Star Trek: Lower Decks has a surprising new version of Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan). Cast changes in previous Star Trek shows have been met with varying degrees of warmth by fans. Star Trek: The Next Generation's season 2 addition, Dr. Katherine Pulaski (Diana Muldaur), wasn't a fan-favorite, resulting in the return of Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden). The addition of Lt. Commander Worf (Michael Dorn) in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's 4th season cast was a calculated risk that paid off. Of course, Seven of Nine joining the cast of Star Trek: Voyager in season 4 was a huge hit with fans.
In Star Trek: Lower Decks season 2, episode 9, "wej Duj", viewers were treated to stories from the lower decks of Klingon and Vulcan ships in addition to Starfleet's USS Cerritos. The main character of Lower Decks' Vulcan storyline was T'Lyn (Gabrielle Ruiz), who sometimes acted on hunches and intuition instead of pure logic. This decidedly un-Vulcan behavior made T'Lyn's superiors see her as a loose cannon fit for reassignment. The promise of T'Lyn's Starfleet transfer was fulfilled in Star Trek: Lower Decks' season 3 finale, making T'Lyn another mid-series addition to a Star Trek ensemble.
Lower Decks’ T’Lyn Is Star Trek’s New Seven Of Nine
T'Lyn And Seven Of Nine Are 4th Season Additions Learning Self-Acceptance
In Star Trek: Lower Decks, provisional Lieutenant T'Lyn fills the same role as Seven of Nine in Star Trek: Voyager. Like Seven of Nine, T'Lyn is a female character who was brought into her Star Trek show's ensemble around the start of season 4, before going on to become a fan-favorite character. Both Seven of Nine and T'Lyn have easily integrated with their existing casts, despite the characters themselves being Starfleet outsiders who have difficulty navigating social situations. Just as Seven of Nine grew to accept herself, T'Lyn's character arc also bends towards self-acceptance in Lower Decks.
T'Lyn's transfer to the USS Cerritos in Star Trek: Lower Decks ' 3rd season finale, "The Stars at Night", echoes how Star Trek: Voyager 's season 3 cliffhanger ending in "Scorpion, Part 1" sets up Seven of Nine's introduction in Voyager 's 4th season.
Seven of Nine and T'Lyn both fit better among Starfleet than with other Borg or Vulcans. Seven was given individuality to represent the Borg in negotiations with Captain Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew), ultimately making her defective to the Collective. Instead of being terminated, Seven of Nine finds a place on the USS Voyager as an individual. On the USS Cerritos, T'Lyn doesn't need to fear speaking up or skirting procedure in favor of emotional decisions, like throwing out her Orion homeworld survey to protect Lieutenant D'Vana Tendi (Noël Wells) in Star Trek: Lower Decks season 4, episode 4, "Something Borrowed, Something Green".
T’Lyn Is Both Different From And Similar To Seven Of Nine
T'Lyn Finds Her Place More Easily Than Fellow Outsider Seven Of Nine
Star Trek: Lower Decks' Vulcan T'Lyn is both different from and similar to Star Trek: Voyager's ex-Borg Seven of Nine. Seven drew in new viewers with her obvious sex appeal and eventually became a more compelling character, whereas T'Lyn's initial appeal comes from being relatable, like most of Star Trek: Lower Decks' main characters. Within their respective crews, Seven of Nine is regarded with apprehension thanks to Seven's conflict with Captain Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew), but the USS Cerritos' junior officers openly welcome T'Lyn into their circle of friends from the start.
"You are who you choose to be — a Starfleet lieutenant and a loyal friend."
- T'Lyn to Tendi, "Something Borrowed, Something Green"
T'Lyn's seamless addition to Star Trek: Lower Decks is a nod to Seven of Nine joining Star Trek: Voyager's cast as an unconventional, aloof female character. From there, Lower Decks' T'Lyn pays homage to Seven of Nine by serving the same narrative purpose, as a Starfleet outsider who brings new perspectives, laced with a deadpan delivery that downplays emotion. By learning how to make friends who bring out the best in them, T'Lyn and Seven of Nine prove how Star Trek gives everyone a chance to live authentically, even (especially) when they don't fit in at home.
