Star Trek: 10 Starfleet Crews That Totally LOST IT

3. Lower Decks: Second Contact

Second Contact
CBS Media Ventures

It says something when a Star Trek series has a crew lose their minds in the very first episode. It says that the trope is so ingrained in the franchise that it parodied itself at the very first opportunity...and that Lower Decks started as it meant to go on.

Commander Ransom really should have known better. Ignoring an insect bite picked up on an away mission? It has outbreak written all over it. Not just any kind of outbreak...a black-gunk-spewing zombie outbreak. But it's hard to be mad when the fallout is so much fun to watch.

In the blink of an eye, the Cerritos is overrun by crew-turned-rage-zombies. With creepy glowing eyes and breakneck speed, they tear through the ship, clawing at doors and biting chunks out of crewmates. Even better? Watching Rutherford carry on with his date without a care in the world, as if it's just another Tuesday.

It's only when Boimler returns from an away mission, covered in slime (long story), that the key to a cure is discovered. But not before Shaxs gets to shine for a brief but glorious moment as Chief of Security, holding back a horde of rabid crew with a classic ripped shirt and a recommendation to detonate the warp core. Perfection.

Contributor

Katherine has been boldly going since childhood, when the BBC Two 6pm Star Trek slot changed her life. She was drawn in by the franchise's optimism, compassion and flair for character-driven storytelling. She's been writing stories since she could pick up a pen and has spent far too much time immersed in television, films, books, music and theatre. She loves any chance to talk or write about her favourite fandoms, of which there are many. When not busy writing, she can usually be found playing video games or explaining why the concept of a transporter is actually terrifying.