Mariner repurposes Boimler’s holodeck program to cast herself as the villain in a Lower Decks style movie.

It’s open season on Star Trek references again this week, but with a twist, because this time we’re looking at the movies. Having freed a suppressed lizard race, Mariner finds out that her actions are contrary to Starfleet policy and is ordered to attend therapy. Her doctor, who reduces everything to food metaphors, only annoys her, and she instead vents her rage on a Holodeck program which looks remarkably like a Star Trek movie.

Right from the James Horner-esque warbling of horns to the adjustment of screen ratio to widescreen, we’re dropped into a bigger budget, and some familiar big screen tropes. There’s the obligatory J J Abrams lens flare, a lengthy vanity shot of the ship in dry dock, a villain spouting lines from Shakespeare, the crew signing off with on-screen signatures… you get the idea.

And, as always, it’s a load of fun, with Mariner getting to battle with herself before finally realising what she needs to do to be less angry. At the same time, Boimler is trying to rein as much intel as possible that will help him secure a promotion, though he ruins that once he discovers Mariner’s secret.

Verdict: The understanding of how a Star Trek movie works, and the affection towards them, really shines through in this season’s witty and clever penultimate episode. 8/10

Nick Joy