Line #6 Recap/StarTrekLowerDecksS1E03TemporalEdict


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/temporal_edict.jpg]]
2
3	After Captain Freeman establishes a new work protocol eliminating "buffer time" in order to increase productivity and improve the ship's reputation, the Lower Decks crew finds itself run ragged as they try to keep up with their tightened schedules. Meanwhile, Ensign Mariner and Commander Ransom's mutual lack of respect comes to a head during an away mission.
4	----
5	!!Tropes:
6	* AccidentalMisnaming: Shaxs addresses Boimler as "Brimler."
7	* AnAesop:
8	** People need downtime. Constant work with no time to rest will lead to burnout and exhaustion.
9	** Forcing people to rush through assigned tasks in order to meet arbitrary and/or unrealistic timelines will lead to hasty and sloppy work and dangerous workplace practices.
10	* AlienBlood: Ensign Vendome, a Bolian, bleeds blue after his shoulder is pierced by a crystal spear.
11	* AngryAnimalisticGrowl: Dr. T'Ana viciously hisses when she performs a dropkick against three Gelrakian soldiers.
12	* ArtisticLicenseMartialArts: Crosses over into WhatTheFuAreYouDoing When Ransom goes into a TrialByCombat [[ShirtlessScene he tears off his shirt]] and proceeds to fight entirely with two-handed bludgeon attacks, as a reference to the often stilted choreography of ''The Original Series'' fist fights. Absolutely absurd, but surprisingly it actually works.
13	* BadassBoast: Ransom tells Vindor that he doesn't even need a battle blade.
14	--> (''after dropping the battle blade'') "Come on big guy. I only need my ''hands'' for this one!"
15	* BattleStrip: Ransom completely rips off the shirt of his Starfleet uniform just before his TrialByCombat.
16	* BlatantLies:
17	** When Mariner's music reverberates throughout the ship, interrupting a call with the Klingons, Freeman claims to the Klingon captain that the sound is coming from his ship. He buys it while Freeman sends Shaxs off to silence the noise.
18	** When Mariner tests her phaser on the brig force field while Boimler is on the other side, he insists that she could have killed him. She assures him that it's fine, pauses when she realizes what she had the phaser set to, then quickly sets it to stun and claims that it was always set to stun.
19	* BlownAcrossTheRoom: When Boimler tests the integrity of a force field from the inside of a brig, his body flies through the air and smashes against the back wall.
20	* BluntYes: At one point, Mariner asks a Gelrakian guard if capturing people and then guarding them is really fulfilling for him. The guard replies with this trope, briefly throwing Mariner off-kilter.
21	* BoardingPod: The Gelrakians use them to board the Cerritos.
22	* BothSidesHaveAPoint: Mariner and Ransom's argument in an alien prison. Mariner snaps that, despite his broad shoulders and flashy hair, Ransom isn't a very effective commander. He doesn't know when to break protocol and stop making speeches, and it's gotten them all locked up. For his part, Ransom retorts that Mariner doesn't really seem to have any long-term plan at all, is too busy getting off on deliberately breaking protocol to notice or care, and her flippant attitude -- which, despite her being second-in-command on the away team, was completely unhelpful earlier -- is eventually going to get someone killed.
23	* BrickJoke:
24	** Just before leaving on the away mission, Ransom orders Mariner to roll down her sleeves. After Mariner is healed in Sickbay, Ransom has her thrown in the brig because she never rolled her sleeves down.
25	** During the initial crunch-time montage, a vat of acid burns a hole in the floor of one of the cargo bays. Rutherford later tricks the Gelrakians into it, dropping them to the next deck.
26	* BridalCarry: Ransom carries Mariner in this fashion because she has great difficulty walking thanks to the severe foot injury that he gave to her. It also demonstrates how strong he is because he effortlessly lifts her up into his arms.
27	* BrutishCharacterBrutishWeapon: Vindor, the colossal Gelrakian gladiator, fights using a huge club studded with crystalline spikes.
28	* ButtMonkey: Boimler gets his violin snapped in half by Shaxs because ''Mariner'' was playing loudly, but by the time Shaxs arrives, she's stopped and he hasn't.
