Star Trek Viewing Guide

12Chapter 12 of 14

Life on the Lower Decks

2380–2382 · 51 stops

Lower DecksStrange New Worlds

This site is NOT a chronology - it is a viewing guide that will assist you through watching the entire franchise in in-universe story order, all the way from the 21st to the 43rd centuries, while making adjustments as needed to ensure an enjoyable viewing experience.  It is not rigid - some episodes are shifted in the order to keep things as clear and fun as possible. The guide is updated regularly to stay current with new episodes.

2380

Star Trek returns to animation with its ninth series, and first all-out comedy, Star Trek: Lower Decks, aimed towards a more adult audience than The Animated Series or Prodigy.

Joining the guide

First aired August 6, 2020

Lower Decks S1 · E1

Second Contact

Series premiere. Ensign Tendi has her first day of work on Starfleet's U.S.S. Cerritos, where she meets fellow support crew members, Ensigns Mariner, Boimler and Rutherford.

First aired August 6, 2020

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Why is this here?

Lower Decks is easy to place as the show runner has specified its 2380 timeframe, and the episodes work smoothly in aired order. Internal evidence indicates that S2 through S4 all take place within the same year, and I see no reason to quibble with that.

Lower Decks S1 · E2

Envoys

After a high profile mission goes awry, Boimler is further plagued with self-doubt when Mariner proves herself to be a more naturally talented sci-fi badass than he.

First aired August 13, 2020

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Lower Decks S1 · E3

Temporal Edict

A new work protocol eliminating "buffer time" has the Lower Decks crew running ragged as they try to keep up with their tightened schedules

First aired August 20, 2020

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Lower Decks S1 · E4

Moist Vessel

Captain Freeman seeks the ultimate payback after Mariner blatantly disrespects her in front of the crew.

First aired August 27, 2020

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Lower Decks S1 · E5

Cupid’s Errant Arrow

Mariner is suspicious of Boimler's new girlfriend. Tendi and Rutherford grow jealous of a bigger starship's gear.

First aired September 3, 2020

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Lower Decks S1 · E6

Terminal Provocations

The lovable, but awkward, Ensign Fletcher makes work difficult for Mariner and Boimler. Rutherford introduces Tendi to a holodeck training program he created.

First aired September 10, 2020

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Lower Decks S1 · E7

Much Ado About Boimler

Mariner tries to impress her best friend from Starfleet Academy who is now a visiting Captain.

First aired September 17, 2020

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Lower Decks S1 · E8

Veritas

Mariner, Boimler, Tendi, and Rutherford are caught off guard when aliens force them to testify about a series of seemingly unrelated events.

First aired September 24, 2020

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Lower Decks S1 · E9

Crisis Point

Mariner repurposes Boimler's holodeck program to cast herself as the villain in a Lower Decks style movie.

First aired October 1, 2020

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Lower Decks S1 · E10

No Small Parts

Season finale. The U.S.S. Cerritos encounters a familiar enemy. Tendi helps a struggling recruit find her footing.

First aired October 8, 2020

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2381

Lower Decks S3 · E3

Mining The Mind's Mines

On a remote science outpost, stone orbs are bringing fantasies to life. Tendi starts her first day as a Senior Science Officer Trainee.

First aired September 8, 2022

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Lower Decks S3 · E4

Room for Growth

Mariner, Boimler and Tendi clash with their arch-rivals: Delta Shift. The Cerritos engineers go on mandatory relaxation leave.

First aired September 15, 2022

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Lower Decks S3 · E5

Reflections

Mariner and Boimler work the Starfleet recruitment booth at an alien job fair, Rutherford challenges himself.

First aired September 22, 2022

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Lower Decks S2 · E1

Strange Energies

Season premiere. 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.

First aired August 12, 2021

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Lower Decks S2 · E2

Kayshon, His Eyes Open

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.

First aired August 19, 2021

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Lower Decks S2 · E3

We’ll Always Have Tom Paris

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.

First aired August 26, 2021

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Lower Decks S2 · E4

Mugato, Gumato

The U.S.S. Cerritos is dispatched to a planet to investigate an unexplained sighting of a dangerous Mugato.

