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Jerry O’Connell ranks his Lower Decks alter ego Jack Ransom 'Number One' in all of Starfleet

Credit: CBS

For longtime fans of Star Trek, the newest Starfleet First Officer, Commander Jack Ransom, is a mash-up of a few familiar masculine archetypes from the history of the Final Frontier. Ransom flirts like Riker and fights like Kirk . His braggadocious demeanor threatens to define his entire character, but, because Star Trek: Lower Decks is a comedy, that’s kind of the point. In the third episode of the show — “Temporal Edict” — Ransom takes off his entire shirt to fight a green space monster. 

And yet. The voice behind Ransom, actor Jerry O’Connell, wants you to know that even though Ransom may be the butt of some jokes, O’Connell’s goal wasn’t to make Jack Ransom the worst Number One in the Star Trek mythos. Instead, O’Connell insists that Ransom is actually the best. 

“I don’t care what my wife [Rebecca Romijn] or [Jonathan] Frakes will say about this,” O’Connell says over a video chat while standing like a true Hemingway-esque outdoorsman, at the mouth of Lake Bass in Yosemite. “But Ransom is actually the most dedicated Number One in all of Starfleet.” O’Connell is chatting with SYFY WIRE a few weeks before Lower Decks hits the air. And, now that we’ve all seen Jack Ransom in action for three episodes, it feels right to say that the character certainly thinks he’s the best First Officer in all of Starfleet. But for O’Connell, taking on the part didn’t mean playing an egomaniac spoof of Kirk or Riker. Becoming a “Number One” — the nickname given to First Officers in Starfleet — is something he took very seriously.

“When the call came in that I was going to be on Lower Decks , it felt great to be part of the family. Because, I’d been a family member of Star Trek , but only as an inlaw,” O’Connell explains.“My wife, Rebecca Romijn, plays another Number One, Una. So, I’d been married into the Trek family since she started on Discovery , but now we joke about the amazing amount of authority in our house because we are both Number Ones. The next time we’re both allowed at a convention to walk around, we’re going to be in matching Starfleet uniforms. And not the cheap kind.”

Credit: Juan Naharro Gimenez/WireImage via Getty Images

Although Rebecca Romijn  looks like Number One because she plays her in live-action in Discovery and Short Treks   (and post-2020, Strange New Worlds ), Jack Ransom on Lower Decks does not look exactly like Jerry O’Connell. Sure, both are handsome, but O’Connell is the kind of guy you feel like you’ve been going to summer camp with your entire life, while Jack Ransom looks more like a version of Will Riker who hasn’t gotten as much sleep. Both have their charm, but O’Connell’s enthusiasm for playing Ransom is infectious. O’Connell is 46 years old, but in some ways, he doesn’t look or act any older than when he starred in Stand By Me (1986) with famous Trek alumna Wil Wheaton. You get the sense from talking to O’Connell that he feels like he’s been orbiting Star Trek for years, and now he’s finally beamed down.

“It gives me chills telling you this. But the first person who texted me when I got the job was Jonathan Frakes,” O’Connell says. “He said: ‘From one Number One to another, welcome to the family.’ That was amazing. And it’s still amazing because honestly, I’m really just a guest of Star Trek . It belongs to all of you. Everyone watching the show. Everyone reading this. Everyone on Twitter and Reddit.”

In “Temporal Edict,” for the first time in Season 1 of Lower Decks , Jack Ransom gets to actually be the hero just as much as he seems to act like one. Because the point-of-view characters of Lower Decks are not the senior officers, our sympathies are with the scrappy ensigns. So, if Mariner thinks Jack Ransom is lame, we kind of think that, too. But, for a moment, Episode 3 flips our assumptions on Ransom because he actually turns out to be exactly the kind of badass he pretends he can be. Ransom isn’t as slick as Kirk and he’s not as polished as Riker. If anything, he has more of their faults than their strengths. But he’s not a bad person. For O’Connell, playing the comedy of Ransom’s over-the-top egotist persona first required him to decide that Ransom was basically a good person.

Ransom encounters some problems in episode 3 of  Lower Decks . (Credit: CBS)

“Any fine line between drama and comedy begins with me imagining that it’s all real. This is going to make me sound psycho, but I imagine I am Ransom. And I am Number One on the USS Cerritos , and that I’m gonna have to fight these aliens,” O’Connell explains. “I’m gonna have a couple of ensigns whose lives are in my hands, and I’m gonna have to protect them. And I’m going to live that for real.” 