29	* CallingYourAttacks: Ransom shouts "Double-fist punch!" and "Interlocked hands!" when battling Vindor.
30	* CaptainMorganPose: Ransom assumes this pose while trying to talk the Gelrakians down-- and gets [[GroinAttack whacked in the groin]] and [[ShockAndAwe zapped by an electro-net]].
31	-->'''Ransom:''' Attention, Gelrakians, I'm Commander Jack--''(gets whacked)''
32	* CasualDangerDialog: Boimler has a heart-to-heart with Freeman about the necessity of buffer time in the middle of an invasion. Shaxs occasionally butts in to point out the obvious and suggests that Boimler hurry it up.
33	* ComicallyMissingThePoint: Vindor suggests that, instead of trial by combat, they should just have a regular trial with a judge. The leader somehow takes away that they should get a death race going.
34	* CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass: Boimler is naturally very by-the-book and proves to be largely unaffected by the removal of Buffer Time. While the rest of the crew is too exhausted to handle the invaders, Boimler casually phasers the spear wielding Gelrakians and practically strolls through the chaos to get to the bridge.
35	* CrowdChant: When Ransom enters the arena for his TrialByCombat, the Gelrakian spectators shout Vindor's name to cheer for their champion.
36	* CruelToBeKind: Ransom stabs Mariner in the foot with the sword they were given for the TrialByCombat because she was insisting on being the one to fight. Ransom may be a bit of a blowhard, but being the senior officer the safety of the away team was his responsibility.
37	* CrystalLandscape: Gelrak is covered in fields of towering purple crystals covered in complex carvings by the locals, who center every part of their culture around using and/or revering crystals.
38	* DavidVersusGoliath: Ransom is dwarfed by the humongous Vindor, but defeats him anyway during the TrialByCombat.
39	* ADayInTheLimelight: Ransom leading the away mission allows him to be the focus.
40	* DiegeticSoundtrackUsage: Boimler hums a couple bars of the theme tune while alone in a turbolift.
41	* DistantEpilogue: The last scene takes place an indeterminate but very long period of time in the future, where the episode's events [[FutureImperfect have become fuzzily-remembered legend]].
42	* DramaticIrony: Boimler convinces Freeman that most people can't work under extremely strict timelines. Freeman then names a rule after him, which is basically the opposite of his core personality.
43	* DrinkingOnDuty: Mariner spends her buffer time ordering margaritas for herself and her friends. This being a Starfleet vessel, it's probable the margaritas use synthehol in place of regular alcohol, though it wouldn't be out of character for Mariner to replicate the genuine article. In either case, the ensigns aren't likely to get drunk off just one.
44	* DudeWheresMyRespect: Freeman feels like the ''Cerritos'' is considered a joke by the rest of Starfleet, and enforces a set of extremely strict workspace regulations in an attempt to improve the ship's reputation.
45	* EasilyForgiven: After the conflict is resolved, the crew forgives the Gelrakians for attacking them over an accident, and the Gelrakians also apologize for their actions once they receive the honor crystal.
46	* EatingTheEyeCandy: Late in the TrialByCombat, Mariner is lustfully staring at a [[{{Hunk}} shirtless Ransom]].
47	* EmergingFromTheShadows: The Gelrakian leader describes how Vindor would usually emerge from the shadows at the arena for maximum intimidation, but they'll skip that since he's present right now. Vindor still manages to pull it off.
48	* EveryScarHasAStory: Mariner prides herself on her collection of scars, as they speak to her experience at dealing with aliens.
49	-->'''Mariner:''' See this bad boy? Tentacle guy, bunch of arms. Stabbed me with a barnacle blade. Check it out-- Magus III, Nanibia Prime, [[TheTriple Scottsdale]]. That was a mess. I ''earned'' every one in high-concept fights just like this one.
50	* ExhaustedEyeBags: Everyone on the ''Cerritos'' except Boimler gets these as buffer time is eschewed and they're forced to work nonstop. Captain Freeman also develops eye bags even if she's not completely non-functional.
