Episode Discussion | Star Trek: Lower Decks | 4x06 "Parth Ferengi's Heart Place"

"I've authorized the local authorities to drag you out of there."

"Just go limp. Don't fight them"

Oh man Ransom is becoming one of my favorite characters.

That's the only point in the episode where I actually laughed out loud

That mind control/subliminal messages in advertising joke with the paramount logo made me laugh.

One of my big complaints in the earlier seasons was that the show wasn’t very funny for a comedy, but it’s actually getting better. The whole Ferengi tv thing was great.
- Ferenginar as a whole was uncomfortably familiar, speaking as an early 21st century hu-mon.

I always headcanoned that Rom was very quickly fired after DS9… but I have to admit this episode did an excellent job conveying that with Leeta at his side, he’s got quite good job security. … and wasn’t that the Sense-Ores admiral?

I liked catching up with Marinier’s Ferengi friend from back in S1. Kinda wish they did a little bit more with that plot.

I tend to feel awkward when I see characters acting awkward… to that extent I had a little trouble getting through Tendi and Rutherford’s story. I like them more when they get to be big nerds—which we admittedly had quite a bit of this episode.

Beyond that… I find it interesting that the Parlament class now has a CGI model. Lower Decks traditionally saves the CGI budget for ships that get into combat or major fan service. The Parlament vessel doesn’t really qualify for either in this episode. I wonder if it’s going to be a casualty of the mystery ship later in the season.

Also, did I hear right that the Ferengi Lower Decker was in communication with the mysterious vessel?

Totally was the Sense-Ores admiral from Moist Vessel. Memory Alpha lists him as Admiral Vassery.
Also, did I hear right that the Ferengi Lower Decker was in communication with the mysterious vessel?

That's what I got too. He was both expecting them, and also said they told him they'd make a lot of profit.

Also... Parliament :) Canadians see the word often 😄
I always headcanoned that Rom was very quickly fired after DS9…

As Grand Nagus, I don't think there's anyone higher up to fire him. The position is a weird cross of king, CEO, and Pope. Only death or resignation seems to be able to oust a Grand Nagus.
- Ferengi would have no problem assassinating him if doing so were more profitable than not. I suspect Leeta does some Lord Vetinari-ing behind the scenes to make sure that leaving Rom be is preferable.

I like it when the Ferengi stay on brand.

I dislike cringe humor and watching characters be uncomfortable, so I didn't love the Rutherford/Tendi plotline, but there were enough cute moments in there to make it worthwhile. It feels like the show is openly baiting "shippers" at every opportunity, and this is the most flagrant example yet.

With that said - and making no claims about if romance is in any way necessary or inevitable here - these two being so close is adorable.

For a therapist, Migleemo is either really bad at reading other people's emotions, or deviously brilliant at appearing clueless. Possibly both?

I appreciate the continued development of Mariner as a person who keeps getting in her own way, slowly coming to terms with that and trying to figure out what to do about it. It's a problem I don't relate to at all in the specifics, but the more general "why do I keep doing this" is very easy to connect to, and I know I'm not alone in that. Her Ferengi friend laying it all out for her here seems like an important step, and I wonder where she's going to turn next.

This probably deserves a deeper dive at some point, but the further we go the more I see Mariner's path as a more realistic and relatable trajectory for Michael Burnham to have taken. Both are superbly talented people capable of great things. Both are also reckless, supremely overconfident in their own judgement, and prone to self destructive behavior, all of which combines to put them and those around them in dangerous situations. Burnham in S1 right before the Mirror Universe jump and Mariner in the first episode of Lower Decks are in fairly similar places, both having been recently bumped down from more senior positions due to major fuckups. This is where their paths diverge: both continue to display all the behaviors that got them in trouble, but Mariner remains a lower decker on relatively unimportant assignments, with both her strengths and weaknesses clearly recognized by her superiors. Burnham, meanwhile, is fully returned to her previous high station and even promoted beyond that because her most problematic behaviors are improbably rewarded by a universe which places her in the middle of multiple extraordinarily significant events. I strongly related to S1 Burnham, and really wanted to see her grapple with her weaknesses and develop into a better person and officer over time. I didn't get that opportunity, but Mariner gives a second chance at telling that slow-burn story and thus far, Lower Decks has done very well with it.

