The second episode of Lower Decks continues to make Star Trek fun and accessible

From an eye-opening Klingon hunt to a fake Ferengi encounter, the second episode of Star Trek: Lower Decks explores the many jobs onboard the USS Cerritos.

“Envoys” kicks off with Tendi and Mariner encountering a trans-dimensional energy creature they threaten to shove into a canister if it doesn’t make them a Tricorder with a purple stripe. It eventually complies, using up most of its energy and becoming so small the captain doesn’t realize it tags along with her as she walks by.

Boimler gets tasked with escorting a Klingon warrior to the signing of a peace treaty, and Mariner comes with. She happens to know the Klingon in question, and the two drink as they catch up. The lightweight alien warrior gets proper drunk and stealing the transport, leaving the two lower deck dwellers stranded.

“Envoys”– Pictured (L-R) Jack Quaid as Ensign Brad Boimler and Tawny Newsome as Ensign Beckett Mariner of the CBS All Access series STAR TREK: LOWER DECKS. Photo Cr: Best Possible Screen Grab CBS 2020 CBS Interactive, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Back on the ship, Ensign Rutherford emerges from the vents after a week of fun-filled labor with much left to do, but decides to find a less demanding job so he can keep his word to Tendi to watch the Travoli Pulsar event together. He tries work in the medical bay, but keeps telling patients things they don’t need to know during operations, failing to keep them calm in the worst way. Then he somehow manages to eject all the ship’s children during a command deck simulation, and although he takes down a squad of Borg with relative ease, he decides he needs to be back where he belongs in engineering. Tendi tells him she can just watch the event with him in the vents via her tablet, rendering his efforts useless, if hilarious.

“Envoys” — Pictured (L-R) Noël Wells as Ensign Tendi and Eugene Cordero as Ensign Rutherford of the CBS All Access series STAR TREK: LOWER DECKS. Photo Cr: Best Possible Screen Grab CBS ©2020 CBS Interactive, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Despite his best efforts, Boimler continues to get into side-splitting conflicts with the locals during the search for the transport. After nearly inciting a riot, Mariner once again proves experience topples book smarts as she bails Boimler out so many times he believes he is unfit for duty and wants to quit Starfleet.

Then the two encounter a Ferengi, an alien species introduced in Star Trek: The Next Generation. Mariner trusts their new friend, but Boimler remains suspicious. His assumptions prove correct as the Ferengi pulls a knife on them. Boimler heroically grabs Mariner’s phaser, knocking the weapon out of the alien’s hand.

Luckily, they find the ship and drop the very intoxicated Klingon on the steps of the peace talks. With his confidence restored, Boimler makes fun of Mariner at the bar for her Ferengi screw-up. In the end, it’s revealed that Mariner set the whole thing up, and the Ferengi is actually a nice guy who wears a monocle; down with negative extraterrestrial stereotypes.

“Envoys” — Pictured (L-R) Tawny Newsome as Ensign Beckett Mariner and Jack Quaid as Ensign Brad Boimler of the CBS All Access series STAR TREK: LOWER DECKS. Photo Cr: Best Possible Screen Grab CBS 2020 CBS Interactive, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

“Envoys” does a great job of delving deeper into the characters, and proves that every post on a Starfleet vessel is crucial. From wild cards like Mariner to by-the-book buttheads like Boimler, there’s a place for everyone in the Federation.

I think the main reason the series is so good is that it doesn’t take itself too seriously, and because it’s accessible without having to know much about the series’ past. As a casual Star Trek fan, the Easter Eggs in this episode have inspired some curiosity, and made me look into parts of the franchise I otherwise wouldn’t have explored. The jokes are delivered so well that you don’t even have to fully get the reference to fall over laughing.

“Envoys” keeps up the standard of quality set with the series premiere, although it doesn’t quite blow past it.

Episode Grade: B+

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