51	* ExhaustionInducedIdiocy: All over the place, courtesy of the elimination of buffer time. Vendome brings the wrong token to the Gelrakians and pisses them off, and Shaxs attacks Boimler on the bridge thinking him to be an enemy.
52	* FamousFamousFictional: Inverted. Mariner's locations, as listed under "EveryScarHasAStory," have two foreign planets followed by the very real [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottsdale,_Arizona Scottsdale, Arizona]].
53	* {{Fanservice}}: [[{{Hunk}} Ransom’s]] WalkingShirtlessScene during his TrialByCombat with Vindor. Not only is [[FemaleGaze Mariner blatantly leering at his]] HeroicBuild during the fight (which the camera also makes sure to focus on), but Ransom’s skin also has a noticeable sheen to it, making it look like he’s been oiled.
54	* FanserviceExtra: The hunky guy with only a towel wrapped around his waist who was first seen in "Second Contact" reappears in the hallway where the ensigns sleep.
55	* FantasticRacism: The crystal-revering Gelrakians ''really'' hate the wood-worshippers of Mavok Prime.
56	* FutureImperfect: In the DistantEpilogue, the episode's events are recalled in a very distorted manner where Boimler, the prissy and by-the-book ensign, is remembered as a chronically tardy and corner-cutting figure due to the Boimler Effect having overshadowed all other parts of his life.
57	* GilliganCut: Boimler is assured by his friends that the "Boimler Effect" will be forgotten by history. Cut to "The Far Future," where Boimler is revered as [[FutureImperfect the opposite of the person that he was]] (at the time of the episode). Chief Miles O'Brien is also revered as a hero, but that one is entirely deserved.
58	* GladiatorGames: TrialByCombat is a spectator sport on Gelrak V, and there's a large crowd at the arena for the Ransom vs. Vindor battle.
59	* GoodOldFisticuffs: Ransom doesn't even try to use the battle blade against Vindor, which makes it seem like he's TooDumbToLive and is about to get his ass kicked. [[LetsGetDangerous Yeah, not so much.]] He’s okay with stabbing ''Mariner'' in the foot with it, though.
60	* HiddenDepths: Ransom proves to not be as much a ByTheBookCop as he appears to be. Neither his diplomacy or Mariner's gun-ho attitude help them get out of their situation, but when the TrialByCombat is offered he decides to injure Mariner to keep her from participating. He proceeds to tear off his shirt and beat down his opponent bare handed, earning their release. When all was done he fully expected Mariner to report him for harming her and was expecting a court martial for it. He IS willing to break the rules but doesn't try to skirt responsibility.
61	* HollywoodAcid: The acid that spills in the cargo bay completely dissolves a large section of the floor.
62	* HonorBeforeReason: Captain Freeman decides to eliminate buffer time and constrain her crew to nonstop work, even in the middle of an invasion of their ship, because she feels slighted by Starfleet.
63	* ImmediateSelfContradiction: When the Gelrakians poke their heads into the Bridge, demanding crystals, Boimler shouts at them that the ''Cerritos'' doesn't have crystals. Except dilithium, but the Gelrakians can't have those. The Gelrakians immediately double their efforts to force their way inside.
64	* ImprovisedWeapon: While repelling the Gelrakians, many of the crew use their [=PADDs=] as bludgeoning weapons.
65	* InLoveWithYourCarnage: Inverted; Mariner is turned on by Ransom’s continued upholding of Starfleet ideals even during his TrialByCombat.
66	-->'''Mariner:''' ''(after Ransom tells Vindor that Starfleet recognizes the Gelrakians’ sovereignty)'' Mmmm… so ''ethical''.
67	* InsufficientlyAdvancedAlien: The Gelrakians have starships, yet use crystal spears in combat that shoot graffiti beams. Boimler is incredulous that anyone would even bother with Red Alert for such pathetic opponents. Rutherford even lampshades the inferiority of Gelrakian weapons.
68	-->'''Rutherford:''' Swords and spears? How did these guys get on board?
69	* ITakeOffenseToThatLastOne: Occurs after Shaxs tackles Boimler and realizes his mistake.
70	-->'''Shaxs:''' Oh, it's just that huffy Ensign.\
71	'''Boimler:''' I'm not huffy!