It's been an ongoing plot line that Migleemo is sort of a lemon at counselling.
- Perfect food reference for Migleemo. Don't know if it was 100% intentional but perfect none the less.
- It’s been an ongoing Star Trek plot line that ship counselors are friggin useless

Annotations up at: https://startrek.website/post/2385489

Liked the episode overall, was good to see Rom and Leeta again and I like to continued progress we see among the Ferengi. However, there is absolutely no way I will be able to conceive of the Ferengi joining the Federation, at least at this point in the timeline. The Federation has notoriously strict rules for who they allow to join. As we see in the episode, in spite of the progress made under Grand Nagus Rom the Feregi still have a culture that revolves around exploitation. We see people enslaved in mines for lying about being a couple to get a discount at a restaurant! An alliance would make much more sense then an application to join.

We see people enslaved in mines for lying about being a couple to get a discount at a restaurant!

I do wonder if that was actually an arranged bit of entertainment, with the (alleged) punishment trumped up for the sake of it. Ferengi do like to put on a show.
- Expanding on this, I've convinced myself that the whole couples dinner thing exists primarily to entertain the other diners. The way it's set up an an obnoxious and increasingly grotesque public spectacle which I suspect the vast majority of couples would find highly uncomfortable supports this, as does the remarkable timing of the (presumed fake) removal of the fraudulent couple and Tendi/Rutherford being allowed to leave on a flimsy pretense after putting on a pretty good show of their own.
We know that by 2400 there are Ferengi cadets graduating from Starfleet Academy and by the 32nd Century there’s even a Ferengi Captain, among other Ferengi officers.

While not being a Federation member doesn’t preclude you from serving in Starfleet, there’s that to consider.
- Nog served in Starfleet already during DS9 though. The first one of course, but still.

I enjoy the exploration of Ferengi society under Grand Nagus Rom, and visiting some of Ferenginar's hot spots. I also enjoy seeing Rom and Leeta again. I love the subversion of Rom's doofiness, and how well Leeta adapted to Ferengi society. First Clerk, indeed. Freeman's frustration was my frustration, but it had a satisfying ending.

I didn't enjoy the lower deck gang's shenanigans as much. There were fun moments, but it felt like a drag on the characters. Mariner's fighting just to be fighting. She has grown a lot over the past seasons. Her undefined angry outburst in this episode seemed pointless. There's nothing keeping JG Lieutenant Mariner from her Ensign Mariner renegade behavior and schemes. Boimler has completely backslid into the previously uncertain, twitchy, insecure Boimler. There's no sign of "Crisis Point 2: Paradoxus'" (s3e8) "I want to be a captain" Tendi.

Rutherford and Tendi's discomfort pretending to be a couple made me uncomfortable. They've clearly been sweet on each other for a while. I could have done without forcing them into this pretend couple scenario, and let their relationship develop at its previous pace. I think Mariner and Boimler being the pretend couple had the potential to be hilarious. And, what the heck. No T'Lyn? Much disappointment.

I think Ransom is the standout in this episode.

The destroyed (maybe? maybe not?) ship of the week is a Ferenghi one. There was the tiniest hint, that one of the crew had been in contact with who or whatever is on that flying ship of destruction. With only 4 episodes left, I hope that ship has a huge payoff after being teased for so long.

I still love Lower Decks. This episode is a mixed bag for me.

Mariner's fighting just to be fighting. She has grown a lot over the past seasons. Her undefined angry outburst in this episode seemed pointless. There's nothing keeping JG Lieutenant Mariner from her Ensign Mariner renegade behavior and schemes.

Seems realistic to me. Have you never watched someone spend so long fighting that even peace starts to make them uneasy?

