7 Ups & 1 Down For Star Trek: Lower Decks 5.10 - The New Next Generation

It's hardly a secret that this writer is far, far from a fan of the Klingons. Nevertheless, there is a degree of distance to be maintained. Whatever our personal opinions, the 'warriors' are undeniably part and parcel of Star Trek and have been through various variations from the very beginning. And whether we like it or not, we can't just pick and choose which of those variations has the merit of existing. That approach is thornier than Kahless wading through the field of thorns.

Owing to the sheer number of jokes, as per A Farewell to Farms, Lower Decks has arguably erred on the side of mockery rather than mere pastiche when it comes to the Klingons. In The New Next Generation, it, unfortunately, may have veered into the cavalier.

Whilst most certainly funny, perhaps even a nod to the 'hate' itself, the context of the transformation to Discovery-era Klingons in the cold open is more likely to add fuel to the fire, solitons to the soliloquies, of those who already think Discovery isn't part of the Star Trek universe.

Sadly, the 'in-joke' doesn't work if there are those who aren't 'in on it'. To be far fairer to the episode, Ma'ah's "Mindless proto-Klingons, filled with rage," was particularly effective, as Relga's crew de-evolved. Not a drip lost to irony!