The episode opens with Chancellor Martok, decked out in full Klingon armor, giving a bloodthirsty speech about the glory of vanquishing his enemies. He deftly brandishes his d'k tahg, cycloptic face staring down the audience as he challenges them to prove their own honor! Panning out, the four ensigns are watching on a PADD, with an RPG game board and snacks in front of them. All of them will die, the digital Game Master Martok says, but will they do so with honor? So begins their first round of Bat'leths & BiHnuchs, the Ferengi-made, Klingon-themed tabletop RPG that Boimler recently acquired.
The group socializes amiably together as the game progresses. Mariner is the only one having trouble relaxing, frustrated as she is at being constantly chaperoned by Commander Ransom after her little hijacking escapade back in Sol. As if to prove her point, Ransom comms her with a reminder of their upcoming mission briefing. It's an hour away, she protests, but Ransom says she is "almost late for being early" and to get moving. Grumbling, Mariner leaves the rest of them to their fun.
Boimler observes that, as annoying as it is for her, this new arrangement has so far kept Mariner out of trouble. Tendi agrees, adding that these kinds of unexpected opportunities are exactly what got former ensign Vendome into a captain's chair so quickly. Boimler laughs, convinced that Tendi is pulling a prank on him. Vendome, a captain? What a ridiculous thought! But Tendi and Rutherford only look back at him in confusion. They pull up Vendome's personnel file, describing the misadventure that put the captain of the Inglewood out of commission and got Vendome a Field Promotion that ended up becoming permanent. Boimler is dismayed to learn that, in spite of everything he has done to further his career, the ensign infamous for getting impaled by a spear somehow ended up on the fast track.
Tendi points out that Vendome's good fortune wasn't entirely that — he always took opportunities when they arose, regardless of whether they seemed directly beneficial, without which he wouldn't be where he is now. Boimler disagrees, believing his conservative approach is better. As an example, on his next turn of the game, he declines to take a shortcut through a dark cave. He rolls, and the Martok GM announces that his character has been ambushed by House K'toh-maag and, in a fit of cowardice, must now live out his life as a dentist.
Commander Ransom is piloting a shuttle with Mariner down to the planet they are currently orbiting, Dulaine, whose thermosphere blocks transporters. One of the many orbital lifts they use as a substitute has broken down, which is why Billups and Rutherford are also along for the ride. Mariner is excited to visit the Dulainians for their wellness-based culture (which to her means "sexy culture"), but Ransom has a surprise for them: instead of the usual duty assignments, he and Mariner will be doing the repairs, with Billups and Rutherford on the ground to coordinate with the locals. Mariner objects to the illogic of this decision, but Ransom dismisses her.
Back on the Cerritos, Boimler is still feeling depressed over how stagnant he has realized his career has become. Tendi reiterates her advice from before: if his current strategy isn't working, maybe he should take a page from Captain Vendome's book and get out of his comfort zone. Tendi herself had the same thing happen to her when T'Ana sponsored her for senior science officer training. Ensign Sherwyns then passes them by in a springball uniform and invites Boimler to fill a vacancy on his team. Boimler declines, somewhat rudely, so Tendi upbraids him, at which point he finally gets the message and changes his mind.
By the end of the competition, Boimler has collapsed from exertion. Shaxs, on the opposing team, leans over to compliment his impressive screaming during the match, and invites him to join his Bajoran dirge choir. This second opportunity leads to yet another: after a successful first rehearsal, which scored him big points with Shaxs, Chief Lundy approaches him from a dark corner. Admiring Boimler's wiry build, Lundy says he runs a drawing class that has been looking for a, uh... "skeletal boy" to model, and asks Boimler if he would be willing to sit for them. Though clearly uncomfortable, Boimler decides to continue his adventurous streak. The audience is mercifully spared from spectating this one.
