What broke me for this episode was when Mariner told Boimler that the ancient Nausicaan glyphs on the time portal translated to "This is a time portal."
@@IronheartvsMiles not dismissing Tawny at all, I loved her as well. But during the Ready Room episode, Jack discussed how he went back and watched Lower Decks to figure out how to bring visual queues from the animation into his live action performance. That’s all I was highlighting.
The look on Una’s face when Boimler says Ad Astra Per Aspera and the way she says “They put that on a poster?” I was done. Just right in the feels. That would be my dilithium up.
I literally teared up during this scene and was coming on here to comment about it. Then I saw your comment so, well said and I agree it's my dilithium up!
I can't believe Sean missed an up. When Ortegas & Uhura say "are we sounding like.. them?" Spock says "Indeed, it is exhausting". Totally another up for Spock!
Another up was the look on Mariner's face when Boiler gets the "Live Long and Prosper" from Spock. She is mouth agape and so excited FOR Boimler. She knows it's a big deal for him. It's really sweet.
There's another little Mariner moment that I think gets missed from very early on. When Boimler gets portal'd (because of COURSE he does) watch Mariner. She's only a step behind him (and still on her feet which is impressive in and of itself considering Boimler gets pulled in horizontally) and dashes in just as it turns off. No thought to her own safety, just focused on saving her friend.
When Number 1 found out she was the literal poster child for recruitment for Star Fleet, was the single most touching moment of the entire episode, as emotional as her own trial was at the end - this beat it.
My personal headcanon and theory: Boimler encouraging the crew to celebrate Captain Pike's birthday would lead to the tradition of ships having a Captain's day, which would later become, as we see, Captain Picard day and Captain Freeman's day, the favorite holiday of children and Boimler.
I think captain's day goes back to the age of sail, but I might be wrong. In any case, traditions, set holiday dates, and celebrations are incredibly imporant for morale regardless of whether the crew is in the middle of the ocean or the great cosmic fuckall.
Lots of moments I teared up, but my favorite was when Una learns about the true meaning behind the poster. To go from being rejected by Starfleet for who she is, to learning that in the future she isn't only accepted but celebrated. I found it incredibly touching. Some of the best Trek in years. Keep it up!
Mine was when Pike said that it would be officially recorded that Orion SCIENTISTS found the portal. The Orion captain was almost in tears when he said, "...that's all I ever wanted."
I noticed that this episode brought Una and Pike’s stories a surprising level of depth. Una thought that being an Illyrian made her an outcast from Starfleet, but knowing that she’ll become *the* face of Starfleet recruitment gave her a sense of validation, while Pike learning that his birthday will be a major holiday, and people will dress up as him for Halloween gives him hope that his upcoming sacrifice won’t be in vain.
I still am floored by how they managed to have the LD crew act like lower deckers. And they had the SNW crew act like, well, regular officers. And at no point did either of them feel "wrong" or out of place. These are two HUGELY different shows, their style should NOT have worked as a mix, but they made it happen, and it worked. Astounding.
I agree. Especially with Mariner, I noticed that the actors made everything *slightly* subtler to be a bit more watchable and natural, but kept so much of the spirit of Lower Decks!
Agreed! This could have (should have?) been a disaster because of the mix of seemingly incompatible styles, but they made it work. Maybe it's because Boimler is kind of like Reginald Barclay (remember Barclay meeting Cochrane?).
I really loved how they were about to "end" the episode and send boimler back, right around where an episode of Lower Decks would end (22-23min). Then it just kept going to a full SNW episode. So great
And they set it up like it was the end with Boimler’s “meeting all of you has been one of the greatest experiences of my life” speech. Plus the music clearly suggests it’s the end . . .
With Spock smiling. This ties in nicely when he smiled in the TOS The Cage. This was a masterpiece of an episode. Amazing. Jonathan Frakes did a wicked job directing
@@theodorehaverson5079 - He also shouts when the women are transported off the ship without the men. This episode of SNW helps to explain this discrepancy between the original pilot and what they chose to do with the character for the rest of the show.
Una's reaction when they mentioned the poster said Ad Astra Per Aspera... that made me cry. A lot. It was perfect. I love Una's storyline. This show is just f-ing fantastic.
Every single actor, and the director and crew, everyone showed an excellent understanding of comic timing and delivery. This is far from the only comedy episode that we have seen - every single Trek series has had several - but oh, my. Smashed it out of the park.
While SNW has funny moments, this episode was a full comedy whose genius was that it still felt like a SNW episode. The comedy is natural and never felt forced.
@@tiacho2893 Comedy is harder than most would think. Timing, skill and reading the audience are all required for comedy to work properly. Luckily, Star Trek fans are fairly easy to understand most of the time, so we as the audience were catered to in this episode. Jonathan Frakes has the experience using skill and timing to pull off comedy. This episode is a gem and will stand up with my other favorites like 'The Trouble with Tribbles', 'Trials and Tribbilations', 'The Best of Both Worlds 1&2' and 'Devil in the Dark'.
When Spock starts to say his goodbye to Boimler, they have a wide shot and the look of happiness on Mariner's face that Boimler is going to have that experience just perfectly illustrated how much she truly cares about him.
Yes to this! She busts his chops for being a fanboy, but is truly excited for him when he has a dream come true moment and it’s just so sweet. The actors all did an amazing job.
This episode was announced before I went to hospital and had surgery. I was so scared something was going to happen and I would die from this surgery. But no joke, the thought of seeing this episode kept me going. I knew, without a doubt, that this was going to be the epic episode that it was. This was perfect. This was funny. This was beautiful. This... was Star Trek. Everything Trek is about. I am so happy that I was able to come through and see this. The perfect way to come back home, recover and laugh my ass off. Thank you Paramount, thank you to the crew and thank you Gene Roddenberry. You have no idea what you have done in our lives and us Trekkies are forever grateful. Ad Astra per Aspara!
I don't know you, but I'm delighted that your surgery went well. They say laughter is the best medicine, so this episode should have you up and on your feet again in no time. Live long and prosper.
Jack Quaid is so awesome. Being the son of two major Hollywood stars he could probably have coasted along like some others have been known to do. Only he didn't and now he's everywhere and somehow it doesn't get old seeing him show up in things because, as previously stated, he's awesome. He doesn't phone it in, he seems to genuinely love being an actor which makes him all the more appealing.
@@emilylewis5373 well keep in mind that he does comedy with Boimer on Lower Decks.. all he had to do here was to mimic Boimer's animated physical comedy.
I’ve watched Trek for 55 years, and I have to say that this was one of the top episodes in franchise history. It was genuinely funny, extremely heartfelt (when Boimler says to Pike “what would members of this crew give for one more chance to talk to you”, damn!) and just flat out fun. Quaid and Newsome did a fantastic job bringing their characters to live action. And the amalgam of live action and animation was handled flawlessly. Kudos to all involved
In my own opinion? This episode will stand with such greats as 'The Trouble with Tribbles' and 'Devil in the Dark' (my favorite Star Trek episode of all time) along with 'the Best of Both Worlds' 1&2. There have been MANY good Star Trek episodes, even in otherwise not so well remembered series. THIS will stand with those greats. I have watched it twice so far and am watching it again!
Then in those 55 years you've never watched Star Trek. Some poorly written comedy combined with sickening TOS worship is one of the "top episodes in franchise history"?
It's something that always strikes me whenever I hear someone describing a "silly comedy". There's a lot of people who look down on it, but the relationship the audience builds with comic characters leaves them much more open to being poked in the feels in the unexpected serious moments. 😁
@@EthanKristopherHartley I know what you mean. Comedy is harder than many think. Bad humor takes no effort at all, but is often more insulting than comedic. Good humor taken effort, skill and timing and even with all of those, it can fall flat. THIS episode managed to keep from falling flat. Not everyone will appreciate the comedy, because not everyone finds humor in the same things. There are many today who ONLY find humor in causing pain, either emotional or physical. I find that quite sad, but i have no right to dictate to THEM what THEY should find humorous any more than THEY have right to dictate such to ME.
This episode was loaded with fan service, but it was fan service done right. Nothing heavy-handed, no forced humor, but the humor was natural, organic and simply marvelous (big credit to the writers of this episode). Everyone got a chance to shine (love Pike as the exasperated dad dealing with two chaotic space kids), and it was just so much fun.
I loved the fan service because it added to the story. Too much fan service for the sake of fan service with no connection to the plot can be annoying (Picard season 3, I'm looking at you). The fan service here was part of the plot and worked so well.
@@jaydirt316 - The fan service definitely added so much to the story, particularly when it came to Pike and Una’s own stories, and brought them full circle, in a real sense. One of the problems I had with Picard’s third season is that there was too much fan service put in for the sake of fan service, and none of it made the story richer or provided enough deep character development to the characters that we grew to know and love. But in “Those Old Scientists”, the fan service was incorporated into the story so well, and it added greater depth to Pike’s awareness of the sacrifice he’ll make, and the knowledge that it won’t be in vain; that people will remember him for doing so, and see him as truly heroic is something he needed. Then, Una learned that she would also make a powerful, positive contribution to Starfleet by inspiring future generations to join the ranks and travel to the stars, and when she finds out about this, she’s genuinely touched by it. BTW… I’ve seen all 4 seasons of Lower Decks, and I love it!
This episode of SNW is going to go down in Star Trek history. Crossovers are always fun, but they took the finest parts of both shows and married them together with such finesse. Every person involved in making it should be proud because they've made something so special. Exceptional television.
Absolutely agree. I've never seen a cross-over so seamless before. Definitely a master class in "exceptional television". As you said they took the finest parts, and without missing a beat were 100% faithful to the characters and vibe of each, neither of which were diminished or ignored. Brilliantly done.
I am consistently in awe of SNW's costume department - the realization of the Lower Decks uniform was really impressive. I was expecting the look not to translate well into live action, but it was great.
not gonna lie the "ad astra per aspera" scene had me shed tears. what an awesome performance of everyone involved. and what a great script to work with for the actors.
@Mel6701 The quote is from the second episode of season two, in which Number One is on trial. It is a Latin phrase that is the motto of the state of Kansas: "to the stars through difficulties." It is used prominently in that episode. Best to just point to it and say, it's worth the time to see that episode. It's really good writing.
I started choking up when Boimler suggested why Pike should celebrate his birthday with his crew, and was barely holding on when Mariner admitted Una was the literal poster girl for recruitment. Absolutely lost it when Boimler chimed in.
This episode in my very humble opinion, is not only the best episode of SNW and Lower Decks, but one of, if not the BEST time travel episode of the Star Trek Franchise, period. The writing was so on point, the acting was top tier, the Enterprise in the Lower Decks animation was so gorgeous, and callbacks to Star Trek Enterprise as well. We need that season 5 of Enterprise for petes sake!
It also retconned a few things INTO CANON... not an easy thing to do, but this episode did. Spock's emotions being one of those things. Well done! Oh, and it was directed by Johnathan Frakes. LATINUM UP just for THAT!!!
@@morning1500 That was one of the things I thought also. They put to rest a lot of 'the canon sky is falling' critiques. There is no question, that this crossover was written by those who themselves are fans that love the franchise. At the very least understand the importance it holds for fans.
