Warning: SPOILERS For Star Trek: Lower Decks' Series Finale - "The New Next Generation"
Star Trek: Lower Decks' finale promoted the USS Cerritos' First Officer to Captain, which elevates Jerry O'Connell's Star Trek character a rank above his wife, Rebecca Romijn. O'Connell and Romijn, who are happily married, held the unique distinction of both playing First Officers in Star Trek. Jerry voiced Commander Jack Ransom for all five seasons of Star Trek: Lower Decks, while Rebecca embodies Number One AKA Lt. Commander Una Chin-Riley on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
Commander Ransom's rise to Captain has been a low-key story throughout Star Trek: Lower Decks' five seasons. Initially disliked as an uber jock Number One, Commander Ransom was seen through the eyes of his Lower Decker nemesis, Ensign (now Lieutenant) Beckett Mariner (Tawny Newsome). In Star Trek: Lower Decks season 5, however, Ransom's unorthodox style as a First Officer was proven to be effective. When Captain Carol Freeman (Dawnn Lewis) was given a new assignment to command the multiverse portal-guarding Starbase 80, Jack Ransom was next in line for a fourth pip and the Cerritos' center seat.
Meet Captain Jack Ransom Of The USS Cerritos
Star Trek: Lower Decks' finale raising up Captain Jack Ransom has happened at the end of five seasons, and it means Jerry O'Connell's character has achieved the rank of Captain faster than his wife, Rebecca Romijn's. In an exclusive interview with ScreenRant, O'Connell expressed his desire for Ransom to be promoted before Lt. Commander Una Chin-Riley on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Check out Jerry's quote below:
It would be incredible if Mike McMahon ever allowed me to become a Captain, because I live with a First Officer. I mean, in real life, IRL, I live with the First Officer. Rebecca Romijn, Look it up. We're married. Una Chin-Riley on Strange New Worlds. We are of equal class right now. We are both First Officers in Starfleet. It would be so much fun if I outranked her. I know Lower Decks is coming to a close, but if Mike McMahan and Alex Kurtzman and the bosses of Starfleet right now could somehow find it in their hearts that I could outrank Una Chin-Riley, that's all I ask for.
When our interview was conducted, Jerry O'Connell had already completed his work on Star Trek: Lower Decks, so he was just waiting for the finale and for audiences to see Captain Ransom take command of the USS Cerritos. By virtue of playing Number One in live-action on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, which is set aboard the famous USS Enterprise, Rebecca Romijn seemed to hold the more prestigious position in Star Trek compared to Commander Ransom of the Cerritos. But now, O'Connell forever has bragging rights that Jack Ransom became Captain before "Numero Una, the hottest First Officer in Starfleet."
Will Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ Number One Become Captain?
Una Chin-Riley's Destiny Is Yet To Be Revealed
As Number One aboard the 23rd century Starship Enterprise commanded by Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount), Lt. Commander Una Chin-Riley is the prototypical First Officer and the gold standard for every Number One in Starfleet. This certainly includes Commander Ransom of the 24th century USS Cerritos in Star Trek: Lower Decks. However, being "Number One" could be a glass ceiling for Una because it begs the question: Does Una ever become Captain Chin-Riley?
Lt. James T. Kirk (Paul Wesley) was mentored by Lt. Commander Una Chin-Riley when he was promoted to First Officer of the USS Farragut in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2.
Barring an unexpected, Star Trek canon-breaking swerve, Star Trek: The Original Series establishes that Captain Pike passes the USS Enterprise to Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner). In all likelihood, Lt. Commander Una Chin-Riley does not become Captain of the Enterprise. However, that doesn't mean Una doesn't get promoted to Captain and commands her own starship.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds will presumably define what happens to Number One by the time the prequel ends. But with Strange New Worlds season 3 coming in 2025 and season 4 potentially streaming in 2026, it could be years before Captain Chin-Riley becomes a reality.
What Happens Next To Captain Ransom & The USS Cerritos?
Star Trek: Lower Decks Is Over, But Hopefully Not Forever
Star Trek: Lower Decks ends with a brand-new paradigm aboard the USS Cerritos. With Captain Ransom in charge, Lieutenants Beckett Mariner and Brad Boimler (Jack Quaid) as his co-First Officers, and Lt. D'Vana Tendi (Noel Wells) and Lt. T'Lyn (Gabrielle Ruiz) sharing the post of Senior Science Officer, the Cerritos launches into a new era of exploring the galaxy. But will audiences see what happens next to Star Trek: Lower Decks' Starfleet heroes?
As it stands, Star Trek: Lower Decks is over on Paramount+, and there are no plans for more episodes. There is also no known scenario where Star Trek: Lower Decks moves to another streaming service like Star Trek: Prodigy going to Netflix. However, never say never in Star Trek. It's hard to imagine audiences won't see Boimler, Mariner, and Captain Ransom's starship Cerritos again, although it may take years. Perhaps by the time Star Trek: Lower Decks returns in a new incarnation, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds will have finally promoted Number One to Captain Una Chin-Riley.
