The California-class aren’t always the most prestigious ships to be assigned to, yet the gang of Star Trek: Lower Decks still manage to get into high profile adventures. In “Trusted Sources,” the USS Cerritos has the chance to represent and prove their worth with Captain Freeman’s new initiative.
Project Swing By is where they follow up on civilizations after first contact, and if it proves to be a success, all the California-class ships will have new responsibilities. Obviously, they want to make a good impression but there is even more pressure since Vice Admiral Buenamigo assigns a reporter to document their endeavors.
Freeman becomes the anti-fun committee trying to ensure she puts her crew and mission in a positive light. So that means no shenanigans like the annual pie eating contest. There’s a level of fakeness presented because of the camera. She even tries to control the narrative by hand selecting who can speak with the journalist and hiding potential embarrassments like our Lower Decks gang. The captain comes into conflict with her own child who, as we know, likes to keep it real.
What drives the story is the clash between mother and daughter, which we haven’t received much of this season because the latter reports to Ransom now. Both Dawn Wells and Tawny Newsome inject lots of emotion into their characters and you’ll be sympathizing most with Mariner in the end. The scene of their falling out really captures the isolation and confusion. Beckett has earned a reputation due to how she was previously, but she’s really changed this season. It’s as if she’s grown and matured while the rest of the Cerritos has stayed the same. It’s also nice that certain threads introduced earlier are covered again such as where the ensign ends up.
The episode isn’t short on Star Trek references and hardcore fans will appreciate the deep cuts. However, the appearance of some of the universe’s most fierce and warlike race will pull you in, especially with the action sequences. Though it occurs out of the blue without any proper set up. What’s more intriguing is the sinister feeling that someone is out there manipulating and pulling the strings in the shadows.
The family drama is front in center with actors Wells and Newsome providing the effective emotional weight while the Cerritos is left in a precarious position.
New episodes of Star Trek: Lower Decks are released Thursdays on Paramount+.
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