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Star Trek: Lower Decks TV Listings

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Ensign Tendi arrives for her first day onboard the U.S.S Cerritos. She is introduced to crew members Ensigns Mariner, Boimler, and Rutherford. They get on with their everyday lives while dealing with the issues of the sci-fi universe.

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Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 5: See premiere date, release schedule, teaser, plot, cast and where to watch

P aramount+ has announced the premiere date, teaser trailer, and first-look photos for the final season of "Star Trek: Lower Decks" at San Diego Comic-Con. Season 5 will debut on October 24, 2024.

Premiere Date, Release Schedule and Where to Watch

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Cast and Production

What challenges will the U.S.S. Cerritos crew face in Season 5? The crew will deal with "space potholes," an Orion war, angry Klingons, diplomatic issues, murder mysteries, and career aspirations.

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Episode list

Star trek: lower decks.

S2.E1 ∙ Strange Energies

S2.E2 ∙ Kayshon, His Eyes Open

S2.E3 ∙ We'll Always Have Tom Paris

S2.E4 ∙ Mugato, Gumato

S2.E5 ∙ An Embarrassment of Dooplers

S2.E6 ∙ The Spy Humongous

S2.E7 ∙ Where Pleasant Fountains Lie

S2.E8 ∙ I, Excretus

S2.E9 ∙ Wej Duj

S2.E10 ∙ First First Contact

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How to watch Star Trek: Lower Decks season 4 online right now

Enjoy more comical voyages from the USS Cerritos

Advancement within Starfleet looks within the grasp of Brad, Beckett, D'Vana, and Sam — if they can only avoid being blown up by malicious AI and scheming alien species first. Watch Star Trek: Lower Decks season 4 online and from anywhere in the world when you download a VPN .

Star Trek: Lower Decks season 4 is streaming now, after premiering Sept. 7. 

• U.S. — Watch on Paramount Plus with a 1-week free trial • U.K., Australia, and Canada — Paramount Plus. • Watch anywhere — try ExpressVPN 100% risk free

Star Trek: Lower Decks is the second animated series in the franchise and its first-ever comedy. It charts the intergalactic adventures of bottom-rung staff and their beleaguered superiors aboard the USS Cerritos, one of Starfleet’s least consequential vessels.

In season 3, Beckett Mariner’s disobedient antics saw her exiled to Starbase 80 before saving her friends from rogue AI-powered ships. The usually timid Brad adopted a bold new approach to career advancement — including agreeing to be hunted by an alien warrior called K’ranch — and Rutherford regained his memory to uncover the truth behind his Vulcan cybernetic implant and a treacherous scheme by Admiral Buenamigo.

Expect season 4 to continue to follow our beloved “lower deckers” as they take on new roles and face intergalactic foes old and new. An unknown enemy has begun targeting United Federation starships. Brad, Beckett and friends are looking to prove themselves capable, joined by provisional ensign T’Lyn, a fan-favorite character who'll become a regular member of the team. Meanwhile, corrupted AI hologram Badgey is set to return, ready to torment his creator Sam Rutherford further.

Read on for our guide and watch Star Trek: Lower Decks season 4 online and from anywhere.

How to watch Star Trek: Lower Decks season 4 online from anywhere

Although Paramount Plus is steadily expanding, it isn't yet available everywhere. That doesn’t mean you have to miss Star Trek: Lower Decks if you find yourself in a country where the service isn’t available. With the right VPN (virtual private network), you can stream the show from wherever you go.

We've evaluated many options, and the  best VPN is  ExpressVPN . It meets the VPN needs of the vast majority of users, offering outstanding compatibility with most devices and impressive connection speeds. It's also affordable at $12.95 per month. (Signing up for longer periods of six months or a year reduces the cost even more.)

Our favorite VPN service,  ExpressVPN , really shines thanks to its safety, speed and simplicity-to-use. It's also compatible with loads of devices - from iOS and Android to Roku, Apple TV and PlayStations. 

What's more, if you sign up for 12 months, you'll get an extra 3 thrown in for free, and all plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

How to watch Star Trek: Lower Decks season 4 FREE online in the U.S.

Paramount Plus is beaming up Star Trek: Lower Decks season 4 starting Thursday, September 7 . 

Two episodes are streaming now, after dropping at 12 a.m. PT / 3 a.m. ET. One new episode will be released at the same time on Thursdays every week. 

Paramount Plus offers a 7-day free trial to new subscribers. After that, the Paramount Plus price starts from $5.99 a month ($11.99 if you want Showtime content too).

Paramount Plus combines what used to be CBS All Access with even more content from ViacomCBS partners. That includes Survivor and Big Brother episodes, originals like Star Trek: Picard, Yellowstone prequel 1923, in addition to blockbuster movies.

How to watch Star Trek: Lower Decks season 4 FREE in the U.K.

Star Trek: Lower Decks season 4 arrives on Thursday, September 7 on Paramount Plus in the U.K. too. There will be two episodes initially, then one a week until the season concludes on November 2.

The home of much of the Star Trek franchise, Paramount Plus offers new members a 7-day free trial before paying anything. After this time, a subscription is £6.99 a month or £69.90 for an annual membership.

How to watch Star Trek: Lower Decks season 4 online in Canada FREE

Canadian TV viewers will find Star Trek: Lower Decks season 4 airing on the CTV Sci-Fi Channel starting on September 7 at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT . You can also watch episodes live online through the CTV.ca website when you enter your cable provider details.

Otherwise, episodes will drop on Paramount Plus the same day. If you haven’t signed up before, you’re entitled to a 7-day free trial first. After that, it costs CA$9.99 a month or you can make a saving with the CA$99.99 annual option.

How to watch Star Trek: Lower Decks season 4 online in Australia

Once again, Paramount Plus is the home for Star Trek: Lower Decks. Episodes arrive Down Under starting from Thursday, September 7 .

