IR TV Review: STAR TREK - LOWER DECKS - EPISODE 9 (“Wej Dej”) [Paramount+-S2]

In making its characters so interdependent on their ideas of promotion but also of the fact that their lives may seem unique or perhaps unimportant, the latest episode (#9) of the 2nd season of "Star Trek: Lower Decks" entitled "Dej Wuj" expands the view of the universe giving the episode a much bigger scope while creating odes to both "The Wrath Of Khan" and in a smaller way "Star Trek V: The Final Frontier." What this episode does is show Lower Decks crews on other ships (Klingon, Vulcan and a couple others). However what is very interesting and both subtle (and not subtle) is how it reflects the exact tenets of Star Trek while still making it modern and funny. While the previous episode might have strained the boundary, these stories cannot simply maintain the status quo on Star Trek without changing in a way. Too much time has passed...and at times Trek has weathered the storm in a certain way like "Star Wars".

Not all changes will be easy or accepted but they need to be consistent in what they are trying to do and/or say. This episode, happily enough, is the most cinematic yet with both broad visual cues, the most dynamically scale space battle sequences yet but also at one point a music cue and visual acuity that could work within the best of the films. Creator Mike McMahan loves Star Trek -- that much is clear -- but he has to give little gains to his characters, even if he is simultaneously taking the wind out of them. This episode does that very well and still makes commentary that every member in the Lower Decks has idiosyncrasies that make them important though they have to take the bull by the horns to achieve them. Both the Vulcan and Klingon stories do that sublimely while our Lower Decks crew, both hindered and strengthened by their closeness and humanity, continue on their merry way to their next adventure. B

By Tim Wassberg