It’s been a mixed week for Star Trek fans as the fate of current series was announced.

The good news is that Strange New Worlds will be getting a fourth season. Production on season three is already underway and is expected to hit screens early 2025.

The bad news is that animated series Lower Decks will end after its fifth season, due later this year.

Five seems to be the limit for the latest incarnations although traditionally a successful Star Trek series would run for seven seasons. Back then a season would also stretch to over 20 episodes rather than the 10 we get these days.

Current E-P Alex Kurtzman said in a recent interview this reflects the new reality of streaming, but has the advantage of avoiding “filler episodes” dropped into a season just to make up the numbers.

And also much bigger budgets.

References

Variety Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Renewed for Season 4; Lower Decks to Conclude With Season 5

Cinemablend Can Any Modern Star Trek Series Reach 100 Episodes? Alex Kurtzman Shares His Thoughts