Star Trek: Lower Decks revives an old TOS concept and an obscure TNG reference; S5E6

As a lifelong Star Trek enthusiast who’s seen every episode from TOS to Discovery multiple times (and yes, I even have a replica of the Enterprise model hanging in my living room), I can confidently say that “Of Gods and Angles” is one of the best episodes of Lower Decks yet. It masterfully weaves together classic Star Trek lore with fresh, hilarious storytelling that only this animated series can pull off.

“In ‘Star Trek: Lower Decks,’ they excel at revitalizing characters and concepts from earlier versions of ‘Star Trek’ by offering a fresh viewpoint, as demonstrated in the episode ‘Of Gods and Angles.’

Episode summary (spoilers ahead)

This week on “Lower Decks”, the starship “Cerritos” plays host to delicate peace talks between two photonic entities, the Orbs and the Cubes. During these discussions, Commander Ransom and Captain Freeman have their hands full dealing with Ensign Olly’s recurring troubles. Interestingly, Beckett Mariner recognizes a bit of herself in Ensign Olly and steps forward to assist her in fitting into the crew more smoothly.

In addition, Mariner discovers that Olly is actually the granddaughter of a character known as Zeus, who shares a connection with Apollo, a being introduced in the second season of the classic Star Trek series, specifically in the episode “Who Mourns for Adonais?” Despite this family lineage, Olly denies possessing any powers. Consequently, both Olly and Mariner are tasked with looking after Quadralon, the adolescent offspring of the Cube’s leader.

Upon reaching Quadralon’s room, neither Quadralon nor any indication of his presence is found, prompting Mariner and Olly to investigate. During this exploration, it comes to light that Olly possesses lightning abilities which she had been concealing. Her motivation for keeping her powers hidden stems from her desire to become an engineer rather than a demigod. In reality, Olly’s powers have given her the reputation of being a “troublesome officer” due to recurring electrical malfunctions.

In the end, it is uncovered that Quadralon didn’t meet with foul play. Instead, he eloped with Radiara, the progeny of the Orb leader, as they are deeply in love. This pairing also shares that they have given birth to a unique hybrid cube/orb child, and the two photonic factions reach an accord, establishing peace.

Throughout this period, Boimler (with a little assistance from Rutherford and Tendi) endeavors to cultivate a friendship with Dr. T’Ana, as his counterpart in another universe was friends with her. Despite his efforts, Boimler eventually manages to establish this friendship, but not without suffering an injury – he must undergo surgery to remove one of Olly’s lightning bolts, which leaves him with some damage.

Notable details

There were a few references and details that really stood out to me in this episode:

1. Boimler, when acting like Rutherford is joking, says, “We got a real Ronald B. Moore over here.” This references the holographic comedian (Joe Piscopo) from the TNG episode “The Outrageous Okona,” who is listed by that name on the holodeck display. Ronald B. Moore was also a real member of the TNG effects team and had made the holodeck display graphics.
2. While the outcome is much less tragic, the conflict between the Orbs and the Cubes is similar to that of the Capulets and Montagues in William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. The episode even uses yellow/red and blue/purple color schemes for the two groups, which has been used to visually denote the two houses in media such as the 1968 film by Franco Zeffirelli.
3. Of course, we also have the reference to “Who Mourns for Adonais?” in the form of Ensign Olly. It is nice to be reminded of that classic TOS episode, but the way it actually matters to the story in this episode makes it even better.

Thoughts on the episode

In my view, this particular episode of “Lower Decks” stands out as exceptionally engaging. It manages to combine intelligent wit with a deep focus on character development and their narratives. This approach allows for a more comprehensive and fulfilling exploration of the characters’ arcs, rather than leaving them unresolved after only 25 minutes.

One noteworthy aspect of this episode is its reinterpretation of concepts from “Who Mourns for Adonais?” to serve the narrative and characters. This episode blends these original ideas with elements from Greek mythology, creating a portrayal of what it might be like to be a semi-divine being in Starfleet during the 24th Century.

“References and humor are essential components of ‘Lower Decks’. What makes it stand out is its light-hearted interpretation of ‘Star Trek’, delivered through animation, which allows it to stretch ideas further than a live-action series might manage due to limits on suspension of disbelief.

As we approach the final four episodes of the show, I really hope they’re just as enjoyable and reminiscent of “Star Trek” as this one has been.

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2024-11-23 06:23