Ups & Downs From Star Trek: Lower Decks 2.1 - Strange Energies

Too many licks and not enough counts!
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[@MalachiBurke]

Riker's pseudo psychedelic "I love my job" moment is so incredible it deserves an up all by itself

[@zincwing4475]

Lunatic class ship.

[@Meteu101]

It was a quick throwaway line but I love Mariner riffing on the fact that they are not supposed to have interpersonal conflicts. A great nod to one of Gene Roddenberry’s original Trek Commandments.

[@paulbabcock2428]

That was one of my fav bits too.

[@jackzimmy8461]

Love what Roddenberry gave the world but god some of his rules sucked, at least from a writing perspective.

[@orchman]

@@jackzimmy8461 good for his time, but times change. I agree with you!

[@jackzimmy8461]

@@orchman Absolutely! Without Roddenberry, Star Trek wouldn’t exist, but with Roddenberry, the franchise wouldn’t have grown up. It’s not a crime to admit that he wasn’t the strongest writer in the world.

[@KABZProductions]

Yes if Roddenberry had his way, Star Trek would’ve been like TNG s1-2 for the whole franchise.

[@philricciotti1724]

"I had to apply concentrated force to your neutral zone." Best line of the whole episode.

[@stalkholm5227]

Rutherford: "Yeah, things are pretty good right now! But this is Starfleet so that may all be different by next week." I love this show, I honestly and sincerely love this show.

[@liamevans9815]

You completely skipped what it took to humble Ransom? That was hilarious and totally worthy of another up. "Sorry, Mom. I had to take matters into my own feet" and "I had to apply concentrated force to your neutral zone" were absolutely fantastic line and worthy of up votes all by themselves.

[@thegreatcanadianweasel9928]

Tendi and Rutherford’s drama going on with the giant Ransom godhead flying about outside with them just ignoring it was magic. Just magic. There were so many great jokes in this one.

[@DissociatedWomenIncorporated]

A massive up for me, and perhaps the biggest laugh of the episode (hope I didn’t annoy the neighbours seeing as my window was open) was when Mariner said “I know we’re not supposed to have interpersonal conflict, but I _hate_ that Andorian”, referencing Gene Roddenberry’s rather restrictive rules for TNG banning any real conflict between the characters. Though that does suddenly make me wonder how Pulaski being racist to Data ended up happening…

[@ChristopherG1990]

Mariner: And he’s hovering. I think he’s going God-like on us!” “Now let’s not jump to conclusions until I run some tests, “ Dr. T’ana says as Ransom hovers with glowing eyes and controlling the weather xD

[@deddy2339]

DOWN: We didn't get to swim with girls in Cetacean Ops.

[@robgraham5320]

Down. Definitely. I'm still waiting to see Cetacean Ops.

[@rommdan2716]

Plot Twist,: The Girls were cetaceans

[@VictorReynolds]

There was a "Dr. Who" Easter egg in this episode when Ransom made everyone on the planet look like him. Season 2 is already starting on a good and hilarious note!

[@JaredLS10]

tap tap tap tap, tap tap tap tap, tap tap tap tap, tap tap tap tap.

[@happyslapsgiving5421]

@@JaredLS10 He will knock 4x4 times.

[@JaredLS10]

@@happyslapsgiving5421 excellent username

[@jasonjimerson7046]

Huh... That... Makes sense!

[@HalfwayUK]

Pretty sure the thing about Rutherford liking/hating pears is another Dr. Who easter egg, think it comes up during both Tennant and Capaldi's runs at least.

[@NeilBlumengarten]

Gotta give an "up" for the, "I know we're not supposed to have interpersonal conflicts," line from the cold open.

[@correlis]

The Roddenberry Rule!

[@julietpaige5083]

I love that they have a blink and you'll miss it shot of the Delta Flyer in that opening scene too!! Coolest shuttle type ship ever shown in Star Trek

[@Ambious]

I think the fact that the Ransom Godmode scene went on for so long is kinda what makes it so funny.

