Phasers Set To Stun: Lower Decks S5.E4 A Farewell to Farms

0:01 Space the Final Frontier. Join us for a bold conversation our prime directive to recap our favorite Star Trek shows, both new and old, to engage and debate about all things Trek. Prepare to energize with Phasers Set to Stunt. Hello everyone, and welcome back to another episode of Phasers Set the Stun, where we continue to show our love for everything Star Trek and this ongoing series from a film by podcast which focuses on every quadrant of the expanding universe of Trek by covering television, animation, movies, directors, and much more. Plotting the course, as always is your Core Trek crew.

1:01 I'm David Burns, oh, I'm Wayne Whitey, and I'm Scott Hoffman. Nice, guys, Nice, what a newbies? Good? All right? Red alert lower deckers. This episode is full of spoilers, so if you haven't seen it, please go do so and then come back to join us. We will be waiting. I promise this episode is going to be cling on as hell. As we are discussing season five episode for a Farewell to Farms, written by Diana Tay and directed by Megan Lloyd. Guys, we get a very unusual opening credit sequence for this series, a much more theatrical one in my opinion. That sort of feels like Star Trek Insurrections opening in my opinion. Oh yeah, we also get some focus on the side of the Klingons we have never seen. But before we dig into all of that, Wayne tell us what this episode is all about.

2:00 On the planet Kronos, Ma, a Klingon lower Decker who was promoted to captain and then demoted back to lower Decker, is in disgrace after his crew had mutinied against him. Ma works to find a new place in the universe and with his family business, with a little help from Marner and Boemer. Meanwhile, on the us of Cerritos, doctor Miglimou gets a visit from his fellow Kloican food critics, a highly regarded position in their society, who seem to have it against the doctor and find his cooking to be a disgrace. Two different stories here, completely opposite, different spectrum. Yes, two completely different, I have to say, Ma story, it's it's sort of like wolf Wharf, you know, and the fact that like he's following his own path, which is really not the Klingon way at times. It's his own way, which I really really like that about this episode.

2:56 Yeah, I felt the same way exactly that it really reminded me a lot of war. But I I really liked this episode is I'm sure, And you know that's that's saying a lot because I'm not a big fan of the Klingons and they're they're episodes. But this this is a really good episode and it felt very cinematic, you know that, especially with that opener, which I loved. I love when shows do that anyways, create a you know, different types of title sequences or does does their openers different that this was, This was perfect, but it was a great story. I actually enjoyed both both storylines this time. I did too. And you know, Wane, I think you and I kind of mentioned a little bit that score. That opening score was amazing.

3:37 Oh yeah, we don't talk enough about the music that Chris Westlake. He is phenomenal. He's done such an incredible job over these last five years. They need to put more out on as a soundtrack for us to get it. But this episode is a great example of what he can do. Is beautiful. Well, and Dave, like you said, like the look of this I think Megan Lloyd needs a lot of this. One, yes, because it's gorgeous to look at. Like I going back for a second viewing, I devoured those opening sequences and the fight scene toward the end. Yeah, yeah, oh my god, the fight choreography, the movement, it was just phenomenal.

4:20 You know, much beautiful animation in this one. Yeah. There's one shot that was in an opening sequence that just blew me away. And it's that where the sunset is going down and MW is like going his chores and he throws the communicator because it goes off and he's getting pissed off obviously. Yeah, dude, that shot was incredible. Yeah. I know it's animated, but like the cinematography, you mean, the photography of me is like, oh my god, that is incredible. Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's beautiful. Yeah, And the whole episode was like that. And Wayne, just like you, I enjoyed both stories going on here. I mean I was really unlike you. I don't like a lot of cling on episodes. Sometimes I find them a little dull, but this one was fan I was totally pulled into the story.

5:06 I love klingon episodes. I'll be on the other side of it. I think they're I think they're interesting, they're exciting. There's a lot of like, I guess I'm right there with Boemler, you know, being fascinated by the pr C and he loves getting beat up in the bar. But I don't know. I think they they brought a lot of Klingon callbacks that I know we're going to hit into with Easter eggs. But we've we've never seen where they make blood wine, to say nothing else. I'm still not sure where it comes from. I mean, that was a Targ farm, and you tell me blood wines the blood of the Targs. I guess I don't know. They only show us how they make the sausage, which is good.

