Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 5 Playfully Pokes Fun at Gene Roddenberry’s Original TNG Concept
Captain on deck! Be warned: spoilers ahead for the premiere of Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 5. The beloved crew of the USS Cerritos is back and, rest assured, they’ve retained all the snark, humor, and pure adoration for the Star Trek universe that won our hearts in the first place. For fans who appreciate the easygoing camaraderie of the Lower Deckers, the chemistry between ensigns Beckett Mariner, Brad Boimler, Samanthan Rutherford, and the rest of the crew is a delightful highlight in the season opener. For the die-hard Trekkies who crave those intricate references, fear not; this writing team has plenty in store.
Titled “Dos Cerritos,” a wittily crafted nod to mirror universe escapades, the premiere quickly sets our familiar characters on a collision course with their counterparts. After a quantum fissure—Beckett’s third this month—the cast ending up working together to navigate the chaos of their unusual situation. Aside from the signature facial hair changes and personality differences, the characters largely remain true to their core. Yet the standout is the mirror universe version of Mariner, transformed into a strict captain who prioritizes Starfleet protocol above all else. Her insistence on “no interpersonal conflict” among her officers starkly contrasts with our favorite rebellious character.
For those versed in Star Trek lore, this twist doubles as a cheeky jab at Gene Roddenberry’s notable no-conflict rule. Roddenberry’s utopian vision for the franchise brilliantly captured the imagination, but it also imposed narrative constraints that sometimes hampered storytelling. His firmly held belief that humanity would transcend interpersonal strife led to a glaring issue: a lack of conflict among the principal cast resulted in a rather dull experience. Throughout the early seasons of The Next Generation, Roddenberry’s strict adherence to this edict meant that the USS Enterprise’s crew faced challenges primarily from alien races rather than personal dynamics.
With Lower Decks Season 5, the audience gets a clever meta-narrative. Initially met with skepticism by purists, the animated series has never shied away from satirizing itself. The premiere showcases the comedic rapport between Beckett and “Captain Becky.” While they start on amicable terms, it quickly becomes evident that this alternate version of Mariner is hell-bent on enforcing order, flirting dangerously with authoritarianism. The mirror universe serves as an insightful reflection of what these characters could potentially become under pressure from their worst traits.
The creative team behind Lower Decks is adept at using the mirror universe as a narrative device, which first emerged in The Original Series with “Mirror, Mirror.” In doing so, they hold the franchise accountable for its legacy. The characters evolve, and the series recalls its own history, ensuring that mistakes of the past lead to meaningful growth. Lower Decks continues the tradition of pushing Star Trek forward, demonstrating that both the characters and the franchise itself learn from their journeys. New episodes of Lower Decks are available for streaming on Paramount+ every Thursday.
