Star Trek Legends Call Lower Decks ‘The Best Show Ever’

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Jonathan Frakes and Brent Spiner are big fans of the television series, “Star Trek: Lower Decks,” and have referred to it as “one of the best shows ever” due to its innovative approach that breaks one of the longstanding rules in the Star Trek universe. The show concluded on Paramount+ in December 2024 after five successful seasons. Jonathan Frakes, a renowned actor from “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” made his first appearance on “Lower Decks” by voicing Captain Will Riker during seasons 1 and 2. Brent Spiner, who also worked on “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” joined the cast of “Star Trek: Lower Decks” in season 5, lending his voice to an alternate universe (and purple-hued) rendition of Lt. Commander Data’s head.

At South Texas Comic Con, Jonathan Frakes and Brent Spiner shared their thoughts on voicing Riker and Data for Star Trek: Lower Decks. Both men expressed their admiration for Mike McMahan’s animated comedy. Frakes discussed an instance where Tawny Newsome and Jack Quaid guest-starred in a crossover episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, which he directed, breaking a longstanding Star Trek rule about not allowing improvisation. You can hear their quotes and watch the video below for more details.

Brent Spiner: They’re great. Lower Decks, that’s the best show ever. I love Lower Decks.

Jonathan Frakes: The style of that series aligns perfectly with us. I was fortunate enough to direct an episode of Strange New Worlds where they merged with Lower Decks. Remarkably, Tawny Newsome and Jack Quaid, who share a striking resemblance with their characters on Lower Decks, made a real-life appearance. We even managed to shatter one of the long-standing Star Trek rules, which had been in place for decades: never altering any lines from the scripts. It was as if we were working on Shakespeare or Chekhov; the seriousness and strictness surrounding it were immense.

In a surprising turn of events, not only were those two actors improvising, but one of them, Tawny, hails from the renowned Second City improv troupe. This meant they weren’t bound by traditional rules. I was there on set, directing and relying on Kat Lynn and Bill Wolkoff, our writers, to keep things in check. But as the scene unfolded, it seemed like a spark ignited between us three. ‘Are you comfortable with this?’ I asked, hoping for a positive response. ‘Yes, let’s do it.’ And just like that, the rules of the game were rewritten for that particular episode. To my delight, Anson, Rebecca, and Ethan proved to be incredibly hilarious, giving us an opportunity to embrace a level of creative freedom we had never experienced before on TNG.

Brent Spiner shared that he particularly enjoyed working on “Lower Decks” because of the simplicity of the makeup process.

Why Brent Spiner & Jonathan Frakes Think Star Trek: Lower Decks Is “The Best Show Ever”

Lower Decks Could Get Away With Just About Anything

At conventions, Jonathan Frakes and Brent Spiner often entertain with their humor, but they genuinely appreciate Star Trek: Lower Decks. Mike McMahan’s animated comedy not only demonstrated that Star Trek could be humorous, but also authentically paid tribute to all the beloved elements of Star Trek cherished by fans. Jonathan Frakes was an early supporter of Lower Decks; by lending his voice as Captain Will Riker in seasons 1 and 2, he boosted Lower Decks’ credibility, making it seem more authentic as a spin-off from Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Brent Spiner didn’t appear on Star Trek: Lower Decks until its last season, but his portrayal of Purple Data in one of the series’ standout episodes was a joy for Star Trek fans. Since he didn’t need to wear Data’s yellow makeup and contacts this time, Spiner found it a treat to voice his iconic android character. The improvisational style of Star Trek: Lower Decks allowed the legends from Star Trek: The Next Generation to let loose, much like they did during their off-camera antics while filming TNG.

Our Take On Jonathan Frakes & Brent Spiner Praising Star Trek: Lower Decks

Frakes & Spiner Know A Good Star Trek Comedy When They See It

Star Trek: The Next Generation was known for being one of the funniest Star Trek casts during their long-term collaboration, and Jonathan Frakes and Brent Spiner found a similar sense of humor in Star Trek: Lower Decks. Frakes agrees that the humor in Lower Decks is perfectly suited to them, which explains why the stars of TNG have easily slipped into their characters when guest-starring in Mike McMahan’s comedy. Lower Decks is also a heartfelt tribute to Star Trek: TNG, making it a perfect fit alongside the original series.

Jonathan Frakes collaborated with Jack Quaid and Tawny Newsome on Star Trek: Strange New World, developing friendships off-set as well. On the other hand, Brent Spiner didn’t share acting scenes with the cast of Star Trek: Lower Decks, but he recognizes them all from their appearances at various Star Trek conventions. Much like fans, Frakes and Spiner would no doubt be thrilled to see another season of Star Trek: Lower Decks, and they’d jump at the chance to work with Mike McMahan and his amusing troupe again.

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2025-06-07 14:17