Star Trek’s Animated Comedy Is Developing Characters Better Than Next-Gen Era

There is one thing in particular that Star Trek: Lower Decks do better than Star Trek: The Next Generation-was Walk, and is exemplified by D’Vana Tendi (Noël Wells). Lower decks takes place about a year after the events of Star Trek: Nemesis, and in many ways, the animated comedy looks like a successor to Star Trek: The Next Generation. Following the adventures of the USS Cerritos and its often wacky crew, Star Trek: Lower Decks characters are among the franchise’s best current Starfleet heroes. The show functions as a love letter to the entire Star Trek franchise, while being very good Star Trek by itself.

Since its introduction in Star Trek: Lower Decks In the first season, D’Vana Tendi single-handedly redefined Orions as a species. With his contagious enthusiasm and cheerful personality, Tendi truly embraces Starfleet’s mission of exploration, approaching each problem with curiosity. As more of her story was revealed, Tendi only became more interesting. In Lower decks Season 4, Episode 4, ‘Something Borrowed, Something Green’, Tendi returns to her home planet of Orion for her sister’s wedding. Thanks to Star Trek: Lower decks Season 5, D’Vana’s relationship with her sister, D’Erika (Ariel Winter) became one of the Star Trek better sibling relationships.

Lower Decks’ D’Vana and D’Erika Tendi are Star Trek’s best sister relationship

D’Vana and D’Erika’s relationship is realistic and trustworthy

At the end of Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 4, Tendi returned to Orion, and the first two episodes of Lower decks season 5 offers glimpses into his life as a pirate. Although D’Vana and D’Erika have had their differences, they seem to have grown closer since they were together in Orion. They behave like typical sisters – they hang out and share snacks and make jokes, but they still argue occasionally. D’Vana and D’Erika have chosen very different life paths, but they clearly love and respect each other.

In Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 5, Episode 2, ‘Shades of Green’, Tendi finds out that her sister is pregnant and she becomes very overprotective. As the two sisters participate in a race against the Blue Orions of House Azure, Tendi worries about her younger sister and tries to prevent D’Erika from taking risks. In the end, D’Erika reveals that she only hid Tendi’s pregnancy because she didn’t want her older sister to feel obligated to stay in Orion. Both sisters continually look out for each other, and their dynamic makes both characters more likable and relatable.

Lower Decks has better character development than TNG Era Star Trek

The Lower Deckers have grown a lot since the first season

The episodic nature Star Trek TNGShows of the era didn’t always allow for much character development, but modern television shows often tell more serialized stories. Although Star Trek: Lower Decks tells mostly self-contained stories each week, continues to build on everything that came before. While the majority TNG episodes reset to the status quo established at the end, Lower decks continues to advance. Lower Deckers Brad Boimler (Jack Quaid), Beckett Mariner (Tawny Newsome), Sam Rutherford (Eugene Cordero), and Tendi were not only promoted from ensign to lieutenant (junior grade) in the show’s fifth season, but they also grew a lot as characters. .

Half-hour animated comedies may not be known for their character work, but Star Trek: Lower Decks really excels in building its characters and their relationships. Boimler became more confident, e.g. and is more determined than ever to pursue his dream of becoming captain. Mariner has done a lot of self-reflection, discovering truths about herself that change the way she interacts with the world. These characters are still discovering themselves, and Star Trek: Lower Decks did an excellent job of exploring the life of a young adult in Starfleet.