Warning: SPOILERS for Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 4
Summary
- Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 4 has successfully integrated Lt. T'Lyn into the USS Cerritos, learning from the introduction of Lt. Ezri Dax in Deep Space Nine Season 7.
- T'Lyn has quickly become a vital player and the fifth lead character in Lower Decks, showcasing her intelligence and understated Vulcan humor.
- Ezri Dax's success in Deep Space Nine Season 7, despite initial negative reactions, provides a valuable blueprint for Lower Decks to follow with T'Lyn, who is already on her way to becoming a beloved Star Trek character.
The successful way Star Trek: Lower Decks season 4 has integrated Lt. T'Lyn (Gabrielle Ruiz) into the ranks of the USS Cerritos proves the animated series learned the right lessons from the introduction of Lt. Ezri Dax (Nicole de Boer) in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 7. T'Lyn debuted in the Lower Decks season 2 episode "wej Duj" as an outcast of a Vulcan ship who was deemed as "too emotional" and "out of control" by her Vulcan superiors. T'Lyn returned as a Starfleet provisional Ensign in Lower Decks season 3's finale, and the Vulcan Science Officer was pleased to be promoted to Lieutenant, junior grade, in Lower Decks season 4.
Lt. Ezri Dax was introduced at the start of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 7, and she was the replacement for the beloved Lt. Commander Jadzia Dax (Terry Farrell). As a result of a dispute between Terry Farrell and Paramount, the actress left Star Trek behind, and Jadzia Dax was abruptly killed off in DS9's season 6 finale. Ezri, who is also a Trill, received the Dax symbiont, and she made a place for herself on Deep Space Nine among the late Jadzia's friends and family. Although Ezri was only in DS9's final 26 episodes, she was made into a prominent and ubiquitous character in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Ezri was front and center as the series' Dominion War storyline concluded the series wrapped up every major character arc.
