This week saw the release of the series premiere of Star Trek: Lower Decks. So far we have given it the TrekMovie recap and review treatment and analyzed all the easter eggs and references. The episode “Second Contact” was also the subject of both of our podcasts with the teams from All Access Star Trek and Shuttle Pod discussing it at length.
But there is even more to cover, specifically with the preview of season one of Lower Decks which was shown at the end of the episode (and posted yesterday on the official site). There is a whole lot going on with the “This Season On Star Trek: Lower Decks” promo, with quick cuts and events shown out of order. We have freeze framed and sorted things around into some categories to unveil the secrets. Obviously… SPOILERS.
Edosians, and Jellies, and Borg, Oh My!
There were some familiar-looking aliens popping up during the promo. One appears to be an Edosian seen in silhouette, and we get a look at one of his three legs as well. Not much is known about this race, so if they are long-lived like Vulcans, it’s possible this Edosian could be Arex, from Star Trek: The Animated Series. The two shots of this scene also appear to show Boimler out of phase — and for some reason, with a dog.
There is also a brief shot of a Jellyfish-like space vessel lifeform that could be the same species encountered by the USS Enterprise-D in the TNG series premiere “Encounter at Farpoint.”
There is a brief shot of some Borg, viewed through Rutherford’s cybernetic appliance.
A Klingon General with an eye patch
We also got our first good look at a Klingon. Boimler announces he is taking General K’Rin (a guess on the spelling) down to a planet named Talgana IV (again guessing). This Klingon had a bolted-on eyepatch just like General Chang from Star Trek VI. In the series premiere, Mariner mentioned how she got some of her shore leave contraband from a Klingon with a bolted-on eyepatch, so this is likely that same Klingon.
Big trouble in Little Qo’noS
There are a few shots from an away mission with Boimler (in dress uniform) and Mariner, some of which we saw in a previous trailer, showing them visiting a “little Qo’noS” enclave on a planet. It is possible this is related to taking the Klingon general down to Talgana IV. It looks like the mission goes awry at some point, with their shuttle leaving without them, dropping a box with Klingon symbols on it along the way.
We can see the pair of Boimler (still in dress uniform) and Mariner running through the streets, perhaps chasing the shuttle. Also, the locals on this planet don’t wear a lot of clothing.
There is an encounter in an alien bazaar where Klingon weapons are sold, and Boimler gets a bear-hug from an angry alien holding what looks to be Klingon gagh.
…and more running
Rutherford and Tendi are also seeing sprinting through an alien market, wearing ponchos to blend in?
The horn of truth
There are some shots of our four lower decker ensigns in an alien courtroom, akin to the one from Star Trek VI.
However this tribunal isn’t with Klingons, but a new alien race. Although they also appear to like a nice bolted-on head appliance.
The ensigns are told they “must only speak the truth” through a special horn, which Rutherford uses to let the aliens know that he’s “Happy to be here!”
Danger on the crystal planet
There are quite of few clips in the promo from what looks to be a standard second contact mission lead by Commander Ransom on a planet featuring large crystals.
But things don’t seem to go as planned as the aliens yell “Starfleet scum!” and starting throwing spears, injuring a Bolian crewmember. Maybe they didn’t like their gift.
Mariner shows off some of her fighting skills here as well.
Attack of the growth
We see a spreading infection that travels through the ship’s tractor beam.
This growth transforms parts of the ship and has explosive properties for Tendi and another crewperson.
Parts of the ship also get flooded, and Tendi goes for a swim.
Spacewalks are easy
We saw spacewalking in the first episode “Second Contact,” and the season one preview showed there is more to come. Rutherford explains to Tendi how space walks are easy, just “float and magnet, float and magnet,” which doesn’t really calm her nerves. Note all the floating debris outside the windows.
We also see the pair of them floating and magnet-ing through the debris field, which includes a large medical canister with the same markings as those seen in the closet where Boimler was doing his “captain’s log” in “Second Contact.”
We also see a couple of shots of Mariner doing her own spacewalking among a number of different starships. This may be a different episode as we don’t see the same debris field.
Fighting the bugs
There are a few shots on the bridge at red alert when the crew is facing off against a scary bug-like alien.
Both Captain Freeman and Commander Ransom can be seen holding a star chart featuring the Federation/Romulan border and Neutral Zone.
In the middle of this crisis, we see that Boimler and Mariner are manning stations on the bridge, with Boimler not impressing anyone by meekly suggesting “evasive maneuver 88.”
Captain Freeman: Sulu fan, moon destroyer
We also get another shot on the bridge at a different time. Here we see Shaxs upset he isn’t being allowed to shoot at another ship’s warp core, instead Captain Freeman calls for, “evasive pattern Sulu-alpha.”
The captain is also seen next to a display showing “Lunar Demolition” and talking about how “doing the impossible is what we do.”
Thug Ensign life
As the show’s lead, there are even more moments with Mariner, including one where she exits Freeman’s ready room throwing Vulcan salutes, gangsta-style.
We see Mariner run into some more trouble, including being taken for a ride atop a turbolift she was working on and being lowered into a vat of giant eels.
All Access free month promo
CBS All Access also announced a one-month free promotion. For a limited time, try 1 month FREE!
New episodes of Star Trek: Lower Decks premiere on Thursdays on CBS All Access in the U.S. and on CTV Sci-Fi Channel in Canada, where it’s also available to stream on Crave. It has not yet been announced where and when Lower Decks will be available outside of the USA and Canada.
Keep up with all the news and reviews from the new Star Trek Universe on TV at TrekMovie.com.