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Private Notes
Creator Mike McMahan and the cast of Star Trek: Lower Decks give insight into their characters and roles on the series' ship, the U.S.S. Cerritos, and dish about some of their favorite moments from the upcoming debut season.
Series Creator, Showrunner and Executive Producer Mike McMahan highlights some of the callouts to Star Trek lore from the premiere episode of Star Trek: Lower Decks.
Creating an animated series is a multi-stage process. Get a behind-the-scenes look at some of the earliest forms of Star Trek: Lower Decks' premiere episode, "Second Contact," compared to the completed animated product.
Mica Burton speaks with Star Trek: Lower Decks Creator, Showrunner and Executive Producer Mike McMahan and voice cast members Tawny Newsome, Jack Quaid, Noël Wells, and Eugene Cordero. The group discusses favorite moments from the debut season, what it's been like joining the Star Trek family, and more.
A nice introduction to the origins of ‘Star Trek: Lower Decks,’ and to how Mike McMahan pitched the series to Alex Kurtzman and Secret Hideout. The short gives you quick glimpses of some of the content in McMahan’s original pitch, as well as some concept art of the look and feel of the series… including the USS Cerritos’ original name: the USS San Diego.
A look at the art design for the characters and locales of ‘Lower Decks.’ The most interesting thing I learned, which you won’t be able to un-see once you realize it, is that the aesthetics of the furniture aboard the Cerritos is shaped to emulate the look of Starfleet’s LCARS design, with all rounded corners and angular designs.
Mike McMahan and composer Chris Westlake break down the development of the visuals and the music for the ‘Lower Decks’ main theme, and explain what the titles are trying to tell us about the show as a whole. McMahan and Westlake also talk about how the music of the show influences the storytelling.
Many of the production personnel involved in the show’s animation go into detail about how they include previous ‘Star Trek’ aliens, focused on the series’ second episode “Envoys” and the multitude of canon aliens that appeared there.
This short explains how an episode of ‘Lower Decks’ gets made, from the script all the way through the finished episode. You learn a lot about animatics and the different stages of the animation process — there are different people who animate the backgrounds than the people, which I didn’t know! — that will give you a new appreciation for the amount of work that goes into each episode.
A look at the character designs for the Division 14 ship from “Much Ado About Boimler,” including the appearance of the Triexian doctor that harkens back to Lt. Arex from The Animated Series.
Mike McMahan talks about the use of the holodeck on ‘Lower Decks,’ including the origins of the infamous Badgey, a 90s era joke (based on Clippy, the infamous Microsoft Office virtual assistant) that McMahan argued would work well on ‘Lower Decks,’ since the show itself is an homage to 90’s-era Star Trek.
A more in-depth look at the use of music across the whole series by composer Chris Westlake, focusing on the episode “Crisis Point” and the movie music homages contained within. Mike McMahan also expands on his comments about the role of music on the show as a whole and how important it is to the humor.
The cast and producers of the show explain in more detail the dynamics between the series main characters and the supporting bridge crew, including the role that the relationship between the main characters and the bridge crew plays as the series progresses.
Extended look at the eight primary cast members of Lower Decks. Including interviews with Tawny Newsome (Mariner), Jack Quaid (Boimler), Eugene Cordero (Rutherford), Noel Wells (Tendi), Dawnn Lewis (Freeman), Jerry O’Connell (Ransom), Gillian Vigman (T’Ana) and Fred Tatasciore (Shaxs) — along with series creator Mike McMahan — the feature dives into what each actor thinks of their character and stories about each of their casting experiences. In addition, the feature also includes some fun audition tape recordings from several of the cast, with some funny outtakes that show off their spontaneity and vocal talents.
This feature charts the evolution of the relationship between the main characters over the course of Season 1, and goes into detail about the inclusion of legacy characters like Riker, Troi, and Q.
Discussion of the show’s many Star Trek references and deep cut Easter Eggs.
Promo for the Holo Adventure - Crisis Point
A look at season 2, including where we left the crew in season 1, and the goals for the second season. We hear from Alex Kurtzman, Mike McMahan, Tawny Newsome, Jack Quaid, Eugene Cordero, Noël Wells, and others.
Mike McMahan starts a discussion about the sounds of Star Trek and how important it is to set the tone for the different eras of Trek. Sound for an animated series is particularly important, go behind the scenes in an interview with the Emmy-nominated team (“No Small Parts” was nominated from season 1) that creates the dynamic audio for Lower Decks while they discuss how they bring the series to life.
Tawny Newsome and Mike McMahan discuss easter eggs in the episode "Strange Energies"
Noël Wells and Mike McMahan discuss easter eggs in the episode "Kayshon, His Eyes Open"
Eugene Cordero and Mike McMahan discuss easter eggs in the episode "We'll Always Have Tom Paris"
Eugene Cordero and Mike McMahan discuss easter eggs in the episode "Mugato, Gumato"
Tawny Newsome and Mike McMahan discuss easter eggs in the episode "An Embarassment of Dooplers"
Noël Wells and Mike McMahan discuss easter eggs in the episode "The Spy Humongous"
Tawny Newsome and Mike McMahan discuss easter eggs in the episode "Where Pleasant Fountains Lie"
Noël Wells and Mike McMahan discuss easter eggs in the episode "I, Excretus"
Eugene Cordero and Mike McMahan discuss easter eggs in the episode "Wej Duj"
Tawny Newsome and Mike McMahan discuss easter eggs in the episode "First First Contact"
A look at season 3
Watch the premier full episode of Lower Decks in the rough cut Animatic form
Ensign Tendi has her first day of work on Starfleet's USS Cerritos, where she meets fellow support crew members. Boimler is tasked with a secret special assignment. Rutherford attempts to keep his dating life intact while a disaster strikes the ship.
