"Those Old Scientists," after receiving a sneak peek at San Diego Comic Con, is now accessible for streaming via Paramount+. Initially, pausing to acknowledge the intricate challenge tackled in this episode is highly warrants. Jack Quaid and Tawny Newsome's uncanny resemblance to their "Star Trek: Lower Decks" characters seamlessly bridges the gap between animation and live-action, lending credibility to their transition. However, "Lower Decks" and "Strange New Worlds" are shows that starkly diverge in tone and performance styles, a disparity so stark that a crossover might seem improbable.
The solution? "Those Old Scientists" embraces this collision head-on. Boimler (Quaid) and Mariner (Newsome)'s Misfits on the Enterprise serves as the episode's underlying humor. Their voices are too loud, their references to Star Trek lore oddly specific, as Una observes. Quaid's running resembles a cartoon character's, while Newsome retains Mariner's mischievous grin as her default expression in this new setting. Blending these elements seems like an uphill battle, yet "Those Old Scientists" pulls it off with apparent ease.
For those unaware of what lies ahead, they might initially mistake the show. The animated opening unfolds aboard the USS Cerritos, the unassuming California-class starship that serves as home to the "Lower Decks" characters. It begins in the familiar "Lower Decks" manner, with Boimler engrossed in a mundane assignment due to his fascination with Federation history, while Mariner mocks him, as Tendi (Noël Wells) and Rutherford (Eugene Cordero) express excitement over the mission's scientific promise. In true "Lower Decks" fashion, things swiftly spiral out of control. A disagreement between Boimler and Tendi about who discovered a portal—the Enterprise or Orion scientists ("They weren't all pirates," Tendi reminds him)—combined with Boimler's desire to live in the past, leads to the portal activating and granting his wish.
This unexpected turn catches the (now long-gone, from Boimler's perspective) Enterprise crew off guard when they welcome him on the other side. Though they soon discern Boimler as a harmless (and eagerly enthusiastic) future traveler, his presence poses a genuine dilemma. Like any temporal visitor, he risks altering history. As a Federation history enthusiast with a seemingly exhaustive knowledge of the Enterprise and its crew, he's in a unique position to disrupt it specifically by revealing future events. To prevent this, he's entrusted to La’an, who informs him of "temporal protocols," including a strict warning against forming attachments. This is a rule La’an herself has added, one she understands only too well.
Once more, it bears reminding that history is not an infallible narrator. Mariner recognizes Uhura not merely for her dedication but for her knack of savoring life beyond the confines of duty. This portrayal bears little resemblance to the Uhura we are accustomed to from "The Original Series" or the films—where, yes, she can unwind, but her essence transcends mere relaxation. It stands in stark contrast to Ensign Uhura of "Strange New Worlds," who is incessantly at work, to the extent that it stirs concern among her peers. Boimler experiences this discrepancy firsthand when he encounters her and receives a curt dismissal, hinting at her preoccupation with matters far grander than his musings.
However, it is Boimler's encounter with Spock that truly leaves him befuddled. As they return to the portal accompanied by M’Benga, Boimler manages to elicit a chuckle from Spock, a moment he scarcely has time to digest before an Orion vessel materializes (an encounter destined to haunt him in retrospect). Are these interstellar marauders? Pike, preliminary judgment clouding his discernment, assumes as much until Boimler interjects, suggesting that this particular Orion ship might be benign. Yet, the demarcation between scientific exploration and piracy blurs when they appropriate the portal and depart, seemingly condemning Boimler to perpetual exile in the past.
Amidst this turmoil, Boimler finds solace in burgeoning friendships. After enduring some playful teasing from Chapel and Ortegas, he receives an invitation to join them for movie night, only to inadvertently reveal that Pike's birthday is imminent and is celebrated as a holiday in his time. Chapel and Ortegas see merit in throwing a party, despite Boimler's misgivings about altering the fabric of the future. But his gaffe deepens when, following Chapel to the turbolift, he voices apprehension that his jest may have irrevocably affected Spock—the stoic, humor-averse legend he knows from history. He confesses to having devoured every tome about Spock within his reach, none of which mention such a moment. And in that admission, Chapel realizes, neither do they mention her.
