"The New Next Generation" kicks off with a fleet of Klingons patrolling the edge of their territory when the fissure shows up and emits waves that mess with the universe. Before one of the ships is destroyed, one of the Klingons transforms from their regular style based on the TNG era to resembling the Klingons from Star Trek: Discovery.

The last episode of Lower Decks is titled “The New Next Generation,” and it’s hard to think of something more appropriate for the show. Not only does Lower Decks take its name from a season seven episode of TNG, but its theme and font choices all recall that classic.

With the release of The Next New Generation, the final episode of season 5, the latest series in the retooled Star Trek Expanded Universe comes to a close. Star Trek: Lower Decks boldly went where no show in the saga to this date had ventured: adult animation.

Spoilers for “The New Next Generation.” When Starfleet said it had dispatched the Enterprise to help the Cerritos close the rift, I was worried. Lower Decks has spent the last four years stepping out the shadow of its more famous predecessor.

Set phasers to spoilers, because this article discusses major plot details from the "Star Trek: Lower Decks" series finale. The time has finally come for one of the best new additions to the "Star Trek" franchise (and one of the biggest pleasant surprises) to sail into the sunset,