This episode was good without the benefit of novelty. It was cool to see a tellarite, the character dynamics seem to be improving every episode. Stop treating this like it's anything but a fun parody-type show and it's actually quite okay.
13 Reviews
A previous review said Star Trek never touches the supernatural...
drexellshepard29 August 2020
Well... isn't Q quite godlike? Or maybe we forgot the Prophets and the Pah-Wraiths? Or isn't the Vulcan Katra a spiritual thing itself, poorly explained?
Don't believe the 1 star reviews. This episode may not be your favorite, but it's good.
Don't believe the 1 star reviews. This episode may not be your favorite, but it's good.
Up is down
Observer_202011 September 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Some viewers might be upset about the flippant attitude of both Mariner and the Captain in this episode. If Lower Decks was meant to be a "realistic" portrayal of the (fictional) Starfleet, then yes, I suppose there would be reason to get upset. But Lower Decks is an animated comedy series that is clearly not meant to follow the rules and format of the Star Trek franchise completely.
Mariner can be very childish. That's a given. The Captain also behaves in a non-Starfleet-like manner. That's a little bit more of a problem, considering she is not supposed to be the source of humor on this show. But Mariner's Tom Sawyer-type schemes and attitude can be endearing, in a "guilty pleasure" sort of way. I laughed when she rolled over and off the bed. It's an exaggeration of behavior that we see in many kids. It's not something we would expect to see in a Starfleet officer, but it was still funny to me.
We also got to see a different side of Mariner, for a brief moment. The episode worked for me, in a chaotic, messy manner.
Mariner can be very childish. That's a given. The Captain also behaves in a non-Starfleet-like manner. That's a little bit more of a problem, considering she is not supposed to be the source of humor on this show. But Mariner's Tom Sawyer-type schemes and attitude can be endearing, in a "guilty pleasure" sort of way. I laughed when she rolled over and off the bed. It's an exaggeration of behavior that we see in many kids. It's not something we would expect to see in a Starfleet officer, but it was still funny to me.
We also got to see a different side of Mariner, for a brief moment. The episode worked for me, in a chaotic, messy manner.
Excellent Episode
Janju7627 August 2020
Loved the whole episode. No one was bullied, characters did great things. Story was great.
Don't believe the biased reviews on this episode. I gave all prior episodes a bad rating because the episodes were bad and hurting star trek canon. This is the first episode that was very good. You have to ignore the dumb things Beckett does sometimes. Just think about her as a troubled person with personality disorder and look the other way.
Don't believe the biased reviews on this episode. I gave all prior episodes a bad rating because the episodes were bad and hurting star trek canon. This is the first episode that was very good. You have to ignore the dumb things Beckett does sometimes. Just think about her as a troubled person with personality disorder and look the other way.
Sens'O'rs...
WKYanks27 August 2020
Warning: Spoilers
SensOrs... lol (channeling Spock and Tuvok)
Best episode yet in my book.
I didn't have any issues with the animation.
We don't get to see Mariner in the brig at all?
I actually laughed out loud a couple times at the end when Mom and daughter were getting their medal.
Under the umbrella of -everything is exaggerated-, this episode was fun.
I liked the "Genesis" ship... pretty cool. I liked the Star Trek story here.
The ENS Tendi story was revealing for the character... the ascension made me think of Star Gate (like the opening theme music does). She messes up someone's ascension thingy, then through surviving the idiot repercussions of the Tellerite Captain's actions, she figures out she just wants to be liked. I wasn't expecting him to actually ascend though.
I enjoyed Captain Freeman and "LT" Mariner working together to get through the same situation. They both come to the realization that they CAN work together.
I still think this show makes the Captain out to be an idiot. I think Ransom knows that.
The bit at the end when they get their medals was the funniest part of the show thus far IMO. I also liked how Mariner and the Captain were saying the same thing, the difference being the Captain was trying to respect the ADM's rank and position where Mariner has no filter.
Best episode yet in my book.
I didn't have any issues with the animation.
We don't get to see Mariner in the brig at all?
I actually laughed out loud a couple times at the end when Mom and daughter were getting their medal.
Under the umbrella of -everything is exaggerated-, this episode was fun.
I liked the "Genesis" ship... pretty cool. I liked the Star Trek story here.
The ENS Tendi story was revealing for the character... the ascension made me think of Star Gate (like the opening theme music does). She messes up someone's ascension thingy, then through surviving the idiot repercussions of the Tellerite Captain's actions, she figures out she just wants to be liked. I wasn't expecting him to actually ascend though.
I enjoyed Captain Freeman and "LT" Mariner working together to get through the same situation. They both come to the realization that they CAN work together.
I still think this show makes the Captain out to be an idiot. I think Ransom knows that.
The bit at the end when they get their medals was the funniest part of the show thus far IMO. I also liked how Mariner and the Captain were saying the same thing, the difference being the Captain was trying to respect the ADM's rank and position where Mariner has no filter.
