Star Trek’s longest running (and now technically only) ongoing animated series puts its fourth Ensign’s Log on the fire, with at least one more season on the way. As of this November 9th, the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes have concluded with each respective guilds getting more or less exactly what they stopped work to demand. I bring this up because during this work stoppage, basically no unfinished Star Trek shows could be worked aside from the animated ones, leaving this season in an odd place. Fans were glad to see the show come back, but fretted as the Strange New Worlds and the upcoming Starfleet Academy sat on hold, while the unfinished season of the unceremoniously canceled Star Trek Prodigy was also on a hunt for a new home after Paramount yanked it from the service. Star Trek’s in a bit of an odd place right now and its future may be in for dark times, but while we figure that out, it’s a relief to know that Lower Decks is still a solid show. Now, let’s try going Warp 10 and take a quick look back at this past season, while hoping we won’t become salamanders. Did you like that reference? BECAUSE THERE WILL BE MORE.This season starts normally enough with a reference-stuffed tribute to Star Trek: Voyager (we’ll get back to that) but ends with a stunning status-quo change: the Eternal Ensigns of the Cerritos…get promoted! Not much further up or with many new duties, mind you, but still! Harry Kim (VOY REFERENCE) is rolling in his possible grave. This triggers differing reactions across our four protagonists; Rutherford worries he’ll drift apart from his friends, Boimler finds responsibility and protecting subordinates frightening, and Mariner feels self-sabotaging urges course through her like never before. These aren’t exactly new for Mariner, but this season is when she gets a spotlight shown on her insecurities and their true source. Counselor Troi (TNG REFERENCE) would have a field day with her! As for Tendi, she more or less takes the promotion in stride, but her character development this season mainly focuses on some more of her Orion family drama, as well as her instant friendship with new shipmate T’Lyn, a Vulcan seen briefly in a Season 2 episode who wishes to get back to her Vulcan ship. Captain Pike (TOS/SNW REFERENCE) was lucky to just get confined to his beep chair instead of dealing with all this stuff!But outside of the Lieutenant Junior Grades’ junior graded strife, a mystery ship stalks targets from non-Federation planets, each of which having Lower Deck crews who all get a little identical vignette before being attacked and seemingly killed. This mystery ship plot starts out intriguing, then repetitive, then annoying at said repetition, as each scene is pretty much structured the exact same but with a different species’ specific cliches slotted in. It initially feels like the better parts of the episode T’Lyn first appeared in, which spotlighted Lower Deckers from multiple different ships and species but showed more of what they meaningfully had in common. Thankfully this business with the mystery ship is revealed to be none other than a plot by academy reject Nicholas Lacarno (TNG REFERENCE) who shares an actor with Tom Paris (VOY REFERENCE) and has gotten ahold of a Genesis Device (TOS MOVIES REFERENCE), emerging as the NEMESIS planning an INSURRECTION and plan to FIRST CONTACT the multiple GENERATIONS of Ensigns to rise up! (TNG MOVIES REFERENCE REFERENCE REFERENCE REFERENCE)Okay okay, I’ll knock that off. I’ve made it no secret that my biggest pet peeve of Lower Decks, even as I have come to genuinely love the series, has been its indulgences to go on a binge of nigh impenetrable deep cuts of Trek Trivia for anyone with less than an encyclopedic knowledge of every show and movie. The season basically starts with a big one of these for Voyager, but did a FAR more accessible one for DS9 last season, so it’s clearly capable. Plus, it’s worth pointing out that, as the show has progressed and evolved, it’s made use of the world it’s in to build and grow its own characters and stories, especially this season! I have truly grown to like and care about the crew of the Cerritos and their specific journeys and look forward to more! But just because this show was created by a huge fan of the old shows, it doesn’t mean it gets to go all Ready Player One and pretend that eating a shitload of easter eggs is a well balanced diet. And for those who DO get it…is that really enough for you? Is it truly all you need to simply have a show acknowledge some minor detail from the past for the sake of it? I guess I’ll find out when they do an episode tribute to Enterprise. I HAVE seen THAT show, but I’m not gonna rate it high just for a nod to space Nazis from Stormfront Part 1!However, let me be clear: this is a good season of Lower Decks. It progresses our leads forward both in rank and in emotional maturity, as well as setting up another likely good season to come. Better yet, it makes use of its unique set up to tell a story that only Lower Decks COULD tell! This show knows Star Trek, that’s undeniable, but it also knows its characters and how to use them to show the best of both the future and the present day. Heck, if it didn’t have that unresolved plot thread and a fifth season confirmed, I could honestly say this would be a great final season! I’m glad it’s not, but it could definitely work as one (again, aside from those last few minutes)! Even as the writers and actors get back to making more shows, it’s important to acknowledge they are all putting in 110% to make quality television, with Lower Decks most certainly included. So, if there’s any lesson to be gained from this, make sure to support Workers’ Rights, join a union, and look out for the little guy at the bottom of the totem pole. Lower Deckers for life. See you back here for Season 5.