There’s just one subscription plan, which you can get by paying either a monthly AU$8.99, or the one-off fee of AU$89.99 for a whole year of the service. But first, new subscribers can enjoy a 7-day free trial .

Star Trek: Lower Decks season 4 episode schedule

• Star Trek: Lower Decks season 4 episode 1: September 7
• Star Trek: Lower Decks season 4 episode 2: September 7
• Star Trek: Lower Decks season 4 episode 3: September 14
• Star Trek: Lower Decks season 4 episode 4: September 21
• Star Trek: Lower Decks season 4 episode 5: September 28
• Star Trek: Lower Decks season 4 episode 6: October 5
• Star Trek: Lower Decks season 4 episode 7: October 12
• Star Trek: Lower Decks season 4 episode 8: October 19
• Star Trek: Lower Decks season 4 episode 9: October 26
• Star Trek: Lower Decks season 4 episode 10: November 2

Star Trek: Lower Decks season 4 trailer

As the trailer opens, an unknown force is indiscriminately destroying starships. As it turns its guns on Starfleet, the USS Cerritos is called in to help. “I guess we’re finally getting some respect”, Beckett Mariner muses, as Brad begins Holodeck waste disposal. 

But with the promise of promotion in the air, they’re determined to prove they can be more than just “Lower Deckers” — battling returning AI villain Badgey, handling fraught encounters on a visit to Orion, and promising that whatever happens, “we’ll be friends forever no matter what our ranks are!”

Star Trek: Lower Decks cast

Tawny Newsome and The Boys’ star Jack Quaid are back as ensigns Beckett Mariner and Brad Boimler, two “Lower Deckers” who get stuck doing the dirty work on the USS Cerritos.

The main returning cast members for season 4 include:

• Tawny Newsome as Beckett Mariner
• Jack Quaid as Brad Boimler
• Noël Wells as D'Vana Tendi
• Eugene Cordero as Sam Rutherford
• Gabrielle Ruiz as T'Lyn
• Dawnn Lewis as Carol Freeman
• Jerry O'Connell as Jack Ransom
• Fred Tatasciore as Shaxs
• Gillian Vigman as T'Ana

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Here at Tom’s Guide our expert editors are committed to bringing you the best news, reviews and guides to help you stay informed and ahead of the curve!

Daniel Pateman has been a freelance writer since 2018. He currently works across a range of brands including TechRadar, T3, GamesRadar, What Hi-Fi? and  CinemaBlend , where he regularly pens How To Watch articles about where our readers can stream the latest new movies and TV shows, as well as producing detailed guides on the best streaming services, from Disney Plus to Netflix. He received a first-class degree in Humanities and Media in 2013 from Birkbeck University and later an MA in Contemporary Literature and Culture. In addition to his work for Future's websites, Daniel writes across the broad spectrum of arts topics – including photography, sculpture, painting, film – and has been published in The Brooklyn Rail and Eyeline magazine, among others.

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Star Trek: Lower Decks

• Tawny Newsome as the voice of Ensign Beckett Mariner
• Jack Quaid as the voice of Ensign Brad Boimler
• Noël Wells as the voice of Ensign D'Vana Tendi
• Eugene Cordero as the voice of Ensign Rutherford
• Dawnn Lewis as the voice of Captain Carol Freeman
• Jerry O'Connell as the voice of Commander Jack Ransom
• Fred Tatasciore as the voice of Lieutenant Shaxs
• Gillian Vigman as the voice of Dr. T'Ana

Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Convention, Sep 7 - 9, 2023, Hunt Valley, MD

• Web Channels

Star Trek: Lower Decks

Star Trek: Lower Decks focuses on the support crew serving on one of Starfleet's least important ships, the U.S.S. Cerritos, in 2380. Ensigns Mariner, Boimler, Rutherford and Tendi have to keep up with their duties and their social lives, often while the ship is being rocked by a multitude of sci-fi anomalies.

Official site: www.paramountplus.com

7.6 ( 122 votes)

Next Episode

Episode 5x01; oct 24, 2024, previous episodes.

Tawny Newsome

Jerry O'Connell

Eugene Cordero

Dawnn Lewis

Fred Tatasciore

Gillian Vigman

Recent discussions.

yeah, this turns out to be classic ST cave exploring episode like in the other previous ST series in the past, but its good nevertheless.

I'd love to see the Moopsie make a return somewhere else in the franchise.

It would be hilarious if this was a crossover or follow up on the Futurama episode with the "Bone Vampire" creature.

Extra Details

• Star Trek: Lower Decks II
• Star Trek: Lower Decks III
• Star Trek: Lower Decks IV

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Star Trek Lower Decks to End with Season Five

"star trek: lower decks" renewed for season 5 ahead of season 4 premiere, cbs all access announces new animated comedy, star trek: lower decks.

Upcoming Star Trek TV Shows: What's Ahead For The Sci-Fi Franchise

Here's what's ahead for Star Trek.

It’s a golden era for Star Trek tv shows, as the franchise is churning out more content than ever before. Fans with a Paramount+ subscription can stream a plethora of old and new content from one of the greatest sci-fi franchises of all time.

There’s a ton of new Star Trek content coming in the future, including the debut of a new show as well as the return of all the ones fans already know well. For those who need a breakdown of what all to expect, look no further because here’s where and when all the new Trek will arrive in 2023 and beyond. There’s even some information on planned shows that aren’t quite ready yet, but hopefully, we’ll see them soon enough. 

Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 - Premiering On April 4th 2024

Captain Michael Burnham and the crew are back, and based on what we've seen and heard about Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 so far, some changes are on the way. Season 5 will see the crew race against others in an attempt to secure an ancient power, and will apparently have a tonal shift that will skew more toward action and adventure. We also learned that this coming season will be the final adventure , as Paramount+ decided to end the series after this coming season. The final season will kick off in April and, fingers crossed, leave an avenue open for more stories with these characters in the 32nd century. 

