Star Trek’s Jonathan Frakes Shared His Reaction To That ‘Riker’ Reference In Strange New Worlds’ Lower Decks Crossover That Almost Ruined The Scene

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The crossover episode between Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and Lower Decks is widely considered a highlight for both shows, and for good reason. Even though the episode premiered nearly three years ago and we’re now well into the 2026 television season, we’re still discovering interesting details about it, thanks to Jonathan Frakes sharing the story behind Jack Quaid’s memorable ‘Riker’ impression.

Jonathan Frakes recently launched a podcast called Dropping Names With Brent & Jonny with Brent Spiner. In a recent episode, they answered questions from Star Trek fans. When asked about directing the crossover episode, “Those Old Scientists,” Frakes shared a story about a spontaneous line delivered by actor Dennis Quaid. Apparently, Quaid playfully said something like Riker when Boimler took charge.

I asked Jack to walk through the scene while I filmed him with a steadicam. He looked around the office, checking things out, then swung his leg over the saddle. I told him it looked good and we started filming. As he settled into the saddle, he suddenly shouted, ‘RIKER!’ Being behind the camera, I couldn’t help but mess up the shot.

Jonathan Frakes admitted he couldn’t help but laugh while filming the scene, and it’s easy to see why! The ‘Riker Maneuver’ is a funny, inside joke that started back when Frakes created it during filming of The Next Generation, making it a great addition to that moment. It probably should have been written into the script originally, so it was smart of Quaid to improvise the line.

Luckily, you can’t hear the director laughing in the finished version, but I’m happy they kept that footage. I think Quaid’s first, spontaneous reaction was the most realistic and would have felt forced if he’d had to repeat it multiple times.

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This news makes me want to revisit “Those Old Scientists” on Paramount+, and it reminds me how disappointed I was to hear “Lower Decks” won’t be continuing. Good news for “Strange New Worlds” fans, though: Season 4 is coming later this year, and a fifth season will follow as the show’s finale.

Lots of viewers have been asking for another team-up between Strange New Worlds and Lower Decks, but with the final season of Strange New Worlds being shorter than planned, it seems unlikely. The show still needs to establish the new actors who will eventually become the classic TOS crew, and show how the story leads to Kirk becoming captain of the Enterprise.

Even though both Lower Decks and other shows are coming to an end, there’s still something to look forward to. Tawny Newsome, who stars in Lower Decks, is now a writer for Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, and early reviews are very positive. Jonathan Frakes, known for directing many Star Trek episodes, is also directing for the new series. While it’s unlikely, I’d love to see characters like Boimler and Mariner from Lower Decks appear at the Academy somehow – maybe through a time warp!

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You can now stream episodes of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Lower Decks, and Starfleet Academy on Paramount+. If you haven’t started watching the latest shows yet, the first four episodes will be available by the end of January – making it a great time to start watching and catch up!

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2026-01-28 20:38