rating: **
the story: Ransom gets zapped with weird energy and develops godlike powers.
review: Welcome back, Lower Decks! The second season opens with a fairly unambitious episode that nonetheless grounds it in traditional franchise lore, a plot device demonstrated previously in the original series ("Where No Man Has Gone Before," "Charlie X") and Next Generation ("Hide and Q"), although played very differently in Deep Space Nine (Sisko as the Emissary of the Prophets, a series-long arc that never sees him develop special powers, unlike his rival Dukat, who does when he becomes emissary for the Pah-wraiths).
And while Ransom, a key member of the command staff voiced by the biggest name of the regular cast, Jerry O'Connell (as a reminder, I list O'Connell as a guest-star when Ransom has a significant part, even though he's generally in every episode), certainly deserves an odd spotlight every now and then, that "Strange Energies" devotes its time to a supporting character in this situation is a little disappointing. Boimler, locked up as a member of another crew (Riker's Titan) at this point, would have been the obvious choice, and it almost seems as if everyone realized what a terrible mistake it was, as he's barely even in the episode.
Tendi and Rutherford instead have the significant spotlight, although nothing much comes of it except to highlight that they're pals. Even more surprising is that even Mariner doesn't have much to do!
The whole experience seems calculated just to make sure someone popping in for the season premiere doesn't feel too bogged down in series specifics, which is kind of funny, as Star Trek traditionally holds premiere and finale slots to make bold series-specific statements. Well.
criteria analysis:
- franchise - The familiar plot device is a nice reminder of the kinds of things Star Trek has done in its rich history.
- series - My quibbles aside, it's genuinely nice to see Lower Decks return with new material regardless of its overall merit.
character- I don't think there's a significant spotlight for anyone here, with Tendi coming closest (although the four episodes I've seen as of this writing suggest there was a specific push for her, and this was merely a soft start).essential- Not at all. The kind of episode you can enjoy but not worry too much about.
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