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3 - In Production

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is coming back for Season 3, and is currently filming for the upcoming season. It's likely the season will kick off with the second part of the adventure started in the Season 2 finale . Pike must decide whether or not he's going to listen to Starfleet and retreat to avoid further conflict with the Gorn or to stay and try to save the kidnapped crew members. I have a hunch I know what decision he'll make, but I'm also very invested in seeing if Scotty will remain with the crew and what other adventures will come as well. 

Star Trek: Prodigy Season 2 - Coming In 2024

Paramount+ originally renewed Star Trek: Prodigy for Season 2, but announced later that it had been canceled alongside other shows on the platform. While the news was a bummer to many and encouraged responses from stars like Kate Mulgrew , there is a silver lining. After some talk with other companies, Paramount managed to negotiate a deal where the series will transition over to Netflix , and Season 2 will release over there. At this time, it's unknown whether or not this will lead to more seasons of Prodigy , but fans are thankful they'll at least get to see the season that was being worked on coming up in 2024. 

Section 31 Movie - Production Complete

Section 31 was one of the first Star Trek spinoffs announced after Discovery , and yet it took the longest to get off the ground. The series was supposed to Michelle Yeoh ’s Phillipa Georgiou and her efforts in the secret ops Starfleet faction that does the jobs that others in the organization would rather not know about. Other former Discovery stars, like Shazad Latif, were involved at one point, but some believed the odds of it happening aren't great after Michelle Yeoh's Oscar win .

It turns out Yeoh was interested in making it happen, and Paramount+ decided to alter the idea to a movie . Fans are excited about the project all the same, and ready to see Michelle Yeoh back in her role. Production on the film is officially underway, and it's looking like a premiere sometime in late 2024 to 2025 is likely.

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Starfleet Academy - Production Starting In 2024

Alex Kurtzman revealed not long ago that Star Trek is actively working on another new live-action series , and it’s going to be set at Starfleet Academy. Of course, we don’t know exactly what era this series is set to take place during or who is going to star in it yet. We don’t really know much of anything, though it’s worth noting that Star Trek: Discovery did write off its character Tilly when she took an offer at Starfleet Academy. The episode where that happened seemed like it could be a backdoor pilot for the show, but again, we have no idea. We do know that the writer's room is underway, but details are scant beyond that.  

As shown above, there’s still a ton of Star Trek on the way in 2024, and beyond. The only way to watch these shows is with a Paramount+ subscription , which is totally worth picking up with the increasing amount of shows and movies available to watch. 

Mick Joest is a Content Producer for CinemaBlend with his hand in an eclectic mix of television goodness. Star Trek is his main jam, but he also regularly reports on happenings in the world of Star Trek, WWE, Doctor Who, 90 Day Fiancé, Quantum Leap, and Big Brother. He graduated from the University of Southern Indiana with a degree in Journalism and a minor in Radio and Television. He's great at hosting panels and appearing on podcasts if given the chance as well.

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Screen Rant

Star trek: lower decks just debuted its own version of data.

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Star Trek Confirms Data Will Never Live Down His Most Embarrassing Moment

Star trek reveals data's kryptonite, turning his massive intelligence into a weakness, marvel's wild new symbiote team give venom lore its own avengers.

Warning: contains spoilers for "Go See Cal," appearing in Star Trek #500!

Star Trek: Lower Decks just introduced its impressive, but twisted, version of Data. The android Data is one of the Star Trek franchise's most compelling characters, but outside his brothers Lore and B4, he is one of a kind. Yet in the story “Go See Cal,” appearing in Star Trek #500, Rutherford, the engineering whiz of the Cerritos, creates his own riff on Data, carrying some heavy implications.

“Go See Cal” is one of the many stories appearing in the Star Trek #500 anthology. The story, written by Magdalene Visaggio and drawn by Megan Huang, opens with Tindi and Rutherford having assembled their own Soong-type android, revealing that every cyberneticist in the Federation is trying the same thing. Rutherford reveals he uses a black market “bi-neural compensator” obtained from a Ferengi . As a result, this Data variant seeks nothing but profit and advocates capitalism. After nearly auctioning the ship and crew off, Rutherford and Tendi reluctantly deactivate him.

Data Is a Quintessential Star Trek Character

Data is one of a kind in the star trek franchise.

Data, played by Brent Spiner, has been one of the Star Trek franchise’s most popular characters. Fans responded to Data’s desire to better understand the human experience, and maybe even become one himself eventually. Data was built by the brilliant, but reclusive cyberneticist Doctor Noonian Soong. Data was the third such model built: B4 was the first and Lore the second. Lore rebelled, and would become one of Star Trek’s greatest villains, and will soon threaten all creation in the forthcoming Lore War. B4 was seen only once, in Star Trek: Nemesis , and has not been heard from since.

Data's journey to better understand humanity let to some cringe-worthy moments in the Star Trek universe, and there is one he will never live down.

Star Trek has repeatedly stressed Data’s highly unique nature–there is no one else in the galaxy quite like him, apart from his brothers. Data’s creator, Noonian Soong, was one of the galaxy’s most refined scientific minds. Descended from a line of gifted inventors and scientists, Noonian Soong was able to do the impossible: build a positronic brain. Data’s one of a kind nature made him known throughout the Federation , and as seen in the sixth season Next Generation episode “The Chase,” the Klingon Empire as well. Data has been coveted by enemy empires and overzealous collectors alike.

Data Tried to Duplicate Himself Once--It Did Not Go Well

Data's attempt to "procreate" was one of his harshest lessons.

As part of Data’s desire to better understand humanity, he created another Soong-model android, who he named “Lal.” As seen in the third season Next Generation episode “The Offspring,” Data wished to know what it was like to be a father, and Lal was going to be how he would do it. Lal became popular with the crew, but drew the ire of Starfleet Command. Incensed that Data would create life without consulting anyone, Starfleet dispatched an expert in robotics and cybernetics to assess the situation. During his visit, Lal’s positronic matrix begins to break down, forcing Data to terminate her program.

