Those Old Scientists

This episode is one of the best Star Trek episodes of all time! Yeah I said it! Jack Quaid steals the show in his live action portrayal as Boimler!

The whole episode is a roller coaster ride that you never want to end. Once Tawny Newsome enters the room. The scheming begins! It's just so much fun!

The episode is brilliantly written and directed by none other than our own Jonathan Frakes!! To take a two dimensional cartoon show set in the future to the live action show in the past and come up with a story that is believable and entertaining is no short of a miracle! It has heart, soul and it speaks the very essence of Star Trek! Sprinkled with some comedy, a lot, and you have a gem that will forever be one of the best!!

Well done to everyone in SNW! This season is fire!!

I've ever watched and I'm a millennial, I've watched a fair share. Ensign Boimler is the perfect protagonist for this episode because he is what we all are, Trekkies, actually the stan of all fanboys.

Give it up to the writers of this episode, I had several LOL moments, even caught myself smiling like Spock in this episode. I really like how they're mixing all these genres and tropes, refreshing content that hails from the 60 years of history but still surprises old and new. And that Quaid/Ryan kid just natural comedy chops. *thumbs up* Someone petition this episode for an Emmy.

I guess the only thing left is the musical dance number episode, that's clearly labeled on this season's episodes list, okay? No spoiler. Boldly go where no Trek has gone before, right?

Star Trek, as a franchise, has a history of doing "funny" episodes, starting way back as early as the first TOS season. Some have been less than successful, but most have been an excellent counterpoint to the more serious stories. Even the movie series had "The Voyage Home", a very funny film.

But now, I believe we have been treated to Trek's very best "comedy" episode. A lot of the SNW actors have proven they have comedic chops in previous episodes, but this time they all got to stretch in new directions, crossing over with the animated "Lower Decks", and its two lead characters, Mariner and Boimler. (Played hilariously by Tawny Newsome and Jack Quaid).

It's a testament to both the writing and the deft direction by Jonathan Frakes that this episode is both funny AND touching, and also doesn't forget to more along some of the overall character arcs of the series. Oh, and special kudos to whoever decided to have fairly long animated sequences at the beginning and end (along with an animated version of the opening credits), to let us see as much of the "Lower Decks" world as possible.

Brilliant installment of an excellent series. I'd give this one 11/10 if I could!

This had the makings of tragedy or triumph, and it was an undisputed triumph. I've been a Star Trek fan for 30 years, and this will go down as one of my favourite episodes. It was very trek, funny and at time heartfelt. A real love letter to Star Trek in all its form. I know some will hate it on principle, but that's just not giving it credit. To be able to combine a cartoon and a live action show like this was incredibly clever, kudos to the writers, and well done for planning ahead with the casting of the voice actors from lower decks allowing them to be able to transition into the real world. I'll watch this one again and again. Strange new worlds is consistently knocking it out of the park.

Absolutely brilliant execution of the crossover format.

Boimler and Mariner are accidentally transported to the past, meeting up with the pre-Kirk Enterprise crew for some wacky time travel shenanigans.

There was always the danger of sending this episode into a slap-stick direction but thankfully it was handled with grace.

A fine balance between the two shows was struck, with both the comedy we all know and love from lower decks, to the human drama of STW, making this entry the new standard for crossover episodes in any genre.

Well done to the writers and above all else to Jonathan Frakes for this fine fusion between animation and live action.