I mean that was kind of a false choice forced onto the story by the writers. They could have done a transporter cloning and split one while keeping the other. You could argue the ethics of transporter cloning, which sadly none of the series ever really address in depth, but it’s been proven to be possible with Riker. One could argue that it was a unique circumstance which couldn’t be replicated but that’s lazy writer handwaving to get around the whole show becoming about transporter clones. Just another of the many things introduced in one episode then forgotten about forever which should have changed the entire trek universe and could be the basis of an entire series by itself.
The direct answer to the question “Is Star Trek: Lower Decks canon?” is yes. And that’s because the creator — Mike McMahan — has said its canon, and the show actually bends over backwards to make canonical references.
So yeah, everything from the Pakled war to that stupid toy “SPOCK” helmet is canon now.
I mean, I was overstating my case a little bit. To be fair, Riker and Boimler are the only actual examples we have of it (at least by that particular method), and Rutherford’s bet was more about that sort of wacky situation being “a Boimler kind of thing to happen” (possibly paraphrased).
I mean that was kind of a false choice forced onto the story by the writers. They could have done a transporter cloning and split one while keeping the other. You could argue the ethics of transporter cloning, which sadly none of the series ever really address in depth, but it’s been proven to be possible with Riker. One could argue that it was a unique circumstance which couldn’t be replicated but that’s lazy writer handwaving to get around the whole show becoming about transporter clones. Just another of the many things introduced in one episode then forgotten about forever which should have changed the entire trek universe and could be the basis of an entire series by itself.
Riker was a freak accident caused by a storm, they couldn’t reliably create transporter duplicates or they would have
Apparently it was a common enough thing that Rutherford won a bet when it happened to Boimler.
While lower decks is official I don’t think it’s canon (I have not seen it though) and it happens after voyager.
https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/star-trek-lower-decks-canon-settle-debate/
So yeah, everything from the Pakled war to that stupid toy “SPOCK” helmet is canon now.
Having never seen the show, I don’t know how to feel about that.
I think it cheapens a few plotlines to make transporter dupes frequent when it is unheard of in the other shows
I mean, I was overstating my case a little bit. To be fair, Riker and Boimler are the only actual examples we have of it (at least by that particular method), and Rutherford’s bet was more about that sort of wacky situation being “a Boimler kind of thing to happen” (possibly paraphrased).