I feel the episode was more about growth for Pike, which is nice. He's been obsessed with the knowledge of his death, unable to see past it. He had no knowledge of his legacy and the impact he would make on the people around him and the future as a whole. Obviously, it was amazing to see TLD cast in live action on SNW, but they were mostly a tool to show Pike what happens after he's gone. The positive impact he makes on friends, and a legacy that has people 120 years into the future dressing up as him for Halloween. Instead of going to focus on his death with a bottle of whiskey in some frozen wasteland, the experience convinces him to spend time with those who will miss him the most and cherish those moments. A wholesome theme wrapped in a hilarious crossover.
Yup, while he has accepted his future (since he saw the consequenses of it from his alternate future self in season 1), he did not know that anything about him would survive beyond that. Knowing his birthday is a holliday. Hell, just Boimler "knowning" about him a century later was probably enough. And yeah, Boimler pointing out the detail of Pike missing his dad also applies to everyone Pike knows regarding himself is in my opinion just such beautiful storytelling. The writers are nailing SNW and Star Trek. sure, they seamingly brake canon every know and then, but come on, we can't be held back by stuf that was put on screen between 60 and 20 years ago today.
If we do get any more crossovers like this (which.... yes please?) I'd love to see them go the other way with the SNW crew visiting the LD crew in live action. Call it some quantum entanglement thingy as a result of using a dodgy time portal. Now, I'll admit, in my fannish mind this is primarily an excuse to get Ortega behind the helm of a recently stol.... uh, borrowed Defiant but can you imagine Mariner taking Pike aside at the end of the episode as they're circling the fleet museum in the Cerritos and pointing out the 1701-A as "the most important ship in Starfleet history" and how he's a key part of her legacy? Yeah, it's a cheat as it should be the original but can be handwaved by not telling Pike details for obvious time traveller reasons. Hell if you really want to hammer the point home have the camera keep panning across to the D in the next bay over to show that history won't forget the name....
I wish a scene was added where Boimler or Mariner tell Pike that the chair is not the end and he goes back to Talos IV to be with Vina. But I'm thinking Starfleet classified that aspect to keep everyone from going to Talos IV.
@@lkgrave4959 Yeah, they probably don't know that. Or they do, but well.... They didn't exactly know what to say once they realised he knew about the chair.
One thing that everyone seems to be missing - Celia Rose-Gooding seems to be poking the fourth wall when they're talking about living up to the legacy that being Uhura brings. Nichelle Nichols is proud, Celia. No worries. 😊
Totally didn't miss that. The entire episode was fan service in so many ways. Boimler and Mariner geeking out about this crew... SNW crew geeking out over Enterprise's crew... fans geeking out over EVERY crew... It's like the 4th wall had a 5th wall behind IT.
Since we are at 4th wall breaking: To me, it was just as much Mariner fanboying about Uhura, as it was Tawny Newsome praising Nichelle Nichols and her influence on all the black actresses, that followed her trail.
It's hard to put into words the joy this episode made me feel, something the surprise early release only enhanced. At a time when things aren't great, to put it mildly, this came along and gave a burst of light and colour. I needed this. I think a lot of us did. A genuine landmark in TV, it was a privilege to experience it first-hand
You know... I agree! I am not a fan of Lower Decks. I did give it a try, tho. So, I didn't have very high hopes for this. I figured, "Well, it *IS* SNW, how bad can it be?" Lo and behold, I was laughing a LOT more than I thought, it was actually BRILLIANT, not goofy, and I agree with Sean's record-setting UP's for this one. :) Definitely WELL DONE!
It sounds corny, but I agree completely. It was the unexpected gift that I needed so badly. I cried, I laughed, and it’s been the highlight of my week. Pure joy in a dark time
As a Trekkie since the 70's (Syndicated TOS), I'm in total agreement with you. Definitely the best episode since Star Trek came back on the air. With that said, I have been ignoring Lower Decks, but after seeing this episode, I'm on a binge ... and loving it! I'm pretty sure there are others out there like me who have been put Lower Decks on ignore. So good work with this episode, and getting lots of Lower Deck converts ready in time for season 4! By the way ... 81 is a bit conservative!
This is an interesting comment. :) My Wife and I tried watching LD... 4 episodes worth. We definitely didn't care for it. Naturally, my expectations for this episode were a bit jaded... but because SNW has been SO GOOD, we both figured that maybe this will be "OK" after all. :) Then, when I saw "Directed by Johnathan Frakes" in the opening credits, I said to my Wife, "Look! Johnathan Frakes directed it! That means it WILL be good!" ...and it was BETTER than good, it was awesome! :) Perfectly "blended". :)
@@morning1500hey, I don't like LD either, specifically Mariner, don't like the character or the actress so this was actually a suckky episode for me. I liked Jack Quaid's appearance, because he is very likeable, but I'm not inspired to check out LD again.
I love how the end of the episode implies Lower Decks is animated bc that's how all the main characters see the world due to the trace amounts of Orion liquor in their systems 😂
Which can explain a lot of the strangeness in it that don't quite fit. It reminds me of a comedy fanfic of Voyager to explain some of it's more surreal and, well, off parts with it being Neelix's fault due to talaxian pheremones being a psychedelic for a lot of species...just that most species in the Delta Quadrant had adapted to it due to the old Talaxian trade empire...
Pike saying “NO!” At the portal had me laughing at how done he was with visitors from the Future. Not that he did not like them, but I think he was already having an migraine trying to figure out how to report the whole ordeal to starfleet and likely temporal affairs.
As stated in “Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow”, the Department of Temporal Investigations does not yet exist in 2259. There is no department to report this too. On a separate note, I wonder if Episode 3 was one of the seventeen recorded temporal violations committed by Kirk.
This episode fixes Spock! This totally explains how Nurse Chapel is towards Spock in TOS. It isn't her pining away at unrequited love, but rather it was her stepping aside so Spock would become the person that ALL of the universe needed.
If that is the case, I'm willing to bet that -- at some point -- Pike says something in front of Chapel about making sacrifices so that Spock can be what he is destined, and does not realize that he's giving advice to Chapel as much as he's reflecting on his own life path.
Spock's smile always being shot like a scene from a horror movie, complete with a disturbing musical sting, was just amazing. And can we appreciate "Remember me!" That TNG episode ended with Crusher being pulled in that same pose through a portal and into the real world. I love it.
Spock's smile for me always conjures up for me the various devil references from TOS. From the land of endless night come I/ An alien from afar / Spewn forth upon your pleasant sphere /.So much like yozlu, set so un-alike.
Quaid and Newsome are *SO GOOD* in live-action. Like, they were absolutely fantastic. They were absolutely their characters, it was great. Hilarious episode overall. ALSO, one thing I really liked, when Boimler and Pike shared a moment where Boimler talks about what’s going to happen to Pike, you could just *see* the relief on Pike’s face to hear from someone who knows exactly what’s going on with him. It’s just a quiet moment and it can be easily overlooked in such a hilarious episode, but it was nice to see for Pike.
Absolutely loved that and the tender way Boimler encouraged Pike to let the people who love him now have those moments with him. In all the hilarity, this moment was quietly great. Also, I was glad to see Pelia and Boimler together. She's so long-lived, she could cross over into their show.
You're completely spot on! There's SO MUCH going on in this episode and they're so aware of those little human moments. It's also a shared moment because they've both got the same problem. Pike literally knows what it's like to meet someone you *know* is going to suffer a horrible tragedy through no real fault of their own and to have to keep your mouth shut lest you ruin everything so bad you have to time crystal yourself a "DO NOT DO THIS!" message while looking fly AF in a monster maroon. Humans bond over this kind of stuff. Regarding @jdmoncada8205's comment about Pelia: I said the same thing to my spouse during that scene! So it works for lore AND character as she's so gosh-dang odd that she'd perfectly fit in with the wacky tone of that show for a cameo.
Missed an UP on Boimer's statement about tricorders being, "...made smaller, more powerful and less likely to explode." That was a call back to Arena when Spock tossed away his tricorder and it promptly exploded. Then he said, "they fed bck my own impulses and built up an overload!" Also loved Dr. M'Benga's reaction to the word "Explode!"
The most important thing that happened in this episode was the way they showed us that the "new" Spock we've seen the past few weeks is not a deviation from canon, it is rather, the backstory for the canon. Yes, in the middle of a pure fan service romp, they *fixed* the canon.
No. its a deviation. Spock didnt have an adopted sister, he had a half brother named Sybok. Trek canon is flayed open while Kurtzman is in control. F*CK CBS and Secret Hideout. Trek died with Enterprise.
Haven't seen anyone mention it, but my favourite little moment was that during Pike wishing he could have one more argument with his dad, the camera cuts to Mariner. Despite their arguments, she loves her parents a lot. Intentional or not, I thought that was beautiful.
I suspect it's a little more than that. Assuming this happens between S3 and S4 of Lower Decks Mariner is coming off the entire crew instantly assuming she landed them in trouble and her mom throws her off the ship. While things are at least a bit better between them by the end of the season there's a significant chance that things could have gone badly wrong and they'd never have the chance to fix things. In that moment with Pike Mariner probably sees where her own relationships could end up if things don't keep improving.
Pelia was quoting Cary Grant and I love that Boimler seemed to realize that after she finished speaking and that as a Lanthanite she would have been old enough to have met someone from that long ago.
@@shaunm2691 I want a Pelia series! I'm LOVING her character and cannot get enough of her. If you'd told me two years ago that a highlight of STAR TREK would be Carol Kane as an engineer, I might have thought you crazy. Her enigmatic nature and exoticness is just WONDERFUL!
That quote from Pelia from someone she once knew is directly, nearly exactly word for word, from Cary Grant who said it talking about his becoming Cary Grant rather than Archie Leach. So, Pelia knew Cary Grant!
There is an older source with a similar idea. Librarian here, in 1989 I catalogued a bunch of books of history of the French Revolution and Empire. Napoleon told his companions (at St. Helena, maybe?) that, when he was a very young artillery captain he was very scared in battle, but he had to present himself as fearless for the sake of his men and his command. After a time, the fear disappeared. There are testimonies of people who knew him saying that he didn't even duck when cannonballs were flying all over the battlefield, so it appears he was telling the truth that time. ✌
This episode was probably one of my most favourite episodes of all time... It was done perfectly, and directed by Frakes made it all that much better. The fact Boimler ad libbed 'Riker' is just... Incredible. They really did do the show justice. SNW is going to be this generations Next Generation... Until Legacy kicks in... No... Even then... Just so amazing!
I LOVED THIS ESPIODE! Especially the animated ending!! "WHAT THE HELL IS IN THESE THINGS!?!" The actors nailed in the live action and I couldn't stop laughing at Mariner! So GOOD!
This was the SNW version of the “Trouble With Tribbles “ episode in TOS. Then the DS9 version “More Trouble With Tribbles.” Lighthearted with a minor serious tone.
Watched it again right away. Easily in my top ten Star Trek episodes of all time. On another note…. Is this the first time people are queuing for an Ups & Downs from Trek Culture?
Me too. I stopped at the transporter room scene, knowing that it coming to a close. Started rewatching immediately from the start. I had never done that for any show before and I was just as much entertained if not more, the second time around!
Re-watching it again tonight. Thank you Sean for being such a fan. I love to see that joy in your face and smile. There is a part of you in all of us watching your review. This is such a great time to be a Star Trek fan.
