Summary
TheStar Trek: Lower Decksshowrunner seems to have a pragmatic view of the show’s future. Unfortunately, that view comes from a possibility that it may be close to reaching its end, whether the series is ready or not.
Star Trek: Lower Decksis possibly the most unique entry in the franchise to date. Despite not beingthe first animatedStar Trekseries, its approach to storytelling and humor is still far from anything that has come before. Quippy, banter-heavy dialog is the name of the game here, and it threw many fans for a loop at the start. But now, in its 4th season,Lower Deckshas earned its cozy pocket of dedicated followers in the eminent sci-fi fandom thanks to an undeniable level of heart at the center of all the reference-heavy jokes. However, that high may not last much longer.
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Speaking withCinemaBlend,Star Trek: Lower Decksshowrunner Mike McMahan offered a rather sobering update in response to talks about several otherStar Trekseries likePicardandDiscoveryending, as well as the kid-friendlyProdigyexperiencing an untimely cancelation. “Yeah, I mean, listen, we’re in weird times,” he said of the various cancelations. “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. I do not know if we’re going to have another season after the season we’re working on right now [Season 5].Lower Deckscould very well be a five-season show.”
Those worried that theoften raunchyStar Trek: Lower Decksis on the brink of cancelation may have gotten a twinge of hope from McMahan’s wording, as he did specify that he didn’t have any concrete “bad news” on the show’s future. But his words still inspire a bit of worry, and he wants fans to know they need to support the series if they want it to continue. “So, if you loveLower Decksas much as I do, I would say make sure to watch it and get people to watch it now,” he continued. “A letter-writing campaign after a show gets canceled, it’s helpful, but what’s more helpful is campaigning to get more eyes on the show when it’s airing because it gives me the ability to push for more seasons.”
The thing is, McMahan knows where he wantsthe challenging animatedStar Trekshowto go if it does continue past season 5. “I would love to finishLower Deckswith the plan that I have for it,” he added. “I would say, takeProdigylooking for a new [network], and take a look atPicardbeing wrapped at Season 3, and atDiscoverywrapping as well. I would say read those as signs that if you want moreLower Decks, you should be vocal about it now and not wait.”
It’s not like interest inStar Trekhas waned or anything. It seems stronger than ever, with recent series in the already diverse franchise upping the inclusivity (including more LGBT+ content) and subsequently bringing in legions of new fans. So if the fans come out and explicitly show their support forLower Decks, odds are the folks in charge will take notice. This is one series that deserves to end on its own terms.
Star Trek: Lower Decksreleases new episodes on Thursdays on Paramount Plus.