[@Winterfur1]

My head canon on my Lower Decks being zanier compared to all other Star Trek Content/series is it’s a retelling of Starfleet crew by a Klingon which are known to exaggerate their stories.

[@kadosho02]

I wonder if they are drunk, telling these stories at Quark's

[@Jeffowick]

That's pretty close to my head canon, which is that this series is just Mariner's logs being recreated in a holodeck, or maybe she's just retelling these stories years later.

[@Heymrk]

Or you could just accept it as is.

[@Jeffowick]

@@Heymrk I have more fun when I get to build on the world or story with my own imagination, but thanks for the recommendation!

[@Siddh4rtha]

I don't think you really need any special head Canon. As they pointed out in this video, a lot of the original series (as well as the others) was filled with all sorts of off the wall stuff. Most of it was just presented in a dramatic way instead of a comedic one. I accept it 100% fully as canon.

[@charlesajones77]

The fact that the mural was of a "space whale" makes me wonder if this was supposed to be the same civilization that sent the probe in ST4:TVH.

[@jasonjimerson7046]

You just opened my eyes! Good theory!

[@andrewmurray1550]

Meaning George and Gracie are aliens?

[@jasonjimerson7046]

@@andrewmurray1550 😆 No... Aliens were communicating with George and Gracie, thinking that they were the intelligent species of Earth.

[@Heymrk]

They are not the hell your whales.

[@kanebravo953]

@@Heymrk "Can't you remember?" "The hell I can't." Best exchange in that movie.

[@scottwarthin1528]

Priceless, that last line from Riker as they're being confronted w/ the terrifying unknown of being sucked into the wormhole: "I love my job-!" Priceless.

[@jenniferdruidhill7157]

I love that part when mariner meets Boimler and he says rescue me they are just showing me lights

[@delcox8165]

Amazing episode. Watched it with my wife and we were ecstatic. The opening scene depicting the concept of using the holodeck along a _proper_ creativity curve to keep workouts interesting? BRILLIANT. Riker's "I love my job!" killed me.

[@christopherscott5544]

“Marner help their torturing me with lights” haha this show is the best love letter to trek

[@TheSheebeen]

I just love that in S1 Ep1 Gary Mitchell was referenced and in S2 Ep1 we get a Gary Mitchell Situation. Lovely throwback to the show opener for the new series.

[@jpwphoenix1701]

Such a great episode, still keeping the laughs and fanboy giggles coming from me. I loved that they went to the lengths of recreating the Reliant Bridge for the Miranda-Class ship. That alone had so much precise detail on it. I also liked the Gary Mitchell nod, including even showing him on the Cerritos viewscreen at one point. Finally, I don't know about you but it raised a laugh at how most of the Cerritos crew aren't even batting an eyelid at the crazy stuff going on towards the end of the episode. When Tendi's going after Rutherford, trying to either fire stuff at him in the lounge or through the corridors, everyone in the background's just happily carrying-on with what they're doing. Tendi and Rutherford themselves even ignore Ransom's giant head flying around outside the window, attacking the ship. Totally brings to mind Janeway telling Harry Kim, "We're Starfleet. Weird is part of the job!"

[@michaellyden2580]

The Boulder and the Forklift. 🤣🤣🤣

[@jsonitsac]

I don't know if you caught the visual pun with Tendi based on her coloration. In season 1 she was "green" meaning she was a newbie to the ship. In season 2 she's now green with envy.

[@odesseus]

I thought of a funny thing. When Ransom twists the building and the alien guy says "Hey! That's our pop music museum!" it reminded me of the Seattle, Washington, Museum of Pop designed by Frank Gehry!