Considering that Ransom and Mariner flew the shuttle Yosemite from the Cerritos and that O’Connell is taking his Zoom calls from the real Yosemite National Park, it’s easy to believe that for now, he has gotten very deep into character. “I felt like I should really get my explorer on, you know?”

O’Connell knows how sci-fi fandom works, to an extent. He was the star of My Secret Identity , in the '90s. And then, as all lovers of alternate universes know, he was the star of Sliders . O’Connell knows that with Star Trek , there’s a huge fandom, and with that comes a lot of pressure.

“Look. I’m a nerd. I read the comments. It’s like a compulsion. I’m not sure it’s good, but it’s how I am. I want people to like this,” he says. “I know this is a little bit of a departure from the Trek universe, I don’t want to offend any fans out there. I don’t want it to totally depart. I don’t want anyone calling me out. I don’t want smoke with anybody. With Lower Decks , we try to be as funny as possible while being respectful. I mean, our showrunner, Mike McMahan — I don’t know anyone who is a bigger Star Trek fan. OK, maybe Wil Wheaton.”

At first glance, Ransom’s presence on the series might seem like a subtle diss at the Rikers and Kirks of Trek ’s past, but O’Connell insists that he plays the character with more nuance than that. “I play Ransom, so I’m going to defend him,” he says. “He’s an amazing officer. He puts Starfleet first. Everyone’s gonna say that Ransom is going to put himself first, but Ransom puts Starfleet first. That’s what’s so fun about playing him. While he is offensive, sure, I mean, I’m not sure Ransom is very woke. But, everything he does, he does for Starfleet. So, right now, what he does is for the USS Cerritos . And that’s how I play the character and what I truly believe.”

Star Trek: Lower Decks airs on Thursdays on CBS All Access.

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Jack Ransom

Starfleet Commander Jack Ransom served as the first officer under Captain Carol Freeman aboard the California class U.S.S. Cerritos NCC-75567 in the late 24th Century. On Stardate 57436.2 , the Cerritos crew was overcome by a rage virus after Ransom neglected to get an insect bite he received on the Galardonian Capital World checked over in sickbay . As patient zero for the infection, Ransom began spewing a black substance and biting other crewmembers, rapidly spreading the infection. When a cure was found, it was tested first on him. [1] When an away team led by Ransom was captured by the Gelrakians on Stardate 57501.4 , Ransom came into conflict with Ensign Beckett Mariner over how to resolve the situation. He stabbed her in the foot with a crystal sword , preventing her from fighting in an arena to free the team. The two realized that they were attracted to each other, but quickly buried their feelings, as they otherwise couldn't stand one another. [2] Ransom's birthday was on Stardate 57538.9 . [3]

Notes and References

• ↑ McMahan, Mike et al (Executive Producers). "Second Contact" . Star Trek: Lower Decks , season 1, episode 1 (Production number 01). Directed by Barry J. Kelly . Written by Mike McMahan . Based upon Star Trek created by Gene Roddenberry . Created by Mike McMahan . CBS Entertainment . 6 August 2020 .
• ↑ McMahan, Mike et al (Executive Producers). "Temporal Edict" . Star Trek: Lower Decks , season 1, episode 3 (Production number 03). Directed by Bob Suarez . Written by Dave Ihlenfeld & David Wright . Based upon Star Trek created by Gene Roddenberry . Created by Mike McMahan . CBS Entertainment . 20 August 2020 .
• ↑ McMahan, Mike et al (Executive Producers). "Moist Vessel" . Star Trek: Lower Decks , season 1, episode 4 (Production number 04). Directed by Barry J. Kelly . Written by Ann Kim . Based upon Star Trek created by Gene Roddenberry . Created by Mike McMahan . CBS Entertainment . 27 August 2020 .
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'Star Trek: Lower Decks' Cast & Character Guide: Meet the Crew of the USS Cerritos

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It's time to boldly go where no Star Trek show has gone before! Star Trek: Lower Decks made Star Trek history when it debuted on August 6, 2020. It was not only the first animated Star Trek series since the short-lived 1970s show Star Trek: The Animated Series , it was the first ever comedic installment in the expansive Star Trek universe. Star Trek is known for exploring strange new worlds and new civilizations, but exploring comedy was brand new territory for the groundbreaking franchise. Fortunately, Lower Decks was a hit for its streaming service Paramount+, which at the time went by the name CBS All Access. Created by Mike McMahan , a self-proclaimed Trekkie, Lower Decks is a hilarious love letter to all things Star Trek with plentiful Easter eggs that pay loving homage to every iteration of Star Trek , both on the small and big screen.

