‘Star Trek: Lower Decks’ Season 5 Midseason Review - Easter Eggs And Episode Guide
Image Source: Geek Girl Authority
Star Trek: Lower Decks has hit the midpoint into its fifth and final season, marking a bittersweet moment for the franchise’s first stride into a comedic series. While maintaining its signature humor and fondness for Star Trek Easter eggs, this season deepens our understanding of some USS Cerritos crew members that haven’t been a focus recently, like Dr. Migleemo, while introducing other characters that seem worthy of their own spinoff, like instantly lovable Chad, the corndog man.
It is, of course, disappointing that this is the last season of Lower Decks, but we’re looking forward to seeing more from the cast. Tawny Newsome (Beckett Mariner) will continue in the Star Trek franchise behind the scenes, writing for both Star Trek: Starfleet Academy and an upcoming live-action sitcom alongside Justin Simien. We can’t wait to see what she adds to the fantastic writing already present in the newest Star Trek shows.
RELATED:
Image Source: TV Insider
Many of the actors have expressed how much they see themselves in their characters. Dawnn Lewis (Captain Carol Freeman) mentioned in an interview recently that so much of their characterization on Lower Decks “is a beautiful commentary in life and humanity, that none of us are perfect.” Viewers see this philosophy play out across this season, as characters face alternate versions of themselves, confront family expectations, and navigate the complex dynamics of command. Lewis continued to provide motivational insight: “Instead of self-criticizing all the time, recognize the good about you and the fact that there’s always room to be even better as you collaborate and cooperate with the people in your circle, in your village, in your job, in your family.” These themes of collaboration and togetherness really shine through in the first five episodes of this season, but truly in all of Lower Decks.
5x1: “Dos Cerrito”
Image Source: Animation World Network
This season opener starts with an Orion pirate mission led by none other than D’Vana Tendi (Noël Wells). Meanwhile, the Cerritos is confronted with a space anomaly before they get pulled into a parallel universe where they meet an alternate version of their ship with the enigmatic Captain Becky at the helm. The episode also explores Samanthan Rutherford (Eugene Cordero) struggling with D’Vana’s departure from Starfleet, with some of each crew distracting him and keeping him busy. Long-time Star Trek fans will appreciate Easter eggs, like a nod to Star Trek: Voyager's Naomi Wildman and the alternate universe Brad Boimler performing the Riker maneuver.
5x2: “Shades of Green”
Image Source: Cinemablend
Following the chaos D'Vana may or may not have sparked in "Dos Cerrito," this episode dives deeper into Orion culture and focuses on D’Vana and D’Erika’s sibling dynamic. Lower Decks has spent a few episodes on Orion now, showing fans the homeworld for the first time in Star Trek history. This was highly impressive, considering Orions were the second alien species, only after Vulcans, ever introduced in The Original Series (“The Cage”).
Image Source: The Viewscreen
The Tendi family’s antics are an absolute delight, and we see their rival Orions rocking their uniforms last seen in Star Trek: The Animated Series. The episode deftly balances D'Vana and D'Erika's compelling sibling dynamic with a classic Mariner/Boimler adventure on Targalus IX. The two lieutenants are in charge of a couple of ensigns, with Mariner trying to get Boimler (Jack Quaid) to be a “fun boss.” The ensigns end up in danger, as tradition dictates, leaving Mariner and Boimler to save the day.
5x3: “The Best Exotic Nanite Hotel”
Image Source: Geek Girl Authority
The Cerritos is sent to manage two problems on the Cosmic Duchess, a cruise ship the size of a star base. Mariner, Rutherford, and a couple of other crew members back in action have to “humanely capture” a modified version of nanites wreaking havoc on the cruise ship’s metal. Nanites were first seen in Star Trek: The Next Generation and, more recently, in Star Trek: Discovery, sometimes used for medical purposes and even discovered to be sentient at other times. These nanites prove to be different from those previously encountered and a beast to capture. On the other side of the Cosmic Duchess, Commander Jack Ransom and Andy Billups are taking Boimler on a spy mission, but he’s under the impression that he’s being tricked into dangerous situations. While some wild and hilarious things happen, the episode cleverly balances classic Trek problem-solving with the show's signature comedy.
5x4: “A Farewell to Farm”
Image Source: Geek Girl Authority
This episode kicks off with Targs and ditches the usual opening sequence while starting on a Klingon farm. Mariner and Boimler are off the Cerritos, and they end up crossing paths with Ma'ah, a Klingon from Mariner's ever-so-mysterious past. Discovery fans get a treat with Mary Chieffo (L'Rell on Discovery) voicing a very different Klingon, while Boimler gets to geek out about Klingon culture while Mariner puts them in life-or-death situations while on Qo’noS. The B-plot focuses on Dr. Migleemo facing Klowahkan ambassadors from his home on Klowahka who think anyone not working in the food industry is wasting their life. Throughout their time on the Cerritos, Dr. Migleemo has to prove his worth as a ship’s counselor in Starfleet. As many of the other characters do in these new Lower Decks episodes, Dr. Migleemo is so focused on proving himself that the real problem doesn’t become apparent until it’s almost too late.
5x5: “Starbase 80?”
Image Source: Space.com
By the end of the episode, you’ll have a new love for corndogs. In a way, it would be fitting if that were the only comment about this episode. There isn’t much to say without spoilers here besides that Starbase 80 isn’t all it's cracked up to be. We saw Deep Space Nine recently in Lower Decks season four, and Starbase 80 is such a huge contrast we’re not surprised the Cerritos crew is haunted by the idea of getting sent there. Other callbacks to past Star Trek include a mention of T’Pol and classic Starfleet uniforms resembling the ones worn during Star Trek: Enterprise.
As we head into the final stretch of Lower Decks' last season on Paramount+, there's still plenty of adventure (and chaos) ahead. The next episode titles - “Of Gods and Angels,” “Fully Dilated,” “Upper Decks,” “Fissure Quest,” and “The New Next Generation” - spark more questions than they do answers. Some of the voice actors, including Jack Quaid and Dawnn Lewis, have alluded to something big on the horizon for episode 8, and with the title “Upper Decks,” a few ideas are floating around. There’s also the appearance of not one, but several, Harry Kims to run into at some point as well, and it’s not clear what episode that will be.
Image Source: Trek News
Newsome had asked Cordero during an interview to give “words that don’t give anything away but definitely prove you remember what happens in the finale” and he responded with “to be continued…” which just leaves us on the edges of our seats.
Season 5 Midpoint Rating: 7/10
READ NEXT:
Latest News
Featured
