Star Trek: Lower Decks Returns in Less Than Two Months

It is official: in less than two months, Star Trek: Lower Decks makes its grand return. For five seasons, Lower Decks expanded the parameters of the Star Trek franchise, showing the lighter side of life in the 24th century. Far from being a parody, Lower Decks was a true Valentine to Star Trek fans.

Premiering on CBS All Access (now Paramount +), Star Trek: Lower Decks was the ninth television series in the franchise, and the second to be animated. Unlike Star Trek: The Animated Series five decades prior, Lower Decks was largely aimed at adults. Created by Mike McMahan, who worked on Rick and Morty, Lower Decks was the Star Trek equivalent of a workplace comedy, following the exploits of five junior officers as they climb the ranks in Starfleet. Lower Decks ran for five seasons, and made a lasting impression on Star Trek fans.

Lower Decks' cancellation came as a major disappointment to both fans and those who worked on it. The program poked gentle fun at Star Trek tropes, and the Easter Eggs the creative team worked into the stories rewarded fans for their years of love and devotion to the franchise. After the show ended, IDW Publishing’s Lower Decks comic ran for several more months, giving fans additional voyages with Boimler and Mariner. Now, Lower Decks fans can rejoice, as the crew returns just in time for Star Trek’s 60th anniversary.

Star Trek: Lower Decks Returns This September

Lower Decks' Return is Part of a Larger Star Trek 60th Anniversary Celebration

As previously announced here on ScreenRant and elsewhere, IDW will release the Star Trek 60th Anniversary Special this fall. The one-shot features seven brand-new stories, set across the various iterations of the franchise. In addition to a prologue to the soon-to-launch Star Trek, the special will also have a brand-new Lower Decks story, written by show creator McMahan with Mike and Laura Allred on art.

At this time, IDW has not released any information on the story’s plot. Lower Decks fans will remember the show ended with Captain Freeman going on an extended leave, while Commander Ransom was promoted to Captain of the Cerritos. Boimler and Mariner were in competition to see who might be Ransom’s First Officer. If the Lower Decks story in the 60th Anniversary Special does indeed continue past the events of the finale, it will be a cause for celebration among fans.

The Lower Decks’ crew’s appearance in the Star Trek: 60th Anniversary Special will also be their return to comic books. As noted earlier, IDW has released a handful of Lower Decks books, including the highly-acclaimed Warp Your Own Way, which melded Star Trek action with a Choose Your Own Adventure-type story. IDW’s Lower Decks comics have attracted talent such as Ryan North and Chris Fengolio.

Star Trek: Lower Decks May Never Return to Television

Hopefully, Lower Decks’ return in comics this fall is the prelude to a greater comeback down the line, be it on screens or in print. Lower Decks was arguably the best of the so-called “Nu-Trek” shows. It marched to its own beat, resisting the darker approaches its contemporaries, such as Discovery and Picard, were embracing. Lower Decks emphasized the humanistic qualities that Gene Roddenberry baked into Star Trek. The ragtag crew of the Cerritos were highly competent, and saved the day despite being stuck on a somewhat second-class starship.

Star Trek’s 60th anniversary has been a mixed-bag for fans so far. There have been highs, such as the Rose Parade float, and lows, such as the cancellation of Starfleet Academy. With this and the impending end of Strange New Worlds, the franchise’s future is uncertain. This means the return of Star Trek: Lower Decks to television grows slimmer by the day, but IDW is giving fans one more jaunt with Mariner, Boimler, T’Lynn, Tendi and Rutherford in the comics.

Star Trek 60th Anniversary Special is on sale September 2 from IDW Publishing!