Lower Decks: The Best Exotic Nanite Hotel

Last week's episode of Star Trek: Lower Decks saw the Cerritos checking in at "The Best Exotic Nanite Hotel."

A vacation destination is beset by a growing infestation of nanites, which a Cerritos away team must find a way to eradicate. Mariner must figure out how to work on that team alongside Jennifer, her ex-girlfriend, who doesn't seem to understand the "ex" part of that. Meanwhile, Boimler joins Ransom and Billups on an undercover mission to recover a wayward admiral who seems to have abandoned his post.

This episode of Lower Decks turned the balance between comedy and "Star Trek morality" very much to the side of comedy -- and to great results. Mariner trying to get out of an awkward break-up conversation felt like a straight-up "live studio audience" sitcom plot... that nevertheless incorporated hijinks culminating in an attack from a rampaging (huge laugh for me as Mariner pauses to count the sides) icosahedron. Along the way, there were more good laughs as T'Lyn struggled to contain her decidedly non-Vulcan enthusiasm for the vibe tube stylings of an alien pop star.

Still, there was an undercurrent of something more serious here that I appreciated. When Mariner and Jennifer (Mannifer? Jenniner?) broke up last season, there was some grumbling in fan circles about an LGBT+ relationship being written out of the show. But I really like the way this episode circled back to address that. Queer people can break up, that can be a good thing (not tragic, as media so often portrays), and hell... they might even be better in navigating the emotions of an ending relationship than a straight couple. (Also, side note: they don't stop being queer just because they aren't in a relationship!)

While the Mariner storyline was serving up all kinds of deep cut Star Trek references from nanites to vibe tubes to Gallamites (we finally saw these infamous aliens with the transparent skulls!), it was the Boimler story serving up a classic Star Trek plot line. The "Starfleet person goes rogue, adopting the culture of a local planet" story is an absolute tentpole of the franchise, going back to the original series in the 1960s. But of course, it was the 1970s that brought us one of pop culture's best-known incarnations of the "going native" story, Apocalypse Now. And I love that Lower Decks mined comedy from overtly paying homage to that film.

Boimler may or may not have learned a lesson about assuming others' intentions toward you. He certainly struggled in his continued attempts to grow a beard. (Oh my God... am I Boimler?) Add in the best "Boimler scream" ever, plus fun jokes about needing recreation in a society where you can kind of do whatever you want, and I found this subplot to be just as satisfying as the main one. (Also, we seem to have learned what the major story arc of the season will be, as the quantum fissures of the season premiere made a surprise return as the true cause of the "nanite" infestation.)

This episode was an A- for me. So far, it looks like Lower Decks is having a strong final (sniff) season.