"Trek: Lower Decks" Season 4 Finale Reveals Character Ages, Incorporates Classic Star Trek Actors, and Paves Way for Character Development

"Star Trek: Lower Decks" season 4 finale explores backstory of Lieutenant Beckett Mariner, confirming her age as 31, and showcases the characters' growth, symbolizing the series' move from a mere homage to being a key part of the Star Trek canon.

The 'Star Trek: Lower Decks' season 4 finale confirms Lieutenant Beckett Mariner's age as 31 and provides backstory about her early years at the Starfleet Academy.
In the episode, 'Star Trek: The Next Generation' actors reprised their roles, adding essential backstory to the 'Lower Decks' storyline and further integrating it into the Star Trek canon.
The season finale also revealed that Mariner was once close to a minor character from 'Star Trek: The Next Generation, who later turned out to be the primary antagonist in season 4 of 'Lower Decks'.
It is suggested that disappointment and disillusionment from past experiences in Starfleet caused Mariner to stay a low-ranking officer and constantly challenge authority.
One of the show's turning points was the representation of the show’s underdog status through an antagonist character. The main characters' development opposite this antagonist signals a farewell to the show’s initial underdog nature.
The final episode ends with the departure of a main character, Tendi, who returns to her family's crime syndicate on Orion, leading to a cliffhanger for the start of next season.