Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 4
Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 3
SPOILERS TOTAL. You've been warned.
X01: Twovix 2023 September 7
(First watched 2023-09-09) I like how freely Lower Decks owns up to it when they want to do something like this episode. Saying things like (not direct quotes) "I'm not sure this will work, but it's a goofy Voyager type solution so I'll try it." or "After solving a series of Voyager-themed problems." They just... took recognizable things from at least 20 Voyager episodes and threw them all in a blender.
And FINALLY straight up calling out Janeway for the murder of Tuvix. I was a bit worried when they recreated the problem for laughs since it would inevitably lead to similar problems... but they kind of scaled it up to the point of absurdity, where leaving the combined entity alone wasn't a meaningful option, so really circumvented the moral issue.
Very proud to see most of our leads get promotions. Except, very notably, Rutherford. I assume he's being kept behind (for now) so they can get some story use out of it? See him have to deal with new ensign bunkmates or whatever.
X02: Episode name 2023 September 7
(First watched 2023-09-?) Well, Rutherford did go through some stuff, though more focused than I expected. Just a rivalry with a new fast-moving ensign.
Seems a very Lower Decks solution for them to get rooms, but end up (partially) bunkmates by preference anyway. Boimler's first room looked like he lived next to a Kenny Rogers, though I'm glad to see it confirmed later on he was just a dumbass who didn't know how to work his windows.
That new ensign who went on the mission with Mariner and Ransom. I don't even remember dude's name, but I wonder if we see him again? That there are now characters like him with a lower rank and less experience than all of our leads is a new development that can be played with.