Phasers Set To Stun: Lower Decks S5.E7 Fully Dilated

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 to Stun, where we continue to show our love for everything Star Trek in this ongoing series from a film by podcast which focuses on every quadrant of the expanding universe of Trek by Confrey, television, animation, movies, directors, and much more. Plotting the course, as always, is your Core Trek.

1:00 I'm David Burns, I'm Scott Hoffman, and I'm Wayne Whited. All right, gentlemen, welcome back to another episode. We're going to discuss lower decks. Read alert all of our fans out there. This episode is full of spoilers. If you haven't seen this episode, please go do so and then come back to join us. I know we will be waiting for you, all right, gentlemen. Episode seven Fully Dilated, written by Andrew Muth and directed by Megan Lloyd, who has been directing a few of these episodes. I have noticed really enjoy this episode, but Wayne wants to go ahead and tell us what it's about. Marner to Lynn and Tindy beam down to the planet Dilmer three, a planet where and nominally causes Time to move at a must faster rate to look for technology which is inadvertently landed on the planet and to keep it from influencing the civilization living there. The piece of technology ends up being the head of Lieutenant Commander Data from ap parallel universe where everything is purple. Of course, their mission doesn't go without problems, the first caused by a snoopy local named Snell out to uncover them, and the second by Boimler and Rutherford themselves, who accidentally spill their fancy drinks on the transporter console, stranding the team on the planet.

2:18 Damn you, Snell, Damn you always lurking, always lurking, guys. I really enjoyed this episode. You know, we're getting to see the fissure again. Obviously, we get a glimpse of the Purple Enterprise that came through Purple. Yeah, Purple. When they said that, I just busted out laughing. I mean, okay, all right, we're just gonna go crazy with it. Let's do it. Let's do it. And the fact that we have Brent Speinder. Back that that was a surprise. I saw nothing at all leak about that. So when when he spoke, I'm like, oh my gosh, it really is him. That was Yeah. Actually, when he first spoke, I didn't recognize his voice entirely.

2:59 It was like a certain phrase that he said, and I'm like, there, that's Brent Spinder. But for a while I was like, are they having somebody else do that? That'd be a weird cameo. I just thought it was just going to be a head they're going to carry around who episode. I didn't need to go to turn it on and let it speak because it got come on, it's they didn't get Brent Spinder. Yeah, did you start talking that? Oh my god? It is. Well. The weird thing about the Purple Enterprise. For some reason, it made me think of the NES graphics, So like in the Fright of the Thirteenth video game, Jason Voorhees is like a blue or a purple. Or something like that. Oh, yeah, that's what I. Thought they were kind of playing with a little bit there. But yeah, a universe where everything is purple and uh, we get Data's severed head yet. Again, there's a there's got to be something.

3:40 With the guy loses his head so much. The Sung blueprints need to have some kind of like a secure thing on the next or something. But I was kind of wondering where the rest of his body is. Are they implying that it was destroyed? Is a shuttle? Yeah yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay, it just it didn't seem like I didn't know if it was like a clean cut like the Times zero kind of thing, or if it was something where it had been removed by somebody, and that would make sense, just like take his head down on the surface, but. Must have popped right off. Yeah, I'm sure exactly. He's face down. He's like a lego. He just comes to party. It's like a grape. It just pops right off.

4:22 Yeah, okay, sure whatever. No, there's there's some good things in this episode. I'm telling you. When Rutherford and Boimler spilled their drink on there, and then I'm like, here we go again. Boymoer has to take his shirt off. Have you noticed that's happened several times this season? Yeah, he's gonna take his shirt off, and then the whole fact. Okay, last episode he got a lightning bolt in the ass. This time he has to lick this counter. They lick everything this season. That's a scross. Come on, guys, I don't know what that. It's a theme. I guess he touches that. Yeah, yeah, well they even made the comment that somebody didn't ever washed their hands, and they lick it anyway, you know.