Back on the broken lift, Mariner is up to her elbows in machinery, still griping to the Commander about how much faster this would go if it had been left to the experts. Said experts call from down below where the locals, whose hospitality could give the Risians a run for their money, are pampering them from head to toe. Mariner hates that she's missing out on all the fun, especially with how many obstacles they've run into during the repairs, but Ransom insists that it's good for them to try something different now and then.
Boimler meets up with Tendi at the bar, which is crowded with guests who are waiting for the orbital lift to be repaired, to tell her about his amazing day. Her advice was just what he needed. Putting himself out there has already opened doors for him, which is why he has resolved to continue to say yes to whatever else comes his way. At that exact moment, a huge, predatory-looking alien in an intimidating mechanical suit approaches them, introducing himself as K'Ranch. He explains, between long, hissing breaths, that with transit to the planet having been delayed, he finds himself in a difficult situation. His species has an instinctual urge to hunt for which he currently has no outlet, and politely asks if either of them would care to serve as his prey. Tendi declines, suggesting as an alternative that he seek a medical solution from Dr. T'Ana, but Boimler interjects to volunteer himself. Tendi pulls him aside, worriedly advising a degree of moderation with his new "Bold Boimler" persona, but he disregards her and confidently turns back to K'Ranch to reaffirm his decision.
The canopy of the helmet opens to reveal the sharp-edged, chitinous humanoid beneath. K'Ranch lets out saliva-infused Mighty Roar into Boimler's face and, plucking a razored tooth from his mouth, marks Boimler's forehead with a green streak of blood, announcing that the hunt will begin in one hour. He skulks out of the room, his ravenous eyes not once wavering from his new target. Tendi is flabbergasted at Boimler's total indifference to what he just agreed to and shrieks at him to get off his ass and start moving!
Meanwhile, as Ransom is trying to puzzle out the next step of the lift repairs, Billups once again comms him from the surface. Things with the natives have taken a bad turn; behind him one of the Dulainians is screaming at Rutherford for disrepecting their sacred temple by entering with a concealed navel. With their diplomatic training to handle this kind of faux pas, Mariner assumes they're going to run to their rescue, but Ransom is entirely unconcerned. He tells them to handle things themselves, giving only a bit of rote advice to help even as they are chased by an angry mob.
Boimler decides to visit K'Ranch in his quarters to clarify the exact nature of this hunt he's agreed to participate in. The Kromsapiod is ritualistically preparing himself, not deigning to engage in conversation except to size Boimler up. The hunt, he says, has already begun. He draws a dagger and attacks!
Boimler takes flight through the corridors, K'Ranch thundering behind him, swiping at him with all manner of weapons. He narrowly escapes a sophisticated homing boomerang by running into Cetacean Ops and diving into the water (much to Kimolu and Matt's annoyance). He pops out of a Jefferies tube on another deck and has the luck to run into the Captain. When she hears that he is being hunted, she immediately calls for a security team, but Boimler's relief doesn't last long. When he further explains who his pursuer is, Freeman calls off the alert. She is familiar with K'Ranch, describing him as "quite the charmer", and reminds Boimler of his responsibility to honor both his promise and K'Ranch's culture. The hunter turns the corner, and Freeman nonchalantly tells Boimler that he best keep moving.
Freeman: My pleasure. Happy hunting!
Things for Billups and Rutherford have somehow managed to get even worse. It seems the Dulainians aren't fans of outies, and Billups now finds himself about to be sacrificed to their volcano god Morgo. Still, Ransom refuses to intercede, sounding more exasperated than worried about their situation. Mariner overhears, decides this has gone on long enough, and quietly sneaks off to grab a parachute to go rescue her crewmates. Unfortunately, as she's diving for the surface, Ransom calls. He realizes that he was expecting Mariner to disobey orders like she always used to, and admits that his need to be proven right has skewed his priorities. So he has decided that it's time to go bail the engineers out of their jam. Which would normally be great news, but now Mariner, who has prematurely stopped herself midway down the tower, has to somehow make it all the way back up before Ransom realizes that she did go rogue at the last second.