Star Trek: Lower Decks follows the low-ranking support crew of the U.S.S. Cerritos. The story revolves primarily around Starfleet crew members such as Beckett Mariner, Brad Boimler, D'Vanna Tendi, and Sam Rutherford as they perform menial tasks on the Cerritos. While classic Star Trek ships like the flagship U.S.S. Enterprise went on important missions like defending Earth from the Borg, the Cerritos is one of Starfleet's least important ships. Another departure from the traditional Star Trek structure is that Lower Decks focuses on the "lower deckers" of the Cerritos, while the senior officers such as the Captain are essentially supporting characters. This creates thematic opportunities for Lower Decks to explore new stories and characters often not explored in a conventional Star Trek show, usually to hilarious results.

Star Trek: Lower Decks is streaming episodes on Paramount+ . The first episode of the third season debuts on Thursday, August 25, 2022. Similar to the first two seasons, Season 3 will consist of ten episodes. Before the third season drops, let's take a look at the cast and their corresponding characters who will be warping through the cosmos once more on the USS Cerritos.

Related: 'Star Trek: Lower Decks' Season 3: Release Date, Cast, Trailer, and Everything You Need to Know

Tawny Newsome as Beckett Mariner

Tawny Newsome voices Ensign Beckett Mariner, one of the "Lower Deckers" of the U.S.S. Cerritos. Mariner is brash, impulsive, and always looking for trouble. Mariner's recklessness often brings her into conflict with Ensign Boimler, who is very much the polar opposite. As the show progresses, more of Mariner's backstory is revealed, including her connection to one of the senior officers of the Cerritos. Mariner also experiences quite the character growth as she becomes less impetuous throughout the show. There's a lot hidden underneath Mariner's seemingly distant demeanor, as revelations bring about emotional realizations that bring her even closer to Boimler and her fellow crew members.

Lower Decks isn't Newsome's first foray into space travel. She played Captain Angela Ali on the satirical comedy Space Force , which lasted for two seasons on Netflix and featured Steve Carell and John Malkovich in the lead roles.

Jack Quaid as Brad Boimler

Ensign Brad Boimler couldn't be more different from fellow crew member and friend Beckett Mariner if he tried. Voiced by Jack Quaid , Boimler is the neurotic perfectionist counterpart to Mariner's spontaneous adventurer. While Boimler has lofty ambitions of climbing the ranks of Starfleet, Mariner is perfectly content surveying the lower decks. In the same way that Mariner pushes Boimler outside his comfort zone, Boimler forces Mariner to come to terms with the aspects of her past she'd rather keep hidden. As the series speeds along, Boimler gradually becomes more comfortable in his own skin, more willing to take risks, and not as uptight on upholding Starfleet regulations as he was when the series began.

Jack Quaid is quite popular among the nerd community, known for playing vigilante Hughie Campbell on The Boys . Quaid also voiced Alberto Falcone in the animated film Batman: The Long Halloween and got his big break playing Marvel in The Hunger Games and its sequel Catching Fire .

Noël Wells as D'Vanna Tendi

Noël Wells voices D'Vanna Tendi. Tendi is an Orion ensign that serves in Sick Bay on the Cerritos. For those unaware, an Orion is an emerald green alien made famous when Captain James T. Kirk fraternized with one during a popular episode of Star Trek: The Original Series . Tendi is one of the biggest fans of Starfleet there is, giving some hardcore Trekkies a run for their money. Tendi is also incredibly excited to be serving onboard a Starfleet vessel. Her tenaciousness and excitement bleed over even during the most dangerous of situations, from scary away missions or when the Cerritos is under attack. When the show begins, Tendi is new to the crew of the Cerritos and was created to help introduce audiences to the characters. Tendi goes through quite the transformative journey in Lower Decks , as she comes across lethal enemies and terrifying situations that test her naive excitement to be serving on a Starfleet vessel in the far reaches of outer space.

Noël Wells got her start on Saturday Night Live in 2013, debuting in the show's 39th season.

