Movies

Jerry O’Connell is happy that Star Trek: Lower Decks is finally getting to the heart of the franchise

BBG News

Jerry O'Connell is happy that Star Trek: Lower Decks is finally getting to the heart of the franchise

As a lifelong Star Trek enthusiast who has witnessed the evolution of the franchise from its inception, I must say that Lower Decks has certainly shaken things up in the best possible way. The series, with its humorous take on the universe we all love, has always been a breath of fresh air. But in “Upper Decks,” they’ve truly outdone themselves by focusing on the often-overlooked bridge crew.

In every Star Trek series, two fundamental principles have been consistently applied. One, there’s always a leader, often a captain, and two, there’s always a vessel, be it a spaceship or, in an unusual twist with Deep Space Nine, a space station. However, Sisko was initially a commander, but we can consider that close enough. This pattern has remained consistent until Star Trek: Discovery broke the mold.

In that setting, the principal figure was a rebellious individual, yet interestingly enough, they possessed a vessel. Similar to Captain Sisko from Deep Space Nine, the leading character of Discovery, Michael Burnham, ultimately rose to the rank of captain as well. Essentially, the storylines bear some resemblance.

Subsequently, the Lower Decks crew took charge, drastically altering the situation. The senior officers, the backbone of the ship and the minds that keep it operational, were no longer at the forefront. Instead, we saw less experienced officers, often caught in humorous antics, seemingly contributing little to the progression of events.

Additionally missing, the bridge – a place we occasionally glimpsed throughout our voyages, and where we also witnessed various Federation ship bridges. However, it was not typically the central element of the series, until this moment. In the recent Lower Decks episode titled “Upper Decks”, we delve into the activities of the bridge team for the first time. Characters who often assume leading roles in other productions, find themselves in the spotlight here.

Jerry O’Connell found great joy in his role as the witty, jock-like commander Jack Ransom. Despite stealing many scenes in the series, he was usually a secondary character. However, in “Upper Decks,” he finally had the opportunity to shine, an opportunity he eagerly embraced. In conversation with the All Access Star Trek podcast (via TrekMove.com), O’Connell expresses his delight over being at the forefront of the bridge crew, stating;

At last, we’re crossing the bridge! It’s high time for this. While Lower Decks is the title of the show, let’s face it; Star Trek has always been more about the activities on the bridge. That’s where the significant decisions are made and where the elders preside. I know that Lower Decks revolves around the antics in the lower decks – apparently, they sleep four to a bunk. Let’s focus on getting us to the bridge; that’s what it’s all about.

In a way, I’d like to see what O’Connell could do in a live-action show as Ransom. He’s clearly a fan of the franchise, and he’s aware of the history and lore that surrounds the significance of the bridge crew. Not to mention it’s a family affair for O’Connell. His wife, co-stars on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. She is of course Rebecca Romijn and she plays Una Chin-Riley, a featured and standout character on the show.

It would be exciting to witness the dynamic performance of O’Connell in a more realistic style, given that some of his fellow cast members have already graced our screens on Strange New Worlds. Why not extend this opportunity to him too?

Read More

2024-12-12 04:23

Previous post Jennifer Lopez’s next Ben Affleck movie Kiss of the Spider Woman will premiere at Sundance
Next post Black Doves episode 2 recap: ‘A Little Black Dove’