Boimler has managed to briefly elude his hunter inside his usual repair bay. In the darkness, he accidentally collides with the RPG table, which wakes the Bat'leths & BiHnuchs GM. As he desperately tries to shut it up, Martok reminds him of his duty to never give up in the face of one's enemy. Boimler attempts to argue, but Martok convinces him that it's better to go down fighting. So Boimler arms himself, runs back into the corridor, and faces the predator down with renewed courage! Alas for him, he forgets that talking is NOT a free action outside of an RPG, and his speech about The Hunter Becomes the Hunted is interrupted by a spear through his shoulder.
Boimler screams in surprise and terror. With slow, deliberate steps, the hulking figure approaches his prey and pulls an ornate, sinister-looking staff from his back scabbard. The pointed end slides open to reveal... a camera lens. K'Ranch leans down, takes a self-portrait next to Boimler, and tells him the hunt is over. His species, he explains, has the same reverence for life as the Federation, which is why they exclusively practice catch-and-release in their hunts. Boimler is relieved, and K'Ranch promises to put in a good word for him with the Captain for being such a good sport (in more ways than one). Shock and blood loss finally catch up to Boimler, and K'Ranch decides to take one more selfie "for the boys back home" before taking him to Sickbay.
After a long, exhausting climb, Mariner finally makes it back to the landing pad just before Ransom arrives. She does her best to act casual between desperate gasps for air. Ransom hands her a skydiving suit, and they're off towards the volcano! Once there, they see at the end of a long bridge that Billups and Rutherford are suspended in front of a crowd of onlookers. At the center, a priest performs whatever ritual they use to execute someone with an offensive belly button. He presents their leaders: the talking volcano Morgo, the psychic baby Mendrick, and the sentient computer 355.
The leaders don't care for Starfleet's flippancy about their system of governance and give the word to proceed with the sacrifice. Rutherford and Billups say their farewells to each other as they are extended over the caldera, but Ransom steps forward confidently and demands to be heard. Knowing that the Dulainians value physical wellbeing above all else, he rips off his tunic to display his chisled physique. Even Morgo is impressed by the perfection of his "lava tubes". The three leaders give him their full attention as he delivers a Patrick Stewart Speech with the practiced ease of an experienced leader.
With the crisis of the day over, the ensigns return to their game. Boimler walks in, his shoulder repaired, and reassures Tendi that she has no reason to feel bad about what came of her advice. Bold Boimler, he says, is here to stay. Taking his seat at the table, he tells the GM that he is going to confidently enter the bar and order bloodwine. The d20 lands, and Martok decides to give his character yet another dishonorable death.
Boimler: Ah, whatever. I'm still gonna be bold.
Tropes:
- An Aesop:
- In Boimler's plot: you should be prepared to take risks in pursuit of a goal, especially if your plan isn't working, but you should also think things through and not take risks blindly. More generally, you shouldn't have one over-reaching principle that defines all your decisions, but should make them on a case-by-case basis.
- In the Mariner/Ransom plot: Pushing someone to their limits shouldn't come at the risk of the mission, or even more importantly, the lives of your shipmates.
- Alliteration & Adventurers: The Klingon-themed, video-assisted D&D clone is called Bat'leths & BiHnuchs.
- Appease the Volcano God: The Dulainians try to sacrifice Billups to Morgo the sentient volcano because he has an outie belly button. They've strung up Rutherford alongside him by the time Ransom and Mariner get there. Unlike most cases, this particular volcano god can talk back and be reasoned with.
- Bait-and-Switch:
- The episode opens on Chancellor Martok speaking of death and glory, but after a few moments it's revealed to be a Klingon RPG.
- K'Ranch has just speared Boimler and has him dead to rights. He pulls out a strange-looking pole... which opens up into a futuristic selfie stick so he can share images of his successful catch-and-release hunt.
