Star Trek: Lower Decks season 4 has concluded with “Old Friends, New Planets,” a season finale that serves as the genesis for all sorts of new storylines. Our Elite Trekkie Team beamed into Stately Beat Manor’s observation lounge for a roundtable discussion about Lower Decks season 4, with plenty of spoilers!
Be sure and let us know what you thought of Lower Decks season 4 in the comment section. Moopsy!
What did you think of Lower Decks season 4 overall?
DAN MORRIS: I really appreciated the growth of all of the characters in Season 4. The our leads are very different from who they were at the beginning of the show or even this season. All of them really stepped up to their new ranks. The addition of T’Lyn, voiced by actress Gabrielle Ruiz, added a welcome dry sense of humor to the show. Having a Vulcan added a balance to the Lower Deckers. That said, the payoff to the missing ship subplot was way more interesting than some of the lead up. In the end though, this season gave us Starfleet’s newest form of negotiation, Twaining, and who can hate that?
REBECCA OLIVER KAPLAN: Re: Twaining. Im not sure if they meant it to be a nice homage to Guinan, but I read it that way. I always think about the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode where you learn about her connections to Twain.
GEORGE CARMONA 3RD: You would expect a show to have a dip in quality, but Lower Decks season 4 did the thing by not steering away from real character development and rank. Seeing everyone not just rank up, but level up in their specialties was a great ride for the season. And I really loved the guest stars coming in and making the most out of the story as opposed to stunt casting.
KELAS LLOYD: I feel like this season was its strongest yet. Dan’s right in that T’Lyn was exactly what the group needed. There’s always more chaos to be had, but a logical voice in the heart of it has helped the other four really show their strengths. I feel like all of the now-quintet got times to shine and learn.
TAIMUR DAR: The show has yet to jump the shark. We’ve seen time and again attempts to add new characters becoming another Poochy from The Simpsons. Thankfully that’s not the case with T’Lyn and she actually improved what was already a great show. Definitely a lot of parallels between Lower Decks and The Office. With any luck, Lower Decks won’t have anything as off as the post-Michael Scott era.
What was your favorite episode of Lower Decks season 4?
DM: Definitely “Something Borrowed, Something Green”! We finally learned Tendi’s backstory, meet her family, and learned why she’s called Mistress of the Winter Constellations! Also, this episode gave us Twaining.
ROK: Hard choice. I think I will go with “Twovix.” I always love joining the fan debates online about whether or not Janeway killed Tuvix, and it was a joy to have a Starfleet crew have the same discussion as fans. Yes, Janeway is a murderer but also what else was she supposed to do?
AVERY KAPLAN: This is an incredibly tough call for me. I’m tempted to also choose “Something Borrowed, Something Green,” because another girl’s trip was awesome, and who doesn’t want to see a Pheromone dungeon (like the one they have in New Seattle). But I’m going to choose “The Inner Fight.” It blew my mind to see TNG‘s “Lower Decks” tied in so artfully, not to mention the multiple references and tie-ins to “wej Duj.” But what really tips the scales for me is Freeman’s subplot. Mudd’s having a special on Jippers was a fantastic detail, and the Information Broker made me laugh until I cried. Rutherford’s line about how he was filled with internal organs was the cherry on top.
GC3: Yeah this is a tough one because I love a clip show and Caves made the most out of that with all the easter eggs, I wonder why they didn’t have a Horta in there? “Twovix” and “Something Borrowed, Something Green,” are also great episodes, “Twovix” was such a nuts episode, but “Parth Ferengi’s Heart Place” took us to some new places with the characters, specifically Mariners’ really dark turn. And yet still found a way to be hilarious as Boimler ends up glued to Ferengi tv for his whole mission.
TD: Gotta agree that narrowing it down to one episode is tough. Pretty much everyone has mentioned an episode I adored for one reason or another. As George said, “Parth Ferengi’s Heart Place” holds a special place in my own heart because Boimler’s addiction to Ferengi TV mirrored me becoming addicted to Lower Decks and Star Trek in general the last few months.But for something different, “Empathological Fallacies” was another episode that ranked high for me. T’Lyn’s story arc of feeling like an outsider everywhere moved me incredibly. And the side plot of Shaxs and the Security team protecting Boimler’s mental state was comedy gold.
