The Remarkable Return of a Beloved TNG Actress: Star Trek's Unforgettable Reunion After Three Decades

Article Overview

Star Trek: Lower Decks executive producers elaborate on the extensive effort undertaken to reintroduce Shannon Fill as Sito Jaxa in the season 4 finale.

After an extensive search, they managed to locate Fill, who had been absent from the performing scene for more than three decades, and successfully persuaded her to make a comeback. A noteworthy detail is that they even arranged for her daughter to accompany her during the recording process.

Sito's death had a profound impact on Mariner, solidifying her commitment to serving as an Ensign and upholding the values of Starfleet that Sito held dear.

The executive producers of Star Trek: Lower Decks, Mike McMahan and Brad Winters, discuss the tremendous effort it took to bring Shannon Fill back to reprise her role as Sito Jaxa in the season 4 finale. Fill previously portrayed Sito twice in Star Trek: The Next Generation: first as a Bajoran Starfleet Academy Cadet involved in a cover-up surrounding the death of her classmate in the season 5 episode "The First Duty," and again in the season 7 episode "Lower Decks," where the Ensign tragically lost her life while on a mission with Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the USS Enterprise-D.

During his appearance on The 7th Rule podcast with Cirroc Lofton and Ryan T. Husk, Mike McMahan discussed the process of finding Shannon Fill to make a guest appearance as Sito Jaxa in the finale's flashback of Star Trek: Lower Decks season 4. McMahan shared his admiration for Fill, describing her as the nicest person he has ever met. He mentioned that their line producer, Brad, still keeps in touch with her and expressed a desire to have her attend a convention. It had been several decades since Fill had performed, but McMahan and his team eagerly welcomed her back. Fill even brought her daughter to the recording, and they had an enjoyable time together.

In a recent Twitter/X post, Brad Winters, executive producer of Star Trek: Lower Decks, expressed his delight in working with Shannon Fill and emphasized the importance of her attending Star Trek conventions. Take a look at his post below:

Brad Winters further detailed what it took to get Shannon Fill to voice Sito Jaxa in Star Trek: Lower Decks season 4's finale flashback. Check that post out below:

What Shannon Fill's Return As Sito Meant For Mariner & Star Trek: Lower Decks

Sito's death has great significance for Mariner & Star Trek

In the ninth episode of season four of Star Trek: Lower Decks titled "The Inner Fight," an unexpected revelation was made by Lieutenant Beckett Mariner (portrayed by Tawny Newsome). She disclosed that she had a connection with Sito Jaxa during their time at Starfleet Academy. The finale of Lower Decks' fourth season took a trip back in time to "Starfleet Academy 13 years ago," where a younger Mariner greatly admired Sito, who was a part of the esteemed Nova Squadron led by Nicholas Locarno (played by Robert Duncan McNeill). This flashback scene also featured the voice talents of Wil Wheaton as Wesley Crusher and included an appearance by Joshua Albert, their fellow classmate whose tragic demise Nova Squadron concealed in an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation titled "The First Duty."

In the finale flashback of Star Trek: Lower Decks season 4, Jean Hajar, the fifth member of Nova Squadron, makes an appearance.

The death of Ensign Sito Jaxa deeply affected Mariner, influencing Beckett's decision to remain an Ensign, just like Sito was when she died. Mariner didn't want to be in a position where she had to send her friends to their deaths as a Starfleet commander. Nevertheless, Mariner defended Starfleet and the principles that Sito believed in and sacrificed her life for. This was evident when Nicholas Locarno threatened the galaxy with his Nova Fleet and a stolen Ferengi Genesis Device in the season 4 finale of Star Trek: Lower Decks.

After a hiatus of 30 years from acting, Shannon Fill returned to Star Trek. Hopefully, she will have the opportunity to attend a convention and witness how beloved Sito is among fans.

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

Source: The 7th Rule, Twitter/X

Editor's P/S

As a passionate fan of Star Trek, I was thrilled to learn about the return of Shannon Fill as Sito Jaxa in the season 4 finale of Star Trek: Lower Decks. Fill's portrayal of Sito in Star Trek: The Next Generation left a lasting impression on fans, and her return to the franchise was a nostalgic and emotionally charged moment.

The episode explored the profound impact that Sito's death had on Mariner, solidifying her commitment to serving as an Ensign and upholding the values of Starfleet that Sito held dear. This storyline not only paid tribute to Sito's character but also added depth and complexity to Mariner's own journey. The flashback scenes featuring Sito and Mariner's time together at Starfleet Academy were particularly poignant, as they showcased the bond between the two characters and highlighted the qualities that made Sito such an admirable and beloved figure.