5:05 Yeah, here's the thing that confuses me. I mean, they're transporter consoles, as I'm assuming you are, kind of like the next generations, which are just like the clear plastic. So why don't they just get some wind decks and a rag out right and go nuts with their uniforms and everything. I don't know. And when they say their uniform wasn't wasn't absorbing it and that's why they're licking it. Yeah, he gets like a shrimp in his hair or something like that. My eye, Yes, that was absolutely hysterical. But then we get the girls trip or we get Mariner, we get a telen and attendee who go down on this planet where time is a little bit different. Obviously we've seen that kind of a I think Voyager had an episode about that. I think they don't think.

5:48 Yeah, there's a couple of references. Yeah, wink of the NYE is the episode, which is a great episode, is one of my probably top ten favorites of a voyager. It's a it's a great concept. Yeah. And I love Mariner mentioning episode about the card with the probe. Yeah, yeah, because that is that is a fantastic episode. We've discussed in Phaser set this time when we did the Next Generation series, and I'm glad it came back. And it was funny that she was looking for a flute. I gotta find a flute, I gotta find a friend, looking for an inner light moment. Yeah, yeah, that. Was that was so good, so good. But I think to me the most what I appreciate love about this episode was the stuff between to Lenin and Tendy. Yeah, and that clearly the episode was kind of really focused on that because Freeman obviously wants a new science officer and they were battling for it, because at least one of them thought they were battling for it, and uh, you know, and Telenn has really surprised me a few times.

6:43 Remember when she did with Rutherford about the shuttle, remember, Yeah, and then she found out the only reason why he was taking forever on that shuttle because of spending time with Tindy, remember, and then she blew it up so they had to start all over again or took it apart and had it and you'll do it all again. I feel like this is the same kind of situation here where Kendy is like all gun Gangbusters here of like she wants to be the science officer forgetting her friendship with with Halan, and Kalan's like, hold on, you know, I just want to rekindle our friendship. I love that. I thought that was really special in this episode. Yeah. I agree that they're becoming quite a two act for the series, which surprised me. I mean, they're they're the breakaway characters in my opinion of this season. They've had so much to do. And to Lynn, she's she's part of the Lower Decks crew. Now, definitely they should put her with the rest of the main cast because she deserves it.

7:36 Yeah, I complain, well, and they definitely get that across when they basically choose both of them to be the science officer on the bridge, which goes back to you know, the core of Lower Decks's relationships, right, Yeah, and recognizing you know, it's not just about calling it a tie and letting them both have the position. That's knowing that the two of them are powerhouses, but they're even more powerful together as a internet. Yeah, and it comes back to that thing that we've talked about multiple times this season. Just be who you are, you know, right, And you know that comes back so much in this season. And I do love that because that's a good message for everybody. You know, we'll try to hide who you are and communicate with somebody. If she would have just communicated with Helen, it would have been a whole different story, you know. Right.

8:26 But when they did come together and work as as a team, they really solve the problems there on the planets. I mean Mariner, you know, she was the problem. She didn't as she was for her, But but when the two of them finally decided to work together, you know, they were able to come up with an ingenious solution to get out of the problems they were having. So we both deserve the position of that senior science officer. They both deserve it together. Yeah, when she asked the data chew these ropes off it's like, that's not my normal parameters. It's like, well, I have seen Wharf do it before. Yeah. Well, and the fact that they took her on that kind of journey where she kind of emulated what Data was doing in Time's arrow right where she creates the hand crank that you know repowers them. But it's almost like she's going into a kind of a Doctor Frankenstein, kind of mad scientist arc because she's letting her panic and her her anxiety kind of take over what she's doing.

9:28 It would have been interesting to see what would have happened further on, if they. Would have been if they would. Have drifted further apart. But I'm glad they were able to reconcile things. And it looked like to Lynne was handmaning it famously, which sure was frustrating Tendy a lot more obviously. But and the fact Data is the one who comes up with the solution. It's a freeman. Hey, you got both two incredible science officers. You can't pick between these two. I mean, we didn't see that message, but you knew that's where it was going. Yeah, you know, so they get both of them get the job. I love that that was awesome. There's also a nice little nod where Mariner is talking to Data's head and she talks about him like being one of her favorites and all this the kind of stuff.

