Star Trek: Lower Decks is back on Prime, and Strange Energies encapsulates the series values perfectly

The USS Cerritos is back and the story remind us how season 1 ended. On the Cerritos, Ensign Beckett Mariner (Tawny Newsome) is her usual would-be maverick self, and her relationship with her mother Captain Carol Freeman (Dawnn Lewis) is much improved (discounted certain holodeck sequences). This has caused some friction with the rest of the bridge crew, but on the lower decks, they’re still dealing with the impact of Ensign Brad Boimler (Jack Quaid) leaving to join Ryker’s ship.

The episode is almost entirely focussed on the Cerritos, with only brief snatches of Boimler onboard the Titan. We suspect the next episode may swap the focus, and wonder how long it will be before Boimler is back on the Cerritos.

Strange Energies

As to season 2 opener Strange Energies, it does something the current generation of Star Trek is doing well — referring back to the show’s past. Picard has 7of9 as a character, Discovery had pre-Kirk Spock on the Enterprise with Captain Pike (and we’re still waiting for that spin-off), and the most recent series had other nods back to classic episodes. So it is here as (no spoiler) the show goes right back to the very first episodes of the original Star Trek, and even points out what happened in that story in case you don’t remember! What happens next is pure cartoon madness, and pure Lower Decks. The official Star Trek site has an episode recap with spoilers if you’re interested.

So far we’re pleased with how season 2 of Lower Decks is shaping up, though it’s only one episode. We understand many Trek fans weren’t sure about the series; in our view if you enjoy it. you’ll enjoy Strange Energies, but is might not be enough to convert sceptics.

The good news? The next episode arrives on Prime this Wednesday!