We have to wait until August 25, 2022, for season 3 of Star Trek: Lower Decks to arrive. But in the meantime, the Lower Decks season 2 Blu-ray is here to keep us preoccupied. In addition to a gorgeous-looking and great-sounding presentation of the instant-classic animated series, this set also includes featurettes and animatics. However, the commentaries are the star of the special features on this must-buy set for Lower Decks fans!
Lower Decks Commentaries
Four of the ten episodes in the Lower Decks season 2 Blu-ray collection include commentaries. The first season set did not include commentaries, so this is a welcome addition. Better still, the commentary tracks are subtitled in multiple languages. Often these additional audio tracks do not include subtitles, creating an accessibility issue. The Lower Decks commentaries avoid this issue.
The first, “Kayshon, His Eyes Open,” features series creator Mike McMahan, Jack Quaid (Bradward Boimler) and Jonathan Frakes (William T. Riker). In addition to offering insight on the episode, this track includes Frakes revealing information about his appearances on Star Trek: The Next Generation. Interested in why Riker always sits down in a chair “like that?” The answer is revealed in this commentary!
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The “Kayshon, His Eyes Open” commentary also includes hints about the future of Lower Decks. Plus, there’s a hint about what might be in store for the Titan in the future beyond the animated barrier. And by “hint,” I mean Frakes spoiled something so directly it had to be bleeped – twice (no kidding).
Bars of the Alpha Quadrant
The next commentary is for “An Embarrassment of Dooplers,” and it features both McMahan and Quaid. Once again, we get a hint about a future episode of another Star Trek show other than Lower Decks! In addition, this commentary reveals loads of secrets about the locations we see in the episode.
For example, the bar where Mariner (Tawny Newsome) and Boimler end up is based on a bar in Chicago where both Newsome and McMahan worked. Meanwhile, the hard-to-get-into Starfleet party is based on the EW party at Comic-Con.
The commentary for “Where Pleasant Fountains Lie” features Newsome, Paul Scheer (Andy Billups) and episode writer Garrick Bernard. This commentary provides insight into the Lower Decks creative process and explores why the show works so well.
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Plus, Scheer says there’s been a lot of talk of a Billups-centered comic. This could be included in the upcoming IDW Star Trek: Lower Decks comic adaptation. Alternatively, given his history writing Marvel Comics, Scheer would be a great candidate to pen a Billups one-shot!
T’Lyn Alert!
The final commentary is for “wej Duj,” and featured McMahan, Gabrielle Ruiz (T’Lyn) and episode writer Kathryn Lyn. If you are one of the many die-hard T’Lyn fans, you owe it to yourself to listen to this one.
This commentary reveals loads of details about everyone’s new favorite Vulcan. These include the fact that Lyn used to cosplay at cons as a half-Vulcan, half-Klingon named “K’Lyn.” Later, Lyn cosplayed a full Vulcan named “T’Lyn,” providing the origin of the character’s name.
Plus, Ruiz reveals that her audition for the role of T’Lyn was recorded in her closet. McMahan once again emphasizes that we will get “a taste” of T’Lyn in season 3. Hopefully, we’ll see more of her in season 4!
Easter Egg Featurettes
The set also includes Easter egg featurettes for each episode. A cast member (via a Zoom-style setup) introduces each of these. They all include McMahan explaining why the allusions were featured in the episode.
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These short, one-to-two-minute clips were originally released via social media as Star Trek: Lower Decks season 2 was airing. However, they are a welcome inclusion here, especially if you happened to miss them.
Plus, if you are entering the Trek universe through Lower Decks, these features offer specific episodes to watch. Not only will these help explain certain allusions in Lower Decks, they can provide a point of ingress for exploring other Trek shows.
More Special Features
The Star Trek: Lower Decks season 2 set also features two additional featurettes on the making of the show. The first is “A Sound Foundation,” which provides plenty of insight into what goes into the TNG-era sonic landscape of the Lower Deckers.
Sound designer James Singleton reveals an especially fun fact. The sound of the Titan was taken from a “stretch-out elephant trumpet” that was pitched down with some tremulation. This provided a unique personality for Riker’s ship.
The set also includes a follow-up to the “Lower Decktionary” from the first season set. This time, it’s presented as a single featurette. In addition to Newsome, Quaid, and McMahan, it also features Noël Wells, Eugene Cordero, and executive producer Alex Kurtzman.
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The “Lower Decktionary” examines the second season as a whole by looking at individual episodes. This not only helps illuminate the second season arc, but it also draws out many of the themes of Lower Decks. This, in turn, helps demonstrate how the show fits into the larger Trek universe.
Lower Decks season 3
The only complaint that I have about this set is that I would like commentaries for every episode! All four commentaries included here are so insightful and entertaining that I wanted more immediately. And I’d like to hear Dawnn Lewis (Captain Freeman) make a commentary appearance, as well!
However, this minor critique doesn’t change the fact that this collection is worthy of Star Trek: Lower Decks. What higher compliment could I pay?
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