Star Trek's Brilliantly Hilarious Joke About Voyager's Tom Paris Doppelgänger

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Lieutenant JG Beckett Mariner cunningly endeavors to prevent Nick Locarno from activating his illicit Genesis Device, shedding light on his deeply ingrained bitterness and resentment.

In a lighthearted tone, the episode cleverly acknowledges the uncanny resemblance between Tom Paris and Nick Locarno, leaving Lt. JG Bradward Boimler oblivious to the striking similarity.

Nick Locarno's character in Star Trek: Voyager was considered irredeemable due to his involvement in the Nova Squadron scandal, whereas Paris was more easily redeemed.

In the season 4 finale of Star Trek: Lower Decks, there is a clever joke about Lt. Tom Paris from Star Trek: Voyager and his look-alike. In the episode "Old Friends, New Planets," Lieutenant JG Beckett Mariner attempts to stop Nick Locarno from detonating his stolen Genesis Device. Locarno, now an independent captain, forms the Nova Fleet, which claims to be a collaboration of equals but is far from it. After being expelled from Starfleet Academy for covering up a fatal accident, Locarno harbors bitterness and resentment. He is determined to create his own legacy, no matter the cost to those who have joined his Nova Fleet.

Introduced in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode, Cadet Nick Locarno was the first of Robert Duncan McNeill's two Star Trek characters. Instead of being chosen as the pilot of the USS Voyager, Locarno was replaced by McNeill in the role of reformed Maquis traitor Tom Paris. Under the guidance of Captain Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew), Paris was given the opportunity to redeem himself and ultimately became a renowned figure in Starfleet due to his piloting skills in leading Voyager across the Delta Quadrant. The confirmation of his legendary status occurred in the Star Trek: Lower Decks episode titled "We'll Always Have Tom Paris". This is why Nick Locarno appears familiar to one of the Lower Deckers in the season 4 finale.

Lower Decks’ Joke About Tom Paris & Nick Locarno Being Identical Is Perfect

While observing Nick Locarno's speech to the Federation, Lieutenant junior grade Sam Rutherford (Eugene Cordero) turns to Lt. JG Bradward Boimler (Jack Quaid) and humorously points out that Boimler bears a striking resemblance to Tom Paris. Despite having had a close encounter with Paris during his visit to the USS Cerritos, Boimler fails to see the similarity between the two men. Persistently, Rutherford highlights the fact that "they have the exact same face," yet Boimler remains oblivious. This clever joke sheds light on the numerous instances within the Star Trek franchise where actors have portrayed multiple characters without anyone noticing the similarities.

As an illustration, Penny Johnson Jerald portrayed Dobara, Lt. Worf's (Michael Dorn) sister-in-law, on Star Trek: The Next Generation. Later on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Jerald and Dorn reunited, with Jerald assuming the role of Kassidy Yates, and the striking resemblance between the two characters went unnoticed. In Star Trek: Lower Decks, the confusion between Locarno and Paris serves as a humorous take on this recurring theme, heightened by Boimler's mention of Star Trek's Maquis in comparison to Locarno's Nova Fleet. The similarities between the Maquis and Nova Fleet further underscore the fact that Paris and Locarno are essentially the same person.

Why Star Trek: Voyager Created Tom Paris Instead Of Using Nicholas Locarno

Nick Locarno was considered beyond redemption by the producers of Star Trek: Voyager due to his involvement in the Nova Squadron scandal. When Locarno tried to execute the prohibited Kolvoord Starburst maneuver, it tragically resulted in the death of Joshua Albert. In an attempt to salvage his career, Locarno engaged in a cover-up and unjustly placed the blame on the young Cadet for the fatal accident. Eventually, Cadet Wesley Crusher (Wil Wheaton) revealed their plan to execute the dangerous maneuver.

The cameo of Wesley Crusher in 'Star Trek: Lower Decks' serves as a reminder of Nick Locarno's relentless pursuit of becoming a renowned figure, disregarding the well-being of others. Locarno's previous actions, including risking his crew's safety and covering up a fatal accident, made his path to redemption on 'Star Trek: Voyager' a difficult one. In contrast, Tom Paris, who had limited involvement with the Maquis, had an easier path to redemption. 'Star Trek: Lower Decks' has finally provided a form of redemption for Nick Locarno by naming a Genesis planet after him, which will become a refuge for refugees for many years to come. All episodes of 'Star Trek: Lower Decks' are currently available for streaming on Paramount+.

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z netizen, I find the joke about Tom Paris' doppelganger in Star Trek: Lower Decks to be hilarious. It's a clever way to acknowledge the fact that many actors have played multiple roles in the Star Trek franchise, often without anyone noticing. I also appreciate the way the joke highlights the similarities between Tom Paris and Nick Locarno, two characters who are essentially the same person.

The joke also raises some interesting questions about the nature of identity and redemption. If two people can look so alike and have such similar personalities, does that mean they are the same person? And if someone is considered beyond redemption, is it really possible for them to change? These are complex questions that don't have easy answers, but they're worth thinking about.