I was waiting for your reaction to this final ! 3 things : 1. I love how much young Mariner is so much like Boimler in the first episodes, so wide eye and having fun learning new things at the academy ! It's kinda adorable !! 2. Can't believe they brought back Wil Weaton for that episode...he tries to sound younger but it's really hard. It was still pretty good ! 3. Season 4 of Lower decks found a way to add to the Orion culture and made it more interesting, that trial by barter was great ! Can't wait to see what will happens to Tendi in season 5 !
A favorite small detail is that this season, the Cerritos succeeded in the finale by playing to its strengths: it used its oversized engines to tow a huge thing.
We finally get to see Boimler in THE CHAIR and he’s amazing! And Mariner in command of her own ship, solving things without violence. (That’s serious character growth)
Mariner in this episode (and the end of the previous one) basically embodied everything that a Starfleet officer is supposed to be. She's been held back because of her self-sabotaging, but she is absolutely fit to hold any position in the fleet.
Just because "A mathematically perfect redemption" is the weakest of the bunch doesn't mean it's bad. It just means that every other episode is above average.
Easter Egg notes: 1) Mriner would be about 18 in the flashback, so she's 31 now (older than the other LDs). 2) Interiors of Nick's ship are similar to the JJ-Verse Enterprise's. 3) The manual steering column Mariner uses is referencing Star Trek: Insurrection. 4) the maze of ice steroids in referencing Titan AE (a non-Trek reference). 5) The cockpit of the Ceritos' Captain's Yacht resembles that of a Bajoran defense vessel from DS9. 6) The Orion ship that arrives for Tendi at the end is the same sort that the Entertprse battled in an episode of the original TOS animated series.
In TNG 1x19 Coming of Age, Wesley takes a competitive Starleet Academy entrance exam. One of the other candidates remarks that Wes doesn't look like he meets the age requirement, and Wes replies that he'll be 16 next month. That implies that you can be as young as 16 to enter the academy.
This finale mirrors the previous season's. Instead of Mariner saving everyone after they turned on her, the crew unites to save Mariner. And I think it shows that Captain Freeman learned from her mistake last season. In season three, she came down very hard on Mariner because Mariner embarrassed her and threatened her career. Here, she was willing to throw away her entire career to save Mariner (Freeman grew a lot in season four- she seems much more competent to me than in the earlier seasons, and less concerned with her own ambition and insecurities).
Mariner finished her arc, T`Lyn is fully part of the crew and outright 'happy' to be Tendi´s scienece bestie now. Speaking of her...she could just meet with her sis, tell her "Here I am...and bye! You didn´t specify in what condition the battleship you gave us was and I didn´t say for how long I´d stay." Rutherford uses the Twain maneuver, fun. And then Boims does his first time in the chair and he does it well. Just don´t let it end here...LD must go on! P.S. it´s kinda fun how the Romulans saved the Binars, part of a scheme or did they actually grow to like each other?
Out of curiosity any idea on how soon you might be releasing that "member only" reaction to the "Those Old Scientists" cross over to the general puiblic? I have watched all the rest of the Lower Decks reactions and really wanna see what you thought of that episode but cant really afford to start paying extra to individual RU-vid channels.
In regards to the entire command crew leaving on an away mission, it's not like less extreme versions of that happend in the live action series... really often.
7:49 "what are you on?" People, me included, were losing their minds when they saw the ship Mariner stole, thinking it was a Steamrunner class (introduced in Star Trek First Contact) In actuality, the creator confirmed it's a new class call the Sabrerunner - the look of a Steamrunner (and based on the Steamrunner CGI model from Star Trek Picard), but scaled down to the size of the smaller Sabre class (also from First Contact)
27:44 "she seemed very confident at the end: 'you've got this'" Given the scene between Captain Freeman and the admiral - how command is pleased they opened diplomatic relations with the Orions, and then "there's one last piece of business, regarding your lieutenant..." The prevailing theory is command gave Tendi a mission
@@TalesoftheBoojum Yeah, I don't think Mariner would ever forgive herself if something happened to Tendi while she was on Orion, especially since Tendi's only there because she was helping Mariner.
Regarding Prodigy: I was slow getting through the first season because the plot is definitely aimed at a young audience. That doesn't mean it's poorly written...the writing is excellent, but the plot in the first half of the first season is definitely juvenile (the writers knew how to write a properly juvenile plot for a juvenile audience). However, as the plot accumulates and the characters actually _mature,_ it rises above that level, and the second half of the first season gets pretty darned good. In fact, one episode, "All the World's a Stage" is one of the finest episodes of any Trek series. I know you're willing to jump right into it, but if someone was doubtful, I'd tell them to watch "All the World's a Stage" to buy into the series, then start from the beginning.
28:30 I think it's not unreasonable for Brad to have been in the Captain's chair. Not only did Captain Freeman want her closest friends with her to command the yacht, but having a 'lowly' LG in command of the Cerrito's would provide some degree of deniability if the upper echelons of Star Fleet decided to seek retribution.
