First First Contact
- Episode aired Oct 14, 2021
- TV-MA
- 29m
The U.S.S. Cerritos is tasked to aid an Excelsior-class starship on a first contact mission.The U.S.S. Cerritos is tasked to aid an Excelsior-class starship on a first contact mission.The U.S.S. Cerritos is tasked to aid an Excelsior-class starship on a first contact mission.
- Dr. T'Ana
- (voice)
- Capt. Sonya Gomez
- (voice)
- First Officer
- (voice)
- …
- Commander Mandel
- (voice)
- Combadge
- (voice)
- …
- Billups
- (voice)
- Lieutenant Kayshon
- (voice)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaLycia Naff provides the voice of Captain Sonya Gomez, having earlier played the role in two second season episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987). In those episodes, Ensign Gomez is a rookie engineering officer aboard the Enterprise-D.
- GoofsCaptain Freeman says that she will tell sickbay to "brace for hangovers." Starships in the late 24th century serve synthehol, which does not cause hangovers.
However, the celebrations mentioned would be planetside. The Laperians probably still ingest alcohol, which is what would cause real hangovers.
- Quotes
[Tendi & Rutherford are waiting for Boimler to surface from the Cetacean Ops officers' water tank]
Ensign D'Vana Tendi: He should have come up already.
[Matt & Kimolu, two cetaceans, bring an unconscious Boimler up from the bottom of their tank]
Ensign D'Vana Tendi: Boimler!
Lt. (j.g.) Kimolu: [squeaking] He's not breathing!
Lt. (j.g.) Matt: [squeaking] His blowhole's broken!
Ensign D'Vana Tendi: He's in arrest!
Ensign Samanthan Rutherford: We have to get him to sickbay!
Ensign D'Vana Tendi: There's no time!
[She starts CPR on Boimler]
Lt. (j.g.) Matt: [squeaking] Don't let him dry out!
Lt. (j.g.) Kimolu: [squeaking] Spray him with water!
I think the episode's best move, as far as Lower Decks is concerned, is adding Sonya Gomez into this episode. I had to look it up to be sure, but she appears as an Ensign in two episodes of The Next Generation. Reusing an old obscure character like that is a very Lower Decks move; to not just bring her back, but to promote her to Captain is a move that connects very nicely to the thread of the lower-deckers' ambitions (mostly Boimler's) to rank up. A nice subtle nod to the upward mobility that is very possible in Starfleet, even as we watch the main characters struggle and work hard to prove themselves where any misstep feels like a huge failure. It's a very subtle, but nice acknowledgement that imperfection is rarely a hindrance to progress and advancement, which feels like one of the themes of Lower Decks. (Who would have ever thought about an animated irreverent Star Trek comedy having thematic elements?) The lower-decker's competence and dedication is what makes them eventually worthy of their own commands, and not necessarily the direct pursuit of attention from the bridge officers.
After season 1, Lower Decks was, for me a fun show, and I enjoyed it for that. After season 2, I love this show, and really think it is a great Star Trek show. I'm excited to see where season 3 goes and hope they can keep up the good work and keep pushing it forward.
- dawinter-74088
- Apr 5, 2022
Details
- Runtime29 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix