Space, the final frontier. While Starfleet usually explores new worlds and new civilizations, their officers find themselves underground pretty frequently. Caves are an essential part of Star Trek history, so it’s about time that Lower Decks gives us a good old-fashioned cave episode! So get ready to find some rare moss and odd minerals (and learn a little about yourself) as we give you five thoughts on season 4, episode 8, “Caves.”
1. Who doesn’t love a cave mission? They’re so versatile!
When an episode starts with a lampshade as big as “Caves,” you know it will be a good one. “Have you ever noticed that like, ⅓ of our missions are in caves?” Mariner quips at the beginning of the episode, and it’s true! Star Trek loves a good cave episode, probably because of how cheap and versatile caves can be for good storytelling! Caves can hide sentient fungi, evil supercomputers, horrific beasts, and anything in between. This is another example of what Lower Decks does best, poking fun at a time-honored, cost-cutting device and showing how important they’re to the larger canon.
“Caves” begins with our beloved Beta shift elated that they get to work together on a mission, only for the immediate deflation of Mariner after discovering their trek is through a subterranean system. Of course, as predicted, the cave immediately proves to be a hindrance as a cave-in and evil moss put our Lieutenants in danger. What do you do as you deal with a cave adventure gone wrong? Tell other cave adventures, of course! The episode is primarily vignette-based, as each ensign tells of another mission and how that can help them out of their current situation.
2. Cave missions teach us about ourselves.
While it’s tempting to just give one point to each of the vignettes, “Caves” is a little more clever than that. Each story has the Lieutenant Jr. Grades learning a little about themselves, making friends with enemies, and causing conflict between our four friends. It’s a well-executed setup that delightfully balances the different flavors of cave missions while giving each of our characters a chance to shine.
From Rutherford’s brush with fatherhood, Boimler’s realization that trying to make the universe a little more magical isn’t a bad thing, and Mariner’s successful leadership, “Caves” sees each of our characters grow spectacularly. Each one of the stories is well-paced and crams plenty of easter eggs into each setpiece. From Vendorians to medicinal subterranean ferns, “Caves” truly has it all. Giving us a chance to see each character grow as a Lietentant Jr. Grade makes all the stories that much better.
3. Cave missions lead to understanding and acceptance
For being generally over-enthusiastic ensigns, the Beta shift has undoubtedly earned themselves a fair share of enemies. However, “Caves” goes out of its way to show how a good cave episode can help bring two foes together. One of the most famous examples of this, of course, is the Deep Space Nine episode “The Jem’Hadar,’ which forces Sisko and Quark to work together and learn about one another. From finding common ground with the perennially grumpy Dr. T’ana, working alongside the creepy conspiracy theorist Lt. Levy, or finally burying the hatchet with the dreaded Delta Shift. Each short story shows how being caught between a rock and a hard place can create some serious common ground.
The best part is that each of the stories feels earned. “Caves” goes out of its way to let these characters learn about their fellow crew and work through their issues. Sure, some, like the Delta Shift, have been building for much longer. Still, it’s especially nice seeing a softer side of Dr. T’ana or watching an increasingly confident Boimler assert some of his growing confidence. These stories have proven something: the friends aren’t quite as close as they once thought.
4. Cave missions can also cause conflict
While each story ends with the Beta shift providing information that can help them out of their current situation, they also come with a shocking revelation. No one was aware of Rutherford’s brief foray into fatherhood. They are shocked when they discover that Boimler and Levy have been on holodeck adventures together. It is also downright sacrilege to the other three that Mariner likes and respects the Delta shift. In each case, “Caves” builds the tension as the four friends realize they aren’t as close as they once were. It’s a danger of moving through the ranks and leading other teams of people; sometimes, you grow apart from those you were close with initially.
Continued belowHowever, The problem with this is that it feels a little unearned. While “Caves” tries to present the group as splintering, we’ve certainly seen these four go on their fair share of wacky space adventures this season. Sure, you can argue that the episode we’re seeing is the one stardate they get to see one another and that for the rest of the starweek, they’re not seeing as much of each other, but that’s hard to believe. In any case, this growing tension does lead to, perhaps, one of the most sentimental endings the show has had.
5. But caves (er, Turbolifts) can remind us what really matters most
As each character recounts their recent cave exploits, Mariner keeps rudely cutting off Tendi from telling her trapped in a turbolift story. But as the tension grows and the friends continue to struggle against the creeping moss, it’s revealed that the moss is sentient and wants to hear Tendi’s story. While “Caves” ends with a turbolift story, it’s more about the importance of her message instead of the setting. You see, while it’s not under the ground, it’s about something much more important: making friends.
The final chapter of “Caves” takes place shortly after the end of the first episode of Lower Decks as the four ensigns get trapped in a turbolift, trapped together for an extended period of time, playing games, and bonding with one another. It ends with Tendi admitting to the group that she was afraid of being an Orion, but they made her feel like one of the gang, and she was grateful for that. The message is clear: no matter what, no matter how high they rise through the ranks, they were there for each other at the beginning, and at the end of the day, that’s the most important thing. Did it get me emotional? You bet! That is the mark of a stellar Star Trek ending.
What did you think of the episode? Sound off below, and see you among the stars!
