Sailing Voyages Converge: Further Crew Disputes Emerge on Deck and Below Decks
Lower Decks' Series Finale Celebrates Star Trek Franchise Connections
Published Dec 20, 2024
Lower Decks, the animated Star Trek series, concluded its series run with the aptly titled "The New Next Generation." This episode served as a fitting end to four years of interstellar antics and sophisticated humor, as well as a nod to other notable Star Trek series and films.
In the finale, Captain Freeman and her crew find themselves navigating through multiple dimensions and timelines. To avoid spoilers, we will not delve into the specifics, but we can affirm that the plot continues the ongoing narrative of the inter-dimensional rifts that have plagued the USS Cerritos throughout the season.
One of the most notable aspects of "The New Next Generation" is its embracing of Star Trek's rich history. Throughout the episode, fond references to other Star Trek series and films make an appearance, enhancing the narrative with a touch of nostalgia.
In addition to this week's installment, this season has been peppered with glimpses into various realities, as seen in episodes like "Dos Cerritos," "Fully Dilated," and "Fissure Quest." The series also paid homage to the Mirror Universe, which we were introduced to way back in the second season of the original series episode "Mirror, Mirror." Since then, the Terran Empire has been a recurring motif across various Star Trek series, including Deep Space Nine, Enterprise, Discovery, and even Prodigy.
The alternate realities in the episode also draw upon other Star Trek landmarks, such as Next Generation's "Yesterday's Enterprise" and "Cause and Effect," as well as the 2009 Star Trek reboot film, with its entire alternate reality narrative.
Other notable entities in "The New Next Generation" include the 185,000 universes glimpsed in "Parallels," the alternate universes from "Shockwave" and the two-part "Storm Front" from Enterprise, and the alternate universe created by Q for the second season of Picard.
Viewers can look forward to a plethora of alternate realities and dimensions featured in "The New Next Generation," presented with the distinctive humor and charm that the Lower Decks cast delivers effortlessly. The episode serves as a capstone to five seasons of laughter and Star Trek camaraderie, inspiring hope for returning to the USS Cerritos in the future.
We express our appreciation to Mike McMahan, the talented creator, and the entire cast and crew of Lower Decks for their dedication and creativity. Up next in our galaxy of adventures? Warp us there!
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[1] Star Trek Wiki. (n.d.). Star Trek: Lower Decks. Retrieved December 20, 2024, from https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Star_Trek:_Lower_Decks
[3] Star Trek Wiki. (n.d.). Star Trek: The Next Generation. Retrieved December 20, 2024, from https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Star_Trek:_The_Next_Generation
- The Lower Decks series, with its finale titled "The New Next Generation," showcases the connection between the Star Trek franchise, featuring a star-studded cast and crew that navigates multiple dimensions and timelines in the last episodes.
- In the final season of Lower Decks, we have seen various references to other Star Trek series and movies, such as the Mirror Universe, the alternate realities in "Dos Cerritos," "Fully Dilated," and "Fissure Quest," and even the 2009 Star Trek reboot film.
- The Lower Decks finale ties into the larger timeline of the Star Trek franchise, as it delves into inter-dimensional rifts that have long been a part of the USS Cerritos narrative.
- Fans of the Star Trek universe can look forward to exploring more alternate realities and dimensions in the movie-and-TV series, presented with the unique charm of the Lower Decks cast and crew.
