Star Trek playfully distorts a quote from famous Captain Picard TNG

Warning: SPOILERS for Star Trek: Lower Decks, season 5, episode 2 – ‘Shades of Green’

Star Trek: Lower Decks puts a hilarious twist on a famous line spoken by Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) in Star Trek: The Next Generation. Following the adventures of the USS Cerritos, Lower decks focuses on lower-level officers such as Lieutenants Brad Boimler (Jack Quaid), Beckett Mariner (Tawny Newsome), and their friends. Picking up about a year after the events of Star Trek: Nemesis, Lower decks continue Star Trek TNG was. Because of this, several characters from previous Walk shows appeared in Lower Decks, including TNG’s Captain Will Riker (Jonathan Frakes).

In its fifth and final season Star Trek: Lower Decks remains as funny as ever, incorporating countless references to the past Walk while building its own established tradition. In Star Trek: Lower Deck Season 5, Episode 2, “Shades Of Green,” the Cerritos visit the planet Targalus IX which has abolished its capitalist system and abandoned all forms of currency. Lieutenant Boimler leads a visiting team, assuming his role with confidence inspired by his recent encounter with his alternate universe duplicate. However, after two ensigns on their team are kidnapped, Boimler and Mariner must mount a rescue mission.

Star Trek: Lower Decks’ Boimler Twists Captain Picard’s Famous TNG Quote

Boimler paraphrases a Picard quote, adapting it to his very specific situation

Before Lieutenant Btad Boimler’s two ensigns were kidnapped, Lieutenant Beckett Mariner encouraged him to be a “fun boss” and allow your team to take time off. Mariner then blames herself for the kidnapping, but Boimler assures her that neither of them is to blame. Boimler points out that “It’s possible to do everything right and still have your away team hijacked by the corporate elite.” This is a hilarious and very specific take on something Captain Picard once said to Lieutenant Commander Data (Brent Spiner).

In Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 2, Episode 21, ‘Peak Performance’, Data loses a game of Strategema, which leads to him retiring from bridge duty. Data knows he made no mistakes and cannot find anything wrong with his systems, but his confidence is clearly shaken. Captain Picard visits Data in his quarters, telling him that “It’s possible to make no mistakes and still lose. That’s not a weakness. That’s life.” Not only does this quote teach Data an important lesson, but it has also become quite well-known outside of the context of the episode.

Will Picard appear in Star Trek: Lower Decks final season?

A Picard appearance would be a fitting ending for Lower Decks

In Star Trek: Lower Decks’ In the first four seasons, the USS Cerritos encountered the USS Titan commanded by Captain Riker, visited the Deep Space Nine space station, and escorted the USS Voyager back to Earth. Various characters from TNG, DS9, and Traveler also made appearances, with one glaring exception. Although Captain Picard has been mentioned a few times on the show, he has yet to appear. Considering Lower decks is an extension of TNG era, it seems right that Picard will appear before the series comes to an end.

In its fourth season Star Trek: Lower Decks became even more intertwined with TNG, as it was revealed that Mariner was at Starfleet Academy with Wesley Crusher (Wil Wheaton) and Sito Jaxa (Shannon Fill). Former Starfleet cadet Nicholas Locarno (Robert Duncan McNeill) also returned as the big bad of Lower decks Season 4, after being fired from Starfleet in TNG’s “The first duty.” Whether or not Captain Picard appears before the end of the series, Star Trek: Lower Decks will always feel like a spiritual successor to Star Trek: The Next Generation.