Star Trek Revives Robert Duncan McNeill's Iconic Characters
Robert Duncan McNeill makes a triumphant return to Star Trek in both familiar roles: Lt Tom Paris reappears in Season 2 of Star Trek: Lower Decks, while Nick Locarno takes on the role of the compelling antagonist in Season 4 A thrilling comeback for McNeill that fans won't want to miss!
WARNING: Contains SPOILERS for Star Trek: Lower Decks, season 4, episodes 9 & 10.
Summary
Lt. Tom Paris makes a comeback in season 2 of Star Trek: Lower Decks, demonstrating the legendary status achieved by the crew of Voyager within the Alpha Quadrant.
It is expected that Lt. Tom Paris will feature in season 2 of Star Trek: Prodigy, under the leadership of Admiral Janeway as they embark on a mission aboard the USS Voyager-A.
The antagonist for season 4 of Star Trek: Lower Decks is Nick Locarno, sparking curiosity about his intentions and a potential showdown with Tom Paris. Actor Robert Duncan McNeill reprises his roles as both characters in seasons 2 and 4 of the show. Initially introduced as a disgraced Starfleet Academy Cadet in Star Trek: The Next Generation, Locarno made such an impact that he was considered for a recurring role in Voyager. However, due to his involvement in the cover-up of the Nova Squadron incident and his attempts to tarnish the memory of Cadet Joshua Albert, Locarno was deemed irredeemable.
A new character named Tom Paris was introduced in the Star Trek series. Tom was a former Starfleet officer who had once joined the Maquis and had been subsequently arrested and sent to a penal colony in New Zealand. Captain Kathryn Janeway recruited Tom to help pilot the USS Voyager through the dangerous Badlands in search of a missing Maquis ship. Tom became an essential member of the Star Trek: Voyager cast and his return in modern Star Trek was expected. Surprisingly, Nick Locarno, Tom's previous character from Star Trek: The Next Generation, also made a comeback.
Lt. Tom Paris Returned In Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 2
In season 2, episode 3 of Star Trek: Lower Decks, titled "We'll Always Have Tom Paris", the helmsman of the USS Voyager, Tom Paris, visits the USS Cerritos. Lower Decks confirms that the crew of the USS Voyager has become legendary figures since their return to the Alpha Quadrant. Ensign Bradward Boimler, a big fan of Paris, goes to great lengths to meet him after being locked out of the Cerritos' systems. Mistaking Boimler for a Kazon, Paris mistakenly attacks him but later apologizes by buying him a drink.
There is a high possibility that Lieutenant Tom Paris will return in season 2 of Star Trek: Prodigy. In this season, Admiral Janeway commands the new USS Voyager-A on a mission to rescue Captain Chakotay. The complex nature of the Voyager-A's journey into an alternate timeline suggests that Janeway will need an exceptional pilot. The Hageman Brothers have confirmed that Prodigy season 2, set to debut on Netflix in early 2024, will feature more callbacks to Star Trek: Voyager and the return of characters, making it likely for Tom Paris to make a comeback.
Nick Locarno Is Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 4’s Big Bad
In Star Trek: Lower Decks season 4, episode 9, titled "The Inner Fight," an exciting cliffhanger ending revealed that the mastermind behind the mysterious ship attacking various factions, including the Romulans and Bynars, was none other than Nick Locarno. Surprisingly, a new clip from the season finale discloses that Locarno has formed his own fleet, known as the Nova Fleet, using the captured ships. The intentions behind this fleet are still unknown, but it is captivating to witness Locarno uniting a diverse group of non-Federation species and potentially former Starfleet officers.
It is worth noting that Tom Paris from Star Trek: Voyager was introduced as a character due to Locarno's disqualification from redemption after his actions in Star Trek: The Next Generation. As the finale of Star Trek: Lower Decks' fourth season approaches, it seems that Locarno has fully embraced his darker side since his expulsion from Starfleet Academy. This resurgence of both of Robert Duncan McNeill's Star Trek characters provokes the intriguing thought of a confrontation between Locarno and Paris. Furthermore, the possibility of Locarno and Paris sharing the screen together raises intriguing questions about Locarno's true parentage concerning Admiral Owen Paris, who happens to be Tom's father (Richard Herd).
Star Trek: Lower Decks' season 4 finale streams Thursday November 2nd on Paramount+.
Editor's P/S
As a hard fan of Star Trek, I am thrilled to see the return of Robert Duncan McNeill to the franchise in both his iconic roles: Lt. Tom Paris and Nick Locarno. McNeill's portrayal of these characters has always been captivating, and it is exciting to see him bring them to life once again.
In Star Trek: Lower Decks, Lt. Tom Paris makes a triumphant return in season 2, showcasing the legendary status that the crew of Voyager has achieved within the Alpha Quadrant. His appearance in the episode "We'll Always Have Tom Paris" is a treat for fans, as we get to see the beloved character interact with the new generation of Starfleet officers. The episode also confirms that the crew of the USS Voyager has become legendary figures since their return to the Alpha Quadrant, which is a testament to the impact they had on the galaxy.
On the other hand, Nick Locarno, Tom's previous character from Star Trek: The Next Generation, also makes a comeback in season 4 of Star Trek: Lower Decks. In the episode "The Inner Fight," it is revealed that Locarno is the mastermind behind the mysterious ship attacking various factions, including the Romulans and Bynars. This revelation sets up an exciting conflict for the season finale, as Locarno's true intentions and motivations are yet to be discovered.
