IR TV Review: STAR TREK - LOWER DECKS - EPISODE 9 [Paramount+-S4]

The aspect of character bridges have a way of working themselves out when it comes to brass tracks. With Episode 9 of Season 4 of "Star Trek: Lower Decks", the effort revolves in the idea that everything has a cause and effect. The issue becomes how it is resolved. Here the context is specifically Mariner. However, her reasoning for alot of her actions comes down to circumstances. Unlike Torres in "Voyager", where her anger and rebellious nature was genetic, the progression here is much more relatable but it is interesting how it is resolved. An interesting basis is also the essence of Tom Paris who has a resemblance in Mariner as well but for the exact same reasons (there is another parallel in the actual episode from TNG). The parallel story here also speaks to something that has been percolating all season.

But what the episode tends to do is bridge everything else despite the path it takes to get there. This episode reflects a long game depending where the end point is. The previous episode spoke to redemption but the bigger context within this episode leading into the season finale is understanding. Usually compassion works from the inward out with this group of characters but in an interesting way through a specific character it works in reverse. Of course the consequence becomes when does the mask one puts up become the actual face only they (and everyone else) know. There are of course some deeper cuts in the episode but what is interesting that creator Mike McCahan does is offset his deep Trek knowledge and need to throw the audience with off-color jokes with a subtlety (and sometime not so subtle) branches of what it means to grow. B+

By Tim Wassberg