Star Trek: Lower Decks
An adult animated comedy following Starfleet's lowest-ranking officers.
Star Trek: Lower Decks is an adult-oriented animated sci-fi comedy from creator Mike McMahan, originally released on CBS All Access (later Paramount+). As the ninth series in the Star Trek franchise, it premiered in 2020 under Alex Kurtzman's expanded Star Trek Universe. It marks the first animated Star Trek show since *The Animated Series* ended in 1974 and the franchise's first comedy. The show centers on the low-ranking support staff of the USS Cerritos in the 24th century.
The main voice cast includes Tawny Newsome, Jack Quaid, Noël Wells, and Eugene Cordero as the Cerritos's lower-deck crew, with Dawnn Lewis, Jerry O'Connell, Fred Tatasciore, and Gillian Vigman voicing the senior officers. Development began in June 2018, with McMahan joining as creator and showrunner by October, when All Access ordered two seasons. CBS Eye Animation Productions produced the series alongside Secret Hideout, Important Science, Roddenberry Entertainment, and animation studio Titmouse. Titmouse started work in February 2019, and the main cast was announced that July. Production on the first two seasons shifted to remote work in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The show includes numerous connections and references to earlier Star Trek series.
The first season of 10 episodes premiered on CBS All Access on August 6, 2020, and aired weekly through October. Season two ran on Paramount+ from August to October 2021, season three from August to October 2022, season four from September to November 2023, and the fifth and final season from October to December 2024. The series has earned positive reviews and several awards, including three Primetime Creative Arts Emmy nominations and a Hugo Award.
**Premise**
Set in the late 24th century, *Lower Decks* takes place in the Star Trek universe where Earth belongs to the United Federation of Planets. Starfleet, the Federation's military and exploration branch, operates starships that travel the galaxy contacting alien species. This series focuses on one of Starfleet's least important ships, the USS Cerritos. Unlike earlier Star Trek shows that follow captains and senior officers, *Lower Decks* highlights the missions and daily lives of low-ranking officers with menial jobs, while the captain and senior staff appear as supporting characters.
- Creator
- Mike McMahan
- Network
- CBS All Access (later Paramount+)
- Premiere date
- August 6, 2020
- Number of seasons
- 5
- Final season release
- October to December 2024
- Main voice cast
- Tawny Newsome, Jack Quaid, Noël Wells, Eugene Cordero, Dawnn Lewis, Jerry O'Connell, Fred Tatasciore, Gillian Vigman
- Production companies
- CBS Eye Animation Productions, Secret Hideout, Important Science, Roddenberry Entertainment, Titmouse
Lore & Background
Star Trek: Lower Decks is set in the late 24th century in the Star Trek universe, where Earth is part of the multi-species United Federation of Planets. The Federation's military and exploration division, Starfleet, operates a fleet of starships that travel the galaxy establishing contact with alien races; Lower Decks focuses on one of Starfleet's least important starships, the USS Cerritos. Unlike previous Star Trek series, whose principal characters are typically starship captains and other senior officers, Lower Decks focuses on the missions and adventures of the 'lower deckers', low-ranking officers with menial jobs, while the captain and other senior staff appear as supporting characters.
Work on an animated Star Trek series began in June 2018. McMahan joined as creator and showrunner by that October, when Lower Decks was ordered for two seasons by All Access. The series is produced by CBS Eye Animation Productions in association with Secret Hideout, Important Science, Roddenberry Entertainment, and animation studio Titmouse. The latter began work by February 2019, and the main cast was announced that July. Production on the first two seasons shifted to taking place remotely in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The series features many connections and references to past Star Trek series.
Reader's Guide
Star Trek: Lower Decks premiered on CBS All Access on August 6, 2020, and its 10-episode first season was released weekly through October 2020. The second season was released on Paramount+ from August to October 2021, a third season was released from August to October 2022, a fourth season was released from September to November 2023, and a fifth and final season was released from October to December 2024. The series has received positive reviews and several accolades, including three Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Award nominations and a Hugo Award. The series is notable as the first animated Star Trek series since Star Trek: The Animated Series concluded in 1974, and also the franchise's first comedy. It focuses on the support crew rather than senior officers, a departure from previous Star Trek series. The series was ordered for two seasons initially, with subsequent seasons ordered ahead of premieres. In April 2024, Paramount confirmed that the fifth season would be the last for the series. McMahan and Kurtzman expressed their hope that the characters' stories would continue beyond the end of the series.
Did You Know?
- The character Beckett Mariner is named after showrunner Mike McMahan's sister, Beckett Mariner McMahan.
- The series includes a Caitian doctor, T'Ana, as a reference to Star Trek: The Animated Series which also featured a member of that species, M'Ress.
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