We’re running into some old friends this week in Star Trek: Lower Decks season 5 episode 4 “A Farewell to Farms.” We’ve got Klingons! We’ve got oaths! We’re studying a space hole! There are tasks to fulfill and permissions to gain, so grab your glass of bloodwine and join me for my review of Star Trek: Lower Decks season 5 episode 4 “A Farewell to Farms.”
Hello Ma’ah, My Old Friend
Remember Ma’ah from Star Trek: Lower Decks season 4 episode 9 “The Inner Fight?” His was the Klingon ship that was taken by Nick Locarno. He’s back again this week, disgraced and back on the farm with his brother, Malor. There are some interesting questions about the why of Mariner and Boimler joining Ma’ah in his rite to regain his captaincy.
Sure Mariner says she owes him, but does she owe him so much that she AND Boimler need to take on this rite with him that can lead to their deaths? The reveal at the end of the need to analyze the “hole in space” with the permission of a Klingon Captain makes more sense, but I’ve got to agree with Ma’ah. That’s a lot for analyzing a space hole!
What I appreciate about the tasks that Boimler, Mariner, Ma’ah, and Malor must face is that we get to see Boimler’s Klingon fanboy tendencies come into play. Bringing up the knowledge of the painstick voltage saves them. Mariner gets in on this too, bringing up the rite of conscription as a way to circumvent Bargh. It’s really clever.
Additionally, this might be the most Klingon I’ve heard in a modern Star Trek episode since season one of Star Trek: Discovery. We also have a nice callback to Star Trek: Lower Decks season 1 episode 2 where Mariner and Boimler escort Klingon envoy K’orin with his presence here. Lower Decks does callbacks well and it’s only fitting that it continues to do so in its final season.
MORE: Here are our reviews of Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 5 Episode 1, Episode 2, and Episode 3!
A Chef of the Mind
Star Trek: Lower Decks season 5 episode 4 “A Farewell to Farms” also introduces us to other Klowahkans–Sir Legnog and Madame Gonald. First of all, learning that Klowahkans invented warp travel to discover “strange new meals” is hilarious. It also makes all of Dr. Migleemo’s food puns make so much more sense.
As someone who enjoys cooking and has a sensitive palate, all the food terminology and jokes made me laugh. “Their work goes beyond umami!” “They’ll write me into the Book of the Flavorless!” Nothing worse than being flavorless. There’s also the matter of the made up food terminology, like “plorpful” and “gizzulet.” What in the world does that mean? I love it. I’m just glad we figured out that Sir Legnog and Madame Gonald were just a couple of fakers. I’d have hated to see Dr. Migleemo and his entire family “banished from The Great Seating Chart!”
This is a fun sidequest from our main plot, but I like that we’re getting a little bit of development for our side characters too, not just our main characters. Star Trek: Lower Decks season 5 has done well in that regard, really giving more development to our secondary cast. Dr. Migleemo is indeed a “chef of the mind,” showing how mental health can affect our emotions and physical abilities. I look forward to what the rest of the season brings.
Final Thoughts
Star Trek: Lower Decks season 5 episode 4 “A Farewell to Farms” is an interesting episode for the series. We don’t have our regular opening credits. We’re developing secondary characters, and giving small hints to larger developments, while still making all the episodes feel standalone.
While I’ve enjoyed all the episodes of Lower Decks this season, they’ve felt a bit disjointed save for the small connecting thru-line of the “space potholes.” I don’t think this is the last time we’ve seen Ma’ah this season either.
I have a feeling he’ll want to return the favor to Mariner before the end of the series. Finally, we learn that someone is making the dimensional rifts. They’re not a natural occurrence. It wouldn’t be the first time in Star Trek that someone was making a bunch of space potholes. We’ll just have to keep watching to find out why.
Lastly, there is one very silly visual nod that I noticed in Star Trek: Lower Decks season 5 episode 4 “A Farewell to Farms.” They use the same mugs for bloodwine as is used in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2 episode 1 “The Broken Circle.” I love that they’re still using these same mugs a century later on Q’onos.
The next episode of Star Trek: Lower Decks will air on November 14, 2024, on Paramount+.
