Trekkies have enjoyed watching Star Trek: Lower Decks as its eccentric characters get into a series of misadventures season after season. The fact that the show has managed to appeal to viewers without leaning on the franchise's established characters is impressive. Star Trek: Lower Decks focuses on the low-ranking support crew of Cerritos, one of the Starfleet's least important starships.
Season 5 of Star Trek: Lower Decks, which will also be its last, recently premiered on October 24, 2024. The first two episodes were rolled out together and the remaining episodes are scheduled to release on a weekly basis. The show enjoys global popularity, thanks to its likable characters and witty humor which fans will surely miss once it comes to an end in December.
Viewers who can't get enough of Star Trek: Lower Decks should check out the engaging titles on this list that are as hilarious and chaotic.
Disclaimer: This list contains information from various sources.
Avenue 5 and nine other shows like Star Trek: Lower Decks that will keep you hooked from start to finish
1) Star Trek: The Animated Series (1973)
Star Trek: Lower Decks is built upon the foundation laid down by its predecessors in the Star Trek franchise, which includes this show containing two seasons and 22 episodes. The second installment of the franchise, Star Trek: The Animated Series, focuses on the crew of the Starship USS Enterprise and all the events that unfold during their mission to explore the galaxy.
The first Star Trek series to win an Emmy, it brought back beloved characters from The Original Series like James T. Kirk (William Shatner), Spock (Leonard Nimoy), Doctor Leonard McCoy (DeForest Kelley) and more. It has a nostalgic feel because the animation style is reminiscent of the era.
Similar to Star Trek: Lower Decks, Star Trek: The Animated Series also features short episodes, around 30 minutes each, that are packed with engaging storylines complemented by intelligent dialogue.
Where to watch: Episodes of this show can be viewed on Netflix and Paramount+.
2) Final Space (2016)
Fans of Star Trek: Lower Decks are no strangers to intergalactic adventures and this show has plenty of it. At the center of all the action is Gary Goodspeed, a spirited but not-so-wise astronaut who is serving a sentence aboard Galaxy One, a prison spacecraft. He ends up befriending a powerful alien, who he names Mooncake. Together, they embark on a quest to save the universe.
Final Space, containing three seasons and 36 episodes, starts off with a bang and it only gets better with each episode. Similar to Star Trek: Lower Decks, this show also boasts of one-of-a-kind characters who are flawed and yet endearing in their own ways. The creators particularly deserve credit for being able to map out clever character arcs that help keep the viewers invested in the humorous narrative.
Where to watch: Final Space is available for streaming on Prime Video.
3) Space Force (2020)
Star Trek: Lower Decks works to a great degree because it is able to proficiently merge sci-fi elements with witty writing. Space Force, containing two seasons and 17 episodes, also succeeds in doing the same.
Steve Carell stars as General Mark R. Naird, who has been tasked to establish the United States Space Force, which is to become the sixth branch of the United States Armed Forces. As expected, he has to deal with numerous challenges that threaten to destroy his career and public image. The show also features John Malkovich, Ben Schwartz, Lisa Kudrow, and more.
Carell, who is known for his comedic timing, shines as General Naird and never fails to make the viewer laugh. Unlike Star Trek: Lower Decks, Space Force is not an animation but it still delivers in terms of light-hearted moments and free-spirited characters.
Where to watch: Space Force is available on Netflix.
4) Avenue 5 (2020)
It becomes quite obvious in Star Trek: Lower Decks that space exploration is never without surprises and life-threatening mishaps. In Avenue 5, the passengers on board the interplanetary cruise ship, Avenue 5, have to deal with an accident that puts their lives at risk.
Hugh Laurie, who became a household name after the long-running House, plays the role of Avenue 5's captain named Ryan Clark. When the interplanetary cruise ship gets steered off-course, the crew realizes that it will take the ship three years to return to Earth. Since they only have supplies to last for eight weeks, the original duration of the trip, panic starts to set in.
Like Star Trek: Lower Decks, Avenue 5 is able to build momentum with each episode. It is also interesting to see how the characters react to every new complication, of which there are many. The sarcasm is spot-on and will appeal to viewers who enjoy dark comedies.
Where to watch: Avenue 5, containing two seasons and 17 episodes, can be viewed on Prime Video and Max.
5) Star Trek: Prodigy (2021)
As the name suggests, Star Trek: Prodigy, like Star Trek: Lower Decks, is also part of the famed franchise. In this show, containing two seasons and 40 episodes, a group of young aliens come across an abandoned starship, Protostar. They learn to control the ship in the hopes of doing some space exploration of their own.
Similar to Star Trek: Lower Decks, the 2021 series also introduces fans of the franchise to new characters who are enterprising and sincere. Even though the show is primarily targeted to a younger audience, the intelligent writing with mature overtones makes it entertaining enough for adults as well.