10:12 I'm sure there's probably a little bit of Towny Newsome herself coming through there, and that had to be a great moment. I hope that they had, you know, moments in the recording booth together. I don't imagine they would have been separated, but hopefully they got some time in person. Yeah, you know, we we still don't know what exactly is going to happen with this overall season storyline, but we definitely I think we can pin it down now that it's the feeling is the whole thing is about being yourself. Yeah, I mean they've they've dragged that in almost every episode you know about this and when when these characters are themselves, they succeed. And I think that's where this this season is leading to. And I think that's a good message for lower deckers, And I think isn't that where it really should lie and be When you're when you're learning something that you don't know and you're trying to succeed it, that's a great message, and I see why they're pinpointing on that.

11:03 I really really do like that. I do. Another thing that I really like is the fact that the Purple World Jordan Data are still really good friends. Because I love it, says, I need to get home to Jordy, he's my best friend. Okay, Well it also needs him to go out and find another you know, bfore or some other kind of you know, replacement unit for his body. Also, I also want to point out that remember a few episodes back where we had we were looking at something else that was from the alternate universes, and we made noticed that the uniforms were wrong. Yeah, you'll notice that the Enterprise is still the Enterprise D here. I still think I said back then that I think there may be some sort of time involved, you know, time differential or whatever. But I still say that because I mean, obviously things are other than being purple. Everything is running very similar to the way the regular universes. But we still have this this old Enterprise, So I still saying that there's something something time wise is going on with the story.

12:01 I think you're right. Even Ransom as like the Purple d Yeah, all right, no good stuff all right, so let's talk about some pippleworthy moments with character we thought stole this week's episode. Way Well, this was really hard to choose because so many of them had such great things. But uh, I'm going to cheat a little and I'm going to say to Lynn and ten Date they both get the spotlight this time because I can't choose from either one of them. They they're they're great together, and they worked together perfectly as a team. Just it just seems when everything was going wrong with everybody else, these became they became the solution to the problem, and they ended up with the promotion together. So you know, they're they're the lower deck team.

12:44 Now, Yeah, I get that. You're You're perfectly right on that. I can argue with that, even though it's a Hoffin answer. You're right, yeah, but no good answer, good answers got what about you? Yeah, So I agree with that, But I think I was leaning more toward to Lynn in this one. She was fitting in famously with the culture. She was probably about six weeks away from running it completely honestly, But I love the fact that she, you know, with kind of ego removed from the equation. She was so willing to help Tendy through the situation, but also recognize that there are things that she can learn from Tendy to better herself without changing herself. Right, And I think I completely agree with what Wayne saying, like especially with the way they set up this season where Boemler is constantly pursuing his you know, ideal version. It may be that we see you know, a slightly future version of them or something else where. It kind of shows who they feel like they think they want to be, but not staying true to who they are. I think to Lynn has really carved out her own space separate from the core lower deckers we've been kind of growing up with, so to speak. So I'll go to Tellnn David, what about.

14:09 You, Ruther Frzbeard. No, I'm kidding, totally kidding, No, it's it's definitely both answers here are fantastic, even though Wayne cheated. I know, I think Tendy and Talon both are fantastic answers. But I have to kind of lean with you, Scott with Tilan because she know she's working her butt off just to try not only to be a science officer, to succeed at that, but she's also working really hard to be a friend even though it went unnoticed for a while, and then she even admits her faults. She was completely open and honest with herself. You know when when she finally made Tendy realize that, you know what was going on and tell him, I say why, I was just wanting to spark our friendship again. But you know, I'm going to probably withdraw my application because of these very reasons.

14:58 Yeah. I liked that honesty, and I thought that's what made her go a little bit of past tend when it comes to the pit moment for this episode. Yeah, it's a good point. Yeah it is. So let's talk about get into that turtle lift with the lower deck team. Who would you join in the searchos for this episode, Scott. So for me, it to be Tendy, So to pick the other the other side of that equation, just because she she gets to interact with the Grimace flavored data and you know, if they had other conversations, I mean, they spend a lot of time together. I think that would have been a fascinating conversation to listen to Wayne about you.

