9 Ups & 1 Down From Star Trek: Lower Decks 5.5 — Starbase 80?!
8. UP — Dawnn Of The Not-Dead-Yet
Lower Decks is, by its very nature, not a story told from the top, but a ship needs its captain, and in this case, I'd argue it has one of the best. Though looked down upon on the Cali-class, Captain Freeman never fails to impress, even fighting a giant bat in this episode. Most of her crew might have turned into zombies, as the series marches towards its end, but by Gene, this just goes to show — they're not dead yet!
As always, Dawnn Lewis gives an great performance in Starbase 80?!, finding a perfect balance for Freeman between the confidence of command and the worry that she might share the same fate as her alternate. Lewis is also a longtime Star Trek fan, as she reiterated in a recent interview with CinemaBlend's Mick Joest, having once even sneaked on to the TNG set whilst filming nearby. "I have not stopped geeking out at all," she asserted.
It would be a shame for this to be the end for Carol, and for the brilliant Dawnn behind her. Bring on live-action Freeman, taking on giant bats with only a dustpan and brush!