Spoilers Star Trek: Lower Decks 5x05 - "Starbase 80?!"

[Nerys Myk]

So it's like Starfleet intentionally allows Starbase 80 to deteriorate? I guess that works.

Although it does sorta beg the question, how can the kind of personnel that typically wind up at SB80 even be allowed into Starfleet in the first place...I mean, how'd they even pass the entrance exams, let alone get all the way through the Academy?

They were good at taking tests.

 

[Farscape One]

Like that Starfleet guy who shot his own foot with a phaser to get off the front lines in "NOR THE BATTLE TO THE STRONG". He said he did really well in all the simulations, but clearly he fell apart in a real combat scenario.

 

[Will_Carter]

So it's like Starfleet intentionally allows Starbase 80 to deteriorate? I guess that works.

Although it does sorta beg the question, how can the kind of personnel that typically wind up at SB80 even be allowed into Starfleet in the first place...I mean, how'd they even pass the entrance exams, let alone get all the way through the Academy?

Normally I'd say 'they're not actually starfleet' but...

WTF.... I just... Don't understand.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Normally I'd say 'they're not actually starfleet' but...

WTF.... I just... Don't understand.

Humanoids gonna Humanoid

 

[James Cole]

I do love this episode, but I can't help but wonder why a Federation starbase is  really THAT neglected. (Sure, it's for the lols and the visuals, but seriously..)

Not complaining, it's probably my favourite episode of the season, so far. Nice references throughout and a fun story.

I'm coming to the season late. Of the five episodes I've now watched, this is the only one I kinda liked and gave above a 4 or a 5. Season 4 was a notable drop off in quality from seasons 2 and 3, and this has been a further decline still. Nothing outrageously awful, just very very meh. Lots of wasted opportunity, almost like they ran the concept of the show into the ground too quickly and couldn't pivot to doing something like THE ORVILLE did later in its run.

I'm going to put it out there: "Starbase 80" is basically a subtle commentary on the state of affairs California, and how the state used to be "The Golden State" back in the 1980s, but has since gone to pot, in spite of the leadership of the state trying say otherwise while putting on a happy face.

Look up Immiserizing growth. GDP can technically go up while quality of life declines, or even plunges.

So it's like Starfleet intentionally allows Starbase 80 to deteriorate? I guess that works.

Although it does sorta beg the question, how can the kind of personnel that typically wind up at SB80 even be allowed into Starfleet in the first place...I mean, how'd they even pass the entrance exams, let alone get all the way through the Academy?

This is one of my major problem with the entire concept of this series. Real militaries and even the serious areas of civil service bureaucracies like the diplomatic corps have up or out rules to in theory prevent this exact problem from happening. The Starfleet already established would be harder core over having competent people than the early 21st century US. And sending some of the least competent people on ostensibly second contact missions which should be incredibly fucking important doesn't pencil out either. For me the series is at least watchable and somewhat enjoyable, but also a great missed opportunity.

 

[The Wormhole]

Although it does sorta beg the question, how can the kind of personnel that typically wind up at SB80 even be allowed into Starfleet in the first place...I mean, how'd they even pass the entrance exams, let alone get all the way through the Academy?

The same Starfleet Academy that has had such graduates as Reg Barclay and Edward Larkin? Yeah, I can believe the SB80 folks graduated that Starfleet Academy.

Real militaries and even the serious areas of civil service bureaucracies like the diplomatic corps have up or out rules to in theory prevent this exact problem from happening.

We've known since TNG Starfleet has no Up or Out policy, otherwise Picard couldn't languish for forty years with only one promotion in the Tapestry timeline. Hell, even in Prime TNG the lack of an Up or Out policy is the only way to explain Picard spending close to fifty years as a Captain, Riker spending fifteen years as an XO and turning down three other promotion offers, or everyone besides Worf spending close to fifteen years doing the exact same jobs.

 

[Nerys Myk]

This is one of my major problem with the entire concept of this series. Real militaries and even the serious areas of civil service bureaucracies like the diplomatic corps have up or out rules to in theory prevent this exact problem from happening. The Starfleet already established would be harder core over having competent people than the early 21st century US. And sending some of the least competent people on ostensibly second contact missions which should be incredibly fucking important doesn't pencil out either. For me the series is at least watchable and somewhat enjoyable, but also a great missed opportunity.

It's not the real military. Star Trek runs on drama (and in this case comedy) not reality. The "competency" of any given Starfleet officer is driven by story not some theoretical "training".

Our heroes in LD are competent, but slightly unorthodox. They get the job done.

