WHY WE LIKE IT: Tendi's back by episode's end.
WHY WE DON'T: Too many deus ex machinae.
REVIEW: Shades of Green has two strikes against it. One is that I don't think it's particularly funny. Tendi's subplot is very "sitcom" (derogatory), and there are jokes like having a weird bird squawk on cue and a throwaway gag about Billups getting a dragon from his mom. It's okay, but with so much action in the mix, the joke ratio is a little low compared to the show's standard. This is perhaps compounded by the second problem, which is that Tendi is still split from the rest of the cast, and she gets the A-plot. In other words, it's hard to develop much of anything on the other side, much less solid comedy.
We do get to see Boimler manage a small team of ensigns and, Robin Lefler-like, give them pointers, or uhm, Bointers. They mock this behavior, but eventually do use a Bointer to save their own lives. Boims is also starting to grow facial hair, which is going to be a sight gag for the entire season. Some of us are slow growers - I reach! And conceptually, the idea that Starfleet would help dismantle capitalist systems overnight once a planet has reached post-scarcity technology (wouldn't this happen immediately upon joining the Federation, if not before?), the execution is naturally silly (it does make you think about the Trekverse though). Boimler's ensigns are kidnapped by formerly rich citizens who feel like they've lost everything, and because it's all a bit shortened, the show never really gets to explore this notion in a classic Trek allegory. Instead of actually making the point that too many of us illogically feel like they lose something if others gain it, it's a dumb joke jostling for attention with silly robots struggling with their Asimov programming. Much better is the C-plot in which T'Lyn tries to boost Rutherford's morale by helping his fix that old shuttle, but since it's his personal project with Tendi, it upsets him instead. The lengths to which T'Lyn goes for a friend is both amusing and sweet, but this is a tiny part of the episode.
The Orion story is more developed, with the pirate queen irked by the pirate war between the Tendi family and the Or-ee-ons, and forcing the factions to sail for all the syndicate marbles (with ships not unlike the one in DS9's "Explorers"). The hiccup is that Tendi's sister is secretly pregnant and Tendi, having found out, tries to coddle her mid-fight. Ultimately, it looks like stealing the treasure from the Or-ee-ons after being forced to crash would be a "pirate" solution (though it's hard to buy that they could ever catch up at those relative speeds), but Tendi goes for something more elegant, more Starfleet, and it costs both factions all their wealth. Oops.
But watch out, here's the episode's third strike: There are just too many cop-outs. In the Boimler plot, he finds his ensigns dead, but they protected themselves by using local coma bugs to simulate death (not that this was particularly helpful). In the Orion plot, everyone knows Tendi's sister is pregnant except her, so she won't feel forced to stay for the next 14 years to train a new Mistress of the Constellations. Yes, Tendi returns to the Cerritos, but how does not being told terminate this obligation (say, once the child is born)? Doesn't really work. And the shocker about the family losing everything - which they aren't that unhappy about - means nothing since the post-capitalist planet's gold and jewels are then gifted to the Tendis. If this is corruption, it's never addressed. Now, it's a comedy, and things should generally end happily, but it's a little much. One instance, we can take. When everything has a quick out, it's just lazy.
LESSON: If your sister doesn't tell you about her pregnancy, she's telling you not to throw her a baby shower.
REWATCHABILITY - Medium: Despite my many misgivings, it's Lower Decks. It has to work harder than this to make me dislike it.
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