Related: 'Star Trek: Lower Decks' Season 2 Recap Ahead of Season 3

Eugene Cordero as Sam Rutherford

Sam Rutherford is voiced by Eugene Cordero . Rutherford is a human/cyborg hybrid serving onboard the Cerritos. Rutherford begins the show still trying to figure out what field he is most interested in pursuing, whether that's command, engineering, or medical. Rutherford eventually settles on engineering, realizing he has a knack for problem-solving. McMahan, the show's creator, has compared Rutherford to Geordi La Forge ( LeVar Burton ), who is the chief engineering officer on the U.S.S. Enterprise-D in Star Trek: The Next Generation . The only difference is that Rutherford isn't as adept at problem-solving as La Forge, given he's still young and figuring things out on his own. Cordero has made appearances on numerous fan-favorite shows including Arrested Development , Curb Your Enthusiasm , and The Office .

Dawnn Lewis as Carol Freeman

Dawnn Lewis voices Carol Freeman, the captain of the U.S.S. Cerritos. McMahan has described Freeman as a "very capable captain" whose starship is just not very important. Freeman also has direct ties to Mariner given that Freeman is her mother. Much of the interpersonal conflict between Freeman and Mariner on the show involves Freeman wanting Mariner assigned to another starship. Neither Freeman nor Mariner want the crew of the U.S.S. Cerritos to know of their biological connection, so when the crew does find out, it causes both Freeman and Mariner quite a bit of heartache. As the show progresses, Freeman and Mariner are able to confront their complicated past in an effort to work better together as captain and crew member. Lewis has lent her voice talents to such projects as Inside Out , Toy Story of Terror! , and Monsters University .

Jerry O'Connell as Jack Ransom

Jack Ransom is voiced by Jerry O'Connell . Ransom is the first officer of the U.S.S. Cerritos and Freeman's right-hand man. When comparing Ransom to previous Star Trek first officers, McMahan has compared Ransom to William Riker, the first officer of the U.S.S. Enterprise-D from Star Trek: The Next Generation . McMahan specified that Ransom was similar to Riker but with the addendum "if he was on speed and had less shame." That summarizes Ransom pretty well. The burly, muscular, brazen Starfleet officer who famously works out and shamelessly isn't afraid to mention it every other episode. During Season 2, Ransom was possessed by the same alien energy that took over Gary Mitchell, James T. Kirk's best friend and first enemy on The Original Series . O'Connell has a deep connection with Star Trek , given that he's married to Rebecca Romijn , who plays Number One on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds . His previous credits include Billions , Stand By Me , and a whole lot of DC animated projects .

Fred Tatasciore as Shaxs

Fred Tatasciore voices Shaxs, a Bajoran tactical officer and chief security officer aboard the U.S.S. Cerritos. In the first season finale, Shaxs most notably sacrifices himself saving Rutherford from the Pakleds. It was an emotional death given that Shaxs took Rutherford under his wing during the first season. Shaxs started the show as a gruff and emotionless security chief, but through the course of the first season, and as a result of his tutelage with Rutherford, opened up significantly. Of course, as in tradition with Star Trek deaths, Shaxs was resurrected and returned for Season 2. It was a hilarious commentary on how beloved Trek characters often return from the dead, such as Spock -- who dies in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan , only to return in the next installment. Tatasciore has voiced many notable characters on popular animated shows such as Lard-Nar on Invader Zim , Nikos on Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law , and Qui-Gon Jinn on Star Wars: The Clone Wars .

Gillian Vigman as T'Ana

T'Ana is voiced by Gillian Vigman . T'Ana is the chief medical officer on the U.S.S. Cerritos and a member of the Caitian species. The inclusion of T'Ana was a homage to Star Trek: The Animated Series , which also featured a Caitian by the name of M'Ress. T'Ana is the first Caitian to appear on a Star Trek show since The Animated Series . McMahan has described T'Ana as a "good doctor, but unpleasant cat" and that is undoubtedly the best way to define T'Ana. T'Ana might not be the most affectionate doctor, but she revealed a softer side when she mentored Tendi last season. Tendi briefly served in Sickbay and while she realized being a medical officer comes with a fair amount of challenges, T'Ana made sure she was looked after. T'Ana is emblematic of Lower Decks in general -- often hilarious, sometimes surprising, but always heartfelt.

