Star Trek: Lower Decks did right by bringing back that classic The Next Generation character

Star Trek: Lower Decks brought back a classic minor character from The Next Generation.

While not everyone enjoys the humor of Star Trek: Lower Decks, especially when they’re trying to bring in a major storyline, there isn’t anyone who should deny that Mike McMahan had some real ideas for the current season’s finale. McMahan brought back Nick Locarno, the former flameout from Starfleet Academy who once led Nova Squadron.

The group was an elite group of Starfleet cadets, and Locarno was the ring leader, who ultimately was expelled from the academy due to the death and cover-up of a classmate. So when he came back to the fold in Lower Decks, it was only fitting he was the de-facto admiral of Nova Fleet, a collection of ships from the Federation, Klingon empire, and other governments from around the galaxy.

Locarno’s return also saw his actor, Robert Duncan McNeill, return to the role as well. McNeill also starred in Star Trek: Voyager as Tom Paris, a character based on Locarno.

But Locarno wasn’t the only character that was brought back.

Star Trek: Lower Decks brought back Sito Jaxa

For those who don’t know, Sito Jaxa was a member of the Nova Squad group who would later earn a spot on the Enterprise-D after having to deal with her own punishments for her involvement in the above-mentioned incident. She would later take an undercover mission as a way to show her worth and would end up being killed in the line of duty due to the mission.

And since Lower Decks brought back Locarno, McMahan wanted to bring back Sito Jaxa in a flashback scene that established the relationship between her and Lower Decks’ key character Beckett Mariner. Since Sito’s death was in the Next Generation episode “Lower Decks”, the episode that gave the show its name, it was only fitting she get brought back.

And not only did McMahan bring her back but she brought back her actress as well; Shannon Fill. It was a fitting cameo in the episode and one that didn’t undue any established lore, as it was set as a flashback.

While the Nova Squad and subsequent death of Sito were only two episodes, seasons apart, it remains one of the most talked about and discussed sub-plots in all of the Next Generation’s history and since the show that McMahan runs is named after one of those two episodes, it was beyond fitting to wrap an entire season around that storyline.

It was a perfect way to close out the latest season of Lower Decks, especially since we’re not sure what the future may hold for the show.