It’s tragic, but true: the series finale of Star Trek: Lower Decks is now available for streaming on Paramount+. But while the show may be over, Comics Beat’s Trek Team is not done geeking out over it yet. So, we’ve gathered for a finale roundtable about the excellent animated series.
This discussion includes spoilers for the entirety of Lower Decks. Feel free to get in on the conversation in the comment section or over on The Beat’s page on Bluesky!
What did you think of Lower Decks Season 5 as a whole?
AVERY KAPLAN: I thought this season was great (like every season; maybe I’m a little biased). I thought they did a good job of utilizing the multiverse concept without getting lost in the weeds, and episodes like “Fully Dilated” did a good job of using the idea in a more innovative way than most multiverse stories. It goes without saying that “Fissure Quest” was amazing (in spite of the absence of D’Vana Tendi (Noël Wells) and Samanthan Rutherford (Eugene Cordero) for a second episode in a row).
And there were plenty of “non-multiverse” storylines to enjoy as well. I loved how “Upper Decks” gave us insight into the command crew. And I deeply appreciate that “The Best Exotic Nanite Hotel” gave us a satisfying conclusion for the unceremoniously dumping of Jennifer Sh’reyan (Lauren Lapkis) by Beckett Mariner (Tawny Newsome)… Not to mention T’Lyn (Gabrielle Ruiz) rocking the Vibe Tubes! Bradward Boimler (Jack Quaid) and his slowly growing beard was a great ongoing sight gag.
Finally, I adored the subplot in “Shades of Green” showing a planet moving to a post-scarcity society. I feel this solidified Lower Decks as the most anti-capitalist series of the third Star Trek renaissance. And if that subplot upsets you, go back and rewatch Star Trek: The Next Generation’s first season finale “The Neutral Zone” and cry into your bloodwine.
TAIMUR DAR: Like many, I feel like the multiverse is totally played out at this point. William Boimler said it best that it’s “lazy derivative remixes.” So I was a bit wary when I heard this season was going to involve the multiverse, something Mike McMahan himself has explored constantly in his past animation work. Somehow, not only did this season not feel like a rehash of recent multiversal storylines but it actually made me realize why we love the multiverse. Yes, it’s fun to see actors reprise our favorite characters, but more than that it allows us to better understand ourselves and in doing so our limitless potential.
Likewise, I’m so glad the plot point of William Boimler joining Section 31 was finally addressed in this final season. McMahan definitely knows how to play the long game. I have no doubt there were more stories he’d love to tell, but that was the one big dangling plotline I wanted to see again before the series ended.
GEORGE CARMONA: At first I was a bit frustrated, part of that was knowing this was the end of Lower Decks, so it was tough for me to sit back and enjoy our Second Contact specialists. Once I got my human emotions under control I was able to enjoy the introspective episodes that gave the crew new depths as they ranked up and did what Trek does best by examining the human condition through the lens of science fiction.
KELAS LLOYD: Knowing this was the last season did cast a bit of a pall at first over things, but I really appreciate how the threads were all drawn together and tied off. I love the idea of Orions getting to break from the tropes and explore their lives the way Trek has allowed Klingons, Ferengi, and others to become more as well. The further Trek gets from Planet of Hats, the better.
I also really liked the execution of the multiverse. This wasn’t yet another trip to evil bisexual land, it was an exploration of possibilities while also bringing back a couple of previously underutilized or unrealized aspects of Trek.
What did you think of the Lower Decks series finale specifically?
DAR: The finale definitely had the enviable task of giving a sense of closure for the series as a whole but at the same time leaving the door open enough for possible future stories. It’s not dissimilar to what James Gunn faced with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. I think Mike McMahan and crew pulled it off quite nicely. No characters died or were taken off the board completely, but some major status quo shifts like Rutherford losing his implants and Ransom being promoted to Captain.
CARMONA: Honestly the series finale of Lower Decks, and this is really tough to say, might be my number two all-time Star Trek finale. Since it aired the Next Gen’s All Good Things still held down the number one spot, and then The New Next Generation warps in and misses the top spot, but just barely. The New Next did something incredibly amazing in that it lived up to the Lower Decks shtick of being able to do a tightrope dance of geeky fan service and still deliver a solid Star Trek story with universal stakes, it sticks the landing, that’s why I put it up in the number two spot for me all-time.