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Jerry O'Connell

O'Connell commented on his series: " I do a voice on an animated Star Trek . Super funny, called Star Trek: Lower Decks . It's going to be really funny, and the guys and girls who write it are very dialed-in to the Star Trek canon except that this is the animated, crazier version of everything Star Trek . I can't believe the knowledge that these guys and girls have that write Lower Decks . It's crazy and it's funny when I'm in that position because when they start talking about things that happened in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine , I have no idea what they are talking about. And I'm in a position in which I am afraid to ask, because I don't want to lose my job or have people think that I'm not as dedicated as they are to the canon. But these people are true experts and they're animating it. I think that people are going to really dig it ". [2]

He is married to Rebecca Romijn , who plays Una Chin-Riley on Star Trek: Discovery , Star Trek: Short Treks , and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds . He co-starred with Wil Wheaton in Stand by Me (1986). Between 1995 and 1999, O'Connell starred as Quinn Mallory in Sliders , created by Tracy Tormé , and co-starring John Rhys-Davies . Between 2001 and 2007, he co-starred in the crime series Crossing Jordan , with Miguel Ferrer . Roxann Dawson served as director and producer on this show.

He starred in the 1995 TV movie The Ranger, the Cook and a Hole in the Sky with Callum Keith Rennie .

Star Trek appearances [ ]

Appearances as Jack Ransom [ ]

• " Second Contact "
• " Temporal Edict "
• " Moist Vessel "
• " Cupid's Errant Arrow "
• " Terminal Provocations "
• " Much Ado About Boimler "
• " Veritas "
• " No Small Parts "
• " Strange Energies "
• " Kayshon, His Eyes Open "
• " We'll Always Have Tom Paris "
• " Mugato, Gumato "
• " An Embarrassment Of Dooplers "
• " The Spy Humongous "
• " Where Pleasant Fountains Lie "
• " I, Excretus "
• " wej Duj "
• " First First Contact "
• " Grounded "
• " The Least Dangerous Game "
• " Mining The Mind's Mines "
• " Room for Growth "
• " Reflections "
• " Hear All, Trust Nothing "
• " A Mathematically Perfect Redemption "
• " Crisis Point 2: Paradoxus "
• " Trusted Sources "
• " The Stars At Night "
• " I Have No Bones Yet I Must Flee "
• " In the Cradle of Vexilon "
• " Something Borrowed, Something Green "
• " Empathological Fallacies "
• " Parth Ferengi's Heart Place "
• " A Few Badgeys More "
• " The Inner Fight "
• " Old Friends, New Planets "
• SNW : " Those Old Scientists "

External links [ ]

• Jerry O'Connell at Wikipedia
• Jerry O'Connell at the Internet Movie Database
• 1 Daniels (Crewman)

Memory Beta, non-canon Star Trek Wiki

A friendly reminder regarding spoilers ! At present the expanded Trek universe is in a period of major upheaval with the continuations of Discovery and Prodigy , the advent of new eras in gaming with the Star Trek Adventures RPG , Star Trek: Infinite and Star Trek Online , as well as other post-57th Anniversary publications such as the ongoing IDW Star Trek comic and spin-off Star Trek: Defiant . Therefore, please be courteous to other users who may not be aware of current developments by using the {{ spoiler }}, {{ spoilers }} OR {{ majorspoiler }} tags when adding new information from sources less than six months old (even if it is minor info). Also, please do not include details in the summary bar when editing pages and do not anticipate making additions relating to sources not yet in release. THANK YOU

Personal log, Jack Ransom

The Personal log of Jack Ransom were several entries made by Ransom during his time aboard the USS Cerritos .

Entries [ ]

• Personal log, Stardate 57995.8. I just spent many, many hours with the Apergosian high leader, trying to get him to settle on a subspace ID number. The one he ended up choosing? Not my cup of tea. Sure, I was imbued with godlike powers, and I did twist and transform the locals into simulacrums of myself – but even then, you gotta keep your eye on the ball: that's no reason to go with a number that doesn't sing. I guess I did get carried away today. Literally, into space, when I turned into a giant [REDACTED] head. But I learned something important. The Cerritos is my home, not my [REDACTED] chew toy. I'm still adjusting to the captain and Mariner's new work dynamic, but being God Ransom showed me that I'm happy with who I am, and where I am. the shields and I gotta say I looked amazing. I would have worshipped me too. [1]

Appendices [ ]

Notes & references [ ].

• ↑ Star Trek Logs on Instagram: "Sometimes it takes becoming a...
• 1 Ferengi Rules of Acquisition
• 2 USS Voyager (NCC-74656-A)
• 3 Intrepid class

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Star trek: kirk's first villain gary mitchell explained.

