Star Trek: Lower Decks

That was fun. In addition to the Billups backstory, it was nice to see Boimler get a moment instead of being the buttmonkey.

Why wouldn't Ransom listen to Mariner? He probably cares not at all who does the centipede wrangling deal, as long as it gets done. And even though he probably would be wise to not take things Mariner says at face value, what she says about Boimler's not inherently crazy. Finally, she still probably has a little juice as Freeman's daughter.

Let's not forget Ransom has a muscle he'd like to exercise with Mariner.

The whole time Boimler was on the Titan, Mariner was answering directly to Freeman and basically Ransoms equal in all but rank. I'm sure they developed some kind of working relationship, even if Ransom was extremely jealous and felt left out.

Also Ransom surely remembers what Mariners boots feel like on his junk.

Yeah, I just thought the nepotism thing had been put to rest and outside of that, he wasn't much a fan of hers

I mean... I have some coworkers I can't stand as people, but I still respect their skills and knowledge in a professional capacity.

It's also more of a reflection of Ransom barely being aware of Boimlers existence. Some ensign stopped a rampaging scorpion monster last week? Let's give him a challenging assignment. Oh, literally anyone else says he's not ready for that? Never mind then.

Ah, I guess I can see that, then.

I tell ya, being a veteran ruins military-adjecent TV for ya.

So apparently Star Trek Picard got a reference because the look of the Daystrom Institute seen in Picard is the same that we see in this episode. Also, one of the evil computers had a CBS logo.

At one job I had I was constantly picked for special assignments for about a year, because a buddy from my new hire training got a job helping management with scheduling. He just kept saying "Ray's available," and managers that didn't care either way kept responding "sure, whatever." Eventually he found a different position, and all the plum assignments started going to his replacements friends instead. I'm sure management never noticed the difference.

New fan theory I like, it's Lore.

Hm ... it would be on-brand for him. Plus he was rescued by them. How does the theory explain him getting reassembled?

I assume Starfleet learned their lesson and wouldn't just leave Lore someplace where he could be found. Maybe somebody at the Daystrom Institute reassembled him for research, underestimating his abilities, and he escaped?

It would be interesting if Lore somehow tied into the Zhat Vash being able to orchestrate the synth attack on Mars a few years later.

Since B4 wasn't able to become the new Data just by receiving his memories, maybe they reactivated Lore to try sticking those memories into him instead? But of course those memories include how to override Federation security systems and steal a starship.

No real explanation, just speculation.

Wouldn't have to reassemble him, download him and turn him into a hologram like Data.

I'm butthurt, but I internalize it and I would never troll a non-Red Room thread.

Also the Billups backstory episode was incredible. Of course there's a fucking Renaissance Fair cosplay planet in the future.

Okay, so I have a new favorite episode of Star Trek now

Hmm, Alice Krige was Borg Queen.
That makes BQ being recast in ST: Picard all the more confusing.
Maybe she just didn't wanna be slathered in that makeup and rubber suit anymore?

I think it’s a completely new Queen.

Nope, all the sites are saying it was Krige.

In the Picard trailer?

The concept of a Borg Queen sounds confusing but I always assumed that given the hive mind nature, the "Queen" can be uploaded and download when and where she sees fit into any drone. So a different appearance never confused me.

Same.

The Borg being a hive would indicate the need for a queen but as Borg do not reproduce, they assimilate, what purpose is there for a queen? The first appearance of the Borg queen was in First Contact and it showed her various body parts being put together. She can exist as an individual or as the computer core. Multiple actors could play the same role in a single movie.

Lower Decks.

Oh, I haven’t seen it yet.

Then get outta here until ya do!

The really lighthearted feel-good vibes make me wonder how hard the next two episodes might go as we get towards the last two episodes of the season TBH

....I'll be honest, last season's ending is gonna be hard to top and my only guess is that it's gonna lead to a fight about the Titan that temporarily leaves Mariner and Boimler on the outs with one another.

Yep. It's clear that Boimler is exceedingly competent. I mean, he dominated that Borg scenario. I'm curious to see where all of this leads.

Me too. He's still the butt of the jokes at times, but in a way that shows how much he's grown from last season and how much potential he really has. Nor are the gags particularly mean-spirited. He's already gotten a better story arc than the cast of ENT and most of VOY.

Mods, please change my name to Excretus of Borg.