The Stars At Night

 DVD, Lower Decks S3 (The Stars At Night)

As much as I love it when they bring back an actor to reprise their old role from past Trek, that didn't guarantee an episode in this series would be good, rather it's when they're making Trek in their own right with their own angle and style, while still (just about), fitting into canon and the realm of in-universe believability, hitting the key elements of plot, drama and character, when the series really succeeds - sings, even. That moment is reached in what could be seen as an overused cliché of the cavalry coming to the rescue at the critical moment, but in this case is a very specific victory, a restatement of the meaning and necessity of the little ships that could, as all, every one, of the California-class starships burn in to protect the Cerritos and destroy the evil Texas-class Aledo. That they were led by Mariner after a change of heart, realising she was wrong to give up on her Starfleet career, is one of the most Trekkiest things that could happen: forgiveness, overcoming personal feelings, doing good rather than being bitter... It's these kinds of themes that made Trek stand out from the crowd, and the lack of which has made it sink into a crowd of identikit pessimistic sci-fi of modern times, so once again it's refreshing to find it in the unlikeliest of places: an animated comedy version of Trek. I wouldn't always say its heart is in the right place, but every now and then it turns things up to maximum warp and does it like it should be done, and that's why it's the only modern Trek I can honestly say I like.

As always there's plenty I don't like: they persist in the bad language, the casual language, the amount of times someone was insubordinate just in this episode... Understandable that Freeman is angry with Buenamigo, and it's good to see her so riled up in defence of her ship and crew, but you can also see hints of why she would be Captain in what's often considered a lesser branch of Starfleet, that she isn't always diplomatic enough, or that she doesn't always have the right idea in a pinch (Freeman's belief that AI doesn't get surprised when Ransom suggests dropping out of warp for a surprise attack was a little unfounded, an overestimation of its capabilities and a minor weakness in Freeman's armour, because it certainly was surprised, even if overwhelming odds had something to do with it). I loved the run through the Bridge crew's suggestions, it's very Trekky them all chiming in, but it wasn't until Boimler told her to shut up that they were able to focus on the one idea that might work. That's another bit of insubordination, and as goodhearted as it was (well, in a way - Boimler's determination not to get out of a Bridge officer's good books is a selfish response, not wanting to ruin his record!), intent on letting Shaxs have the spotlight in order to make up to him for earlier offending his sensibilities earlier when Boimler had mimicked him and upset the sensitive Bajoran Security Chief, it's another example of how not to behave as a member of Starfleet. But leaving aside all that, I like that Freeman isn't portrayed as a perfect Captain because it shows not everyone is at the Picard gold standard and it creates additional internal logic for her posting to such a situation, all while giving us something to root for, in her successes and her failures.

That's one of more attractive aspects of the not-quite-Utopian ideal of the Cerritos: that the characters are not quite finished, they have their flaws that we can see get ironed out over time, much in the way 'DS9' started where not everyone was likeable, or immediately gelled, they had their own unique ways, and while that was a little more acceptable since it was a melting pot scenario of different cultures interacting, and in the monoculture of Starfleet (forgetting all the aliens, it's the standard behaviours that matter, like Tendi standing up for a check on sentient microbial life), you'd expect things to be more like 'TNG,' 'LD' has places to go. Sadly, thanks to the vagaries of modern streaming content we got only a fraction of seven years worth of twenty-six episode seasons (and films to come after that!), the series ending at five ten-episode seasons, but the potential was there and now and again we see it realised. What's more special is that they tended to achieve that in the season finales which, judging by modern Trek's track record, was especially noteworthy. The reality is they were playing to Trek's strengths, at least in this regard, since they were able to work in little arcs and subplots while concentrating on day-to-day life, episode-to-episode stories rather than being locked in to a season-long plot that had to be resolved in the finale, something which very much hamstrung the other series of recent times.

