The again half of Star Trek: Lower Decks season 3 options returning tales, returning characters, and, now, a returning holodeck film. It’s actual good.

There’s a whole lot of follow-through on Star Trek: Lower Decks recently. Rutherford will get his cybernetic implant backstory. Deep Space Nine makes its triumphant return. And, out of all of the earlier characters on the market, Peanut Hamper returns for a shock villain origin story.

And whereas there are many different tales and characters price revisiting, let’s face it: everybody loves a holodeck episode. “Crisis Point” from season one in all Star Trek: Lower Decks is among the most enjoyable holodeck episodes in all of Trek. So, naturally, there’s going to be a sequel. Surprise: the sequel is now.

But should you’re anticipating “Crisis Point 2: Paradoxus” to be the return of Vindicta, you’re in for an precise shock. This week’s episode doesn’t give attention to Mariner in any respect. No, this time the holodeck has a lesson to show to the purple-haired boy marvel Bradward Boimler.

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To Boldly Recap

We’re on the holodeck and the Cerritos is beneath assault by Romulans. The Romulans transport aboard and steal a mysterious glowing rock earlier than beaming away. The Cerritos is about to be destroyed when the USS Wayfarer seems to save lots of the day. Boimler is the captain and likewise goes by the very corny title Captain Dagger. Mariner, Tendi, and Rutherford are additionally alongside for the journey.

It seems the Romulans stole the Chronogami, a tool that may destroy any second in time. During this clarification, Boimler known as away by Ransom. When he returns, Boimler is noticeably unhappy. Dr. Helena Gibson explains how the Chronogami works, flirting with Boimler all of the whereas. But Boimler is just not into it. He takes her Chronogami-finding watch and so they go away for Tatasciore IX the place the Romulans possible are heading subsequent.

And, certainly, the Romulans are there. But as Tendi and Rutherford soar on hoverbikes to present the Romulans chase, Boimler finds himself extra intrigued by the randomly-generated holodeck characters. One of them says one thing referred to as “Kit Yha” has the solutions to all life’s questions. Boimler decides he has to observe this journey as a substitute and makes Tendi acting-captain of the Romulan mission. Mariner is aggravated however follows Boimler to get him again on the mission.

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Acting Captain Tendi

Before Tendi, Rutherford, and the faux, hologram crew of the Cerritos can catch the Romulans, they use the Chronogami. Tendi and Rutherford observe after and discover themselves in the midst of the Great Soolian Algae Crisis of 2341. Apparently, at this second in time, a sentient octopus named Ambassador Koro brokers peace with the Algaeic Slime Mind and the Romulans are there to alter historical past. Thankfully, they’re too late.

But the Romulans journey additional again in time to Twentieth-century Earth the place one in all Koro’s ancestors resides in an Australian aquarium. And regardless of being attacked by some Australian punks, Tendi wins there, too. Finally, the Romulans journey to the genesis of the Federation. They plan to explode Federation management with a bomb. As Rutherford dismantles the bomb, a Romulan shoots and kills hologram Dr. T’ana.

Throughout the holodeck program, Tendi takes all the pieces very severely, however Rutherford doesn’t. It seems Tendi needs to be a captain in actual life however is afraid nobody will take her severely. Rutherford tells Tendi she’s going to make an important captain and collectively they use the Chronogami to journey again to the start of the story.

The Cerritos, as soon as once more, is beneath assault by Romulans. But this time as a substitute of stealing the Chronogami Tendi tips them into stealing their very own bomb. The Romulan ship explodes and Tendi is a hero.

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Boimler’s Bad Day

Boimler’s quest for Kit Yha is ridiculous. Only one different hologram named Nik Nak agrees with him and the map to Kit Yha is tattooed on the again of an outdated man’s saggy pores and skin. Mariner declares her disgust and leaves the holodeck. However, whereas being evaluated by Ransom, Mariner finds out what’s actually happening. Boimler’s transporter clone William is useless after a freak neurocine fuel accident. Realizing why Boimler is so unhappy, Mariner rushes again to the holodeck.

