Redshirts Always Die
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Star Trek: Lower Decks – Pilot episode gets off to rough start

By Chad Porto

Pictured (l-r): Eugene Cordero as Ensign Rutherford, Boiler, Fred Tatasciore as Lieutenant Shaxs, Dawnn Lewis as Captain Freeman, Ensign Barnes played by Jessica McKenna, Tawny Newsome as Ensign Mariner, Gillian Vigman as Dr. T'ana of the CBS All Access original series, STAR TREK: LOWER DECKS. Photo Cr: Best Possible Screen Grab CBS 2020 CBS Interactive, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Pictured (l-r): Eugene Cordero as Ensign Rutherford, Boiler, Fred Tatasciore as Lieutenant Shaxs, Dawnn Lewis as Captain Freeman, Ensign Barnes played by Jessica McKenna, Tawny Newsome as Ensign Mariner, Gillian Vigman as Dr. T'ana of the CBS All Access original series, STAR TREK: LOWER DECKS. Photo Cr: Best Possible Screen Grab CBS 2020 CBS Interactive, Inc. All Rights Reserved. /
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“Second Contact” — Pictured (L-R) Eugene Cordero as Ensign Rutherford, Tawny Newsome as Ensign Beckett Mariner, Nol Wells as Ensign Tendi and Jack Quaid as Ensign Brad Boimler of the CBS All Access series STAR TREK: LOWER DECKS. Photo Cr: Best Possible Screen Grab CBS 2020 CBS Interactive, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
“Second Contact” — Pictured (L-R) Eugene Cordero as Ensign Rutherford, Tawny Newsome as Ensign Beckett Mariner, Nol Wells as Ensign Tendi and Jack Quaid as Ensign Brad Boimler of the CBS All Access series STAR TREK: LOWER DECKS. Photo Cr: Best Possible Screen Grab CBS 2020 CBS Interactive, Inc. All Rights Reserved. /

Acting

Tawny Newsome and Jack Quad play the two most focused on characters in the series. Newsome plays Beckett Mariner, a disgraced ensign who keeps getting busted down in rank because she perpetually disregards orders, disrespects her crew members, and blatantly violates numerous Starfleet regulations under the guise of “doing the right thing.” Newsome’s acting for the role is efficient. She brings an energy that the character demands and seems to have a good vocal delivery.

Jack Quaid plays the spineless Brad Boimler. Quaid is rather muted having to play off of Newsome’s high energy in the first energy. Quaid does solid line delivery but nothing about his performance stands out, at least yet. Quaid’s a great actor but as seen in The Boys, his best moments come from his ability to act with his facial features and his over the top reactions to monumental moments that don’t have a lot of clutter around it. Like when he detonated Translucence. Quaid seems slightly hindered in this voice role, either by directional design or simply an inability to make a more memorable impact against Newsome’s infectious energy.

The other two main characters are Noel Wells’ D’Vana Tendi, and Eugene Cordero’s Sam Rutherford. Neither character really carved out their own niche so to speak through Wells’ “I got to hold a heart!” line was one that was delivered with genuine enthusiasm and that’s greatly appreciated.

The best character work so far goes to Dawnn Lewis as Captain Carol Freeman, Jerry O’Connell as First Officer Jack Ransom, and Dr. T’Ana, a Caitian doctor. Lewis does an incredibly hammy, over the top captain’s roll, while O’Connell really hunkers down as the overblown Will Riker archetype. Though it’s Vigman’s Dr. T’Ana that steals the show, as she delivers the perfect cadence and inflection in all of her line delivery.

Overall, great talent, poorly managed, however.

Grade: 3/5

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