It also helps how much they hew close to traditional Trek, too, and I still can't help but admire simple things, or those that should be basic staples, such as Phaser beams being fired, or the little flash when a ship goes to warp, the stretching of warp, ship's logs, the look of the interiors (carpets), uniforms, all the aesthetic backdrops that should be a given but have so often been ignored or avoided. It may be a series that's laughing and joking around, and that can sometimes harm it when the goal is a joke rather than a serious point, but here, even though it's only a twenty-five minute running time, they squeeze in more than the lazy, bloated (what seems like) hours of 'DSC,' 'Picard' or 'SNW.' The very real threat of our times is artificial intelligence taking people's jobs, quite apart from the ethical situation of governments having the ability to track its entire population, banks to judge who should be allowed to have their money or confiscate it, and so many other issues of rights as society and culture continues to fracture. It's good to escape from all that in Trek, but at the same time we expect it to reflect elements of our time, so AI being such a big change in life was a good theme to bring in. Trek's always had a varied view of life, artificial or not (even in this episode Billups cites Commander Data as a model for the crew to follow as they prepare for their big race against the machine, saying those isolinear chips had better be a blur, which is a nice Trekference, but also relevant!), so it makes sense for it to be explored. Not that they really have time for much depth, it is still a sub-half hour animation, perhaps due to which it's easier to give it leeway if it doesn't succeed, but compared to the running-time-to-satisfaction ratio of the other Treks, this one is far superior.

Artificial life isn't the only view here, as Tendi almost causes her ship to lose its big space race (which is fortunately more than the mere physical A-to-B of other examples in sci-fi in general, and Trek in particular - even this season we had good Rutherford racing his bad self, something that's called back to as the problems in the AI stem from it being Rutherford's own implant code), when she thinks there's the possibility of sentient life in the soil - considering Starfleet tends to believe in evolution as a theory then surely all living tissue must be protected at all costs since it could supposedly grow into life, but that just shows how ridiculous the idea is and how no one really lives that theory as reality! But it was a great moment when in the midst of this important race for the future of their ship's class, they're forced to pause until they can be sure it's safe to proceed - it's that selflessness that I miss from Trek and just isn't as much in evidence these days. It heightened the drama and when Dr. T'Ana is making the determination about whether there's life there or not it's actually quite tense, so all tribute to the writing, acting and directing to bring that together when it could easily be laughed off as a joke. Almost as good is that Tendi's vindicated afterwards - not by life being present, but the accommodating attitude of everyone who mentions it, and that she was right to act that way, and of course doing the right thing achieves Freeman a victory by pointing out the AI's cold efficiency in refusing to follow protocol.

It becomes a little bit 'Frankenstein' when the Aledo (with its NA-01 registry to show it's even more special than the more usual 'NX' prefix for experimental vessels throughout Trek history), turns on its creator, killing Admiral Buenamigo (conveniently meaning he never has to face his crimes, but poetically just), and going rogue since its roots are in the same code that created Badgey. Oh, dear. At least we didn't have Badgey back to make matters even worse, just the glimmer of evil potential when the now-expected post-credits cliffhanger shows the implant-like technology (I presumed a starship-sized piece of the Texas-class puzzle that enabled the Admiral to communicate with it, but actually Rutherford's original implant left behind on the Pakled ship in 'No Small Parts'!), is salvaged by a mysterious green glow. But what works best about the whole situation is the effectiveness of these new ships as a villain. It works to the series' strengths, and Trek's in general, with superb starship encounters and conflicts to the extent I wish we could see some flashbacks to the Dominion War on this series, they're done that well: from the wholesale ravaging of the Starbase where Buenamigo sits on his new AI fleet, the Texas-class ships ignoring the Cerritos as if it's no threat to them at all (much like the Borg, which makes them immediately cooler and more deadly), to the brave Sovereign-class that flies to the rescue (although I must admit it did take me out of the moment a little when it was called USS Van Citters after the marketing guy at Paramount, I think, and also unsure about reusing music from the 'Crisis Point' films when this is serious). Again, they've got that banking turn, the firing of torpedoes, the grand beauty of a starship coming into battle, all down perfectly!

That a Sovereign-class gets pummelled and then they turn on Cerritos (even braver of Freeman to distract them from their current targets), makes the situation ooze with threat, then we have a space race in earnest as she has to escape her pursuers, everyone working to the best of their ability: the best of what makes Trek work. Though all four of our Ensigns (and ex-Ensigns), are key to the episode (perhaps Boimler's subplot as offending and then pleasing Shaxs was the weakest strand), it could be said to be a Carol episode as she gets so much to do and has so much impact, but it's really a full ensemble in the best way possible. We're seeing a Starfleet crew working as they should, no rebels or limelight-hogging Burnhams to shortchange the experience, and while stories like this aren't entirely true to the lower decks nature of what the series was meant to be, seeing things happening on the Bridge, having our lowly crewmembers integral to events of ship-wide import makes it suitably grand for a season finale. As much as it can be pleasant to have our people down below, seeing things from their perspective, the series had built up the Bridge officers to the extent they could carry the story if needed, and it'd pretty much always been that way, at least from Season 2.