The note of poignancy in La’an’s warning to Boimler about fostering attachments sets the scene for future poignant moments. Pike has grappled throughout the series with the foreknowledge of his impending demise within a decade, a reality Boimler cannot alter. Moreover, Boimler is privy to the fates awaiting other characters, just as we are. While their camaraderie is delightful to witness and seemingly mutually, whatever enjoyable sparks fly between Spock and Chapel cannot endure without disrupting the established timeline. "I never presumed I'd wield such enduring influence over him," Chapel remarks through tears, acknowledging the bittersweet nature of their connection. Sometimes, ignorance of one's destiny is bliss.
Utilizing advanced technology from the future, Boimler stealthily guides the Enterprise onto the Orions' trail, while the crew turns a blind eye to avoid learning anything untoward. Boimler urges Pike, admiring his "truly impeccable hair," to seek a peaceful resolution. They succeed, albeit at the cost of forgoing grain desperately needed by starving colonists. In return, they secure Boimler's passage back to his own time. And so, the tale concludes.
Or it might have been seamless had Mariner's attempt not culminated in her traversing the portal and joining their ranks. For Mariner, this posed no issue whatsoever, especially if it meant getting to meet Uhura. However, for Pike and the rest, it doubled their woes. Pike, in a decision to put the newly arrived to good use, dispatched Boimler with Spock while allowing Mariner to bond (and utterly fangirl over) Uhura. But Mariner's admiration for Uhura and her future achievements only exacerbated Uhura's stress levels. Mariner's characteristically laid-back suggestion was to take it easy. Joining forces with Ortegas, they relaxed with some impromptu Orion Hurricanes, during which they cracked the code to decipher the enigmatic symbols encircling the portal.
Meanwhile, Boimler discovered that Spock had divined his distress, having conversed with a distressed Chapel. Though she refrained from specifics, Spock astutely deduced that Boimler was troubled by his displays of human emotion, which deviated from historical accounts. Yet, logic also dictated to Spock that he should simply embrace it. Trying to be less human after his talk with Boimler would itself alter history. Whatever fate awaited his relationship with Chapel, it was not this.
After a pep talk from Pelia, Boimler joined Mariner on a shuttle with the aim of reclaiming the grain that Pike had earlier traded away. It was a fleeting plan, thwarted by La’an discovering them before takeoff. Caught red-handed, they were escorted to Pike's quarters. Initially furious, Pike softened upon learning that Boimler had once dressed as him for Halloween. ("He had to sculpt his jawline extensively," Mariner quipped.) But what truly irked Pike was the rumor that Boimler had encouraged the crew to throw him a birthday party, not because he feared his remaining birthdays were numbered, but because this was the year he outlived his estranged father, and he had planned to spend it in solitary drinking. Though irked at the outset of the conversation, Pike came around to Boimler's perspective when the time traveler suggested that, given his limited years, Pike might cherish quality time with his friends.
With Captain Archer's original Enterprise mentioned, Boimler conceived a plan to reactivate the portal using the alloy necessary for its ignition, found on a part of the older ship encased within the newer one. With a "Live Long and Prosper" from Spock, they set off on their journey home. Or they would have, had it not been for the Orions blocking their path. Fortunately, they reached a compromise by allowing the Orion scientists to take credit for the discovery. (Tendi had been right, after all—sort of.) Upon stepping through the portal and returning to Lower Decks' animated realm, they inadvertently left fragments of it behind on the Enterprise. Pike's party was fueled by authentic Orion Hurricanes, which possessed the uncanny ability to alter reality, momentarily rendering them two-dimensional (and bizarrely sending the episode out on a surreal note as the credits rolled).
This was indeed an enjoyable installment, embodying the delightful balance of self-awareness without overdoing it, much like the classic "Trials and Tribble-ations" from "Deep Space Nine." While it maintained a playful, lighthearted tone throughout, it also handled the ongoing narrative threads of several characters with genuine gravitas. Chapel's heart-wrenching moment in the turbolift was intensified by her subsequent resolve, as she braces herself for the realities imparted by Boimler. Here stands a character who has learned to temper her expectations but had begun to nurture a glimmer of hope that perhaps, just perhaps, she might attain her desires. Yet, the episode largely retained its whimsical charm, especially in its second half, which at times felt more akin to an episode of "Lower Decks" than "Strange New Worlds." Here's to hoping this fusion becomes a recurring delight, despite the intricate dance required to pull it off seamlessly.
