Star Trek

Whoops. I just infodumped. TLDR The long, analytic version of what you just said.

The blurb: I think there are several factors to Lower Deck’s efficacy as a Star Trek comedy series.

For one, I think the classic Trek formula in many ways lends itself to a comedy. For one, I think comedy was always an intentional part of classic Trek writing balanced with other elements, whether it be Bones making a quip at the end of a TOS episode, Data manifesting his mannerisms, or Tom calling Tuvok a real freakasaurus. In addition, there was often the unintentional humor in Star Trek or the camp (granted I am a younger viewer), whether it be the ironically funny punk depiction in Star Trek IV, Troi uncomfortably harnessed in a dark, surreal environment with mediocre effects, or chuckling at what DS9’s 2024 gets horrifically and laughably wrong. Lower Decks utilizes the classic Trek formula by amplifying the intentional comedic writing while strategically replacing the unintentional humor with well-placed satire.

I also think that Lower Decks expresses a love of Trek that other Trek shows (though I have enjoyed them somewhat) seem to lack despite (or maybe because) its comedic focus, both through satire and fidelity. Rather than trying to make Star Trek darker and edgier for the sake of 21st century, Lower Decks does a great job of reviving the 24th century, whether it be the aesthetic faithfulness of the LCARS panels compared to other recent Treks, the new-yet-familiar 24th century ships that feel like the old kit-bashes in spirit, or wacky holodeck sports. In addition, although there is some of the humor typical to adult animation that I don’t necessarily enjoy, namely innuendo, a lot of the humor is well done, whether it be references that are niche for even the most savvy Star Trek fan, satires that simultaneously are funny while re-exploring previous Star Trek concepts and characters, or honestly comedy that even stands on its own without becoming so surreal the episode is some futile incoherent mess.

I also feel that what Lower Decks does great at that many other comedy shows and just shows in general fail to do, and that’s not letting its primary genre interfere with storytelling. Lower Decks is fundamentally a comedy show, but like a true Star Trek, most episodes have a moral (MAYBE NOT Rise of Vindicta, but I’ll give that a pass). The Cerritos is an explorer, but whereas the Enterprise may have explored grand political themes, the Cerritos uses its crew to light-heartedly (or sometimes, heavily) voyage through career ambition, the mother-daughter relationship, death, personal growth, collaboration, and much more in a unique, yet fundamentally Star Trek fashion, letting the moral guide the comedy without letting it get sappy. I’d in fact go as far to say that Lower Decks does character development better than the majority of Star Trek series (which often struggle with a character focus), probably only rivaled by DS9.

Overall, I think (and hope) any future Star Trek series regardless of genre would do well to follow Lower Deck’s example in building itself around what makes Star Trek Star Trek.

P.S I’m a bit biased because I’m starting to think Bradward Boimler is my spirit animal. To find that out, you first have to think you want to be another Star Trek character (a Data, a Kira, a Bones, etc.) and then slowly realize that you’re just trying to be that character (kind of like imposter syndrome except hopefully you come to an epiphany that you need to try and be your own person).