The most recent episode of Decrease Decks brings again the decon course of, because the USS Cerritos visits the out-of-date Starbase 80. But it surely makes the scene work on each stage.
Sure, the principle forged are all of their underwear as they apply the gel. However the digicam treats the uncovered pores and skin as matter-of-fact, devoid of all eroticism. As a substitute, the digicam lets the characters work together. Mariner laments the truth that she should go to the cursed Starbase 80, Tendi tries to cheer her up by specializing in the mission, and Boimler acts like a dork.
Even the second’s one recourse towards eroticism comes from a personality, not a leering producer. Commander Ransom luxuriates in rubbing the gel alongside his pecks and abs, which he proudly shows for the digicam. Ransom asks the viewers to objectify him and maintains his company all through.
Ransom’s response to decon additionally works as a result of Decrease Decks has all the time been an overtly sexy present. Typically, the over-sexuality will get performed for laughs (recall Boimler going spread-eagle in the course of the “Bare Time” homage in “I, Excretus”), however typically its a part of the characters’ lives. Mariner typically removes her higher uniform, typically for higher mobility and typically (like Ransom) she simply likes the way in which she appears to be like. In distinction, Tendi expresses her discomfort at revealing clothes and overtly resents being objectified as a result of it reduces her to an Orion stereotype, one thing she works exhausting to keep away from.
After all, Decrease Decks isn’t altogether distinctive in its method to sexuality. Popular culture could drastically overstate Kirk’s lothario standing, however Riker is 100% the kind of particular person to placed on a deep-cut V-neck and go dashing from mattress to mattress (with, because the hit podcast The Best Technology reminds us, his biggest kink, enthusiastic consent). And Picard could have packed a e book subsequent to his horga’hn on the way in which to Risa, however he additionally sported a pair of tiny shorts.
It’s simply that Decrease Decks lastly embraces a kind of sexuality all the time current in Star Trek and makes it conform to the franchise’s values. As a substitute of compacting Marina Sirtis or Jeri Ryan into an absurd catsuit or making Hoshi’s prime rip off throughout a rescue mission, Decrease Decks lets the characters specific their sexuality for themselves, with their very own company and sense of exploration foregrounded.
