This piece was written during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strikes. We stand with the SAG-AFTRA. Without them, the movies and television shows we cover would not exist.
Welcome to season four of Star Trek: Lower Decks, Fangirlish Trek fam! I’ve been waiting patiently along with you, not just for this unnecessarily prolonged WGA and SAG-AFTRA Strike to come to an end, but for the return of Lower Decks. In addition to a theatrical release for the first two episodes of season four, the folks at Paramount+ have given those of us without a local screening the first two episodes of the season. Let’s dig into the season opener, Star Trek: Lower Decks 4×01 “Twovix.” As you might guess from the title, I’ve got quite a few thoughts on this one, as a Star Trek: Voyager fan. Double-check those plants you’ve got there, and let’s beam in for Star Trek: Lower Decks 4×01 “Twovix.”
Voyager Love Letter
As a certifiable Star Trek: Voyager fangirl, I was utterly delighted to see all my favorite quirky Voyager storylines spoofed in Star Trek: Lower Decks 4×01 “Twovix.” Not only are we spoofing “Tuvix” but we’ve got the virus from “Macrocosm,” which is my all-time favorite Voyager episode because it’s a spoof of Alien. We’ve also got Dr. Chaotica, Michael Sullivan, and the clown from “The Thaw.” And lest I forget, we’ve also got robot salamanders from the infamous “Threshold” episode!
Ransom says it best—“It was Voyager. Sh*t got freaky.” And it gets no less freaky in Star Trek: Lower Decks 4×01 “Twovix.” All the Voyager weirdness got crammed into one episode and I am here for every moment of it. Even tiny nods like one of the macroviruses squeaking by with Harry Kim’s clarinet in it, to the virus getting Borg’d and then subsequently Borging everything else, this was a real treat to watch. Best of all, saving the day with the Neelix cheese? Well, that’s just perfect.
Promotion Time
One of the things I love about Star Trek: Lower Decks 4×01 “Twovix,” and really, Lower Decks in general, is that it is affirming to those who are on the more sensitive and geeky side, especially men. Boimler and Rutherford really save the day here, but they don’t do it with machismo. They use their “geeky” knowledge of Starfleet history and Rutherford’s engineering skills.
Similarly, we have Tendi and T’Lyn who use their skills to save the day and sort out everyone’s DNA. But it’s not enough to sort out the DNA. Tendi’s interpersonal skills and emotional sensitivity take over where T’Lyn’s scientific abilities end. With them working in tandem, they’re able to sort everyone out properly. Also, the Tuvix Meatball is one of the most hilariously disgusting things I’ve ever seen.
But finally, it’s Mariner who shows us the real surprise in her encouragement. For all her bravado, she’s actually a great encourager and a sensitive person. These qualities are as valuable and important as any technical skills she has. All of our crew have definitely earned those promotions, and I’m glad to see them rewarded for it, even if Mariner is a bit skeptical about moving up in rank.
Final Thoughts
Overall, Star Trek: Lower Decks 4×01 “Twovix” is a solid opener for season four. It has everything that makes Lower Decks great. From deep-cut references to many laugh-out-loud moments to sincere character moments, what we have here is one of the funniest and most emotionally intelligent shows on the air today. Plus, it explores the oft-debated Tuvix dilemma and ponders options that Janeway didn’t have all the way out in the Delta Quadrant.
I’m eager to see what comes next for our Lower Decks crew this season, especially with this mysterious ship that just blasted a Klingon ship out of space. I’ve got my theories about that, but if this was that other Star franchise, I’d say that ship looks an awful lot like Boba Fett’s Slave-1. Stay tuned for my review of our second episode from season four, “I Have No Bones Yet I Must Flee.”
What did you think of Star Trek: Lower Decks 4×01 “Twovix”? Leave me a comment and let’s talk Trek.
The next episode of Star Trek: Lower Decks will air on September 14, 2023, on Paramount+.