72	* KickTheDog: Starfleet pulls Captain Freeman from the peace negotiations with the Cardassians at the last minute and reassigns her to a menial gift-exchange mission. This is what drives Freeman to go to such extreme lengths to prove that her ship is just as good as any other in Starfleet.
73	* LetsGetDangerous: Occurs when Mariner inspires Ransom to fight Vindor to save the away team.
74	-->'''Ransom:''' ''[tears off his shirt]'' Let's do this!
75	* LoudOfWar: Mariner plays her electric guitar at such a high volume that the sound causes tremors throughout the ship.
76	* MeaningfulLook: After Boimler finishes playing "Essence", a Vulcan and a blue-skinned alien in attendance glance at each other with a quiet understanding that his violin composition wasn't great.
77	* MisterBig: The Gelrakian leader is the shortest person among his species that we see on-screen.
78	* MoreHeroThanThou: The Gelrakian leader tells Mariner and Ransom that they'll have to choose who fights Vindor in a death match, expecting it to be a divisive SadisticChoice. Instead, Ransom and Mariner start bickering immediately to claim the responsibility, befuddling the leader.
79	--> '''Gelrakian leader:''' You do realize you're fighting over who gets to be chopped in half by Vindor right?
80	* MythologyGag:
81	** "Buffer time" had originated with Montgomery Scott from ''TOS'' so that engineers could seem like miracle workers by accomplishing the tasks given by their captains quicker than promised.
82	** Boimler muses, "Space: the funnest frontier?", a twist on the opening monologue of both ''TOS'' and ''TNG''.
83	** Ransom beats down Vindor using two-handed punches, which is an infamous move used by Kirk in ''TOS''.
84	* NeverBringAKnifeToAGunFight: Three Gelrakians have Boimler at spearpoint, but he easily gets himself out of danger by stunning them with his phaser.
85	-->'''Gelrakian:''' Don't move, human! We have you surrounded!\
86	'''Boimler:''' …Yeah, but I have a phaser. ''[fires at his would-be captors]'' These guys are lightweights. ''This'' is what the Red Alert's about?
87	* NiceJobBreakingItHero:
88	** Boimler accidentally spills the beans on buffer time to Captain Freeman, and her reaction to it is the cause of the episode's problems.
89	** Captain Freeman is so desperate to prove herself that she sets unreasonable deadlines for everyone after learning about buffer time. Everyone quickly ends up so overworked that the Gelrakians are able to easily take over most of the ship with spears because Captain Freeman insists that the invasion is no excuse to shirk their duties.
90	* NoodleIncident:
91	** In preparation for the away mission, Ransom lists some of his past incidents, including horned gorillas, sentient tar, and spores that make you sleep with your best friend's sister. Mariner hints that he rattles off the same list every time that there's an away mission.
92	** As she explains her various scars, Mariner shows off one she somehow got in Scottsdale, Arizona, which she describes as a "mess."
93	* NotSoAboveItAll: Even Boimler is willing to go along with buffer time, if only because it's "tradition." He says that he would do away with it if it were up to him, but doesn't intentionally rat out the practice. He does this while finishing off his buffer time margarita.
94	* ObfuscatingStupidity: Vindor seems like regular DumbMuscle who is only able to [[PokemonSpeak say his own name]], but after Ransom beats him down in their TrialByCombat, he surrenders and explains to the confused Ransom that he only acts like that to scare his opponents and that he actually enjoys reading.
95	* OhCrap: Boimler gets ''really'' nervous when he accidentally mentions buffer time in front of Freeman, putting her wise to what the ensigns have been doing.
96	* OnlySaneMan: Vindor is the only one among the Gelrakians who feels that TrialByCombat and crushing people under a giant crystal might not be the most fair justice system.
97	* PermissionToSpeakFreely: Mariner asks this after Ransom tells her that he's writing a speech that will help them get out of prison.
98	-->'''Mariner:''' A ''speech''? ''Seriously''? Permission to speak freely?\
99	'''Ransom:''' You ''always'' speak freely! Nobody can ''stop you'' from speaking freely!