KL: Incredibly hard. This season we got moopsy, twaining, goodgy, backstory for Tendi, and a little more Jennifer/Mariner. Due to my fondness for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, though, I’m gonna go with “Parth Ferengi’s Heart Place.” Rom was cunning but in a way that’s true to him, Leeta was on the top of her game, we saw some of Ferenginar’s changes as well as how some things have stayed the same, and the first crack in Mariner’s armor started being worked open.
Do you have a favorite character in Lower Decks season 4, and/or in the series as a whole?
DM: As mentioned earlier, T’Lyn was the stand out for me this season. I’d been hoping she would show up after her first appearance in season two and was not disappointed. The leads finally got a comedic foil with excellent deadpan delivery.
AJK: I have to agree on T’Lyn being the season’s standout. Vulcans just might be my favorite Star Trek alien, so T’Lyn is a dream come true. Not only is Ruiz spot-on with her delivery, but the animation of her reactions (or lack thereof) throughout the season were a show unto themselves.My favorite character of the series as a whole, though, continues to be Tendi. Her arc is so well done, and fascinating both as a window into Tendi as an individual and into Orion as a whole. My pet theory is still that the crew of the USS Titan-A in Picard season 3 had so many Orion because they were inspired by Tendi. She is the dreamer and the dream.
DM: Agreed on Tendi being the heart of the show. As much as Boimler loves Star Fleet and it’s history, no character truly embodies the optimism that is the core of Star Trek like Tendi does.
GC3: T and T definitely lead the list of favorites this season in character growth and fun. Their Science bond and outcast status made them a great pairing in “Something Borrowed” and “The Inner Fight.” Watching T’Lyn reject that call from her former captain at the end of the season was very satisfying, or to quote Mariner “Man! F@*k Captain Sokol!”
KL: I feel like an echo here, LOL. T’Lyn stood out the most, but that makes sense because she had to be integrated into the group. Tendi’s my all-time favorite, though. She’s vibrantly alive and keeps things going where the other four all have points at which they’d stop.
TD: Everyone pretty much nailed it with Tendi and T’Lyn. But just to add something different, Boimler is hands down the character I relate to the most and I’m not ashamed to admit I’ve acted and behaved a lot like him at times. I just loved the small moments of Boimler this season like the fact that he named the dent on the ceiling of his bed “denty” or his assortment of action figures like Mirror Universe Archer. On the flip side, Rutherford to me is the Ted Lasso of Lower Decks because of his infectious positivity.
KL: Meanwhile it was Mariner’s arc that I could really relate to.
DM: What they did with Mariner in this season, I think was really brilliant. The writing staff really connected the dots of her character laid throughout the show. We learned she why she went from being a wildly optimistic achiever at Starfleet academy to being deeply cynical of Starfleet as an institution. That her behavior was only partially about acting out against her high-ranking parents but really about avoiding a high rank so she wouldn’t send good people to their deaths. That the big bad of the season was a dark reflection of her and made her confront who she was only made that arc better.
How did you feel about the developments in the Badgey, Peanut Hamper and AGIMUS storylines in Lower Decks season 4?
DM: I will be happy if this is the last we ever see of Badgey. That said the episode with Peanut Hamper and AGIMUS was one of the season’s best. If two megalomaniacal machines can change for the better, maybe there’s hope for our cast.
ROK: I liked Badgey’s ascension. He’s not really a Lower Decker villain as we see at the end of last season. While our Lower Deckers are capable of handling upper deck threats, they aren’t generally sent on those missions. Badgey is bad AI worthy of an Enterprise crew. The dude literally ascended… maybe a Badgey comic is in order to talk about what happens with him next.
AJK: Can we really trust Goodgey? I know he deserves a chance… But I don’t know if I can trust him. That being said I thought this subplot’s apparent conclusion was a great example of one of my core Trek principles, “Klingon on the Bridge.”