I could see something like that happening, maybe, but perhaps with a slight variation. At the end of season two they raised the possibility that if Carol were promoted to a bigger ship, she would want to take most of her senior staff with her, but leave Jack to take command of the Cerritos (apparently Command likes to treat California classes as a career dead-end, but Carol's scored some big wins this season, so she might have more clout with the admiralty now). So Jack could become Captain, with Boims, Beckett, Tendi, Rutherford, and T'lyn filling some of the other vacant senior officer slots. That's about the only way I can see them all staying together in the medium-term. Long-term though they kind of have to break up for a while if they want to pursue their career goals- at least Boimler and Tendi both want a captaincy of their own, so I could see Boimler and Tendi each getting a ship. Boimler would likely request Mariner as part of his senior staff/first officer, Rutherford would probably want to go with Tendi as her Chief Engineer, and then T'lyn could go with either.
It has been a pleasure doing a re-watch along with you over the last few months, sad to see if over ... for now. I really liked how the episode ended, emotional and then the Tendi music playing, well done LWD.
I have been looking forward to seeing you reaction and hearing your thoughts on this one. Its clear the staff and writers have a firm grasp of the character arcs and star trek history. I'm also looking forward to more TOS and a return to TAS as the time comes. Thank you for bringing us along on your journey.
If they have only the next season (here's hoping), the best storyline would be Sectrion 31's RepliBoimler against Tendy's Orion Sindycate, with the Cerritos caught inthe middle. But let's hopefor a lot more seasons. The good new is that now you can enjoy Prodigy.
Besides getting Tendi back (which will probably happen in the first few episodes of the season), and maybe getting Tendi/Rutherford together (which could happen at the same time), William Boimler is probably the biggest loose end left to tie up. It would also tie into a lot of the show's themes about what Starfleet is (or is not) supposed to be, and how the characters (especially Brad) have grown over the show's run.
Here's the thing your mind is doing in regards to figuring out their ages... Not everyone at Starfleet Academy is the same age bracket. Your mind is doing that thing where its like "Oh, you're a senior in high school, you must be around 17-18". This is less like school or college and more like joining the military. Some folks join by the time they turn 18 but some folks enlist at later ages, up to 35 for the US Army. The academy begins accepting individuals of many races who are comparable to 16 Terran standard years of age, there is no set upper age limit. It is a four-year officer training program. So if you go in at the minimum age, you'd graduate at roughly 20-21. Nick looked roughly Wesley's age, but was likely older. Wil Wheaton and Robert Duncan McNeill are 8 years apart in age as actors. There could be a similar or slightly smaller age gap between Nick and Wesley. Plus Nicks been roughing it outside of comfy Federation care, so he's likely aged a little rough.
HaHa It was actually in front of my blue screen but I forgot to change my defaults for rendering and...haunted cocktail is what we get :) As always, thank you for watching, my friend!
16:45 Such a great moment from Mariner. She once made murder fantasies on the holodeck about her own mother, now she's desperately trying to save a guy who just tried to kill her.
The ship that mariner hijacked is a Steamrunner class escort. You saw these things briefly in Star Trek first contact. It is essentially a larger platform for the Defiant class mission profile. And part of Starfleet’s anti-Borg initiative. Fortunately, it was mass produced to participate in the Dominion war. A suitable replacement for the aged Maranda class.
That's what I, and most everyone else, first assumed. But the creator confirmed it's actually a Sabrerunner class - Steamrunner look, scaled down to the size of the smaller Sabre class.
5:57 One of the most funniest joke within Star Trek franchise, in my humble opinion. It is like if someone pointed out that MCU Steve Rogers (Captain America) looks like Johnny Storm (Human Torch). All because both characters were played by Chris Evans.
Literally watched your Playlist for this show 5 times or more and I will continue at least until the next season is done I love this show and your passion for it
I’m very happy to know that Star Trek Prodigy is next. I just binged the 2nd season and it was so very good! I am looking forward to sharing those episodes with you
Now that you're caught up with "Lower Decks" and I'm caught up with your reactions to all four seasons, having discovered your channel last week, I want to recommend to you "Lower Decks'" spiritual cousin, "The Orville." It's also a comedy about the crew of a support ship from the creator of an animated series. Like "Lower Decks," "The Orville" quickly evolves past buffoonery-based gags into solid character- and trope-based comedy that forms a foundation for some sincere and genuine "Star Trek." Or at least as genuine as it can be without causing a swarm of attorneys do descend upon the land from the Black Mountain. Anyway, I really think you'll enjoy it. (Definitely looking forward to the "Prodigy" reactions, too, which I'm sure you'll also enjoy.)
17:18 First of all, in the way, he did found his place among the stars. Secondly, his last words were hilarious, truthful and unique. Thirdly, it is kind of sad that out of all such once ambitious and promising cadet group only Beckett is know to survive now.
There is one way I can see them all staying on the same ship, at least for a while- if Carrol ever gets her promotion to a capital ship and took most of her command staff with her (like she was hoping to do in season two), and Ransom got promoted to Captain of the Cerritos, then it would open up several senior officer positions on the Cerritos. Otherwise they probably split up soon, yeah.
