Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 4 Episode 4 Review: Something Borrowed, Something Green
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 4, “Something Borrowed, Something Green,” takes us to Orion for some much-needed Tendi time, with a fun Boimler/Rutherford subplot. Bob Suarez directs the outing from a script by Grace Parra Janney. The episode maintains consistent momentum and narrative creativity from last week’s installment.
Star Trek as a franchise hasn’t seen much on the Orion front, so any and all morsels of knowledge are welcome. We’ve also been overdue for a Tendi-centric outing that fills in the blanks regarding her backstory. Naturally, it’s fascinating (and jarring) to hear about Tendi’s pirate exploits and formidable reputation while seeing the bundle of bubbling positivity before us. It makes her 10 times more interesting and well-rounded as a character.
TENDI: So, what’s gonna spill first? Your mouth or your guts? [to MARINER and T’LYN] I heard that in a holo-movie.
Additionally, it indicates how hard Tendi works to suppress her innate Orion qualities and erase her pirate past, which is heartbreaking when you put it into perspective. Notably when you think about how stringent she is about rules (as is Boimler).
Tendi, Mariner, and T’Lyn’s time on Orion gives us fantastic character moments as we explore the dynamic between our leading ladies. If there’s one thing Star Trek: Lower Decks excels at, it’s mixing up the characters and experimenting with how they vibe with each other.
T’Lyn’s growth over the past four episodes has been a delight to watch. Some of this season’s most resonant, impactful beats are thanks partly to T’Lyn, from her encouraging Boimler in “In the Cradle of Vexilon” to her complimenting Tendi in “Something Borrowed, Something Green.” Another touching T’Lyn moment is her pitching her Orion research because it makes Tendi uncomfortable.
T’LYN: Incorrect. You are who you choose to be — a Starfleet lieutenant and a loyal friend.
It’s even more jaw-dropping, considering not much is known about Orion. T’Lyn could’ve easily kept her research and turned it in to her superiors to boost her career, but she doesn’t. She values her friendship with Tendi. “Something Borrowed, Something Green” has made this reviewer a bona fide T’Lyn fan.
Meanwhile, Boimler and Rutherford’s B-plot is less adventurous as the boys try to navigate the choppy waters of being roommates. There’s something hilarious about the guys using a Mark Twain simulation and “old-timey talk” to solve all their problems, even for something as inane as who gets to water the bonsai tree. It’s a lighthearted, frivolous storyline that perfectly counterbalances Tendi’s arc, which carries more emotional heft.
Despite the noticeable differences between both plotlines, commonalities thread them together. For example, “communication” is a prevailing theme, with Tendi and D’Erica trying to get on the same page as sisters. At the same time, Rutherford and Boimler struggle to express their feelings in times of turbulence. Tendi also finds it challenging to be upfront about her past with Mariner and T’Lyn out of shame.
BOIMLER: Something about us talking old-timey helped us figure out who should water our bonsai.
The episode’s dissection of this theme adds even more colors and shades to these captivating characters. Of course, Star Trek: Lower Decks injects its own brand of unique humor and sharp wit, combined with its seamless exploration of emotional conflict and requisite breathless zaniness, to make “Something Borrowed, Something Green” a fun outing. It’s not the show’s strongest, but its subject matter and solid narrative will make it exciting to rewatch. Here’s hoping we get more Orion-themed episodes.
Stray Observations:
- Of course the Orion pirates would be the ones pursuing that mystery vessel. ALFB, baby (Always Look For Booty). Side note: I love that this elusive antagonist is an overarching storyline this season. It makes it feel more cohesive and connected.
- Does anyone else think Engrita resembles an Orion version of Ursula from The Little Mermaid?
- It sounds like Mariner references when Captain Archer and the crew start acting strangely after inviting Orion showgirls aboard the Enterprise in Star Trek: Enterprise Season 4 Episode 17, “Bound.” The outing aired in 2005, marking the first time the Orion showgirls have been seen on screen since the Star Trek original pilot episode from 1965.
- I love the running gag of Mariner getting stabbed in the shoulder while on Orion. Talk about having incredibly bad luck.
- I imagine it won’t be long before Captain Freeman bans Boimler and Rutherford from using the Mozart simulation on the holodeck because they take it a smidge too far. Don’t worry; they’ll move on to impersonating another old white dude in history to resolve their issues.
- The Chalnoth first appeared in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode, “Allegiance.”
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.