There will be other series that haven't been announced yet. I was told that directly from a Paramount exec when taking to him about what spec scripts they want. Apparently Kurtzman has at least 2 or three other new series in some state of proto-development that they haven't announced yet.
Piffle! This is depressing news. Season 4 is shaping up very nicely so far. But if the writers, et al, are at the horizon of ideas, then it'd make sense to end it on a high note instead of rendering it so murky after season 5 (am glad it's being made!). It's been said before and better, but I agree: Other shows (even game shows, hehe) definitely have that point where a format change in order to keep it running takes a dive, and not all shows manage to spring back from the downturn for a second wind. Haven't seen Futurama on Hulu yet but early reviews seemed... tepid? Even then, five seasons at ten episodes each... how many ideas were thought of early on and carried over to the next because of the 10-episode constraint? Still, having said that, I don't recall many clunkers - if given 24-episode lengths, there'd probably be clunkers. The fact this show has a low episode count yet low clunker count is only a greater testament to how it's more than the sum of its parts.
True, there are less clunkers But as I've said before, clunkers have given us some very memorable moments. Plus, one person's clunker is another person's classic. I, for instance, really enjoyed DS9's "Let He Who Is Without Sin".
For me, the only true L LD has ever taken was "Trusted Sources," and even that was only partially because of the execution making everyone so absolutely stupid to force Mariner off the ship. Having an extra two or three episodes could've given us more time to see her stumble or an episode about their strained relationship so that Freeman's explosion felt more earned. It could've also give us more time to see Mariner with Jennifer instead of being shoved in as a C plot in the biggest event episode so that when Jen rejects her, we would...you know...care. But even there, it's not BAD bad or anything and for most people outside of a few bitter Marinler shippers in certain other corners of fandom, the follow up episode more than made up for that.
I really don't think it's that deep. While I don't think it's any coincidence that both Lower Decks and Disco are finishing in their 5th seasons, I really doubt it has to do with some executive trying to make a name for themselves. My feeling is that it's just a strategic and creative decision. Picard was set up as a 3 season show, SNW was kinda set up to be a 5 season show, Starfleet Academy will most likely be 4 seasons. I think moving forward Series will have a set number of seasons. More serialised shows might go for 3 or 4 and more episodic will have a max of 5 seasons. Let's face it, the days of 7 seasons of trek are over. We all love 90's trek, but TNG, DS9 and VOY all saw big dips in quality once they got beyond their 5th seasons. I think it's a good move for the current shows to go out on a high instead of slumping to the end at season 7.
Big dips? Season 6 and 7 of TNG had: Times cape, Second Chances, Frame of Mind, Starship Mine, Tapestry, Face of the Enemy, Chain of Command, Relics, Gambit, attached, Parallels, The Pegasus, Lower Decks, Preemptive Strike, and All Good Things. DS9 Season 6 and 7 had the War Arc, Waltz, Inquisition, Far Beyond The Stars, Magnificent Ferengi, Statistical Probabilities, In The Pale Moonlight, Take Me Out To The Holosuite, Treachery, Faith, and the Great River, Siege of AR558, It's Only A Paper Moon, Chimera, Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges, and the Final Arc. Voyager Season 6 and 7 had: Barge of the Dead, Survival Instinct, Tinker Tenor Doctor Spy, The Voyager Conspiracy, Pathfinder, Blink of an Eye, Lifeline, Flesh and Blood, Workforce, Author Author, Critical Care, Imperfection There were some lows, yes, but each of those seasons have some of the true high points of each series. Heck, Season 6 was on of DS9' strongest.
That is rather a great point... Spoiler: But, I digress LHWWS is favorite of mine as well -- at least for the potential it brought to the table with the elephant in the room about how easy it could be for the Dominion or Borg to get a good chunk of things, even if it's all tossed aside in favor of Leeta/Bashir how-to guides but not in the cool Three's Company way. Maybe a two-parter to iron out issues and have enough details with some hefty subject material... Considering Risa, Memory Alpha from TOS, and other planets being all incense and peppermints over how - despite the Klingons and Romulans and every other allegory for Khan or whatever - they keep the biggest repository of data freely available because having the equivalent to a library card might send the wrong message to the galaxy. (Okay, also in Trekkian tradition, so much minutiae is also glossed over that could otherwise explain what ends up sounding absurd on screen.) I'm now trying to imagine Lower Decks with 24 episodes per year and wading through the theoretical stinkers, you're 100% right - there would be great moments sprinkled in them; few Trek stories are utter clunkers... but LD definitely won't ever get 24-episode seasons...
TNG S7 is probably that show's heaviest criticized season after the first two, while Voyager's seventh season really was quite dull.
Any word as to why LD is stopping at 5? I mean, having it end on a high note is fine, but I'd still like to know.
Probably getting too expensive. Discovery is also ending at Season 5. I think that's just the limit they've decided on.
Your guess is as good as mine, as they’ve been mum on the specific reasons for the cancellation. The speculation is that it’s another show falling victim to the bursting of the streaming bubble. For years now long-established IP holders like Paramount have been heavily investing in building their own streaming services, in the hopes of becoming the new Netflix, I guess. This has led to an oversaturated market, which in turn has meant that revenues have not met expectations. It will be interesting to look back at the present moment in a few years and see which shows and streaming services have survived and which have not.
More Trek is still coming. SNW is getting a fourth season, plus there's the Academy series and Section 31 movie.
I was always under assumption that LD would be 4-5 seasons. I mean our folks need to get promoted and move on as characters so this makes sense to me. Sucks but better 5 great seasons than 5 good and 4 terrible.
To be fair, considering that the show is called "Lower Decks", and that the characters are progressing, well, there is a shelf-life built into the concept. My prediction is that Mariner and company will either separate to further their respective careers, or get their own ship, possibly a California-class. Hey, you got to start small, you know.
Doubtful. SNW will end in 2026, just in time for the 60th anniversary. The Kelvin-Timeline will officially end, and a new iteration of 'Trek will be rolled out. I do wonder if the new featured crew will come off of SNW, or will there be brand new actors playing familiar roles. But, we'll see.