Star Trek: Lower Decks S03, Episode 9 Premiere, Recap, and Speculation

Now into its third season, Paramount+’s Star Trek: Lower Decks has been one of the most successful Star Trek spin-offs. With the eighth episode of Star Trek: Lower Decks currently streaming on Paramount +, here is a recap of episode 8 and every speculation or whisper that we have had about episode 9 so far!

1. Episode 9 Synopsis/Speculation

Crisis Point 2: Paradoxus might not live up to the expectations of its predecessor in season 1, i.e., the original Crisis point, but it is still a worthy addition to the “Vindicta-verse” and Lower Decks.

The cameos and many callbacks to the previous Star Trek installments gave it the perfect nostalgic touch that the series needed (I still can’t believe that they were ‘THIS’ close to getting a Jonathan Archer cameo, but they didn’t!).

The last two episodes of season 3 are on the way, and the finale could have something explosive under its sleeve. Here, I’ll try to take hints from the previous episodes and develop theories and updates of what might happen in the next episode.

Last week, my predictions were centered around the return of Peanut Hamper.

I expected this week’s episode to develop that plot and the finale to be centered around Peanut Hamper’s showdown against Starfleet. But the creators decided to bring back memories of the past seasons by filling this episode with easter eggs and cameos.

But I might not be wrong just yet. Hear me out!

Star Trek: Lower Decks dropped a very subtle teaser about something unexpected.

William was the clone of Boimler created after a transporter mishap. He continued to serve on the USS Titan long after Boimler had transferred back to the Cerritos.

I was almost laughing while watching episode 8 when William died from a mundane gas leak, and Boimler set out to find the meaning of life.

The ending blew me away! It turned out that William wasn’t dead after all. We saw him waking up and climbing out of the coffin. Someone then gave him the black Starfleet badge worn by Section 31 members!

Star Trek: Lower Decks S03, Episode 9 Premiere, Recap, and Speculation
Boimler with the Section 31 badge

Will the last two episodes feature Section 31? Star Trek: Lower Decks is finally bringing Section 31 into the plotline after such a long time!

Section 31 has rarely been shown in the Star Trek canon, and its shenanigans always go unnoticed. What if Peanut Hamper and Agimus team up against Starfleet in the final battle of season 3, and Section 31 gets to have the final say? That is going to be an incredible finale!

Also, what if Section 31 played a role in Rutherford’s cyber implant mystery? That is another loose end that needs to be tied up before season 3 ends.

Episode 5 (Reflections) showed the inner conflict between Rutherford and his alter-ego. He seemed to doubt Starfleet and their potential hand in his past-life tragedy. I have a gut feeling that Section 31 had a part to play in it, and we will get to know about it by the end of season 3.

Star Trek: Lower Decks S03, Episode 9 Premiere, Recap, and Speculation
Rutherford’s dilemma with his implant (Reflections)

Finally, Tendi’s desire to become the captain of Starfleet was made pretty clear in this week’s episode. Will she replace Carol Freeman as the captain this season, or will they save it for the next season?

Guess we’ll have to wait for a whole week to get the answers. Sigh!

2. Episode 9 Release Date

Chapter 9 of the Star Trek: Lower Decks season 3 series has been released on Thursday, Oct 20, 2022 at 1:00 am PDT. The chapter title has not been leaked yet.

I. Is the series on a break?

No, the series is not on a break and will continue according to schedule.

3. Star Trek: Lower Decks Season Schedule

Episode NumberEpisode TitleDirected byWritten byRelease Date
1“Grounded”Jason ZurekChris KulaAugust 25, 2022
2“The Least Dangerous Game”Michael MullenGarrick BernardSeptember 1, 2022
3“Mining the Mind’s Mines”Fill Marc SagadracaBrian D. BradleySeptember 8, 2022
4“Room for Growth”Jason ZurekJohn CochranSeptember 15, 2022
5ReflectionsMichael MullenMike McMahanSeptember 22, 2022
6Hear All, Trust NothingFill Marc SagadracaGrace Parra JanneySeptember 29, 2022
7Mathematically Perfect RedemptionJason ZurekAnn KimOctober 6, 2022
8Crisis Point 2: ParadoxusMichael MullenBen RogersOctober 13, 2022
9TBATBATBAOctober 20, 2022
10TBATBATBAOctober 27, 2022

4. Where to watch Star Trek: Lower Decks?

Watch Star Trek: Lower Decks on:

5. Episode 8 Recap

If you were out in your spaceship and missed the last episode, then a quick recap will surely help!

In ‘Crisis Point 2: Paradoxus’, we delved into Boimler’s holodeck program, which allowed young recruits to live out their life as fictional members of the Starfleet.

During the program, the Cerritos was attacked by a Romulan Warbird. They stole the Chronogami, a top-secret prototype that could penetrate temporal barriers.

Tendi became irritated with Rutherford when she discovered he was not taking the assignment seriously and angrily admitted that she wanted to be the captain of Starfleet one day. Rutherford eagerly expressed his support for his best friend as the two continued to defeat the virtual aliens.

Boimler faked his death so that he could join Section 31- a shady branch of Starfleet.

Star Trek: Lower Decks S03, Episode 9 Premiere, Recap, and Speculation
Star Trek: Lower Decks

6. About Star Trek: Lower Decks

Created by Mike McMahan, Star Trek: Lower Decks is an adult animated science fiction series. It is the ninth Star Trek series that is part of Alex Kurtzman’s expanded Star Trek Universe. 

Set in the late 24th Century, the show follows the adventures and missions of “lower deckers” or low ranking officers on one of Starfleet’s least important starships, the USS Cerritos. 

The show premiered in August 6, 2020 on CBS All Access. It has been renewed for its fourth season in 2023.

Epic Dope Staff

Epic Dope Staff

Our talented team of Freelance writers - Always on the lookout - pour their energies into a wide range of topics bringing to our audience what they crave - fun up-to-date news, reviews, fan theories and much much more.

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