I will admit thatStar Trek: Lower Decksseemed like a wild idea when it was announced, but despite my initial apprehension, I’m so happy to have been quickly proven wrong about aStar Trekcomedy show being a bad idea. Ofall theStar TrekTV shows, it stands out for its fearless approach to adding to the franchise’s dense canon while constantly tapping on the fourth wall.I can comfortably understand why some Trekkies may not enjoyStar Trek: Lower Decks, but I am definitely not on their side and haven’t been for a long time.
The epicStar Trektimelinehas been enhanced further by modern efforts. After the divisiveending ofStar Trek: Enterprisein 2005, the Prime Universe wasn’t visited again until the arrival ofStar Trek: Discoverytwelve years later. When the saga returned, it had, perhaps unsurprisingly, undergone the “gritty reboot” treatment. I wasn’t sure at first, and while it’s still not my favoriteStar Trekshow, I’ve warmed to it a little and have at least accepted that it paved the way for the space opera’s comeback. However,Star Trek: Lower Deckshad a very different role to play.
Why I Was Skeptical About An Animated Star Trek Comedy When It Was First Announced
Star Trek: Lower Decks initially seemed like it was from an entirely different franchise
AlthoughStar Trek: The Animatedseries had been canonizedlong beforeStar Trek: Lower Decks' announcement, I had never really seen the franchise as anything other than a live-action project. That being said, the thought of another animatedStar Trekshow still excited me. What caught me off-guard was the reveal thatStar Trek: Lower Deckswould be making comedy a priority. I had certainly laughed at certain moments inStar Trekmovies and TV shows before, but none of those projects had set out to be anything other than epic sci-fi adventures.
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The show’s zany animation style and off-beat humor initially brought to mind shows likeRick & MortyandFinal Space. It felt as though afterStar Trek: DiscoveryandStar Trek: Picardweren’t quite hitting the mark quite how the franchise had expected,Star Trekwas selling out in a desperate attempt to attract a new kind of fan base. Thankfully, I went into it with an open mind, and all my worst fears were immediately put to rest, and some of them were even harnessed to great effect.
Over 5 Seasons, Star Trek: Lower Decks Was Absolutely Excellent
Paramount+ allowed the show to grow on its own terms
Once I got past the weird fact that everything being said and done inStar Trek: Lower Deckswas being entered into franchise canon, I realized the show was exactly what the iconic saga needed. Not only was the story set in the long-neglected 24th century, but it was clear it was written as a love letter to the franchise’s golden era. The endless string of references andEaster Eggs concerning otherStar Trekprojects established it as a show that was for seasoned Trekkies rather than newcomers.
DespiteLower Decks' continuous nods to classicStar Trekepisodes, it does also work as a self-contained narrative. The new characters are often very easy to root for, and the creative adventures on which they embark routinely achieve far more in the show’s 20-minute sitcom format than otherStar Trekspinoffs achieve in an hour or more. The chaotically fast pacing has a huge number of advantages, and I’ve already noticed loads of new things when rewatching the show that I missed the first time around.
Star Trek’s Future Will Show The Positive Impact Of Lower Decks' Legacy
Lower Decks needs to be seen as proof that taking risks can pay off
Although I’m devastated thatStar Trek: Lower Decksis now over after its fifth and final season, I’m also really glad that it happened at all. It gave the franchise a much-needed nudge away from the dark and dreary formula that was being favored by shows likeStar Trek: DiscoveryandStar Trek: Picard. While those two shows certainly have their merits,Star Trek: Lower Decksserves as a constant reminder that the franchise can always try something new and work incredibly well.
Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 5 Finale & Series Ending Explained
Star Trek: Lower Decks' finale brings big changes to the USS Cerritos and the Star Trek multiverse. Here’s what it all means for the Cerritos' crew.
Going forward,Star Trekshows and movies shouldn’t get too tied up in making a project that always takes itself too seriously. Many of the bestStar Trekstories certainly boast an insane amount of drama, butLower Decksproves that comedy can easily be the priority while maintaining that signatureStar Trekvibe. Hopefully,Star Trek’s future takes a lot fromStar Trek: Lower Deck’s immense success and doesn’t just cast it off as lightning in a bottle never to be replicated.
Star Trek: Lower Decks
Cast
The animated comedy series Star Trek: Lower Decks follows the support crew on one of Starfleet’s least significant ships, the U.S.S. Cerritos, in 2380. Ensigns Mariner (Tawny Newsome), Boimler (Jack Quaid), Rutherford (Eugene Cordero), and Tendi (Noël Wells) have to keep up with their duties and their social lives often. At the same time, the ship is being rocked by a multitude of sci-fi anomalies.
