Star Trek's Got a New Riker, and He's Actually Boimler
Alright, hold up, are we seeing double? Get this: a brand new Captain Riker (Jonathan Frakes), is actually Boimler, Lieutenant Brad Boimler, (Jack Quaid) to be exact, but with a Riker-inspired beard. Yeah, we know, it's crazy, but that's Star Trek for you! All that wild action, time-travel shenanigans, alternate realities, and even beard cloning — the stuff dreams are made of, but now it's happening on our screens!
In the season five trailer for "Star Trek: Lower Decks," we see an alternate timeline version of the USS Cerritos. The "regular" USS Cerritos is tasked with closing what looks like a serious intergalactic space-crack, and then - BAM! - a crew from a mirrored world pops out from that hole. Talk about unexpected!
The Return of Riker (Without the Real Riker)
The trailer even did an old school "one last adventure" "Star Trek VI" reference before that other ship's crew arrived! This season five "Lower Decks" trailer really leaned into the past and the present. If you haven't noticed, Star Trek's great at referencing old shows. It was cool in "Star Trek: The Next Generation," where Worf showed up with longer hair and a new uniform, then Data got promoted! But remember how Riker didn't start sporting his full beard until season 2? Well, looks like history’s repeating itself.
Remember when we learned Boimler idolized Riker? His new “William Boimler" self is basically Riker 2.0 – the classic look! So now we're asking, does Boimler's beard mean we're heading to a future setting, or just a really strange reality, kind of like the one where Tasha Yar switched places with Data's android body?
From Starfleet Academy to Riker-Beard Glory
Star Trek has a way of taking those beloved characters from the “old days” and making us think about what they'd be like in totally new situations! Boimler getting promoted? Who knew we'd be seeing a "Lower Decks" officer who'd actually follow Riker's footsteps and embrace the whole beard, Captain's chair thing, except he didn't get to Captain Riker's levels, which wasn’t a big surprise. Remember all that talk about the Section 31 in “Lower Decks”? Well, that’s something they didn’t really touch on with Riker’s timeline either!
It’s always cool seeing a character that we know pop up again with those little details that change everything – we got Boimler's transporter twin William, named after, you guessed it, Captain Riker! Remember the original "Star Trek: The Next Generation?" It was pretty hard for fans to imagine Riker being anything but that awesome first officer. They even turned down a promotion at first! So that just makes it super strange to imagine this other Boimler in a Starfleet Captain position.
The Big "Lower Decks" Finale
The good news for “Lower Decks” fans? They’re finally bringing season five to a close, which is kind of bittersweet – especially if you loved seeing those shenanigans on the "Cerritos."
Now, we don't know if those alternative "Riker" shenanigans will change anything else about Boimler. Or if this is an open door for a "Boimler-Captain-In-Space" story line! And, let’s not forget, we know Riker is more than a just an incredible officer and that beard. That's one detail they definitely didn't touch on, and probably didn’t need to for season five’s final story.
The "Star Trek" Universe and Where We Go From Here
Remember when "Picard" rolled around, that show that picked up from "The Next Generation" to kind of see where everyone was? Maybe "Lower Decks" will help out on that end, by revealing how the crew ended up there or where those characters will head to in future seasons! With those crazy storylines, there’s a chance this season might throw some curveballs! But, who knows, maybe the future is actually what "Lower Decks" season 5 will leave us with.
The “Star Trek” franchise always comes up with those super-awesome moments of continuity, but with a crazy twist that turns our minds and puts the universe into question. I've gotta admit, seeing Riker on screen, only it’s actually Boimler, makes it super wild and kinda hilarious! “Star Trek” is always throwing in twists. The trailer for this new "Lower Decks" season has everyone questioning how these two different "Cerritos" are gonna clash, how we'll learn to separate these Boimler versions from each other, and if those characters we already know will get a new look at the end of it all! It’s time for us to dive into a whole new season full of possibilities and crazy ideas that are only really possible in the "Star Trek" universe!
