T’Lyn wins at agriculture in “Fully Dilated”; Star Trek: Lower Decks S5E7

T'Lyn wins at agriculture in "Fully Dilated"; Star Trek: Lower Decks S5E7

As a long-time fan with over two decades of Star Trek fandom under my belt, I must say that “Fully Dilated” was a delightful journey through the galaxy and back for our beloved Lower Deckers. The episode masterfully intertwined the humorous antics we’ve come to expect from this series, with the intrigue and depth that defines Star Trek itself.

While others contend that Star Trek: Lower Decks should stand on its own without comparison to other Star Trek series, I believe it’s essential for it to embody the spirit of Star Trek beyond mere costume and set aesthetics. The fifth season’s seventh episode, titled “Fully Dilated,” manages to achieve this by presenting a captivating dilemma and showcasing the unique way our Lower Deckers handle it.

Episode summary (spoilers)

The USS Cerritos commences its mission to seal a quantum rift, similar to those encountered during the season thus far. This particular rift featured an alternate purple version of the Enterprise-D, and the Cerritos team observes that remnants were scattered across Dilmer III planet below.

Captain Freeman chooses to dispatch an away team made up of Beckett Mariner, D’Vana Tendi, and T’Lyn. Currently, both Tendi and T’Lyn are being considered for the Senior Science Officer role on the Cerritos. This potential position has led to a sense of competition, with the majority of the strain coming from Tendi herself.

Before descending, the trio will find themselves, the transporters managed by Boimler and Rutherford mention that time dilation is taking place, meaning a single second on the Cerritos equates to a week on Dilmer III. Unsurprisingly, just as they transport the away team to the planet, Boimler and Rutherford inadvertently spill drinks all over the transporter console – a no-no given the prohibition of food in the transporter room.

On an unindustrialized world, Mariner, Tendi, and T’Lyn soon discover remnants of what appears to be a purple Enterprise, with fragments including the head of this universe’s Lt. Commander Data (portrayed again by Brent Spiner as the character). As Rutherford and Boimler struggle to tidy up the console within just a few minutes, our trio spends an entire year on the planet.

On the planet, Tendi is persistently seeking opportunities to surpass T’Lyn in scientific achievements, hoping to demonstrate her worth as a science officer. Concurrently, T’Lyn expands her business by growing enormous fruits and vegetables, as well as inventing a popular hair care product, amassing wealth. This situation fuels Tendi’s resentment, despite T’Lyn claiming she intended for Tendi to collaborate with her. Meanwhile, Mariner finds herself detained on numerous occasions.

Eventually, Tendi and T’Lyn share a deep conversation that fortifies their bond, the transporter system gets tidied up, Mariner manages to get out of jail, and the threesome returns home. Back on board the Cerritos, the Purple Data Head convinces Captain Freeman to appoint both T’Lyn and Tendi as co-senior science officers, thus resolving matters amicably.

Interesting detail (regarding Vulcan ears)

In this segment, the visiting team needs to undergo an alien transformation for Dilmer III. Both Tendi and Mariner show their distinctive, round ears (similar to Orion and Human ears), while T’Lyn conceals her pointed ear tips with a headband.

In certain episodes of the series, we’ve observed characters such as Captain Kirk or Counselor Troi undergoing ear surgery to assume a pointed appearance for infiltrating Romulan vessels. However, it’s unusual that Vulcan characters are seldom depicted with rounded ears. This specific episode caught my attention, and I couldn’t help but ponder the reason behind this inconsistency.

One possible explanation could be that Vulcan ears are exceptionally sensitive and therefore cannot undergo the same alterations as human ears at that time. Another possibility is that Vulcans may have a cultural prohibition against modifying their ears, rendering it more convenient to simply conceal them with round-shaped ear coverings in a pre-warp society.

Thoughts on the episode

I really enjoyed this episode. One reason is my fondness for T’Lyn, so any time she appears on screen is a treat for me. However, it wasn’t just her presence that made it great – the episode provided excellent chances for the characters to engage with each other and navigate their predicament. Additionally, Brent Spiner’s portrayal of Data was not limited to providing comic relief this time; instead, he played a significant role in driving the plot forward.

Initially, I found the early episodes this season a bit challenging, but “Lower Decks” has picked up pace and is currently delivering delightful, humorous episodes that maintain the authentic Star Trek feel. It’s a shame there are only three episodes left in the season as I’m thoroughly enjoying it now.

2024-11-30 16:23