Lal was played in "The Offspring" by actress Hallie Todd.

The finale of “The Offspring” is one of the most gut-wrenching moments in the history of Star Trek: The Next Generation . It represented a failure on Data’s part, and stressed just how cutting edge, and ahead of its time, Noonian Soong’s work was. None of the Federation’s best minds, to that point, had been able to duplicate Soong’s magic. Soong’s work was so far advanced that not even his own “children” could recreate it. Data came as close as anyone ever had in “The Offspring,” but even he met with a dead end.

The Federation Has A Mixed Attitude Towards Synthetic Life

Soong-style androids nearly brought the federation to its knees.

A seemingly throwaway reference in “Go See Cal” also sheds light on the state of cybernetics and robotics research in the Federation. Captain Freeman, Rutherford’s commanding officer, mentions an “All Fleet Robotics Prize,” and that many in Starfleet are attempting to build a Soong model android. The events of “Go See Cal” are set roughly a decade after the events of “The Offspring,” meaning there have been significant advances in technology since Data built Lal. That Starfleet holds a Robotics contest in the first place speaks volumes as to how the technology is viewed.

Data is one of the most fascinating and compelling characters in Star Trek history, but he has a weakness, and now it has been weaponized.

Soong-model androids would play big roles in the latter half of the 24th century. Eventually, the Federation seemingly “cracked the code” of Soong, creating an army of Data-like androids, which came to be called “synths.” On First Contact Day in 2385, a synth appeared to go rogue, initiating an attack on Mars that killed close to 100,000 people and destroyed many starships. In the wake of the tragedy, an investigation concluded that a “programming error” in the synths led to the attack, and as a result, placed a ban on research into the area.

The synths were not culpable in the attack, however. It was revealed that a renegade faction of the Romulan Tal Shiar, called the Zhat Vash, instigated the attack. The Zhat Vash believed that synthetic life was an existential threat to the galaxy, and were willing to kill not only thousands of Federation citizens, but their own people as well. Once this came to light, the ban was lifted and research began into the field again. The events of “Go See Cal” take place shortly before the Attack on Mars, and the crew's attitudes towards synthetic life reflect this.

The Attack on Mars Fundamentally Changed Both the Federation and Synths

Rutherford makes a name for himself in the star trek universe.

The Attack on Mars would no doubt have impacted the All-Fleet Robotics Prize. In the pursuit of it, Rutherford built an android that nearly equaled anything Noonian Soong created. If Rutherford had not used an illicit part, he might have succeeded in duplicating Soong’s achievements. Like Soong, Rutherford himself is no stranger to creating technology that runs amok: Badgey, the murderous AI, was built by Rutherford, a fact he alludes to in “Go See Cal.” Yet, after the Attack on Mars, the Prize, and all research, was more than likely mothballed.

“Go See Cal” puts a Star Trek: Lower Decks -type spin on episodes such as “The Offspring,” as well as the Federation’s evolving attitudes towards synthetic life. Doctor Soong’s research into the field was light years ahead of the Federation’s best scientific minds. Others have had trouble duplicating Soong’s results, but this has not stopped the Federation and Starfleet from trying. Rutherford, one of Starfleet’s most promising young engineers, has proven himself worthy of Noonian Soong, helping create a new, but darker, version of Data.

Star Trek #500 is on sale now from IDW Publishing.

The Best Star Trek Actors Who Guest Starred In The Twilight Zone

Two of the most-loved sci-fi franchises of all time have a lot more crossover than you might think. Before starring on "Star Trek: The Original Series," several key members of the enterprise popped up in Rod Serling's seminal series "The Twilight Zone." A few decades later, the same pattern would repeat, only it would be future "Star Trek: The Next Generation" stars cutting their teeth on episodes of the '80s "Twilight Zone" reboot. Even the most recent iteration of the show, Jordan Peele's short-lived but ambitious effort that stalled out after just two seasons, has hosted some great past and future "Trek" actors.

It's worth noting that this list concerns the best "Star Trek" actors , and as such, there are no guarantees that these talented folks are actually great or even memorable in their "Twilight Zone" appearances. Some certainly are, while others have only the briefest of guest spots in mostly-forgotten episodes. We've limited this list to just 11 actors, but you could probably program a 24-hour TV marathon based entirely around episodes of both shows that feature the same actor. Some noteworthy "TOS" performers who didn't make the cut but should be recognized regardless include William Windom, James Gregory, Vic Perrin, Joseph Ruskin, and Susan Oliver, all of whom had memorable but non-starring roles in both shows.

In deciding to focus on "Star Trek" television, we also left out John Cho, who appeared in the not-great 2019 "Twilight Zone" episode "The Wunderkind" and, of course, played Hikaru Sulu on the big screen in Paramount's reboot "Trek" films. You don't need us to tell you that John Cho is great in everything . With that said, here are 11 other talented "Trek" actors who appeared in "The Twilight Zone" over the years, in order of their appearance.

William Shatner

Before he was commanding the U.S.S. Enterprise with cocksure charm and glistening pecs, William Shatner had starring roles in not one but two great "Twilight Zone" episodes. He's most remembered for the second one, season 5's "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet," in which he plays a panicked man (who recently recovered from a breakdown) convinced he saw a gremlin on a plane's wing. Shatner's memorable line reading when he attempts to convince others that the monster is real has been parodied to hell and back, paraphrased by everyone from Ace Ventura to Bart Simpson. The unsubtle bravado of Shatner's performance made it famous, but the episode is also remembered as a paranoid thriller with a classic twist ending.

