WHY WE LIKE IT: The Or-ee-ons explained.
WHY WE DON'T: Friendship settings are a betrayal.
REVIEW: Lower Decks' fifth and final season starts here and straight from the opening sequence, it's already bittersweet. See, every season, they've added some threat to the big battle, and this time, it's THREE threats - Apollo's hand, Tholians and V'ger - which feels like the plan for opening sequences on through a Season 7. That hurts. This show could have gone on for years and years (given that it doesn't care if the cast ages), but at least as many seasons as TNG, DS9 and Voyager would have been very sweet. Alas. Though we do have to contend with the stars now being Lieutenants junior grade and being assigned new duties, like managing ensigns, and so we're getting farther and farther away from a "lower decks" situation.
Managing the people under you is the theme of the episode, even in the Orion storyline that is keeping Tendi away from the main cast. The thematic link makes the medicine go down easier, as I do think it's a problem for the show to keep its crew apart (though not as long as I worried it would be), and necessarily making the Orion story an A or B plot (see next episode). But I'm of two minds about this because I do really like to learn more about the Orions and the action bits they get involved in are always strong. The episode also reintroduces the blue-skinned "Or-ee-ons" of The (original) Animated series as foils for our Mistress of the Winter Constellation and her family. They are definitely comedy villains, but that doesn't mean they can't cause problems. And of course, Tendi has to manage her little crew and keep them from killing everyone in sight, which, as it turns out, they really didn't want to do anyway. To them, Tendi is an icon for having left piracy behind, and they, too, have ambitions outside the usual Orion life plan.
But the crux of the episode is the introduction of quantum fissures that have been popping up and the Cerritos' assignment to routinely close them. In this case, the fissure reacts badly and sucks them into a near-parallel where they meet the crew of another, slightly different Cerritos. Their costumes are darker, which makes me wonder if this is a dig at streaming versions of TNG, etc. where the colors are a little out of whack. The differences are meant to illuminate who our characters are and why they should or shouldn't take certain paths. In addition to the fissure arc itself, here begins Boimler's fast-tracking of his career by copying his counterpart's. Other-Boimler (to match the nomenclature established with "Otherford") is basically his ship's Riker. Good beard, cool cat, and does the Riker Maneuver when he gets out of a chair. A PADD from the Otherverse is found, kept and will make multiple returns. On the other end of the scale is Otherford, who made himself more of a robot to avoid thinking about Tendi's departure. Our own Rutherford is working himself to death and should here learn a lesson about taking things too far (and shouldn't be fiddling with his counterpart's brain, that's just wrong). Amusingly, the two T'Lyns are almost indistinguishable. And take note of Captain Freeman's fate at the crappy Starbase 80; we will go back to the station.
If Freeman isn't there, it's that Other-Mariner is Captain of the Other-Cerritos (albeit as "Freeman"). This Mariner has given up her roguish ways to rise in the ranks, but now she's abusing her power and enforces fascistic discipline. Though we heard Mariner express worry at having to lead ensigns, we don't see any of that in the episode. Instead, we're shown how NOT to do it. And Other-Mariner isn't any more happy with it, or else why would she pull a switcheroo and try to escape to a more undisciplined life? I guess, sometimes, you just can't break a habit.
LESSON: The best way to learn about yourself is to access parallel dimensions.
REWATCHABILITY - Medium-High: There's too much being set up here for this episode not to be worth the watch.
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