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
The Cerritos ensigns must assist a caretaker on the voyage of a historically significant starship.
Review
Chant with me: “Lower Decks! Lower Decks!” The brilliant animated series is back today with the first two episodes of season 4. I was going to review the two in one but given the outstanding nature of “Twovix” it absolutely required a standalone review. The title alone should be enough to give Star Trek fans cause to celebrate. But beyond the obvious references, “Twovix” is hands down the best season premiere since the series pilot episode.
After last year’s brilliant visit to Deep Space 9, this year it’s the turn of Star Trek: Voyager to get the Lower Decks treatment. Trailers for season 4 had already teased this was happening. But I was surprised to find that it would be the season premiere that would steep itself so deeply in the lore of the Delta Quadrant venturing NCC-74656. Written by showrunner Mike McMahan, “Twovix” isn’t the average episode of Lower Decks neither is it the straight up homage that we saw last year with “Hear All, Trust Nothing”.
I’ve had the benefit of watching eight episodes from season 4 and what’s clear right from the outset is Lower Decks is standing on its own two feet. Whilst there are plenty of easter eggs and deep cuts, the series is pulling back on cameos and allowing its characters to carry the show. So with that there’s no Janeway cameo, there’s no Harry Kim. Instead “Twovix” pulls from other parts of Voyager to make those legacy connections in more unique and inspired ways.
McMahan has always had fun with Lower Decks but here there’s some interesting new character dynamics. Early in the episode Boimler (Jack Quaid) is informed by Commander Ransom (Jerry O’Connell) that he’s in line for a promotion. That revelation leads to a kind of Freaky Friday scenario where Boimler is suddenly questioning his every move so as to not endanger his career progression. This leads to the incredible (and hilarious) scenario where it’s Mariner (Tawny Newsome) who is unable to control her excitement at the sight of the original Voyager ship. After four seasons it’s fun to see McMahan shaking up the formula like this, it gives a fresh perspective on Mariner and makes for an instantly fun episode.
We have a new Lower Decker this season in the form of T’Lyn (Gabrielle Ruiz) who was forced to join Starfleet in penance for her very un-Vulcan-like behaviour last season. T’Lyn is the perfect deadpan Vulcan to play off the enthusiasm of Tendi (Noël Wells). The two are paired up for much of this episode and bounce off each other perfectly. I’ve spoken in the past about the series’ tendency to pair Mariner with Boimler and Tendi with Rutherford (Eugene Cordero). So seeing Rutherford spending his time with Boimler whilst Mariner floats between scenes with Ransom is another sign of how Lower Decks is continuing to evolve its storytelling.
The episode pulls three brilliant and incredibly deep cut characters from Voyager: The Clown from season 2’s “The Thaw”, Doctor Chaotica from Tom Paris’ Captain Proton holo-novels and Fair Haven’s resident stud, Michael Sullivan. On top of that there are plenty of other references that I don’t want to spoil because purely exploring Voyager as a location is incredible. No stone in the Voyager legacy is left unturned and yet never does “Twovix” veer in to unbearable fan service territory.
The episode obviously takes its title from episode 24 of Voyager‘s second season, “Tuvix”. That episode saw Neelix and Tuvok merged to create a new character following a transporter accident. That accident brought up serious moral questions for Captain Janeyway and does so again on the Cerritos when the same accident befalls Doctor T’Ana (Gillian Vigman) and Lieutenant Commander Billups (Paul Scheer). Lower Decks obviously takes a more comedic approach to what many of the characters refer to as Janeway “murdering” the original Tuvix. But that also works two-fold in the episode, firstly it allows the show the chance to poke fun at some of Voyager‘s wilder storytelling – Neelix cheese? – but secondly it further evolves the series storytelling by challenging Tendi’s point-of-view.
The entire misadventure leads to another of the season’s key plot points. The promotion of three of the Lower Deckers and T’Lyn. You’ll soon see how this impacts on Rutherford as the remaining ensign. But there’s also so much more story to come from each of the characters gaining a new rank pip. That one beautiful moment for the characters thrusts the narrative of season 4 through all the episodes I’ve seen. Not only that but it does it in fun ways which open even more storytelling avenues for the series.
Lastly, we have the introduction of a mysterious new villain(?) with a coda featuring the Klingons. This is another new avenue of storytelling for Lower Decks. Whoever these aggressors are you can bank on seeing plenty more of them right across season 4. Welcome to serialised storytelling Lower Decks fans.
Verdict
Hands down one of the best episodes of Star Trek: Lower Decks to-date. “Twovix” is the perfect season premiere, balancing the series Trek reverence with a real love of its brilliant cast and characters.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