[@NomenLuni1975]

The first episode was fantastic. I immediately noticed the inclusion of Fred Tatasciore as well, and started wondering if Shaxs was going to return in some form too. I would also give another up to Mariner's rivalry with Jennifer the Andorian. Looking forward to seeing how that develops. Odd name for an Andorian too. Does that mean she will be followed by Alison the Ferengi or Rebecca the Klingon. LOL

[@DeamonChocobo]

Sisko is forced to send Shaxs back to the living after killing all of the Pah-Wraiths that were Banished in the Fire Caves.

[@kadosho02]

Dialog would be "Nope, not your time yet" "Boop!'

[@okebel3280]

I think he's gonna be voicing the new Tamarian character that we saw in the teaser.

[@brianjohnston2144]

ITS BACK!! Both Star Trek and Ups and Downs

[@mrrobotreads]

This episode reminded me of how many godlike beings in Star Trek can be resolved with humanity's trademark violence Also, the Giant Head was an homage to Shakari

[@DocWolph]

IN a live action series. Rutherford would say to Tendi, "I know I am not the person you remember. I don't remember him.. and I wish I did. But I am also a living monument to Shax. Please stop trying to take that from us."

[@robgraham5320]

Good line. I'd give it an 'up'.

[@Hasmanian]

As a child of the 80s, the episode title earned an up from me.

[@Goshdarnet]

I'm surprised you didn't give an up to the "Ugh, I know we aren't supposed to have internal conflicts" comment! What a great Easter egg!

[@johnchedsey1306]

This show is very possibly on its way to becoming my favorite of all the franchises. And I'm happily shocked that I'm saying that since my original hopes for the show weren't high. They have created some of the most endearing and loveable characters of any of the series. Absolute joy to watch and I'm thrilled we already have season 2 airing.

[@bthsr7113]

Mariner basically rented a power washer to clean some soot. She had no reason to believe that would spiral like it did.

[@jorgedavila4920]

Massive thumbs up to Mariner solving the problem she created by repeatedly kicking Ransom in the groin.

[@LRM23936]

They even mentioned the Gene Roddenberry edict against interpersonal conflict in the opening scene.

[@robgraham5320]

Definitely should have been an 'up', and a kick in the 'neutral zone' to that one as well.

[@Chronos146]

I liked the recurring boulder joke just because the cat doctor was so adament about using it

[@davidturner3704]

Has anyone ever brought up if Commander Jack Ransom is any relation to Captain Rudolph 'Rudy' Ransom (Equinox; Star Trek: Voyager)?

[@CaptainJack2048]

I thought that the callback to the first season when Freeman sends Mariner to the brig and they repeat their exchange ("I do what I want!") with smiles this time would have been worth a mention.

[@marcbraun5342]

"It's easy to become a god, the trick is staying a god." It's not a DOWN, it's just the right amount of Ransom-weirdness, we have that not often enough were strange character truly can act out their weird side, it's like Mabel in that one part of Weirdmageddon where she creates a whole world, so Ransom-god is an UP. :D

[@adamoneill9089]

One of the underrated lines of the episode is when Tendi explaining Rutherford’s condition of Synthetic Memory Degradation, or SMD.

[@Vipre-]

Nerdy nitpick but the Titan had been taking fire for a while before appearing on screen so having chunk of Riker's line be ordering Red Alert despite the ship clearly being at Red Alert already drew an eyeroll from me.

[@heathgleason4166]

Caught the same thing

[@ACherimoya]

At least one of those Cardassian torture implements in the opening scene looked a bit questionable.

[@coriolis_storm]

8:33 The word you're looking for is "apotheosis": the elevation of someone to divine status.

[@Yikes_its_Psychs]

When Mariner hates on Jennifer, that was hilarious!

[@chrisfisher1625]

This was a great episode! The shock scene actually reminded me of the shock scene from ghostbusters

[@bthsr7113]

That the Pakleds seem to be fighting on the same side as the Borg is really interesting.... and scary.

[@a6two]

Great episode. Man I love the design of the USS Titan.

[@examinerian]

"Excelsior! I am healed!"

