It’s the one with the Quito! I said it in the first review a few weeks ago now, but Lower Decks is the series for the biggest of Star Trek nerds to enjoy all that is theirs. Similar to what Star Wars fans get with the forty-million series every year (animated or otherwise) to explore that one bloke walking through the desert or that other bloke walking through the desert. You do know that mono-climate planets wouldn’t be able to sustain life, right? Anyway, I love Mariner’s “I’m a 70s Disco Queen” look from that time she served on an Olympic-class ship.

The only episode that was written by story editor Ben Joseph, “Cupid’s Errant Arrow” focuses once again on our lead two, Brad and Becket. Without a cold open this time we actually get a B and C plot for the first time. In this case, Rutherford and Tendi help out over on the Vancouver while Captain Freeman does some delicious space politics. Oh, how I love space politics in my Star Trek! In the backdrop of a moon about to crash into a planet, Captain Freeman and the crews of the Vancouver and the Cerritos try to prepare to save the day and be the big Starfleet heroes they are.

The trouble is that some people worship that moon, some live on it, and some use it as a blocker from radiation on another planet. Meanwhile, Brad is standing up straight because Starfleet’s Tinder app led to him dating a blonde science ensign that Becket can’t trust, and Tendi and Rutherford are assigned a quick task on the Vancouver with the reward of T88 Tricorders. I say that is their reward, they are pitted against each other and the other part of the “reward” would be a transfer to the Vancouver. Yes, at this point I’ve said Vancouver so many times it has lost all meaning.

Maybe it is the addition of the Quito or the fact we’re not focusing on the comedy wholeheartedly, but this is kind of what I think Lower Decks falls into later on. A slower character-based drama with comedy instead of a character-based comedy with drama. What’s the difference? Well, one of them makes me want to headbutt a brick wall for hearing the name Trip Tucker and remembering Enterprise‘s theme. The other had me rolling my eyes at Ransom getting hit in the wood with some wood. Both work and have their own upside, but something about the drama focus is more fun.

I think the comedy in “Cupid’s Errant Arrow” isn’t trying too hard to make you fall to the floor clutching your sides, and thus, it is more effective. Once Captain Freeman’s resolution to the moon problem is accepted by two of the three groups, one guy is throwing a tantrum like a child and calls Starfleet a bunch of murderers. Then when he lets it slip he’s just a rich dude that lives on his own planet with his wife, and they’ve just called me around in House Flipper to renovate, Freeman, says: “There are two f***ing people on the whole f***ing planet? […] Implode the moon.“

Unlike a lot of Discovery and other bits of Star Trek of late where captains, ensigns, admirals, and officers are effing and jeffing every two minutes, that felt useful. It is a bit like the admiral at the start of Picard after he’s gone on TV and called Starfleet a bunch of cowards, she had a right to explode at him. Though since we’re referencing other shows I did appreciate the Always Sunny in Philidelphia and Doctor Who references, at least I assume Rutherford putting out a fire with his magic power tool is a Doctor Who reference.

While not the most original, “Cupid’s Errant Arrow” is another one of those love bug episodes where a parasite or literal cupid’s arrow strikes up a relationship between two characters. A functional tried and tested story that opens up a bit of character to explore later, including Jennifer who we’ll talk about at some point. The B-story of Rutherford and Tendi competing with each other and later trying to avoid the switcharoo between them and Ron (it’s always a Ron) once again shows the relationship growing between those two.

As a fine episode, “Cupid’s Errant Arrow” doesn’t do anything special to yell about aside from Beckett’s fantastic hair, but it does enough. As I’ve said many times before at this point, Lower Decks is a colorful and fun exploration of the franchise in ways we’ve not seen before. Though “Cupid’s Errant Arrow” does some of this in one of the most formulaic ways, its simple storytelling allows you to focus on the character work instead of breaking new ground. An example of stripping down to the basics to do something every show should be doing, telling a story with characters.

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Star Trek: Lower Decks "Cupid's Errant Arrow" - Review

7.5

Score

7.5/10

Pros

• Simple storytelling to explore character.
• Stupid sexy surgically alter Cardassians.
• an Olympic-class ship!

Cons

• It is always a Ron, isn't it?