Warning: SPOILERS for Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 4, Episode 2 - "I Have No Bones Yet I Must Flee"
Summary
Following Shinzon's actions in Star Trek: Nemesis, the lower decks of the Romulan society in season 4, episode 2 delve into a somber portrayal of the Romulan's retaliation on the Remans. Exploiting the Reman's weakened state after Shinzon's downfall, the Romulans appoint a new Praetor who seeks to administer ruthless revenge.
The Remans' fate following Star Trek: Nemesis remains unclear, but Star Trek: Lower Decks suggests that they have suffered significant losses at the hands of the Romulans. A somber joke in season 4, episode 2 of Star Trek: Lower Decks indicates that the Romulans may have sought revenge on the Remans for the actions of Shinzon (Tom Hardy) in Star Trek: Nemesis. Season 4 of Star Trek: Lower Decks begins with major changes for the USS Cerritos crew, as Ensigns Brad Boimler (Jack Quaid), Beckett Mariner (Tawny Newsome), D'Vana Tendi (Noel Wells), Sam Rutherford (Eugene Cordero), and T'Lyn (Gabrielle Ruiz) are all promoted to Lieutenant, junior grade. At the same time, a new and unidentified threat is eliminating starships belonging to the Lower Decker crew and could potentially collide with the USS Cerritos.
Lower Decks Shows Romulans Have Gotten Revenge On The Remans After Star Trek: Nemesis
Star Trek: Nemesis served as the final installment of the Star Trek: The Next Generation films. The storyline focused on Shinzon, a clone of Captain Jean-Luc Picard (portrayed by Patrick Stewart), who aimed to dismantle the United Federation of Planets. Hailing from Remus, Shinzon was a product of the Romulans, who had exiled him to the dilithium mines alongside the Remans. Yet, the Remans rose to support Shinzon, initiating a military overthrow resulting in the assassination of the Praetor and the Romulan Senate. Nevertheless, Shinzon's reign as Praetor proved short-lived as he perished at the hands of his own thelaron weapon during an intense confrontation with Picard and the USS Enterprise-E.
The second episode of season 4 of Star Trek: Lower Decks, titled "I Have No Bones Yet I Must Flee," commences on a Romulan Warbird. Here, two Lower Deckers express their discontentment regarding the unpleasant task of cleaning up after a Reman whom their superior officers had subjected to torture due to Remans being notorious for creating extensive messes. While the Romulans dispose of the Reman's lifeless body and engage in a discussion about their individual plans to assassinate Sub-commander Vrek, they receive a call to go to the bridge as a mysterious starship intercepts their Warbird. In the meantime, Sub-commander Vrek becomes increasingly annoyed by a bloodstain on his uniform, frustrated that the stain caused by Reman fluid is particularly hard to remove.
Lower Decks' dark humor surrounding the Reman victims of Romulan torture and execution alludes to a larger narrative. Following the events of Star Trek: Nemesis, wherein Shinzon seized control of the Romulan government, it appears that the Romulans sought retribution against the Remans. With Shinzon's demise and the destruction of his formidable flagship, the Scimitar, the Remans were undoubtedly left vulnerable. It is logical to assume that the Romulans seized this opportunity, appointed a new Praetor, and ruthlessly avenged themselves upon the Remans. This explains why the Remans have been noticeably absent from the late 24th-century happenings in the Alpha Quadrant, as they had blindly followed Shinzon in his ill-advised and ultimately failed endeavor.
What Happened To The Remans After Star Trek: Nemesis?
The Remans, a Nosferatu-like race from Star Trek: Nemesis, have remained elusive since their last appearance. They have only been mentioned twice throughout the franchise. In Star Trek: Lower Decks' season 1 episode, "Veritas," a Romulan guard on Romulus expressed strong disdain, calling the Remans "the worst." The recent memories of the Romulans were still haunted by the destructive actions of Shinzon and the Remans. Another mention of the Remans occurred in Star Trek: Picard season 3, when Admiral Jean-Luc Picard recounted an incident where two Remans intercepted the USS Enterprise-E in the Donatra sector. This event took place in 2381, merely two years after the events of Star Trek: Nemesis.
The morbidly amusing Reman joke in 'Star Trek: Lower Decks' suggests that the Romulans have been relentlessly diminishing the Remans since the events of 'Star Trek: Nemesis.' Season 4 of Lower Decks takes place shortly after these events, indicating the consequences of Shinzon's actions. However, by the year 2287, the Romulan sun erupts in a supernova, annihilating both Romulus and Remus. The question remains whether the Remans were present during the supernova or if they were eradicated (possibly by the Romulans' deliberate actions) due to their sun's cataclysmic eruption. Catch 'Star Trek: Lower Decks' season 4 every Thursday on Paramount+.
