Introduction

Star Trek: Lower Decks is an American adult animated television series created by Mike McMahan for the streaming service CBS All Access.

It is the ninth series in the Star Trek franchise, and was launched in 2020 as part of executive producer Alex Kurtzman’s expansion of the franchise.

Lower Decks is the first animated series created for All Access, and the first animated Star Trek series since the 1973-1974 series Star Trek: The Animated Series.

Outline

In the wake of Victoria Nuzé’s embarrassing expose, Star Fleet opts to follow Admiral Buenamigo’s proposal to decommission all California-class ships and replace Second Contact duties with his automated Texas-class ships. Captain Freeman challenges Buenamigo’s ships to a race to run their duties. Rutherford is intrigued by the new ships’ programming. Meanwhile, Mariner becomes suspicious of her and Petra’s mysterious benefactor, but learns that it’s funded by Jean-Luc Picard. She confesses to Petra that she may have been searching for a reason to return to Starfleet. During the race, the Cerritos barely keeps up with the Texas-class ship’s capabilities and loses when the crew must pause their work to rescan for life on a desolate planet. Freeman realises that the Texas-class failing to stop and scan proves that the ships are inadequate to handle Second Contact parameters. She informs Buenamigo about reporting this information to Starfleet when Rutherford bursts in. He recognises the Texas-class’s A.I. programming as his own, and has realised that the shadowy Starfleet official who erased his memory was Buenamigo. Buenamigo reveals that he set up the Cerritos all along hoping they would fail in favour of the Texas-class. Rutherford warns him not to bring the ships to full automation, as the A.I. code is the same as Badgey’s and could result in aggressiveness. Buenamigo ignores him and brings the ships online, ordering them to destroy the Cerritos to cover his tracks, but they attack the starbase, killing him, before attacking the Cerritos. Hopelessly outmatched, Freeman sends out a distress signal, which is answered by Mariner and Petra, who also summon all the other California-class ships to assist. The Texas-class ships are defeated. Later, the crews of the California-class ships celebrate, and Freeman apologizes to Mariner, who forgives her and rejoins the Cerritos. T’lyn arrives as the Science Department’s newest recruit under Tendi’s mentorship. Meanwhile, Rutherford’s original implant, containing Badgey’s corrupted A.I., are collected from the Kalla system by an unknown source.

Star Trek: Lower Decks Series

You can find a full index and overview of the Star Trek franchise here.

You can find a full index and overview of Star Trek: Lower Decks here.

You can find a full index and overview of season 03 here.

Production & Filming Details

• Release Date: 27 October 2022.
• Running Time: 25 minutes (per episode).
• Rating: PG.
• Country: US.
• Language: English.

Video Link(s)