Warning: SPOILERS for Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 2, Episode 7 - "Those Old Scientists"
Summary
- Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' crossover with Lower Decks is a funny and heartfelt tribute to Star Trek's generations and fandom.
- The hyper-kinetic comedy style of Lower Decks seamlessly meshes with Strange New Worlds, making it a standout comedy episode.
- The crossover episode includes hilarious moments, reverential nods to Star Trek's legacy, and a smart mix of comedy and fan-favorite characters.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' crossover episode with Star Trek: Lower Decks has an abundance of funny, quotable dialogue. Directed by Jonathan Frakes and written by Kathryn Lyn and Bill Wolkoff (with consulting producer and Lower Decks creator Mike McMahan), Strange New Worlds season 2, episode 7, "Those Old Scientists," is a loving and heartfelt tribute to Star Trek's generations and fandom. Boasting live-action and animated sequences, Strange New Worlds' crossover was a home run as a flat-out comedy episode of Star Trek.
Any concerns that Star Trek: Lower Decks' hyper-kinetic comedy style wouldn't mesh with Strange New Worlds were immediately dashed when the 24th century's Ensign Brad Boimler (Jack Quaid) fell through a time portal and met the crew of the USS Enterprise. Strange New Worlds has already proved its comedy chops, but infusing Boimler and Ensign Beckett Mariner's (Tawny Newsome) unique brand of chaos took the crossover to another level of Star Trek comedy. Many of the best laughs were reverential to Star Trek and its legacy of beloved characters, while also smartly winking at the tropes and conventions near and dear to Star Trek fans, and those same tropes are near and dear to Starfleet's Officers as well. Here are 15 of the funniest quotes from Strange New Worlds' crossover with Star Trek: Lower Decks.
15 “But flipping it open’s the best part."
After Ensign Boimler is beamed onto the USS Enterprise at the start of crossover, Number One (Rebecca Romijn) briefs Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) on Boimler's 24th century Starfleet delta, which doubles as a universal translator and a communicator. Pike isn't impressed with the simplicity of Boimler's communicator compared to the 23rd-century 'flip phone' style communicator, complaining, "But flipping it open's the best part." "I like ours better too," Number One agrees.
14 “Computer, end program.”
When Boimler is awakened in the Enterprise's Sickbay, the startled Ensign quickly says, "Computer, end program," drawing confused looks from Captain Pike, Dr. Joseph M'Benga (Babs Olusanokun), and Lt. La'an Nooien-Singh (Christina Chong). Of course, Boimler made the instant leap that he could be in a holodeck program, and he had to confirm he actually time-traveled. But since holodecks are many decades away, Captain Pike and his crew have no idea why Boimler would ask the computer to end a program.
13 “Worf’s honor.”
As the Enterprise's Security Chief who recently experienced a time travel ordeal herself, La'an was the best qualified to brief Ensign Boimler on time travel protocol, such as not revealing any future knowledge. Boimler immediately blows it by acknowledging La'an with, "Worf's honor," name-dropping the most famous Klingon of the 24th century. As a Klingon War veteran, La'an would likely be shocked at the existence of Captain Worf, the first Klingon in Starfleet, and his legendary career in Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and Star Trek: Picard.
12 “Riker.”
Waiting alone in the Enterprise's conference room, Ensign Boimler couldn't resist sitting on Captain Pike's "historic saddle." Boimler swings his leg onto the saddle and says "Riker," as he hilariously emulates the famed 'Riker Maneuver i.e. the unique way Star Trek: The Next Generation's Commander William T. Riker (Jonathan Frakes) sits in chairs. Making this moment even better, Jack Quaid improved this move as an ode to the episode's director, Jonathan Frakes.
11 “Explode, you said?”
ing Lt. Spock (Ethan Peck) and Dr. M'Benga to examine the time portal on the planet Krulmuth-B, Boimler thoroughly geeked out over M'Benga's "classic TS 122 tricorder." Boimler excitedly compared it to the 24th century's smaller tricorders, which he itted were "less likely to explode." "Explode, you say?" Dr. M'Benga hilariously replied. Babs Okusanmokun had comparatively less dialogue in Strange New Worlds' crossover compared t the rest of the cast, but the way he delivered his lines killed every time.
10 “What would come after the dash?”
Ensign Boimler was every Star Trek fan when he entered the bridge of the classic USS Enterprise. Overjoyed at being in the most iconic bridge in Starfleet, Bradward excitedly rattled off the original Constitution Class Enterprise's call sign, "NCC 1701-dash-nothing!" This prompted a confused La'an to turn and ask, "What would come after the dash?" Obviously, Strange New Worlds is still years away from legacy lettering starships, as the USS Enterprise-A won't be commissioned until 2286, 27 years after Strange New Worlds.
9 “Do you have jetpacks or what?”
Once they heard there was a time traveler aboard, Lt. Erica Ortegas (Melissa Navia) and Nurse Christine Chapel (Jess Bush) wasted no time in messing with "Future Boy." They found Boimler in the Port Galley, and Chapel immediately played mind games by asking Brad about "uncontrolled vomiting." Erica and Christine then engaged in a delightful exchange by asking Boimler if the 24th century has jetpacks, i.e. smaller jetpacks than the 23rd century has.
8 “No, but I’m going with it.”
In order to track the Orion science vessel that stole the time portal, Boimler offered to reprogram the Enterprise's computer. When Pike and his crew objected, citing time violations, Boimler suggested that they "just don't look." Out of options, they let Boimler do his thing. When Number One asked the Captain, “Are we sure this is wise?” the resigned Pike replied, "No, but I'm going with it."
7 “Sorry, I thought the span of the room would, uh…”
After Captain Pike and the Orions took a break from negotiations, Boimler wanted to offer his unwelcome opinion, but Pike shot him down. So Brad immediately turned to Spock to ask him to tell Pike his solution, and the exasperated Captain interjected, "You know I can hear you. I'm right here." To which Boimler replied, "I thought the span of the room would, uh..." in a huge knee-slapper.
6 “Look, I’m gonna keep this like 100% profesh, but I was thoroughly unprepared for how hot young Spock was going to be.”
Ensign Beckett Mariner's arrival in the 23rd century amped up the Strange New Worlds crossover's humor even further. After asking repeatedly if "Uhura's here," Mariner ed Boimler in the Enterprise conference room and pointed out "how hot young Spock is." For their part, Spock and Number One listened in on the time-displaced Ensigns, and agreed that their references are "weirdly specific."