Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 4 Episode 3 Review: In the Cradle of Vexilon
This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, Star Trek: Lower Decks being covered here wouldn’t exist.
Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 4 Episode 3, “In the Cradle of Vexilon,” finds Boimler leading his first mission while Mariner, Tendi, and Rutherford deal with hazing. Brandon Williams directs from a script penned by Ben Waller. It’s another fun homage to Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, although not quite as immersive and all-encompassing as Season 3’s “Hear All, Trust Nothing,” when the Cerritos crew spends the day on Deep Space 9.
Yes, it’s more that “In the Cradle of Vexilon” dedicates a portion of its B-plot to a low-rated Deep Space Nine episode, “Move Along Home.” If there’s one thing Star Trek: Lower Decks excels at (and there are many things, to be fair), it’s the ability to poke fun at Star Trek lore and even fan reactions to said lore.
BETAZOID GIFT BOX: Eat a bag of Borg [bleep], mother[bleep]!
TENDI: I didn’t know that Dr. T’Ana came in here.
While the B-plot is unarguably the stronger of the two main episodic arcs, Boimler’s first time in a command position is nothing to brush off. It’s a significant step forward for the character in a season chock full of notable character development.
To top it all off, Boimler is partnered with T’Lyn, the polar opposite of his personality (although she gels better with Tendi). The episode dives into sitcom territory by experimenting with “The Odd Couple” trope. It’s nothing innovative or revolutionary; however, it makes for a few fun sitcom-esque moments.
T’Lyn fits well with the main cast, and it’s interesting to play with new dynamics among our no-longer-Lower Deckers. It’s been said before, but it bears repeating: Gabrielle Ruiz has the Vulcan cadence and timbre down to a tee.
RUTHERFORD: I guess he’ll have to respect us after this. I know I would, and I already did.
Ruiz imbues T’Lyn with depth, nuance, and heart in “In the Cradle of Vexilon” while maintaining her specific Vulcan way of speaking. This is evident when T’Lyn encourages Boimler to rely on his ensigns to get the job done. Jack Quaid’s anxiety-riddled delivery works perfectly in this episode, more so than usual. Boimler is breaking new ground for himself, making the situation ripe for panicked word-vomiting and hysteria.
Boimler develops beautifully throughout “In the Cradle of Vexilon,” finding the strength and bravery to complete the mission with a life-altering feat of derring-do. He also learns the valuable lesson of delegating as a leader. Sure, he dies twice, but that’s part of being in Starfleet (so says Ransom).
Mariner, Tendi, and Rutherford’s plot leans even more on zany sitcom tropes, from Mariner distracting Dirk while Rutherford and Tendi remedy a glaring error to us learning that Ransom and Dirk were hazing the lieutenant junior grades all along. It can be a bit much in an episode brimming with heavy reliance on the aforementioned tropes. Thankfully, it’s entertaining regardless.
DR. T’ANA: Give me 30ccs of whatever just worked a [bleep] minute ago.
“In the Cradle of Vexilon” is a step down from the stellar two-episode season premiere; however, it’s serviceable enough as a Star Trek: Lower Decks outing. A few lines are laugh-out-loud-worthy, and the consistently brilliant vocal performances really energize these larger-than-life characters. At the very least, it propels Boimler’s journey while being as self-aware and willing to parody itself as ever.
Stray Observations:
- I’d watch an entire episode with Rutherford stuck in the Chula game. (Fun fact: Chula wasn’t a thing in the Alpha Quadrant until Deep Space Nine.)
- We need a subplot featuring Mariner and Dirk at an alien jazz festival. Give us all the slop jazz and the brizzles flarps.
- It’s nice to see the Betazoid Gift Box make its return since its last appearance in Season 2’s “Kayshon, His Eyes Open.” It first appeared in Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 1 Episode 10, “Haven.” Armin Shimerman was the face of the BGB before later joining Trek as Quark in Deep Space Nine.
- The Cosmic Koala is back. Multiple Cerritos crew have seen the god-like koala while ascending or upon reversed brain death. He’s also appeared in the opening credits. It’s a fantastic running joke. This is also the second time Boimler has seen the koala (the first being in Season 2 Episode 10, “First First Contact”).
- Hell hath no fury like a Tendi who feverishly scans thousands of isolinear chips.
- It’s wonderful to see T’Lyn involved with our core lieutenant junior grades, even if she’s prone to defiance and extreme emotion.
What did you think of this episode of Star Trek: Lower Decks? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Star Trek: Lower Decks streams new episodes every Thursday on Paramount+.
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Melody McCune
Melody loves TV. Maybe too much. Besides being a Senior Writer for Tell-Tale TV, she's the Managing Editor for Geek Girl Authority, an Independent Contractor for Sideshow Collectibles, and a Senior Writer for Eulalie Magazine. Additionally, she has bylines in Culturess, Widget, and inkMend on Medium. To top it all off, she's a critic for Rotten Tomatoes and CherryPicks.