Star Trek: Prodigy S1, E15 – “Masquerade”
The title of the episode, “Masquerade,” is a subtle hint to the big reveals we get. While trapped inside the Romulan Neutral Zone, the Protostar crew encounters a rogue geneticist who sheds light on Dal’s past.
This was a chapter that offered us significant movement in one of the show’s original questions by simply answering it. But it also exposed other surprises we didn’t anticipate.
We’re now 75% through the first season. With 5 episodes left, we have unexpected wrinkles that have added to the intrigue and curiosity of the viewing experience. Continue reading Star Trek: Prodigy S1, E15 – “Masquerade”
Star Trek: Prodigy S1, E14 – “Crossroads”
“Crossroads” is an appropriately named episode because that’s exactly where the crews of both the Protostar and the Dauntless find themselves, at a crossroads. Their respective quests have them converging on an outpost at the edges of Federation space. When Gwyn, Dal, and Jankom Pog, each encounter a member of Adm. Janeway’s crew the experience doesn’t improve matters at all. Continue reading Star Trek: Prodigy S1, E14 – “Crossroads”
Star Trek: Prodigy S1, E13 – “All the World’s a Stage”
“All the World’s a Stage” is a wonderful combination of an homage to TOS and subtle critique of Star Trek lore. Just as our heroes’ have chosen to avoid contacting Starfleet for fear of destroying them with the Diviner’s weapon, … Continue reading Star Trek: Prodigy S1, E13 – “All the World’s a Stage”
Star Trek: Prodigy S1, E11 & 12 – “Asylum” & “Let Sleeping Borg Lie”
Together, “Asylum” and “Let Sleeping Borg Lie” get us off to on the right foot for the second half of Prodigy’s first season. “Asylum” reveals how much Dal and his crew have matured following freeing of the enslaved on Tars … Continue reading Star Trek: Prodigy S1, E11 & 12 – “Asylum” & “Let Sleeping Borg Lie”
Star Trek: Lower Decks S3, E10 – “The Stars At Night”
Much of the narrative we’ve been following throughout Season Three of Lower Decks comes to an entertaining, but abrupt, conclusion in it’s finale episode, “The Stars At Night.” However, some of the emotional stakes that were raised so high only last week are quickly resolved. The status quo is simply reset to where things were at the end of “Grounded.” But on a positive note, “The Stars at Night” does give us another clue to what probably will be the major threat coming in Season Four. Continue reading Star Trek: Lower Decks S3, E10 – “The Stars At Night”
Star Trek: Lower Decks S3, E9 – “Trusted Sources”
In “Trusted Sources,” a reporter visits the Cerritos during the test trials of a new project developed by Captain Freeman. The media scrutiny puts the Captain more on edge than usual.
This is the penultimate episode of the season. As such, it sets up what could be a major change in the status quo for Mariner. We don’t know how these changes will play out but we are assured episode 10 will bring to a close a few things raised during Season Three while opening the door to new possibilities in Season Four. Continue reading Star Trek: Lower Decks S3, E9 – “Trusted Sources”
Star Trek: Lower Decks S3, E8 – “Crisis Point II: Paradoxus
”Crisis Point II: Paradoxus” is a perfect sequel to one of the series top-five episodes from Season One. But that’s not all. Lower Decks is nothing if it isn’t self-referential to Star Trek lore. It’s packed with Easter eggs, visual references, and lines of dialogue that comment on something from canon. “Crisis Point II: Paradoxus” is like a double-stuffed Oreo; twice as delicious. Continue reading Star Trek: Lower Decks S3, E8 – “Crisis Point II: Paradoxus
Star Trek: Lower Decks S3, E7 – ”A Mathematically Perfect Redemption”
”A Mathematically Perfect Redemption” is probably the most divisive episode Lower Decks has ever given us. It’s also the Lower Decks episode that seems more fitting to “Rick and Morty,” an irreverent, but popular animated show associated with Mike Mahan. From a non-scientific survey of friends and others the majority of reactions range somewhere from mixed to awful, with a minority of opinions seeing it in a more favorable light. There’s also some varying points of view about the quality of this episode amongst the Age of Discovery hosts. So it should be understood that the analysis this week reflects these differences of opinions. Continue reading Star Trek: Lower Decks S3, E7 – ”A Mathematically Perfect Redemption”
Star Trek: Lower Decks S3, E6 – “Hear All, Trust Nothing”
Lower Decks offers up another solid episode with “Hear All, Trust Nothing.” It was a loving return to DS9 that captured some of the charm and a lot of the details of the beloved series. “Hear All, Trust Nothing” continues a trend started last week of humor, compelling story, and significant character development while also creating probably the most joy-filled, nerdy, fan service episode of the series. The three-prong story doesn’t feel overstuffed in any way. If the remaining four episodes are as good, Season Three could end stronger than it began. Continue reading Star Trek: Lower Decks S3, E6 – “Hear All, Trust Nothing”
Star Trek: Lower Decks S3, E5 – “Reflections”
“Reflections” is the best episode of Season Three so far. Over two and a half seasons Lower Decks has kept us intrigued with two internal mysteries simmering just below the surface. Periodically allowing one or the other to heat up with an offhand reference, or as the main plot of an episode. Last week, we got a quick reminder of Shaxs unexplained resurrection. This week, we received a major advancement in the mystery behind Rutherford’s cybernetic implant. This was some of the best writing of the series to date. Continue reading Star Trek: Lower Decks S3, E5 – “Reflections”