Star Trek: Lower Decks' final season is here, and signifies a sweet addition to the 2024 TV schedule. While it's great that creator Mike McMahan promised a satisfying conclusion for the series, there's still optimism in regard to the show receiving a second life in some way. Series stars Jack Quaid and Tawny Newsome expressed as much to CinemaBlend when we talked about the upcoming episodes. We also discussed how the showrunner specifically turned the franchise "on its head" in a way that impacts current and upcoming Trek shows.
The two aforementioned stars, plus Eugene Cordero and Noël Wells were on hand to discuss all things Star Trek: Lower Decks ahead of its premiere. Give that Mike McMahan wasn't in tow, I was curious about the cast's thoughts on working with him. I specifically wanted to know what's going to be lost with him seemingly exiting Trek with the show's conclusion. Jack Quaid shared his thoughts while reminding me that the series could always find a home elsewhere:
We all hope that this isn't the real ending, and we hope that this is more of a pause rather than a goodbye. I just know Mike as the biggest Star Trek fan of all time. Every day, I smile a little bit thinking that Mike McMahon got his own Star Trek show. I'm so happy for him, and I'm so proud of him. I think he has such a unique voice in general, but specifically within this franchise, and I just hope that he gets to continue making more Trek because he's just great at it.
Mike McMahan's passion and love for Star Trek is evident all throughout Lower Decks, which often pays homage to the TNG-era of the franchise. This will continue in the final season, as it's been revealed that Voyager's Harry Kim will appear and will apparently receive a promotion after being done dirty so many times on Janeway's ship.
As of this writing, there's no word on what the future holds for Lower Decks, beyond the fact that Paramount+ subscription can't expect to see new episodes moving forward. For now, it's also unclear if Mike McMahan will continue to work within the franchise, but Tawny Newsome noted his legacy is well-cemented in Trek history if he does:
I think about what he's leaving in the franchise, whether he leaves it or not, what he's opened up in the franchise is something so, so, so valuable. He has injected it with the possibility of an even more buoyant tone. Even the [Strange New Worlds] crossover episode, him creating these characters that could cross over and the collaboration he did with those writers on that script. The Strange New Worlds cast tells us all the time how after we filmed that episode with them, it unlocked this freedom of play. So that in their subsequent episodes, they have this sense of, ‘Oh, Star Trek can be like this, we can be like this.’ And I, I just think that wouldn't have existed without Mike being like, you know, whatever his first pitch was to [Alex] Kurtzman when he was like, 'I wanna make a thing about the people who stick the yellow cartridge in and get a banana out of the replicator.' He kind of turned everything on his head, and it'll never go back.
Tawny Newsome can speak to that better than anyone right now. She's currently developing a live-action Trek comedy with Justin Simien, and she hopes to use Lower Decks characters for it. I'd imagine she'd also welcome Mike McMahon providing input or even writing an episode should the in-development series be greenlit.
Honestly, there's no shortage of ways for Star Trek: LD to continue even if it ultimately isn't revived by another streaming service. It can always have a life via comics, novels and maybe even a stage production! Many Trek actors have theater experience, so I wouldn't take any possibility off the table.
Whatever the future may hold, I hope that Mike McMahan does find himself still working in Star Trek after the conclusion of his animated series. Whether he's doing that as an executive producer for another series or a guest writer on a future season of Starfleet Academy or Strange New Worlds, he feels like a valuable resource for the franchise to keep in-house as it continues to forge ahead.
I've been eagerly awaiting Star Trek: Lower Decks for a while, so it's great to see it'll finally get underway on Paramount+ on Thursday, October 24th. Watch the two-episode premiere and, if you're hoping to see more of the series beyond this final season, make sure to spread the word and get people talking!
