When the Cerritos needs urgent repair, the only option within range is the infamous Starbase 80. There they find a crew of people Starfleet has seemingly forgot, shunted to the edge of the galaxy... and also, a zombie-like "curse" that spreads rapidly to the visiting Cerritos personnel. As Mariner tries to get to the bottom of it, Freeman and Ransom are working elsewhere on the station to repair damaged systems.
Lower Decks always has great voice acting, but they really scored big with the guest stars this episode. First, the station commander, Kassia Nox, is played by Nicole Byer. Her unique comedy ability to deliver the darkest news with the brightest tone is perfect for the head of the dreaded Starbase 80. Second, the crafty-but-goofy engineer Gene Jakobowski is played by Stephen Root, who always squeezes every bit of juice out of every one of the countless small roles he's played in a decades-long career. These two would elevate any episode they were a part of.
But then, they get great material to work with too. The many quirks of Starbase 80 create a carnival-like atmosphere (of funhouse rooms and corn dogs, no less) against which the high-speed jokes typical of Lower Decks play hilariously. The nods to past Trek series were piled on thick this week too, from "the disease Geordi got in that one episode" to original series technology in every room to a lengthy callback to Enterprise's infamous decon gel.
Besides making me laugh a bunch (and smile even more), there were those Star Trek ideals buried in the heart of the episode. Commander Nox delivers the message to us with trademark Nicole-Byer-on-Nailed-It candor, giving love that doesn't feel "tough" or mean: Starfleet believes in second chances, and Starbase 80 is a place for second chances. It truly does explain how a place like Starbase 80 (or even the Cerritos itself, to some extent) can exist in the same Star Trek universe with the Enterprises. Everyone has a place.
I give "Starbase 80?!" an A-. It continues this great (sniff) final run for Star Trek: Lower Decks.
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