[@Your-Death]

Up. Before the boulder was used, ENS Beckett Mariner found a direct way to depower CDR Jack Ransom…

[@bastian9713]

I love how Lower Decks Riker is just absolutely insane 😂

[@sarahscott5305]

Can't watch this yet... I'm not watching the episode until later when I can get my nerd sisters online ☺️

[@QuixoteX]

Jerry O'connell get's to shine, literally.

[@anderssorenson9998]

Was the suggestion by the Doctor to hit God Ransom with phasers a reference to the "Putting too much air in a balloon" line from the Futurama episode Where No Fan Has Gone Before?

[@Fanatiqual]

I love this show so much, it is such a fan's show, every scene is just packed with easter eggs and references

[@liamevans9815]

"They push the joke of Ransom a little bit far." Dude, it's the main storyline of the fucking episode! Jesus wept!

[@1953Stephan]

All of Season One is an UP Getting ready to watch Season 2

[@xedalpha1]

Yup. Lower decks is back. I love we now live in a world where we have a cartoon just for Trekkies

[@ericburgess512]

Another great episode Sean. Thanks for not putting politics in this time. Keep up the good work.

[@emirhanfidan2018]

You forgot to up the scene, where Mariner kicks into Ransoms "Neutral Zone", because that was the most hilarious scene in all of star trek

[@mhenning8074]

I have been waiting for this since the first episode aired!!!

[@artembentsionov]

Maybe it’s just me but I can’t seem to reconcile Ransom’s voice to Q-ball. Maybe if I saw a behind-the-scenes video of him in a recording booth it would help

[@lapiswake6583]

Great video. So glad we actually get this the day after the US release, like Disco and Picard, unlike LD s1.

[@stephencothran3702]

There are 4 lights!

[@matthewjay660]

At 1:00 💡💡💡💡!

[@yetzt]

THERE ARE FOUR UPS!

[@Jtilden23]

I will give this episode a point for showing a Miranda Class not being blown up.

[@bemasaberwyn55]

Holy f**k. I can't BELIEVE how much I missed this show. 2nd reference to Where No Man Has Gone Before, and while it would've been nice to see Mariner work with her mother more, the fact they mentioned working together for 2 months made them both batty is just so in character I can't be mad at it. I'm SO GLAD we got more from both Ransom and T'Ana(as well as a bit of some callbacks to Second Contact) which were both welcoming and surprising. Good god Tendi is so ADORABLE trying to "save" Rutherford. And, his reaction....is also so totally in character of each. Also that Titan bit at the end just KILLED me. I DEFINITELY think Boimler is gonna go the way of Ron Emanuel Docent.....and not wanna be epic anymore. I can't wait to see more episodes

[@tonyah.960]

I love the Star Trek Gym Shoe's.

[@tonyah.960]

YOU GOT I LOVE THE SHOE.

[@tonyah.960]

YOU GOT LOVE THE SHOE.

[@BritneyLaZonga]

6:36 Hyper-Nitpick: there is an animation error at Tendis collar - there is supposed to be a blue stripe going along the flap thingy, but is missing here!

[@seaconfused]

Not super funny but I don't mine. "We're not supposed to have interpersonal conflict" best line ever! My only problem is with Tendy. It comes on very toxic friend. I hope they turn it around.

[@piquels6934]

I kept thinking of the Naked Gun movies during the opening.

[@MadCowOnFire]

Love that LD is back. Best ST since DS9 :P Speaking of, I hope there are more non-TNG easter eggs this season

[@Heymrk]

Discovery, Picard and Lower Decks are the best Star Trek since Enterprise.

[@skidawg22]

The cure to godhood is apparently a Cartman-style Rochambeau.

[@gadaadyn8190]

Come on the joke about her sister being joined and not stop talking about it was hilarious

[@michaelcolston9334]

Minor nit to pick, it's "Who mourns for Adonais" not Adonis. It's a line from the poem Adonais: An Elegy on the Death of John Keats by Percy Bysshe Shelley. Sorry to nitpick, I'm a big fan of TrekCulture.