- Bait-and-Switch Comment: After K'Ranch asks Boimler to volunteer as his prey, Tendi tries to backpedal on her "be bold" advice to him, urging a degree of moderation. Boimler starts to agree before saying that that's what the old Boimler would have said and then goes right ahead with his plan.Tendi: Uh, just because you said you were going to say "yes" to the next person who asked you to do something doesn't mean you have to do this. You can do the next one.
Boimler: Eh, you're right... is what the old Boimler would have said! - Bookends: The first and last scenes of the episode are of the lower deckers playing Bat'leths & BiHnuchs, showcasing how Boimler has changed his attitude towards taking risks (though he still loses instantly both times).
- Brick Joke: Boimler derides Vendome as the "guy who gets hit with a spear in away missions." After attempting to be more bold, it is he who is impaled with a spear at the end of the episode.
- Call-Back:
- Boimler mentions the time that Vendome got hit with a spear.
- Ransom warns Billups about becoming a king while on Dulaine, referencing how he'll become King of Hysperia should he lose his virginity.
- Rutherford, initially enjoying the treatment down on the planet, briefly considers changing divisions again.
- When fleeing from the hunt, Boimler dives into Cetacean Ops, where we once again see the two aquatic officers.
- Ransom again gives a speech about how humans and aliens are not so different, except this time it actually works because he awed them with his rippling physique.
- The Cameo: J. G. Hertzler reprises his role as Martok — or at least a pre-programmed VI copy that supervises the Dungeons and Dragons clone.
- Casual Danger Dialogue: When Boimler runs into Captain Freeman and begs to be saved from K'Ranch, she casually tells Boimler the merits of keeping your word, and, when K'Ranch roams through, he thanks her for the mimosas and she gives him a casual "Happy hunting!" This is later shown to be justified beyond the typical Played for Laughs approach: K'Ranch has no intention of actually killing Boimler, and, given that Carol spent time talking with him and called off security upon hearing his name, she most likely knows that Boimler isn't in serious danger.
- Commander Contrarian: Ransom makes a point to pressure Mariner as much as possible to try to get her to rebel. To this end, he contradicts her at every turn, like insisting they're repairing an orbital lift, not a space elevator, and has Billups and Rutherford go planetside to liaise with the Dulainians while he and Mariner stay behind to do the repairs, even though both teams clearly aren't ideal for their respective tasks. When Mariner concedes his work after the fact, he sternly dismisses her, even though he quietly accepts the compliment while talking to himself afterwards.
- Convection, Schmonvection: As is to be expected, the Appease the Volcano God ritual doesn't bother anyone involved, even when Billups and Rutherford are hanging over the lava.
- Cluster F-Bomb: When Ransom changes his mind about going down to the planet and Mariner has to climb back up, she lets out a set of "S*%ts" and a "F*&K".
- Creepy Good: Ultimately, K'Ranch is this. He needs to hunt stuff but it's just catch and release (though poor Boimler gets a spear through the shoulder for trying to fight back).
- Didn't Think This Through:
- Ransom swaps duties with Billups and Rutherford just to give Mariner grief, not considering that he and Mariner are ill-equipped for repairs while Billups and Rutherford quickly cause a diplomatic incident.
- Boimler agrees to be hunted by K'Ranch because he's been convinced that accepting any random task will help get him promoted. Naturally, he's fleeing through the halls once his Mercy Lead expires. Fortunately, it's a catch-and-release hunt, though he still gets a spear through the shoulder.
- Double-Meaning Title: The name of the episode is a clear play on Hunting the Most Dangerous Game, modified to reflect Boimler's less-than-intimidating presence, but can also refer to Boimler's habit of always playing it safe, which he learns deprives him of many of the career opportunities he so desperately desires.
