a new level of intrigue which feels in keeping with modern-Trek without altering the DNA of Lower Decks incredible humour.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