They can reference or joke about things by this time that we enjoy as an audience, like Boimler's impressions of T'Ana, Ransom and Shaxs, or the rumours the California-class ships could be decommissioned, so there are still those elements that allow the series to hold onto its title as well as giving us the kind of Trek we've been yearning for since the old days and which is surprisingly rare, perhaps because Trek tends to go so far off-piste now as to lose its essentials. The threat never makes that much sense, I don't see Starfleet ever retiring human(oid) interactions for automata (not to mention the glaring omission of a history lesson on the M-5 computer from 'TOS,' surely the greatest warning from history there could be!), as while second contacts aren't the same as firsts, they still need to be handled with a personal touch. It's fun to see so many Trek (or even sci-fi), tropes, such as Freeman's description of a Brigadoon-type planet which only phases in a couple of times a year ('Meridian'), as if they're a common occurrence (the peasant had a good point about them sending a Replicator next time as opposed to mere supplies - although once again we have 'aliens' who may as well be 21st Century humans by their attitudes and language, which I am tired of, it's only so funny to see aliens behaving that way, a small note in such a good episode). We see the 'battle-ready' preparations for this big contest, except it's things like Ransom giving a stirring talk on how to command a chair (complete with lifting the leg over the back in Riker-esque manner - now that's funny!).

That whole sequence where the crew are doing what they normally do on missions, but quicker, was great fun, combining a slight absurdity with the tension of the stakes, and well created drama in a situation where either one or the other is going to be in the lead, always a difficult thing to pull off (the Pod Race of 'The Phantom Menace' notwithstanding). What I enjoy are the many Trekferences thrown in, like T'Ana getting her swagger stick out like Captain Styles in 'Star Trek III,' the even more overt M-5 computer display in how Buenamigo communicates with the Aledo - he even smokes a cigar so you know he's bad (and he'd also recall Gul Dukat when he expresses disgust at not just wiping Rutherford's memory: "I should have erased all of you," like Dukat coming to the conclusion he should've killed all Bajorans!), since smoking is generally considered madness in Trek time, other than Rios in 'Picard,' but then that was inserted by people of a different vintage who weren't necessarily on board with the idea of smoking being a negative I suspect (thankfully reversed by Rios' exclusion from Season 3, and a reiteration of smoking's villainous status with Vadic). We get Starfleet Command depicted like the Tillman Water Reclamation facility that used to stand in for Starfleet Academy in the old days (and was seen as 'recently' as in 'Voyager,' from which they were recreating the same shot), so that was a nice touch (though odd that people are seen walking along the transparent tube in the foreground when you'd expect some kind of shuttle going through), and the dark room with the long, oval table and individual lamps could be the exact one from 'Star Trek VI'! Mariner discovers her and Petra's 'mysterious benefactor' is actually Admiral Picard (must have been newly promoted), though she was hoping for a Romulan or Xindi cabal.

One of my favourite Trekferences, simply because it reinforces the reality of this future time, is when Petra goes all condescending about Mariner knowing how money works, reminding us the Federation doesn't use the stuff (which makes you wonder where Picard got his from if he's financing this archeological thing - not sure he'd approve of running through ancient temples being chased by Ferengi, though... it's a nice way to bring Picard's name in since we were never likely to have Patrick Stewart show up in it). It's true to Mariner's character that she eventually realises she should be back in Starfleet, for all her bad-girl attitude she's a good girl at heart, and I liked her rationale that Starfleet is just an idea, but the people matter, persuading Petra they need to intervene. Not too sure on the time scale here to be able to get to the Starbase and inform all the other California-class ships, wherever they may be, to rendezvous, a bit farfetched, but I didn't care - sometimes you need to bend story logic for a good story, as long as you don't break it, or bend too much or too often. Saying that, I did feel niggly about the Phaser fire in warp - it may have been done in old Trek, probably was, in fact (unless I'm thinking of travel in transwarp tunnels), but I'm not sure it makes sense since you're travelling faster than light and Phasers are light... But the big no-no was after the Cerritos ejected its Warp Core (pleasing Shaxs as a dream come true in the same way as if Picard had turned around to Worf and finally said, 'yes, just destroy the vessel this time'!), and it seems to plunge sideways, spinning out of warp when surely it should have come to a dead stop (faster than light: no left or right), an annoyance about warp that often comes up in modern Trek!

