The Star Trek Universe panel at San Diego Comic Con was just so chock full of news about the State of the Trek Union. There is so much information given that your Strange New Crew have had to split it into multiple blog articles just to make sure everything gets attention on it! Here is the first of our coverage from that packed panel.
A big element of this was talking about Star Trek: Lower Decks. The animated comedy will be entering its fifth and final season, with the premiere date finally announced for October 24th. In season five, the crew of the U.S.S. Cerritos have to close “space potholes”, subspace rifts that are causing chaos in the Alpha Quadrant.
Representing Lower Decks was executive producer Alex Kurtzman, creator Mike McMahan and actors Tawny Newsome (Lt. Beckett Mariner), Jack Quaid (Lt. Bradward Boimler), Noël Wells (Lt. D’Vana Tendi) and Jerry O’Connell (Cmdr. Jack Ransom).
To start the panel, Tawny Newsome spoke about Mariner’s growth from season four and how it will carry over to season five. She said that Mariner has grown, she will no longer be self-sabotaging, but she will remain the chaotic Mariner we love, calling people out on their bullshit.
L-R, Jerry O’Connell as Jack Ransom and Jack Quaid as Boimler in season 5 of Lower Decks streaming on Paramount+, 2024. Photo Credit: Paramount+
The audience was then treated to the first trailer for the new season. After a long montage of clips from the past four seasons reflected over the Cerritos, the announcer says the legendary crew will go on one last adventure. The trailer’s tease provided quite a lot of things to look forward to: A parallel reality version of the Cerritos captained by “Becky Freeman”; a visit to what looks to be the Klingon homeworld, Quo’nos; Tendi, Mariner and T’Lyn going undercover as orange aliens; Tendi leading Orion pirates; Mariner on a mission with her ex, Jennifer and most importantly, the return of Enterprise’s infamous decontamination gel.
Back on the panel, Jack Quaid recalled the first panel the cast did together at Star Trek Mission Chicago (in which Julian, Girafe and Emcee were present) where the crowd chanted “Lower Decks”, and how much hearing that meant to the cast. Of course, there was a chant during the panel as well, as it is obligatory for any Lower Decks panel at this point.
When reflecting on the secret to the success of Lower Decks, the response was that it never punched down on Star Trek. Everything is done out of a sense of love.
Noël Wells as D’Vana Tendi in season 5 of Lower Decks streaming on Paramount+, 2024. Photo Credit: Paramount+
While during the Strange New Worlds portion of the panel, Rebecca Romijn talked about wanting Ransom to appear in live action on the show, Jerry O’Connell doubled down saying he wanted Ransom to meet the “hottest first officer.” Noël Wells also agreed to be painted green so she could finally appear as live action Tendi.
Mike McMahan promises season five is a very special one. They knew they were going to be ending before they started, so they made sure to pull in some “amazing Legacy stars.” The season will also have closure, but it will not feel like the end of the Cerritos. And if you want to see more Lower Decks? The answer is to watch it. It does register with the higher ups and Alex Kurtzman thinks that if it worked for Star Trek: Prodigy, it can work again for Lower Decks!
If that weren’t enough news, Tawny Newsome– currently working as a writer on Starfleet Academy-- will be helming a new live-action Trek comedy along with Justin Simien (Dear White People). It seems even with Lower Decks ending, Paramount isn’t ready for the audience to stop laughing!
Stay tuned for more coverage from San Diego Comic Con on Strange New Worlds, Section 31 and Starfleet Academy!
