Warning: SPOILERS for Star Trek: Lower Decks series finale - "The Next Generation"Star Trek: Lower Decks introduced a new captain to the Star Trek franchise, and he has a hilarious reason for breaking Gene Roddenberry's infamous Star Trek: The Next Generation rule. After the USS Cerritos saves the universe in Star Trek: Lower Decks series finale, Captain Carol Freeman (Dawnn Lewis) accepts a position overseeing missions for the multiverse at the newly 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.
When Star Trek: The Next Generation premiered in 1987, Gene Roddenberry was heavily involved in the show's production. As part of Roddenberry's vision for a utopian future, Gene insisted that there be no interpersonal conflict between the USS Enterprise-D's key crew members. Roddenberry postulated that there would be very little conflict between the most evolved humans of the 24th century, and insisted that each episode's conflicts come from external sources, such as alien civilizations. This rule limited the storytelling potential of early TNG and was largely 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 and Mariner against each other
After Captain Jack Ransom takes command of the USS Cerritos, he reveals that Lieutenants Brad Boimler (Jack Quaid) and Beckett Mariner (Tawny Newsome) will serve as interim co-first officers. Ransom wants Mariner and Boimler to compete for the coveted Number One position, telling them that "a little interpersonal conflict is the best way to learn." Boimler and Mariner protest, not wanting this competition to alter their friendship, but Ransom insists. On the one hand, Ransom likes playing with Boimler and Mariner and thinks it will be fun to watch them compete.
Captain Ransom's quote also highlights the problem with Roddenberry's government. Stories are built around conflict, which is how characters learn and grow. Conflict between a Starfleet crew doesn't mean the officers are less evolved, it simply means they're human (or alien, as the case may be). All over Star Trek: Lower Decks, There have been many interpersonal conflicts among the Cerritos crew, but they remain as family as ever. Ransom may be in it at least partially for laughs, but he also makes a good point.
Why Star Trek Dropped Roddenberry's No Conflict Rule After TNG
Lack of interpersonal conflict limits storytelling potential
All over Star Trek: The Next Generation in the early seasons, almost all of the conflict came from outside sources. Although this became a little less obvious as the show progressed, the Enterprise-D crew remains one of the most harmonious Star Trek crews. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine intentionally ignored Gene Roddenberry's opinion "no conflict" rule, featuring a more flawed space station crew that was no less compelling. With its darker tone and more morally gray characters, DS9 he picked up Star Trek in a new direction while honoring the core of Roddenberry's vision.
Star Trek: Voyager took a step back, bringing back Gene Roddenberry's government and minimizing interpersonal conflict among the crew of the USS Voyager. For example, Voyager quickly integrated the Maquis rebels into its Starfleet crew, rather than exploring the full ramifications of uniting these two disparate groups of people. This not only seemed unrealistic, but also limited from Voyager potential for deeper, more interesting stories. Star Trek has since found ways to honor Gene Roddenberry's original vision without sacrificing strong stories, something Star Trek: Lower Decks is particularly good at.
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August 6, 2020