‘Star Trek: Lower Decks’ Recap – ‘Kayshon, His Eyes Open’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 202 of ‘Star Trek: Lower Decks’.
​
There are a great many reasons that fans of the Star Trek Universe love the franchise through and through. For some, it’s all about the compelling story and commentary on the human condition. For others, the show’s portrayal of a future utopia where mankind lives in harmony is enough to keep them happy. While some simply cannot get enough of the special effects and breathtaking action this series sends their way. But out of all of those reasons, there is one that truly calls to every fan out there, and that’s the franchise’s sense of adventure. Because we get to traverse the stars with these crews and see strange new worlds and meet new life forms and that really does ignite one's imagination in a compelling manner and leaves you hungry for more.
​
If anything, that sense of adventure is paramount to our discussion today, simply because it took the center stage of this week’s episode of Star Trek: Lower Decks. In fact, ‘Kayshon, His Eyes Open’, not only offered up one grand adventure through the stars, but two. One of which saw the U.S.S. Cerritos christen their new Tamarian security officer in the most unique way imaginable. For Mariner and the team were to join Lieutenant Kayshon in helping to clean out a collector’s vast treasure trove of valuable memories. For he passed away and per the Collector’s Guild, his wares were to be auctioned off to the highest bidder. Which should have been a boring milk-run for the Lower Deckers… but a touch of greed turned it into quite the adventure after all.

For a competing collector was eager to get his hands on some genuinely rare treasures and that sent the security system aboard this menagerie into attack mode. Which forced Mariner and the team… to go to great lengths to survive the onslaught of unique countermeasures aboard the ship. But with a little teamwork and some ingenuity, they were able to do so and seemingly make a new Lower Decker friend. Since the enigmatic Jet eventually dropped his by-the-book standing to properly fit in with the group and well, this segment of the story really did make for a rambunctious and fun trek through the stars. One complete with a shipload of Easter Eggs since this collection vessel really had just about every tidbit from the franchise’s past within its walls.

---

As for the other adventure, well that was handled by way of Lieutenant Boimler and the crew of the U.S.S. Titan. Because Starfleet felt it best that the man that originally dealt with the Pakleds be the one to figure out how they gained their technological prowess and that motivated Will Riker… to try and get one step ahead of these surprisingly cunning aliens. Because somehow, some way, they were getting intelligence and assists in acquiring their tech and resources and that led the crew to an out of the way mining facility that Boimler and an away team were going to infiltrate, in order to learn the secrets of the rise of the Pakleds. A plan that of course, fell apart quickly. Forcing the away team into hiding and a potential last stand thanks to a dampening field, and well… this gave Boimler an opportunity to use his vast stores of knowledge and by-the-book training to shine.

For that dampening field was similar to the one that created Tom Riker, and if Boimler played his cards right, he could ensure that no clones were made, and get away team back to the Titan safe and sound. But despite getting himself and the away team back home… Boimler did have a clone of himself made and that put Riker in quite the tough spot. In that, he couldn’t have two Bradwards serving aboard his ship, so one of them had to volunteer for duty back aboard the Cerritos and in the end… Boimler-prime headed home with some sense of disgrace. Largely because he wanted to fit in better aboard the Titan and it kind of sucked that his clone, had a little Tom Riker in his soul… and opted to be sneaky in order to stay behind with Captain Riker and company. But all of that aside, this was another fine adventure, one that was full of action and big moments and huge screams from Mister Boimler and well… that particular ending wasn’t a total loss for Bradward.

After all, he’s back aboard the Cerritos. Which means the band is back together and more wild hijinks and shenanigans can take place. Plus, he can make things right with Mariner since he did kind of ditch her for a shinier ship and well, in the end, this episode was simply a blast. Because it was tons of fun to see another A-type leader try and usurp control away from Mariner. Plus, the shout-outs were great and would honestly take weeks to unpack since this episode might hold a world record for canon throwbacks and Easter Eggs. A feat that was led by Lieutenant Kayshon, since his use of metaphors made one quite wistful for Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra and well, in the end, this episode just goes to show that Lower Decks truly understands the mantra of Star Trek, and it will be quite interesting to see which aspects of this rich universe it chooses to explore and celebrate, come next week. 

---