Allamaraine, count to four, Allamaraine, then three more, Allamaraine, if you can see, Allamaraine, you’ll come with me. That’s everyone who watched DS9 now in the corner, in the fetal position crying. Let’s talk about staff writer Ben M Waller’s “In the Cradle of Vexilon.” With Waller being the writer behind “Trusted Sources,” you have another fantastic piece about a society that might be on the brink of collapse if Windows 11 doesn’t go onto the old hardware of the Dyson Ring’s computer. Oh, and again we have a storyboard artist becoming a director in the form of Brandon Williams, which is why it felt so good to watch.

Not starting with our main four this time, we’re following Carol as she tries to help the people of Corazonia, who are experiencing tech problems. Apparently, Starfleet is effectively the youngest child being called by its grandparents to fix the YouTube video that ended and is stuck in full screen. Again, much like “I Have No Bones Yet I Must Flee,” “In the Cradle of Vexilon” has three concurrent stories that are tied together, but this time it feels right. Boimler in his new role as Lieutenant JG has to command a small team to deconstruct a bit of old tech.

What could go wrong? Well, it is highly explosive and could kill them all. That’s probably one of the reasons he does most of the work himself. That and he is a Boimler. While he’s being a little sociopath (Berclay), Carol tries to force a system update, and you have Beckett, Tendi, and Rutherford being hazed by the higher-ups. We’ll get to the groupings in a minute, but there is no way to be coy about it. I want more Ben M Waller stories. He’s the staff writer this whole season, but I do think of his two episodes, this one will stick in my head.

Let’s talk about Boimler because arguably he was the part of the episode last time out that didn’t click well with me. I didn’t hate it, but it felt like “You remember this character, right?” For “In the Cradle of Vexilon,” he feels like he’s progressing instead of continuing to be that character we know. He learned to press buttons in quarters last time, here he’s learning the importance of command. What I said last time about Lower Decks moving towards the Bridge is highlighted here, where the one that wants to be Captain learns what it is to be in command.

I have a little gripe about the animation, though. In the text, it is said the cores Boimler is removing by himself have to be kept upright, but on screen, they are higgledy-piggledy, and thrown around. It is a tiny thing and I get that, but it does stand out if you are paying attention. Who am I kidding, we’re Star Trek fans, of course, we’re paying attention. Getting into it, that’s about the only thing that stands out against such a wonderful episode.

Well, that and the fact that we’re playing on the tropes of 60s Trek and its understanding of computers, which are just our computers now. In theory, nearly 400 years into the future, you’d expect the advancement of technology to be greater than Windows safe mode, but then again the Rutherford, Tendi, and Mariner story is based around isolinear chips. Despite the name, those chips and their tech ideas are still 20th century. It is madness to think that in 2381 we’re effectively taking the batteries out and rubbing them on our jumper.

I’m in two minds on the hazing story, mostly from being a wrestling fan and knowing how toxic that can be. Though it does give us Chula again, which has scarred many DS9 fans for decades. The only thing that I think would do that more would be Wallace Shawn’s laugh as Grand Nagus Zek, but he’s done that in Eureka too. One or two might argue it isn’t becoming of Starfleet officers to haze the new Lieutenants, but I think arguing the Cerritos is normal is like arguing Piers Morgan doesn’t have a punchable face.

As an episode though, I think “In the Cradle of Vexilon” is one of the best character pieces we’ve been given, especially this season. Maybe it is the quickness I’ve had to do all of these for our break that has left me lacking words for Lower Decks as of late. It may be switching back from longer episodes to these short ones too. Don’t let that lack of detailed analysis undersell the episode as a whole, as it is exactly what you want from Lower Decks. An episode about friendship, growing in a system of this fictional world, and quite a few references.

Ultimately, I enjoy Ben M Waller’s writing when he’s working on his own episodes, and though I can’t say for sure his influence in other episodes, “In the Cradle of Vexilon” stands as one of the top tier of Lower Decks. There is character work, references that traumatized people, and just a lot of fun. Sure, Brad nearly dies and we don’t see the mystery box in the background, but we do have a great episode that feels as if it comes and goes as quickly as it takes to say its title. If only we could get an episode with Mariner and Rutherford on their own.

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9.5

Score

9.5/10

Pros

• Ben M Waller.
• Chula!
• Do we remember fun now?

Cons

• Why is future tech just our computers now?
• Those cores are meant to be very fragile.