LLOYD: Somehow a single episode showed how far the main characters have come, allowed a possibility of more, and yet was still satisfying.
What did you think of Lower Decks as a whole?
CARMONA: When it was first announced, I initially dismissed it because it was a cartoon/comedy, but very quickly came around to it as LD showed us why we loved Trek by fully leaning into the absurdity of life in Starfleet, and creating characters just as lovable as Spock, Picard or Data, who doubled as us, the super geek fans. Like the Cerritos, the show’s strengths lie in its heart and charm with a touch of humor.
DAR: Very much like George, I was hesitant because I just assumed it was just trying to imitate the popularity of Rick and Morty. While there is certainly overlap, it still retains that hope and optimism that’s the core of Star Trek and makes it so appealing.
LLOYD: Like George and Taimur, I was hesitant when hearing it was going to be an animated comedy series, but it mostly won me over. I’m still disappointed that the whole of season two revolved around the ‘joke’ that intellectual disabilities exist, and that there was never any even half-decent disability representation on the show, but that seems very par for the course with modern Trek unfortunately. And the finale did make it completely clear that Rutherford’s never been disability representation, as his implants were never required things.
Now that you’ve seen the entire series, what is your:
— Favorite main character?
KAPLAN: Lower Decks is a show filled with characters who have grown on me over the course of the show’s five seasons. I could probably list dozens of main and supporting characters who I have come to adore, including the entire Cerritos command crew. But I’m going to focus on just two (even though the question implies I choose just one): Tendi and T’Lyn.
I love Tendi’s enthusiasm and her eagerness to befriend everyone (and everything). I also love the growth she’s shown over the seasons, coming to accept herself in spite of the prejudice she’s encountered and her own misgivings about her family’s way of life. And I also appreciate that she is not without her flaws, like her need to be liked by everyone and her sometimes relentless pursuit of her goals. I am confident her journey inspired many more Orions to join Starfleet, as supported by the Orion crew members we see in Star Trek: Prodigy and Star Trek: Picard Season 3.
And as for T’Lyn, I am always a fan of Vulcans. How could you not be? But T’Lyn brought a different tone of humor to the show, a dry wit that just made everyone funnier. In Season 5, I enjoyed her genuine attempts to become better friends with the other four main characters — executed in her own Vulcan way, of course. And again: how can you resist her overwhelming enthusiasm in the face of the Vibe Tubes? One of my biggest regrets about the conclusion of Lower Decks is that we won’t get to see more of T’Lyn, who (as a late addition to the cast) didn’t end up getting as many storylines as the rest of the main characters did.
DAR: Choosing a favorite is always a difficult task. Though my personality is so much like Boimler and I enjoy the character, I’m hesitant to pick him as my favorite. I would say Dr. T’Ana probably the highest on my list of favorite characters. Despite her surliness, she definitely has her endearing moments like the “Caves” episode where she and Rutherford raise their cave baby. Also as weird as it can be at times, her romantic relationship with Shaxs is actually quite sweet.
CARMONA: I know it’s the easy and obvious choice, but I have to go with Beckett Mariner. All of the Lower Deckers go on great character journeys but Mariners has just a bit more seasoning in her character cook. She’s got the mysterious background, the family lineage, and for Starfleet, the chops to be that next Tryla Scott. I love her wildcard antics, mixed with her interconnectedness with Starfleet history, from being an underclassman with Wesley Crusher and Nick Locarno to serving on DS9 during the Dominion War, she has had a stellar career.
LLOYD: Tendi. There are a lot of really fantastic characters on the show, and T’Lyn comes a close second, but Tendi’s arc really spoke to me. She had to finally face the pressures and expectations placed on her by others and herself instead of continuing to run, and found a strength there that I think everyone except her saw all along. Her optimism could easily have been cloying but the fact that she followed up on it consistently with perseverance and kindness really made her work.
— Favorite one-off/recurring side character?
DAR: Oh man! This is a hard one because there’s no shortage of great side characters. The first that comes to mind is probably Steve Levy, the resident conspiracy theorist. Thanks in large part to the stellar “Caves” episode he really grew on me. Pretty much like Boimler, I ended up growing a soft spot for him after his “knowledge artfully mixed with hyperbole and fiction” ended up saving the day.