KL: I’m good with leaving the Peanut Hamper and AGIMUS storyline there. It feels like a satisfying conclusion for both of them. Badgey actually still wanting Rutherford’s love and approval deep down was neat, and I’m amused by his ascension. At the end of the day he chose not to be ruled by his desires, and I’m looking forward to season 6 when Goodgey becomes FNN47525 and takes over Earth Spacedock on accident.
TD: The Peanut Hamper and AGIMUS had a very sweet almost Ted Lasso feel to it with them giving up their megalomaniac ways. I was very charmed by how nervous AGIMUS was to meet Peanut Hamper’s father. Badgey’s storyline definitely reminded me a bit of certain aspects in All-Star Superman like a grand revelation and an ascension. I’m a sucker for those themes and it definitely felt earned.
DM: I take back what I said. I want Badgey to come back but this time he’s besties with Q.
AJK: Badgey grabs Rutherford, Q grabs Picard, antics ensue!
DM: Mike McMahan, call us at The Beat. We have a script for you.
KL: Two! We could be so helpful!
Is there anything in particular you’re hoping to see from season 5, and/or from the future of the series in general?
DM: It wasn’t addressed this season but I’m hoping the Will Boimler and Section 31 teaser from season 3 is part of this season. Also eager to see the fallout from the finale!
AJK: I think a return for Will Boimler could be especially interesting now that Bradward is entering his “Captain phase”!
TD: William Boimler is a given as others have said. I’d love at least one more “Crisis Point” holodeck episode. As a fan, I’d love to see the “Vindictaverse” version of the Kelvin timeline as jokingly suggested by Mariner. T’Lyn became a fast favorite for me, so I’m really keen not only to see more of her but possibly more of her backstory like they did with Tendi.
ROK: It seems only appropriate that we get a trilogy of “Crisis Point” episodes.
TD: Yes! My thoughts exactly!
AJK: Contractually obligated sequels, please!!
KL: I’m looking forward to them exploring more of Orion, and hoping that the quintet reunite before too long, there’s actually a couple of episodes of tension and development there instead of the big season-ending divide being solved in a single episode like with Captain Freeman at the start of this season.
ROK: I want my Gaylor ship to become a thing. I’m convinced that Ensigns Taylor and Gary are on a date at the end of the season finale. Everyone is paired off with their groups in the last episode, and those two are together at the bar having a drink. I think Mike once said everyone has fluid sexuality on the ship, and this is one relationship I want to see.
AJK: After this season I’m sort of shipping Mariner and Tendi. When Mariner slips her arm around her when they’re going to replicate her a new top in “A Few Badgeys More” it made me think, “Oh?”
KL: Here I am shipping Tendi and T’Lyn.
AJK: Or… all 3??
KL: I’m listening.
GC3: Riffing on what Dan said, I want Section 31 back, but now we find out that they recruited Tendi, her mission is to go undercover in the Orion Syndicate. And to make it special have her paired up with Will and other analogs of the LD crew. And we still need a full-blown Mirror Universe episode.
Who is your dream guest star for the show?
DM: How they haven’t had an episode with Worf yet boggles my mind. Give me Michael Dorn!
AJK: I’d like to see Harry Kim (Garrett Wang), preferably having been swiftly promoted to Captain after putting up with so many years of being an ensign in the Delta Quadrant!
TD: Oh boy, this is a toughie! If we’re opening it up to the entirety of Star Trek, I’m going to say M’Ress if only because my friend Cristina Milizia voiced her in recent cartoon shorts and I’d selfishly love if she reprised the character. But for something for realistic, I’d love to see Kelsey Grammer return as Morgan Bateson. I didn’t realize the character made a non-speaking appearance in the Lower Decks season 3 episode “Grounded” so Grammer coming back to voice him would be a dream. The cherry on top would be including various other Cheers/Frasier characters who’ve appeared in past Star Trek projects.
KL: I’m a simple person with very simple desires and I’d like to see a plain, simple tailor return. It’s about time the uniforms got a redesign, after all. Andrew Robinson just had a blast reading his audiobook, bring us Garak. Also Paramount I have a script for it just call me.
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