'Star Trek: Lower Decks' Episode 1 Preview: Drunk on Romulan whiskey, Ensign mishandles Bat'leth
'Star Trek: Lower Decks' focuses on the lesser known aspects of the 'Star Trek' universe. Who boldly goes where more important ships have gone before? When daring tales of exploration are logged with Starfleet, who is in charge of cataloguing and other required red tape for the Federation? Meet the crew of the USS Ceritos as they answer the question nobody was asking — once First Contact is made, who is in charge of Second Contact?
The premiere episode of 'Star Trek: Lower Decks' titled 'Second Contact' sees the USS Ceritos establish Second Contact with the Gallardonan High Council. While First Contact is a matter of delicate diplomacy, assigned to high profile ships, Second Contact is all about the nitty gritty of establishing diplomatic relations with a new space colony in the Gallar system. All the thrill of paperwork has been left to less important ships like the USS Ceritos, and its ensigns are already getting restless.
The first look released by CBS reveals the opening scene for the first episode and introduces us to Ensign Brad Boimler (Jack Quaid) and Ensign Beckett Mariner (Tawny Newsome). While Brad obviously has dreams of one day captaining his own ship, as evidenced by the pretend Captain's Log he makes while in the closet, Beckett appears to be a lot more on board with having fun. It's hard to take things seriously when you're on the most boring beat in the galaxy and a little Romulan whiskey goes a long way. However, there's a reason why the potent liquor is banned, and Brad and Beckett find out rather quickly why illegal alcohol and Klingon battle implements are a bad mix.
You can take a look at the first look video below, which not only introduces Brad Boimler and Beckett Mariner but also offers audiences their first real look at USS Ceritos.
Though Second Contact is a low stakes game, don't put it past the crew of the USS Ceritos to somehow make a dangerous mess of things during Second Contact. Diplomacy is delicate work no matter what stage of it you're in, and there's never a situation that can't be made catastrophically worse by a drunken Ensign in the wrong place, at the wrong time.
This episode of 'Star Trek: Lower Decks' airs on August 6 on CBS All Access.