“Lower Decks” Season 5 is preparing for a proper farewell

Key insights

• Star Trek: Lower Decks was met with skepticism from fans and then won many over with its crazy love letter to the Trek universe.
• Season 5 explores deeper themes and relationships and adds familiar faces for more laughs.
• Although the series will end after Season 5, the creator hints at future possibilities for beloved characters.

When Paramount+ announced they had swooped in Rick and Morty Writer Mike McMahan to create an animated film Star Trek Fan reactions to the comedy series have been mixed, to say the least. However, some were excited to see the first animated Trek series since then Star Trek: The Animated Seriesothers were skeptical about an animated comedy taking place in the series Star Trek Universe would work. Their skepticism was not unfounded. Although the Star Trek Although the universe was full of intentional and unintentional comedic moments, all series in the Trek canon clearly fell into the category of science fiction dramas. A Star Trek Comedy was a brand new venture that fans weren't sure they wanted.

When the show premiered in 2020, the first few episodes caused an uproar in the fandom. Although some fans liked the casual, irreverent perspective on the game Star Trek Universe, others insisted that McMahan's creation lacked the dignity that characterizes the universe Star Trek Universe. While some were happy about the Easter eggs and callbacks, others criticized the show as fan service. But as the series progressed, many fans grew to like the awkward, cheeky crew members of the USS Cerritos and their pranks. Although Lower decks still has its haters, many have come to see the show for what it is: a crazy love letter to the Star Trek Universe.

Now in its fifth and final season, Lower decks continues to live up to its reputation for combining new adventures with the tried and tested Star Trek Canon. It promises more silly shenanigans, but also a deeper look into the Trekverse, the ideals of Starfleet and its young heroes. As the show comes to an end, Star Trek: Lower Decks faces the difficult task of giving its characters a send-off that satisfies the fans who have grown to love them.

Reunited and it feels so good…for now

At the end of season four, D'Vana Tendi left the Cerritos to return to her life as a pirate on her homeworld of Orion. No one knew when or if she would return. In the first two episodes of season five, which aired on October 24, Tendi made it clear that she intended to return to Starfleet, but she had no clear path to achieve this. Back in the Cerritos, her friends were struggling with her absence – none more so than Rutherford, who worked nonstop so he wouldn't have to think about how much he missed his best friend. Luckily, Tendi brokered a deal with her sister D'Erika and returned to the Cerritos at the end of the season's second episode, “Shades of Green.”

While Tendi's return to her roots brought some hilarious circumstances and a deeper look into Orion culture than any other Trek series, it also set the stage for themes that will continue throughout the season. Part of lower decks The brilliance lies in its ability to show fans the other side of Starfleet: what it's like away from the action, in the grind of daily tasks for the people not on the bridge. This perspective also makes Lower decks The perfect medium to explore aspects of Starfleet that don't fit into the noble narratives that follow the organization's heroes.

In the third and fourth seasons Lower decks did an excellent job exploring the aspects of Starfleet that aren't so noble: what happens to people who make mistakes, who don't fit the mold, who are just a little too rebellious? Season 5 delves into the realities of what it means to dedicate your life to an ideal and put duty above all else, and how these realities impact relationships.

For the first time, this band of outsiders who have become family is separated. They have to deal with what this means for their friendships. More often they are separated for missions and their work makes it harder to find time for each other. And as friends outside their close circle begin moving to other ships, the lower deckers begin to realize that their small family will have to adapt as they grow into their careers and become separated from one another. Luckily for fans, the Lower Deckers approach this new chapter in their lives and friendships with the same chaotic approach as always, and plenty of laughs accompany the heartfelt lessons.

Meeting with a well-known underdecker

Another strength Lower decks has exhibited over the four seasons, showing fans some of their favorite legacies Star Trek The characters have been going strong since their on-screen stories ended. Recent seasons have seen Tom Paris, Kira Nerys, Quark, Rom, Leeta, Tuvok, Martok and others return to the screen. There will also be at least one familiar face in season 5: Harry Kim.

Kim's appearance in Lower decks doesn't just show love for the show Star Trek Canon, but the joy of being hilariously meta. Kim became a bit of a joke in the fan community because he somehow managed to survive several years on a ship stranded in space without ever being promoted. He infamously remained Ensign Harry Kim, despite displaying exemplary skill and dedication to his crew. Even in the flash-forward at the end Star Trek: VoyagerFans never found out if Kim ever got that promotion.

With a bevy of Kims shown in the Season 5 trailer, Lower decks will reveal whether Kim ever got what he deserved. The trailer confirms that at least one Kim has been promoted to lieutenant, but fans don't yet know whether it's the Prime Universe's Kim or another. And since the Cerritos have already been to an alternate universe this season, nothing can be ruled out.

Are the Lower Deckers gone for good?

If there is anything, the Paramount+ Star Trek The universe has taught Trekkies that there is always a chance to see their favorite characters again. So, just like that Lower decks If the series wraps up after Season 5, that doesn't necessarily mean fans will never see Boimler, Mariner, Tendi, Rutherford, T'Lyn, or other members of the Cerritos crew again. In an interview with TrekMovie.com, McMahan didn't directly say that his Lower Deckers would return, but hinted that they might.

“The show is an era for these characters, and we got to experience an era from start to finish…the way the show ends, while it feels final, it also blossoms into all these other possibilities that we either do.” , or we could make comics or write books, or fans could just imagine these characters still doing great Star Trek stuff.

He also promised that the series would end on a satisfactory note and give the beloved characters a befitting send-off. Luckily, fans will have to watch the rest of season five and judge for themselves. New episodes of Star Trek: Lower Decks airs every Thursday on Paramount+.

Source: Episodes of Star Trek: Lower Decks on Paramount+, TrekMovie.com