Even though Star Trek: Prodigy is more introspective and emotional as compared to Star Trek: Lower Decks, it doesn't hold back on the comedy which means that viewers will have plenty to laugh about.
Where to watch: Episodes of Star Trek: Prodigy are available on Netflix.
6) The Great North (2021)
While The Great North is not set in space like Star Trek: Lower Decks, it does have a similar vibe in terms of oddball characters navigating unusual situations. Spanning four seasons and 75 episodes, it follows the life of Beef Tobin (Nick Offerman), a doting father of four. Even though all of his children have very different personalities, he is determined to keep the family together at all costs.
The gang in Star Trek: Lower Decks aren't related by blood, but they start to develop an endearing camaraderie that brings them closer together. In The Great North, the family dynamics aren't ideal from the start but they learn more about one another through a series of trials and tribulations.
This is a wholesome show that reminds the audience about the importance of family and how having each other's back can have a positive impact on every member. Humorous and entertaining, The Great North will appeal to all age groups.
Where to watch: This animated sitcom is available for streaming on Apple TV+ and Disney+.
7) The Legend of Vox Machina (2022)
What's interesting about Star Trek: Lower Decks is that it puts the spotlight on unconventional characters who are able to be more than what people expect of them. A similar situation occurs in The Legend of Vox Machina when a band of unlikely heroes has to step up in order to stop evil forces at play.
Based on the first campaign of Critical Role, Dungeons & Dragons web series, the show focuses on Vox Machina, a group of eight understated heroes who will do everything in their power to save the realm of Exandria. The animated show spans over three seasons, containing a total of 36 episodes. The characters are voiced by Laura Bailey, Taliesin Jaffe, Ashley Johnson, Matthew Mercer, and others.
Viewers will find that the narrative of The Legend of Vox Machina is much darker than Star Trek: Lower Decks but both of them thrive on well-developed characters who are interesting and likable. It is an action-packed show with perfectly-timed humor, making it much more engaging.
Where to watch: The Legend of Vox Machina can be viewed on Prime Video.
8) Captain Fall (2023)
Adult animated shows can often suffer from unimaginative plots but that isn't the case with Star Trek: Lower Decks, which invites trekkies to look beyond the familiar. Likewise, Captain Fall also gets creative with its setting and takes viewers on a unusual high-seas ploy that is taking place right under the protagonist's nose.
Jonathan Fall, voiced by Jason Ritter, is one of the worst performing officers in the Naval Academy. So, he is understandably elated when he receives an offer to become the captain of a high-end cruise ship. But he doesn't know that he will have to take the fall for a smuggling and trafficking operation.
Like Star Trek: Lower Decks, Captain Fall is unpredictable and the narrative features many clever twists and turns that keep the audience guessing. The striking animation is complemented by compelling characters and witty dry humor. It has 20 episodes in total but only ten of them were released on Netflix as it was cancelled after one season.
Where to watch: Season one of Captain Fall is available on Netflix.
9) Fired on Mars (2023)
Fired on Mars, like Star Trek: Lower Decks, is a science fiction comedy series. Based on an animated short film of the same name, the show focuses on Jeff Cooper, a graphic designer voiced by Luke Wilson. Jeff works on Mars for Mars.ly, a start-up technology company. When he gets fired from his job, he is unable to return to Earth. So, he is forced to reinvent himself and find a new purpose.
Containing eight episodes in total, this show explores the fortitude needed to survive in a hostile environment, just like Star Trek: Lower Decks. The well-developed characters shine in this workplace comedy and have their own strengths and weaknesses. The comedy element is subtle but it will certainly appeal to people who have a fondness for dry humor.
Where to watch: Fired on Mars can be streamed on Prime Video and Max.
10) Delicious in Dungeon (2024)
Star Trek: Lower Decks is interesting to watch because it offers a fresh perspective on a familiar concept and Delicious in Dungeon does the same. Most viewers are well acquainted with the concept of dungeons and the sense of adventure they evoke, but this anime adds a gastronomy angle that is both surprising and fascinating.
Based on a manga by Ryoko Kui, Delicious in Dungeon follows a group of adventurers who fight a powerful dragon in the dungeon. Even though they barely managed to escape, they are motivated to return in order to revive the member consumed by the dragon. In their journey, they go through different levels of the dungeon and survive by eating the monsters they come across.
Like Star Trek: Lower Decks, the characters in Delicious in Dungeon have great chemistry that evolves with every new life-threatening experience. The uncommon premise, coupled with witty dialogue and endearing characters, makes this show a must-watch.
Where to watch: Delicious in Dungeon, containing 24 episodes, is available for streaming on Netflix.
Fans of Star Trek: Lower Decks will enjoy watching these quality titles as they offer the perfect mix of comedy, memorable characters and engaging storylines.