Good show bad fans
driverinteractive_st19 October 2021
See a number of fams complaining about things like "why would an alien call it terraforming" ... well you are right they wouldnt, but notice how everyone is speaking earth english? Its the universal translater at play, it translates into the correct contextual word so that ship, would... terraform in earth english. Jesus peopel so desperate to find holes they are creating them based on their own lack of knowledge.
I liked the first 30 seconds of the episode.
metzelmax27 August 2020
So my exact reaction:
When the episode starts out explaining the setting of a generational colony ship that is adrift in space I was intrigued.
Then Ensign Mariner comes on screen yawns and start annoying everyone.
That's when I remembered: oh yeah this is a show made by people who don't like star trek or scifi for people that don't like star trek or scifi.
When the episode starts out explaining the setting of a generational colony ship that is adrift in space I was intrigued.
Then Ensign Mariner comes on screen yawns and start annoying everyone.
That's when I remembered: oh yeah this is a show made by people who don't like star trek or scifi for people that don't like star trek or scifi.
Why is Mariner even in Starfleet?
anonrob-4884731 August 2020
It is hard to not have preconceptions of what a Star Trek show should be about. It's even harder to write comedy in these confines without stepping off the transporter pad.
There has been some great moments in past episodes, but in Moist Vessel we are repeatedly reminded on how out of place Mariner is. The comedy comes from her being the exact opposite of a good crewman and not respecting anything that makes a good Starfleet representative.
She's a Mary Sue. She can slack off, openly mock people, cause massive chaos and somehow always come out on top. It's annoying and makes you wonder what kind of recruits Starfleet academy is getting, let alone passing the extrance exams.
I do appreciate most of the other cast in the Lower Decks with their personal issues of being too stiff, worrying about being liked by others, or way too into engineering. Unfortunately, Captain Freeman is another horrible example of what a Starfleet character should not be. Having her daughter serving under her and laying out a personal vendetta to create the central motivation of the show feels out of place and it's wearing thin.
There are some shows, comedy or not, that you can repeat watch and get even more from them. Sadly, this is not one of those episodes.
There has been some great moments in past episodes, but in Moist Vessel we are repeatedly reminded on how out of place Mariner is. The comedy comes from her being the exact opposite of a good crewman and not respecting anything that makes a good Starfleet representative.
She's a Mary Sue. She can slack off, openly mock people, cause massive chaos and somehow always come out on top. It's annoying and makes you wonder what kind of recruits Starfleet academy is getting, let alone passing the extrance exams.
I do appreciate most of the other cast in the Lower Decks with their personal issues of being too stiff, worrying about being liked by others, or way too into engineering. Unfortunately, Captain Freeman is another horrible example of what a Starfleet character should not be. Having her daughter serving under her and laying out a personal vendetta to create the central motivation of the show feels out of place and it's wearing thin.
There are some shows, comedy or not, that you can repeat watch and get even more from them. Sadly, this is not one of those episodes.
How can this be called StarTrek
homerjsniper27 August 2020
Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse, Star Trek - Lower Decks says "Hold my beer" and proves me wrong.
How can this be called Star Trek ? for 50 Years we have had an established franchise that is beloved by many. This show comes along and makes a mockery of it all. In this episode we that if you are disrespectful and ignore you won't be punished. A great lesson for kids wouldn't you say. I mean they say this show is for kids.
We have an ensign being promoted for no reason than to try and force them to leave the ship. Lets just ignore the fact they went from ensign to full lieutenant in one go shall we. Let us ignore the fact that Mariner became a Yellow Shirt for some unexplained reason. Let us ignore the fact that we have a Captain being petty and ignoring protocol to move his ship closer to the objective so they get more credit. Lets ignore the fact that Ensign Tendy is physically abusing a fellow crewmate. If this were a male doing this, people would be in uproar over it, but because it is a white male it is ok I guess. Lets also ignore the fact that Ensign Tendy, an Orion female is so desperate for people to like her. I mean Orion women give off pheromonoes that naturally make people like them. It is in the Star Trek Lore. But hell, lets ignore that.
They say this show is made for Star Trek fans. It isn't. It is an insult to Star Trek fans.
How can this be called Star Trek ? for 50 Years we have had an established franchise that is beloved by many. This show comes along and makes a mockery of it all. In this episode we that if you are disrespectful and ignore you won't be punished. A great lesson for kids wouldn't you say. I mean they say this show is for kids.