- Exact Words: Boimler's RPG character gets screwed by this — since he's beaten to death with his own arm, he technically took his own life and thus died dishonorably.Virtual Martok: The bartender rips your arm off and kills you with it. It is not an honorable death, since technically you died by your own hand.
- Fate Worse than Death: When Boimler gets a bad roll in the Klingon RPG, he doesn't get to die an honorable death. He has to live out the rest of his days... as a dentist.
- Foreshadowing: Freeman is friendly with K'Ranch the hunter and treats him chasing Boimler as a cultural thing that doesn't require her intervention. This hints that the hunt isn't as deadly as Boimler believes.
- Genius Loci: Morgo, the sentient volcano. It even talks. Somehow.
- Grievous Harm with a Body: After deciding to be bold, Boimler tries to apply his new attitude in the Klingon RPG. He is beaten to death with his own arm by a Klingon bartender. Which doesn't count as an honorable death, because technically he died by his own hand!
- Hard Work Hardly Works: Boimler can’t believe that Vendome was given the captaincy of his own ship due to a series of events that worked in his favor instead of meticulously planning it out and working hard. Subverted when Tendi points out that Vendome demonstrated initiative by being willing to volunteer for any assignment put in front of him, which definitely counts for something, compared to the risk-averse Boimler.
- The Hunter Becomes the Hunted: Subverted. Boimler tries to invoke this against K'Ranch after being inspired to courage, but immediately has his stand cut off. He gets speared in the shoulder mid-sentence for his trouble. K'Ranch then lampshades how well-worn the trope is and his mistake in talking about it rather than doing it.
- Hunting the Most Dangerous Game: Boimler agrees to be hunted by K'Ranch, who's getting antsy because the broken space elevator means he can't get down to Dulaine for his hunt. Fortunately for Boimler, it turns out that K'Ranch doesn't kill his prey, just wounds them and takes selfies.
- Insistent Terminology: Ransom insists it's not a space elevator, it's an orbital lift, seemingly just to be contrary to Mariner. Everyone else in the episode, including the Dulainians and the lady on the instructional video, call it a "space elevator" so he's just being stubborn about annoying her.
- It Has Been an Honor: Rutherford and Billups say this to each other when it looks like they are going to be dropped into a lava pit.
- Meaningful Background Event: In the mess hall, you can see K'Ranch approaching various people and they shake their head to him. It's a Five-Second Foreshadowing of him wanting someone to hunt.
- Mercy Lead: Boimler is given an hour to prepare after agreeing to be hunted. He ends up wasting it by visiting K'Ranch to ask for details, by which point his hour is up and the hunt begins.
- Microtransactions: The campaigns for Bat'leths & BiHnuchs have to be purchased individually, much to the annoyance of the ensigns. Yes, even in the 24th century, they're still paying for DLC. Then again, it is a Ferengi program.
- Mythology Gag:
- Mariner's atmospheric space dive parallel to the space elevator closely resembles a similar scene in Star Trek (2009).
- The game is based on the VHS Game A Klingon Challenge. This featured Robert O'Reilly as the Klingon, though not his usual character of Gowron.
- Ninja Pirate Zombie Robot: The Dulainians are led by the sentient computer 355, the psychic baby Mendrick, and the sentient volcano Morgo. Mariner complains that it's overkill, but Morgo insists it provides checks and balances.
- No Indoor Voice: Martok's computerized game host was programmed to "be at full intensity, always" and shouts about mundane game events like eating food to regain stamina. The real Martok would probably tell him to tone it down a little.
- Oblivious Guilt Slinging: Ransom contacts Mariner to sincerely apologise for deliberately provoking her into disobeying orders, and congratulating her for not doing so, while she's in the middle of disobeying orders.
- The Other Darrin: In-Universe, the Martok leading the game is actually a Ferengi impressionist, a common practice for famous Klingons.
- Planet of Hats: The Dulainians have midriff-exposing as part of their hat, to the point that Billups sparks a diplomatic incident when he neglects to expose his bellybutton while entering a sacred site.
