‘Star Trek: Lower Decks’ Recap – ‘Strange Energies’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

It is definitely safe to say that Star Trek: Lower Decks was one of the finest comedies to hit the airwaves in 2020. Because it really did manage to lift our spirts during a dark time in the world, by way of its  wonderful jokes and unexpected hopefulness. But what was truly impressive about this show’s inaugural season, is that it managed to accomplish some impressive feats storytelling wise. Such as the fact that it offered up a lot of the optimism that permeates the Star Trek Universe and it also found a way to pay tribute to every corner of the franchise in wonderful ways and well, it is equally as wonderful to know that we no longer have to wait for the return of this series.
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For yesterday saw the arrival of the season two premiere of this magnificent show and well, ‘Strange Energies’ made it seem as though the show never went on hiatus. It might help that this particular tale is set roughly a month after that nasty little incident with the Pakleds, the one where Captain William T. Riker and the crew of the U.S.S. Titan had to bail out Captain Freeman and our intrepid heroes aboard the U.S.S. Cerritos. But in reality, what really allows for this episode to feel perfectly connected to last season, is the sheer fact that it takes the time to follow up on an important plot thread that was introduced in that very same finale. 

For if you recall, Captain Freeman and Ensign Mariner made quite the pact. One where Mariner could do whatever the heck she wanted while her mom looked the other way, all so that the crew of the Cerritos could leave second contact missions, feeling better about the future of the species they set up relations with and well, while it appears as though this system is working out quite well when we catch up with everyone here… in reality… it’s making people miserable. For in essence, this agreement has begun to undermine the crew since Mariner doesn’t have to take orders on away missions and that definitely frustrates Commander Jack Ransom, and his frustrations help for quite the disaster to come into play. 

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Because while she is doing her thing, Mariner accidentally unleashes an ancient power on the ship’s latest second contact venture, one that turns Ransom into a Gary Mitchell like deity and unfortunately for the crew… unlike Mister Mitchell… Random immediately embraced his new powers and let them loose upon his fellow crew members and the aliens below. Which led to quite the incredible battle between Starfleet and the Ransom-God, one that eventually ended in an unexpected manner. For it turns out that killing someone suffering from these powers, as Captain Kirk did long ago… isn’t the only way to put a stop to the madness that infects their minds and the power they yield. For Mariner came to find out, that several swift kicks to the junk can bring them right back down to Earth and after she inflicted enough pain in Ransom’s stones, things went back to normal for the commander and aboard the ship.

For Mariner was stripped of her freedom and honestly, it’s for the best. Because she only gets the right rush she needs when she is pushing back against authority and ‘doing what she wants’ (which is oddly the catchphrase of fellow NTG writer and biffle, Shae) and she can now do that once again and well, it was just wonderful to have the series pick back up in this manner and to also take the time to explore how everyone else is doing after that finale. Since we came to learn that Rutherford is slowly getting back to normal and that Tendi is still as sweet and wild as ever, especially when it comes to any worries about losing her biffleship with Rutherford and we also found out… that life on the Titan is quite terrify… er… exciting for Lieutenant Boimler. Since the closing seconds of this tale informed us of the fact that Captain Riker is keeping his crew on their toes in a tense manner.

But what matters most, is that at long last, Star Trek: Lower Decks is back on the air, and it really seems as though season two is going to easily grow this series into something more. Because this was a far grander adventure for the crew of the Cerritos and the stakes were higher for certain, since Jack almost lost himself to his new god-like powers and it would seem… the show is also going to dig deeper into Star Trek history. Because Gary Mitchell hasn’t been name dropped in the franchise for some time and well, in the end, all this premiere does is make us hungry for more wacky and wild adventures with this intrepid and occasional bumbling crew. Because they're awesome and we love them, and it is likely we will all be counting down the minutes until next Thursday's new mission. Until then.

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Fun times aboard the U.S.S. Titan.