On a freighter, Mariner finds Boimler within the brig. Boimler says the search is pointless and that life is pointless. Mariner convinces Boimler that there’s that means to be discovered and with the assistance of Nic Nac, they retake the freighter and use the saggy again fats map to search out Kit Yha. Unfortunately, Kit Yha is a rock monster with no solutions, solely empty platitudes. Worse, “Kit Yha” is simply quick for “Kitty Hawk” for some cause. In a rage, Boimler overheats and dies.

While useless, Boimler has a imaginative and prescient of Captain Sulu who tells Boimler that obsessing over the meaningless of demise detracts from life’s pleasure. And then Boimler wakes up feeling rested and able to stay life to the fullest.

Also, William Boimler’s demise is faux. William is definitely now a member of Section 31.

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To Boldly Review

If the unique “Crisis Point” is all in regards to the good of Starfleet, then its sequel is in regards to the good in demise — a way more difficult promote. No one actually likes the concept that sometime they’ll die. And Boimler’s anxiousness understandably will increase when he hears a model of himself is out of the blue gone. But the episode acknowledges the laborious fact — there’s no design to the universe which leads us to simply accept mortality — that’s for us to determine and settle for all on our personal.

But greater than that, this episode is humorous. The saggy pores and skin map is a superb sight gag. Nic Nac’s Yoda voice and an sudden romance with Boimler is humorous, too. And Tendi’s bizarre quest by means of Federation historical past is each thrilling and laughably focuses on sentient octopi. But completely nothing tops the second when Boimler says that Captain Sulu is “even better” than Captain Kirk. Ouch! If that ain’t a dig on Shatner, I’m unsure what’s.

But again within the realm of heartfelt storytelling, Tendi’s revelation that she needs to be a captain is great, too. In some ways, regardless of how sheepish she could seem, Tendi is definitely an important candidate for captain. Tendi loves studying all the pieces about ships, she’s empathetic in direction of everybody, and she or he’s additionally arguably essentially the most crafty fighter on the ship. A bit of extra confidence and the captain’s chair feels inevitable.

The solely actual criticism for “Crisis Point 2” is that William Boimler cliffhanger. And even that’s nitpicking. Yes, it undercuts among the “finding meaning in mortality” stuff, but in addition it units up Section 31 in Star Trek: Lower Decks. And all of us need that!

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References: Gotta Spot ‘Em All

Star Trek: Lower Decks loves an Easter egg. And it loves one, much more, when it performs into one thing as tropey as a holodeck episode. Here are the most effective ones.

The Romulan triplets are a play on the Duras sisters. Discussions of time journey flip to the potential for alternate, extra cinematic variations of our heroes which is a Kelvin Universe reference. Dr. Gibson wears the identical science uniform as Carol Marcus in Star Trek: Wrath of Khan. The Romulans could attempt to stop the Federation from ever present, one thing that’s tried by the Borg in Star Trek: First Contact and occurs within the TOS episode “City on the Edge of Forever”.

The punks in Sydney are a reference to the punk on the bus in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home. Kit Yha truly being Kitty Hawk is a callback to VGER truly being the Voyager probe in Star Trek: The Motion Picture. Similarly, Kit Yha’s dwelling planet Shatanari sounds identical to “Shatner” which is in reference to Sha Ka Ree from Star Trek V: The Final Frontier, so named after the person who was purported to play Sybok — Sean Connery.

Kit Yha being a rock monster is a reference to the rock monsters Shatner needed for The Final Frontier. Captain Sulu is in one thing similar to the Nexus which first seems in Star Trek: Generations.

Tatasciore IX is a reference to Fred Tatasciore who’s the voice of Shaxs. And Someone on the black market references everybody’s favourite demise koala.

All in all, this can be a enjoyable episode. Star Trek: Lower Decks continues to be on a roll.

4.5/5 stars

Lina is a ten+ 12 months leisure journalist veteran whose bylines embody SYFY Wire, Looper, and Screen Fanatic. She has written comedian scripts for IDW Comics and Zenescope Enetertainment and has written Doctor Who shorts for BBC Worldwide. She is a long-time podcast host and producer who has labored on Who Won the Week, SYFY’s Every Day collection, and the Amazon podcast Untold Story. She at the moment co-hosts the New York Times beneficial podcast Song vs Song.

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