Mariner, Boimler, Tendi and Rutherford are caught off-guard when aliens force them to testify about a series of seemingly unrelated events.

This is a lot of fun, and best watched with as little knowledge as possible. For Star Trek fans (and surely that’s everyone who’s watching this show?) there’s a non-stop cascade of references, jokes and asides. If this had happened earlier in the run it would have risked the show looking too much like a parody, but at this stage, it’s all fair game.

The ensigns are lifted on a platform into a giant courtroom arena on K’Tuevon Prime – and before you mention the Klingon equivalent from Star Trek VI, Mariner beats you to it. The young crew members are individually asked to share their view of recent events, all under the gaze of the command crew, who are hovering above them, suspended. Each of the stories are little gems, deserving of at least a major sub-plot in another episode, but the interrogator is having none of it and drops the ensigns into eel-filled waters!

Of course, nothing is truly what it seems, and while the resolution is daft and so unlikely, you’ll be able to reel off many Star Trek episodes where similar ‘What?!’ endings were used. Significantly, the ensigns are all in this together, and it’s really telling when they admit that they’re not important enough to know anything to lie about.

There you are – a review which doesn’t spoil any of the twists, treats and very welcome references. I’m sure that fandom will already see this as a favourite for obvious reasons once you’ve watched it, and not just for the reference to Beverley Crusher and the haunted lamp in Sub Rosa!

Verdict: Prepare to Trekgasm! Not only will you be beaming up to the Cerritos, you’ll be beaming from ear to ear. 9/10

Nick Joy

Click here to read our earlier reviews