- Pleasure Planet: Dulaine has a culture centered around wellness, which basically means its civilization is a giant health spa.
- Pop-Culture Pun Episode Title: To The Most Dangerous Game
- Predator Pastiche: K'Ranch is pretty much a Yautja — he's an intimidating eight-foot-tall animalistic alien whose species' culture revolves around finding prey to hunt using advanced harpoons and boomerangs, changed just enough to avoid copyright.note The main joke though is he is actually Friend to All Living Things, the hunt is "catch and release" complete with taking selfies, and the injury he inflicted on Boimler is easily mended with Starfleet medical technology.
- Rousing Speech: Martok the DM gets one when Boimler is hiding from K'Ranch, directly followed by a Lock-and-Load Montage.
- Rubber-Forehead Aliens: Lampshaded by Ransom, who describes being in Starfleet as more than being fed by "erotic aliens with slightly different nose ridges."
- Screw the Rules, I'm Doing What's Right!: Mariner eventually gets fed up with Ransom's stubbornness and dives to the surface. Unfortunately, Ransom changes his mind literally seconds after she jumps, and she has just enough time to climb back up before he sees that she was gone.
- Secret Test of Character: Ransom's decision to illogically delegate the diplomacy team to do engineering work and the engineers to handle diplomacy was subtextually evident up front as a test to see if Mariner can actually stick with an order that doesn't make sense or if she'll bail to do her own thing. While she does try to leave when she thinks Rutherford and Billups are in trouble, Ransom concludes independently that it's a mistake and commends her for making the effort, as he never learns of her going rogue.
- Serious Business: K'Ranch puts the entire Hirogen species to shame because while the Hirogen ritually hunt too, Kromsapiods will go mad if they don't chase prey every so often.
- Shirtless Scene: Ransom talks the Dulainians into letting Billups and Rutherford go by demonstrating that he is totally jacked, which is praised in their wellness-based society.
- Space Elevator: Wait, no, it's an orbital lift. Completely different.
- Talking Is a Free Action: Nope. Boimler's The Hunter Becomes the Hunted speech is interrupted by K'Ranch spearing him through the shoulder. He then lectures Boimler on how standing still and monologuing is a bad idea in a hunt.
- Teleport Interdiction: The heavily ionized atmosphere of Dulaine prevents beaming, so travel is facilitated by space elevators (orbital lifts) that rise above the interference.
- There Are Two Kinds of People in the World: According to K'Ranch there are three kinds of prey: the kind that becomes paralyzed with fear, the kind that runs and hides, and some kind of winged lizard creature which doesn't apply to this situation.
- This Means Warpaint: Boimler greases his face when he decides to face K'Ranch instead of fleeing. K'Ranch himself starts the hunt with red facepaint (which he did not have before the hunt began)
- Tired of Running: Thanks to the Martok program, Boimler is convinced to stop running and fight like a warrior. He fails miserably, but it's the thought that counts.
- The Tooth Hurts: K'Ranch christens the hunt by ripping out a tooth and using it to draw a line of green blood on Boimler's forehead.
- What Could Possibly Go Wrong?: Ransom figures that he and Mariner, who serve aboard a starship, should have no problem repairing a space elevator and that Rutherford and Billups can handle relations with the Dulainians. Turns out the repairs take way longer when you aren't an expert, and Billups insults their culture by accident because public relations is secondary to his job.
- Yet Another Stupid Death: Subverted. Both times Boimler dies in Bat'leths & BiHnuchs, it is because of the game's capriciousness rather than anything he could have foreseen. The first example is a bit more justifiable, since Boimler is playing it safe in a game about being a bold Klingon warrior, but in the second, the AI Game Master decides to ignobly kill his character simply for ordering a drink from a bar. It is possible that Boimler just rolled poorly, but he still learned the right lesson at the end.