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Warning: SPOILERS for Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 2, Episode 1 - "Strange Energies."

Star Trek: Lower Decks ' Commander Jack Ransom (Jerry O'Connell) was imbued with strange energies and transformed into a god-like being similar to Gary Mitchell (Gary Lockwood) from Star Trek: The Original Series . In Star Trek: Lower Decks season 2's premiere, the USS Cerritos has resumed its Starfleet mission of Second Contact and one of their own command crew is turned into a superpowered menace tying back to the first enemy of the  iconic Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) faced in TOS .

Although the TOS episode "Where No Man Has Gone Before" was the fourth season 1 episode aired in 1966, it was actually the second Star Trek pilot that was produced. Three other episodes aired before "Where No Man Has Gone Before" because its post-production was completed late. This explains why the uniforms worn by Captain Kirk and his crew are different from what they wore in the rest of the series. Meanwhile, Lt. Commander Gary Mitchell was the USS Enterprise' s helmsman (predating George Takei's Mr. Sulu, who appears as part of the Life Sciences division). Mitchell is also an old friend of Kirk's from Starfleet Academy. When the oft-destroyed USS Enterprise crossed the galactic barrier, Mitchell, who had latent ESP abilities, was transformed; his eyes turned silver and he gained powers like telepathy, telekinesis, and matter manipulation. Mitchell also began to shed his humanity and he became a threat to the Enterprise . Kirk had to fight Mitchell and he killed the god-like being with the help of Dr. Elizabeth Dehner (Sally Kellerman), who was also changed by the strange energies.

Related: Why Star Trek's New Shows Completely Ignore Kirk (& How To Fix It)

Star Trek: Lower Decks season 2's premiere not only adopted the title "Strange Energies" but Commander Jack Ransom turned into a Gary Mitchell-like menace when he was hit by his own strange energies. Ransom's latent animosity towards Captain Carol Freeman (Dawnn Lewis) because of the preferential treatment she shows her daughter, Ensign Beckett Mariner (Tawny Newsome), spurred Jack to project his newfound power into outer space to threaten the USS Cerritos . Meanwhile, returning Caitian Dr. T'Ana (Gillian Vigman)  even drew the direct parallel between what was happening to Ransom via the strange energies and Gary Mitchell back in TOS 115 years earlier.

Kirk was finally able to kill Mitchell because Dr. Dehner turned on Gary and used her own powers to weaken him. Mitchell fell into a grave he made for Kirk and the god-like being was buried under tons of boulders that Gary had intended to use to kill Kirk. Similarly, Mariner was able to stop Ransom when Captain Freeman's attempt to appeal to Ransom's vanity failed. Mariner realized Ransom's body was still mortal and she repeatedly kicked Jack in the groin until he expelled the strange energies controlling him. Finally, she dropped a boulder on Ransom to completely stop him the same way rubble finally put an end to Gary Mitchell.

From  the immortal Q (John de Lancie)  to the Prophets on  Star Trek: Deep Space Nine ,  Gary Mitchell in TOS set the tone for the god-like beings the Starship Enterprise and other Starfleet heroes would encounter throughout the franchise. In fact, Gary Mitchell was the forerunner to omnipotent menaces like Trelane, the Squire of Gothos (William Campbell), and the Greek god Apollo (Michael Forest). Mitchell epitomized the bizarre alien deities that the Enterprise would run across as it explored the galaxy in the 23rd century.

"Strange Energies" also isn't the first time Gary Mitchell has been referenced in Star Trek: Lower Decks. Mariner name-dropped Mitchell along with Kirk, Spock (Leonard Nimoy), and other Star Trek legends in Lower Decks ' series premiere. But Gary Mitchell was really just a footnote from the earliest days of TOS and "Where No Man Has Gone Before" was his only canonical appearance. Still, nothing in Star Trek is too obscure for Star Trek: Lower Decks to parody so Gary Mitchell and his "strange energies" just became relevant again in the 24th century.

Next: Why Star Trek's Best Reboot Is Captain Will Riker

Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 2 streams Thursdays on Paramount+.

• SR Originals
• Star Trek Lower Decks (2020)

Commander Jack Ransom was a Human Starfleet officer who served as the first officer of the U.S.S. Cerritos under Captain Carol Freeman in the early 2380s.