100	* PlanetOfHats: The Star Trek franchise's history of this trope is spoofed in this episode. The Gelrakians live on a crystal-rich world and define major aspects of their culture around it with religious reverence. Conversely, they consider wood to be a deep insult, as their unseen adversaries who are said to worship trees are implied to be from a heavily-forested planet.
101	* PokemonSpeak: Vindor, the gigantic champion of the Gelrakians, only seems to say his own name, usually in a bellowing roar. Subverted when Ransom takes him down -- Vindor admits that he just does it to play up the DumbMuscle angle, and loves reading.
102	* RockBeatsLaser: The Gelrakian invasion of the ''Cerritos''. The Gelrakians are the rock (well, crystal spear) and the Federation crew are the laser (well, phaser). Inverted when the ''Cerritos'' crew are finally allowed to get away from their tasks, and promptly hand the Gelrakians their asses.
103	* RockersSmashGuitars: Downplayed when Mariner throws her guitar just after she finishes playing; the instrument is still in decent shape, although the strings have snapped.
104	* RuleBreakerRuleNamer: An inversion as The Biomler Effect is meant to encourage buffer time so people can have a break between tasks. Biomler, being the rule happy guy he is, isn’t happy being associated with the effect.
105	* SarcasmMode: Freeman is irritated when she sees two officers walking at a leisurely pace, which she interprets as them slacking off.
106	-->'''Freeman''': ''(angrily)'' Oh, be sure to stroll through the ship as slowly as possible. It's not like we're busy exploring the mysteries of the cosmos!
107	* SayMyName: Ransom yells the Bolian ensign's name ("Vendoooome!") when the latter is wounded by a crystal spear.
108	* SchizoTech: The Gelrakians have starships, and their boarding vessels can dock with and open the airlocks on the ''Cerritos'', but their weapons technology seems to be limited to crystal spears (which can fire energy, but only powerful enough to inflict graffiti), crystal battle blades, and crystal-embedded clubs.
109	* ScottyTime: A DeconstructedTrope here. Described as "buffer time," the crew pads their work time estimates to get a break between tasks. When this habit is discovered by the senior staff, they implement minimum time scheduling complete with automated countdowns. While they initially think this will improve efficiency, "buffer time" actually helps with analysis of priority tasks and giving a window to assess issues that will increase a job past the time allotted. In addition to all of that, it increased the work load of the entire crew, senior staff included, to where the ship was not properly prepared for a crisis because everyone was caught in the middle of something else. While Scotty himself typically described it as a way to make yourself look good, it is actually a vital aspect of maintenance and operations.
110	* ShipTease: Much of the episode has Mariner and Ransom falling backwards into flirtatious behavior. Mariner opens up her uniform jacket, leaving her in just her bra, to show off her scars as proof of her badass history. Ransom then goes bare-chested beating down the alien in the death battle, and Mariner can't help but swoon a little. He later carries her bridal style when it was time to leave. Later when Mariner is being reprimanded for her uniform alterations she goes on a violent rant taunting them saying she LOVES the brig, which he privately admits turns him on. Amusingly, ''both'' of them are visibly grossed out by this development.
111	--> '''Mariner:''' (''after seeing Ransom handle Vindor'') Whoa. That was actually kinda hot. Ugh! Get it together Mariner! Get it together! You are ''not'' into this. Come on.\
112	'''Ransom:''' (''after Mariner threatens him while being dragged to the brig'') Okay, that was kinda hot.
113	* ShirtlessScene: Ransom tears off his shirt prior to his TrialByCombat against Vindor.
114	* SkewedPriorities:
115	** As the ship is engulfed in chaos from an alien boarding party, Captain Freeman bemoans her schedule being thrown off and blames Boimler for not being at his post.
116	** Lampshaded by Mariner when she questions Ransom's decisions.
117	--->'''Mariner:''' Oh, I see how it is-- you're gonna stab me, but then you don't stab Vindor? What are your priorities, Ransom?
118	* SmartPeopleSpeakTheQueensEnglish: The schoolteacher in the far future speaks with an English accent.
119	* SoundEffectBleep: Comes up a few times in this episode.