5:51 I mean, we've never seen Klingons being farmers. So here we go. No, you're right, not really, Yeah, no, there. Was kind of a unique episode. There was an interesting line in the beginning when he started to getting the calls from Starfleet and he was like, that's just a furrengus gammer. I was like, oh, there, we obviously have to mention that Boyer's facial hair is still coming in more. Like a little caterpillar. I loved doing this. I love it. I love that he uh, he got some kind of praise from Mariner and he was like, oh, it's the beard and she's like, is that what we're calling it?

6:32 Like this, there's a couple more lines drawn on your face, but that's about it. And his like crazy attitude of like wanting to jump in and like fighting violence, and all of a sudden, even Mariner makes that comment like you're just scared. You're afraid of violence. You scared when you went down the ski slope. He's like crazy in this episode. When he jumps on the side of the targ and he's like, yes. That was fantastic. I'm really glad they brought the mob back because I love his character. I know he was very an important part from Mariner last season and what the inner fight in Old Friend's New Planets. I believe you know, he was very important to that, and I'm glad they revisited that again, that connection. And I love the fact that the Mariner's excuse to why they're there, Yeah, sure, okay, fine, whatever.

7:26 You did all this to look for holes? Yeah in space, in space, But the whole all three trials that they had to go through, I thought were so well done and thought out that first one when they were getting electrocuted, I thought was so hysterical when his brother was like, get over here and colluct me, you coward. Yeah, that didn't make me want to go back, and I know it will come up in these dregs, but it once makes me want to go back and revisit that episode that where Warf had to go through that. Yes, a lot of good stuff, but I thought all three trials were awesome, especially the final trials, which you know, we kind of touched based on that a little bit already.

8:08 With the choreographing and the fighting and the violence that was in this episode, it's like, holy crap. Okay, yes, and yeah, yeah, you almost forget you're watching the animation. You know, we kind of touched based on this in the last episode where you know, anyone who doesn't watch Lower Decks because it's animated, you're missing out, you know. In this episode, I mean, I literally forgot I watched watching animation because I was so pulled into the story, pulled into the characters of what was happening, that I had to remote this is this is an animation, But who cares? Because this is a great example of that. You know we were talking about don't don't ignore it just because it's animation. This episode is a perfect example of why you shouldn't, because this is just it's it's beautifully done, beautifully animated. It's great Star Trek.

8:50 Yeah, it absolutely And I'm glad we got some more doctor meaglely Mo's some more of him. Yea. I really like the getting to see some of that, get see some of his wraith. And his line is I am more of a chef of the mind. Okay, yeah, all right, yeah, sure we'll go with that. He's got the pincers and he's just tossing him. Yeah. Yeah, I think the the's not a klookan food critics were a very nice touch, a very interesting touch when they come out and they just they hate everything. The carpet smells, the lights are horrible. It's an interesting concept too. You know, we really after five years, really hadn't learned too much about him, and now we you know, got a name for his race, We've got their their beliefs and the ideology and you know the how they revere food and cooking and stuff.

9:41 And I love that. I mean that, that's that's interesting. It's nothing something that's never been done in Star Trek, and and it was hilarious. I mean that that's what his That's all that storyline really was for this episode is the main story was the kling On one. But it was just for humor, but it was it was very well done and it was funny. I mean they did the job. Yeah, you needed that lighthearted story a little bit. What's going on with the Klingon, So I guess that's why they put. It in there. Well, I thought the there was a subtle thing, but the bird shaped fork pincer that they would use to take bites was basically the shape of a little bird head, so it would like chew it up for the bird first and then they would eat it. I thought that was a very little touch.

10:21 Yeah, the whole thing at the end, Tim when they how they tricked them, Oh yeah, with it, with it with this tastes like shit. We replicated manure. And then Attend holds up this little I don't know what you call it, like a confectionery. Kind of thing. Yeah. I would have said to Tending, you didn't need to bring that with you. It's okay. Everybody can smell it. Everybody knows what it is. The only thing that I'm really aggravated about on how good this episode is the fact that this is our last season, guys. Yeah, and it feels it really feels like they are just going gangbusters now. I mean, all the episodes have been great, all the stories have been fantastic, but it really feels like just letting it all out now, you know, and they're just finding their own and I hate it. I hate it because come on, let's get another Let's get a movie. Come on, we can someone's got to happen here, Paramount, you got it. You cannot let lower Deck have difficult.