Shatner's first appearance in "The Twilight Zone" is less referenced, but even better. In the season 2 episode "Nick of Time," he plays one half of a newly married young couple (Patricia Breslin is his wife) that ends up transfixed by a fortune-telling machine at a diner on the way to their honeymoon. Shatner's character briefly becomes fixated on controlling their future through the machine's seemingly all-knowing answers, but they ultimately decide to live with the uncertainty. It's a powerful parable about the wide open future young lovers face, and the choice to either face it together or descend into anxiety and obsession over what could go wrong. Shatner and Breslin memorably make the right choice.

Leonard Nimoy

"A Quality of Mercy" was no doubt an effective anti-war tale when it dropped in 1961, but these days, it's tough to look at the "Twilight Zone" episode and see anything but a white actor in yellowface . That actor thankfully wasn't Leonard Nimoy (though he also crossed racial lines on screen, once playing a Native man on "Gunsmoke"), but the man playing his soldier's superior officer, Dean Stockwell. Stockwell starts the episode as Second Lieutenant Katell, a platoon leader commanding a weary band of U.S. soldiers (including Nimoy's Hansen) at the end of World War II.

When Stockwell tries to push his men into an attack on a group of wounded, surrounded Japanese soldiers, he's suddenly body-swapped and pushed back through time, where he finds himself acting as a Japanese commander about to do the same thing during the fall of the Philippines. The message here is potent, if extremely ill-executed: the lines between friend and foe are thinner than you think, and American brutality on the battlefield isn't morally sound just because it's coming from Americans. A sobering ending drives the point home even further. Nimoy is a relatively small presence in the episode, but he's also the type of actor who I imagine would've made viewers at the time pay a little more attention and ask, "Who's that guy?" They'd know him soon enough.

James Doohan

Before the crew of the enterprise was asking James Doohan's Scotty to beam them up, the actor was playing around with teleport-like technology in a season 4 episode of "The Twilight Zone." The show's fourth season is known as its weakest thanks to episodes that sprawled out to an hour (every other season featured taut 30-minute episodes), and "Valley of the Shadow" is no exception. Still, it's an interesting premise: a reporter (Ed Nelson) discovers a mysterious town where everyone seems keen on making sure he leaves quickly. Soon enough, though, a series of disasters leads to the man taking up residence in the town and discovering that it's a sort of isolated utopia he can never leave.

Doohan plays a townsperson (credited as "Father" in the show, though his character has since been called Johnson) who's only in the episode for a moment, but you'll recognize him from his ultra-high-waisted pants. The episode is an interesting complement to "Star Trek" in that it uses technology that's similar to that of "Trek" transporters and replicators. It's also philosophical in a way that aligns with the later series: the town's futuristic tech is fiercely guarded by its citizens, who don't believe the world at large could handle such powerful tools without descending into violence.

George Takei

Another episode about Japan, America, and the ghosts of World War II, "The Encounter" is a powerful (if flawed) two-hander. A young George Takei delivers a singular performance (he's by far the standout of all the original "Trek" castmates on this list) as a man named Arthur who ends up trapped in an attic with a racist WWII vet (Neville Brand's Fenton) and a katana that has a taste for blood. A sharp script by Martin M. Goldsmith unfolds with tense precision as Arthur, a young stranger looking for work, and Fenton, a depressed man with skeletons in his closet, attempt to find common ground.

"The Encounter" delivers surprise after surprise, all of them realistic and each of them related to the unthinkable events of World War II and the bleak state of race relations in post-war America. Arthur's dad, we find out, was in Pearl Harbor, while Fenton took the sword from a Japanese soldier under dubious circumstances. As the episode unfolds, it becomes clear that the katana, which has the inscription "the sword will avenge me," has a mind of its own. No matter how hard both men try to move past their guilt and defensiveness, this piece of the past won't let them. It's a potent episode with a message about war as a zero-sum game, and it would be nothing without Takei's incredible performance. He also gets to show off his swordsmanship, something he would do again in the classic "Trek" episode "The Naked Time." 

Takei's "Twilight Zone" appearance was rarely shown on TV in the 20th century, as its frustrating, both-sides take on Arthur and Fenton's respective roles in World War II was reportedly protested from the time of its release.

The 1985 version of "The Twilight Zone" doesn't possess the timelessness of the original, and it delivered fewer stone-cold classics, but it's got some gems nonetheless. Part of the show's charm comes from the parade of future stars who showed up for a fragment of an episode: everyone from Morgan Freeman to Helen Mirren to Shelley Duvall popped up in the series. Tim Russ, who would take minor roles in several "Star Trek" properties before landing the part of Vulcan Tuvok in "Star Trek: Voyager," is credited in two different episodes of the series.

The first, "Kentucky Rye," delivers a good old-fashioned wicked-get-punished storyline involving a drunk man who buys a bar that seems too good to be true. Without giving away the episode's satisfying ending, Russ plays part of an emergency services team in a minor yet narratively important role. His second appearance came two years later in the episode "Voices in the Earth," which sees an interstellar scientist (Martin Balsam, who was also in the original "Twilight Zone") plagued by the figures of former Earthlings upon returning to the now-barren land. The episode isn't great, but it does feel more like a "Star Trek" story than a "Twilight Zone" one. Russ appears as Archer, a member of the scientific team.

Jonathan Frakes

"Trek" mainstay Jonathan Frakes appeared in one of the sillier episodes of the '80s "Twilight Zone" reboot, the 1985 fable "But Can She Type?" The episode follows an underappreciated receptionist (Pam Dawber) who gets sucked into another dimension by a malfunctioning Xerox machine. Hilariously, it's a world where secretaries are as high-status and beloved as movie stars. It's there that she meets Frakes' character (credited only as "Single Man"), who is impressed with her career and wants to take her out. As ridiculous as certain aspects of the episode are, it's memorable as the rare "Twilight Zone" story that doesn't leave its main character trapped in the worst timeline.

