Logline
Who knows? They never released one.
Edit: They finally released one - how novel to release the actual episode first!
Captain Freeman assigns the Lower Deckers an overly safe mission to try and keep a self-destructive Mariner out of danger.
Written by: It’s a secret (it was Mike McMahan)
Directed by: We’re not tellin’ (it was Brandon Williams)
I know no one is reading this anymore, but Wa’ah helping Marriner with her issues is clearly a callout to the way the community has responded to that line in TNG “No one would suggest that a Klingon would make a good counselor” and the memes that have been created with Klingons being GREAT counselors! Incredibly straight forward, obsessed with defeating any obstacles in their way, there is no more honorable combat than against one’s own challenges.
Talk about absolutely crushing it. I was blown away with the huge reveal. 4 seasons of buildup to “Why is she this way?”
It was Seito all along. Crushing emotions across decades with a masterclass of buildup. Bravo.
Sito Jaxa, the original lower decker no less! We met her in an episode before TNG’s “Lower Decks”, which killed her off. It’s fitting that her loss shaped the trajectory of the show that took that name.
“What in the minimalist hell?” got me lmao
Mariner always has the funniest way of being annoyed or angry
This may be Lower Decks finest penultimate episode yet. I definitely feels at this point like McMahan has a five season plan. At least for the OG Lower Deckers.
Definitely an episode that plays the emotional fiddle for TNG fans with the Sito reveal as well. Currently weighing up whether to get my partner to watch First Duty and Lower Decks before we watch it together later.
Laughed out loud at the Endor Moon base inexplicably being on this random insane weather planet.
Great to have Robbie McDunc back as Locarno as well. If nothing else this may finally kill the urban myth that they didn’t use Locarno in Voyager due to royalties once and for all. I can but only hope.
I also like that they’ve let Freeman come into her own as a Captain more than previous this season. She’s really demonstrating not just top tier tactics and diplomacy but also actually clearly keeping tabs on her crew and addressing out of character behaviour. With that said, Rutherford felt included just for an excuse to follow Freeman which was a shame.
Billups as the masked pilot surprised me. I expected it to be Locarno.
The fake out Balok puppet had be howling.
I felt like Freeman included Rutherford because his “gee whiz! lookee there!” naïveté added to her misdirection.
