Season 5 of Lower Decks sets a real goodbye

Key points

• Star Trek: Lower Decks faced fan skepticism, then won over many with its quirky love letter to the Trek universe.
• Season 5 explores deeper themes and relationships while adding familiar faces for more laughs.
• Although the series ends after season five, the creator hints at future opportunities for the beloved characters.

When Paramount+ announced that they had moved forward Rick and Morty writer Mike McMahan to create a cartoon Star Trek comedy series, fan reactions have been mixed, to say the least. Although by then some were excited to see the first Trek animated series Star Trek: The Animated Seriesothers were skeptical that an animated comedy set in Star Trek the universe would work. Their skepticism was not unfounded. Although the Star Trek The universe was full of intentional and unintentional comedic moments, all of the shows in the Trek canon fell firmly into the sci-fi drama category. 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 a stir in the fandom. Although some fans loved the casual and irreverent perspective of the Star Trek universe, others insisted that McMahan's creation lacked the dignity that characterizes it Star Trek universe. While some were delighted with the Easter eggs and callbacks, others criticized the show as fan service. But as the series continued, the bumbling, brash crew of the USS Cerritos and their hijinks won many fans. Although Lower decks still has its enemies, many have come to see the show for what it is: a quirky love letter to the Star Trek universe.

Now in its fifth and final season, Lower decks continues to live up to its reputation for weaving new adventures into the established Star Trek canon. It promises sillier shenanigans, but also a deeper look at the Trekverse, the ideals of Starfleet, and its fledgling heroes. As the show draws to a close, Star Trek: Lower Decks faces the difficult task of giving its characters a farewell that satisfies the fans who have grown to love them.

Reunited and it feels so good…for now

The end of season 4 saw D'Vana Tendi leave the Cerritos to return to her life as a pirate on her home world 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 clear her intentions to return to Starfleet, but she didn't have a clear path to making it happen. Back at Cerritos, his friends struggled with his absence – none more so than Rutherford, who worked tirelessly so he wouldn't have to think about how much he missed his best friend. Fortunately, Tendi negotiated a deal with her sister, D'Erika, and returned to the Cerritos at the end of the second episode of the season, “Shades of Green”.

While Tendi's return to her roots brought some hilarious circumstances and a deeper look at Orion culture than any other Trek series, it also set the stage for themes that will persist throughout the season. Part of Lower decks the genius is its ability to show fans the other side of Starfleet: what it's like away from the action, in the grind of daily activities for people who aren't on the bridge. This perspective does too Lower decks the perfect medium to explore aspects of Starfleet that don't fit the lofty narratives that follow the organization's heroes.

In the third and fourth seasons, Lower decks did a great job of examining the aspects of Starfleet that aren't so noble: what happens to the 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 misfits, now a family, is separated. They have to face what this means for their friendships. More often they are separated for missions, and their jobs make it harder to find time for each other. And as friends outside their close circle begin to move to other ships, the Lower Deckers begin to realize that their little family will have to adapt as they grow in their careers and grow apart from each other. Luckily for fans, the Lower Deckers approach this new chapter in their lives and friendships with the same chaotic approach they've always had, and plenty of laughs accompany the heartfelt lessons.

Encounter a familiar lower deck

Another strong point Lower decks has performed over the course of its four seasons showing fans what their favorite legacy is Star Trek the characters have been doing since their on-screen stories ended. Previous seasons have seen Tom Paris, Kira Nerys, Quark, Rom, Leeta, Tuvok, Martok and more return to the screen. Season 5 will also have at least one familiar face: Harry Kim.

Kim's appearance in Lower decks demonstrates not only the show's love for Star Trek canon, but the pleasure it takes in being hilariously meta. Kim has become a bit of a joke within the fandom, because he somehow managed to survive for several years on a ship stranded in space without ever getting a promotion. He famously remained Ensign Harry Kim despite demonstrating exemplary skill and commitment to his crew. Even in the flash forwards at the end of Star Trek: Travelerfans never found out if Kim ever got that promotion.

With a group of Kims shown in the Season 5 trailer, Lower decks is set to reveal whether Kim ever got his due. The trailer confirms that at least one Kim has been promoted to Lieutenant, but fans still don't know if it's the Prime Universe Kim or another. And since the Cerritos have already been in an alternate universe this season, nothing can be ruled out.

Have the Lower Deckers disappeared forever?

If there's anything Paramount+ Star Trek Universe has taught Trekkies that there's always a chance they'll see their favorite characters again. So, just because Lower decks ended after season 5 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 say outright that his Lower Deckers would return, but he hinted that they might.

“The show represents an era for these characters, and we got to experience an era from beginning to end… the way the show ends, even though it feels final, also blossoms into all these other opportunities that we could create for the show.” , or we could make comics or write books, or fans could just fully imagine that these characters are still doing cool Star Trek things.”

He also promised that the show would end on a satisfying note, giving its beloved characters a proper send-off. Luckily, fans will have to check out the rest of season five and judge for themselves. New episodes of Star Trek: Lower Decks airing on Paramount+ every Thursday.

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