[@happyslapsgiving5421]

I am so going to start using *GARYFICATION* as a term.

[@rebmoti1]

Mariner bringing Ransom under control by repeatedly kicking him in the “neutral zone” was hilarious.

[@augiegirl1]

My understanding (& what I've heard from others) is that Tindi doesn't want him to date BARNES (specifically) because their date last year went so awful that he was hurt, & Tindi doesn't want him hurt again.

[@Species1571]

Fred Tatasciore is still there, but he is voicing a new character this season.

[@happyslapsgiving5421]

...who looks exactly like the previous one? 😅

[@stuartmcgeein7788]

So happy UPs and Downs is back!

[@chomper720]

I love this show!

[@cxslug]

Yay for the ups and downs.

[@hippo1701]

Sean, I love your NASA shirt.

[@brentmakes]

Definitely missed you doing the "ouuhps"!

[@danielgertler5976]

Rewatching Lower Decks, and by extension this ups and downs series and i'm waiting for the debut of Cetacean Observation.

[@travie123]

Didn't find this one as good as others to be honest. Found it.. kinda wanting. Wanting to be more than it is but not quite getting there this time. Definitely not worth the score you gave it. That said, I cannot wait for the rest of the season though.

[@paulbabcock2428]

I thought this one was a bit lacking myself. Idk why tho.

[@EphPhaThaINC]

Of course Fred Tatisscorie is still in the credits even though his bajorian died last season and joined the prophets. He is such a reliable and multi-talented voice actor that he can voice any character he wants. I still loved the character that he did last season where he pretty much used his Saren voice from Mass Effect and so pleasantly surprised that character not only lived through that episode but didn’t go bad and remained good. In my head cannon, I thought to myself that Saren got redeemed on Lower Decks. But Fred can do any voice character.

[@trevorwhite915]

I think I need to rewatch this episode, it wasn’t my favourite so far by any means. Not that I hated it, just didn’t quite work for me on the first watch. As for Fred Tatasciore still being on the credits:- A they have him play Shax in flash back :- B Shax is resurrected:- C he voices a new character.

[@JaredLS10]

Jem Hadar Attack Ship/Fighter, not battle cruieser...come on Sean.

[@paulbabcock2428]

Really.

[@andrewfarmer6126]

A Easter egg light? The wormhole the Titan is trying to fly through is the "Telepathic Pitcher Plant" from Voyager.

[@andyv911999]

Loving that Amazon prime is getting the episodes the day after and there's no waiting in the UK

[@thomashill6347]

What about the BORG OPENNING? Well done Sean, I am also enjoying the start. I do have to give it s 6 out of 10 NOT GREAT but good.

[@tbobmccoy]

The NCC registry number was the Reliant’s in Star Trek 2.

[@zathrus8424]

I believe it's called Strangeification.

[@Convoy00X]

Down: they forgot the blue spots on the female Cardasian.

[@chrischase4940]

The Cardassians don’t all have the blue spot.

[@TrekCannon]

TrekCulture you been watching my bootleg vids again? Loljk. Yes the Drop a boulder on him comment made me laugh

[@DonLekei]

My favorite "Easter egg" which was really Mike McMahan's dig at his bosses (and the entire teams behind Discovery and Picard) is Mariner's comment that they are not supposed to have interpersonal conflicts. It's just his way of saying "You don't get Star Trek but I do."

[@haitileblanc3075]

Lower deck best trek show out now

[@prestonhelsel4736]

I thought god like Ransom was remanescente of Andross from star fox

[@ultramaximusreviews]

It's "handled" pretty well... I see what you did there

[@wunkskorks2623]

Not sure if you did a video yet but, all three of the first major slashers have been in at least 3 Star Trek movies and at least one tv episode. Jason Michael Meyers Leather Face