Star Trek: Lower Decksrepresents a major milestone in the sci-fi staple’s history. The series’ use of adult animation and a comedic tone makes it a unique venture, apart from anything else in the long-standing franchise.
This Paramount+ original may be trying something different, butLower Decksis far from ignoringTrek’s storied past; every season has been packed with Easter eggs — and Season 3 is no exception.
10Follow Data’s Example
The past is never far behind when it comes toStar Trek, somethingLower Decksis all too aware of in “The Stars at Night.” This episode sees the California-class ships facing relegation as Texas-class ships become standard.
In the midst of it all, Billups finds inspiration in a belovedStar Trek: The Next Generationcharacter’s heroics. The Lieutenant Commander encourages his crew to create something on par with the era’s best starships. Billups mentionsData’s work in engineering, recalling the android’s quick changeover of isolinear chips during an emergency.
9Revisiting Devil’s Due
Starfleet wants to revisit some planets that may have otherwise been ignored — the push leads the USSCerritoson a mission that doesn’t go exactly as planned. First, they face a planet that doesn’t need their help, thanks to theEnterprise’s Captain Picard; they then face an attack from a hostile alien species on another.
Among the references is a direct mention of events fromThe Next Generationepisode “Devil’s Due.” The episode features a woman who claims to be a mythological figure; her quest for power briefly includes theEnterprisebefore the truth behind her power grab is revealed.
8Paying a Visit To Sulu
Lower Deckstakes advantage of the Holodeck once again with “Crisis Point 2: Paradoxus.” As with the previousStar Trekseries, it’s a source of some pretty interesting stories as Boimler leads the way. This episode sees the Ensign overstay his welcome in the Holodeck after searching for answers to life itself.
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What follows is a hallucination featuring the originalStar Trek’s Sulu, voiced by George Takei. The character takes over in a parody ofStar Trek: Generations. This time, Sulu takes the place of Captain Kirk in a fantasy world that is too good to be true.
7Deep Space Nine’s Dart Board
Visiting Deep Space Nine opens the door to a myriad of fun Easter eggs, many of which can be found in Quark’s bar. The popular entertainment spot is home to a cast of quirky — and sometimes devious characters — from across the universe.Star Trekfansmight catch a glimpse of these Easter eggs throughout the episode, but one stands out from the rest. Ensign Mariner makes a passing reference to Miles O’Brien’s dart board; the character appeared on bothStar Trek: The Next GenerationandStar Trek: Deep Space Nine.
6A Collection Revealed
Star Trek: The Next Generationgets attention yet again inthe Lower Decksepisode “Reflections.” The episode sees a table full of items, including Data action figures. Hidden in plain sight is an even more interesting reference to “The Most Toys.”The Next Generationepisoderevolves around collectors who feel that nothing is off limits in their collections, including kidnapping Data himself.
5Masks Are a Problem
Some items just seem to be a problem intheStar Trekuniverse, with masks ranking high on the list. Freeman experiences a strange encounter while wearing a special mask, but the fascinating Easter egg comes later in the episode.
Ensign Mariner makes a reference to other encounters involving masks, notablyStar Trek: The Next Generation’s episode covering this same subject. Her concern leads to a request for Starfleet to finally establish some rules or regulations involving their use.
4Brahms and LaForge
Love plays a part in the series ode to Geordi LaForge. “Mining the Mind’s Mines” gives Rutherford his own encounter with Dr. Leah Brahms. Even the mention of Brahms conjures up memories of LaForge’s crush on the noted scientist. Her contributions toStarfleet’s Enterprise designare legendary and Geordi becomes instantly smitten with her hologram. Brahms eventually discovers his infatuation, something initially unnerving, but the pair eventually find common ground during an emergency
3Reversing the Aging Process
TheStar Trekuniverse has always challenged conventions on aging and youth.Star Trek: The Next Generationfeatures a host of standalone episodes with unique plots. “Rascals” ranks as one of the most interesting, as several crew members revert to their childhood state.
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It’s an intriguing episode that uses young actors with uncanny portrayals of their older counterparts. A brief mention in theLower Decksepisode “The Least Dangerous Game” hints at something similar happening to another crew, with their captain being reverted to a younger state.
2Not All Vineyards Are the Same
Biomler may not have the same status as Picard, but that isn’t stopping the character from sharing some characteristics. Mariner finds the character back on Earth and his location is far from surprising toNext Generationfans. Boimler is clad in much the same outfit asPicard inTNG’s series finale; instead of suspenders, the ensign opts for overalls, but that hat is a spot-on impression.
In another nod to the famous captain, Boimler’s family just also happens to own a vineyard, but they don’t exactly produce the same type of products. It’s a humorous spin on the Easter egg that never puts biting satire before loving nods to fan favorites.
1A Tribute to Zefram Cochrane
Lower Deckspays tribute to the entireStar Trekuniverse with its visit to Montana. The now historical landmark celebrates Zefram Cochrane’s contributions to space travel; featured in severalStar Trekseries, he’s most notably portrayed by James Cromwell in the feature film.Star Trek: First Contact. The character not only invented the warp drive, but he alsoset off first contactthanks to a faster-than-light space flight.