KAPLAN: I can’t decide, so I’m once again going to choose two. My first was also featured in “Caves” (and other episodes), Ensign Karavitis (Artemis Pebdani). I adored this surly Delta Shift member and Mariner doppelgänger since she first appeared in Season 1’s “Terminal Provocations.” And I was especially excited to see her cameo in the show’s final montage, in which she was shown wearing a Chu Chu shirt.
And my other choice is Lieutenant junior grade Kayshon (Carl Tart). Originally introduced in Season 2’s “Kayshon, His Eyes Open,” Kayshon is the first Tamarian in Starfleet. When he first appeared, he often seemed self-conscious about speaking Tamarian, and self-translated frequently. But in later seasons, he settled into the Cerritos, and spoke almost exclusively in Tamarian phrases. I appreciate how this demonstrates that Kayshon became so comfortable aboard the ship as to be able to speak without censoring himself.
CARMONA: What if MS Office’s Paperclip wanted to kill you, that’s what we get with everyone’s favorite homicidal A.I. Badgey. Voiced by the hilarious Jack McBrayer, Badgey starts as a sweet holographic training tool but soon becomes the Ultron of the Trek universe. He’s become so intricate to the LD mythos that he’s the main drive behind their online game.
DAR: I’m glad George mentioned Badgey! I’d be remiss if I didn’t also highlight exocomp Peanut Hamper voiced by the hilarious Kether Donohue. Though seeing her discover new ways of selfishness is one of the highlights of the character, I was heartened to see Peanut Hamper redeem and rehabilitate herself for real last season.
KAPLAN: As long as we’re talking about Lower Decks‘ evolving AI antagonists, I want to mention AGIMUS (Jeffrey Combs). Originally a one-note character who seemed incapable of moving beyond his obsession with power, AGIMUS cultivated a friendship with Peanut Hamper that was ultimately actually pretty touching. I appreciate how Lower Decks refused to allow its most daunting antagonists to remain mustache-twirling villains, and instead took the Star Trek path of growth and redemption with all three of them.
LLOYD: I’m going to surprise everyone and not gush about how happy I was to see a version of Elim Garak (Andrew Robinson) come back. Instead, I’m picking Moopsy. The bone vampire was a standout ridiculous little guy that’s a great demonstration of why you should never judge a book by its cover. Sometimes something silly and dangerous is exactly what you need to hit the spot.
MOOPSY: Moopsy!
— Favorite episode?
DAR: Again, no shortage of choices. The one that probably rates highest at the moment is “Parth Ferengi’s Heart Place” that dives deeper into Ferengi culture. Boimler becoming obsessed with Ferengi television programming is pure comedy gold. Though brief, the entire concept of Pog & Dar: Cop Landlords is simultaneously silly and brilliant.
CARMONA: Hard to nail down a favorite because the last two episodes are damn near perfect, but this season’s “Fully Dilated” is a perfect example of how they can take a typical Star Trek situation and bring the funny along with a great Star Trek: The Next Generation cameo. And we can’t forget the amazing Star Trek: Strange New Worlds crossover. It’s not an official Lower Decks episode but you have to give it up to Newsome and Quaid bringing their characters to life, from Mariner’s maverick mannerisms to Boimler’s power walk, this gets them an honorable mention.
LLOYD: Okay, now I’m gonna glee about “Fissure Quest” and my biggest Star Trek ship finally becoming canon. There are so many excellent episodes to choose from for sure, but we got Garak and Bashir back, and this time together! Star Trek: Deep Space Nine did so many things right, but shied away from an actual queer relationship even as other sci-fi at the time made it textual. That Lower Decks could find an opening to somewhat address this, in an episode where it’s fitting, was a gift.
KAPLAN: I could honestly make a case for any of the show’s 50 episodes. But I’m going to stick with Season 3’s “Room for Growth.” This is a simple episode with an A-plot that has relatively low stakes: Mariner, Boimler and Tendi attempt to thwart Delta Shift and secure the room lottery for themselves. But I love the way it expands the mythology of the ship and crew in the process. Plus, the hallucination scene is one of the funniest gags in the show’s history. And any time we get to see Kayshon speaking Tamarian is always a bonus for me.