Frakes has also stepped behind the camera on "The Twilight Zone," albeit after he had already gained fame as fan favorite character William T. Riker on "Star Trek: The Next Generation." In 2002, Frakes directed the 11th episode of the second "Twilight Zone" reboot, "The Lineman," which focuses on a telephone line worker (a pre-"Entourage" Jeremy Piven) who gets psychic powers. Frakes is a great director, but "The Lineman" is not one of the higher-rated episodes of the series.

Brent Spiner and John de Lancie

One of at least two "Trek" crossover two-for-ones in "Twilight Zone" history, "Dead Run" features two of the most talented scene-stealers from "Star Trek: The Next Generation" (and "Star Trek: Picard," for that matter). Data actor Brent Spiner and Q himself, John de Lancie, both appear in this episode, which is a standout entry in the '80s "Twilight Zone" reboot. "Dead Run" is about a truck driver (Steve Railsback) whose lack of job opportunities leads him to become a ferryman to Hell, a gig he takes reluctantly and soon grows disillusioned with as he figures out that some people on the "low road" might not actually deserve to be there.

"Dead Run" is interesting for several reasons, from its use of the "afterlife as bureaucracy" idea (which would later end up in everything from "Beetlejuice" to "Good Omens" and "The Good Place") to its critical commentary on both punishment-heavy organized religion and America's faulty justice system. Spiner appears as a draft dodger consigned to hell, while De Lancie plays a dispatcher working with the transport team. Just one year later, both would step into their career-defining roles on "Star Trek: The Next Generation."

Terry Farrell

The only "Trek" star to land a lead role in the 1980s "Twilight Zone" series, Terry Farrell led the cast of a revamp of one of the original series' best episodes. Several years before she was breaking new ground as queer, genderbending Jadzia Dax in "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," Ferrell played the woman at the center of "The After Hours," a surprisingly unnerving remake of a Rod Serling classic. In case you haven't seen the excellent original, we'll keep the details of "The After Hours" quiet, but it's worth noting that both versions of the story feature a woman named Marsha whose visit to a department store is plagued by eerie mannequins.

There are a few key differences between the two episodes, including their tone. While the original "After Hours" reveals its mythology as a sort of wistful magical realist premise, the '80s version takes a horror-tinged approach, with Marsha's encounters with the mannequin beings growing more aggressive as the episode wears on. Farrell puts in a solid performance here, but it's impossible for "The After Hours" to live up to the original, which is one of the best episodes of a classic sci-fi show in its prime.

Tawny Newsome and Paul F. Tompkins

Incredibly, "Dead Run" isn't the only "Twilight Zone" episode to feature two future costars in a "Star Trek" series. In 2020, "Star Trek: Lower Decks" voice actors Tawny Newsome and Paul F. Tompkins appeared together in a season 2 episode of Jordan Peele's reboot series just two months before making their "Trek" debut. The episode, "Ovation," opens with a pop star passing a mysterious medallion to a busker named Jasmine (Jurnee Smollett) before dying by suicide. Jasmine's fortunes soon change, and on the road to fame, she goes on a talk show hosted by Paul F. Tompkins' character. Newsome plays her sister, Zara, who's caught in the crossfire of Jasmine's newfound celebrity.

Newsome and Tompkins don't have scenes together in "Ovation," but they'd share plenty of screen time in "Star Trek: Lower Decks," where Newsome stars as rebellious nepo baby ensign Beckett Mariner and Tompkins plays hilariously unhelpful bird-man therapist Dr. Migleemo. Though neither talented comedic actor gets the screen time they deserve in "Ovation," it's a solid episode of the so-so reboot series — one that's bolstered by great performances from Smollett and Newsome, assured directing from Ana Lily Amirpour, and a wheel-of-fortune plotline that would be right at home in the original "Twilight Zone."

10 Favorite Star Trek Musical Pieces

😲 Comment below (without indignation, if possible), or post your personal list. The Star Trek franchise has brought forth numerous great pieces of music. Here are excerpts from the ten I personally find most memorable, so much that I occasionally find myself humming some of them.

10 Ilia's Theme

Ilia's theme is the first of three pieces from the "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" on my list. It is the arguably most emotional one of my favorite tunes. And while I admit it may be a bit too prominent in the movie itself, it works very well in the context of the soundtrack CD.

9 Star Trek Title Theme

The TOS title music by Alexander Courage is the most recognizable Star Trek sound still today. It consists of the ten-note opening fanfare during Shatner's narration, followed by the theme that is accompanied by Loulie Jean Norman's high-pitched voice since season 2. Gene Roddenberry famously wrote very corny and practically unsingable lyrics for the theme so he could claim 50% of the royalties. The only one who knows how to perform the song seems to be Jack Black . I hope he paid the royalties...

8 Klingon Battle

The "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" soundtrack is marked by single pieces that serve very distinct purposes and are anything but generic background music. In this regard, "Klingon Battle" is the probably most successful piece, as it has become a signature tune for the Klingons. It was re-used in TNG: "Heart of Glory" and in "Star Trek: First Contact", for instance.

7 "Star Trek (2009)" End Credits

Michael Giacchino composed the soundtracks for "Star Trek (2009)" and the two subsequent Abramsverse movies, including a very recognizable common main theme. This aptly sets apart the more bombastic new movie universe from classic Star Trek. In his end credits we can hear an updated TOS theme, and Giacchino does something ingenious by gradually blending in the Abramsverse theme so the two become one.

6 "Star Trek: First Contact" Title Theme

The "First Contact" theme is another masterpiece by Jerry Goldsmith, both in terms of the melody and the instrumentation. In the opening of the movie, its optimistic mood abruptly and shockingly makes way for the Picard's creepy assimilation scene. It gives me goosebumps even when I only listen to it.

