Warning: SPOILERS for Star Trek: Lower Decks' Series Finale - “The New Next Generation"Star Trek: Lower Decksintroduced a new captain to theStar Trekfranchise, and he has a hilarious reason for breaking Gene Roddenberry’s infamousStar Trek: The Next Generationrule. After the USS Cerritos saves the universe inStar Trek: Lower Decksseries finale, Captain Carol Freeman (Dawnn Lewis) accepts a position overseeing missions to the multiverse at thenewly relocated Starbase 80. With the Cerritos in need of a Captain, Starfleet promotes Commander Jack Ransom (Jerry O’Connell) and gives him command of the California-class ship.
WhenStar Trek: The Next Generationpremiered in 1987, Gene Roddenberry was heavily involved in the show’s production. As part of hisRoddenberry’s vision for a Utopian future, Gene insisted that there be no interpersonal conflict among the main crew members of the USS Enterprise-D.Roddenberry postulated that there would be very little conflict among the more evolved humans of the 24th century,and insisted that the conflicts for each episode come from outside sources, such as alien civilizations. This rule limited the storytelling potential of earlyTNGand was mostly abandoned after Roddenberry’s death in 1991.
Star Trek: Lower Decks' Captain Ransom Breaks Roddenberry’s TNG Rule For The Funniest Reason
Ransom Pits Boimler & Mariner Against One Another
AfterCaptain Jack Ransom takes over command of the USS Cerritos, he reveals that Lieutenants Brad Boimler (Jack Quaid) and Beckett Mariner (Tawny Newsome) will both be serving as provisional co-First Officers. Ransom wants Mariner and Boimler to compete for the coveted position of Number One,telling them that"a little interpersonal conflict is the best way to learn.“Boimler and Mariner both protest, not wanting this competition to alter their friendship, but Ransom insists. On one hand, Ransom enjoys messing with Boimler and Mariner and thinks it will be funny to see them in competition.
Star Trek: Lower Deckshad previously referenced Roddberry’s “no conflict"rule in the first episode of season 5, when Captain Becky Freeman (Tawny Newsome) states that she doesn’t allow interpersonal conflict on her ship.
Captain Ransom’s quote also highlights the problem with Roddenberry’s rule. Stories are built around conflict, which is how characters to learn and grow. Conflict among a Starfleet crew does not mean that the officers are less evolved, it simply means that they are human (or alien, as the case may be). ThroughoutStar Trek: Lower Decks,there has been plenty of interpersonal conflict among the Cerritos' crew,but they remain just as much a family as ever. Ransom may be in it at least partially for the laughs, but he also makes a pretty good point.
Why Star Trek Abandoned Roddenberry’s No Conflict Rule After TNG
A Lack Of Interpersonal Conflict Limits Storytelling Potential
ThroughoutStar Trek: The Next Generation’searly seasons, almost all of the conflict came from outside sources. Although this became somewhat less obvious as the show progressed,the crew of the Enterprise-D remains one of the most harmoniousStar Trekcrews.Star Trek: Deep Space Nineintentionally ignoredGene Roddenberry’s"no conflict"rule, presenting a more flawed space station crew that was no less compelling. With its darker tone and more morally gray characters,DS9tookStar Trekin a new direction while still honoring the heart of Roddenberry’s vision.
Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 6 - Will It Happen & Everything We Know
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Star Trek: Voyagertook a bit of a step back,bringing back Gene Roddenberry’s ruleand minimizing the interpersonal conflict among the USS Voyager’s crew. For example, Voyager quickly integrated the Maquis rebels into its Starfleet crew rather than exploring the full ramifications of these two disparate groups of people coming together. Not only did this feel unrealistic, but it also limitedVoyager’spotential for deeper, more interesting storylines.Star Trekhas since found ways to honor Gene Roddenberry’s original vision without sacrificing strong storylines, somethingStar Trek: Lower Decksis particularly good at.
