Star Trek is entering a strange, new world... and it could mean Lower Decks is in jeopardy.
During an interview with Cinema Blend, Lower Decks showrunner Mike McMahan explained that Star Trek is heading in a bold direction, and what that could mean for its current wave of shows.
“Yeah, I mean, listen, we’re in weird times,” he said. “Everything is changing. I think everything’s gonna continue to change. I would say nothing is safe. I don’t have any bad news for anybody, but also, I think you shouldn’t assume that this stuff is gonna stick around unless you vocally and watch it early on.”
Star Trek: Lower Decks has been something of a fan-favourite since the show launched back in August 2020.
Telling the story of low-ranking support crew on the starship Cerritos, Lower Decks' irreverent humor and piles of Star Trek Easter eggs have kept fans amused and intrigued in equal measure. The animated series stars Jack Quaid as Brad Boimler and Tawny Newsome as Beckett Mariner, two of those low-ranking crew members who have gone on to give us four seasons of spacefaring shenanigans.
However, McMahan has teased that while he’s already working on Season 5, that could be the last we see of the Lower Decks crew. “I do not know if we’re going to have another season after the season we’re working on right now,” he said. “Lower Decks could very well be a five-season show.”
It’s true that Star Trek is in a strange place right now. There’s plenty on the horizon, including a new season of Strange New Worlds as well as the upcoming Starfleet Academy show and a Section 31 film starring Michelle Yeoh. However, there are also some casualties already being reported.
Star Trek Prodigy was abruptly canceled back in June, and despite fans attempting to save the canned Trek series, it looks as though it won’t be coming back. Then there’s Star Trek: Discovery, which has been confirmed to end in 2024 with its fifth and final season.
Even Star Trek: Picard looks as though it's reached its conclusion, with Picard settling into what seems like a neat ending at the end of Season 3. The show’s star Patrick Stewart has since confirmed it was only ever envisioned to run for three seasons, but he has hopes for a follow-up film.
Whether or not Lower Decks will survive remains to be seen, but the animated Star Trek show has seen a lot of goodwill from fans. Either way, it sounds as though we can expect a fifth season at the very least.
IGN’s Lower Decks Season 4 review gave it 8/10 and said: “Star Trek: Lower Decks expands its storytelling in season 4 by upgrading the career tracks of the Beta Shift team. By tapping into their enthusiasm and self-doubt as they work their way up the Federation ladder, the season offers more opportunity for chaos and character maturity. Plus, the Trek Easter eggs remain deep and plentiful.”
Want to read more about Star Trek? Check out the ‘original’ ending of Star Trek: Picard as well as why Star Trek should embrace its silly side.
Ryan Leston is an entertainment journalist and film critic for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.
