IR TV Review: STAR TREK - LOWER DECKS - EPISODE 3 (“In The Cradle Of Vexilon”) [Paramount+-S4]
Fear is an overused emotion that sometimes comes to bear against the idea of what it means to push past obstacles. With Episode 4 of Season 4 of "Star Trek: Lower Decks" entitled "In The Cradle of Vexilon", the overarching texture of the lore paints an interesting parallel to designed worlds (and maybe a little bit of "Interstellar"). The context of the story has the Captain and Commander Ransom going down to help a local race that been taken care of an ancient computer for eons but it is now glitching. The Captain in this instance wants to show she can do the work. Unlike before it is more of her intent than the Lower Decks crew (who are Lieutenants now) who cauase the problems. Boimler of course is trying to come to terms with his ideas of what he thinks he should be in this new role. As usual he overcompensates because it is simply this path of resistance that leads him to learning.
The addition of the new Vulcan character gives the stories (and Boimler) more of a steady hand (though it seems that one character is sometimes left out). The other three main characters on the ship are going through their normal bumbling antics as they too try to come to terms if being promoted is really all that different. They are just taking orders from the next tier. Mariner seems to be trying to make more of an effort almost to the point that she might take some care. These cadets are growing up so there needs to be a perspective on what actually they could become. If the crossover showed anything, it is that great abilities come from small beginnings. Not every character or person will become a Kirk or a Tuvok. Some will amount to nothing. But we are following these specific cadets for a certain reason (as they are the show) so their path (either now or tomorrow or far in the future) is now part of the lexicon. This episode is simply a chapter in that space. B
By Tim Wassberg