11:11 Yeah, because I mean, all these characters are getting such great development over this and last season, and I'd hate for this to be it because we want to now, we want to see where it goes, where these characters go. Yep. Well, it's definitely a proof of concept that this could be cinematic, because that is right. I mean, this is just kind of like a sampling of what they could do with what we've already talked about with the music, the choreography, the direction, the the look and the feel of this, like all of it could lend very well to a full length movie. And I think one of the lucky things about this we had the crossover with Strange New Worlds. We've had a lot of character development here.

11:53 I think there's a lot of opportunity for these characters to continue elsewhere. Oh yeah, if it's not a continuation of Lower which we would love to have, paramount, but if it doesn't make it there, at least we know these are characters that we can come back to in some form. And if they can resurrect this at some point in the future, I think it'd be a very smart idea. Yeah, great, and this cast things to start going to conventions everyone, now, your listeners. We love going to conventions. But Wayne has this amazing Star Trek poster that he clearly needs to get this cast on. Ya, I need Lower Decks. Come on, appear, let's gonna move on. Come on, come on, guys, show up. But no, I mean, this is a fantastic episode, guys, I really I watched this one a couple times, and I typically don't do that one i'm prepping for a podcast for Lower Decks, I usually watch it once and I'm good to go with this one. I actually wanted to revisit because I had such a genuine good time. And again, all the episodes are fantastic, do not get me wrong. This one just stuck out to me for some reason that I just really step back and just enjoyed it so much.

12:52 This is an episode that does, in my opinion, require a few viewings because there's so much in it, so many little things, just things in the background, the way the characters move, the lines that they say. It took me a couple of times to catch a few of a few of the easter eggs that I'll mention, but it's it's worth watching more than well. Another nice aspect of that is that there aren't really any stakes in this one. It's not something you have to rewatch because you're like, oh, I wonder what's going to happen. It pretty much resolves itself as sets up some nice threads that we can pull on later for obviously the cleon friends to come back, the somebody designing holes in space, obviously Miglimo is going to be elevated into a higher role. But yeah, you can just watch it again to enjoy it with having to overanalyze it.

13:38 Absolutely. All right, guys, let's talk about our pitworthy moment which character stole this week's episode? Wayne, Okay, I know, I hope I haven't been butchering his name. Maha. I want to choose one of the main characters. But really, this is his episode. I mean that the others are all in the background. They're there, they're secondary to him. This is his journey, and it's it's a great journey between the three trials, you know, everything we learn about him, his brother. I loved all the characters, but this is his and he shines. I agree, Scott, what about. You, I'm gonna go the other side and go with doctor Migley, of course, I mean, but I mean, you know, he persisted in the face of these a whole what came on and gave him nothing but grief. He's thrilled to see them, and they told him that everything about him is horrible, and at the end he ended up helping them anyway, you know. And I mean, if he's not cooking klook and food, I'd love to, you know, sample some of what he was cooking, because it sounds like he cares a lot about flavor and taste. Weird fish, the multiple eyes, no thanks Simpsons.

15:01 No, But anyway, Dan, what about you? Yeah, so again listeners, Wayne's reading my notes. Maha is definitely the guy I would go with. It was definitely his story and to feel like it was war a warf episode is what it felt like to me from from the next generation, and it just felt like home again. It felt comfortable, and I loved his character and I love where they went with it and the fact that you know, they were able to wrap up some of that of bringing Marinder back in him connecting again and him wrapping up his story with the Klingons, and the way it ended of him basically going on off with his brother now being a captain again. I think that was a fantastic way to take it. And I would love to see more episodes about him and his brother.

15:46 I really would. And I'm glad Scott you actually choose migelm because other than I mean, we both chose Maha, but he also shines in this episode. Does Yeah you can't choo is wrong in this one? Yeah? It's both all right choices. Yes, absolutely all right. So let's get into that Turbo left which lower Decker team would you join on this raytoast for this episode? Scott? What about you believe it or not? Boymer like I was having the time of his life, even though he had and during the pain sticks I'm not so sure about that, but you know, he was. He was having a ball. He was soaking up so much of the Clanon culture, which is also a bit funny because you know, Riker, I would say, is the one who has had kind of the crossover taste of Cleon culture the most from TG yeah, having been transferred to the other ship. So I feel like at some point he'll probably share a couple of blood wine with Riker.

