Star Trek: Lower Decks — Season 5

Streaming on: Paramount Plus

Episodes viewed: 2 of 10

Since 2020, Star Trek: Lower Decks has boldly gone where no Star Trek series has gone before: checking in with the regular folk in Starfleet, the people who ensure everything is running smoothly down below while Picard or Janeway hog all the glory up above in the Captain’s chair. This underdog status is baked into the DNA of the show, which follows the struggles of lowly officers like Beckett Mariner (Tawny Newsome) and Brad Boimler (Jack Quaid), but it’s also true of Lower Decks itself, an animated venture that has beaten the odds (and initial pushback) to become one of the most beloved shows in the entire franchise, even popping over into live action via that trippy Strange New Worlds crossover.

Five seasons in, Lower Decks has lost none of its appeal. In fact, the show is funnier than ever, successfully navigating that fine line between parody and homage that lovingly pokes fun at the silliness of Star Trek while staying true to its spirit. Whether you’re a diehard fan giggling at niche references or a relative newbie who’s just in it for the workplace comedy antics, Season 5 continues to have something for everyone. It’s clear that creator Mike McMahan and his team are extremely confident in the show’s formula at this point, grounding the laughs with realistic character growth you want to root for and more emphasis on a classic episodic structure this time around.

That’s not to say Season 5 is perfect. Some of the sitcom tropes are occasionally clunky and last season’s status quo change is undone pretty fast (both recurring issues with the show at large), but thanks to the crew’s chemistry, consistently underpinned by strong voice-work and comic timing, it almost feels a shame we have to say goodbye now when there’s so much more story left to tell. At least we have these five seasons, a rarity in streaming these days, with this final outing so far heralding a fitting end for our underdog heroes.