First aired September 2, 2021

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Lower Decks S2 · E5

An Embarrassment of Dooplers

Mariner and Boimler try to track down the location of a legendary Starfleet party while the bridge crew deals with an insecure alien diplomat.

First aired September 9, 2021

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Lower Decks S2 · E6

The Spy Humongous

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.

First aired September 16, 2021

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Lower Decks S2 · E7

Where Pleasant Fountains Lie

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.

First aired September 23, 2021

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Lower Decks S2 · E8

I, Excretus

A consultant arrives on the U.S.S. Cerritos to run drills that require the lower deckers and bridge crew to swap duties.

First aired September 30, 2021

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Lower Decks S2 · E9

wej Duj

Boimler tries to find a bridge buddy while the U.S.S. Cerritos crew has down time during a long warp trip.

First aired October 7, 2021

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Lower Decks S2 · E10

First First Contact

In the season two finale, the U.S.S. Cerritos is tasked to aid another starship on a first contact mission.

First aired October 14, 2021

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Lower Decks S3 · E1

Grounded

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.

First aired August 25, 2022

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Lower Decks S3 · E2

The Least Dangerous Game

On a tropical paradise planet, Mariner questions Commander Ransom on how he structures his away team. Boimler makes a bold career decision.

First aired September 1, 2022

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Strange New Worlds S2 · E7

Those Old Scientists

An accident while investigating a time portal sends Ensign Brad Boimler through time from the twenty-fourth century, and Captain Pike and his crew must get him back where he belongs before he can somehow alter the timeline.

First aired July 22, 2023

Episode page

Why is this here?

“Those Old Scientists” is a crossover with Lower Decks, a show we will not get to for over a hundred years. I struggled with this one, as I do believe you COULD watch it with the other SNW shows, as it has some character progress for both Spock and Uhura, and see it as a “preview” of Starfleet to come, but I eventually came down on placing it amongst  Lower Decks as I think it is stronger there. Plus, I do love the “surprise” visit to earlier in the timeline for people working through this chronology. It’s arguable though, so if you are disappointed by this and want to watch it at this point, I’m not going to try to talk you out of it - it still mostly works.

Lower Decks S3 · E9

Trusted Sources

A visiting reporter on the Cerritos puts Captain Freeman on edge.

First aired October 20, 2022

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Lower Decks S3 · E10

The Stars at Night

In the season three finale, The Cerritos crew must prove their worth in a mission race.

First aired October 27, 2022

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Lower Decks S4 · E1

Twovix

The Cerritos ensigns must assist a caretaker on the voyage of a historically significant starship.

First aired September 7, 2023

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Lower Decks S4 · E7

A Few Badgeys More

Three computerized villains return to cause problems for the Cerritos crew.

First aired October 12, 2023

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Lower Decks S4 · E8

Caves

The Lower Deckers go on a classic cave mission.

First aired October 19, 2023

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Lower Decks S4 · E9

The Inner Fight

Captain Freeman assigns the Lower Deckers an overly safe mission to try and keep a self-destructive Mariner out of danger.

First aired October 26, 2023

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2382

Lower Decks S5 · E1

Dos Cerritos

A spatial anomaly forces the Cerritos crew to face their own faces. Tendi pirates.

First aired October 24, 2024

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Lower Decks S5 · E2

Shades of Green

Tendi races to stop a conflict while Boimler & Mariner race to stop capitalists.

First aired October 24, 2024

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Lower Decks S5 · E4

A Farewell to Farms

Dr. Migleemo cooks up some hot dishes while Mariner prefers hers served cold.

First aired November 7, 2024

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Lower Decks S5 · E5

Starbase 80?!

Ransom uses too much disinfectant gel while Mariner gets paranoid about curses.

First aired November 14, 2024

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Lower Decks S5 · E6

Of Gods and Angles

Mariner teams up with a troubled ensign while the Cerritos hosts peace talks between civilizations.

First aired November 20, 2024

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Lower Decks S5 · E7

Fully Dilated

It's a pre-warp society undercover Girls Trip!

First aired November 28, 2024

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Lower Decks S5 · E8

Upper Decks

The Lower Deckers have a pumpkin carving party.

First aired December 5, 2024

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Lower Decks S5 · E9

Fissure Quest

Fissures must be closed before they get inflamed.

First aired December 11, 2024

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