15:39 I absolutely agree with you. I'm choosing Tendy too. For pretty much the same reasons she spend all that time with Data's head. I'd love to spend time with Data's head. She's she's brilliant, she gets them out of trouble. She's promoted one half of the senior's science officer. You know, it's a great double act. I just I would love to be her and in her position, she just came out top of everybody else. Yeah, my answer is tendy as well. We're going to do the trifecta here. It can't be argued because, you know, first off, the same reason she gets to work with data. Every one of us on this podcast and our listeners would love to work with data no matter what. And the fact that you know her realization, you know, maybe down the road this is gonna make her when she's starting to go into that mode where you're like, oh my god, I gotta be better than everybody, and I gotta do this and do this and do this, you're gonna stop, slow down and realize, wait a minute, maybe I should talk to these people first, which is gonna make her a better officer. So yeah, definitely tendy U for sure. So good pick on all that, guys, Very good pick. All right, I know this is Wayne's favorite part.

16:48 Let's talk about the deep cuts, the easter eggs of this episode. Wayne, what did you find? Well, there were a lot of quick comments and mentions on this episode, so I'll try to summarize here. First off, I noticed it Lynn made a comment about she's very sensitive to odor. That's part of the lore was established on Star Trek Enterprise of Balkans are very sensitive to smells. Another thing is the spot they chose down to beam down on Dilmore three that looks a lot like Desquez Rocks out in California. Because so many scenes were filmed there from all the different Star Trek series. I'm pretty sure that I know that's what they were leading towards good And of course, you know we mentioned this isn't the first time Datas lost his head. You know, he even mentions in it a couple of times about being rescued in nineteenth century San Francisco. We all know where that comes from. Marner also mentions that being in a Carbon Creek situation. This is a reference. There was an episode of Star Trek Enterprise that was called Carbon Creek.

17:52 It was where Paul's ancestors crash crush Land on Earth in the twentieth century Pennsylvania, and she tells the story Maner also mentions the eto that scantly clad race of beings from the TNG first season episode Justice, you know, our favorite episode from that first season. Plus you know, there's there's a mention about war, and there was just so many mentions, but those are the big ones that I found. No good one's got you find anything different. No, he's got the whole thing. I think it. One of the things that I just found interesting was when they got to the down shuttle craft and they were basically phasering out every piece of it. I don't think I've ever seen them really do that before. So I wanted to ask in the eastering section if that's typical.

18:41 Or I would say, well, see, they were there to recover or or make sure that any technology and the Starflee technology didn't get into the hands of the civilization because they don't want to influence that the whole prime directive thing. So that would make sense that, you know, since they couldn't exactly get it off the planets, probably just destroy it. Yeah, that would make sense. I think that would be protocol. Even though we've never really seen that before. Yeah, I think that would be protocol. I mean, I think we've seen an episode I can't remember which one, but where they were beaming some of the items back to the ship. Yeah, that's a lot of planet. So that was I don't remember what I can't remember, but this one, they were just decided just to go and destroy this stuff, obviously except for Data's purple head.

19:21 Oh, with the fact that they were trapped there for a while, and you who knows how long. I'm not really sure exactly how long they were on the planet, considering the time was changed, but yeah, it was probably the best thing to do. Yeah, I think it was. It was it a year. I could have swore I. Heard anything like yeah, yeah, I think it was. Yah. Yeah, I think Mariner might have mentioned that if somebody mentioned it. But anyway, no good catches of Lane on all of those. As always, I always look forward to see what you you caught, and some of this I didn't even see, so, you know, fantastic. Yeah, and it's very similar. Like we've said earlier, it's very similar to another story from Voyager called up Blink of an Eye. I love that episode. It's really a good episode as one of my favorite guest stars from that ever appeared on Voyager. It's uh sixth season, I believe the end of six seasons, so uh yeah, you know, listeners, go find that episode and watch it. You'll enjoy it.

20:07 Yeah, absolutely, all right, Wayne Scott, thank you for joining me on another episode of Lower Decks Phaser Set the Stun. It's always a touch time with you two guys. Always. Yeah. Likewise, all right, listeners. Artannels are open for communication. Tell us what you thought about this episode, Who's your favorite character? What deck would you like to be with? Let us know by sending email to a Film by Podcast at gmail dot com or reach us online at a film by Podcast dot com. And you also reach us at all social media platforms. And if you're looking for more exclusive content and slag, send some platinum our way through Patreon. See you next time for another episode of Phasers Set the Stun, And remember, fans, be careful and don't get shrimp in your eye, especially around that poort equipment.

20:51 Good one,