Summary
Fans holding their collective breath for the announcement ofStar Trek: Lower DecksSeason 4’s release date can finally exhale. The animatedStar Trekseries had an unexpected beginning back in 2018. At the time,Rick and Mortywriter Mike McMahan was running a Twitter fan account dedicated to what it would look like ifThe Next Generationhad an 8th season. When asked what his dreamStar Trekseries would be, McMahan shared his desire for a story that focused on the lower deck Starfleet officers. He wanted to know more about “the people who put the yellow cartridge in the food replicator so a banana can come out the other end”.
Thus, the Twitter brainchild was born. Kurtzman and McMahanweren’t exactly met with thunderous applause. But the lighthearted plots and episodic stories caught enough traction to earn three successful seasons. It has even earned an 84% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes along with multiple award nominations. It’s a fun mix of new and nostalgic with enough Easter eggs to please long-time fans without leaving newer fans feeling left out of creating their own fandom experience. What can they expect from Season 4 and, most importantly, when can they expect it?
RELATED:Jonathan Frakes Teases ‘Very, Very Funny’ Lower Decks And Strange New Worlds Crossover
What isStar Trek: Lower Decksabout?
Star Trek: Lower Decksfollows the motley crew of the USS Cerritos as they dash through the galaxy trying to prove themselves. Week after week, the series follows the incomparable Captain Carol Freeman (Dawnn Lewis) as she tries to take her crew on an adventure worth bragging about to her fellow senior officers. Too bad her daughter Beckett Mariner (Tawny Newsome) and her meddling friends have a habit of getting in the way. If it’s not Brad Boimler (Jack Quaid) stumbling down the hellbound road of his own good intentions, then it’s Mariner using her own heavy-handed methods to put out fires while accidentally making them bigger.
Then their best friends and fellowStar Treklower decks crew members D’Vana Tendi (Noël Wells) and Sam Rutherford (Eugene Cordero) come tumbling after while also creating their own mess. For example, Boimlercreates a training holodeck programin season 1, episode 9, “Crisis Point” while trying to prepare for an interview with the captain. Mariner ends up fighting a computer-generated version of herself while trying to save everyone else. Yet, the crew always manages to pull it together in the end. It’s safe to assume thatStar Trek: Lower Deckswill continue this chaotic streak into Season 4.
How didStar Trek: Lower Decksseason 3 end?
In Season 3,Lower Deckstakes a dive intoStar Trek’s history of villainous technology with too much power. The series introduces Vice Admiral Les Buenamigo (Carlos Alazraqui) as the mastermind behind a new fully-automated Texas-class ship. As far as he’s concerned, a good ship doesn’t need a sentient crew to run it when it’s fully decked out in the best gear money can buy. If that sounds familiar,Star Trek: The Original Serieshad a similar storyline in season 2, episode 24, “The Ultimate Computer”. Just like then, it doesn’t take long forBuenamiga’s techno-horror plan to fall apartand Starfleet quickly realizes that they do indeed need living beings behind the proverbial wheels of their ships. Meanwhile, Mariner has fallen out with her mom again and Rutherford is on a journey of self-discovery.
Red, his alternate personality, helps him find out that Buenamiga was the mystery figure who gave him his questionable implant in an attempt to erase incriminating evidence. It all comes to a head in season 3, episode 10, “The Stars at Night” with the admiral’s reputation falling apart at the seams. The USS Cerritos comes to the terrifying conclusion that the Texas-class ships are actually its enemies right when it’s been outnumbered. Fortunately, Mariner shows up with a cavalry of California-class ships just in time and saves the day. Only time will tell if the crew ofStar Trek: Lower Deckswill also survive the return of an old nemesis in Season 4, teased at the end of the Season 3 finale.
When doesStar Trek: Lower DecksSeason 4 premiere?
On Jul 28, 2025,Star Trek: Lower Deckswill release the first two of ten episodes. Fans don’t really know what to expect, but judging from the trailer they’re in for a fun yet very bumpy ride. Boimler’s chances at a promotion hinge on nothing going wrong. (Spoiler alert: everything goes wrong.) Tendi introducing Mariner to Orion culture includes bloodshed and, in some weird way, that’s not ever the worst part. Outside of all the explosions, it’s hard to tell what’s going on other than it’s exactly the opposite of what Captain Freeman needs to be happening. Fans won’t even see the new opening title sequence until Season 4 starts.
One thing’s for sure, however, is thatStar Trek: Lower Deckswill continue to visit the familiar ground of references and Easter eggs(even if they aren’t the most consistent). The poster, inspired by that ofStar Trek V: The Voyage Home, features the faces of the ensemble cast in a circle above a Klingon bird of prey with Mariner and Boimler in the middle. It looks like the Ferengi will be featured even more heavily than in Season 3 and the trailer ends with Rutherford being confronted with the same games the DS9 crew was forced to play in season 1, episode 10, “Move Along Home”. It’s going to be dangerous yet fun!
In the meantime, fans ofStar Trek: Lower Deckshave plenty of time to rewatch the series on Paramount Plus. They can catch up on all the drama or simply relive their favorite moments. Like when Bajoran Lieutenant Shaxs (Fred Tatasciore) came back from the dead and Rutherford was the only one freaking out about it or the episode with those talking dolphins. Fans can even catchMariner and Boimler in live-action formonStar Trek: Strange New Worlds. It’s the episode Mariner gives a cheeky nod to in the trailer as “that Pike thing we’re not supposed to talk about.” The one where once again Boimler gets into trouble and Mariner bumbles in after.
All in all, the popular animated series manages to be one of nuTrek’s sweeter catalogs even while being filled with bleeped-out curse words and references to raunchy sex acts. Maybe that’s what makes it so popular, its pure-hearted dedication to having a good time.Star Trek: Lower Deckspokes fun without coming off mean-spirited, and fans can look forward to Season 4 continuing this exciting if a bit rambling love letter to their favorite franchise.
Star Trek: Lower Decksseason 4 premieres on Paramount Plus on August 02, 2025.
