Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
2022
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92% Avg. Tomatometer 83 Reviews 73% Avg. Audience Score 1,000+ Ratings "Star Trek: Lower Decks" focuses on the support crew serving on one of Starfleet's least important ships, the USS Cerritos...
- (83)
- 4
- TV-14
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What's new in Star Trek Lower Decks season 4?
- The “lower deckers” level up their career responsibilities and hilarity ensues.
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- Verdict
- Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 4 Review
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By Tara Bennett
Posted: Sep 7, 2023 12:00 pm
Star Trek: Lower Decks season 4 premieres Sept. 7 on Paramount+. Below is a spoiler-free review of the first eight episodes.
Star Trek: Lower Decks pursued a lot of nutty stories across its first three seasons, but it landed its biggest conceptual swing in July in its crossover with Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, "Those Old Scientists.” Lower Decks rides that critical and creative high into its fourth season premiere episode,“Twovix,” which crams in everything that’s great about the animated series: its deep love for the Trek franchise, its evolving cast of endearing characters, and ambitious plotting. With age comes maturity in Lower Decks’ storytelling, and the bulk of season 4 continues to tell strong standalone yarns while experimenting with an overarching serialized arc that's mostly successful.
More responsibility serves the whole cast well, especially the eternally competent but anxious Boimler, who spends a lot of season 4 pressed to rise to the occasion of leadership without the safety of any training wheels. On the flipside, Mariner’s self-sabotaging behavior and frequently aggressive impulses are also addressed; there’s a welcome, concerted effort to have her “grow up” a bit and face why she’s often her own worst enemy. On a lighter note, Tendi and Rutherford also get plenty of quality screen time, which ends up filling in the specifics of their respective backstories; “Parth Ferengi's Heart Place” (the best episode title of the season) straight up confronts the sweet, simmering chemistry that has so many viewers shipping the characters.
One of the most delightful surprises of the season is how well T’lyn integrates into the cast. Deemed too emotional to serve aboard the Vulcan ship Sh'vhal, T’lyn’s steady Vulcan countenance and unexpected empathy are readily accepted by the Beta Shift team. They all use her as an unlikely sounding board while they try to navigate the emotional landmines dredged up by their new positions. Ruiz does a beautiful job portraying T’lyn’s confusion regarding their perplexing outreach, which culminates in a surprising revelation about her own struggles in “Empathalogical Fallacies.” It’s a satisfying arc that firmly cements her as a wanted member of the Cerritos.
Brad Boimler
Carol Freeman
Beckett Mariner
Jack Ransom
Sam Rutherford
T'Ana
Star Trek: Lower Decks continues to unabashedly stan all things Trek while giving its own crew plenty of growth. The first eight episodes of season 4 are a mix of funny, sitcom-style stories and ambitious adventures that dig deep into Trek mythology. Overall, there are more hits than misses. The only underwhelming aspect of the season is the attemp...
Review scoring
great
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.
Tara Bennett
Aug 6, 2020 · Star Trek: Lower Decks offers a fun and funny new perspective on the Star Trek Universe without sacrificing what fans loved about the universe in the first place.
Critics Consensus. Fun, but not very bold, Lower Decks flips the script on Star Trek regulation just enough to stand out in the franchise, if not the greater animation landscape. Read...
- (47)
- August 6, 2020
- Barry J. Kelly, Bob Suarez, Kim Arndt
Feb 20, 2024 · With 'Lower Decks' Season 4, the most meta Star Trek is the smartest Star Trek. Here's a spoiler-free review of why 'Lower Decks,' Season 4 is ending 2023 in Trekkie style.
- Ryan Britt
Aug 12, 2021 · Star Trek: Lower Decks season two premieres Aug. 12 on Paramount+. Below is a spoiler-free review of the first five episodes.
Aug 6, 2020 · Review scoring. great. The latest Star Trek show is fun, funny, exciting and a love letter to TNG fans. Scott Collura. Read Review. Summary. Star Trek: Lower Decks focuses on the support crew...
