Warning: SPOILERS For Star Trek: Lower Decks' Season 5 Finale - “The New Next Generation”
Star Trek: Lower Decksjust promoted its First Officer to Captain, somethingStar Trek: The Next Generationnever did for Commander William Riker (Jonathan Frakes). AsStar Trek: Lower Decks’fifth and final season comes to a close on Paramount+, the USS Cerritos gets the chance to save the entire universe. Captain Carol Freeman (Dawnn Lewis) and her crew admirably rise to the occasion, stabilizing a wormhole to alternateStar Trektimelines. The wormhole becomes a permanently open gateway to the multiverse with Starbase 80 stationed at the rift’s entrance.
With Starbase 80 now serving as the base of operations for the exploration of other quantum realities, Starfleet puts Captain Freeman in charge of supervising these missions. She and her husband, Admiral Alonzo Freeman (Phil LaMarr), move onto the station, andStarfleet promotes Commander Jack Ransom(Jerry O’Connell), giving Freeman’s Number One command of the Cerritos.Commander Riker, however, never got to be captain of the Enterpriseand was not even promoted until several years after the end ofStar Trek: The Next Generation.
Star Trek: Lower Decks’ Commander Ransom Becomes Captain The Way Riker Never Did On TNG
Will Riker Served As First Officer On The Enterprise For 15 Years
ThroughoutStar Trek: Lower Decks’five seasons, Commander Jack Ransom has grown into a Starfleet officer worthy of being captain. While Ransom felt more like a caricature and a Commander Riker spoof in earlier seasons ofLower Decks,the show has taken time to flesh out his character, especially inStar Trek: Lower Decksseason 5.Ransom has proved himself to be a strong leadercapable of encouraging his officers to work together. He may sometimes accomplish this in unique ways, but he adapts to the officers at his command and uses strategies he knows will work for them.
Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 5 Finale & Series Ending Explained
Star Trek: Lower Decks' finale brings big changes to the USS Cerritos and the Star Trek multiverse. Here’s what it all means for the Cerritos' crew.
It’s unknown exactly when Ransom became First Officer of the Cerritos, but it only took him five seasons ofStar Trek: Lower Decksto make it to Captain. Riker, on the other hand, spent seven seasons ofTNGand four films as First Officer - a total combined 15 years - and Will still never becameCaptain of the Enterprise.Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) held on to his command as long as possible,while Captain Freeman chose to move on. As a California Class ship, the Cerritos may not get the galaxy-saving missions usually reserved for ships like the Enterprise, but its crew is just as much as family.
Why Riker Waited 15 Years But Never Became Captain Of The Enterprise
Captain Picard Did Not Want To Give Up Command Of The Enterprise
With his adventurous and flirtatious personality, Commander Ransom has a lot in common with Commander Riker, but he got his promotion far quicker than the USS Enterprise-D’s First Officer did.Riker was obviously a skilled Number One, and he was offered numerous opportunities to command ships other than the Enterprise.Riker turned down every offer he received onStar Trek: The Next Generation,choosing instead to remain on the Enterprise under the command of Captain Picard. As Starfleet’s flagship, the Enterprise was particularly special, and Riker did not want to be in command of any other ship.
Riker finally accepted a promotion inStar Trek: Nemesis,taking over command of the USS Titan.
Commander Riker got to sit in the captain’s chair a few times onStar Trek: The Next Generation,butWill never officially took over as the Enterprise-D’s permanent captain. Even at the end of the series, the firstTNGfilm was already being written, meaning Picard had to remain captain. Riker finally accepted a promotion inStar Trek: Nemesis,taking over command of the USS Titan, while Picard remained in command of the Enterprise. UnlikeTNG,Star Trek: Lower Decksended with a new Captain in charge of the Cerritos.