 

[Deks]

Normally I'd say 'they're not actually starfleet' but...

WTF.... I just... Don't understand.

Actually, I don't think that SB-80 personnel is incapable or untrained (otherwise the station wouldn't have survived as long as it has)... they appeared to have lacked the means to do the necessary work for the most part.
If you take away an engineer's tools, do you think they'd be able to fix issues?
I doubt that.
The personnel on SB-80 is likely in a pinch where they make due with outdated equipment.
Even if they had 23rd century era style technology, its likely possible those tools broke down and needed to be replaced - after all, tools do end up broken or worn out from use.

Plus, think about it for a second... these people were trained in the mid/late 24th century to work with MODERN technology (mostly), and then they find themselves working on tech that's over 100 year old. Sure, they'd probably be able to do the work in the most basic sense, but without the proper tools or even modern diagnostic equipment, it will be difficult to do so.

Also, its a freaking embarrassment for SF to have anything that's over 100 years old. Sure, an exterior shell is one thing, but the insides? Come on. The station should have likely underwent upgrades around 2360-ies.

You wouldn't expect of modern engineers to work on outdated systems and hw unless they were specifically trained in historical preservation etc... and while I have no doubt that SF Academy covers historical knowledge (it does), as I said, its likely that without modern tools they would barely be able to keep the station running.

Tricorders are usually needed to diagnose problems on a deeper level than what your eyes alone can tell you.
I suspect Gene Jakobowski and other engineers were capable, but simply lacked the tools to carry out the needed work - so when the Cerritos crew came onboard looking for a nav processor, he made use of them - since SB-80 has a bad rep, no ships seemingly want to stick around long enough to lend a hand or the needed resources (which is really bad when you think about it).

Its also possible that some of the people volunteered to go to SB-80 (like the El-Aurian commander) while others were transferred because they couldn't make it work on their usual postings - that or, they were directly shipped to SB-80 because the station technically 'needs' engineers to keep it running - but again, SF has just dropped the ball on it heavily because they sent 0 resources so they can actually do the work - its sort of like a bad catch 22 situation (at least in regards to SB-80).

 

[Will_Carter]

Its also possible that some of the people volunteered to go to SB-80 (like the El-Aurian commander) while others were transferred because they couldn't make it work on their usual postings - that or, they were directly shipped to SB-80 because the station technically 'needs' engineers to keep it running - but again, SF has just dropped the ball on it heavily because they sent 0 resources so they can actually do the work - its sort of like a bad catch 22 situation (at least in regards to SB-80).

What gets me is just how... nasty everything is. Grease stains on uniforms, the interrior covered in grime. Etc. Doesn't take a tricorer to clean stuff up.

Though admittedly a lot of the spaces might be difficult to properly scrub especially if atmo recycling/filtration is on the blink.

 

[Deks]

What gets me is just how... nasty everything is. Grease stains on uniforms, the interrior covered in grime. Etc. Doesn't take a tricorer to clean stuff up.

Though admittedly a lot of the spaces might be difficult to properly scrub especially if atmo recycling/filtration is on the blink.

You know what gets me?
The station did have transporters - which were said that weren't fit for organic use, and that's fine, BUT, they could have salvaged some of the components to make a molecular synthesizer and create modern tools (assuming they had the specs for them - but even if not, they could have leveraged that to slowly upgrade the station and clean it up).

Speaking of grime... you'd be amazed just how difficult some of it can be in cleaning... that said, I would imagine even basic cleaning supplies might have been unavailable... or the staff were just too busy keeping the station barely running to worry about it.

 

[Cyfa]

Was fun to see them point-laugh at that bit of Ent era 'here let's show the actors in their undies!'

Also. Rutheford is low-key jacked here.

~ Yes. Yes he is! He looks even more so right at the beginning when they're all just back from the away mission:

Also, I was getting some "Stupid Sexy Flanders" vibes from Boimler as he struggled with his wetsuit:

 

[Qonundrum]

An easy 9, with terrific direction and animation. Maybe 9.25.

The starbase definitely has a feel that fits in with TOS perfectly. Nicely done.

The references to the past, right down to visuals, were surprisingly pleasing. Even the one to "Identity Crisis".

The comm badges twist was fantastic, great storytelling in this one! Maybe 9.49 now.

Loved the "anaphasic life form" twist, but this show also elevated the Pakleds so it's nice to have Beverly's sex fiend's realm expanded on a little more as well.

Why not a 10? Not sure. I'll rewatch it next week... the episode is above average for sure.