Space, the final frontier. When you have a close-knit crew, anything that could upset the status quo is a threat. From transfers to promotions to being caught in a galactic menagerie, there are plenty of ways a friend group can splinter in Starfleet. (Especially if there’s a monster hellbent on eating your bones!) Life on a Starship can be rough, doubly so if you have to navigate it without your friends! So join us as we give you five thoughts on season 4, episode 2, “I Have No Bones Yet I Must Flee.”
1.Bradward’s big move
After their promotions, our three Lieutenant Jr. Grades are ready to get out of the bunks and into their very own rooms! But “I Have No Bones Yet I Must Flee” is a friendly reminder that while they’re no longer the lowest of the lower decks, they certainly have a long way to go before they get the fancy staterooms we’re used to seeing in Star Trek.
The episode is a delightful exploration of the less-than-stellar accommodations of your low-ranking Starfleet officers. From rooms awash in the glow of Nacells to the paper-thin walls of the rooms between the Holodecks (which, yikes,) Bradward’s big move is a reminder that sometimes the familiar dent in the bunk you’re used to might be that much better than a crappy room. “I Have No Bones Yet I Must Flee” acts as a sort of promise that while they’re rising through the ranks, our heroes are still Lower Decks to their core.
2. Mariner confronts her own worst enemy, herself
After her “Twovix” promotion, Mariner is seemingly struggling with her new rank. Mariner recounts her multiple promotions and demotions and the fact that this current promotion comes at the hands of her worst enemy on the ship. She’s seemingly paranoid. “I Have No Bones Yet I Must Flee” is mainly built on your classic sitcom setup of an overheard misunderstanding. While Mariner thinks that her promotion is a Ransom bit designed to humiliate her and, like other times, decides she will earn her demotion her way.
While the basic thesis of “I Have No Bones Yet I Must Flee” suggests that Mariner is the biggest obstacle in her own promotion, it does an admirable job showing that she has a right to be skeptical. While, in this instance, she misunderstood Ransom’s intent, there might be a history of betrayal. It’s a good message that there are people out there that have your best interest at heart. While the episode does bring up the past struggles of Mariner and Ransom, it ends in a good place.
3. Beware the Moopsy!
Most of “I Have No Bones Yet I Must Flee” centers around a space menagerie that just happened to pick up a couple of humans (if I had a gold-plated Latinum for the number of times this has happened.) While the station features some of the most dangerous predators in the world, thankfully, the one that got out was the adorable Moopsy. The problem? It turns out that the creature is a BONE DRINKER.
This is your classic Lower Decks setup, and it just proves that if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Watching the Moopsy waddle around, adorably chirping its name, and then pouncing on a creature and sucking it dry is so funny. It’s not out of line with other initially adorable villains like Badgey or Peanut Hamper, and the absurdity is incredibly delightful. While “I Have No Bones Yet I Must Flee” accuses Mariner of letting the creature out to continue her insubordination, it turns out that the humans were looking to retain their luxurious life and get a cut of the profit. Humans, we really are the worst.
4. Friendship outranks rank
At the end of “Twovix,” only three of our ensigns were promoted, making Rutherford the odd man out. “I Have No Bones Yet I Must Flee” creates a hilarious rivalry for the often unflappable ensign as he keeps getting outwitted by new recruit Livik. Rutherford is just behind the new engineer at every turn, as Livik keeps solving minor problems just slightly better than Samanthan. Much like the joy of hearing Moopsy chirp his name, you can’t help but chuckle when Eugene Cordero grumbles “Livik” under his breath.
Continued belowOf course, this mad dash to get a promotion is more than meets the eye, as Rutherford worries that he will lose touch with his friends now that they have their rooms. “I Have No Bones Yet I Must Flee” ends with some of that utterly fabulous Lower Decks sentimentality as Tendi orders her friend that they will stay friends no matter what. Some forces in this universe are more powerful than rank, and friendship is just one of them. That’s what makes this show special.
5. Sometimes good things come to those who deserve them
It just turns out that Rutherford has turned down promotions many times. He just happened to turn it down so he could stay with his friends. “I Have No Bones Yet I Must Flee” ends with our core four promoted and at least two of them bunking together. It’s a friendly reminder that sometimes good things happen to the right people, and it’s a lovely end to the episode that Boimler has found comfort, even if it’s not the fancy life he was expecting.
What did you think of the episode? Sound off below, and see you among the stars!
