[7.7/10] What a fun episode. I enjoyed both the A-story and the B-story both as comedy, character, and adventure.
Let’s start with the A-story. I got a kick out of Boimler and Rutherford believing the rumor that Mariner is secretly a Starfleet Black Ops agent. It doesn’t work if you think too hard about it, especially after a season and a half of adventures, but it has just that superficial level of plausibility given Mariner’s expertise and badassery that you can buy why Boimler and Rutheford would get lost in their own heads over it. Particularly given the into where she beats their butts mercilessly in the faux-gladiator combat, their panic over her being some kind of Section 31 mercenary type is amusing and understandable.
Where the episode lands with it is great too. Of course, when Boimler and Rutherford spill their suspicions to Mariner, they sound ridiculous. But they confess that part of the reason they bought the bartender’s line about Mariner is that they didn’t understand why a badass like her would be friends with giant nerds like them. And for Mariner’s part, I love the reveal that she spread the rumor herself, as part of her issues of feeling left behind by friends who get promoted up, trying to make being alone her choice rather than someone else’s. It’s a nice place to take things, and a way to affirm the insecurities and friendship of all involved.
Plus, this is another one that’s just reference overload, and in fun ways. We have the American Gladiators-style combat game that Riker and his dad played! We have the Mugatu that Kirk fought back in the day! We have old school “Last Outpost” Ferengi using laser whips and saying “hyoo-mahn”. We have (I think?) members of Phlox’s species! We even get a laugh out loud moment with Mariner paying homage to Tilly’s “That's the power of math!” line. I know I should be tired of Lower Decks’ reference-heavy style. But what can I say? I’m a big nerd too, and these hit me hook line and sinker.
I particularly enjoyed the Mugato/Gumato homages. The unicorn gorillas are the exact kind of creatures who looked ridiculous on a 1960s T.V. budget, but who can seem more unique and real in the medium of animation. I loved the running gag about everyone saying the name of their species differently each time, referencing fan/script confusion. I could do without the crass lazy mating gag, but it wasn’t too bad. And I particularly enjoyed the animation of them both rampaging when set free and cuddling with their young.
Plus I love the solution to the problem here. With the Ferengi imprisoning and harvesting Mugato, it’s great that for all Mariner’s badassery, her attack fails, but Rutherford and Boimler persuade the Ferengi that they could make more profit by hosting a Mugato preserve than an extraction site. The fact that their diplomacy board game comes into play is an outstanding setup and payoff, and it’s comical in that “Hermes from Futurama” sort of way.
The B-story is great too. Tendi hunting down the people who haven’t had their annual physical in order to boost her confidence/assertiveness is a good concept for one of these individual stories. Plus, I love the twist that the last person on the list is Dr. Tiana herself. The chase between Tendi and Tiana is hilarious. The animators do a superb job once more of making the good doctor act and react like an actual cat. And Tendi breaking her own arm to get the scan is gross but kind of awesome. All-in-all, a fun outing for both characters.
The C-story with Captain Freeman dealing with a scammer is fine, but nothing to write home about. The punchline with him having to shovel dung at the Mugato preserve is a mild laugh, but otherwise mild at best.
Overall, this was my favorite of the season so far, with neat stuff for all of the main four to do, and a particularly neat story for Mariner, Boimler, and Rutheford finding common ground and saving some unicorn gorillas at the same time.
Review by Andrew BloomVIP 9BlockedParentSpoilers2021-09-04T14:26:21Z
[7.7/10] What a fun episode. I enjoyed both the A-story and the B-story both as comedy, character, and adventure.
Let’s start with the A-story. I got a kick out of Boimler and Rutherford believing the rumor that Mariner is secretly a Starfleet Black Ops agent. It doesn’t work if you think too hard about it, especially after a season and a half of adventures, but it has just that superficial level of plausibility given Mariner’s expertise and badassery that you can buy why Boimler and Rutheford would get lost in their own heads over it. Particularly given the into where she beats their butts mercilessly in the faux-gladiator combat, their panic over her being some kind of Section 31 mercenary type is amusing and understandable.
Where the episode lands with it is great too. Of course, when Boimler and Rutherford spill their suspicions to Mariner, they sound ridiculous. But they confess that part of the reason they bought the bartender’s line about Mariner is that they didn’t understand why a badass like her would be friends with giant nerds like them. And for Mariner’s part, I love the reveal that she spread the rumor herself, as part of her issues of feeling left behind by friends who get promoted up, trying to make being alone her choice rather than someone else’s. It’s a nice place to take things, and a way to affirm the insecurities and friendship of all involved.
Plus, this is another one that’s just reference overload, and in fun ways. We have the American Gladiators-style combat game that Riker and his dad played! We have the Mugatu that Kirk fought back in the day! We have old school “Last Outpost” Ferengi using laser whips and saying “hyoo-mahn”. We have (I think?) members of Phlox’s species! We even get a laugh out loud moment with Mariner paying homage to Tilly’s “That's the power of math!” line. I know I should be tired of Lower Decks’ reference-heavy style. But what can I say? I’m a big nerd too, and these hit me hook line and sinker.
I particularly enjoyed the Mugato/Gumato homages. The unicorn gorillas are the exact kind of creatures who looked ridiculous on a 1960s T.V. budget, but who can seem more unique and real in the medium of animation. I loved the running gag about everyone saying the name of their species differently each time, referencing fan/script confusion. I could do without the crass lazy mating gag, but it wasn’t too bad. And I particularly enjoyed the animation of them both rampaging when set free and cuddling with their young.
Plus I love the solution to the problem here. With the Ferengi imprisoning and harvesting Mugato, it’s great that for all Mariner’s badassery, her attack fails, but Rutherford and Boimler persuade the Ferengi that they could make more profit by hosting a Mugato preserve than an extraction site. The fact that their diplomacy board game comes into play is an outstanding setup and payoff, and it’s comical in that “Hermes from Futurama” sort of way.
The B-story is great too. Tendi hunting down the people who haven’t had their annual physical in order to boost her confidence/assertiveness is a good concept for one of these individual stories. Plus, I love the twist that the last person on the list is Dr. Tiana herself. The chase between Tendi and Tiana is hilarious. The animators do a superb job once more of making the good doctor act and react like an actual cat. And Tendi breaking her own arm to get the scan is gross but kind of awesome. All-in-all, a fun outing for both characters.
The C-story with Captain Freeman dealing with a scammer is fine, but nothing to write home about. The punchline with him having to shovel dung at the Mugato preserve is a mild laugh, but otherwise mild at best.
Overall, this was my favorite of the season so far, with neat stuff for all of the main four to do, and a particularly neat story for Mariner, Boimler, and Rutheford finding common ground and saving some unicorn gorillas at the same time.