Star Trek: Prodigy Netflix Streaming Numbers Can Save Lower Decks?
Much to the chagrin of Star Trek fans, Paramount decided to pull the plug on the animated comedy Lower Decks after its upcoming fifth season. However, there’s a chance that the end might not actually be the end of the show. As we all know, Netflix picked up the animated series Star Trek: Prodigy after it was canceled, so why couldn’t Lower Decks get the same treatment?
Star Trek: Prodigy Goes Boldy Into A New Frontier
Star Trek: Prodigy is a solid show and is squarely aimed toward a younger audience, which is something that the Trek franchise never really had before. It was smart for Netflix to grab a show like this that fans wanted to see more of, especially since it would make Netflix the only place you can watch a kid’s Star Trek show. In the same way, Lower Decks is the only Trek show of its kind, and since Netflix already has one animated Star Trek show, it seems like a natural fit to add another to its repertoire.
Lower Decks Is For The Big Kids
The fact is, Star Trek is a massive franchise, and if Netflix is able to nab Lower Decks, then it would have something for kids and adults alike. Paramount still has the run of all the live-action Trek franchise, but it’s certainly missing out on capturing that audience that likes and wants more animated content, especially since Prodigy and Lower Decks have been so well-received by the finicky fanbase.
Hope For Lower Decks Season 6
Undoubtedly, Star Trek: Lower Decks ending up on Netflix is going to come down to viewership. Netflix currently has a test audience with the upcoming release of Prodigy Season 2, which is set to hit the streaming platform on July 1. If the fans come out in big numbers to watch the new season after its Paramount+ cancellation, then perhaps Netflix will see the value in picking up of Lower Decks for a sixth season.
Prodigy May Save The Franchise
Even if Star Trek: Prodigy only does okay in streaming numbers, Netflix might still be enticed to pick up Lower Decks if the fans campaign for it. While Prodigy might be a good showcase for the overall interest in the Star Trek franchise on Netflix’s platform, it’s worth remembering that they’re two very different shows. Netflix has found success with animated comedies like Big Mouth and Bojack Horseman, so Lower Decks could be a chance for it to expand its library of highly-rated animated comedy originals.
There’s Hope Yet For More Lower Decks
There’s also the fact that the cast is interested in keeping the series going, as Jack Quaid, who plays Lt. Boimler, expressed his interest in continuing the show if someone else picks it up. The campaign for getting another season has already begun, but if the cast is on board and Star Trek: Prodigy can get a big push on Netflix, there might be enough steam to bring Lower Decks back. For now, we’ll just have to wait and see what happens.
You can catch Star Trek: Prodigy Season 2 when it hits Netflix on July 1. Season 1 is available to stream now. The fifth and final(?) season of Lower Decks doesn’t have a release date yet, but it’s expected to come out sometime this year.