— Favorite quote?
KAPLAN: This one is incredibly hard to narrow down. Especially because certain line readings have already entered common usage in the Kaplans’ Quarters (like Rutherford screaming “Section 31” in “Mugato, Gumato”). But if I have to narrow it down to just one, it’s hard to beat Shax bellowing the unfortunately relevant statement “Fighting fascism is a full-time job” in “wej Duj.”
DAR: For the moment, I’m going to go with Ransom’s catchphrase and the way he ended the series with the line, “Engage the core!”
CARMONA: I don’t think it qualifies as a quote but every time Boimler yells/screams, amazing. But if I had to choose actual words Mariner’s “I’ll do what I want!” with the Vulcan salute is a solid one for me.
LLOYD: I’m gonna second Avery’s choice. That quote’s one of the ones that’s unfortunately going to hold up and be a needed reminder in the future.
What would you order from the food replicator on the USS Cerritos?
DAR: I’m simple with simple tastes, and since I’ve been watching Home Alone quite a lot recently I am going to have to go with classic cheese pizza!
KAPLAN: Just remember: you need one of the upper decks replicators to make the whole pie!
If Lower Decks were to continue…
— What format would you like to see it continue in?
KAPLAN: I think it would be a great opportunity to make the jump to the big screen, or at least long-form “special event movies” on Paramount+ (or Netflix). But I do think my first choice would be more seasons, possibly slightly reformatted to Star Trek: California Class to account for our heroes having joined Ransom’s bridge crew. I wouldn’t say “no” to a spinoff about the Freemans’ adventures from Starbase 80 into the interdimensional rift, either. In fact, I’d say, “Holy **** yes, thank the Koala for this incredible gift.”
DAR: I think Avery’s suggestion of “special event movies” pretty much nails the ideal way for it to continue. Not too dissimilar back in the way with Futurama and those straight-to-video animated movies that were successful enough to lead to a revival. There’s a part of me that is curious about seeing a spinoff in a live-action format. It definitely worked for “Those Old Scientists” episode of Strange New Worlds.
CARMONA: If we can’t get more seasons, I’d love any specials or maybe an anthology series like Short Treks, it could catch us up with characters and events, and would also give other creatives a chance to play in the Trek sandbox.
LLOYD: Honestly, Star Trek: California Class is a great name for another five seasons of an animated show. There’s still plenty to explore with the crew, especially as they adjust to their new ranks and responsibilities. Boimler and Mariner having to share? Tendi clamping down on that constant competitive urge? Rutherford adjusting back to life as a normie? T’Lyn having to deal with these super-emotional best friends of hers and perhaps having family or former Vulcan acquaintances notice that she’s been promoted and is doing well? It’s all got potential. Rutherford also has, I feel, a lot of growth left to go before he’s a solid, dependable captain. He’s improved over the series, but even still this season we saw how he absolutely bungled the job in “Of Gods And Angles.”
— What Franchise legacy element would you want to see included for the first time or further explored?
LLOYD: I feel there’s unfortunately only one interesting thing to come from Star Trek: Picard, and that was consensual Borg-ness with Jurati as Queen. That had so much going for it, and I do think people would voluntarily sign up to join with that hive. I’d love to see that going somewhere.
KAPLAN: I always thought the allusions to the Borg in “Temporal Edict” and “wej Duj” were hinting at a bigger subplot about the rise of individuality among the Borg lower decks. I hope we get to see that thread continued, and with it seeming unlikely we’ll get Queen Jurati in any of the other ongoing Franchise projects, I’d love to see her return on Lower Decks.
Any final thoughts you want to share on the series?
DAR: As I’ve mentioned in our previous discussions, I’m relatively new to the world of Star Trek. I definitely had some passing familiarity. But thanks to the combination of Star Trek: Prodigy and Lower Decks, I actually decided to fully dive into Trek and further connect with other members of The Beat. As much as I love Prodigy and how accessible it was to new viewers, I think Lower Decks definitely served as an excellent primer to the decades of Star Trek media.
All 50 episodes of Star Trek: Lower Decks are currently available for streaming on Paramount+.
Keep up with all of The Beat’s Star Trek coverage here.
