Grace Parra wrote Something Borrowed, Something Green debuted on 21 September, 2023.
Tendi (Noel Wells) finds herself summoned back to Orion for a wedding. But that’s not before the season arc continues with the destruction of an Orion ship that combines the looks seen in Enterprise and The Animated Series.
There’s also talk about Orion pheromones; there’s a classic TOS phaser, and as always there are a lot of fun nods and moments throughout. I love catching them all.
Tendi drags along Mariner (Tawny Newsome) and T’Lyn (Gabrielle Ruiz) for her sister’s wedding, something Tendi isn’t eager to do. We learn that Tendi is from one of the fifth richest Orion families. She wanted to get away from Orion, and all the stereotypes and expectations of her culture. We also learn of her full title, Mistress of the Winter Constellations.
She gets a chance to reconnect with her sister. D’Erika (Ariel Winter). And we also get the deepest look at Orion culture that we’ve had to date.
There’s a fun Mark Twain cosplay happening on the Cerritos, which ties directly back to TNG, and it lets Boimler (Jack Quaid) and Rutherford (Eugene Cordero) clash in a hysterical way. As roommates, they’ve become incredibly close, and it shows in everything they do. I love their DS9 model, and their action figures, and how their first big argument erupts because of wanting to mist their bonsai.
Empathological Fallacies first aired on 28 September, 2023. It was written by Jamie Loftus, and does not feature a cold open.
A Betazoid delegation comes aboard the Cerritos, and it seems to be having a hedonistic effect on the crew. T’Lyn continues to document things for the Science Academy, much like T’Pol in Enterprise. She wants to return to her Vulcan assignments, but also seems to be fitting in with the Cerritos.
The Betazoid group is affecting the crew. They are riotous, drunk, sex-driven and violent. When Zanthii Fever is ruled out, Freeman (Dawnn Lewis) and the crew learn that the Betazoid trio are up to no good. But the source of everything that is happening with the heightened emotions and more… T’lyn. She’s broadcasting her emotions.
And Boimler is helped to relax a little by Shaxs (Fred Tatasciore), after Rutherford alerts the Security Chief that Boimler needs a bit of a break.
It should come as no surprise that both Zanthi Fever and Bendii Syndrome from TNG get name-checked. Anbo-jytusu uniforms show up; there’s a Malcolm Reed (Enterprise) puzzle, Angel One gets name-checked as well. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg, as the references continue.
T’Lyn has a painting of Vulcn inspired by the TMP sequence.
There’s also a little continuation of the season arc of the mysterious attacking ship.
Parth Ferengi’s Heart Place was written by Cullen Crawford and first aired on 5 October, 2023.
The biggest Easter Egg/trivia in this one is the appearance of Rom (Max Grodenchik) and Leeta (Chase Masterson) make an appearance as the Cerritos visits the Ferengi homeworld. But make sure you watch the background, as there are lots of fun references to DS9 and TOS. There’s an Enterprise D cutting board. A ‘Dagger of the Mind’ drink! And oh man, The Starfleet Experience bar!
We also get a couple of meta references thanks to Boimler watching Ferengi entertainment; there’s the CBS eye, and the Paramount mountain and stars.
Rom is the Grand Nagus! He is opening negotiations to have the Ferengi officially join the Federation, and meetings are taking place aboard the Toronto. But is he and Leeta up to something?
Meanwhile, the Lower Deckers are assigned travel guide duty, and Tendi and Rutherford have to pose as a couple. Wackiness ensues. This episode is hilarious!
The episode opens with a Ferengi ship being destroyed by our mysterious ship!
The show remains fun, smart and so Trek.
