Star Trek: Lower Decks returned for season 5 in October 2024, which was also the animated comedy's final season on Paramount+. Star Trek: Lower Decks season 4's finale, "Old Friends, New Planets" ended on a cliffhanger, as Lieutenant D'Vana Tendi (Noël Wells) sacrificed her Starfleet career so that the USS Cerritos' crew could rescue Lt. Beckett Mariner (Tawny Newsome.) While Lt. Sam Rutherford (Eugene Cordero) was sad about Tendi's departure, the rest of the Lower Deckers were confident that the lovable Orion would return to Starfleet in Star Trek: Lower Decks season 5.

Star Trek: Lower Decks season 4's ending resolved why Lieutenant Beckett Mariner is so intent on remaining a Lower Decker: the tragic death of her idol and friend from Starfleet Academy, Ensign Sito Jaxa (Shannon Fill) from Star Trek: The Next Generation, instilled a desire within Mariner to avoid a rank that could mean sending another Starfleet Officer to their death. The USS Cerritos crew worked together to save Mariner from disgraced ex-Starfleet Academy Cadet Nicholas Locarno (Robert Duncan McNeill), and Beckett remained a Starfleet true believer. This set the stage for a triumphant final season.

Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 5 Critical Reception

A Fitting Final Voyage For Lower Decks

Having snagged high marks from critics throughout its entire run on Paramount+, it came as no surprise that season 5 of Lower Decks was just as well received. Screen Rant deemed season five the best of all, and noted that it struck a perfect balance between genuinely exciting space adventures and humorous Trekkie fan service. That seems to be the consensus, with some adding that the series went out on top and at the height of its powers (via Slash Film). The show's impressive 89% score on Rotten Tomatoes perhaps best sums up season 5's critical performance.

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Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 5 Cast

Everyone Came Back & Lower Decks' Cast Got Bigger In Season 4

Star Trek: Lower Decks' entire cast came bac for season 5. Although D'Vana Tendi left the USS Cerritos to re Star Trek's Orions, the other Lower Deckers were confident that she'd find her way back to Starfleet. Star Trek: Lower Decks' new addition, Lieutenant T'Lyn (Gabrielle Ruiz), fit like a glove with the Lower Deckers and remained aboard the USS Cerritos in Lower Decks season 5.

After reconciling her issues with promotion, Lt. Mariner came back aboard the Cerritos, where she aimed to be less self-destructive in Lower Decks season 5. Star Trek's Mark Twain-ing odd couple, Bradward Boimler and Sam Rutherford also returned alongside the rest of the Lower Decks ing cast.

The cast of Lower Decks includes:

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Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 5 Trailer

A Closer Look At The Last Voyage Of The Cerritos

As the final season's release date loomed, Paramount+ released a full-length trailer for Star Trek: Lower Decks season 5. The lengthy teaser opens with a Captain's log from Captain Freeman as she, ironically, praises the many virtues of her crew. As her log goes on, the trailer shows various clips of the familiar characters getting into various dangerous and hilarious situations. A slew of inside jokes are teased, and the trailer ends with a roomful of Ensign Harry Kims from Voyager, including one that finally got an elusive promotion.

Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 5 Ending & Spoilers

A Touching Finale Concludes This Chapter In Trek History

While a sixth season isn't planned, nothing says the Cerritos couldn't set sail again someday.

With it well-known that Star Trek: Lower Decks was ending with season 5, a lot of pressure was put on the series finale to touchingly wrap up the story with a few laughs as well. Befitting finales like TNG's "All Good Things", Lower Decks season 5, episode 10, "The New Next Generation" checked all the boxes. While managing to serve up a compelling two-parter that stretched across episodes 9 and 10, the series finale still made time to give everyone an emotional send-off. While a sixth season isn't planned, nothing says the Cerritos couldn't set sail again someday.

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Tawny Newsome is remaining in Star Trek as one of the writers of the next Star Trek series, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, and Newsome is developing Star Trek's first live-action comedy with Justin Simien.