Warning: SPOILERS for Star Trek: Lower Decks season 5, episode 6, “Of Gods and Angles”
Star Trek: Lower Decksincorporates countless references to pastStar Trekshows, and its latest episode fixes two lackluster plotlines fromStar Trek: The Next Generation. Following the adventures of the USS Cerritos and its zany crew,Lower Decksfeels like a spiritual successor toTNGin many ways. InLower Decksseason 5, episode 6, “Of Gods and Angles,” the Cerritos hosts two warring alien factions. These energy aliens known as the Orbs and the Cubes float around the ship, constantly arguing about every tiny thing.
When one of the cubes goes missing, Lt. Beckett Mariner (Tawny Newsome) teams with the Cerritos' newest crewmember Ensign Olly (Saba Homayoon), who happens to be thedemigod grandaughter of Zeus, to solve the mystery. The main storyline in “Of Gods and Angles” isreminiscent of two very similar plotlines from early episodes ofStar Trek: The Next Generation.TNGseason 1, episode 7, “Lonely Among Us” andTNGseason 2, episode 4, “The Outrageous Okona” both have plotlines that involve warring factions, but they ultimately get lost among the episodes' other stories.
Star Trek: Lower Decks Fixes 2 Lackluster TNG Stories
Lower Decks Hilariously Incorporates Two Early TNG Storylines
InStar Trek: The Next Generation’s"Lonely Among Us," the USS Enterprise-D plays host to Selay and Antican delegates, whose conflict causes trouble for the ship’s crew. In a completely unrelated plotline, a strange energy blast passes through the Enterprise, affecting the ship and its crew. When the Assistant Engineer is killed, Lt. Tasha Yar (Denise Crosby) interrogates the delegates but ultimately determines that they are not responsible.Lower Decks'“Of Gods and Angles” contains warring aliens and a murder investigation,but ultimately ties its plotlines together better than “Lonely Among Us.”
10 Best Things Star Trek: Lower Decks Brought Back From The TNG Era
Star Trek: Lower Decks references every Star Trek show that came before it, but the animated show has a particular connection to the TNG era.
In the end,Captain Carol Freeman (Dawnn Lewis)and her crew learn that the children of the Orb and Cube leaders have fallen in love and born a child. In light of this development, the Orbs and Cubes agree to establish the Treaty of Squaaron, named for the little new shape.
TNG’s"Outrageous Okona" resolves in a similar manner,when the titular Captain Okona (Billy Campbell) reveals that he has been helping the son and daughter of two warring factions conduct their clandestine love affair. The daughter, Yanar (Rosalind Ingledew), has become pregnant by her enemy’s son Benzan (Kieran Mulroney), and their prospective child helps the two warring parties come together. By referencing these oldStar Trekstories (and resolving them more neatly),Below Deckscontinues to prove that there is still untapped potential in previous series.
Star Trek: Lower Decks Fulfills Creator Mike McMahan’s TNG Season 8
McMahan Once Ran A Twitter Account Posting Hilarious Ideas For TNG Season 8
Star Trek: Lower Deckscreator Mike McMahanwas recruited for theStar Trekteam not only because of his comedy chops, but also because of a Twitter account he ran called “TNGSeason 8.“Star Trek: The Next Generation,of course, ended with season 7, andMcMahan’s Twitter account consisted of often ridiculous suggestions for an imaginary eighth season.Upon meeting with executives, McMahan pitched a show following the lowest-ranked crew members of Starfleet’s ships, and the rest is history. WhileLower Decksmay not exactly beTNGseason 8, it has certainly incorporated a lot of characters, places, and things fromTNG.
Mike McMahan was also a writer, producer, and temporary showrunner for the popular adult animated comedy,Rick and Morty.
With its lovable cast of characters and surprisingly heartfelt galactic adventures,Lower DeckschannelsTNGin more ways than one. In 2020, McMahan sent one final Tweet on theTNGSeason 8 account, confirming that"all TNG Season 8 writing is being channeled into Star Trek: Lower Decks.“From bearded Riker jokes to a massive Tuvixed crew blob,Star Trek: Lower Deckshas incorporated several ideas from Mike McMahan’s Twitter account, and his obvious love forStar Trekshines through in every episode. Given this, it’s unsurprising that the show has excelled in revisiting old and abandonedTNGstorylines.
