I, Excretus (Star Trek: Lower Decks, S2 E8) was recommended by Chief Engineer Greg, who said: Going mildly mad with power, I wanted to suggest an episode myself.

The first time I saw a Lower Decks cosplay, it was a Boimler and a Shaxs together. I had just started watching the show and conventions were beginning to come back in the post-Covid environment. And seeing a Boimler covered in Borg babies was such a delight to see. Lower Decks is the show made of deep cuts to obscure bits of Star Trek lore (Borg Maturation chambers) and also send up of the Franchise. This show is steeped in love for how silly the franchise is, while never getting jaded about it, and even fighting against the more jaded elements you can see when you get too close.

This is an episode that openly admits to the workaholism of the Federation and uses it to great effect. It causes the trainer to break down because everyone gets perfect scores, yet Boimler's striving for that perfection. To paraphrase Homer Simpson, "Workahol. The cause of, and solution to, all life's problems."

I, Excretus first aired on September 30, 2021, written by Ann Kim, and directed by Kim Arndt

A consultant arrives on the U.S.S. Cerritos to run drills that require the lower deckers and bridge crew to swap duties.

The Joy of Trek is hosted by Khaki & Kay, with editing & production by Chief Engineer Greg and music by Fox Amoore (Bandcamp | Bluesky)

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"Intuition" by BoldBeverly, can be found at https://archiveofourown.org/works/36517078

"A post-episode drabble for Cause and Effect. Jean-Luc visits Beverly in sickbay and drags her out after a long day.

(I realized after a rewatch that the ship didn’t really sustain damage but for purposes of this story assume there was turbulence that caused damage and minor injuries.)"

The Joy of Trek is hosted by Khaki & Kay, with editing & production by Chief Engineer Greg and music by Fox Amoore (Bandcamp | Bluesky)

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Cause And Effect (Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG), S5 E18) was recommended by he/him, who said: All right, I realize we're supposed to recommend the... less than stellar episodes of Trek, but Cause and Effect is a classic TNG episode for good reason. While time travel episodes have been done to death in the franchise, the Groundhog Day loop in this one presents the crew with a genuine mystery that they have to puzzle out, which comes across with slowly dawning horror as they piece the puzzle together and realize that they may have no way out. Plus, it's got a literal banger of a teaser which has yet to be topped :)

Cause And Effect first aired on March 23, 1992, written by Brannon Braga, and directed by Jonathan Frakes

The Enterprise becomes stuck in a time loop but the crew retain some memory of previous instances. Guest star Kelsey Grammer as Morgan Bateson.

The Joy of Trek is hosted by Khaki & Kay, with editing & production by Chief Engineer Greg and music by Fox Amoore (Bandcamp | Bluesky)

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