In the same vein, how can Mariner tap into the comms and know what her Mother's saying, since she cuts in and tells the crew to belay that order (more insubordination with a good reason again!), it was dramatically right, but didn't make sense to me technologically - she'd have had to be listening in and the Cerritos would have detected that. It's not really relevant, it doesn't take away from the moment, and it is such a terrific ending with all those Calis, the AI confused. I almost wish all the other Texas ships had shown up to back up the Aledo and we'd had a massive battle, but I appreciated the purity of how it was done as shown - as good as Shaxs' suggestion was, they only have one Warp Core and I'm surprise no one pointed out the tactical issue of being a sitting duck if it missed, but it was all last-ditch desperation, they had to do something. Enjoyable to hear the crew chipping in with suggestions, not like modern Pike on the Enterprise where he seems a bit wishy-washy, but in the way Captains sometimes would demand options: others were Migleemo's suggestion to contact the Titan (presumably so it could swoop in and save the day in a recreation of Season 1's finale), Barnes wanting to modify the Deflector Dish as a weapon, the Captain herself wondering if she could trap the AI in a logic spiral (Kirk-style, though they resisted the urge to say his name), but Rutherford had already safeguarded against paradoxes as if in response to the many Trek stories along those lines.

Something else that is successful is the series' own lore being used to great effect - we've built up a good recurring cast that are memorable enough to be remembered (like Barnes), or can remind us of past moments, such as the all-Bolian ship Captained by former Cerritos crewmember Vendome ('Temporal Edict'), Captain Ramsey ('Much Ado About Boimler'), Tellarite Captain Durango ('Moist Vessel' - possibly the actor of the same name who was in 'DS9'), or the weird, alternate Cerritos Cali crew of the Alhambra (so similar, yet just different - I'd like to see more of them!). Rutherford's past is key to the story and we get to see Buenamigo as a younger man from his memory banks, wearing 'TNG'-era uniform and badge - even Freeman's insistence that he's not one of those bad-faith Admirals that may have been in the majority over the years (we learn in this case Buenamigo wanted to make a name for himself since there's so much competitiveness - he succeeded, but not in the way he planned!), about as close as Trek was likely to come to using the term 'Badmiral' that's been doing the rounds in fan circles for years. There are tiny tidbits for other character histories, too, with Mariner saying Petra served on the USS Victory, T'Ana bemoaning she didn't spend seven years on an Oberth-class for this (hmm, seven years, is that a reference to the length of a TV series of old?), and it was nice to see her and Migleemo interact, however briefly, though I felt they missed a trick as there should be more to play than usual since she's a cat and he's a bird... And finally we get T'Lyn ('wej Duj'), joining the crew, in what sounded like a role designed to assist Tendi in science training, though surely there'd already be suitable mentors aboard?

Then again, it is the Cerritos so maybe they don't have the cream of Starfleet and a Vulcan scientist is always good, and who cares, we get T'Lyn, the best Vulcan in modern Trek, so I'm not complaining! Loved the mention of DS9, which was apparently another example of Buenamigo's interventions in preparation for his new ships taking over, as he thought their negotiations would fail, and it's a nice memory jog back to a highlight of the season. But more importantly they got the tone of 'DS9' right with this: a strong season-ender that does all it needs to. The series may not yet have given me a 'classic' that stands with the best of old Trek, but it undoubtedly got the closest of the crop. Buenamigo uses the old 'good of the many' Vulcan bit to justify forcing through his Texas-class fleet as it will keep countless people out of danger, but he's entirely missed the point: as Kirk said, risk is their business, you can't avoid it, it's an ingredient of Starfleet life, and this episode showed our Starfleet heroes and sub-heroes demonstrating what it means to go up against the odds, use teamwork and expertise and training, with a healthy dose of courage, to overcome, and that's exactly what we need from Trek. Season 3 may not have quite lived up to 2 (although 4 would make it look better in retrospect...), but it had enough of the magic to make it a worthwhile addition to the canon and continued 'LD' as a series I would want to keep watching, and not out of habit/duty/chore, but enjoyment, and I have enjoyed going back over them for the purposes of review, still hoping Season 5 will live up to the best the series had achieved.

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