This episode is amazing and a truly great model for how crossover's should be handled. It's fun, it makes sense and it really explores the crossover from both perspectives and plays off of existing story arcs from both series. That is no small feat to accomplish. And I have to give Jack Quaid and Tawny Newsome so much credit for taking animated performances and mirroring them perfectly in live action form. I had no trouble believing they were the same characters and the interactions were priceless. (Spock smiling now haunts my dreams) And the continuing story arc for Tendi is something I just want to hug the writers for. I have a friend who's in his early 20's from Mexico and he's a science genius who dresses like an old english professor and people never stop acting like he's some weird anomaly simply because of his ethnicity. And so Tendi's ongoing fight to prove that Orions can be anything they want to be really resonates. All in all this is the best episode of Strange New Worlds so far and this is a series that continues to give us stellar episodes each week. This is amazing, Chef's kiss and if you haven't seen it yet, please for the love of Migleemo go treat yourself and watch it.
Another couple of up votes: 1) Jess Bush’s performance during the conversation with Boimler in the turbo lift, and 2) Anson Mount breathing a lifetime of complicated emotion into the single word “father.”
Boimler saying “computer end program” makes twice as much sense when we remember that Boimler has passed out on the holodeck a minimum of one time now.
The crossover was done so tastefully and with tremendous respect to each Star Trek franchise that I kept tearing up as I watch the episode... My God, it was perfect! Super grateful that this episode happened! 😄
That turbo lift scene with Nurse Chapel totally explains how she is towards Spock on TOS. It isn't an unrequited love, it is her stepping aside so Spock can fulfill his destiny to all he touched in the universe.
How did Sean not notice the callback to Jadzia? Both her and Boimler *loved* the "classic 23rd century design" of the tricorder. Dax expressed the sentiment in a crossover episode featuring grain shipments and NCC 1701 (- Nothing). Add another up. I BLOODY LOVED THIS EPISODE!!
The only problem with this episode is that it was only one part. I wish it were longer, especially so we could get more of the girls getting drinks because the chemistry between them was brilliant, particularly Ortegas and Mariner, they would get into trouble together.
True that my friend. We need to have one SNW happen to go LD and how cool would it be. Or have the full cast from LD go over to SNW with both ships side by side.
Maybe if Boimler and Mariner actually got to _do_ something. In reality, they were just there, and everyone else was working to solve the problem. Except for the NX part, they did not really contribute all that much. Solid episode, for sure, but it could have been better.
@@lucemiserlohn I mean it fits into them being lower decks, the whole point of LD is that the ship is their home and sometimes stuff happens that they learn about afterwards, so they just go through their life on the Enterprise the same as they did on the Cerritos, Boimler is engaged into the progress of getting home and Mariner kinda tags along as per usual, because she is enjoying that, in my opinion not enough, and it also keeps the crew of the Enterprise to be the bridge crew that always works something out, and they do especially with the little help of Boimler and Mariner. It really speaks to a whole another question about the starflate regulation on breaks, that mandates officers taking breaks, to have more life and work balance, to come up with solutions. Itfits into Star Trek's whole message of brighter future and something we can all aspire be. This episode was packed full of beautifull things that I could talk about
The animated opening sequence had me geeking out from the start and it doesn't end there. Gets better and better up to the end. Frakes' masterpiece to date.
I laughed so hard in this episode, especially during the ‘creepy smiling Spock’ moments. This was definitely a love letter to the fans and it was far better than I could have imagined. Well done to the writers! Keep up the good fight! 🖖
How did Sean miss the fact that Uhura's pad went from Bajorin to Cardassian in one swipe while she was working in the bar? If that's not retro foreshadowing, I don't know what is.
@@jackhosier8498 They might have had information about the language from a third party, or a member of the federation without having, as a Federation made contact with them. That's how I'm explaining away that they had that information.
@@jackhosier8498 We know a famous Cardassian author was exiled to Vulcan and met with one of the previous Dax hosts. Not confirmed when exactly but the episode made it sound like a long time before the 2370s so probably pre-24th century
The problem with that scene is that it references Bajorans, Cardassians, and Nausicans all of whom had first contact with the Federation over a hundred years AFTER the time of Pike. At that time there were less than a dozen alien civilizations with which the Federation has made contact.
Pelia's quote - “I always pretended to be someone I wanted to be until finally I became that someone, or he became me” - Cary Grant. Pelia met Cary Grant. How is that not an UP?
This episode was so much fun. It reminds me of the SG-1 episode "Wormhole X-Treme!" in that it's an episode made to reward the fans, and they absolutely killed it. This is getting a spot on my list of favorite Trek episodes.
Also reminds me of my single favourite Star Trek DS9 Episode: Trials and Tribble-ations, a mixing of TOS (Those Old Scientists era) and the DS9 crew, that was 100% a fan love letter episode, and this one blew it out of the water.
“Those Old Scientists” is already a modern Trek classic. Kudos to everyone involved with this episode for putting together LD and SNW so seamlessly! Of course I had my share of Picard facepalms when Boimler and Mariner at times nearly let the (temporal) cat out of the bag!😹
A tiny moment I liked upon rewatching the episode is Boimler saying "Numero Uno" about the poster, Mariner commenting "nobody calls her that", and then as the episode ends Ransom comments on the poster calling her "Numero Uno" as well 😂 the writers really crossed every T and dotted every I for this episode, really bloody amazing.
I wanted to point out that the one thing about the exchange about her being a "pin-up girl" was a missed "Up". Rebecca Romijn started out as one of the most famous supermodels of the 90s and WAS on posters that were "pinned up". I thought she was hot then, but she is far far hotter now!
It would be hard to imagine this episode being any better than it turned out. SNW writing has been spot on and the actors seem to be enjoying themselves as well.
I absolutely LOVED this episode. And I’m not sure if anyone else has mentioned this (they probably have) but SNW Spock’s exploration of his emotions totally explains Spock from The Cage/The Menagerie smiling at the “singing” plants of Talos IV.
Yes, along with his 'DISAPPEARED IN THIS AREA APROXIMATELY EIGHTEEN YEARS AGO". Way back in the 1980s, I was always maintaining that Spock's controlled emotions were an anomaly, and were not typical of 'normal' Vulcans at all, that Spock was massively overcompensating for the mismatch between his human and Vulcan heritage, not because he was a Vulcan trying to work with humans. Nobody believed me, but these past few episodes have vindicated that.
@@quantisedspace7047 I absolutly agree, and seeing those episodes exploring Spock emotions and all, makes me think something major is gonna happen that will make him backtrack fast and I'm very curious what it could be
Not to mention the amused smirk in the episode "Mudd's Women." Nimoy said that he truly tapped into the character of Spock during "The Corbomite Maneuver" with the one word: "...Fascinating."
One small UP to add: When Boimler gets back and says Tendi's grandmother's name... Tendi never mentioned her grandmother's name before they went through the portal, and was very surprised by how he knew.
YES!! My Wife and I watched it twice when it first dropped... and then again just yesterday. It's truly a GRAND SLAM of an episode!! Neither of us care for LD at all. We've watched a total of 4 or 5. NOPE. So, we weren't sure how this would be... and were VERY PLEASANTLY surprised!! :) Then, right after this, we re-watched Ad Astra Per Aspera. For a "non-action" episode, that one is STILL "edge of the seat" compelling! SUPERB!
This concept had absolutely no right be as amazing as it turned out to be. I was so worried about this episode ruining both series, but it was an instant classic. I've watched it 3 times an it still makes me laugh
As much as I enjoy both shows, when they announced this crossover I was terrified it was a potential shark jumper. When the animated SNW opening sequence began to run, I knew we were in good hands.
The exchange between Picard and the Nausicaan also happened at Starbase Earhart, so that means the Dom-jot table Ortegas saw and its location at the Starbase is the same place Picard will end up getting stabbed in the back and through his heart. So I think the reference to Starbase Earhart in this episode was referencing TNG's episode entitled "Tapestry," especially since the reference included Nausicaan and Dom-jot.
@@jamesbuchanan4414I thought it was a ref to VOY:The 37s. By the time of LD, has Voyager returned home to debrief Earth as to her abduction into the Delta Q ?
@@quantisedspace7047 Nah, it was a TNG throwback reference. Starbase Earhart was where a freshly minted Ensign Jean Luc Picard got himself shish kebab'd by a Naussican he beat playing on a rigged dom-jot table. It's the reason he had the replacement heart long before the nifty android body.
We always talk about the classic episodes we love from TOS, TNG, DS9 etc. I really hope that years from now we are still talking about this episode. It was truly perfect.
I agree. The idea of making a crossover between an animated show and a life action show to begin with - has that ever been done before? Certainly never to this level of perfection. And thank you for making Mariner and Boimler look so much like their voice actors, making this possible.
Loved this episode. The fact that Mariner is a fan of Uhura’s and finally hearing Uhura honouring Hoshi Sato, was a nice touch. Having grown up in the 1990s, I’ll always be a TNG/DS9/VOY kid, but after all that the franchise came up with (since 2005) I’m warming up to Strange New Worlds. (And as a linguist and interpreter, becoming a real exolinguist… would be a dream come true.)
I'm surprised Sean didn't pick up on the fact that Pelia in canon knew Cary Grant. She says "I knew a man who told me" then quotes Cary Grant: "I pretended to be somebody I wanted to be until finally I became that person. Or he became me." Didn't even get an up vote :(
You know what I want after the closing scene? On the Ceretos, Tandy is making a genuine orion hurricane, and for a full scene, they are becoming, psychadelicly so, realistic.
One of the most hotly anticipated episodes of Star Trek in many years and it did not disappoint, I loved the animated opening titles, with Lower Deck's engine hanging tardigrade making an appearance, my favourite tribute to DIscos S1 tardigrade controlled spore drive. the script, and performances were just perfect, no downs at all from me this week.
The animated episode-final in Pikes quarters was with no doubt THE BEST moment in Star Trek-History. I was like "Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god, this is AWESOME!"🤣
It was BRILLIANT!!! By the way, , when Pike calls up to the Enterprise after Mariner comes through the portal and says they have another problem - that reminded me instantly of Kirk in "Tomorrow is Yesterday" calling the Enterprise after the staff sergeant is accidentally beamed up: "As you can see, we have another… problem."
Those Old Scientists is probably the most enjoyable episode of the entire Star Trek genre. Truly epic in every sense of the word. The more I watch it, the more I laugh. A great crossover with absolutely terrific characters. And I definitely need a Number One poster for my living room. The references were priceless.
When she made the comment about her great grandmother, I half-expected her to come through the portal herself and end deliver us a Philip J. Fry sort of situation 😬 (I say "😬" but the truth is I *would have been here* for a B-plot where she arrived in the past a year before Boims and Mariner, met up with an Orion captain, blinded him with Science and taught him the ways of... the scientific method, before returning to the future with the other Lower Deckers).
@GSBarlev I was half expecting we'd see her ancestor and she'd be playing her, just painted a different shade of green from the Tendi we know and with her regular hairstyle. (Tendi's hair seems like it would be hard to replicate with a wig and actually getting it cut like that for a single guest appearance on another show would be some pretty extreme dedication to the craft.)
@theblackwidower We actually did the professional photo then stood in the que to get his signature on my husband's garden gnome, we got to chat for about 5 minutes. My husband made him laugh with a comment about his podcast with Michael Rosenbaum. Frakes was king of the Con. And I made Terry Matalas tear up when I told him how much the 3rd season of picard ment to me.
I didn't think anything could beat Trials and Tribble-ations for a time travel episode but this was just perfect and I actually LOL'd all the way through.
