The most recent episode ofStar Trek: Lower Decks, “Room for Growth,” released for streaming on Paramount+ on Thursday, September 15th, 2022, saw the return of some of the animated show’s most memorable antagonists: Delta Shift!
First seen inLower DecksSeason 1, episode six, “Terminal Provocations,” Delta Shift consists of the USSCerritosensigns who work the opposite shift as our protagonists, Beta Shift.
On theCerritos, Beta Shift is composed of Ensigns Beckett Mariner (Tawny Newsome), Bradward Boimler (Jack Quaid), Samanthan Rutherford (Eugene Cordero), and D’Vana Tendi (Noël Wells). But on a Starfleet vessel, there needs to be a shift on at every hour of the day. Because of this, there is an “opposite” shift to Beta Shift, comprised of individuals who sleep when Beta Shift is working and vice versa: Delta Shift (and naturally, the two shifts are at odds because they know nothing about each other).
Acting Ensigns
While disguised during the episode by animation, viewers are likely to recognize actors who portray the three members of Delta Shift who play an important role in “Room for Growth.”
One of the three is Ensign Asif, played by Asif Ali. One of Ali’s previous roles was an appearance inWandaVisionon Disney+ as “Norm,” a coworker of The Vision (Paul Bettany) inside the Hex. Outside the Hex, this character was actually named “Abilash Tandon.” However, the spell cast by Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) changed his name. While he plays a character who uses two names onWandaVision, the character Ali plays onLower Decksshares his first name.
Next up is Ensign Karavitus, played by Artemis Pebdani. While Pebdani plays a character with a different name than herself onLower Decks, you may recognize the actor from her recurring role as “Artemis” onIt’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Pebdani has also appeared in many shows and movies, and like Ali, has appeared in a Marvel series. InMarvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.episode “Hot Potato Soup,” she played L.T. Koenig.
Finally, Ensign Moxie is played by Mary Holland, who also plays the role of Toz the Edosian in “Room for Growth.” Holland has a personal connection to anotherLower Deckscast member: both she and Lauren Lapkus, who plays Mariner’s girlfriend Jen, are members of the improv comedy group, “Wild Horses.” Holland has an additional connection to the world ofStar Trek, as well. She co-starred in the 2015-2015 sitcomBlunt Talkwith Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the USSEnterprisehimself, Patrick Stewart.
