Star Trek's Newest Captain Breaks Roddenberry's TNG Rule For The Funniest Reason

Warning: SPOILERS for Star Trek: Lower Decks’ Series Finale – “The New Next Generation”Star Trek: Lower Decks introduced a new captain to the Star Trek franchise, and he has a hilarious reason for breaking Gene Roddenberry’s infamous Star Trek: The Next Generation rule. After the USS Cerritos saves the universe in Star Trek: Lower Decks series finale, Captain Carol Freeman (Dawnn Lewis) accepts a position overseeing missions to the multiverse at the newly relocated Starbase 80. With the Cerritos in need of a Captain, Starfleet promotes Commander Jack Ransom (Jerry O’Connell) and gives him command of the California-class ship.

When Star Trek: The Next Generation premiered in 1987, Gene Roddenberry was heavily involved in the show’s production. As part of his Roddenberry’s vision for a Utopian future, Gene insisted that there be no interpersonal conflict among the main crew members of the USS Enterprise-D. Roddenberry postulated that there would be very little conflict among the more evolved humans of the 24th century, and insisted that the conflicts for each episode come from outside sources, such as alien civilizations. This rule limited the storytelling potential of early TNG and was mostly abandoned after Roddenberry’s death in 1991.

Star Trek: Lower Decks’ Captain Ransom Breaks Roddenberry’s TNG Rule For The Funniest Reason

Ransom Pits Boimler & Mariner Against One Another

After Captain Jack Ransom takes over command of the USS Cerritos, he reveals that Lieutenants Brad Boimler (Jack Quaid) and Beckett Mariner (Tawny Newsome) will both be serving as provisional co-First Officers. Ransom wants Mariner and Boimler to compete for the coveted position of Number One, telling them that “a little interpersonal conflict is the best way to learn.” Boimler and Mariner both protest, not wanting this competition to alter their friendship, but Ransom insists. On one hand, Ransom enjoys messing with Boimler and Mariner and thinks it will be funny to see them in competition.

Captain Ransom’s quote also highlights the problem with Roddenberry’s rule. Stories are built around conflict, which is how characters to learn and grow. Conflict among a Starfleet crew does not mean that the officers are less evolved, it simply means that they are human (or alien, as the case may be). Throughout Star Trek: Lower Decks, there has been plenty of interpersonal conflict among the Cerritos’ crew, but they remain just as much a family as ever. Ransom may be in it at least partially for the laughs, but he also makes a pretty good point.

Why Star Trek Abandoned Roddenberry’s No Conflict Rule After TNG

A Lack Of Interpersonal Conflict Limits Storytelling Potential

Throughout Star Trek: The Next Generation’s early seasons, almost all of the conflict came from outside sources. Although this became somewhat less obvious as the show progressed, the crew of the Enterprise-D remains one of the most harmonious Star Trek crews. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine intentionally ignored Gene Roddenberry’s “no conflict” rule, presenting a more flawed space station crew that was no less compelling. With its darker tone and more morally gray characters, DS9 took Star Trek in a new direction while still honoring the heart of Roddenberry’s vision.

Star Trek: Voyager took a bit of a step back, bringing back Gene Roddenberry’s rule and minimizing the interpersonal conflict among the USS Voyager’s crew. For example, Voyager quickly integrated the Maquis rebels into its Starfleet crew rather than exploring the full ramifications of these two disparate groups of people coming together. Not only did this feel unrealistic, but it also limited Voyager’s potential for deeper, more interesting storylines. Star Trek has since found ways to honor Gene Roddenberry’s original vision without sacrificing strong storylines, something Star Trek: Lower Decks is particularly good at.

Your changes have been saved

My List

My Favorite TV Shows
My Watchlist

Release Date

August 6, 2020