Lower Decks Ep 5 Reflections Teases Out More Of Rutherford’s Backstory, Boimler Snaps And Mariner Takes A Call That Should HAve Been An Email

Diana Marsh,
“Reflections” – Ep#305 — Eugene Cordero as Ensign Rutherford of the Paramount+ series STAR TREK: LOWER DECKS. Photo: PARAMOUNT+ ©2022 CBS Interactive, Inc. All Rights Reserved **Best Possible Screen Grab**

In ep 5 Reflections, Lower Decks really gets back on course with its storytelling and character development. First, we get to explore more of Rutherford’s early years in Star Fleet Academy when his old self, a hard-edged rebellious kid who loved fast starships and illegal racing finally takes control of current Rutherford’s mind, dragging them both into Rutherford’s subconscious to fight one last time for control over Samanthan’s mind and body. It gets a bit existential but in the cerebral octagon that is Rutherford’s brain (two walk in, only one walks out) we find out why Rutherford actually received the implant and it’s a satisfying callback.

“Reflections” – Ep#305 — Jack Quaid as Ensign Brad Boimler and Tawny Newsome as Ensign Beckett Mariner of the Paramount+ series STAR TREK: LOWER DECKS. Photo: PARAMOUNT+ ©2022 CBS Interactive, Inc. All Rights Reserved **Best Possible Screen Grab**

While Rutherford is in a coma fighting for his life, Ensigns Boimler and Mariner are on planet Tulgana IV working the Star Fleet recruitment booth during a job fair and let’s just say things didn’t go quite as planned. After being harassed for a better part of the day by conspiracy theorist aliens (man do they love their butt bug conspiracies), non-Star Fleet scientists, and a cocky archeologist who’s obviously there to steal from the local museum, Boimler, not Mariner, snaps and scares the living hell out of the attendees and proprietors. But while the irate ensign is screaming, swearing, and destroying the other booths (physically) and owners (emotionally), Mariner becomes the voice of reason, and while it doesn’t help Boimler at all it does help Star Fleet in a weird all press is good press sort of way.

“Reflections” – Ep#305 — Noel Wells as Ensign Tendi, Eugene Cordero as Ensign Rutherford, Tawny Newsome as Ensign Beckett Mariner and Jack Quaid as Ensign Brad Boimler in the Paramount+ series STAR TREK: LOWER DECKS. Photo: PARAMOUNT+ ©2022 CBS Interactive, Inc. All Rights Reserved **Best Possible Screen Grab**

While loose ends are being tied up by the crew, Mariner receives a suspicious call, tempting her to walk away from the bureaucracy of Star Fleet and go rogue and while the little hot head tells the alien off, there is definitely something there. Will we be losing Beckett to the free and easy life of crime, or will she stay with her star-formed family? Only time will tell.

Reflections, along with all previous season of Lower Decks is available to stream only on Paramount+.

News