M. Willis wrote We’ll Always Have Tom Paris which first aired on 26 August, 2021.
The episode features the return of Robert Duncan McNeill not only as Voyager’s Tom Paris, but he also played Nick Locarno from TNG as well, important? We’ll find out. There are tons of Voyager nods, from episode references to music cues to a hilarious Kazon reference.
Tendi (Noel Wells) turns to Mariner (Tawny Newsome) for some help when Dr. T’ana (Gillian Vigman) gives her an assignment. They’ve never done a mission together, and you know wackiness will ensue, especially when they find out what it is and how they ruin it.
Meanwhile, Rutherford (Eugene Cordero) is trying to figure out the unexplained return of Shaxs (Fred Tatasciore) – in an adventure that the bridge crew had without the knowledge of the Lower Decks characters. Mariner and Boimler (Jack Quaid) list off a number of hilarious Trek references to explain it.
Boimler is super jazzed about the arrival of Tom Paris (McNeill) and really wants his collector plate signed, but things are complicated by the upgraded Cerritos since he returned; he can’t get anywhere or do anything.
We also learn that Mariner served on DS9 while Worf was there, and there’s a lot revealed about Tendi’s past among the Orions.
Discovery, friendship, and surviving on a Starfleet ship. Love this show!
Mugato, Gumato was written by Ben Rodgers and debuted on 2 September, 2021.
The Cerritos is assigned to investigate an unexplained sighting of a Mugato on a planet where it is not indigenous. This one has lots of fun with the pronunciation of the strange ape-like creature, which was something that happened during the production of The Original Series episode, A Private Little War.
And guess who is behind it? The Ferengi! Who are selling Mugato horns and furs! This is not going to end well for the Ferengi at all. Boimler and Rutherford are going to have to save the day, and it looks, momentarily, like they craft a rudimentary cannon like the one in Arena. But their game-playing early in the episode pays off as they are able to work a deal out.
We also see some Anbo-jyutsu when Mariner kicks Boimler and Rutherford’s asses! Which leads to some rethinking of who Mariner is, when the bartender, Honus (Anthony Atamanuik) insists she’s black ops. She isn’t… right?
Tendi and T’ana have a whole thing about Tendi getting everyone’s medical scans, which plays out hilariously. We also see that T’ana is really going after Shaxs now, and it’s hilarious to watch.
There are trades, fights, rumours, and some truly funny moments mixed with environmental themes that make this truly Trek.
An Embarrassment of Dooplers was written by David Ihlenfeld and David Wright. It was first broadcast on 9 September, 2021.
Boimler and Mariner are trying to learn the location of a top-secret Starfleet after-party following a successful diplomatic mission. Things are complicated by Mariner’s past, and the space station may never be the same as the two friends end up in a car chase across multiple decks.
The bridge crew are dealing with a ridiculously insecure diplomat, Doopler (Richard Kind). The Doopler are a species that duplicates itself as an emotional defence.
Tendi and Rutherford are working on a model of the Cerritos, and it seems to have a connection to Rutherford’s past self.
There is a lot of fun trivia and references in this episode: The Next Gen skants are seen, there’s Data/Lore bubble bath, Kirk and Spock left their mark on a station, Next Gen movie dress uniforms, Avians last seen in The Animated Series, there are a number of familiar-looking models and background ships, and name-drops Okana and Shelby!
This one once again is about friendship and perspectives. Damn, I love this show. It’s smart, funny, and I love seeing the deep cuts and nods.