16:48 Nice Wayne, what about you. Well, it was either one of those two, and since she chose Boimler, I'm gonna say, Marner, I'll be right alongside you, just because you know, as I mentioned, I'm not a big fan of the Klingons, but this so that I really liked the Klingons and being there on Chronos having the fun which it looked a lot like a lot of fun and seeing everything. That's where I want to be. For me. It's actually to be probably tendy in this one, because someone's got to taste the food that doctor Miglimu's making. Except for that weird fish, I don't want anything to do with it at all, But I would like to eat her just because of hanging out watching him cook, getting all those smells and getting to taste that wonderful food that he was making.

17:30 So that's that's a brave choice because you have to hold that manure filled confection. This is true. If we ever see the lower deckers on Strange New Worlds again, we need to get Migli mu and and Captain Pike together, don't we. That would be awesome. Yes, good call out there, Wayne and Tendy. Yes, she could taste both of them. Yeah, I would love to see that. Make that happen paramount. All right, let's talk about I know Wayne's a favorite part of the podcast. Let's talk about them ether egg Wayne, what did you find? Okay, there were a lot of Klingon Easter eggs here, and so I'm gonna skip a lot of the more obvious ones and try to get some of the the the harder to find ones. One thing about I've noticed the architecture, the Klingon architecture on the family farm of MAHA's family farm. It really look it matches perfectly the same type of architecture that you saw at the beginning of Star Trek Enterprise when Captain Archer visited Kronos. Also we got we got the return of General Korn who was in the first season all the way back in first season of the Lower Decks episode called en Boys.

18:43 And then we brought up the pain Sticks. Anybody want to see more with the of those and go back to the second season of Star Trek de Next Generation episode called the Icarus Factor, and that was the best part of that episode. And then we talk about the strange fish. This one, this is one of the two that I really had to go back and see for a second time. But that was called the Hogfish Jella Team, and they said it came from a planet called a Nara Prime. Now this planet is a planet that we've we've seen before in the Delta Quadrant. In Star Trek Voyager, it was an episode called Remembrance, so that that fish could come from a long, long way. And then finally and this one, this one really kind of blew my mind when I heard it. At the end of the episodes, when those bones off the spaceship following the the Loure, he shouts at out that he can he can see callis.

19:38 But the original one that does impressions now. It was a really really deep easter egg. This goes all the way back to the original series Zips called the Savage Curtain, which was the first appearance of Callis, and he looks very, very different than the one where he used to seeing in the Next Generation Deep Space nine. But in that episode he impersonates the wastes of both Syric and Abraham Lincoln. So that's what that references to. And that one made me laugh out loud. I love that. That's awesome. The one I caught was just the flip communicator that Male uses the beginning that was used the Klingons and the original series, which I thought was a nice touch. Looked just like it.

20:18 The one that caught my eye and pun intended, I guess is the Riveted eye patch. Oh yeah, I didn't think about that one. Good catch. As soon as I saw that, I was like, I'm discovered country general chain. Yeah, I forgot. I didn't even catch that one. I didn't either. That's that's a good catch, man. See, I must my I must have my eyes closed or something. I just want to, Oh right, any anything else guys that you caught? And I guess I just wouldn't want to see what kind of cuss words. They were using and threading out. Yeah, I know that they were. They were saying like.

20:58 They were bleeping them out. Yeah, I know. There was like. Two like cover bikes or something that had like a near miss early on, that's right. Yeah, and one was like experience. For cock or something like that. Listen. I wonder you remember back in the eighties they had it, they released a Klingon dictionary. I wonder if that word's in there. I remember had one of those, and only cover it had Christopher Lloyd. Yeah, that's right. Yeah, Yeah, where free shot? Where is Sheldon when you need him? Because he would know he would Yeah. Absolutely call us talk in the comments. Yeah, please all right, listeners, Our channels are open for communication. Tell us what you thought about this episode. Who was your favorite character? What deck would you like to be with?

21:39 Let us know by sending an email to a Film by Podcast at gmail dot com or reach us online at a film by podcast dot com. Follow us on all social media platforms, and if you're looking for more exclusive content and swag, send some latinumar Way through Patreon. See you next time for another episode of Facers. Set the stunt guards stormy out of here,