Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 1 Episode 1 Second Contact

Star Trek: Lower Decks is a new animated series that explores the lives of the support crew serving on one of Starfleet's least important ships, the U.S.S. Cerritos. The show takes place at the same time as the other Star Trek series, but the focus is on the lower deck crew who support the more notable officers.

Season 1, episode 1 is titled "Second Contact," and it introduces the audience to the crew of the Cerritos. The episode starts with Ensign Brad Boimler, a by-the-book officer who is excited to be serving on the Cerritos, and Ensign Beckett Mariner, a rebellious officer who gets things done her way. The two are sent on a Second Contact mission to the planet below the ship.

Second Contact is a task reserved for new civilizations that have already been established by Starfleet, and it is the second time the crew has made contact with them. The episode is filled with subtle nods to other Star Trek series, such as the planet's architecture resembling that of Cardassia Prime, and the new race of aliens resembling characters from The Next Generation.

The mission goes awry when Ensign Mariner starts breaking protocol and interfering with the civilization's culture. This forces Boimler to choose between following protocol and completing the mission or going along with Mariner’s more rogue methods.

The episode has a lot of humor, with many of the jokes being self-aware about the classic Star Trek tropes. For example, during a shuttlecraft chase, Boimler asks Mariner if she knows how to pilot the craft, to which she replies, "We're Starfleet. It can't be that hard."

The show also has a lot of heart, with Mariner revealing a traumatic experience from her past that she tries to bury. As with many Star Trek episodes, Second Contact explores the meaning of duty and explores the conflict between following orders and doing what is right.

Overall, "Second Contact" is a fantastic introduction to the characters and world of Star Trek: Lower Decks. It is a fun, lighthearted take on the Star Trek universe that feels like a breath of fresh air, while still retaining the core values that make Star Trek so special.