'Star Trek: Lower Decks' Episode 1 Review: A hilarious celebration of the franchise's fandom
Spoilers for 'Star Trek: Lower Decks' Season 1 Episode 1 'Second Contact'
At first glance, you could forgive a fan for thinking that 'Star Trek: Lower Decks' is nothing more than a series trying to cash in on the popularity of 'Rick & Morty', minus the high concept gags and crass humor. While the similarities in style of animation and overall humor are inescapably clear, the show brings a lot more to the table. It moves beyond being a mean-spirited parody into a comedy series with genuine love for the franchise, and more importantly, lead characters who are instantly endearing and show serious potential for the series ahead.
This episode, we're introduced to the lower deck crew of one of the lesser Federation ships, the USS Ceritos, as it completes the formalities of a Second Contact mission after a more important ship established the first contact. We met Ensigns Mariner (Tandy Newsome) and Boimler (Jack Quaid), and find out what makes them tick, all to a backdrop of a rather fast-acting zombie infection taking over the ship that ultimately does little more than to highlight just how self-absorbed the heads of the upper decks can be.
'Lower Decks' goes where 'Rick & Morty' can't — it makes direct fun of the franchise that it's a part of. Though 'Star Trek' has never been entirely without self-referential humor, it's surprising just how much fun the animated series has been allowed to have while being under the 'Star Trek' banner. There is a genuine love for the franchise, flaws and all, and the show is as much a celebration of the series' various incarnations as it is a parody of them.
Tandy Newsome's Ensign Mariner steals the show, as the rule-breaking slacker hiding a surprising amount of competence beneath her flagrant insubordination. She's bold, fast-talking, and has some legitimate criticisms about the way the Federation runs things. She's perfectly complemented by the inexperienced, nervous, ambitious and rules-loving Ensign Boimler, and through the course of the first episode, the two share their first real bonding moment over being basically unseen by the Upper Deck crew.
The wide-eyed Ensign Tandi (Noel Wells) is a delight, with her undimmed optimism in the face of terrible situations. Ensign Rutherford (Eugene Cordero) manages to make Romulan nerdery charismatic — a perfect stand-in for a fan more excited about the nitty-gritty of 'Star Trek' lore than romance in a way that's not a put-down. The crew members of the lower decks are almost all perfect stand-ins for fans, actually — unseen by those with starring roles whose lives they all wish they could be a better part of.
On its own merit, separate from its 'Star Trek' fandom associations, 'Lower Decks' is still a brilliantly funny animated series. The humor and action are both fast-paced enough for this first episode to be a thrill ride from beginning to end, managing to balance both well enough for the show to hit a high mark of quality entertainment. 'Star Trek: Lower Decks' is a worthy and much-needed addition to the 'Star Trek' franchise, injecting just enough humor for a franchise that can sometimes take itself a little too seriously.
The next episode of 'Star Trek: Lower Decks' airs on August 13, on CBS All-Access.