Summary
- The new episode of Star Trek: Lower Decks features a cave monster called the Grafflax, which is reminiscent of the Horta from the original Star Trek series.
- Lieutenant Rutherford takes on a similar role to Mr. Spock in the Original Series by using his engineering skills to find a non-violent solution and communicate with the Grafflax.
- Rutherford's approach echoes the Star Trek philosophy of understanding and promoting peace, focusing on the sentient motives of seemingly dangerous creatures.
Warning: Contains Spoilers for Star Trek: Lower Decks season 4, episode 8, "Caves"
A new cave monster on Star Trek: Lower Decks calls back to a classic Star Trek: The Original Series alien, with Lieutenant Samanthan Rutherford (Eugene Cordero) taking the job originally filled by Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy). While trapped in a cave on an away mission gone awry, the USS Cerritos' Lower Deckers take turns recapping previous cave-themed missions in Lower Decks season 4, episode 8, "Caves". Rutherford recounts when he and Dr. T'Ana (Gillian Vigman) faced off against the fearsome Grafflax, a cave-dwelling monster thought long gone by the people of Balkus 9, including their guide Thusa (Dawnn Lewis).
Star Trek: Lower Decks' episode flashback sent Rutherford and T'Ana to Balkus 9 to gather a type of fern essential for formulating a needed medication that's found only in the shallow pools of the planet's caves, a classic Star Trek: The Next Generation-era plot.. Thusa shows Rutherford and T'Ana how to gather the plant, assuring them that the Grafflax hasn't been a problem for generations, right before the monster emerges from the darkness to attack her. At the moment of her death, Thusa implants her offspring into Rutherford, leaving Samanthan and Dr. T'Ana to care for the infant version of her while searching for a way out. In a later encounter, the Grafflax notices the child, which leads directly to the Cerritos away team's escape.
