‘Star Trek: Lower Decks’ Recap – ‘Dos Cerritos’ & ‘Shades of Green’

10/25/2024

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Eugene Cordero, Gabrielle Ruiz, Jack Quaid, and Tawny Newsome as Lieutenant Samanthan Rutherford, Lieutenant T’Lyn, Lieutenant Bradward Boimler, and Lieutenant Beckett Mariner in Episode 401 of ‘Star Trek: Lower Decks’ – ‘Dos Cerritos’. (Photo Courtesy of Paramount+.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the Season Five Premiere of ‘Star Trek: Lower Decks’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.

It is definitely safe to say that fans of the Star Trek Universe everywhere were shocked when Paramount+ dropped the news that Star Trek: Lower Decks was going to receive a fifth and final season order. Simply because this delightful animated series, has harbored some amazing episodes, and some amazing writing and it opened the door for so many new fans to enter into the franchise and explore its wonder. So, it simply did not make sense for it to be cancelled. But alas, it was, and ten more episodes are all we get, and we’ve all been wondering since… what showrunner Mike McMahan would do to wrap up five years of storytelling with this crew, and how it would shake out and well… we got our answer this week.

For the series five premiere of the show informed us… business as usual will be the order of the day. No supreme finale plot, no past nightmares for the crew to face… just them, being Lower Deckers and going on adventures and growing before our eyes and that allowed for ‘Dos Cerritos’ and ‘Shades of Green’ to provide us with a pair of lovely stories rife with lovely lessons about how we must be true to ourselves at all costs and regardless of what surprises come our way. Because life does work out in the end when we stay that personal course and everyone’s journey in these stories proved that. After all, Tendi was not doing well back home on Orion. Not because she didn’t know how to kick ass and take names, but because… she was Starfleet through and through.

Because she could not condone the killing that Orion Pirates indulged in, nor could she sanction internal battles either and that led to all kinds of chaos in her house and on the home world. Because Orions are indeed all about that pirate life, and stabbing when necessary, and every attempt to teach Tendi that, failed miserably. To the point where doing the right thing and being the bigger Orion got her family’s fortune taken away. Which informed her and her family… that Tendi belonged in a world that was ready for those kinds of behaviors, so she went back to the U.S.S. Cerritos, and managed to get her family some wealth again… to care for them, and her forthcoming niece, thanks to a plot we’ll discuss momentarily. Because what mattered most is that Tendi learned to stay true to herself and followed that to a tee, and that brought her back where she belonged.

Noël Wells, Dawnn Lewis, and Lauren Tom as Lieutenant D’Vana Tendi, Captain Carol Freeman, and Queen Shona Tendi in Episode 401 of ‘Star Trek: Lower Decks’ – ‘Dos Cerritos’. (Photo Courtesy of Paramount+.)

As for everyone else, well that lesson came about the long way round through two unique missions. One of which involved, encountering multiverse versions of themselves. For while the crew was working to close a rip in space-time, they ran into a Cerritos run by a Captain Becky Freeman. Who, as Mariner would put it. Sucked. Because she lost her way and wanted to be a good officer and thought she did so by doing all the wrong things. Such as violating Starfleet protocols by ruling with an iron fist formed from fear, and she made life hell for Prime Mariner and that rattled her and her prime friends. Because these alternate… upper… deckers? were successful in their own right and left our core heroes wondering if they needed to follow similar paths. The kind where they buckled down and just did unique things to get ahead in the fleet.

But an away mission to a world that was abandoning capitalism as part of their entry into the United Federation of Planets, (lucky them,) which was indeed how House Tendi got rich again, helped Mariner and Boims come to learn that all-important lesson. Because they too tried to be different and do different things as officers and that led to wild shenanigans that eventually showcased… they’re great officers without trying to replicate others and their habits, and if they stay that course and be the officers they are deep down… they’ll be fine. Plus, there was a bonus lesson in this story, one that came about for Ruthy. Who learned though T’Lyn that we cannot isolate ourselves when we hurt or are trying to adjust to big changes in our lives. We have to live, and we have to enjoy the moment.

All of which made for a delightful and satisfying season five premiere. One that by the way, offered up more deep cuts from the franchise. Courtesy of that TNG season five opening credits homage, those cameos in the credits as well, and Riker Jr., aka Beared Bradward Boimler. But more importantly, this premiere was vintage Trek and all about the majesty of Starfleet and its brave officers. For their journeys and their good nature are what truly give rise to what we love the most about the show, and the franchise. For they showcase the human condition at its very best, and how we maintain its true wonder, and well, if that is what the final voyage of the crew of the Cerritos is going to offer, then that is a great way to send off this heartfelt and magnificent entry in this wondrous and storied franchise. Until next time.

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