Get Ready for Exciting Adventures in Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 4 - Premiere Date Revealed!

Highlights

Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 4 is set to release in September, with the first two of ten episodes.

The animated series tracks the escapades of the USS Cerritos team, with a particular emphasis on the Starfleet officers stationed on the lower deck and their comedic misadventures.

Concluding Season 3, the crew confronts a malevolent character and hints at the comeback of a former foe, sparking curiosity amongst fans about what awaits in Season 4.

Fans can finally breathe a sigh of relief as the release date for Season 4 of Star Trek: Lower Decks has been announced. This animated Star Trek series had an unconventional start in 2018 when Mike McMahan, a writer for Rick and Morty, ran a Twitter fan account dedicated to envisioning an 8th season of The Next Generation. McMahan expressed his desire for a Star Trek series that delved into the stories of the lower-ranking Starfleet officers, the individuals responsible for mundane tasks like loading the food replicator with a yellow cartridge to produce a banana.

And so, the Twitter brainchild became a reality. Initially, Kurtzman and McMahan faced mixed reviews. However, the series gained popularity with its light-hearted plots and self-contained episodes, leading to three successful seasons. It has received an impressive 84% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and has been nominated for various awards. Combining elements of nostalgia and fresh content, the show incorporates numerous Easter eggs to please long-time fans while still offering a welcoming experience to newcomers, allowing them to create their own fandom. Now, fans eagerly anticipate what Season 4 has in store and, most importantly, its long-awaited release date.

What is Star Trek: Lower Decks about?

In Star Trek: Lower Decks, the USS Cerritos' eclectic crew races across the galaxy in search of opportunities to prove themselves. Each week, Captain Carol Freeman endeavors to lead her crew on an extraordinary adventure that will impress her superiors. However, her plans often go awry due to the interference of her daughter, Beckett Mariner, and her mischievous companions. Whether it's the well-intentioned mishaps of Brad Boimler or Mariner's unconventional problem-solving tactics, chaos ensues and fires are inadvertently ignited.

Amidst the turmoil, their closest allies and fellow Star Trek lower decks crew members, D'Vana Tendi and Sam Rutherford, also find themselves entangled in their own messes. For instance, in season 1, episode 9, "Crisis Point", Boimler creates a training holodeck program to prepare for a captain interview, resulting in Mariner facing off against a computer-generated version of herself in an attempt to save the rest of the crew. Despite the trials they face, the crew always manages to come together and overcome the challenges they encounter. It is expected that the chaotic nature of Star Trek: Lower Decks will persist in Season 4.

How did Star Trek: Lower Decks season 3 end?

In Season 3, Lower Decks delves into Star Trek's history of powerful villainous technology. Vice Admiral Les Buenamigo is introduced as the mastermind behind a new fully-automated Texas-class ship. He believes that a ship can function perfectly without a sentient crew as long as it is equipped with the best gear available. This concept echoes a similar storyline from Star Trek: The Original Series, specifically in season 2, episode 24, "The Ultimate Computer". However, Buenamiga's plan quickly falls apart, and Starfleet realizes that living beings are indispensable in operating their ships. Meanwhile, Mariner has another fallout with her mother, and Rutherford embarks on a journey of self-discovery.

During his self-discovery, Rutherford's other personality named Red helps him uncover the truth that Buenamiga is the mysterious person responsible for his questionable implant, aimed at erasing incriminating evidence. The climactic moment occurs in season 3, episode 10, "The Stars at Night", where the admiral's reputation crumbles. The USS Cerritos faces the alarming realization that the Texas-class ships are actually their enemies, and they are outnumbered. However, Mariner arrives just in time with a group of California-class ships, saving the day. As the Season 3 finale concludes, there is a tease about the return of an old nemesis in Season 4, leaving the fate of the crew of Star Trek: Lower Decks uncertain.

When does Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 4 premiere?

Star Trek: Lower Decks is set to release the first two episodes of its ten-part series on September 7, 2023. With the release date looming, fans are filled with anticipation and curiosity, as the trailer hints at an exciting yet tumultuous journey ahead. Boimler's hopes for a promotion rely on a glitch-free experience, but as spoiler alert suggests, chaos ensues. Tendi's introduction of Mariner to the enigmatic Orion culture results in bloodshed, and oddly enough, that's not even the most alarming aspect. Amidst the relentless explosions, it becomes challenging to decipher the ongoing events, aside from the fact that they are the exact opposite of what Captain Freeman desires. Fans will have to wait until Season 4 for the unveiling of the new opening title sequence.

One thing is certain, however, Star Trek: Lower Decks will continue to explore familiar territory filled with references and Easter eggs, although they may not always be consistent. In the style of Star Trek V: The Voyage Home, the poster showcases the ensemble cast's faces arranged in a circle above a Klingon bird of prey, with Mariner and Boimler placed in the center. It appears that the Ferengi will play a more prominent role compared to Season 3, and the trailer concludes with Rutherford facing the same challenging games encountered by the DS9 crew in season 1, episode 10, "Move Along Home." Brace yourself for a thrilling yet enjoyable journey!

Meanwhile, fans of Star Trek: Lower Decks can take advantage of their ample time to rewatch the series on Paramount Plus. They have the opportunity to catch up on all the dramatic moments or simply relive their favorite scenes. For instance, they can revisit the intense reaction of Rutherford when Bajoran Lieutenant Shaxs miraculously returned from death, or they can reminisce about the episode featuring the communication-capable dolphins. Additionally, fans can witness Mariner and Boimler in live-action form on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, particularly in the episode where Mariner cheekily refers to it as "that Pike thing we're not supposed to talk about." It's the episode where Boimler, once again, finds himself in trouble while Mariner comes to the rescue clumsily.

All in all, this beloved animated series manages to be one of nuTrek's more endearing collections, despite its use of bleeped-out curse words and allusions to explicit sexual acts. Perhaps, it is this sincere dedication to having a good time that contributes to its popularity. Star Trek: Lower Decks playfully teases without being mean-spirited, and fans can eagerly anticipate Season 4 as it continues to be an exciting, albeit slightly meandering, love letter to their cherished franchise.

Star Trek: Lower Decks season 4 premieres on Paramount Plus on September 7, 2023.