Key Takeaways
- Star Trek: Lower Decks faced fan skepticism, then won over many with its wacky love-letter to the Trek universe.
- Season 5 explores deeper themes and relationships while adding familiar faces for more laughs.
- Despite the series ending after season 5, the creator hints at future opportunities for beloved characters.
As a long-time Star Trek fan and someone who has seen these beloved characters grow over the years, I must say that Lower Decks has been nothing short of a delightful journey. The show’s ability to weave together new stories with familiar faces is truly commendable.
When it was revealed that Mike McMahan, writer from Rick and Morty, would create an animated Star Trek comedy series for Paramount+, the fan response ranged from enthusiasm to doubt. While some were thrilled about the prospect of the first animated Star Trek series since Star Trek: The Animated Series, others questioned if an animated comedy within the Star Trek universe could actually work. This skepticism wasn’t without reason. Although the Star Trek universe contained many humorous moments, intentional and unintentional, all the existing Trek shows were firmly rooted in science fiction drama. Therefore, a Star Trek comedy was an innovative concept that fans weren’t entirely convinced about.
When Lower Decks debuted in 2020, the initial episodes stirred quite a reaction among fans. While some appreciated the laid-back, playful take on the Star Trek universe, others felt that McMahan’s work didn’t meet the noble, dignified standards of Star Trek. Some enjoyed the Easter eggs and references, but others accused the show of being too focused on pleasing fans. However, as the series progressed, the quirky, mischievous crew of the U.S.S. Cerritos and their antics began to win over many viewers. Although Lower Decks has its detractors, a growing number of fans have come to understand the show for what it truly is – a hilarious tribute to the Star Trek universe.
In its fifth and concluding season, “Lower Decks” maintains its renown for incorporating fresh tales within the long-standing “Star Trek” universe. It promises more humorous antics, yet delves deeper into the lore of the Trekverse, the principles of Starfleet, and its budding champions. As the series winds down, “Star Trek: Lower Decks” grapples with the challenging endeavor of providing a fitting farewell to characters that have won over their fans.
Reunited and It Feels So Good…For Now
Season 4 concluded with D’Vana Tendi departing from the Cerritos to resume her pirate life on Orion. Her potential return was uncertain. However, in the first two episodes of season 5, which premiered on October 24, Tendi signaled her desire to rejoin Starfleet, but she lacked a definitive plan to do so. With her absence, her friends found it particularly difficult, especially Rutherford, who was laboring excessively just to distract himself from missing his dear friend. Fortunately, Tendi managed to negotiate a deal with her sister, D’Erika, and by the end of the second episode of the season, titled “Shades of Green,” she was back on the Cerritos.
In Tendi’s homecoming, we saw some amusing situations and a richer understanding of Orion culture than any other Star Trek series has provided, and it paved the way for themes that will continue throughout the season. One of Lower Decks’ strengths lies in its portrayal of the lesser-known side of Starfleet – the everyday life and tasks for those who aren’t on the bridge. This angle makes Lower Decks an ideal platform to delve into aspects of Starfleet that don’t align with the heroic stories typically associated with its leadership.
During the third and fourth seasons, the series “Lower Decks” skillfully explored less-than-noble facets of Starfleet: consequences for errors, misfits, and those with a touch of rebellion. The fifth season delves into the true implications of dedicating one’s life to an ideal, prioritizing duty above all else, and how such commitments shape relationships.
For the first time, these once-unrelated individuals, now bonded like a family, experience separation. They must grapple with the implications for their relationships as their work often necessitates being apart for missions. Usually, their jobs make it tough to spend quality time together. Moreover, as comrades from outside their close group move to different ships, the Lower Deckers come to realize that their family unit will need to evolve as they progress in their careers and grow apart from one another. Fortunately for fans, the Lower Deckers navigate this new phase in their lives and relationships with their signature mix of chaos and humor, ensuring a rollercoaster of laughter and heartfelt lessons.
Meeting a Familiar Lower Decker
As a gaming enthusiast, I must say that what sets Lower Decks apart is its ability to keep us fans in the loop about where our beloved Star Trek characters ended up post their on-screen journeys. We’ve already had Tom Paris, Kira Nerys, Quark, Rom, Leeta, Tuvok, Martok, and others make a comeback in previous seasons, and it looks like season 5 is promising more of the same, with Harry Kim set to reappear!
In “Lower Decks”, Kim’s presence underscores not only its respect for “Star Trek” lore, but also its penchant for being cleverly self-referential and humorous. Within the fandom, Kim has become something of a running joke, as he managed to serve on a ship adrift in space for years without ever receiving a promotion. Remarkably, he retained the rank of Ensign Harry Kim, despite consistently displaying exceptional proficiency and dedication to his crew. Even during flash-forwards at the end of “Star Trek: Voyager”, viewers were left in suspense about whether Kim would eventually earn that long-awaited promotion.
In the Season 5 trailer for Lower Decks, it appears that multiple characters named Kim will be featured, leading us to wonder if the original Kim finally receives his deserved recognition. The teaser hints at one Kim being promoted to Lieutenant, but we’re unsure if it’s our familiar Kim from the primary universe or another character with the same name. Given that the Cerritos has already ventured into an alternate reality during this season, anything is possible.
Are the Lower Deckers Gone For Good?
If the world of Paramount+’s Star Trek series has shown us anything to Trekkies, it’s that there’s often a possibility we’ll run into our beloved characters once more. Consequently, even though Lower Decks is wrapping up after season 5 doesn’t guarantee fans won’t catch glimpses of Boimler, Mariner, Tendi, Rutherford, T’Lyn, or other Cerritos crew members again in the future. In a chat with TrekMovie.com, McMahan didn’t explicitly confirm that his Lower Deckers would be back, but he did suggest they might.
The series serves as a chronicle for these characters, providing us with a complete journey through time… The finale, though it seems conclusive, opens up to numerous possibilities such as creating new shows, producing comics, writing novels, or allowing fans to continue imagining these characters embarking on further Star Trek adventures.
Additionally, he assured that the series would conclude in a fulfilling manner, providing a fitting farewell to its cherished characters. Luckily, spectators will need to watch the remainder of season five to form their own opinions. New episodes of Star Trek: Lower Decks can be found on Paramount+ every Thursday.
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2024-11-01 04:05