This week’s outing of Star Trek: Lower Decks, “In the Cradle of Vexilon,” is partly a homage to a low-rated Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode while leaning heavily on sitcom tropes. It’s not the show’s strongest installment but it’s fun nonetheless. We get fantastic character development for Boimler as he leads his first mission. T’Lyn works alongside him (I hope we get some episodes with her paired with Mariner and Rutherford) and plays an excellent “straight man.”
The episode has hazing, the Wadi game Chula, a Betazoid gift box, the return of Cosmic Koala and primordial ooze. That last one is a great name for a metal band. Side note: I’d recognize Charlotte Nicdao‘s voice anywhere. She plays one of the ensigns on Boimler’s mission. Mythic Quest fans know what I’m talking about.
I’ve compiled a list of my favorite quotes from “In the Cradle of Vexilon” to celebrate our favorite California-class crew. Energize!
BETAZOID GIFT BOX: “Eat a bag of Borg [bleep], mother[bleep]!”
TENDI: “I didn’t know that Dr. T’Ana came in here.”
If there’s one thing Dr. T’Ana is known for, it’s her penchant for speaking in a string of expletives. It’s so distinct that Tendi (Noël Wells) recognizes it instantly when the Betazoid gift box talks about the bag of Borg dicks. T’Ana should teach a course on the art of swearing. She’s got a tremendous gift.
L-R Jack Quaid as Lt Brad Boimler and Gabrielle Ruiz as T’Lyn appearing in episode 3, season 4 of Star Trek: Lower Decks, “In the Cradle of Vexilon,” streaming on Paramount+, 2023. Photo Credit: Paramount+
DIRK: “I could go on about slop jazz forever. You know, everybody thinks the slop is about how much spit you can get to drip out of the nozzle, but it’s really about the brizzles flarps.”
MARINER: “Yeah, you know, it sounds wet, and that is what I like. Please continue.”
Tawny Newsome‘s delivery never fails to make me giggle, and this reply to Dirk’s (Phil LaMarr) excitement about Tellarite slop jazz is no exception. Who doesn’t like wet sounds? It’s not authentic slop jazz unless you have those brizzles flarps. We need Mariner and Dirk to attend an alien jazz festival, especially now that Mariner’s love for jazz has grown substantially. Let the musical hijinks ensue.
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BOIMLER: “Last week, I was an ensign with them, and now, randomly, I’m supposed to tell them what to do. What gives me the right to put my peers in a position where they could die?”
T’LYN: “Your promotion was not random. I studied your records and mission logs before our departure. The commander was correct to promote you. Your work is exemplary. Look at your team. They deserve your trust, just as Commander Ransom trusted you.”
This moment is bursting with heart. T’Lyn (Gabrielle Ruiz) and Boimler (Jack Quaid) make for a fun odd couple, although not quite as delightful as T’Lyn and Tendi. Boimler’s freaking out, as usual, while T’Lyn provides the “straight man,” blatantly honest commentary. When Boimler doubts himself (Boimler’s intense training style hits close to home for this anxious bag of bones), T’Lyn is there to validate his promotion. It’s sweet.
L-R Eugene Cordero as Lt. Samanthan Rutherford, Tawny Newsome as Lt. Beckett Mariner and Noël Wells as Lt. D’Vana Tendi, appearing in episode 3, season 4 of Star Trek: Lower Decks, “In the Cradle of Vexilon,” streaming on Paramount+, 2023. Photo Credit: Paramount+
RUTHERFORD: “I guess he’ll have to respect us after this. I know I would, and I already did.”
Eugene Cordero is also a pro at delivering lines that might not be as hilarious when recited by another performer. It’s not a particularly funny quote on its own, but it hits that comedic sweet spot within the episode’s context. Couple that with Cordero’s unique cadence for Rutherford, and you’ve got gold.
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DR. T’ANA: “Give me 30ccs of whatever just worked a [bleep] minute ago.”
Hey, Dr. T’Ana (Gillian Vigman) is a stellar Starfleet doctor; however, that doesn’t mean she doesn’t experiment from time to time. Also, who has the mental bandwidth to recall every medicinal solution used to resurrect Starfleet officers? She just brought someone back from the dead!
Dawn Lewis as Captain Carol Freeman appearing in episode 3, season 4 of Star Trek: Lower Decks, “In the Cradle of Vexilon,” streaming on Paramount+, 2023. Photo Credit: Paramount+
RANSOM: “They bought the Wadi game story, huh?”
DIRK: “Oh, yeah. Told them I was stuck in there for a month.” [to LANCELOT] “Hey, little guy. Go get Rutherford.” [RUTHERFORD screams]
RANSOM: “Oh, new lieutenants give me life.”
Apparently, Dirk and Ransom (Jerry O’Connell) have been hazing the lieutenant junior grades, as Mariner, Tendi and Rutherford suspected. Dirk’s sob story about the Chula game proves he might have a future on the stage. I hope we see them haze the lieutenants more in future episodes and that our quartet finds new ways to get back at them.
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What are your favorite quotes from “In the Cradle of Vexilon”? Sound off in the comments below!
Star Trek: Lower Decks drops new episodes every Thursday on Paramount+.
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Melody.McCune@geekgirlauthority.com
What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events.
Who I am: Before moving to Los Angeles after studying theater in college, I was born and raised in Amish country, Ohio. No, I am not Amish, even if I sometimes sport a modest bonnet. Bylines in: Tell-Tale TV, Culturess, Sideshow Collectibles, and inkMend on Medium. I love cheese. I love geek. I love lamp.
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