Thankfully, "Shades of Green" is NOT a clip show; Star Trek: Lower Decks S5E2

I'll admit that when I first saw that "Shades of Green" would be the title of Star Trek: Lower Decks Seson 5 Episode 2, I immediately had flashbacks to the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode of a similar name, "Shades of Gray." Unlike that episode, however, this new episode of Lower Decks is not a clip show, and it instead pushes multiple characters' stories forward.

Episode summary

"Shades of Green" has three distinct plots. One of the two major plots is about Mariner and Boimler trying to rescue Boimler's ensigns on Targalus IX, a planet that has recently achieved "post-scarcity" and no longer needs money. The other follows D'Vana Tendi trying to help her family resolve their conflict with the Blue Orions that was teased at the end of the previous episode.

The Mariner-Boimler plot has Boimler trying to be more relaxed as a leader, clearly trying to model himself after the Alternate Universe Boimler he had met. (He's also trying to grow facial hair like that Boimler.) In an interesting table turn, it is actually Mariner who is arguing for a more organized approach.

Meanwhile, Tendi is helping her family with their war with the Blue Orions when she discovers that her sister, D'Erika, is pregnant. When the war is set to be resolved with a solar sailing race, Tendi is constantly fretting about D'Erika's safety. Eventually, D'Vana and D'Erika have a heart-to-heart, and they manage to manufacture a tie with the Blue Orions.

The third plot was smaller, yet perhaps the most compelling. It followed T'Lyn giving an honest Vulcan try at befriending and socializing with Rutherford, who was still hurting from Tendi's absence. This is done by way of the dilapidated shuttlecraft Sequoia. T'Lyn proceeds to fix it, assuming that would cheer Rutherford up, only to learn that he had enjoyed working on the shuttle together with Tendi.

At the end of the episode, Mariner and Boimler rescue Boimler's ensigns, T'Lyn understands the value of working together on projects (by completely dismantling the Sequoia), and Tendi is back the Cerritos. Everything appears tied up in a nice bow, with the show back to its standard state.

Details and questions

Compared to "Dos Cerritos," this episode did not have many easter eggs or callbacks that stood out to me, aside from the TNG reference in the title. Nonetheless, there were a few details that had me asking questions:

1. Why do the casual clothes we see D'Vana and D'Erika wearing in the teaser just look like clothes from the 2020s? Given Star Trek's history of rather eccentric non-uniform garb, it seems like a missed opportunity to just put them in T-shirts and yoga pants.
2. Also in the Teaser, when D'Erika says she has heartburn, D'Vana says, "Well, luckily, we have a doctor in the room." Although Tendi had previously worked as a medic for Dr. T'Ana, there never seemed to be any indication that she was a physician. Maybe Tendi was just using the term loosely, but it was also a confusing comment.

Thoughts on the episode

This episode suffered from just being boring. The two primary plots felt very much like they were just filling time. The secondary plot with T'Lyn and Rutherford, meanwhile, was interesting but did not have the time it needed to fully resonate emotionally.

Aside from that, this episode tries to play things for laughs that could actually be interesting questions. Whole episodes could have been written about how a planet transitions into a money-free society like the Federation, or how Tendi's familiarity with Starfleet and humanity has made her forget the nuances of her own Orion culture that goes beyond violence and piracy.

Given the lack of clear references in this episode, though, it makes me wonder if references really are all Lower Decks has in its arsenal. It is unwilling to go full Star Trek, and so it can only allude to it.

Overall, "Shades of Green" honestly felt like it was written on autopilot. My hope is that the remainder of the season can feel more emotionally involved. This needs to happen to make an overall charming series end on a high note.