5 Star Trek: Voyager Title Theme

Jerry Goldsmith composed a powerful yet very optimistic title theme for Star Trek: Voyager. This music got me hooked immediately when I first watched the series. Ahead of the DS9 theme with its similar style and way ahead of most of the recent Trek music, this is the best instrumental series theme in my view.

4 Faith of the Heart

The Enterprise title theme, composed by Diane Warren and performed by Russell Watson, is, without a doubt, the most controversial music ever produced for Star Trek. There were vocal protests and petitions to replace the song. It is ultimately a matter of taste. Besides liking the song, I think that its lyrics as well as the modesty of its sound perfectly fit the idea of the series. It really doesn't always have to be fanfares!

3 "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" Title Theme

Jerry Goldsmith composed the title theme for "Star Trek: The Motion Picture", which was re-used for "Star Trek: The Final Frontier" and, in a somewhat more "tinny" sounding variation for Star Trek: The Next Generation. The optimistic, catchy and often played theme has earned the status of something like a "national anthem" of Star Trek. I often find myself whistling it, so it clearly deserves a top rank in this list.

2 "Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan" Title Theme

As soon as in the ominous first few seconds of the "Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan" title theme, we know that we are up for an extraordinary soundtrack (and an exciting movie). James Horner is known for his prominent brass sounds and humming violins, and I recognized them in unrelated movies too, without knowing it was Horner's music. A top rank for this very stirring piece of Trek music.

1 Battle in the Mutara Nebula

"Battle in the Mutara Nebula" is the one piece in "Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan" that beats even the title theme. It has a dramaturgy that, of course, follows the events on screen. But even when I listen to the soundtrack without visuals, the score is much like a symphony. There are some more silent parts in the music that are hardly noticeable in the movie and that tie everything together to an uninterrupted experience. A masterpiece!

Honorable mentions: "Archer's Theme" from the Enterprise end credits and the bass guitar riff from TOS known as "Spock's Theme" narrowly didn't make this list. Kudos also to Lower Decks for bringing back the catchy title music from the 80's and 90's.

Classical Music in Star Trek - identification of the various pieces and their composers, complete with sound files

https://www.ex-astris-scientia.org/rankings/ten-favorite-themes.htm

Last modified: 27 Sep 2024

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Published Sep 24, 2024

Star Trek Explorer #12: Gabrielle Ruiz and Playing the Vulcan Rendition of Mariner

The latest issue of the official Star Trek magazine, on newsstands today, features an interview with the actress on her approach to Lower Decks' T'Lyn.

StarTrek.com

The latest issue of the official Star Trek magazine, Star Trek Explorer #12 , on newsstands today, delivers on all the latest insights into the Star Trek universe.

Within the pages of the latest issue of  Star Trek Explorer , dive into a handful of exclusive fiction, interviews, and features.

Star Trek Explorer  #12 celebrates Star Trek: Lower Decks with an exclusive interview with creator Mike McMahan and voice actor Gabrielle Ruiz. In addition, the magazine sits down with Star Trek: Strange New Worlds cinematographer Benji Bakshi.

Star Trek Explorer #12 Newsstand Cover

Elsewhere, the latest issue celebrates the epic conclusion of Star Trek: Discovery with a look at the series best moments across the seasons. Don't miss an all-new Star Trek: Discovery short story from writer Keith R.A. Candido and artist Mike Collins with a tale about augmented reality. All this and so much more!

Thanks to our friends at Titan Magazines, we have an exclusive excerpt on Gabrielle Ruiz's feature, below!

"Empathalogical Fallacies"

With three Star Trek: Lower Decks characters under her belt, Gabrielle Ruiz has a lot to be happy about – and despite the cool and collected exterior of the latest addition to the Lower Deckers, the Vulcan Officer, Acting Ensign T'Lyn, Star Trek Explorer discovers there's some shared happiness in there as well…

"Originally, I auditioned for Tawny's role — for Mariner!" She began. "I come from Broadway — singer, actor, dancer. What's so cool about voice-overs is that you let it go so easily. It's all instinct. You have a name and know emotional stakes right away and it's so freeing. When this audition came through, there was no Star Trek sign on it at all — some Mike McMahan hints, but you could recognize his style anywhere. That's what's really nice, it's to work with what they give you, and it ended up being Mariner with a call-back!

"There were some hints about Mariner and I told my husband, 'I think it's Star Trek !' And I got really excited. So, I went in for the audition. They give you a script and you have an hour before the audition to read. You leave the script there. It's water-marked with your name on it, right? We read the pilot and Mike was there with the Executive Producers. I took the notes as best I could, got really excited and that was that. But when you hear Tawny in the role, you're like, up. That's her. She fit all the notes! Her energy and demeanor were perfect and after watching the pilot, I couldn't help but feel like she made total sense for that character."

"In the Cradle of Vexilon"

Gabrielle then talks about the audition that landed her the role for T'Lyn.

"Then they booked me for a number of other characters. I was Ensign Lamont, a computer voice, and I can't express how much I cried. I mean, when I saw my name in the Star Trek font — I lost it. Then there was Castro — and there's such a lot of attitude in that character. If you know Crazy Ex-Girlfriend , then there's a lot of Valencia in her! I was having a blast just being a part of the crew. I got to hang out with Mike in the studio in 2019 and I was even able to have some influence on part of the story with Boimler. The following year, T'Lyn comes in."

Gabrielle pauses for a smile at this.

"The audition was so special. Not only did it feel like it got it right, which is a subjective measure of an actor appreciating her craft, but there was Spock, a database, a prestigious and an esteemed tradition to be a Vulcan. I did a lot of work and study for this character and listening — because there's a lot of listening in an animation and it hit me immediately: T'Lyn is a Vulcan rendition of Mariner. That's what I took, and I remember a season prior that [in the episode " wej Duj "], she kind of flips off her mum with the Vulcan salute and that felt like the moment where she tells her captain to 'live long and prosper, sir .' That was the audition scene, and I remember thinking that I had to match that to that — let's put her in a different universe. And you know what? I guessed right! I put some stoic comedy in there and I remembered listening to it and worrying if it was right. But this was special — to me, to my family and I booked it!"

