Unraveling the Star Trek Enigma: Did Tom Paris and His Doppelganger Cross Paths at Starfleet Academy?
Were both of Robert Duncan McNeill's Star Trek characters, Tom Paris and Locarno, enrolled at Starfleet Academy simultaneously? Find out the brilliant joke behind the lookalike in Star Trek: Lower Decks
WARNING: Spoiler Alert for Season 4 of Star Trek: Lower Decks. Lt. Tom Paris from Star Trek: Voyager and his counterpart, Nick Locarno from Star Trek: The Next Generation, may have crossed paths while attending Starfleet Academy. Both characters were portrayed by the same actor, Robert Duncan McNeill, and their resemblance was humorously highlighted in the finale of Lower Decks. Given that they were similar in age, it is possible that Locarno and Paris were classmates at the Academy. In "The First Duty" episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, Locarno was involved in a cover-up that resulted in a fatal accident during a training exercise for Nova Squadron cadets. This incident led to his character's downfall and the creation of Lt. Tom Paris for Star Trek: Voyager. The connection between the two characters was not explored previously, but with the acknowledgment in Lower Decks, it becomes intriguing to consider if they had any interactions during their time at Starfleet Academy.
Were Both Of Robert Duncan McNeill’s Star Trek Characters At Starfleet Academy At The Same Time?
Tom Paris, a character from Star Trek: Voyager, had his first significant event in 2371 when he was reassigned to Starfleet by Captain Kathryn Janeway. Before this, Tom spent four years at Starfleet Academy during the 2360s. In the series Star Trek: The Next Generation, it was revealed that Nick Locarno was expelled from Starfleet Academy in 2368 after the Nova Squadron disaster. Based on this, it is possible that both Tom Paris and Nick Locarno, both played by Robert Duncan McNeill, crossed paths during their time at Starfleet Academy.
The information available on Tom Paris' Starfleet career before joining the crew of the USS Voyager indicates that it was relatively short-lived. Tom's initial assignment was on the USS Exeter, during which he, like Locarno, concealed a deadly flight mishap. After his dismissal, he briefly served with the Maquis for a few weeks before being convicted and sentenced to 18 months of hard labor. It was during this sentence that Janeway approached him in 2371. Based on what is known about Tom Paris' Starfleet career prior to his time on the USS Voyager, it is plausible that he graduated from Starfleet Academy no later than 2367, suggesting the presence of two individuals with identical appearances in different student intakes.
Star Trek: Lower Decks’ Brilliant Tom Paris Lookalike Joke Explained
The Tom Paris joke in Star Trek: Lower Decks is hilarious for multiple reasons. It cleverly pokes fun at Star Trek's tendency to use the same actors for different characters without anyone noticing. Lieutenant Bradward Boimler's inability to see the resemblance between Nick and Tom is a form of face blindness, much like the Starfleet officers who don't recognize the similarities between Penny Johnson Jerald and Michelle Forbes' characters. But what makes the joke even funnier is the behind-the-scenes perspective.
Not only do Tom and Nick look alike, but they also share the guilt of covering up a fatal flying accident, highlighting their similarities even more. Perhaps the biggest laugh comes from the fact that Tom Paris' own father, Admiral Owen Paris, doesn't notice the difference either. In Star Trek: Voyager, there's a photo of Cadet Tom Paris on the Admiral's desk, but it's clearly a production still of Cadet Nicholas Locarno from "The First Duty"!
All episodes of Star Trek: Lower Decks are streaming now on Paramount+.
Editor's P/S
As a passionate Star Trek fan, I was thrilled to learn about the potential connection between Tom Paris and his doppelganger, Nick Locarno, in Star Trek: Lower Decks. The idea that these two characters, played by the same actor, Robert Duncan McNeill, could have crossed paths at Starfleet Academy is an exciting prospect. It adds a new layer of depth and intrigue to the Star Trek universe.
The joke itself is brilliantly executed. The fact that Tom Paris' father, Admiral Owen Paris, doesn't notice the resemblance between his son and Nick Locarno is hilarious. It's a clever nod to the fact that Star Trek has often reused actors for different roles, sometimes even within the same series. The writers of Lower Decks have a lot of fun with this, and it's a treat for fans who are in on the joke.
