This may be Lower Decks finest penultimate episode yet. I definitely feels at this point like McMahan has a five season plan. At least for the OG Lower Deckers.

Definitely an episode that plays the emotional fiddle for TNG fans with the Sito reveal as well. Currently weighing up whether to get my partner to watch First Duty and Lower Decks before we watch it together later.

Laughed out loud at the Endor Moon base inexplicably being on this random insane weather planet.

Great to have Robbie McDunc back as Locarno as well. If nothing else this may finally kill the urban myth that they didn't use Locarno in Voyager due to royalties once and for all. I can but only hope.

I also like that they've let Freeman come into her own as a Captain more than previous this season. She's really demonstrating not just top tier tactics and diplomacy but also actually clearly keeping tabs on her crew and addressing out of character behaviour. With that said, Rutherford felt included just for an excuse to follow Freeman which was a shame.

Billups as the masked pilot surprised me. I expected it to be Locarno.

The fake out Balok puppet had be howling.