External Links

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Temporal Edict

• Episode aired Aug 20, 2020

A new work protocol eliminating "buffer time" has the Lower Decks crew running ragged as they try to keep up with their tightened schedules. Ensign Mariner and Commander Ransom's mutual lack... Read all A new work protocol eliminating "buffer time" has the Lower Decks crew running ragged as they try to keep up with their tightened schedules. Ensign Mariner and Commander Ransom's mutual lack of respect comes to a head during an away mission. A new work protocol eliminating "buffer time" has the Lower Decks crew running ragged as they try to keep up with their tightened schedules. Ensign Mariner and Commander Ransom's mutual lack of respect comes to a head during an away mission.

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• Ensign Beckett Mariner

• Ensign Brad Boimler

• Ensign D'Vana Tendi

• Ensign Samanthan Rutherford

• Captain Carol Freeman

• Commander Jack Ransom

• Lieutenant Shaxs

• Dr. T'Ana

• Ensign Barnes

• Starfleet Admiral

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Did you know

• Trivia Ransom fights exclusively using a two-handed punching style. Fight choreography in older Star Trek shows was somewhat infamous for its poor quality and featuring an unrealistic fighting style comprised mainly of two-handed punches.
• Goofs Mariner reveals a number of battle scars to Ransom. She was previously seen in her underwear, and would be seen in it again in future installments, and no scars were seen before or since.

[Mariner has just let Ransom off the hook for intentionally stabbing her foot on the away mission]

Commander Jack Ransom : Take her away, boys!

[two security officers come up behind Mariner]

Ensign Beckett Mariner : W-wait, what? Why?

Commander Jack Ransom : Because you ignored me when I ordered you to roll down your sleeves. They're against code.

Ensign Beckett Mariner : The sleeve thing? You're an idiot.

[the security guards grab her and begin to carry her away. She kicks a tray of medical equipment towards Ransom]

Commander Jack Ransom : You just earned an extra day in the brig!

Ensign Beckett Mariner : [struggling with guards] . Joke's on you, man - I love the brig! I'm going to my *favorite* place!

[gets loose from guards and throws a bedpan at Ransom]

Ensign Beckett Mariner : Next time, I'm going to let somebody kill you.

[guards grab her again]

Ensign Beckett Mariner : . I'm gonna dance in your blood...

[guards carry her off]

Commander Jack Ransom : Okay. That was kind of hot.

• Connections References Star Trek (1966)

User reviews 16

• Aug 19, 2020
• August 20, 2020 (United States)
• United States
• Chicago, Illinois, USA (Studio)
• 219 Productions
• CBS Eye Animation Productions
• Important Science
• See more company credits at IMDbPro

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• Runtime 25 minutes
• Dolby Digital

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Published Jul 27, 2021

Below Deck with Lower Decks: Reaching Across the Bridge for Friendship

Tawny Newsome, Eugene Cordero, and Jerry O'Connell share their dream Star Trek drinking buddy.

StarTrek.com

Let’s face it: when it comes to Star Trek , we fans all have one character from any of the series that we’d love to hang out with. Be it a character who inspired us, or one we think would be fun to grab a drink with — or even multiple characters who we’d want to invite to a dinner party —  we’ve all got a favorite.

But who would the Lower Decks crew want to hang out with most, if given the opportunity to take some leave from the Cerritos ? 

StarTrek.com had the chance to ask cast members Tawny Newsome, Eugene Cordero, and Jerry O’Connell who their characters would most like to hang out with from the Star Trek ‘verse.

Tawny Newsome (Ensign Mariner)

”I probably have to say Guinan, just because I think hanging out with Guinan now would just be hanging out with Whoopi Goldberg, so I think that's who I'd want.”

Star Trek Day 2020 | Tawny Newsome's Favorite Parts Of Lower Decks Include Jack Ransom

Eugene Cordero (Ensign Rutherford)

“I feel like if it was Rutherford and Tendi together, they would be stage door fans of anybody that walked through those doors. They would go crazy, be too loud, probably be shushed out of there and told to quiet down, and then boldly walk up to them and say hello and ask to get, I don't know, their wrists signed. I don't know, what would you get signed? But I think Rutherford also is like a big Geordi guy. It'd be like meeting a superhero in person.”

Jerry O’Connell (Commander Ransom)

“Riker. Riker and Ransom will teach Wesley to party, don't worry. We'll have a good old time.”