When Pike talked being a year older than his father and wanting a quiet birthday, it reminded me a lot of Kirk and McCoy having a similar discussion in Star Trek:Beyond
I adored this episode. This is up there with Trials and Tribulations for greatest fan service ever. I also loved Pike being just so deadpan over it for the entire show. He does drama and comedy so well. I didn't think much of Mount before SNW, but he's continually amazed me with his range.
Great comedy needs people who are in on the joke but being the straight man. Pike's a great anchor for the silliness going on around him. I'd be willing to bet that Kirk traces some of his humor as a captain, to Pike.
Honestly the one thing I kinda wish we'd seen is his reaction to Mariner switching from goofball to Disciple of Sisko. That moment of realisation that these future starfleet crew might act a bit weird but are absolutely *terrifying* when needs must would be gold. Still, on the plus side, there's always the chance of another crossover, right?
Watched this at San Diego Comic Con in a filled Hall H and it was such a treat watching with real fans all reacting to so many fun and touching moments in this episode. It was hilarious and i already watched it again at home!
this was a a love letter to fandom - old and new, but also this was cake and it is the most delicious fan cake I have ever had. truly this is the golden age of geek. 🍰💝🖖🏻
Missed my two favourites! Mariner telling Boimler in the shuttle that Uhura managed to translate the Ancient Nausicaan, but it just says "this is a time portal", and the extraction process goes ping like a microwave. Also, Uhura's padd shows both Bajoran and Cardassian
When it first began, I thought it was going to be a sitcom episode. The only thing missing was a laugh tract. Once it got going it was great, and yes it was a comedy episode, but the pacing was a thing of beauty. Well done to everyone for a wonderful show.
One thing I noticed that Sean also missed. In the original The Cage episode, Spock actually smiled and laughed before the idea of Vulcans being non-emotional was created. So Spock experimenting with emotions in this timeframe which is right before that episode actually helps support canon that was questioned before now!
I think everything fits in my head now. Boimler and Mariner are from a ship that IS a little wacky, and the Lower Deckers are all crazy history geeks, but I think every ship in the fleet has a comedy, a drama, and a tragedy that can be filmed of it. What's happening with the Cerritos is, we're seeing their "The Trouble With Tribbles" moments more than their "City on the Edge of Forever" moments... but we really do see them, don't we? All the finales have dramatic moments with everything at stake, they just find the lighter side of it whenever possible.
they also kind of explain that the Cerretos isn't a major ship in the fleet so doesnt see the same amount of action/drama that say a galaxy class would
Not to mention that the lower deckers may be a bit perma-fried by how much Orion liquor they’ve had. That’s why they perceive themselves the way they do.
This episode reminded me most of "A Piece of the Action" and "Tomorrow is Yesterday" - kind a cross. The situation is closer to "Tomorrow is Yesterday" but the pure fun for the sake of fun nature of the episode is even more like "A Piece of the Action." At the same time, I should point out that "Tomorrow is Yesterday" has some fun humor too like the computer calling Kirk "dear" and Kirk suggesting that the computer be scrapped if the malfunction can't be fixed. Oh yes, and Spock saying that the computer has an annoying habit of giggling. Captain Christopher is quite amused by the problems the Enterprise crew has. Oh yes, and when the USAF major down on Earth tells Kirk he's going to lock him up for 200 years, Kirk says, "That should be just about right."
Fun thought: the Cerritos is almost double the length of the SNW Enterprise. So in theory we could have a live action crossover see the Big E jumping forward in time into the middle of trouble and our favourite utility ship pulling an Enterprise E save as the first nod to exactly when and where the SNW crew have ended up....
the ready room was just as high quality as the episode itself. I need a 2hr BTS/Making of special of this crossover.... also I got hit in the feels at Frakes just throwing praise at Wil, so deserved.
Frakes telling Wil to his face the same comment he told a big interview channel was very special. That Wil is very good at what he does as an interviewer to cover the Trek franchise for Paramount.
I had no doubts that this would be all ups as it’s easily a classic episode and following 5 viewings I’m totally satisfied with this episode. It’s absolutely perfect all the way through, such fun. I had no idea that it would exceed the hype so much, the cast and crew were phenomenal utter perfection. Huge thanks to Seán and Kris for a fantastic ups and (no downs) this episode. Take a rest guys you earned it ❤
All the hero worship from Boimler and Mariner reminds me of ST: First Contact, where the Enterprise crew meet Zefram Cochrane and can't stop fawning over him. Especially Geordi geeking out over him. And of course the lengendary bar scene with Cochrane, Troi and Riker!:-D
@@razorburn645 there's a special event in Star Trek Online that's only active during April, where you can go visit Bozeman, Montana and see the statue.
The whole T.O.S. standing for "Those Old Scientists" gag would be deserving of yet another Up.
Totally missed this one
I think it didn't because it got an up in the episode of Lower Decks where it was first mentioned (I forget which ep sorry)
@@TonySamedi Season 1, Episode 10; coined by Ransom
Maybe also "That old ship"? (I'll run and hide now)
Well, shit, man. We can't stay here all day!
What broke me for this episode was when Mariner told Boimler that the ancient Nausicaan glyphs on the time portal translated to "This is a time portal."
So very on brand for Naussicans.
Definitely a missed up! Excellent, useless information that poor uhura struggled so hard to figure out.
100% I noticed this too. Needed an up for sure 😂😂
Such a build up, and then, nothing. It was so Lower Decks, I loved that bit as well!
@@bartcouprie4986 It is beautiful writing - a perfect tiny joke, left for you to eventually remember.
Jack Quaid’s commitment to embodying Boimler thoroughly was so amazing to watch.
Tawny Newsome is just as good, if not better.
I loved that when he did the Boimler scream he actually opens up his mouth huge like his animated counterpart.
@@IronheartvsMiles not dismissing Tawny at all, I loved her as well. But during the Ready Room episode, Jack discussed how he went back and watched Lower Decks to figure out how to bring visual queues from the animation into his live action performance. That’s all I was highlighting.
@@brandonmadigan7523 The three great screamers of Star Trek: Chekov, Quark, and Boimler! 🤣
Jack Quaid plays a Star Trek character that is made for people that don't like Star Trek not to mention he's a complete cuck.
The look on Una’s face when Boimler says Ad Astra Per Aspera and the way she says “They put that on a poster?” I was done. Just right in the feels. That would be my dilithium up.
I literally teared up during this scene and was coming on here to comment about it. Then I saw your comment so, well said and I agree it's my dilithium up!
@@MrSoccerdad68
Ditto
Yep...that started the tears and they didn't stop for the rest of the episode
Are those different from latinum ups?
@@Ducky69247 its for one of those rare moments where latinum is no longer enough to encapsulate the greatness of one scene
I can't believe Sean missed an up. When Ortegas & Uhura say "are we sounding like.. them?" Spock says "Indeed, it is exhausting". Totally another up for Spock!
Agreed!
@@woahdudeitsme9742you mean, “Indeed.” 🤨
I'd call this another up for Ortegas & Uhura, but I totally agree.
Missed that one. Very funny
Sounds like UP no#82 to me!!!
Another up was the look on Mariner's face when Boiler gets the "Live Long and Prosper" from Spock. She is mouth agape and so excited FOR Boimler. She knows it's a big deal for him. It's really sweet.
There's another little Mariner moment that I think gets missed from very early on. When Boimler gets portal'd (because of COURSE he does) watch Mariner. She's only a step behind him (and still on her feet which is impressive in and of itself considering Boimler gets pulled in horizontally) and dashes in just as it turns off. No thought to her own safety, just focused on saving her friend.
She's a great friend to him. She loves him.
When Number 1 found out she was the literal poster child for recruitment for Star Fleet, was the single most touching moment of the entire episode, as emotional as her own trial was at the end - this beat it.
That was a gem moment. To me, it was the scene that gives the, There's hope for our future .
And it's also a great joke/reference -- as Rebecca Romijn WAS on a lot of pinup posters in the 90s.
Definitely my trillium up.
That callback was everything.
Yes! It was so nice to see her get emotional when she realized after all she went through, Starfleet was going to use HER as the poster girl/woman.
My personal headcanon and theory:
Boimler encouraging the crew to celebrate Captain Pike's birthday would lead to the tradition of ships having a Captain's day, which would later become, as we see, Captain Picard day and Captain Freeman's day, the favorite holiday of children and Boimler.
I love this idea
now it's my headcanon too, love this
Headcanon aside, I couldn't help but wonder if Boimler is the reason Spock and Chapel never end up together. He planted the seeds of doubt in them.
I think captain's day goes back to the age of sail, but I might be wrong. In any case, traditions, set holiday dates, and celebrations are incredibly imporant for morale regardless of whether the crew is in the middle of the ocean or the great cosmic fuckall.
I wonder why Boimler didn't say anything weird about Laan's name.
Lots of moments I teared up, but my favorite was when Una learns about the true meaning behind the poster. To go from being rejected by Starfleet for who she is, to learning that in the future she isn't only accepted but celebrated. I found it incredibly touching. Some of the best Trek in years. Keep it up!
Mine was when Pike said that it would be officially recorded that Orion SCIENTISTS found the portal. The Orion captain was almost in tears when he said, "...that's all I ever wanted."
Oh my gosh thank you for pointing that out for me. I had already forgotten about Unas past. That’s wonderful. Thank you again
@@kregadeth5562 of course! The writing has been great and has been genuinely touching. I found this so thoughtful.
I noticed that this episode brought Una and Pike’s stories a surprising level of depth. Una thought that being an Illyrian made her an outcast from Starfleet, but knowing that she’ll become *the* face of Starfleet recruitment gave her a sense of validation, while Pike learning that his birthday will be a major holiday, and people will dress up as him for Halloween gives him hope that his upcoming sacrifice won’t be in vain.
Yeah, I choked up hearing that she was so respected. She deserves it.
I still am floored by how they managed to have the LD crew act like lower deckers. And they had the SNW crew act like, well, regular officers. And at no point did either of them feel "wrong" or out of place. These are two HUGELY different shows, their style should NOT have worked as a mix, but they made it happen, and it worked. Astounding.
Well said. I seriously cannot believe what I just watched.
Oh, you're "floored" are you? 🤦
I agree. Especially with Mariner, I noticed that the actors made everything *slightly* subtler to be a bit more watchable and natural, but kept so much of the spirit of Lower Decks!
Agreed! This could have (should have?) been a disaster because of the mix of seemingly incompatible styles, but they made it work. Maybe it's because Boimler is kind of like Reginald Barclay (remember Barclay meeting Cochrane?).
Beautiful work from the writers, actors, Frakes, and McMahon.
I really loved how they were about to "end" the episode and send boimler back, right around where an episode of Lower Decks would end (22-23min). Then it just kept going to a full SNW episode. So great
Great catch!!
And they set it up like it was the end with Boimler’s “meeting all of you has been one of the greatest experiences of my life” speech. Plus the music clearly suggests it’s the end . . .
That should have been another up
didn't catch that.... awesome.
Wow didn't realize that!
With Spock smiling. This ties in nicely when he smiled in the TOS The Cage. This was a masterpiece of an episode. Amazing. Jonathan Frakes did a wicked job directing
Did you see The Cage? Spock only smiled ONCE, he did not laugh or joke around.
@@theodorehaverson5079 - He also shouts when the women are transported off the ship without the men. This episode of SNW helps to explain this discrepancy between the original pilot and what they chose to do with the character for the rest of the show.
@@RictusHolloweye Spock also smiled at Kirk while they were playing chess at the beginning of the second pilot, "Where No Man Has Gone Before".
