Warning: SPOILERS For Star Trek: Lower Decks' Series Finale - “The New Next Generation”
Star Trek: Lower Decks' finale promoted the USS Cerritos' First Officer to Captain, which elevates Jerry O’Connell’sStar Trekcharacter a rank above his wife, Rebecca Romijn. O’Connell and Romijn, who are happily married, held the unique distinction of both playingFirst Officers inStar Trek. Jerry voiced Commander Jack Ransom for all five seasons ofStar Trek: Lower Decks, while Rebecca embodies Number One AKA Lt. Commander Una Chin-Riley onStar Trek: Strange New Worlds.
Commander Ransom’s rise to Captain has been a low-key story throughoutStar Trek: Lower Decks' five seasons. Initially disliked as an uber jock Number One, Commander Ransom was seen through the eyes of his Lower Decker nemesis, Ensign (now Lieutenant) Beckett Mariner (Tawny Newsome). InStar Trek: Lower Decksseason 5, however, Ransom’s unorthodox style as a First Officer was proven to be effective. When Captain Carol Freeman (Dawnn Lewis) was given a new assignment to command themultiverse portal-guarding Starbase 80,Jack Ransom was next in line for a fourth pip and the Cerritos' center seat.
Star Trek: Lower Decks Promotes Jerry O’Connell’s Ransom To Captain Before Rebecca Romijn’s Number One On Strange New Worlds
Meet Captain Jack Ransom Of The USS Cerritos
Star Trek: Lower Decks' finale raising up Captain Jack Ransom has happened at the end of five seasons, and it meansJerry O’Connell’s character has achieved the rank of Captain faster than his wife, Rebecca Romijn’s. In anexclusive interview withScreenRant, O’Connell expressed his desire for Ransom to be promoted before Lt. Commander Una Chin-Riley onStar Trek: Strange New Worlds. Check out Jerry’s quote below:
It would be incredible if Mike McMahon ever allowed me to become a Captain, because I live with a First Officer. I mean, in real life, IRL, I live with the First Officer. Rebecca Romijn, Look it up. We’re married. Una Chin-Riley on Strange New Worlds. We are of equal class right now. We are both First Officers in Starfleet.It would be so much fun if I outranked her. I know Lower Decks is coming to a close, but if Mike McMahan and Alex Kurtzman and the bosses of Starfleet right now could somehow find it in their hearts that I could outrank Una Chin-Riley, that’s all I ask for.
When our interview was conducted, Jerry O’Connell had already completed his work onStar Trek: Lower Decks, so he was just waiting for the finale and for audiences to see Captain Ransom take command of the USS Cerritos. By virtue of playingNumber One in live-action onStar Trek: Strange New Worlds, which is set aboard the famous USS Enterprise, Rebecca Romijn seemed to hold the more prestigious position inStar Trekcompared to Commander Ransom of the Cerritos. But now,O’Connell forever has bragging rights that Jack Ransom became Captain before"Numero Una, the hottest First Officer in Starfleet."
Will Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ Number One Become Captain?
Una Chin-Riley’s Destiny Is Yet To Be Revealed
As Number One aboard the 23rd century Starship Enterprise commanded by Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount), Lt. Commander Una Chin-Riley is the prototypical First Officer and the gold standard for every Number One in Starfleet. This certainly includes Commander Ransom of the 24th century USS Cerritos inStar Trek: Lower Decks.However, being"Number One"could be a glass ceiling for Una because it begs the question:Does Una ever become Captain Chin-Riley?
Lt. James T. Kirk (Paul Wesley) was mentored by Lt. Commander Una Chin-Riley when he was promoted to First Officer of the USS Farragut inStar Trek: Strange New Worldsseason 2.
Barring an unexpected,Star Trekcanon-breaking swerve,Star Trek: The Original Seriesestablishes that Captain Pike passes the USS Enterprise to Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner). In all likelihood, Lt. Commander Una Chin-Riley does not becomeCaptain of the Enterprise. However,that doesn’t mean Una doesn’t get promoted to Captain and commands her own starship.
Star Trek: Strange New Worldswill presumably define what happens to Number One by the time the prequel ends. But with Strange New Worldsseason 3 coming in 2025 and season 4 potentially streaming in 2026,it could be years before Captain Chin-Riley becomes a reality.
What Happens Next To Captain Ransom & The USS Cerritos?
Star Trek: Lower Decks Is Over, But Hopefully Not Forever
Star Trek: Lower Decksends with a brand-new paradigm aboard the USS Cerritos.With Captain Ransom in charge, Lieutenants Beckett Mariner and Brad Boimler (Jack Quaid) as his co-First Officers, and Lt. D’Vana Tendi (Noel Wells) and Lt. T’Lyn (Gabrielle Ruiz) sharing the post of Senior Science Officer, the Cerritos launches into a new era of exploring the galaxy. But will audiences see what happens next to Star Trek: Lower Decks' Starfleet heroes?
Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 5 Cast Guide: Who Voices Each Character In The Final Season
Meet the Lower Deckers and bridge crew of the USS Cerritos as Star Trek: Lower Decks warps into its fifth and final season on Paramount+.
As it stands,Star Trek: Lower Decksis over on Paramount+, and there are no plans for more episodes. There is also no known scenario whereStar Trek: Lower Decksmoves to another streaming service likeStar Trek: Prodigygoing to Netflix. However,never say never inStar Trek.It’s hard to imagine audiences won’t see Boimler, Mariner, and Captain Ransom’s starship Cerritos again, although it may take years. Perhaps by the timeStar Trek: Lower Decksreturns in a new incarnation,Star Trek: Strange New Worldswill have finally promoted Number One to Captain Una Chin-Riley.
