Boimler's Beard-Growing Journey: A Hilarious Star Trek Saga!
Star Trek: Lower Decks – Boimler's Epic Beard Quest
Get ready for some seriously funny Star Trek action, folks! Star Trek: Lower Decks season 5 (the final season on Paramount+!) is giving us a completely unexpected story arc that the original Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG) totally skipped: Lt. Bradward Boimler (Jack Quaid) is growing a beard, inspired by that iconic Commander William Riker (Jonathan Frakes) beard! It's a wild ride.
Boimler, after tasting command at the end of season 4, wants to become Captain! His solution is inspired; growing a Riker-style beard! This entire story arc makes it clear just how much this iconic character affected the later animated shows and this entire season focuses specifically on these ideas!
Riker's Beard: A TNG Mystery Finally Solved (In a Totally Unexpected Way!)
Commander Riker's beard? An instantly recognizable symbol in the Star Trek universe! Riker was clean-shaven in TNG's first season; returning in season 2 with that full beard which is totally iconic to those who are long time fans. That wasn't a planned development; Gene Roddenberry (the original show creator) loved the look, calling it "nautical." And it's become legendary for TV shows “finding their feet,” much like how TNG started to find itself! But the original shows never explain why or how Riker suddenly grows that iconic beard! This point only makes this unique plot for this specific show completely satisfying!
Boimler's Beard: A Season-Long Gag!
Lower Decks' season 5 has Boimler's beard growth as this ongoing, hilarious joke! And Jack Quaid loves it– he called it "One of my favorite season-long arcs that Boimler has ever had!"
It isn't neat and perfect; this growth happens slowly over the episodes—often, Quaid says, “very gross.” This aspect is absolutely hilarious, it’s meant to be a quirky aspect, this addition also demonstrates great awareness toward how fans enjoy the quirks presented.
A Parallel Universe Visit: The Inspiration for Boimler's Bold Move!
The inspiration? Not Riker himself; it's this totally different universe that they get to in Lower Decks season 5. That initial visit through a spatial anomaly introduces an alternate universe that contains several different versions of familiar characters. We find Boimler in that universe; sporting that full beard— a completely different, surprisingly way more confident version; and seeing this inspires Boimler to start this amazing attempt for himself.
Boimler: Star Trek's Next Riker?
Boimler's similar to Riker: ambition, dedication, the desire to captain a starship. Plus: both have transporter-cloned doubles! Riker’s double is Thomas Riker. And Boimler’s duplicate, Lt. William Boimler. There’s this interesting connection made in their backstories; showing some unexpected similarities. The reference toward other stories highlights this specific similarity while reminding audience members just how powerful those small details ultimately become. There is a cool reference when Boimler uses the “Riker Maneuver” in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (it was directed by Jonathan Frakes); yelling out "Riker!" That small moment emphasizes the overall intent, that creative design that tries to incorporate older references, even within the overall show universe!
Conclusion: Boimler's Beard – A Funny Reflection on the Riker Legacy
Lower Decks is ending, and Boimler's a long way from his Captain's chair. But this beard storyline is seriously awesome! A loving nod towards Riker; demonstrating not simply how a well-designed comedic episode and well-developed storylines involving a beloved supporting character could enhance the story’s appeal! But there's more – it's a very relatable attempt to better one’s confidence which most fans can really understand; making those thematic components much more enjoyable.