The little sinister sting with Creepy Spock Smile was just chef's kiss addition to the comedy of it.
Una's reaction when they mentioned the poster said Ad Astra Per Aspera... that made me cry. A lot. It was perfect. I love Una's storyline. This show is just f-ing fantastic.
OK I admit it so did I 😢
Star trek destroys Racism ...trekkies I trust 😊
@@TheBad63 Count me in
It was the perfect conclusion to Una's genetic engineering arc, she can move forwards now
Thats some good acting skills, when they do that to you.
Every single actor, and the director and crew, everyone showed an excellent understanding of comic timing and delivery. This is far from the only comedy episode that we have seen - every single Trek series has had several - but oh, my. Smashed it out of the park.
While SNW has funny moments, this episode was a full comedy whose genius was that it still felt like a SNW episode. The comedy is natural and never felt forced.
@@tiacho2893 Comedy is harder than most would think. Timing, skill and reading the audience are all required for comedy to work properly. Luckily, Star Trek fans are fairly easy to understand most of the time, so we as the audience were catered to in this episode. Jonathan Frakes has the experience using skill and timing to pull off comedy. This episode is a gem and will stand up with my other favorites like 'The Trouble with Tribbles', 'Trials and Tribbilations', 'The Best of Both Worlds 1&2' and 'Devil in the Dark'.
It’s so refreshing to see a writing team understanding the characters of the story they’re trying to tell.
This episode cannot be praised enough.
And the director. A script can be ruined if the director doesn't get it. Jonathan Frakes was the perfect director for this episode.
When Spock starts to say his goodbye to Boimler, they have a wide shot and the look of happiness on Mariner's face that Boimler is going to have that experience just perfectly illustrated how much she truly cares about him.
Yes to this! She busts his chops for being a fanboy, but is truly excited for him when he has a dream come true moment and it’s just so sweet. The actors all did an amazing job.
Yes! Came here to point this out. HUGE up for me.
This episode was announced before I went to hospital and had surgery. I was so scared something was going to happen and I would die from this surgery. But no joke, the thought of seeing this episode kept me going. I knew, without a doubt, that this was going to be the epic episode that it was. This was perfect. This was funny. This was beautiful. This... was Star Trek. Everything Trek is about. I am so happy that I was able to come through and see this. The perfect way to come back home, recover and laugh my ass off. Thank you Paramount, thank you to the crew and thank you Gene Roddenberry. You have no idea what you have done in our lives and us Trekkies are forever grateful. Ad Astra per Aspara!
I don't know you, but I'm delighted that your surgery went well. They say laughter is the best medicine, so this episode should have you up and on your feet again in no time. Live long and prosper.
Ad astra per Apsara! Una would be so proud of you! I wish you a speedy recovery. LLAP 🖖🏼David Groves.
I guess now you can go to the final frontier. R.I.P.
Well, now you have to hang on for the musical episode, then the next season...then......who knows...
@@darthramious1639 yo bro he lives
Jack Quaid is so awesome. Being the son of two major Hollywood stars he could probably have coasted along like some others have been known to do. Only he didn't and now he's everywhere and somehow it doesn't get old seeing him show up in things because, as previously stated, he's awesome. He doesn't phone it in, he seems to genuinely love being an actor which makes him all the more appealing.
This is the first time I have seen him in a more comedy role and he kills it.
@@emilylewis5373 Well he's in The Boys but that's more dark comedy.
@@Itility_Peace_Of_Mind He's also Superman in one of the best recent interpretations of the character. Man has a lot of great range.
@@emilylewis5373 well keep in mind that he does comedy with Boimer on Lower Decks.. all he had to do here was to mimic Boimer's animated physical comedy.
He's really in so many things, scream, the boys, star trek
I’ve watched Trek for 55 years, and I have to say that this was one of the top episodes in franchise history. It was genuinely funny, extremely heartfelt (when Boimler says to Pike “what would members of this crew give for one more chance to talk to you”, damn!) and just flat out fun. Quaid and Newsome did a fantastic job bringing their characters to live action. And the amalgam of live action and animation was handled flawlessly. Kudos to all involved
In my own opinion? This episode will stand with such greats as 'The Trouble with Tribbles' and 'Devil in the Dark' (my favorite Star Trek episode of all time) along with 'the Best of Both Worlds' 1&2. There have been MANY good Star Trek episodes, even in otherwise not so well remembered series. THIS will stand with those greats.
I have watched it twice so far and am watching it again!
Then in those 55 years you've never watched Star Trek. Some poorly written comedy combined with sickening TOS worship is one of the "top episodes in franchise history"?
@@JohnnyWednesdayTo paraphrase a great reviewer. Lighten up! 😉
It's something that always strikes me whenever I hear someone describing a "silly comedy". There's a lot of people who look down on it, but the relationship the audience builds with comic characters leaves them much more open to being poked in the feels in the unexpected serious moments. 😁
@@EthanKristopherHartley I know what you mean. Comedy is harder than many think. Bad humor takes no effort at all, but is often more insulting than comedic. Good humor taken effort, skill and timing and even with all of those, it can fall flat.
THIS episode managed to keep from falling flat. Not everyone will appreciate the comedy, because not everyone finds humor in the same things. There are many today who ONLY find humor in causing pain, either emotional or physical. I find that quite sad, but i have no right to dictate to THEM what THEY should find humorous any more than THEY have right to dictate such to ME.
Vary rarely does something so hyped actually meet and beat the hype. This episode was so much fun and just a joy to watch.
This episode was loaded with fan service, but it was fan service done right. Nothing heavy-handed, no forced humor, but the humor was natural, organic and simply marvelous (big credit to the writers of this episode). Everyone got a chance to shine (love Pike as the exasperated dad dealing with two chaotic space kids), and it was just so much fun.
"Pike as the exasperated dad dealing with two chaotic space kids" is the perfect description for this episode!
I have never seen lower decks but this is my favorite episode of stranger things new worlds if not the entire Trek universe.
@@busterandloulou you should really watch Lower Decks. It's pretty hilarious and a good Trek series.
I loved the fan service because it added to the story. Too much fan service for the sake of fan service with no connection to the plot can be annoying (Picard season 3, I'm looking at you). The fan service here was part of the plot and worked so well.
@@jaydirt316 - The fan service definitely added so much to the story, particularly when it came to Pike and Una’s own stories, and brought them full circle, in a real sense.
One of the problems I had with Picard’s third season is that there was too much fan service put in for the sake of fan service, and none of it made the story richer or provided enough deep character development to the characters that we grew to know and love.
But in “Those Old Scientists”, the fan service was incorporated into the story so well, and it added greater depth to Pike’s awareness of the sacrifice he’ll make, and the knowledge
that it won’t be in vain; that people will remember him for doing so, and see him as truly heroic is something he needed. Then, Una learned that she would also make a powerful, positive contribution to Starfleet by inspiring future generations to join the ranks and travel to the stars, and when she finds out about this, she’s genuinely touched by it.
BTW… I’ve seen all 4 seasons of Lower Decks, and I love it!
This episode of SNW is going to go down in Star Trek history. Crossovers are always fun, but they took the finest parts of both shows and married them together with such finesse. Every person involved in making it should be proud because they've made something so special. Exceptional television.
Why infamy if it was exceptional?
@@nel1962 Because I'm bad at english
Absolutely agree. I've never seen a cross-over so seamless before. Definitely a master class in "exceptional television". As you said they took the finest parts, and without missing a beat were 100% faithful to the characters and vibe of each, neither of which were diminished or ignored. Brilliantly done.
I tried to watch Lower Decks after this but it was hard cuz even w captions on the dialogue flies by so fast
Agreed. Loved the opening sequence too. Animating the title
Sequence of SNW was awesome.
When Mariner mentions "hot Spock," was surprised there was no call-back to Dax's similar comment in DS9's "tribbles" episode.
I am consistently in awe of SNW's costume department - the realization of the Lower Decks uniform was really impressive. I was expecting the look not to translate well into live action, but it was great.
not gonna lie the "ad astra per aspera" scene had me shed tears.
what an awesome performance of everyone involved.
and what a great script to work with for the actors.
Best laugh cry I’ve ever had 😂, laughing one nano second before then a punch in the chest.
@Mel6701 Current season, episode two
Comedies get you to let your guard down to kick you right in the feels. The never-know-how-many-birthdays scene was another one like that.
@Mel6701 The quote is from the second episode of season two, in which Number One is on trial. It is a Latin phrase that is the motto of the state of Kansas: "to the stars through difficulties."
It is used prominently in that episode. Best to just point to it and say, it's worth the time to see that episode. It's really good writing.
I started choking up when Boimler suggested why Pike should celebrate his birthday with his crew, and was barely holding on when Mariner admitted Una was the literal poster girl for recruitment.
Absolutely lost it when Boimler chimed in.
This episode in my very humble opinion, is not only the best episode of SNW and Lower Decks, but one of, if not the BEST time travel episode of the Star Trek Franchise, period. The writing was so on point, the acting was top tier, the Enterprise in the Lower Decks animation was so gorgeous, and callbacks to Star Trek Enterprise as well. We need that season 5 of Enterprise for petes sake!
Seamless has been a word I've used a lot in describing the episode.
It also retconned a few things INTO CANON... not an easy thing to do, but this episode did. Spock's emotions being one of those things. Well done! Oh, and it was directed by Johnathan Frakes. LATINUM UP just for THAT!!!
@@morning1500 That was one of the things I thought also. They put to rest a lot of 'the canon sky is falling' critiques. There is no question, that this crossover was written by those who themselves are fans that love the franchise. At the very least understand the importance it holds for fans.
Yesteryear was the best time episode in Star Trek franchise. In fact it’s in my top ten best episodes of all of Star Trek….
Finishing Enterprise in animation could be perfect. We could get season 5 AND 6&7.
I feel the episode was more about growth for Pike, which is nice. He's been obsessed with the knowledge of his death, unable to see past it. He had no knowledge of his legacy and the impact he would make on the people around him and the future as a whole. Obviously, it was amazing to see TLD cast in live action on SNW, but they were mostly a tool to show Pike what happens after he's gone. The positive impact he makes on friends, and a legacy that has people 120 years into the future dressing up as him for Halloween. Instead of going to focus on his death with a bottle of whiskey in some frozen wasteland, the experience convinces him to spend time with those who will miss him the most and cherish those moments. A wholesome theme wrapped in a hilarious crossover.
Yup, while he has accepted his future (since he saw the consequenses of it from his alternate future self in season 1), he did not know that anything about him would survive beyond that.
Knowing his birthday is a holliday. Hell, just Boimler "knowning" about him a century later was probably enough.
And yeah, Boimler pointing out the detail of Pike missing his dad also applies to everyone Pike knows regarding himself is in my opinion just such beautiful storytelling.
The writers are nailing SNW and Star Trek. sure, they seamingly brake canon every know and then, but come on, we can't be held back by stuf that was put on screen between 60 and 20 years ago today.
If we do get any more crossovers like this (which.... yes please?) I'd love to see them go the other way with the SNW crew visiting the LD crew in live action. Call it some quantum entanglement thingy as a result of using a dodgy time portal. Now, I'll admit, in my fannish mind this is primarily an excuse to get Ortega behind the helm of a recently stol.... uh, borrowed Defiant but can you imagine Mariner taking Pike aside at the end of the episode as they're circling the fleet museum in the Cerritos and pointing out the 1701-A as "the most important ship in Starfleet history" and how he's a key part of her legacy? Yeah, it's a cheat as it should be the original but can be handwaved by not telling Pike details for obvious time traveller reasons. Hell if you really want to hammer the point home have the camera keep panning across to the D in the next bay over to show that history won't forget the name....
