Star Trek: Lower Decks, the animated comedy that was received with skepticism from franchise fans before becoming a beloved favorite, is officially coming to an end. Paramount announced today that Lower Decks' previously-announced fifth season will be its last, bringing the adventures of the U.S.S. Cerritos to a close.
Paramount announced the news alongside word that Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has been renewed for a fourth season. In the official release, Paramount praised both shows.
Showrunner McMahan and producer Alex Kurtman sent the following message to fans.
We wanted to let you know that this fall will be the fifth and final season of Star Trek: Lower Decks. While five seasons of any series these days seems like a miracle, it’s no exaggeration to say that every second we've spent making this show has been a dream come true. Our incredible cast, crew and artists have given you everything they have because they love the characters they play, they love the world we've built, and more than anything we all love love love Star Trek. We’re excited for the world to see our hilarious fifth season which we're working on right now, and the good news is that all previous episodes will remain on Paramount+ so there is still so much to look forward to as we celebrate the Cerritos crew with a big send-off.
Lower Decks first released in 2020, earning praise for its light but faithful take on Gene Roddenberry's mythos. We called it at a "great addition" at the time, writing in our review, "Some of the humor doesn’t quite land in this first episode, but the voice cast are all having a ball, the animation design is sleek and will warm the heart of any TNG fan, and the nerdy Trek references are plentiful… and yet will not be distracting for newcomers to the franchise."
Some of its most popular episodes include Season 3's Hear All, Trust Nothing, which brings back Deep Space Nine, and Season 2's "Wej Duj," which offers a deeper look at the Vulcans and Klingons. Its simple animation belied sharp writing and a genuine appreciation for the franchise's sprawling universe. And of course, Lower Decks entered the real-world in a crossover with Strange New Worlds in that show's second season.
Back in 2023, showrunner Mike McMahan admitted doubt about Lower Decks' future, saying that "Lower Decks could very well be a five-season show." His comments followed the abrupt cancellation (and subsequent renewal) of Prodigy, which led us to wonder if we had reached the end of Star Trek's golden age of streaming.
It's uncertain what the future will hold, but Lower Decks will at least get one final voyage. Season 5 does not yet have a release date but is expected to release on Paramount+ sometime in 2024.
Kat Bailey is IGN's News Director as well as co-host of Nintendo Voice Chat. Have a tip? Send her a DM at @the_katbot.