Like Babylon 5 and The Expanse, if the writers actually conceived a coherent 5-season story with its beginning, middle, and end, I would love it. Japanese manga has that format, and I think it has worked very well when streaming series do it that way.
I'm glad we got a season 5, but sad that it's the last season. I do hope there's maybe a timeskip showing our LDs later in their careers, but don't know if they'll go that far. I wish the effort to #SaveLowerDecks was bigger, like the massive furor for Prodigy.
the solution to the shield was brilliant. i wonder if t'lyn suggested it. saddled with a broken hulk of a battleship, simply use it a really big rock. logical.
The idea was that Lower Deckers are similar enough that lifestyle bond is stronger than race bond. Enough that Locarno, a character described as charismatic (even if he didn't behave as such in either show) could sell - on the short term. It couldn't work long term - and it didn't. Putting a trusted lieutenant in charge of the ship while the command crew do the job is an old Star Trek Formula. Kirk would often leave Sulu in command of the Enterprise, for example.
16:56 beautiful cg model of the captain's yacht! If anything it looks too sleek and modern compared to the Cerritos! My headcannon is it got destroyed one of the times that the Cerritos got wrecked, and so they replaced it with a brand new model.
They brought back Lacarno just to kill him off? I don't think I like that resolution. I watched the ST: TNG episode "The First Duty," and Lacarno did not seem to be to be too far from redemption. I think the real reason Voyager writers created Tom Paris instead of using Lacarno was because Larcano was a character created by a writer, not the show runner. This means the writer would get residuals for every episode of voyager and beyond that the character was in.
"Nick shouldn't be that old - he's about Wesley's age." Wil Wheaton is about to turn 52 and Robert Duncan McNeill is 8 years older.... In Star Trek timeline this is 2381 - 13 years earlier is 2368 which makes Wesley 20 (born in 2348 according to Memory Alpha and was 15 during Encounter at Far Point (tracks with the seasons of TNG and Wil's actual age)- There appears to be no set age for when someone enters Starfleet Academy and Nick seems to be older than Wesley if we used the actual age of RDM Nick would be 41 - even if we don't and just make him a couple of years older than Wesley he's still pushing 40. Nick seems to have been through some shit so it may have aged his appearance. For once you seem to be claiming you're not "old".😄😄😄😄😂😂😂😂
How dare you!?! :D I guess I was going by Mariner. Assuming admittance into the Academy at 18 and Nick was 4/5 years older (+ 13) drops him in his mid-thirties. I'm going with your suggestion and chalking it up to a 'hard life' :) As always, thank you for watching, my friend!
tom paris made mistakes, but he faced up to his responsibility. and when offered a chance to be better, he took it. nick locarno spent years blaming others for HIS mistake, stewing in his own fantasy world.
I agree the episode doesn't quite work. Locarno should have been more competent and menacing rather than a dumb maniac. Playing big bad straight would have worked much better.
5:16 This is the point: it was dead end from the start. Nick is smart and charismatic enough to turn frustrated crew of few dozen ships against their respective captains. But he is too blended to see how fragile such alliance is and he will not be remembered as bold and talented leader of rebellious nomadic space nation. But rather stupid and overambitious loser.
Good morning, @WarpReactor and friends ☕ At last we get to the epic s4 finale, and @WarpReactor has aquired a yard! Cheers! 🍹 The ever charismatic Nick Locarno has done it again and convinced others to do something stupid. In the end, he finally gets a different version of his desired Kovoord Starburst...in the stlye of the Wrath Of Khan, however....yikes! In flashback form, we actually catch a glimpse of never seen before, tragic character, Josh Albert as he dashes off away from the rest of Nova Squadron. All our LDers get their chance to shine here, but none more than Boimler, Mariner and Tendi. Still, Rutherford is instrumental in designing a very brash plan to get our heros where they need to be. Yes, Rutherford, he does look just like Tom Parris. How about Acting Captain Boimler?! My goodness, he fits the roll well! Tendi knows her Orion traditions and leaders and is able to manipulate her sister, D'Erica, who has aquired leadership of the family syndicate after Tendi renounced her leadership while still retaining her honorary title, into a contest to help the cause of the Ceritos. The family always wants D'Vana back in her "rightful" role in the family buisness though, and things don't quite go as hoped. Tendi's self sacrifice is moving, but painful for her and us all. Mariner steps up and risks herself to save the day, calling out Locarno across subspace in a moment that has become the meme of the #SaveLowerDecks movement...."This guy sucks!" Becomes "These guys suck!" Re: those that prematurely cancelled the series. Our favorite recurring guest charater, T'Lyn, makes a decision as she has found real friends on board the Ceritos. Yes, as we have seen from their years in Starfleet, Mariner and Rutherford are anywhere from 5 to 8 years older than the other two. And now, the long wait seems longer than ever. It'll be a long road, getting from here to there when we meet again and pick up s5. Until then, and I'll miss you all, LLAP & Vulc'n'Roll, my friends. 🖖🤘🥂
Fantastic as always, my friend :) Looking forward to your 'hype posts' for Season 5! Thank you for always being such an amazing, positive force for us! Peace and Long Life! Vulc 'N' Roll!