I wish a scene was added where Boimler or Mariner tell Pike that the chair is not the end and he goes back to Talos IV to be with Vina.
But I'm thinking Starfleet classified that aspect to keep everyone from going to Talos IV.
@@lkgrave4959 Yeah, they probably don't know that. Or they do, but well.... They didn't exactly know what to say once they realised he knew about the chair.
Great insight 😊
One thing that everyone seems to be missing - Celia Rose-Gooding seems to be poking the fourth wall when they're talking about living up to the legacy that being Uhura brings. Nichelle Nichols is proud, Celia. No worries. 😊
Nichelle famously gushed over Zoe Saldaña's portrayal. She would have loved Celia Rose-Gooding.
They need to keep themselves humble. Their lucky and blessed to take over the role.
Totally didn't miss that. The entire episode was fan service in so many ways. Boimler and Mariner geeking out about this crew... SNW crew geeking out over Enterprise's crew... fans geeking out over EVERY crew... It's like the 4th wall had a 5th wall behind IT.
Since we are at 4th wall breaking: To me, it was just as much Mariner fanboying about Uhura, as it was Tawny Newsome praising Nichelle Nichols and her influence on all the black actresses, that followed her trail.
@@petertrudelljr Geordi was a fanboy of Zefram Cochran. Every timeline crew has Starfleet people in the past that they looked up to as inspiration.
It's hard to put into words the joy this episode made me feel, something the surprise early release only enhanced. At a time when things aren't great, to put it mildly, this came along and gave a burst of light and colour.
I needed this. I think a lot of us did. A genuine landmark in TV, it was a privilege to experience it first-hand
🧐 is that comment written by bot?
You know... I agree! I am not a fan of Lower Decks. I did give it a try, tho. So, I didn't have very high hopes for this. I figured, "Well, it *IS* SNW, how bad can it be?" Lo and behold, I was laughing a LOT more than I thought, it was actually BRILLIANT, not goofy, and I agree with Sean's record-setting UP's for this one. :) Definitely WELL DONE!
It sounds corny, but I agree completely. It was the unexpected gift that I needed so badly. I cried, I laughed, and it’s been the highlight of my week. Pure joy in a dark time
@@culturecanvas777 Nope - a fellow STAR TREK fan who, like me had a wonderful positive reaction to a glorious, joy-filled episode.
Boimler traveled so far back in time, that even the episode came out a week earlier!
As a Trekkie since the 70's (Syndicated TOS), I'm in total agreement with you. Definitely the best episode since Star Trek came back on the air. With that said, I have been ignoring Lower Decks, but after seeing this episode, I'm on a binge ... and loving it! I'm pretty sure there are others out there like me who have been put Lower Decks on ignore. So good work with this episode, and getting lots of Lower Deck converts ready in time for season 4! By the way ... 81 is a bit conservative!
This is an interesting comment. :) My Wife and I tried watching LD... 4 episodes worth. We definitely didn't care for it. Naturally, my expectations for this episode were a bit jaded... but because SNW has been SO GOOD, we both figured that maybe this will be "OK" after all. :) Then, when I saw "Directed by Johnathan Frakes" in the opening credits, I said to my Wife, "Look! Johnathan Frakes directed it! That means it WILL be good!" ...and it was BETTER than good, it was awesome! :) Perfectly "blended". :)
@@morning1500hey, I don't like LD either, specifically Mariner, don't like the character or the actress so this was actually a suckky episode for me. I liked Jack Quaid's appearance, because he is very likeable, but I'm not inspired to check out LD again.
I love how the end of the episode implies Lower Decks is animated bc that's how all the main characters see the world due to the trace amounts of Orion liquor in their systems 😂
Which can explain a lot of the strangeness in it that don't quite fit.
It reminds me of a comedy fanfic of Voyager to explain some of it's more surreal and, well, off parts with it being Neelix's fault due to talaxian pheremones being a psychedelic for a lot of species...just that most species in the Delta Quadrant had adapted to it due to the old Talaxian trade empire...
I like to think that it implies that the main characters of lower decks are constantly high off their rockers lol
@@sheevpalpatine2231😂😂😂
@@AzraelThanatos I take it that the events of Lower Decks are all exaggerated. Either by holodeck, fantasy, or the ensigns' perspectives.
Pike saying “NO!” At the portal had me laughing at how done he was with visitors from the Future. Not that he did not like them, but I think he was already having an migraine trying to figure out how to report the whole ordeal to starfleet and likely temporal affairs.
I have to admit, I caught myself ALSO saying "NO" at the same time as Pike did!
"You guys arent bad but please don't come back" is such a mood lmfao.
As stated in “Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow”, the Department of Temporal Investigations does not yet exist in 2259. There is no department to report this too.
On a separate note, I wonder if Episode 3 was one of the seventeen recorded temporal violations committed by Kirk.
This episode fixes Spock! This totally explains how Nurse Chapel is towards Spock in TOS. It isn't her pining away at unrequited love, but rather it was her stepping aside so Spock would become the person that ALL of the universe needed.
If that is the case, I'm willing to bet that -- at some point -- Pike says something in front of Chapel about making sacrifices so that Spock can be what he is destined, and does not realize that he's giving advice to Chapel as much as he's reflecting on his own life path.
Him being emotional also fixes him smiling and laughing in The Menagerie.
Dammit Boimler, you had to go and screw that up! Spock❤️Chapel forever.
Yeah, it was really interesting how they have moved the Spock love story forward in a way that feels really cool and natural.
I just love those 2 together, if eny 1 comes up with a name for them let me know.💕💕❤❤
Spock's smile always being shot like a scene from a horror movie, complete with a disturbing musical sting, was just amazing.
And can we appreciate "Remember me!" That TNG episode ended with Crusher being pulled in that same pose through a portal and into the real world. I love it.
Spock's smile for me always conjures up for me the various devil references from TOS.
From the land of endless night come I/ An alien from afar / Spewn forth upon your pleasant sphere /.So much like yozlu, set so un-alike.
Yes…it was almost as if they needed the “Jaws” theme playing…Dunt duh dunt duh…as they panned in. Hilarious!!
🤣🤣so true🤣🤣☺️☺️👍
Quaid and Newsome are *SO GOOD* in live-action. Like, they were absolutely fantastic. They were absolutely their characters, it was great. Hilarious episode overall.
ALSO, one thing I really liked, when Boimler and Pike shared a moment where Boimler talks about what’s going to happen to Pike, you could just *see* the relief on Pike’s face to hear from someone who knows exactly what’s going on with him. It’s just a quiet moment and it can be easily overlooked in such a hilarious episode, but it was nice to see for Pike.
Absolutely loved that and the tender way Boimler encouraged Pike to let the people who love him now have those moments with him. In all the hilarity, this moment was quietly great.
Also, I was glad to see Pelia and Boimler together. She's so long-lived, she could cross over into their show.
It was a very smooth transition from cartoon to live action
Yes! It was so great seeing them in live action! Trek is awesome!
You're completely spot on! There's SO MUCH going on in this episode and they're so aware of those little human moments.
It's also a shared moment because they've both got the same problem. Pike literally knows what it's like to meet someone you *know* is going to suffer a horrible tragedy through no real fault of their own and to have to keep your mouth shut lest you ruin everything so bad you have to time crystal yourself a "DO NOT DO THIS!" message while looking fly AF in a monster maroon.
Humans bond over this kind of stuff.
Regarding @jdmoncada8205's comment about Pelia: I said the same thing to my spouse during that scene!
So it works for lore AND character as she's so gosh-dang odd that she'd perfectly fit in with the wacky tone of that show for a cameo.
Honestly, my favourite part of the episode, where there was so much fun, it was a lovely, human moment.
Missed an UP on Boimer's statement about tricorders being, "...made smaller, more powerful and less likely to explode." That was a call back to Arena when Spock tossed away his tricorder and it promptly exploded. Then he said, "they fed bck my own impulses and built up an overload!" Also loved Dr. M'Benga's reaction to the word "Explode!"
Mariner miming not only the beep chair but also the facial scar was such a brilliant and compact moment of physical comedy
How did I miss that?! Ok… must rewatch now!
I probably rewatched that one moment a dozen times. She CRUSHED it. Crushed it in this episode. Amazing.
I loved that. It was so visual.
The genuine love and fangasm Sean is having while giving up after up is just infectious and amazing. And I'm right there with him. What an episode!
Sean completely lost his objectivity and went into fanboy mode.. :)
The most important thing that happened in this episode was the way they showed us that the "new" Spock we've seen the past few weeks is not a deviation from canon, it is rather, the backstory for the canon. Yes, in the middle of a pure fan service romp, they *fixed* the canon.
Yes! That's true! A retcon done right! Kudos to the writers AND to Mr Frakes for SUPERB directing!!
No. its a deviation. Spock didnt have an adopted sister, he had a half brother named Sybok. Trek canon is flayed open while Kurtzman is in control. F*CK CBS and Secret Hideout. Trek died with Enterprise.
Haven't seen anyone mention it, but my favourite little moment was that during Pike wishing he could have one more argument with his dad, the camera cuts to Mariner. Despite their arguments, she loves her parents a lot. Intentional or not, I thought that was beautiful.
I suspect it's a little more than that. Assuming this happens between S3 and S4 of Lower Decks Mariner is coming off the entire crew instantly assuming she landed them in trouble and her mom throws her off the ship. While things are at least a bit better between them by the end of the season there's a significant chance that things could have gone badly wrong and they'd never have the chance to fix things. In that moment with Pike Mariner probably sees where her own relationships could end up if things don't keep improving.
Excellent.
Pelia was quoting Cary Grant and I love that Boimler seemed to realize that after she finished speaking and that as a Lanthanite she would have been old enough to have met someone from that long ago.
I want Pelia to show up in Lower Decks now.
Ugh thank you. I knew that was a real quote, but couldn't place it.
@@shaunm2691 I want a Pelia series! I'm LOVING her character and cannot get enough of her. If you'd told me two years ago that a highlight of STAR TREK would be Carol Kane as an engineer, I might have thought you crazy. Her enigmatic nature and exoticness is just WONDERFUL!
I like to believe she was the one interviewing Grant when he said it.
Fun fact Carol Kane (Pelia) knew Cary Grant. It should have been thumb up
This episode was nothing but joy. Pure joy from start to finish.
That quote from Pelia from someone she once knew is directly, nearly exactly word for word, from Cary Grant who said it talking about his becoming Cary Grant rather than Archie Leach. So, Pelia knew Cary Grant!
Excellent info. Thank you! 🙂❤️
There is an older source with a similar idea. Librarian here, in 1989 I catalogued a bunch of books of history of the French Revolution and Empire. Napoleon told his companions (at St. Helena, maybe?) that, when he was a very young artillery captain he was very scared in battle, but he had to present himself as fearless for the sake of his men and his command. After a time, the fear disappeared. There are testimonies of people who knew him saying that he didn't even duck when cannonballs were flying all over the battlefield, so it appears he was telling the truth that time. ✌
I think she Really knew him, if you know what I mean!
Thank you. I noticed the quotation marks on the captions. I was think of looking it up.
I caught that too. Thanks for mentioning it!