120	-->'''Mariner:''' (''to Ransom'') I'm calling bull[bleep] on your whole thing here, sir.\
121	\
122	'''Mariner:''' (''after Ransom stabs her in the foot'') What the [bleep]?!\
123	\
124	'''T'Ana:''' (''re Mariner's collection of scars'') Congratulations, you look like a [bleep]ing scratching post.
125	* StrollingThroughTheChaos: Ensign Boimler is the only person on lower decks who isn't bothered at all by the lack of any kind of downtime, cheerily completing everything on time even as chaos and panic erupt around him.
126	* SurroundedByIdiots: Freeman clearly thinks that she's the only competent officer on the ''Cerritos'' because she's the only one (besides Boimler) who isn't non-functional from overworking. Subverted in that she still has eye bags like the others, is ''much'' more short-tempered, and is acting irrationally.
127	-->'''Freeman:''' Do I have to run this whole ship myself?!
128	* SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome: Freeman thinks that working her crew nonstop will maximize productivity. Instead, everyone (except Boimler) starts falling apart from being overworked.
129	* TantrumThrowing: Freeman throws her PADD at the viewscreen out of frustration that the ''Cerritos'' got bumped from an upcoming PeaceConference.
130	* ThemeMusicPowerUp: When Captain Freeman orders the crew to embrace buffer time and take back the ship from the Gelrakians, the show's theme song plays over the action.
131	* ThisIsGonnaSuck: Ransom has this reaction, mid-CaptainsLog, when he sees that the ''Cerritos'''s high-profile diplomatic mission to Cardassia Prime has been cancelled and realizes that Captain Freeman will be furious at this slight.
132	-->'''Ransom:''' First officer's log, stardate 57501.4. The ''Cerritos'' is en route to Cardassia Prime for the most amazing reason. Captain Freeman is going to be instrumental in brokering peace between the-- uh, wait. Just... reading a little message here. Yada yada yada... oh. [[OhCrap Oh no.]] The captain is ''not'' gonna be happy about this.
133	* ThrowTheDogABone: After being the ButtMonkey throughout ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'', it's nice to know that Miles O'Brien will become FamedInStory as the greatest hero in Starfleet history.
134	* TooImportantToWalk: The Gelrakian leader is carried by two servants.
135	* TrashTalk: Oddly {{inverted}}-- beating up a giant alien with the lives of the away team on the line doesn't mean that Ransom forgets his Starfleet ideals.
136	-->'''Ransom:''' ''(while hitting Vindor)'' I respect your sovereignty!
137	* TrialByCombat: Under Gelrakian law, the accused must fight the Gelrakian champion. If Ransom wins, he and his away team will be freed. If he loses, he'll die in the arena and the away team will be crushed to death by the adjudication geode.
138	* TheTriple: Mariner rattles off the locations where she got her scars: Magus III, Nanibia Prime, and Scottsdale, Arizona. That last one was a mess, apparently.
139	* UngratefulBastard: Right after Mariner refuses to report Ransom for stabbing her in the foot, which would ruin his career, he has her tossed in the brig for a day for not rolling her sleeves down as he ordered. She is appropriately annoyed and threatens him in colorful ways while being dragged out.
140	* VomitIndiscretionShot: Vindor pukes green after Ransom slams into his stomach.
141	* WorfHadTheFlu: The Gelrakians board and overrun the ''Cerritos'' with ease, but it's made clear that it's only because everyone is exhausted and overworked, and they're not allowed to get away from their current duties. Boimler, the only one unaffected by the schedule shift, phasers a few with ease and gets to the bridge without any trouble at all. As soon as Captain Freeman lifts the duty requirements, the crew takes back the ship in minutes, even while fatigued.
142	* YourApprovalFillsMeWithShame: Boimler is ''not'' happy to be the namesake for a protocol that encourages slacking off.
143	* YoureInsane: Mariner believes that Ransom has lost his mind after he stabs her foot with the battle blade; injuring a fellow officer is a court-martial offense.
144	-->'''Mariner''': You are such a psycho! What are you doing?! Ow! Why?

Context Recap / StarTrekLowerDecksS1E03TemporalEdict