It's hard watching your loved ones go through it. You do all you can to get them on the right track. You show them that you believe in them and that you support them. They start making progress. They get to a good place. And then inevitably they run into the identity crisis where they have to make a conscious decision to unlearn all of their unconscious insecurities and defense mechanisms.

They literally start fighting their progress for no reason.

Mariner's depiction with a physical fight was a little on the nose, but it hits really close to home for anyone who has ever supported someone in that way before.

It's a fear response, and it's extremely difficult to break the cycle. "Everything is okay! Wait, is it too okay? Something bad is coming."

Rutherford and Tendi's discomfort pretending to be a couple made me uncomfortable. They've clearly been sweet on each other for a while. I could have done without forcing them into this pretend couple scenario, and let their relationship develop at its previous pace.

If anything it felt a little like a reality check for all the shippers. I was afraid they were going to play it the other direction, with the two of them actually falling for each other once they were in the position of role-playing. Feels like they set the record straight that the romantic chemistry is not there right now and that it won't be forced.

Of all the things I thought Star Trek would never reference, Garth Marenghi's Darkplace was pretty high up there.

@DavidGA @startrek It’s a deep deep cut.

Uncle Quarks Youth Casino, Mariner saying that Ferengenar looks like heaven if God were stupid, and the naked female Ferengi subtly hidden in the restaurant were all nice little touches. I also think the Cerritos is severely lacking in relationship representation so I hope Tendi and Rutherford actually get together, never been a fan of the will they, won’t they dynamic in any show - as Boimler said, its lowest common denominator entertainment.

I did not ship Rutherford and Tendi until this episode, though I assume they'll drag out a will they / won't they scenario for at least a few more seasons.

I can honestly see them pulling the trigger on it at the end of this season. This season's pretty emphatically pushing the gang past their former status quo-- Mariner has supportive superiors, now what? Boimler is in charge sometimes, now what? Figuring this romance situation out would just be running with the theme of growth and change.

I'm happy either way they end up, although I think Rutherford's comment about green eyes is telegraphing there's something there, even if he and Tendi are oblivious to it.
Yeah I'm in the same boat. Watching them blush and be awkward was super cute and now I just want them to figure it out. She's a catch Rutherford, go for it!
I've been shipping them since Rutherford told Badgey, "I was just trying to impress Tendi. I mean, look at her, she's so cute!" Earlier that same ep they're in the holodeck in the EV suits and they accidentally embrace (due to mag boots) which mirrors the B'Elanna and Tom scene where B'Elanna told Tom she loved him.

But if you really think about it, they've been hinting at the crush since the beginning. He was willing to change his career to make the time to watch a pulsar with her (which was episode 2). When Tendi thought T'ana was transferring her off the ship, they tell each other how much they love the ship and hug. Later that ep he tells Billups he's been triple backing up memories with her because he doesn't want to forget her again. (Notably he doesn't mention backing up memories with Mariner or Boimler.) They've always just a little closer than best friends, and damned if it isn't adorable!
- how much they love the ship
  
  Holy ship!
I like the idea that we find out mid next season that they’ve been in a committed relationship with each other for like a year but are keeping it on the DL because monogamy is deeply uncool in their generation.

Almost a filler episode. Best part was seeing Rom an Leeta again. Wished they would have mentioned Nog unless I missed it.

I always assume Nog is dead because Ira Steven Behr said he would kill him off on the first episode if DS9 got an eighth season
@ThrowawayInTheYear23 I think you mistyped Landlord Cops. I need that show now.

It's Rom! From Star Trek!

Rom likes baseball!

It was really great to not only see Leeta again, but to see her as quite the shrewd negotiator. DS9 played them both as a little naive at different points, so it was extremely gratifying to see the continuation of their growth as well as the very sharp skills that Leeta picked up along the way on Ferenginar.

The resolution to the Rutherford and Tendi subplot was interesting to me in that it made explicit the way that their easy familiarity with each other as best friends and coworkers is predicated on a blithe, willful obliviousness to any other romantic feelings between them. I’m curious to see how that plays out in future episodes.

Dave Foley?