Warning: SPOILERS for Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 4 Finale - "Old Friends, New Planets"
Article Overview
Lt. Brad Boimler's transporter clone, Lt. William Boimler, was conspicuously missing from season 4 of Lower Decks, leaving his storyline unresolved. Instead, the season centered around the adventures of other characters like Lt. Beckett Mariner and Lt. D'Vana Tendi, leaving us with limited knowledge about the fate of William Boimler.
It is suggested in William Boimler's final scene that he may join Section 31 and transform into a malevolent version of himself. This development opens up possibilities for future storylines in season 5 of Star Trek: Lower Decks and other Star Trek projects.
In the eighth episode of season 3 of Star Trek: Lower Decks titled "Crisis Point 2: Paradoxus," then-Ensign Brad Boimler discovered that his transporter clone had tragically perished due to a gas leak. Throughout the episode, he grappled with grief, contemplating the meaning of his own existence. Boimler's comrades from the Lower Decks provided support and guidance as he navigated his emotions, unaware that his clone's death had been fabricated. The revelation that William had joined Section 31 left viewers with a sense of suspense, as though it were a cliffhanger that would be resolved in the future. The tale of William Boimler remains unresolved, and Lower Decks season 4 concluded without any additional information regarding the whereabouts of the missing transporter clone.
Brad's Clone William Boimler Didn't Appear In Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 4
Star Trek: Lower Decks season 4 focused on Lt. Beckett Mariner, delving into her past and unveiling the reasons behind her self-destructive behavior following her promotion to Lieutenant, junior grade. Alongside Mariner's personal crisis, the storyline also revolved around the dubious schemes of disgraced ex-Starfleet cadet Nick Locarno. The season was eventful, with noteworthy moments for Boimler, such as leading his first away team mission and engaging in humorous exchanges with Lt. Sam Rutherford. However, the team behind Lower Decks did not address the developments of season 3, specifically Boimler's supposed "death" and defection to Section 31. Furthermore, season 4 extensively explored Lt. D'Vana Tendi and provided insights into the Orion culture.
Boimler's transporter clone adds to the extensive roster of Star Trek duplicates, with only a few of them having noteworthy storylines. Over the course of its four seasons, Star Trek: Lower Decks has provided subtle hints and fragments of information regarding the backgrounds of the main characters prior to their time on the USS Cerritos. Given the intricate details and occasional obscure references scattered throughout Lower Decks, it is evident that the writers have a well-thought-out plan for the show's future. Therefore, Boimler's brief and somewhat foreboding final scene certainly does not mark the end of William Boimler's appearances.
What Is William Boimler's Section 31 Future In Star Trek?
The last scene featuring William Boimler and his recent affiliation with Section 31 hints at the possibility of him transforming into a malevolent version of himself. Star Trek: Lower Decks enjoys toying with conventional Trek themes, and the franchise has a penchant for exploring the concept of an evil twin. Brad Boimler's excessively eager demeanor and tendency to overshare make him ill-suited for the covert operations of Section 31, implying that William Boimler must exhibit notable disparities. In his limited appearances, William has already demonstrated distinctive thinking and decision-making patterns compared to Brad. In season 5 of Lower Decks, the narrative could center around Brad Boimler once again, delving into the realm of his (potentially wicked) clone created through transportation technology.
The crossover between Lower Decks and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds established that the animated characters from Lower Decks can appear in live-action Star Trek projects. This opens up the potential for Jack Quaid to reprise his role as William Boimler in the upcoming Section 31 movie, alongside Michelle Yeoh's Emperor Philippa Georgiou. It would be interesting and enjoyable to see these contrasting characters on screen together. Not much information has been shared about the Section 31 movie, allowing for it to occur at any point in the Star Trek timeline, possibly even concurrently with Lower Decks. Season 4 of Lower Decks can be streamed on Paramount+.
Editor's P/S
I am a passionate fan of Star Trek: Lower Decks, and I have been eagerly awaiting the release of season 4. I was excited to see what would happen to Lt. Brad Boimler's transporter clone, Lt. William Boimler, after he was revealed to have joined Section 31 at the end of season 3. Unfortunately, season 4 did not provide any additional information about William Boimler's fate, leaving me feeling disappointed and frustrated.
I understand that the writers of Lower Decks may have wanted to focus on other characters and storylines in season 4, but I believe that they did a disservice to fans of William Boimler by leaving his story unresolved. I am hopeful that season 5 will provide more information about William Boimler and his role in Section 31. I am also curious to see how his relationship with Brad Boimler will develop, as the two characters are very different from each other.
Overall, I enjoyed season 4 of Star Trek: Lower Decks, but I was disappointed by the lack of information about William Boimler. I am hopeful that season 5 will provide more answers and further develop his character.