Lower Decks is an animated comedy. It’s Star Trek in a new genre. They speak very fast, very loudly, and try to make every line at least a little funny, often sliding in obscure references to Trek lore. Think Futurama or Rick and Morty.
Strange New Worlds is a modern take on classic Star Trek, which is much more buttoned-up. It’s true to the more serious tone of previous live-action Trek series.
This is from the crossover episode, where two Lower Decks characters appeared in Strange New Worlds. The contrast between them and the Enterprise crew was a riot, and IMHO they didn’t overdo it; they got it just right. It’s everything I could have hoped for as a fan of both of these two very different series.
Lower Decks is certainly fast, loud and in-your-face funny. But what I was completely not expecting is for it to be so respectful and adoring of what came before in the franchise. I thought originally, ah yeah one of those “fast edgy animated comedies”, it surely would be derisive and treat Trek like a joke itself, but actually, no it does not. It’s a comedy set in the Trek universe, it’s not a comedy where Trek is the punchline.
Mike McMahan is a lifelong Trekkie and it shows! Whilst I do wish the references to other shows were toned down a smidge in favour of building new lore I always enjoy them hah. “Not the 'Gazer!”
I feel the same way. The writers do such a good job integrating ST lore that it just really displays their knowledge and respect for the universe.
Off the top of my head:
random references to made up Star Trek words and concepts, like Ponfarr and Chadeetch (I’m not looking these words up)
getting to revisit 1 off species. Everyone loves the metaphor aliens (TEMBA ARMS WIDE OPEN) so it’s fun to bring them back and poke fun. It’s basically the Airplane scene (“Excuse me miss, I speak jive.”)
Characters are very aware of various ways to die as red shirt
Weeell, SNW is only on season 2 and we’ve already had an animated crossover, a musical episode, two characters doing Star Trek mythbusters, a double date sitcom setup with Spock and a renfair episode.
SNW isn’t a self-parody, but it’s certainly aiming for TOS’ blend of camp and speculative sci-fi more than the “serious tone” of 90s Trek, if that’s how we want to describe it.
I think this is because TNG had a very serious tone, and very ridiculous plots. Surface level they spent a lot of time adjusting shirts and trying to act prim and respectful with horns and orchestra in the background, then someone turns into a spider.
I think this causes people to see different things in it.
Ironically, this is pretty much how McMahan got Lower Decks. He used to write the TNG Season 8 Twitter, where he’d post fake synopses for his imagined episodes. It was almost always a fairly serious A-plot and a hilariously bananas B-plot.
Agreed. I’m using serious here to meet the previous poster halfway and… well, because yeah, if you compare it to TOS I guess it’s more serious than that.
In any case, TOS and TNG (and especially DS9 and Voyager) are on different tones and SNW is, appropriately, aiming for modern TOS, not modern TNG.
Lower Decks is an animated comedy. It’s Star Trek in a new genre. They speak very fast, very loudly, and try to make every line at least a little funny, often sliding in obscure references to Trek lore. Think Futurama or Rick and Morty.
Strange New Worlds is a modern take on classic Star Trek, which is much more buttoned-up. It’s true to the more serious tone of previous live-action Trek series.
This is from the crossover episode, where two Lower Decks characters appeared in Strange New Worlds. The contrast between them and the Enterprise crew was a riot, and IMHO they didn’t overdo it; they got it just right. It’s everything I could have hoped for as a fan of both of these two very different series.
I recommend both shows.
Lower Decks is certainly fast, loud and in-your-face funny. But what I was completely not expecting is for it to be so respectful and adoring of what came before in the franchise. I thought originally, ah yeah one of those “fast edgy animated comedies”, it surely would be derisive and treat Trek like a joke itself, but actually, no it does not. It’s a comedy set in the Trek universe, it’s not a comedy where Trek is the punchline.
Mike McMahan is a lifelong Trekkie and it shows! Whilst I do wish the references to other shows were toned down a smidge in favour of building new lore I always enjoy them hah. “Not the 'Gazer!”
I feel the same way. The writers do such a good job integrating ST lore that it just really displays their knowledge and respect for the universe.
Off the top of my head:
It’s a fun show
Weeell, SNW is only on season 2 and we’ve already had an animated crossover, a musical episode, two characters doing Star Trek mythbusters, a double date sitcom setup with Spock and a renfair episode.
SNW isn’t a self-parody, but it’s certainly aiming for TOS’ blend of camp and speculative sci-fi more than the “serious tone” of 90s Trek, if that’s how we want to describe it.
Where did people get the idea that 90s Trek was serious?
Do people not remember Lwaxana Troi? Q being Marvel’s Loki?
I think this is because TNG had a very serious tone, and very ridiculous plots. Surface level they spent a lot of time adjusting shirts and trying to act prim and respectful with horns and orchestra in the background, then someone turns into a spider.
I think this causes people to see different things in it.
Ironically, this is pretty much how McMahan got Lower Decks. He used to write the TNG Season 8 Twitter, where he’d post fake synopses for his imagined episodes. It was almost always a fairly serious A-plot and a hilariously bananas B-plot.
Agreed. I’m using serious here to meet the previous poster halfway and… well, because yeah, if you compare it to TOS I guess it’s more serious than that.
In any case, TOS and TNG (and especially DS9 and Voyager) are on different tones and SNW is, appropriately, aiming for modern TOS, not modern TNG.