Star Trek: Lower Decks S2E04 – Mugato, Gumato





A return to form after last week’s stumble, MUGATO, GUMATO grabs an armful of references from across the franchise and resumes the previous theme of deconstructing Beckett Mariner and giving Boimler, Rutherford and Tendi more opportunities to step out of her shadow.
Taking its title from the script and inconsistent pronunciation of the creature in TOS Episode A PRIVATE LITTLE WAR, MUGATO, GUMATO brings back vintage Ferengi and wraps the whole joke fest around a very on-brand parable of late-stage capitalism and eco-tourism. Featuring the first Denobulan seen on screen since STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE, much of the fun of the episode comes from Honus, the USS Cerritos’ bartender, spreading a rumour that Mariner is a secret deep cover black ops agent. It’s a rumour that, to Boimler and Rutherford at least, explains a great deal and when the away mission goes awry, they find themselves separated from the group and having to fend for themselves.
It’s an episode that isn’t afraid to touch on the sex lives of the Mugato in all its kinky glory as it delivers on the action, adventure and character development too. Once again, Mariner makes way for Boimler, Rutherford and Tendi (once again paired to great effect with Doctor T’Ana) to continue their own development and by not having to have everything centre around its lead character, everyone gets to grow independently. MUGATO, GUMATO even manages to add in a third plot to the episode, giving Captain Freeman a storyline of her own, yet still manages to wrap everything together neatly by the end.
Blessed with an abundance of Easter Eggs and shout-outs, including a fourth-wall denting direct mention of a TNG episode, STAR TREK: LOWER DECKS never forgets to put story and character first and, perhaps crucially, is unafraid to embrace and be proud of its heritage instead of trying to subvert or redefine it. MUGATO, GUMATO sees the series resume its course as the finest and most satisfying STAR TREK series of the modern era. It may not be the flagship but it damn well should be.