This episode was probably one of my most favourite episodes of all time... It was done perfectly, and directed by Frakes made it all that much better. The fact Boimler ad libbed 'Riker' is just... Incredible. They really did do the show justice. SNW is going to be this generations Next Generation... Until Legacy kicks in... No... Even then... Just so amazing!
I 100% agree!
I don't think it's even close to TNG. JMO
@@dentoncrimesceneno it's so much better. TNG is a snooze fest
I couldn't agree more.
@@dentoncrimescene You'd be one of those 'Fan's' in the late 80's early 90's going TNG isn't as good as TOS...
I LOVED THIS ESPIODE! Especially the animated ending!! "WHAT THE HELL IS IN THESE THINGS!?!" The actors nailed in the live action and I couldn't stop laughing at Mariner! So GOOD!
This was the SNW version of the “Trouble With Tribbles “ episode in TOS. Then the DS9 version “More Trouble With Tribbles.” Lighthearted with a minor serious tone.
@@diamondjim7560Wasn't the DS9 episode called " Trials and tribble-ations " not " More trouble with tribbles "
@@parasaurus2 You’re probably right. I did a quick google search for the name. They got it wrong.
"Are my eyes huge? they feel huge..." absolutely BROKE me...
Watched it again right away. Easily in my top ten Star Trek episodes of all time. On another note…. Is this the first time people are queuing for an Ups & Downs from Trek Culture?
Me too. I stopped at the transporter room scene, knowing that it coming to a close. Started rewatching immediately from the start. I had never done that for any show before and I was just as much entertained if not more, the second time around!
Personally, not British enough. I just stood in line for it. 🤓
Watched it 3 times same day
Re-watching it again tonight. Thank you Sean for being such a fan. I love to see that joy in your face and smile. There is a part of you in all of us watching your review. This is such a great time to be a Star Trek fan.
Hands down my favorite non-Picard episode in all of the modern series. Laughed, cried, cringed, and absolutely loved it.
Your Dad wanting to be in this was amazing.
Hands down, this was the best episode of Star Trek in decades.
I LOVED how Mariner looked at Boimler when Spock gave him the 🖖🏽….she was genuinely happy for him.
Pike acknowledged it also. It was really thoughtful of Spock to give him that salute.
This episode is amazing and a truly great model for how crossover's should be handled. It's fun, it makes sense and it really explores the crossover from both perspectives and plays off of existing story arcs from both series. That is no small feat to accomplish.
And I have to give Jack Quaid and Tawny Newsome so much credit for taking animated performances and mirroring them perfectly in live action form. I had no trouble believing they were the same characters and the interactions were priceless. (Spock smiling now haunts my dreams)
And the continuing story arc for Tendi is something I just want to hug the writers for. I have a friend who's in his early 20's from Mexico and he's a science genius who dresses like an old english professor and people never stop acting like he's some weird anomaly simply because of his ethnicity. And so Tendi's ongoing fight to prove that Orions can be anything they want to be really resonates.
All in all this is the best episode of Strange New Worlds so far and this is a series that continues to give us stellar episodes each week. This is amazing, Chef's kiss and if you haven't seen it yet, please for the love of Migleemo go treat yourself and watch it.
MCU should learn from this.
Another couple of up votes: 1) Jess Bush’s performance during the conversation with Boimler in the turbo lift, and 2) Anson Mount breathing a lifetime of complicated emotion into the single word “father.”
Boimler saying “computer end program” makes twice as much sense when we remember that Boimler has passed out on the holodeck a minimum of one time now.
The crossover was done so tastefully and with tremendous respect to each Star Trek franchise that I kept tearing up as I watch the episode... My God, it was perfect! Super grateful that this episode happened! 😄
That turbo lift scene with Nurse Chapel totally explains how she is towards Spock on TOS. It isn't an unrequited love, it is her stepping aside so Spock can fulfill his destiny to all he touched in the universe.
How did Sean not notice the callback to Jadzia? Both her and Boimler *loved* the "classic 23rd century design" of the tricorder. Dax expressed the sentiment in a crossover episode featuring grain shipments and NCC 1701 (- Nothing). Add another up. I BLOODY LOVED THIS EPISODE!!
Trials and tribulations is the name of the episode you're referring to also one of my personal favorites
Jadzia also loved the uniforms as well...... And had the hots for Kirk.
The only problem with this episode is that it was only one part. I wish it were longer, especially so we could get more of the girls getting drinks because the chemistry between them was brilliant, particularly Ortegas and Mariner, they would get into trouble together.
True that my friend. We need to have one SNW happen to go LD and how cool would it be. Or have the full cast from LD go over to SNW with both ships side by side.
Maybe if Boimler and Mariner actually got to _do_ something. In reality, they were just there, and everyone else was working to solve the problem. Except for the NX part, they did not really contribute all that much. Solid episode, for sure, but it could have been better.
@@lucemiserlohnBoimler did the jury rigging fo example, and did equal work to Spock
@@lucemiserlohn I mean it fits into them being lower decks, the whole point of LD is that the ship is their home and sometimes stuff happens that they learn about afterwards, so they just go through their life on the Enterprise the same as they did on the Cerritos, Boimler is engaged into the progress of getting home and Mariner kinda tags along as per usual, because she is enjoying that, in my opinion not enough, and it also keeps the crew of the Enterprise to be the bridge crew that always works something out, and they do especially with the little help of Boimler and Mariner.
It really speaks to a whole another question about the starflate regulation on breaks, that mandates officers taking breaks, to have more life and work balance, to come up with solutions. Itfits into Star Trek's whole message of brighter future and something we can all aspire be.
This episode was packed full of beautifull things that I could talk about
@@lucemiserlohnBoimler contributed: he successfully convinced that the Orion ship was a peaceful science vessel.
The animated opening sequence had me geeking out from the start and it doesn't end there. Gets better and better up to the end. Frakes' masterpiece to date.
I laughed so hard in this episode, especially during the ‘creepy smiling Spock’ moments. This was definitely a love letter to the fans and it was far better than I could have imagined. Well done to the writers! Keep up the good fight! 🖖
Line that cracked me up was after Mariner comes through an exasperated Pike calls the ship and says "*five* to beam up". Whole episode was comedy gold
How did Sean miss the fact that Uhura's pad went from Bajorin to Cardassian in one swipe while she was working in the bar? If that's not retro foreshadowing, I don't know what is.
Love the term "retro foreshadowing"!
I thought the Federation didn’t make First Contact with the Cardassians until the early-24th Century?
@@jackhosier8498 They might have had information about the language from a third party, or a member of the federation without having, as a Federation made contact with them. That's how I'm explaining away that they had that information.
@@jackhosier8498 We know a famous Cardassian author was exiled to Vulcan and met with one of the previous Dax hosts. Not confirmed when exactly but the episode made it sound like a long time before the 2370s so probably pre-24th century
The problem with that scene is that it references Bajorans, Cardassians, and Nausicans all of whom had first contact with the Federation over a hundred years AFTER the time of Pike. At that time there were less than a dozen alien civilizations with which the Federation has made contact.
Pelia's quote - “I always pretended to be someone I wanted to be until finally I became that someone, or he became me” - Cary Grant. Pelia met Cary Grant. How is that not an UP?
I was waiting for that too. But not only does it imply that Pelia met Cary Grant, but Carol Kane, who plays Pelia, actually did know Cary Grant.
This episode was so much fun. It reminds me of the SG-1 episode "Wormhole X-Treme!" in that it's an episode made to reward the fans, and they absolutely killed it. This is getting a spot on my list of favorite Trek episodes.
Lol yes
Definitely one of my favorite Star Trek episodes!
How about "The Pegasus Project" from SG1?
Horonium, Nadquada 😂
Also reminds me of my single favourite Star Trek DS9 Episode: Trials and Tribble-ations, a mixing of TOS (Those Old Scientists era) and the DS9 crew, that was 100% a fan love letter episode, and this one blew it out of the water.
“Those Old Scientists” is already a modern Trek classic. Kudos to everyone involved with this episode for putting together LD and SNW so seamlessly!
Of course I had my share of Picard facepalms when Boimler and Mariner at times nearly let the (temporal) cat out of the bag!😹
I haven't really been a fan of the Lower Decks uniforms in animation, but they look awesome realized as actual costume pieces.
They are honestly now my favourite uniforms after Star Trek II Wrath of Khan. They just work so well.
@@christopherpackham732 Nothing beats the First Contact ones for me, but these are up there.
A tiny moment I liked upon rewatching the episode is Boimler saying "Numero Uno" about the poster, Mariner commenting "nobody calls her that", and then as the episode ends Ransom comments on the poster calling her "Numero Uno" as well 😂 the writers really crossed every T and dotted every I for this episode, really bloody amazing.
Numero Una*
I wanted to point out that the one thing about the exchange about her being a "pin-up girl" was a missed "Up". Rebecca Romijn started out as one of the most famous supermodels of the 90s and WAS on posters that were "pinned up".
I thought she was hot then, but she is far far hotter now!
@@Ducky69247 Numero Úna
Should be Numera Una, right? I think that’s how Spanish grammar works
@@artembentsionov But Italian doesn't.
It would be hard to imagine this episode being any better than it turned out. SNW writing has been spot on and the actors seem to be enjoying themselves as well.
And Frankes directing was, as always, on point.
@@QuintusAntonious autocorrect hard at work?
Lower Decks easter eggs never get old. It was fantastic they could bring them into this episode also… Best ep ever!
I absolutely LOVED this episode. And I’m not sure if anyone else has mentioned this (they probably have) but SNW Spock’s exploration of his emotions totally explains Spock from The Cage/The Menagerie smiling at the “singing” plants of Talos IV.
Yes, along with his 'DISAPPEARED IN THIS AREA APROXIMATELY EIGHTEEN YEARS AGO".
Way back in the 1980s, I was always maintaining that Spock's controlled emotions were an anomaly, and were not typical of 'normal' Vulcans at all, that Spock was massively overcompensating for the mismatch between his human and Vulcan heritage, not because he was a Vulcan trying to work with humans. Nobody believed me, but these past few episodes have vindicated that.
@@quantisedspace7047 I absolutly agree, and seeing those episodes exploring Spock emotions and all, makes me think something major is gonna happen that will make him backtrack fast and I'm very curious what it could be
Well, I had to turn it off, it stunk.
Not to mention the amused smirk in the episode "Mudd's Women." Nimoy said that he truly tapped into the character of Spock during "The Corbomite Maneuver" with the one word: "...Fascinating."
One small UP to add: When Boimler gets back and says Tendi's grandmother's name... Tendi never mentioned her grandmother's name before they went through the portal, and was very surprised by how he knew.
It was Mariner that said it.
Everything about this episode was PERFECT!! I’ve already watched it more than once and it just gets even better with more viewings!
YES!! My Wife and I watched it twice when it first dropped... and then again just yesterday. It's truly a GRAND SLAM of an episode!! Neither of us care for LD at all. We've watched a total of 4 or 5. NOPE. So, we weren't sure how this would be... and were VERY PLEASANTLY surprised!! :) Then, right after this, we re-watched Ad Astra Per Aspera. For a "non-action" episode, that one is STILL "edge of the seat" compelling! SUPERB!
This concept had absolutely no right be as amazing as it turned out to be. I was so worried about this episode ruining both series, but it was an instant classic. I've watched it 3 times an it still makes me laugh
Only been two times for me (back to back) heading back for a third after I finish reading comments. lol
As much as I enjoy both shows, when they announced this crossover I was terrified it was a potential shark jumper. When the animated SNW opening sequence began to run, I knew we were in good hands.
