It has been a fun ride but Star Trek: Lower Decks starts saying goodbye as it bids farewell for its fifth and final season on Paramount+.

It’s been a minute since we saw any of the U.S.S. Cerritos crew on TV. Their last appearance on TV was almost a full year ago. While it would be fun to see another crossover before saying goodbye, I’m not holding out any hopes for it.

You know what they say? All good things must come to an end. Come December 19, it will–that’s when the Star Trek: Lower Decks finale will be available to stream. It doesn’t even seem like that long ago–August 2022–when I first watched the first three seasons of the series. Time flies when you’re having fun watching the U.S.S. Cerritos crew. But hey, this is a credit to series creator Mike McMahan and the cast and crew that have come together. Without them, none of this would be possible!

I had an opportunity to watch the first five episodes of the ten-episode season. It’s nice seeing Officers Beckett Mariner (Tawny Newsome), Brad Boimler (Jack Quaid), D’Vana Tendi (Noël Wells), and Sam Rutherford (Eugene Cordero) back together. While nothing is ever mundane for them, this season feels different. Maybe it’s because this is the final season but it feels like their character arcs are pointing them in a definitive direction. While Tendi isn’t involved with the Cerritos crew in the first episode, things are poignant for everyone else as it is in the first episode. A “space pothole” aka subspace rift opens their eyes to an alternative life. To say that some of these are eye opening is not an understatement. I’m not going to get into specifics so you’ll just have to experience the episode itself. Still though, it makes you wonder if Beckett will ever act her age?

Other things taking place this season include an Orion war, enraged Klingons, diplomatic disasters, murder mysteries, and more. You know…the usual. Of course, they present things in a way that only Star Trek: Lower Decks can, which is full of awesomeness. The Lower Decks crew has had an opportunity to experience leadership roles. Will they be able to advance their Starfleet career as the season comes to an end? I’m certainly curious to see how things play out. But in any event, the season five teaser trailer and official trailer offers a small look at the fun on hand for the final season.

The fifth and final season of Star Trek: Lower Decks keeps up the adventurous fun while wishing that we didn’t have to say goodbye so soon.

CREATOR/SHOWRUNNER: Mike McMahan
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Alex Kurtzman, Mike McMahan, Aaron Baiers, Rod Roddenberry, Trevor Roth
CAST: Tawny Newsome, Jack Quaid, Noël Wells, Eugene Cordero, Dawnn Lewis, Jerry O’Connell, Fred Tatasciore, Gillian Vigman

Paramount+ releases season 5 of Star Trek: Lower Decks with two episodes on October 24, 2024. The 10-episode season will air weekly. Grade: 4/5

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