Warning: SPOILERS For Star Trek: Lower Decks’ Series Finale – “The New Next Generation”
The series finale of Star Trek: Lower Decks introduced fans to a unique twist involving a transporter clone of Lt. Brad Boimler, played by Jack Quaid. This clone, known as Captain William Boimler, emerged from a transporter accident during Season 2, shortly after Boimler transferred to the USS Titan. While Brad returned to the USS Cerritos, his clone continued on the Titan. Eventually, he was recruited into Section 31, a clandestine Starfleet intelligence group, and this marked the last in-universe appearance of William until Season 5.
The concept of transporter duplicates isn’t new to the Star Trek franchise. The character of Lt. Thomas Riker, introduced in Season 6 of Star Trek: The Next Generation, provides an insightful comparison. Stranded for eight years on Nervala IV due to a transporter malfunction, Thomas’s reappearance caused tension with his counterpart, Commander Will Riker. Thomas eventually departed the USS Enterprise and joined the USS Gandhi but his trajectory took a darker turn, as seen in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, where he aligned with the Maquis and faced dire consequences.
Captain William Boimler of Star Trek: Lower Decks Outshines Thomas Riker’s Clone
Achievements of William Boimler Far Surpass Those of Thomas Riker
In the penultimate episode of Season 5, William Boimler has clearly excelled beyond Thomas Riker. After being absorbed into Section 31, he ascended the ranks rapidly, ultimately becoming captain of the Defiant Class starship Anaximander. His crew, comprised of “interdimensional castaways,”undertook critical missions, such as investigating mysterious quantum fissures threatening the galaxy. Thanks to Boimler’s leadership, they not only identified the source of these anomalies but also played a pivotal role in saving the multiverse.
Despite his affiliation with the notoriously secretive Section 31, Captain Boimler exhibits a deep commitment to his crew and their ventures. When he encountered an alternate universe’s Captain Lily Sloane, he recognized that her crew was merely a different variant of the Federation, demonstrating his unwavering belief in Starfleet’s ideals. In a comparatively brief time frame, William achieved remarkable feats, even saving the multiverse—something Thomas Riker was never able to accomplish.
William Boimler Ascends to Leadership While Brad Boimler Waits for His Moment
William Boimler Claims the Captain’s Chair Ahead of Brad Boimler
William Boimler’s rapid promotion to captain highlights a significant achievement that continues to elude Brad Boimler, who began his journey in Star Trek: Lower Decks as an ensign. While Brad has evolved into a more skilled and confident officer, he remains a lieutenant junior grade and has yet to achieve the captaincy. Until he received a communication from William, he had believed his transporter duplicate to be lost. His focus quickly shifted to the impending cosmic crisis, momentarily suspending comparisons between their careers.
Throughout the series, Captain William Boimler’s character development shines, especially as he connects with an alternate version of Lt. Beckett Mariner. This connection exemplifies how their camaraderie transcends universes. By the conclusion of Star Trek: Lower Decks‘ series finale, Brad Boimler appears content in his role among the Cerritos crew, despite the promotional twists that land him and Mariner in competitive positions as co-First Officers under the newly promoted Captain Jack Ransom.
In essence, while Brad’s journey towards captaincy continues, his character has established a solid foundation leading to what promises to be a bright future within Starfleet. Like many characters in Star Trek: Lower Decks, he has found a home on the USS Cerritos, and the potential for him to become a great captain remains strong.
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