The exchange between Picard and the Nausicaan also happened at Starbase Earhart, so that means the Dom-jot table Ortegas saw and its location at the Starbase is the same place Picard will end up getting stabbed in the back and through his heart. So I think the reference to Starbase Earhart in this episode was referencing TNG's episode entitled "Tapestry," especially since the reference included Nausicaan and Dom-jot.
Nice catch, I knew I'd heard Starbase Earhart somewhere, but didn't make that link.
@@jamesbuchanan4414I thought it was a ref to VOY:The 37s. By the time of LD, has Voyager returned home to debrief Earth as to her abduction into the Delta Q ?
@@quantisedspace7047 Nah, it was a TNG throwback reference. Starbase Earhart was where a freshly minted Ensign Jean Luc Picard got himself shish kebab'd by a Naussican he beat playing on a rigged dom-jot table. It's the reason he had the replacement heart long before the nifty android body.
@@quantisedspace7047it's definitely a TNG reference, but yes Voyager has returned home by the Lower Decks era. Lower Decks is set after Nemsis.
We always talk about the classic episodes we love from TOS, TNG, DS9 etc. I really hope that years from now we are still talking about this episode. It was truly perfect.
I agree. The idea of making a crossover between an animated show and a life action show to begin with - has that ever been done before? Certainly never to this level of perfection. And thank you for making Mariner and Boimler look so much like their voice actors, making this possible.
Loved this episode. The fact that Mariner is a fan of Uhura’s and finally hearing Uhura honouring Hoshi Sato, was a nice touch.
Having grown up in the 1990s, I’ll always be a TNG/DS9/VOY kid, but after all that the franchise came up with (since 2005) I’m warming up to Strange New Worlds.
(And as a linguist and interpreter, becoming a real exolinguist… would be a dream come true.)
The shout out to Hoshi was the only thing in this entire episode t which I would give an up.
@@jonstone2466You must be lost.
I'm surprised Sean didn't pick up on the fact that Pelia in canon knew Cary Grant. She says "I knew a man who told me" then quotes Cary Grant: "I pretended to be somebody I wanted to be until finally I became that person. Or he became me." Didn't even get an up vote :(
Especially since Grant was British! But I think she dated Cary Grant!
Thanks I was trying to think of where I had heard that before.
I literally smiled from beginning to end at this episode. My wife actually asked if I had taken an edible.
The "Spock effect" has worked
You know what I want after the closing scene?
On the Ceretos, Tandy is making a genuine orion hurricane, and for a full scene, they are becoming, psychadelicly so, realistic.
ha id love that to just be a random scene in the next season
One of the most hotly anticipated episodes of Star Trek in many years and it did not disappoint, I loved the animated opening titles, with Lower Deck's engine hanging tardigrade making an appearance, my favourite tribute to DIscos S1 tardigrade controlled spore drive. the script, and performances were just perfect, no downs at all from me this week.
I'm still waiting for that episode where the creature is sucking on the nacelles.
The animated episode-final in Pikes quarters was with no doubt THE BEST moment in Star Trek-History. I was like "Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god, this is AWESOME!"🤣
Disappointed it wasn't done to look like TAS would have been hilarious.
It was BRILLIANT!!! By the way, , when Pike calls up to the Enterprise after Mariner comes through the portal and says they have another problem - that reminded me instantly of Kirk in "Tomorrow is Yesterday" calling the Enterprise after the staff sergeant is accidentally beamed up: "As you can see, we have another… problem."
The "What the hell is in this?" Line had me in tears of laughter. Perfect line and perfect delivery.
Babs nailed it for sure.
Those Old Scientists is probably the most enjoyable episode of the entire Star Trek genre. Truly epic in every sense of the word. The more I watch it, the more I laugh. A great crossover with absolutely terrific characters. And I definitely need a Number One poster for my living room. The references were priceless.
Was squealing and jumping up and down Tendi style in excitement over this episode! I was not disappointed ❤
Me too!!!
When she made the comment about her great grandmother, I half-expected her to come through the portal herself and end deliver us a Philip J. Fry sort of situation 😬
(I say "😬" but the truth is I *would have been here* for a B-plot where she arrived in the past a year before Boims and Mariner, met up with an Orion captain, blinded him with Science and taught him the ways of... the scientific method, before returning to the future with the other Lower Deckers).
"Tendi Style". Brilliant. Just need a Gangnam dance to go with it.
@GSBarlev I was half expecting we'd see her ancestor and she'd be playing her, just painted a different shade of green from the Tendi we know and with her regular hairstyle. (Tendi's hair seems like it would be hard to replicate with a wig and actually getting it cut like that for a single guest appearance on another show would be some pretty extreme dedication to the craft.)
@@wendyheatherwood Oh that would have been even better.
I met Johnathan Frakes last month at Summer-con and told him how excited I was for episode 7. He smiled at me
Take an Up
Just smiled? Then walked away thinking, 'wow, that guy's a bit nuts'? Or did he actually say words to you?
Did he smile like Spock did?
@theblackwidower
We actually did the professional photo then stood in the que to get his signature on my husband's garden gnome, we got to chat for about 5 minutes. My husband made him laugh with a comment about his podcast with Michael Rosenbaum. Frakes was king of the Con.
And I made Terry Matalas tear up when I told him how much the 3rd season of picard ment to me.
@@darkelfling65God no his smile qnd that twinkle in his eyes still makes me giggle like a school girl
This episode gave me so much joy! I realized I had been smiling so much my cheeks were aching. By the end, I had tears in my eyes. It was so, so good!
I didn't think anything could beat Trials and Tribble-ations for a time travel episode but this was just perfect and I actually LOL'd all the way through.
As generational crossovers go, it almost makes up for "These Are the Voyages"
...Almost.
When Pike talked being a year older than his father and wanting a quiet birthday, it reminded me a lot of Kirk and McCoy having a similar discussion in Star Trek:Beyond
Same
A miss up I think.
This was a brilliant episode. It will go down as the best. Kudos to everyone involved in giving us this gift.
I adored this episode. This is up there with Trials and Tribulations for greatest fan service ever.
I also loved Pike being just so deadpan over it for the entire show. He does drama and comedy so well. I didn't think much of Mount before SNW, but he's continually amazed me with his range.
Great comedy needs people who are in on the joke but being the straight man. Pike's a great anchor for the silliness going on around him.
I'd be willing to bet that Kirk traces some of his humor as a captain, to Pike.
Honestly the one thing I kinda wish we'd seen is his reaction to Mariner switching from goofball to Disciple of Sisko. That moment of realisation that these future starfleet crew might act a bit weird but are absolutely *terrifying* when needs must would be gold. Still, on the plus side, there's always the chance of another crossover, right?
Folks, I'm just gonna say it: This episode is a Trek *masterpiece*! 🥰🥰
Watched this at San Diego Comic Con in a filled Hall H and it was such a treat watching with real fans all reacting to so many fun and touching moments in this episode. It was hilarious and i already watched it again at home!
this was a a love letter to fandom - old and new, but also this was cake and it is the most delicious fan cake I have ever had. truly this is the golden age of geek. 🍰💝🖖🏻
Missed my two favourites!
Mariner telling Boimler in the shuttle that Uhura managed to translate the Ancient Nausicaan, but it just says "this is a time portal", and the extraction process goes ping like a microwave.
Also, Uhura's padd shows both Bajoran and Cardassian
Yes! I wanted an "up" for the microwave ping
The ping cracked me up. It was so "Lower Decks"
Correct me if I'm wrong but wouldn't Bejor have been under Cardassian occupation in this era? Real nice deep cut there.
When it first began, I thought it was going to be a sitcom episode. The only thing missing was a laugh tract. Once it got going it was great, and yes it was a comedy episode, but the pacing was a thing of beauty. Well done to everyone for a wonderful show.
One thing I noticed that Sean also missed.
In the original The Cage episode, Spock actually smiled and laughed before the idea of Vulcans being non-emotional was created.
So Spock experimenting with emotions in this timeframe which is right before that episode actually helps support canon that was questioned before now!
This is Spock's Pon Farr year so letting emotions run wild goes with that.
Deep cut! High-quality Cetacean Observation!
I think everything fits in my head now. Boimler and Mariner are from a ship that IS a little wacky, and the Lower Deckers are all crazy history geeks, but I think every ship in the fleet has a comedy, a drama, and a tragedy that can be filmed of it. What's happening with the Cerritos is, we're seeing their "The Trouble With Tribbles" moments more than their "City on the Edge of Forever" moments... but we really do see them, don't we? All the finales have dramatic moments with everything at stake, they just find the lighter side of it whenever possible.
they also kind of explain that the Cerretos isn't a major ship in the fleet so doesnt see the same amount of action/drama that say a galaxy class would
Not to mention that the lower deckers may be a bit perma-fried by how much Orion liquor they’ve had. That’s why they perceive themselves the way they do.
This episode reminded me most of "A Piece of the Action" and "Tomorrow is Yesterday" - kind a cross. The situation is closer to "Tomorrow is Yesterday" but the pure fun for the sake of fun nature of the episode is even more like "A Piece of the Action." At the same time, I should point out that "Tomorrow is Yesterday" has some fun humor too like the computer calling Kirk "dear" and Kirk suggesting that the computer be scrapped if the malfunction can't be fixed. Oh yes, and Spock saying that the computer has an annoying habit of giggling. Captain Christopher is quite amused by the problems the Enterprise crew has. Oh yes, and when the USAF major down on Earth tells Kirk he's going to lock him up for 200 years, Kirk says, "That should be just about right."
This episode makes me wanna see a live action Lower decks. Amazing.
100%
Absolutely!!
Live action section 31 show, with Boimer's transporter twin.
@@rakaydosdraj8405 Lt. William Boimler, special agent. Yeah, I could totally get behind a live-action show like that.
❤ 😍
Fun thought: the Cerritos is almost double the length of the SNW Enterprise. So in theory we could have a live action crossover see the Big E jumping forward in time into the middle of trouble and our favourite utility ship pulling an Enterprise E save as the first nod to exactly when and where the SNW crew have ended up....
the ready room was just as high quality as the episode itself. I need a 2hr BTS/Making of special of this crossover.... also I got hit in the feels at Frakes just throwing praise at Wil, so deserved.
Frakes telling Wil to his face the same comment he told a big interview channel was very special. That Wil is very good at what he does as an interviewer to cover the Trek franchise for Paramount.
I had no doubts that this would be all ups as it’s easily a classic episode and following 5 viewings I’m totally satisfied with this episode. It’s absolutely perfect all the way through, such fun. I had no idea that it would exceed the hype so much, the cast and crew were phenomenal utter perfection. Huge thanks to Seán and Kris for a fantastic ups and (no downs) this episode. Take a rest guys you earned it ❤
When Boimler power walked off down the hallway, made me burst out laughing! Totally took me off guard and I loved it!! ❤️
All the hero worship from Boimler and Mariner reminds me of ST: First Contact, where the Enterprise crew meet Zefram Cochrane and can't stop fawning over him. Especially Geordi geeking out over him. And of course the lengendary bar scene with Cochrane, Troi and Riker!:-D
Then we get to see the statue in Lower Decks.
"You told him about the statue?"
@@razorburn645 there's a special event in Star Trek Online that's only active during April, where you can go visit Bozeman, Montana and see the statue.