“Star Trek: Lower Decks” is one of the strangest official releases by any major franchise. It’s bizarre because this is technically an official “Star Trek” tv series but instead of being serious sci-fi, it’s a comedy. It feels like the series “Archer” but with a “Star Trek” aesthetic. While it’s clearly made by people that love the source material, the whole thing comes across like a skit series you would find on the internet.

We follow the misadventures of several low-ranking crew members of the U.S.S. Cerritos, one of Starfleet’s least important vessels. While often busy with their mundane work routines, they still find time to get involved in the crazy experiences that come with exploring the galaxies.

The main crew members we follow include Brad Boimler and Beckett Mariner. The two could not be more different with Boimler enjoy many of the mundane aspects of his work while Beckett thirsts for excitement and adventure. They actually interact a lot like Fry and Leela in “Futurama”. Captain Carol Freeman is certainly not as memorable as Captain Kirk or Captain Picard. I’m not especially keen on the animation on the characters, it reminded me a lot of the animation in “Rick And Morty”.

“Star Trek: Lower Decks” might be an enjoyable watch for “Star Trek” fans that recognise all the references to different starships and alien races. However, it’s not especially funny as a comedy series. The whole thing feels awkward when you consider that it is officially “Star Trek” and not just a sketch on “Robot Chicken”. It certainly could have been significantly worse but I must confess that I was not particularly captivated by any of it and the lousy animation does not help matters. I still prefer the more serious “Star Trek: The Animated Series” from the 1970s.