10 Star Trek Undercover Operations That Went Wrong

3. All-Action Heroes

Boimler spent most of his time on the Titan in a state of anxiety, so it's a little puzzling when he's selected for a covert mission in the episode Kayshon, His Eyes Open.

The Pakled are up to no good again, and Riker sends a team of gruff, tough action-heroes...plus Boimler...to find out who might be helping them. Of course, Boimler's cover as a miner is immediately blown...thanks to his super soft hands. Who knew moisturising had its risks? And the mission completely falls apart when the overeager Starfleet warriors decide to take down a 'guard', only to discover it's just a pile of snacks.

Thinking they're a bunch of uppity miners trying to steal their food, the Pakleds chase them down with a vengeance...and a circular saw. The team take refuge in a tunnel, but finds themselves trapped.

But this is where the magic happens. As the cool kids prepare for death with a macho hands-in huddle, Boimler declines the offer to join with the kind of speech that only he can pull off. A declaration that he didn't join Starfleet to get into fights, but to explore space, seek out new life and serve as a beacon of peace.

And that's the beauty of Lower Decks. One minute, a fully grown adult is picking a fight with snacks; the next, Boimler's reminding us why we love Star Trek so much.