Who would you pick as your dream Star Trek character to meet at the ship’s bar for a drink? Let us know in the comments, and in the meantime, catch up on Star Trek: Lower Decks before the season two premiere!

Mid-Season Trailer | Star Trek: Lower Decks - Season 1

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This article was originally published on September 11, 2020.

Star Trek: Lower Decks streams exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S. and is distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution. In Canada, it airs on Bell Media’s CTV Sci-Fi Channel. The series will also be available to stream on Paramount+ in the UK, Canada, Latin America, Australia, Italy, France, the Caribbean, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Ireland and South Korea.

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• Paramount/Netflix/Other Streaming Trek
• Star Trek: Lower Decks

...Ransom? Any relation to...

• Thread starter Leviathan
• Start date Jan 31, 2023

Fleet Captain

• Jan 31, 2023

...Rudy Ransom from Voyager? Interesting crossover or pointlessly common name?  

The Wormhole

Fleet admiral.

The Wormhole said: Ransom: You know Mariner, you and I are a lot alike. Mariner: How's that? Ransom: We both have parents who served in Starfleet. Your dad's an admiral, your mom's our Captain. My dad was a captain. Mariner: Please, your dad butchered a bunch of innocent aliens and used their corpses to fuel his starship, and then tried to kill Janeway when she tried to put a stop to it. Ransom: You've taken those details out of context! Click to expand...

• Feb 4, 2023

So, yes. Some relation.  

Mr. Laser Beam

• Feb 15, 2023

There's nothing that said he is related.  

• Feb 16, 2023

Mr. Laser Beam said: Although, speaking of father and son relationships: I was today years old when I heard that Jack Quaid is Dennis' son. Weird, huh? Click to expand...

Mr. Laser Beam said: what episode was that from? I don't remember LD ever saying they're related. Click to expand...

Vice Admiral

• Feb 27, 2023

Oddish said: So, yes. Some relation. Click to expand...

The Wormhole said: There's been some speculation. Click to expand...

Deks said: Remind me again, in which episode of L.D. did Mariner tell this to Ransom? Click to expand...

Deks said: Lol... if you ask me, that wasn't taken out of context at all... Mariner really portrayed it as it happened (though she did leave out the fact that Equinox crew suffered a massive loss and tremendeous damage during their trip through the D.Q. and that Ransom DID in fact make an active choice to put an end to it all). Click to expand...

The Wormhole said: If you're referring to what I posted, it's not from any episode. It was something I made up on page 91 this thread . Click to expand...

Mr. Laser Beam said: I was today years old when I heard that Jack Quaid is Dennis' son. Weird, huh? Click to expand...

Gary Seven of Nine

Lieutenant junior grade.

• Mar 6, 2023

Deks said: to put it mildly. I speculated that Ransom was related to Rudy Ransom from VOY too before Mariner explained that... given the amount of people who 'know' each other in SF, this was more or less expected. If they have the same name, chances are they will be related in some way... (but not 100% of the time). Lol... if you ask me, that wasn't taken out of context at all... Mariner really portrayed it as it happened (though she did leave out the fact that Equinox crew suffered a massive loss and tremendeous damage during their trip through the D.Q. and that Ransom DID in fact make an active choice to put an end to it all). Putting that aside, what Rudy Ransom and his remaining crew did to VOY though (before the end of the two parter) was plain nasty. Remind me again, in which episode of L.D. did Mariner tell this to Ransom? Click to expand...

• Mar 13, 2023

I've figured he was his Uncle Rudy. And a good fanfic that goes along with this. https://archiveofourown.org/works/43428606  

^ Wow. That WAS a good fanfic. And that’s a Jack Ransom I would like to see someday. Edit: Spoiler Dude makes it all the way from Ensign to LCDR in four years? From the show, you’d hardly know he was that good... I mean, if Jack has that kind of guts, what's he doing on a loser ship like the Cerritos ? Also: If they did want to mention Rudy on LD, would they be allowed to do so? Or would the writer of "Equinox" be due any royalties?  

Mr. Laser Beam said: If they did want to mention Rudy on LD, would they be allowed to do so? Click to expand...

Mr. Laser Beam said: Or would the writer of "Equinox" be due any royalties? Click to expand...

• Mar 17, 2023

Voltron64 said: I've figured he was his Uncle Rudy. And a good fanfic that goes along with this. https://archiveofourown.org/works/43428606 Click to expand...

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