With each season of “Star Trek: Decrease Decks,” I’ve discovered myself placing this pleasant animated comedy collection via the “spouse take a look at.” It is easy sufficient, actually. Will my spouse — a reasonably informal “Star Trek” fan who has seen loads of the unique collection and numerous “The Subsequent Technology” — get pleasure from this present, which builds a lot of its humor on references and in-jokes and Easter eggs constructed to cater to the lizard brains of significant, hardcore “Trek” dorks?
And each season, the reply is a convincing sure. That is the low-key great thing about “Decrease Decks,” a present that guarantees to be catnip for nerds-in-the-know however slyly provides the complete “Star Trek” expertise to any type of fan with any type of data degree. Once I, the lifelong fan, watch “Decrease Decks,” I am translating the fast references and luxuriating in how the present addresses the trivia that one other collection set on this universe would not have the time to discover. When she watches it, she’s merely invested within the tales of Boimler, Tendi, Rutherford, and Mariner, the low-ranking (however more and more much less so) crew members of the USS Cerritos, an nameless and largely missed Starfleet vessel assigned to the tedious missions the extra vital ships get to disregard.
It will’ve been simple for “Decrease Decks” to be a easy gag manufacturing facility catering to the impulses of super-fans. As an alternative, it does that whereas additionally telling tales that hit dwelling, starring characters who invite our affections and our loyalty as a lot as any live-action collection. It is an ideal steadiness: a “Star Trek” comedy collection that loves “Star Trek” a lot that it will probably’t assist however be “Star Trek” even when it is poking enjoyable at “Star Trek.” The spouse take a look at proves that this crew issues to her like Picard and Information and Worf matter to me.
Which makes it all of the extra bittersweet that the present’s fifth season, the place it stays as sensible and humorous and candy as ever, is its final.
A Star Trek present made by Star Trek nerds
The 5 episodes of “Star Trek: Decrease Decks” season 5 offered to critics for overview showcase a collection nonetheless working on the top of its powers. As soon as once more, every episode is a great, humorous standalone journey in a brand new cook dinner or cranny of the “Trek” universe, with one overarching storyline loosely tying the entire thing collectively. And on this case, that overarching storyline can not help however really feel applicable for a closing season: attributable to sci-fi shenanigans, each character finds themselves questioning not solely their present station in life, and in Starfleet, but in addition the trail not taken. This has all the time been a present about progress, private {and professional}, and this season doubles down on it: How do you select to enhance your life, and the way do you keep away from self-sabotage?
After all, all of that is constructed into the present’s typical format, the place the science fiction journey tales are usually not solely very humorous, however believable as precise “Trek” storylines (albeit from a skewed angle). Season 5 bounces between goofball headiness and surreal parody because it pleases, by no means dropping sight of its characters and by no means going for the apparent joke. As a result of why go apparent when you may construct complete storylines round obscure references to the oft-forgotten animated “Star Trek” collection from the Nineteen Seventies? (This handed the spouse take a look at admirably, as a result of she did not even understand it was a reference. Good job, “Decrease Decks.”)
With out spoiling something, season 5 is the precise combination of indulgent and curious with its explorations of the “Trek” universe, answering the questions which have stored followers awake at night time for many years (What, precisely, occurs to a planet when it joins the Federation and correctly turns into a post-scarcity financial system?) and delivering the type of area of interest story that correct nerds have been dreaming about for ages (the season’s format-breaking fourth episode is a dream come true for a sure taste of “Subsequent Technology” fan, particularly these keen on scripts written by Ronald D. Moore). It is clear in each second that “Decrease Decks” is not only a joke machine, regardless that the jokes are superb — it is a bunch of “Star Trek” followers utilizing their very own “Star Trek” present to reply all of the questions they’ve ever had about “Star Trek.”
If any Star Trek present deserved seven seasons, it is Decrease Decks
If this overview sounds rapturous … Effectively, that is as a result of it’s. Over 5 seasons, I’ve grown to like the “Decrease Decks” crew as a lot as I’ve cherished any “Star Trek” crew, which makes the present’s untimely cancelation all of the extra devastating. If any “Trek” collection deserved a full seven season run, following within the footsteps of “The Subsequent Technology,” “Deep House 9,” and “Voyager,” it is the one created by of us who clearly perceive and respect the historical past that accompanies a “Trek” collection reaching seven seasons. Frankly, this present ending now’s devastating.
On the similar time, we are able to respect that “Decrease Decks” by no means had the chance to lose its steam, by no means delivered a foul season, and by no means disillusioned. It solely received higher as its creators grew to become extra comfy including to the universe so that they so clearly love. It leaves us wanting extra. If the social media posts from solid and crew are any indication, it is clear that the cancelation wasn’t a deliberate one, and that everybody concerned needed to make extra. And I want they may’ve made extra.
The perfect “Star Trek” turns into a consolation. We watch it in occasions of strife and nervousness to really feel higher in regards to the future, and to think about ourselves in a world the place science, purpose, and diplomacy rise above the noise. “Decrease Decks” did all of that whereas additionally making us chuckle. It stays a present, and one which I will cherish endlessly.
/Movie Score: 8.5 out of 10
“Star Trek: Decrease Decks” season 5 premieres October 24, 2024 on Paramount+.
