Star Trek Introduces a Fresh Scotty Sparking Excitement

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Andy Billups, the Chief Engineer of the USS Cerritos, shares a profound love for the ship akin to Scotty's passion for the USS Enterprise, and he readily comes to its defense whenever it is insulted. Billups demonstrates his unwavering commitment to the Cerritos by being prepared to engage in combat in order to protect the ship, mirroring Scotty's unwavering loyalty to the Enterprise.

The engineering team of the USS Cerritos is currently regarded as the most exceptional in modern Star Trek, surpassing even the renowned USS Enterprise in both team size and expertise.

In Star Trek: Lower Decks, it is evident that the Chief Engineer of the USS Cerritos possesses a deep passion for his ship, akin to the dedication Montgomery "Scotty" Scott (portrayed by James Doohan) had for the USS Enterprise in the original Star Trek series. Throughout his involvement with the Enterprise, spanning from the series to subsequent movies and even his appearance in Star Trek: The Next Generation, Scotty had an adoration for his ship. Serving as the Chief Engineer, he became intimately familiar with all the unique quirks and intricacies of the Enterprise, making him the unparalleled expert in repairing her engines. Scotty's ingenious problem-solving abilities and quick thinking earned him the title of a miracle worker when it came to any engineering challenges faced by the ship.

The Star Trek Lower Decks season 4 finale witnessed an encounter between the USS Cerritos and its crew against the disgraced Starfleet cadet Nick Locarno (Robert Duncan McNeill), thwarting his scheme to form his own fleet, Nova Fleet. In their endeavor to rescue the abducted Lt. Beckett Mariner (Tawny Newsome) and halt Locarno's plan, Captain Carol Freeman (Dawnn Lewis) and the Cerritos crew are obliged to travel to Orion and request a battleship. While Lt. D'Vana Tendi (Noël Wells) negotiates with the Orions' leader (who coincidentally happens to be her sister), D’Erika (Ariel Winter) insults the Cerritos. Acting swiftly, Chief Engineer Andy Billups (Paul Scheer) leaps to the defense of the Cerritos, affirming his unwavering love for his ship, akin to Scotty's devotion to the Enterprise.

Lower Decks’ Engineer Billups Just Became Star Trek’s New Scotty

Billups, the Chief Engineer on Star Trek: Lower Decks, may not have achieved the same level of significance as his counterparts in previous Star Trek series. However, his presence on Lower Decks is always appreciated and often brings forth laughter. In the season 4 finale, viewers are given even more reasons to adore him. During a conversation with Tendi, who he tries to convince to accompany him on a mission to Orion, D'Erika remarks, "Having you back at my side would mean more than some measly support ship." Billups, without skipping a beat, indignantly retorts, "The Cerritos is not measly at all. She is the gem of the [California Class]!"

In "The Trouble With Tribbles," Billups and Scotty were ready to fight for their ships against the Orions and Klingons, respectively. In a later episode, "Trials and Tribble-ations," Dr. Julian Bashir, Chief Miles O'Brien, Lt. Commander Worf, and Constable Odo also joined the brawl with the Klingons.

Lower Decks Has Modern Star Trek’s Best Engineer Team

Surprisingly, the USS Cerritos currently boasts Star Trek's most outstanding engineering team. Led by Chief Engineer Billups and accompanied by Lt. Sam Rutherford (Eugene Cordero) and other skilled engineers, the Cerritos possesses a more formidable team than the USS Enterprise in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. In the first season of Strange New Worlds, the Enterprise's engineering team lacked development following the demise of Lt. Hemmer (Bruce Horack), who was succeeded by Commander Pelia (Carol Kane) as Chief Engineer. The Enterprise's engineering team is yet to be fully explored in the prequel series.

However, the introduction of the youthful Lt. Scotty (Martin Quinn) in the finale of Strange New Worlds season 2 brings hope that he will join the Engineering department, allowing Strange New Worlds to establish the Enterprise's Engineering team. Until then, the Cerritos may hold the upper hand over the Enterprise in terms of their engineering department. Star Trek: Lower Decks has delivered outstanding Star Trek content, and its engineering team remains among the best.

Star Trek: Lower Decks season 4 is available to stream on Paramount+.

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z netizen, I am excited about the introduction of a fresh Scotty in the Star Trek universe. Billups, the Chief Engineer of the USS Cerritos, brings a new energy and passion to the role, and I am eager to see how he develops in future seasons. I appreciate that Billups is just as dedicated to his ship as Scotty was to the USS Enterprise, and I think this will make him a relatable character for fans of the franchise.

Overall, I think the introduction of Billups is a great way to keep the Star Trek franchise fresh and exciting. I am looking forward to seeing more of him in future seasons of Lower Decks and in other Star Trek shows and movies.