Star Trek's Hilarious Running Joke Makes a Triumphant Return - Fans Are Ecstatic!
Star Trek: Lower Decks revives a classic Enterprise joke, adding humor and nostalgia to the series Discover why the concept of 'Being The Closest Ship' remains relevant and entertaining in the Star Trek universe
Warning: SPOILERS for Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 4, Episode 7 - "A Few Badgeys More"
Summary
In the most recent installment of Star Trek: Lower Decks, the USS Cerritos is selected to probe a perplexing vanishing, attributed to its close vicinity to Bynar territory.
The ongoing gag in Star Trek, where the Enterprise is consistently portrayed as the nearest vessel to ongoing incidents, regardless of the capabilities and capacities of other starships, is disregarded.
The convenient use of "being the closest ship" as a plot device allows the show to focus on the main characters and progress the story without the need for complicated explanations.
In Star Trek: Lower Decks season 4, episode 7 titled "A Few Badgeys More," the Starship Enterprise's long-standing joke resurfaces. Starfleet Command receives a partial distress signal from a Bynar ship, prompting Captain Carol Freeman (Dawnn Lewis) and the USS Cerritos crew to investigate its mysterious disappearance, resembling the vanishings of other starships in the quadrant. Lieutenant Beckett Mariner (Tawny Newsome) optimistically suggests that Starfleet's trust in the California-class Cerritos for such a mission signifies the ship's value.
Lower Decks Brings Back One Of Star Trek’s Oldest Enterprise Jokes
: The Cerritos of Star Trek: Lower Decks has defied expectations by outperforming its intended purpose as a support vessel for more prestigious starships. In previous seasons, it triumphed over Admiral Buenamigos' automated USS Aledo and engaged in a battle against the Pakleds alongside Captain William Riker's USS Titan. However, the true reason behind the Cerritos' surprising success is much simpler - its proximity to Bynar space.
Star Trek: Lower Decks reintroduces the classic motif of the Enterprise being the ship in closest proximity to unfolding events. Regardless of which incarnation of the Starship Enterprise it may be, it consistently emerges as the most suitable vessel for Starfleet's missions due to its proximity to said missions. While other starships may lack the speed or resources of the prestigious and cutting-edge Enterprise, these attributes are seldom cited as the primary reasons for its deployment; more often than not, the Enterprise is simply the nearest ship available, regardless of its current location.
The reasoning deteriorates further when the Enterprise approaches Earth's solar system. With significant Federation establishments such as Starfleet Headquarters, the Federation capital, and three shipyards located on Earth, the Sol system should be teeming with worthy vessels. Surprisingly, in Star Trek: The Motion Picture, despite the incomplete refit of the Enterprise, it remains the sole ship capable of intercepting an anomaly that is merely three days away from Earth. This occurrence repeats itself in Star Trek Generations, where the ill-equipped USS Enterprise-B is the only available ship to respond to a distress call within range. Certainly, there must be other starships nearby. Then where are they?
Why “Being The Closest Ship” Makes Sense In Star Trek
When events occur in distant regions of the universe, it is highly probable that the Enterprise or Cerritos will be the closest starship to the mission. Considering the vastness of space, there are constantly unfolding events that demand Starfleet's attention, ranging from diplomatic conflicts to spatial anomalies and distress signals. These incidents can emerge anywhere, prompting Starfleet to strategically position its starships across the Federation space to ensure prompt assistance, thorough investigation, or any necessary action. Given the relatively lower urgency of the Bynar disappearance, the Cerritos is capable of managing the situation without requesting the aid of a more renowned starship, especially since they are already present in the vicinity.
While the use of the trope "being the closest ship" is often employed, it serves as a convenient way to advance the plot efficiently. Providing explanations for why a particular starship is dispatched is not always necessary. Occasionally, a ship may possess unique capabilities, such as the USS Defiant's cloaking device, which warrant its deployment. However, in most cases, Starfleet sends the Enterprise (or the Cerritos in Star Trek: Lower Decks), simply because the show revolves around that particular ship. While this may not be viable in the fictional universe, resorting to the tried-and-true trope of "being the closest ship" is a logical choice. Stream Star Trek: Lower Decks season 4 on Paramount+ every Thursday.
