'Star Trek: Lower Decks' Episode 2 Review: Boimler and Mariner offer wholesome comedy that hits the mark
Spoilers for 'Star Trek: Lower Decks' Season 1 Episode 2 - 'Envoys'
For those who enjoyed the pilot episode of 'Star Trek: Below Decks' and wondered whether or not the series would hold up, the show's second episode, 'Envoys,' seems to indicate that it does. Holding to the same tone and quality of the first episode, the show continues to explore the lives of the less-important crew members in a manner that is very 'Star Trek' and is also very funny.
The episode follows the same formula as the pilot. Ensigns Beckett Mariner (Tandy Newsome) and Brad Boimler (Jack Quaid) pit book smarts and procedure vs street smarts and a more lackadaisical approach to the rules while on a very succinct version of a typical 'Star Trek' adventure. In the B-plot, Ensigns D'Vana Tendi (Noël Wells) and Sam Rutherford (Eugene Cordero) feature in some hitherto unexplored aspect of life as a crew member on-board a Starfleet ship. Though it's only two episodes in, it appears to be a solid enough formula for the show to rely on for most of the first season and might just continue doing so in the episodes ahead.
Beckett Mariner is clearly the series' protagonist. Though the A-plot is ostensibly about bolstering the confidence of the library-loving Boimler who has little experience on the field, the best lines, and the most interesting back story clearly both belong to Mariner. It's obvious that she has led the most interesting life on the lower deck crew, and what's more, she's the only one on the show who moves the plot forward in any significant manner, as opposed to being reactive to the show's events. Her and Boimler are perfect foils for each other, giving us low-stakes and wholesome comedy that nonetheless hits the mark every time. There's not much to be said for the story itself, as Boimler and Mariner attempt to track down a drunk Klingon diplomat, but fleshing out Mariner as one of the most competent heroes onboard the USS Cerritos is a good call for an early episode.
Rutherford, in the meantime, is exploring new career options so he has more time to spend with Tendi. Watching the pair is a delight -- even if they haven't shared all that much time together on screen. The two are somewhere between parody and earnest ribbing of the optimism and supportiveness of a Starfleet crew that has been a major part of classic 'Star Trek' television series, and it's good to see that 'Lower Decks' isn't just a workplace comedy about terrible bosses. Rutherford makes an earnest attempt at spending more time with Tendi, and when he fails at that, Tendi works to make an attempt to spend time with him instead. It's a story that's just as sweet as it sounds.
Despite its animation style evoking a lot of irreverent, adult-oriented, and parodic animated series out there, 'Lower Decks' is wholesome, earnest fun. Its focus is less about poking fun at 'Star Trek' than it is being a family-friendly 'Star Trek' series that's comedy-oriented. It continues to do exactly what it sets out to do, and while it may be playing it safe, it works and is highly entertaining in the process.
The next episode of 'Star Trek: Lower Decks' airs August 20, on CBS All Access.
