Star Trek: Lower Decks S1E04 – Moist Vessel Review

For the first time since SECOND CONTACT, the cold open isn’t a throwaway joke but introduces the main plot of the episode, and what an episode it is as LOWER DECKS really sinks its teeth into some high concept sci-fi. The MOIST VESSEL of the title is an alien generational ship which for some reason failed to reach its destination and is now stranded in space with its potentially dangerous cargo of elemental terraforming fluid.

The USS Cerritos is joined by the USS Merced and its captain Durango to tow the ship to its selected destination but when Mariner embarrasses Captain Freeman during a briefing, she finds herself assigned to all the worst jobs aboard the ship. Meanwhile, Tendi finally gets to take some of the spotlight as she’s invited to participate in the ascension of crewman O’Connor (Haley Joel Osment) but her enthusiasm gets the better of her and she ruins the ceremony.

MOIST VESSEL feels like the series finding its feet in balancing authentic NEXT GENERATION-style adventure with the goofy character comedy LOWER DECKS exists to explore. The ongoing feud between Captain Freeman and her daughter steps up a notch as she decides the best way to force Mariner to request a transfer is to promote her. Cue a series of escalating digs at the various hobbies and habits of the crew of the USS Enterprise-D, with some well-observed tweaking of that series’ foibles.

When the inevitable ‘big concept’ mishap occurs, it offers an opportunity for Freeman and Mariner to explore their differences and also gives Tendi some much needed screen time exploring not only her relationship with O’Connor but also showing her to be a resourceful and capable officer in her own right.

The transformation of the ship contaminated by the biomolecular material homages the classic TNG episode MASKS while the eventual resolution is a masterclass of last-gasp technobabble. Kudos to the series for sticking the landing on all three of its ongoing plotlines in this episode, especially the hilarious culmination of the ascension storyline which sees LOWER DECKS stray into RICK AND MORTY territory once again.

9/10