Read the full interview in Star Trek Explorer #12 — on sale today, plus Star Trek: Lower Decks creator Mike McMahan and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds cinematographer Benji Bakshi; two all-new and exclusive Star Trek short stories; the life and legacy of Ro Laren; Explorer 's definitive guide to Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2, and much, much more!

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Star Trek: Lower Decks streams exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S. and is distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution. In Canada, it airs on Bell Media’s CTV Sci-Fi Channel. The series will also be available to stream on Paramount+ in the UK, Canada, Latin America, Australia, Italy, France, the Caribbean, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Ireland and South Korea.

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TREKNEWS.NET | Your daily dose of Star Trek news and opinion

Jean-Luc Picard’s tea cups from TNG are headed back into production

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Star Trek: Discovery – The Complete Series Review: A great collection with a glaring flaw

Star Trek: Prodigy Season 2, Episodes 17 & 18 “Brink” and “Touch of Grey” Review: All the World’s a Stage

Star Trek: Prodigy Season 2 Episodes 15 & 16 “Ascension, Parts I and II” Review: From Peace to Peril

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Strange New Worlds director Jordan Canning talks “Charades,” the versatility of the series & Star Trek fandom

‘Star Trek Online’ lead designer talks the game’s longevity, honoring the franchise, and seeing his work come to life in ‘Picard’

57-Year Mission set to beam 160+ Star Trek guests down to Las Vegas

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Review: Star Trek: Picard — No Man’s Land

In what might be the first for a Star Trek audiobook, Star Trek: Picard: No Man’s Land gets a physical release treatment. The audiobook, which came out in 2022 and was written by Trek vets Kirsten Beyer and Mike Johnson , tells a story centering on Raffi Musiker ( Michelle Hurd , who reprises her role from Star Trek: Picard ) and Seven of Nine ( Jeri Ryan , reprising her role from Star Trek: Voyager and Picard ) set in between the first and second seasons of Picard . Whereas before today fans could only enjoy this story in its original audiobook form, those who eschew audio dramas can now read the script of this production. But the question is: would you want to?

It’s important to drive home that this release isn’t a novel; it’s the script of the audiobook. That means the story unfolds without the detailed comforts of a novelization; readers read what the actors and production staff would have read when the audiobook was recorded. As such, it’s a brisk 147-page drama that forces the reader to imagine details otherwise filled by voice recordings or sound effects.

As it stands, having the script of an audio production available is pretty neat. When you open this script, it’s like reading a blueprint, rather than viewing the finished product. Normally, it would be up to actors to breathe life and personality into the words you read, so don’t be surprised if the words by themselves in this script can feel a bit hollow, lifeless, or lack the dramatic timing you’d listen to in an audiobook or read in a novel. Ultimately, you’ll use your imagination quite a bit to fill in the purposefully missing details in this sparse script; hopefully, you know Star Trek well. If this seems like something your mind is up for, give this script a chance.

“ Star Trek: Picard – No Man’s Land  picks up right after the action-packed season one conclusion of  Star Trek: Picard.  While Raffi and Seven of Nine are enjoying some much-needed R&R in Raffi’s remote hideaway, their downtime is interrupted by an urgent cry for help: a distant, beleaguered planet has enlisted the Fenris Rangers to save an embattled evacuation effort. As Raffi and Seven team up to rescue a mysteriously ageless professor whose infinity-shaped talisman has placed him in the deadly sights of a vicious Romulan warlord, they take tentative steps to explore the attraction depicted in the final moments of  Picard  season one. Based on the hit audio original, fans can now read this riveting script with fan-favorite characters.” – Official summary of No Man’s Land .

If this doesn’t sound like something you’d find enjoyable, that’s okay. The script release of No Man’s Land isn’t designed to appeal to everyone. It’s a collector’s item, an example of how many minds – actors, voiceover directors, sound engineers, producers, and whoever else – need to come together to create something greater than the sum of its parts. Importantly, we doubt non- Star Trek fans would get much from this release, which isn’t usually our observation for Star Trek publications.

We never reviewed the original No Man’s Land release back in 2022, so this was our first time visiting the story. As fans of Star Trek: Picard, we appreciated learning how and why Seven and Raffi awkwardly interact the way they do in season two of that show. We also appreciated the story’s attempt to tackle a quintessential science-fiction theme – immortality – and place that within what’s essentially two love stories.

These love stories, one between Raffi and Seven and another between Doctor Gillan and his wife, are placed within what’s become a major event in Star Trek history: the evacuation of Romulan worlds preceding their home star going supernova. Seven, still with the do-gooding Fenris Rangers, enlists Raffi to help stop a rogue Romulan warlord from uncovering the secret to immortality. Unfortunately, we can’t say this story ranks highly among the best in Star Trek’ s pantheon thanks to its cookie-cutter villain and cliché dialogue, but it at least provides context for season two of Picard .

Our advice: if you’re interested in seeing the blueprint of an audiobook, and you’re a Star Trek fan through and through, give this script a shot. It won’t be the best way to absorb the story, but it will be a novel experience.

You can buy Star Trek: Picard: No Man’s Land  now on Amazon . The audiobook can be purchased on Amazon , too.

Stay tuned to TrekNews.net for all the latest news on Star Trek: Prodigy , Star Trek: Starfleet Academy , Star Trek: Discovery , Star Trek: Strange New Worlds , Star Trek: Lower Decks , and more.

You can follow us on X , Facebook , and Instagram .

Kyle Hadyniak has been a lifelong Star Trek fan, and isn't ashamed to admit that Star Trek V: The Final Frontier and Star Trek: Nemesis are his favorite Star Trek movies. You can follow Kyle on Twitter @khady93 .

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