Star Trek's Latest Criminal Planet: Nods to 2 Iconic TOS Villains

Summary

In Lower Decks season 4 episode 9, it is revealed that a fresh adversary is specifically targeting ex-Starfleet officers, prompting the USS Cerritos to embark on a quest to locate former cadet Nick Locarno.

During their mission, the crew pays a visit to a tavern called Mudds, which serves as a nod to the infamous con artist and smuggler Harry Mudd from the original Star Trek series. Notably, they come across an Information Broker who bears a striking resemblance to a puppet featured in the Star Trek episode "The Corbomite Maneuver."

In Star Trek: Lower Decks season 4, episode 9, there is a playful nod to notable characters and moments from Star Trek's past with the inclusion of Harry Mudd and the puppet-like appearance of the Information Broker. As the season unfolds, a mysterious adversary has been attacking non-Federation starships, with episode 9, titled "The Inner Fight," unveiling that this foe is targeting former Starfleet officers. The USS Cerritos is assigned the mission of locating and safeguarding former Starfleet cadet Nick Locarno, played by Robert Duncan McNeill, by bringing him back to Earth.

In their quest for Locarno, Captain Carol Freeman (Dawnn Lewis) and her crew venture to a clandestine market on New Axton in search of information. They pay a visit to a tavern in order to converse with an Information Broker who supposedly possesses knowledge regarding the whereabouts of Nick Locarno. As a delightful nod to Star Trek: The Original Series, the tavern they frequent is known as Mudds, an allusion to Harry Mudd (Roger C. Carmel), the cunning swindler and smuggler encountered by Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and the esteemed USS Enterprise. Remarkably, the Information Broker himself resembles the puppet featured in the beloved TOS episode "The Corbomite Maneuver," adding yet another reference to the iconic series.

Star Trek: Lower Decks’ Callback To Harry Mudd Explained

Harry Mudd has also appeared in Star Trek: Discovery, where he was played by Rainn Wilson.

Intergalactic rogue Harcourt Fenton "Harry" Mudd made his debut in Star Trek: The Original Series season 1, episode 3, "Mudd's Women," when he and three women were rescued by the USS Enterprise. Captain Kirk eventually uncovers Mudd's true identity and his extensive criminal record. Initially arrested for his numerous charges, Mudd served some time in prison before escaping and crossing paths with the Enterprise again in TOS season 2, episode 8, "I, Mudd." On this occasion, Harry arrived on a planet inhabited by androids who wanted to study humans, and he shared information about the Enterprise with them.

The Enterprise was subsequently brought to the planet, and Captain Kirk and his crew managed to confuse the androids enough to halt their operations. Kirk then left Mudd behind on the planet, accompanied by several android replicas of his wife. Harry Mudd's character also made appearances in two episodes of Star Trek: Discovery and one episode of Star Trek: Short Treks, now portrayed by Rainn Wilson. As per Star Trek: The Animated Series, Mudd eventually found a way to escape from the android planet and carried on with his scheming adventures. In Star Trek: Lower Decks, it remains uncertain whether Mudd's Tavern was established by Mudd himself or if it was simply named after the notorious con artist. Regardless, it serves as a playful nod to a memorable recurring character.

Star Trek: Lower Decks’ Callback To “The Corbomite Maneuver” Explained

Balok was the first of 5 Star Trek roles played by Clint Howard.

In the tenth episode of Star Trek: The Original Series season 1, titled "The Corbomite Maneuver," the USS Enterprise encounters an intriguing alien named Balok (Clint Howard). This enigmatic being poses a threat to the ship's safety, leading Captain Kirk to employ a clever tactic. He bluffs by claiming that the Enterprise is equipped with a substance called corbomite, capable of annihilating any potential attackers. This ruse proves successful, as Balok eventually unveils himself as a highly intelligent alien resembling a small child. The imposing puppet displayed on the Enterprise viewscreen aimed to intimidate Kirk and his crew. Balok admits to testing the Enterprise and expresses a desire to acquire knowledge about humanity.

The Balok puppet makes an appearance in the closing credits of many TOS episodes.

Captain Freeman and the Cerritos crew members visit Mudd's Tavern where they encounter the Information Broker. The Information Broker speaks in a concise manner and his movements are jerky, leading Freeman to believe that he is a puppet and a humorous reference to Balok from TOS. However, Lt. Sam Rutherford confirms that the Information Broker is not a puppet but rather a member of an alien species, potentially suggesting that Balok took inspiration from them when designing his puppet. It's also possible that the Information Broker's appearance is simply a comedic homage to TOS. Regardless, it's another enjoyable reference by the creators of Star Trek: Lower Decks.

The Star Trek: Lower Decks season 4 finale streams Thursday on Paramount+.