Star Trek Just Introduced The Franchise's REAL Mirror Universe

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Star Trek: Lower Decks introduced an alternate reality that makes more sense as a 'mirror universe' than the actual Mirror Universe. One of Star Trek's oldest concepts, the dark and twisted Mirror Universe was introduced in the Star Trek: The Original Series season 2 episode, "Mirror, Mirror." Since then, the Mirror Universe has endured and made several reappearances in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Enterprise, Star Trek: Discovery, and Star Trek: Prodigy. Although 'Mirror Universe' is a catchy label full of Star Trek character doppelgangers, it has never really been a 'mirror' reflection of Star Trek's Prime universe.

In Star Trek: Lower Decks season 5, episode 1, "Dos Cerritos," the USS Cerritos is pulled into a fissure in space-time and emerges in a parallel reality where Captain Carol Freeman's (Dawnn Lewis) California Class starship encounters another USS Cerritos, but led by Captain Becky Freeman (Tawny Newsome). Although D'Vana Tendi (Noel Wells) was absent from both Cerritos' crews because she went home to the Orion Syndicate, the two Cerritos' crews are otherwise nearly identical, except for some cosmetic differences. Crucially, the alternate Cerritos crew isn't evil like in the Mirror Universe, although Captain Becky Freeman kidnapped and tried to switch places with Lt. Beckett Mariner (Tawny Newsome).

Why Star Trek: Lower Decks’ Alternate Reality Makes More Sense Than The Mirror Universe

It's more of a mirror universe than the Mirror Universe

Star Trek: Lower Decks season 5 didn't give a name to the alternate reality in its season 5 premiere - although the Cerritos' crews argued over which timeline was the 'Prime universe' - but the parallel dimension made more sense as a 'mirror universe' than the actual Mirror Universe by that name. The Mirror Universe is the opposite of Star Trek's Prime universe where its denizens are predisposed to cruelty and malevolence. Although physically identical to their Prime universe counterparts, the Mirror Universe's people are the Prime's inverse, just as their Terran Empire is the stark opposite of the United Federation of Planets.

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Meet the Lower Deckers and bridge crew of the USS Cerritos as Star Trek: Lower Decks warps into its fifth and final season on Paramount+.

Star Trek: Lower Decks season 5's alternate reality is an actual mirror where everyone from the parallel reality is more or less the same, but with slight differences that they consider "freakish." Captain Becky Freeman is essentially the same person as Lt. Beckett Mariner but made unfortunate choices she regrets once she became Captain of the Cerritos. Lt. Commander Andy Billups (Paul Scheer) is the same in both universes but the alternate Billups wears a cape. Similarly, the more confident alternate Lt. Brad Boimler (Jack Quaid) sports a beard while the alternate Lt. T'Lyn (Gabrielle Ruiz) says "Remarkable" instead of "Fascinating." Otherwise, Star Trek: Lower Decks' parallel dimension is a true mirror universe.

Star Trek: Lower Decks Did Something That Rarely Happens In Mirror Universe Episodes

The alternate reality matters to the Lower Deckers

In Star Trek's Mirror Universe episodes, Prime universe characters who find themselves in the Mirror Universe often pose as their counterparts, perhaps try to influence events in the Mirror Universe for the better, and then depart as soon as possible. Yet they are rarely changed or better themselves because they met their evil doppelgängers. Star Trek: Lower Decks season 5's premiere did something more remarkable and fascinating: Mariner learned something about herself and what kind of Captain she will not become because she met Captain Becky Freeman. Mariner holding up Captain Freeman as a mirror to herself and learning from it means Beckett will never have the results Becky found and tried to escape from.

Boimler literally begins growing a beard because he met his double.

Outcomes like Mariner seeing Becky Freeman as the road she won't travel, or Lt. Brad Boimler trying to pattern himself after his more confident, bearded doppelganger, are stories rarely derived from Star Trek Mirror Universe episodes. Usually, once back in the Prime Universe, Star Trek characters just move on and don't speak of their Mirror counterparts. But Boimler literally begins growing a beard because he met his double. Similarly, Lt. Samanthan Rutherford (Eugene Cordero) saw the emotionless automaton he would never allow himself to become when he met his alternate universe double.

Why J.J. Abrams' Star Trek Isn't Considered A Mirror Universe

Star Trek's Kelvin timeline has similarities to the Mirror Universe

Star Trek's Multiverse is comprised of numerous parallel realities, and the best known besides the Mirror Universe is the Kelvin Timeline in J.J. Abrams' Star Trek movies. The alternate Kelvin reality branched out in its own direction in 2233 when the Romulan time traveler Nero (Eric Bana) destroyed the USS Kelvin and killed Lt. George Kirk (Chris Hemsworth), the father of Captain James T. Kirk (Chris Pine). But the Kelvin Timeline isn't considered a 'mirror universe.' Although many of the same people exist in the Prime and Kelvin Timelines, the numerous divergences, especially the fact that different actors portray Star Trek's iconic characters, keep the Kelvin reality of Abrams' Star Trek movies as being seen or categorized as a mirror universe.

The cast of Star Trek (2009) stands together for a promotional shot on a black background with a blue filter over their faces.

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Star Trek has also tacitly defined the Mirror Universe as an evil reality, which J.J. Abrams' Kelvin Timeline is not. (Nor is Star Trek: Lower Decks season 5's alternate dimension.) The Star Trek movies' Kelvin reality is inherently driven by Gene Roddenberry's Utopian vision, just like Star Trek's Prime universe. Amusingly, Star Trek: Lower Decks season 4 winked at the impossibility of the Kelvin timeline, with Lt. D'Vana Tendi scoffing at how unlikely it is from a scientific perspective that two universes could have the same people, but they look physically different. Nonetheless, that's what Star Trek's Kelvin Timeline is.

Star Trek's Mirror Universe Returns In Section 31

Section 31 will show Emperor Georgiou's Mirror Universe origin

MIku Martineau & Michelle Yeoh in Section 31

Star Trek's Mirror Universe will return in Star Trek: Section 31. The first Star Trek movie made for streaming on Paramount+ will see the return of Academy Award winner Michelle Yeoh as Emperor Philippa Georgiou, the former ruler of the Mirror Universe. Intriguingly, Star Trek: Section 31's flashbacks to the Mirror Universe of the early 23rd century will be Georgiou's origin story, depicting how the young Philippa Georgiou (Miku Martineau) rose to become Emperor. Section 31 is as much about Emperor Georgiou facing the sins of her past as introducing a new Section 31 team in Star Trek's 24th century 'lost era.'

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Star Trek: Lower Decks season 5 is seemingly not done introducing alternate universes. Patching up quantum fissures in space is the USS Cerritos' mission in Star Trek: Lower Decks season 5, so more alt-versions of familiar Star Trek characters are probable. The upcoming return of Lt. Harry Kim (Garrett Wang) comes with a slew of Ensign Harry Kim duplicates who likely all hail from different realities. But unless there's an evil Harry Kim in the bunch, Star Trek: Lower Decks season 5 will probably keep shying away from the Mirror Universe. After all, who needs the Mirror Universe when Star Trek: Lower Decks can show even better parallel realities?