We have an ensign being promoted for no reason than to try and force them to leave the ship. Lets just ignore the fact they went from ensign to full lieutenant in one go shall we. Let us ignore the fact that Mariner became a Yellow Shirt for some unexplained reason. Let us ignore the fact that we have a Captain being petty and ignoring protocol to move his ship closer to the objective so they get more credit. Lets ignore the fact that Ensign Tendy is physically abusing a fellow crewmate. If this were a male doing this, people would be in uproar over it, but because it is a white male it is ok I guess. Lets also ignore the fact that Ensign Tendy, an Orion female is so desperate for people to like her. I mean Orion women give off pheromonoes that naturally make people like them. It is in the Star Trek Lore. But hell, lets ignore that.
They say this show is made for Star Trek fans. It isn't. It is an insult to Star Trek fans.
My god this is terrible
Internet-Police28 August 2020
The ADHD Burnham Show
machina2216 October 2020
Another review I read pointed this out, and it's something I agree with wholeheartedly:
The most interesting scene in the entire series so far - the first minute or so of this episode - is ruined by this show's hyperactive, ADHD afflicted take on Michael Burnham. The character's persistently annoying and ruins almost every scene she's in.
The most interesting scene in the entire series so far - the first minute or so of this episode - is ruined by this show's hyperactive, ADHD afflicted take on Michael Burnham. The character's persistently annoying and ruins almost every scene she's in.
A spiritual ascension in Star Trek?
JoviAero29 August 2020
Warning: Spoilers
I don't think this episode was horrible overall and the show seems to be improving in minor ways, but one thing in this episode bothered me a lot and I don't see it being talked about much yet.
Star Trek, and most sci-fi shows in general, never touch the supernatural. If anything seems like a ghost or spirit, they unravel a scientific explanation by the end of it.
So in this show they have a guy trying to reach spiritual enlightenment through meditation and centering himself, which is fine. Though Roddenberry showed little to no religion in Starfleet, other shows did eventually show that some were still being practiced, such as Chakotay's native spirituality beliefs. But they never showed one way or another anything of the sort being real or proven.
Well in this episode a character literally becomes one with the universe, has a spiritual encounter with some sort of Owl God, and dematerializes. It's never questioned. It's never investigated. It's just accepted as a thing that can happen. On a Starfleet ship in a Star Trek show. I'm truly baffled what the writers were trying to do here or how it got approved.
If they had shown it in a dream-like way where the character believes he experienced it but can't prove it, that'd be fine. But he had a witness and several people attending an earlier ceremony where he first attempted it.
They just broke an established Star Trek rule that had only been tested once before in a controversial Voyager episode that was dirided for not scientifically explaining a potentially spiritual encounter. But the keyword there was potentially.
For that reason I have to give this episode a lower rating.
Edit: Another reviewer retorded this saying that the Q are quite God like and the Pa Wraiths and Bajoran Gods are supernatural, but at the end of the day they are still explained as aliens, just on a much higher level of evolution than humans, so that doesn't quite track. The closest Trek gets to being supernatural is the Vulcan Katra. I will admit to that, it's never been fully explained in a scientific manner. But I still think something that was created initially as a reason to bring Spock back is much less weird and crazy than the spiritual ascension that took place in this episode. And it still never gets investigated or questioned, I think that's the part that bothers me most.
Edit: Another reviewer retorded this saying that the Q are quite God like and the Pa Wraiths and Bajoran Gods are supernatural, but at the end of the day they are still explained as aliens, just on a much higher level of evolution than humans, so that doesn't quite track. The closest Trek gets to being supernatural is the Vulcan Katra. I will admit to that, it's never been fully explained in a scientific manner. But I still think something that was created initially as a reason to bring Spock back is much less weird and crazy than the spiritual ascension that took place in this episode. And it still never gets investigated or questioned, I think that's the part that bothers me most.
Moist Vessel
Prismark103 April 2021
Well Star Trek: Lower Decks is not a yawnathon. Even if Mariner cannot stop yawning when Captain Durango of the USS Merced boringly describes the latest mission.
To drag an alien ship which has dangerous terraforming fluids.
As punishment for embarrassing her. Captain Freeman gives Mariner the worse possible jobs to do in the hope that she might ask for a transfer.
It does not take long for the terraforming liquid to escape because of Durango's error
Maybe Mariner and Freeman have a lot in common as mother and daughter combine to save the ship.
I still find this to be an uneven series. It is just difficult to get into it.
The opening of this episode is ropey but it finds its rhythm when the USS Cerritos is in danger. Even then for the ship to be in danger, Durango has to mess up for an inexplicable reason.
To drag an alien ship which has dangerous terraforming fluids.
As punishment for embarrassing her. Captain Freeman gives Mariner the worse possible jobs to do in the hope that she might ask for a transfer.
It does not take long for the terraforming liquid to escape because of Durango's error
Maybe Mariner and Freeman have a lot in common as mother and daughter combine to save the ship.
I still find this to be an uneven series. It is just difficult to get into it.
The opening of this episode is ropey but it finds its rhythm when the USS Cerritos is in danger. Even then for the ship to be in danger, Durango has to mess up for an inexplicable reason.
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