Star Trek: Lower Decks’ Jack Quaid And Tawny Newsome Told Us How Creator Mike McMahan Added Value To The Franchise: ‘He Kind Of Turned Everything On Its Head’

Star Trek: Lower Decks' Jack Quaid And Tawny Newsome Told Us How Creator Mike McMahan Added Value To The Franchise: ‘He Kind Of Turned Everything On Its Head’

As a long-time Trekkie who’s been following the Star Trek universe since the days of Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock, I must say that the upcoming final season of Lower Decks has me both excited and a tad melancholic. The show’s creator, Mike McMahan, has truly injected new life into the franchise with his unique voice and unwavering love for Star Trek.


The final season of “Star Trek: Lower Decks” has arrived, adding a delightful touch to the 2024 TV lineup. Although creator Mike McMahan guarantees a fulfilling end for the series, there remains hope that it may be revived in some form in the future. Key cast members Jack Quaid and Tawny Newsome hinted at this possibility during our conversation about the upcoming episodes. Additionally, we delved into how the showrunner has uniquely flipped the franchise upside down, an influence that can be felt across current and forthcoming “Trek” productions.

Originally, four individuals – two stars previously mentioned, Eugene Cordero, and Noël Wells – gathered to share insights on “Star Trek: Lower Decks” before its debut. Since Mike McMahan wasn’t present, I was intrigued about the cast’s feelings working with him. Particularly, I wanted their perspectives regarding potential gaps when he seemingly departs from “Trek” as the show ends. Jack Quaid expressed his thoughts, hinting that the series might find a new platform should it need to continue.

We all hope that this isn’t the real ending, and we hope that this is more of a pause rather than a goodbye. I just know Mike as the biggest Star Trek fan of all time. Every day, I smile a little bit thinking that Mike McMahon got his own Star Trek show. I’m so happy for him, and I’m so proud of him. I think he has such a unique voice in general, but specifically within this franchise, and I just hope that he gets to continue making more Trek because he’s just great at it.

Mike McMahan’s fondness and dedication towards “Star Trek” shines brightly in every episode of “Lower Decks,” frequently echoing the era of the series during The Next Generation. As we move into the final season, it has been disclosed that Harry Kim from “Voyager” will make an appearance, seemingly set to receive a promotion following numerous instances where he was treated unfairly on Captain Janeway’s ship.

At present, no information has been released about what the future might hold for Lower Decks. However, it’s certain that Paramount+ will not be receiving any new episodes in the future. Additionally, it remains undecided whether Mike McMahan will continue to contribute to the franchise. Tawny Newsome has suggested that if he does, his impact on Star Trek will be deeply ingrained in its history.

I think about what he’s leaving in the franchise, whether he leaves it or not, what he’s opened up in the franchise is something so, so, so valuable. He has injected it with the possibility of an even more buoyant tone. Even the [Strange New Worlds] crossover episode, him creating these characters that could cross over and the collaboration he did with those writers on that script. The Strange New Worlds cast tells us all the time how after we filmed that episode with them, it unlocked this freedom of play. So that in their subsequent episodes, they have this sense of, ‘Oh, Star Trek can be like this, we can be like this.’ And I, I just think that wouldn’t have existed without Mike being like, you know, whatever his first pitch was to [Alex] Kurtzman when he was like, ‘I wanna make a thing about the people who stick the yellow cartridge in and get a banana out of the replicator.’ He kind of turned everything on his head, and it’ll never go back.

Actress Tawny Newsome is particularly suited to discuss this topic at the moment. She’s working on a live-action comedy based on Trek, collaborating with Justin Simien, and she envisions incorporating characters from Lower Decks into the project. Given the chance, I believe she would be open to Mike McMahon offering suggestions or even writing an episode if the series in development gets the go-ahead.

Without a doubt, there are numerous avenues through which Star Trek: LD can persist, should it not be renewed by another streaming platform. The series could live on through comics, novels, and perhaps even a theatrical performance! Given that many Trek actors have theater backgrounds, I wouldn’t rule out any option entirely.

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I’ve been excitedly counting down the days until “Star Trek: Lower Decks” premieres, and now that it’s confirmed to start streaming on Paramount+ on October 24th (Thursday), I can hardly wait! Don’t forget to catch the two-episode premiere, and if you want to see more of this show beyond its final season, help spread the word and get others talking about it!

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2024-10-23 03:07