Ensigns Boimler and Mariner embark on a shuttle mission to a Klingon compound while Ensigns Tendi and Rutherford spend time together back on the USS Cerritos.
A new work protocol eliminating "buffer time" has the Lower Decks crew running ragged as they try to keep up with their tightened schedules. Ensign Mariner and Commander Ransom's mutual lack of respect comes to a head during an away mission.
Captain Freeman seeks the ultimate payback after Mariner blatantly disrespects her in front of the crew. A well-meaning Tendi accidentally messes up a Lieutenant's attempt at spiritual ascension and tries to make it right.
Ensign Boimler welcomes his girlfriend Barb onto the USS Cerritos, much to Ensign Mariner’s dismay — while Ensigns Ruthford and Tendi have starship envy when the Cerritos rendezvous with the more-advanced USS Vancouver.
The lovable but awkward Ensign Fletcher makes work difficult for Mariner and Boimler. Rutherford introduces Tendi to a holodeck training program he created.
Mariner tries to impress her best friend from Starfleet Academy who is now a visiting Captain. Boimler is sent to a Starfleet medical ship after a transporter accident puts him “out of phase.”
Mariner, Boimler, Tendi and Rutherford are caught off guard when aliens force them to testify about a series of seemingly unrelated events.
Mariner repurposes Boimler's holodeck program to cast herself as the villain in a Lower Decks style movie.
The USS Cerritos encounters a familiar enemy. Tendi helps a struggling recruit find her footing.
Approximately three months after the events of the season one finale, the U.S.S. Cerritos is dispatched on a mission where it ends up in a sci-fi event resulting in "strange energy," which Commander Ransom inadvertently absorbs.
Our Lower Deckers have trouble bonding with Ensign Jet Manhaver, who has been assigned Boimler’s bunk and shift duties. Meanwhile, we get a glimpse of Boimler’s life on the U.S.S. Titan, which is more intense than he thought it would be.
Assigned a special task by Dr. T'Ana, Tendi enlists Mariner for help. On the U.S.S. Cerritos, Rutherford is consumed by a bridge crew mystery.
The U.S.S. Cerritos is dispatched to a planet to investigate an unexplained sighting of a dangerous Mugato.
Mariner and Boimler try to track down the location of a legendary Starfleet party while the bridge crew deals with an insecure alien diplomat.
Anomaly consolidation day on the U.S.S. Cerritos leaves the Lower Deckers with mixed emotions. Captain Freeman attempts to negotiate peace on the Pakled home world.
Mariner and Boimler are stranded on an uninhabited planet with a sentient computer. On the Cerritos, Lt. Commander Billups must prove his engineering abilities to an old adversary.
A consultant arrives on the U.S.S. Cerritos to run drills that require the lower deckers and bridge crew to swap duties.
Boimler tries to find a friend from the bridge, while the crew of the USS Cerritos has free time during a long warp trip.
In the season two finale, the U.S.S. Cerritos is tasked to aid another class starship on a first contact mission.
Mariner enlists her friends on a rogue mission to exonerate her mother, as Captain Freeman faces a military tribunal for the destruction of Pakled Planet.
On a tropical paradise planet, Mariner questions Commander Ransom on how he structures his away team. Boimler makes a bold career decision.
On a remote science outpost, stone orbs are bringing fantasies to life. Tendi starts her first day as a Senior Science Officer Trainee.
Mariner, Boimler and Tendi clash with their arch-rivals: Delta Shift. The Cerritos engineers go on mandatory relaxation leave.
Mariner and Boimler work the Starfleet recruitment booth at an alien job fair, Rutherford challenges himself.
The Cerritos crew unexpectedly spends a day on Deep Space Nine.
A wayward Starfleet ensign struggles to find a path to redemption.
Boimler's holodeck movie sequel tries to live up to the original.
A visiting reporter on the Cerritos puts Captain Freeman on edge.
The Cerritos crew must prove their worth in a mission race.
The Cerritos ensigns must assist a caretaker on the voyage of a historically significant starship.
Mariner tries to get demoted, Rutherford tries to get promoted, and Boimler makes a big move.
Boimler leads his first away mission on an alien megastructure.
Tendi is summoned back to Orion for a wedding.
A trio of Betazoids cause chaos on the Cerritos.
The Cerritos visits the Ferengi homeworld.
Three computerized villains return to cause problems for the Cerritos crew.
The Lower Deckers go on a classic cave mission.
Captain Freeman assigns the Lower Deckers an overly safe mission to try and keep a self-destructive Mariner out of danger.
Mariner faces her past.
