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Geek Girl Authority Crush of the Week: Jennifer 'Jen' Sh'reyan
Welcome to this week's installment of Geek Girl Authority Crush of the Week , wherein we shine a spotlight on strong women who inspire us. These ladies are a prime example of female empowerment and how crucial it is for youth to have said example to follow.
DISCLAIMER: The following article contains spoilers for Star Trek: Lower Decks.
RELATED: Looking for another strong female crush? Check out our Geek Girl Authority Crushes of the Week here! Jennifer 'Jen' Sh'reyan Photos: PARAMOUNT+ Fast Facts
Jennifer 'Jen' Sh'reyan (Lauren Lapkus) is an ensign aboard the U.S.S. Cerritos on Star Trek: Lower Decks. Initially, she is a background character. She can be spotted in the Cerritos bar in Season 1's 'Envoys.' Later in the season, in 'Cupid's Errant Arrow,' she is unceremoniously shoved aside by Beckett Mariner (Tawny Newsome).
Jen continued to appear in the background throughout the first season. This includes taking part in the Chu Chu Dance at the Zebulon Sister's Concert in 'Cupid's Errant Arrow.' And in the Lower Decks Season 2 premiere, 'Strange Energies,' she confronted Mariner on the holodeck. On the occasion, she also stated that she exercised by taking part in yoga.
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Like many other Cerritos crew members, Jen could regularly be seen performing her duties on the bridge of the ship. However, she was prone to becoming annoyed by the antics of Beta Shift. An example can be seen in Season 2's 'We'll Always Have Tom Paris.' In this episode, she grows annoyed while waiting for Bradward Boimler (Jack Quaid) to get his food from the Cerritos bar replicator.
In Season 2's 'The Spy Humongous,' Jen was seen to be a part of the 'Redshirts' club. Other members of the club included Ensigns Casey (Neil Casey), Taylor (Fred Tatasciore) and Jen's friend Castro (Gabrielle Ruiz). And in the episode, Boimler joined as well. The club's purpose was to help one another gain promotions to a higher rank, with the goal of reaching captaincy. However, after Boimler set an example by rescuing D'Vana Tendi (Noël Wells) from her transformation into a giant praying mantis, the Redshirts club was disbanded. 'Jariner'
In the Lower Decks Season 2 finale, 'First First Contact,' Jen's relationship with Mariner reached a new plateau. This takes place as the Cerritos is undertaking a high-stakes mission to traverse the Laaperian debris field, which requires the bridge viewscreen to be removed. An impact against the ship causes Mariner to fall through the open viewscreen and into space. Fortunately, a fast-acting Jen is able to seize her before she drifts too far away.
Later in the episode, Mariner and Jen reunite in the Cerritos bar. After apologizing for the way they've treated one another for the past year, they each admit that they have feelings for one another. Soon Mariner is introducing Jen to the rest of Beta Shift.
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In Lower Decks Season 3, Jen and Mariner are seen to be in a relationship. In the episode 'Mining the Mind's Mines,' we get several hints that their relationship is growing more serious. And later in the season, in 'Hear All, Trust Nothing,' Jen invites Mariner to one of Castro's 'salons.' At first, Mariner goes to great lengths to be on her best behavior. But when Jen reveals she had hoped Mariner would raise hell with her friends, Mariner obliges.
However, 'Jariner' was not meant to last. In the Season 3 episode 'Trusted Sources,' Mariner is transferred to Starbase 80 after being falsely accused of spreading malicious rumours about the Cerritos crew. When Mariner appeals to Jen, Jen refuses to believe Mariner is innocent of the charges. However, it seemed as though Jen might be receptive to making amends with Mariner in the Season 3 finale, 'The Stars At Night.' But this was curtailed by Mariner's disinterest in speaking with Jen. The Real Deal
Jen is the real deal. In the Season 5 episode 'The Best Exotic Nanite Hotel,' it is revealed that Jen has been transferred to the U.S.S. Manitoba. Jen states that this Parliament class ship is crewed entirely by Andorians, and suggests that it could be a good place for her earn her long-desired promotion. But before she is transferred, Jen joins Mariner on a final mission.
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At first, Jen pretends that she doesn't realize her relationship with Mariner has ended. While initially confused, Mariner eventually comes to realize she never spoke with Jen about the breakup. When Mariner finally confronts Jen about the situation, Jen admits that her behavior was a subterfuge to get back at Mariner for silently breaking up with her. By the end of the episode, Mariner and Jen have made amends with one another. And Jen is delighted that Mariner is the first ex with whom she's managed to maintain a friendship. Why She Matters
Why does Jen matter? In fitting with the theme of Lower Decks as a whole, she shows us that everyone has their own story, even the 'side characters.' She demonstrates that we can achieve our dreams, even if it's a long road getting from there to here. And she proves that women don't have to be flawless in order to find romance or succeed in the workplace.
So, be like Jen. Stick with your friends while working towards shared goals, but don't be afraid to walk away if you aren't getting the results you want. Try to work on communication with those closest to you, even if you face some stumbling blocks along the way. And always remember: even the nastiest breakup doesn't have to be the end of our story.
Star Trek: Lower Decks is currently available for streaming on Paramount+.
Geek Girl Authority Crush of the Week: DOCTOR T'ANA Avery Kaplan is the author of several books and the Features Editor at Comics Beat. She was honored to serve as a judge for the 2021 Cartoonist Studio Prize Award and the 2021 Prism Awards. She lives in the mountains of Southern California with her partner and a pile of cats, and her favorite place to visit is the cemetery. You can also find her writing on Comics Bookcase, NeoText, Shelfdust, the Mary Sue, in many issues of PanelxPanel, and in the margins of the books in her personal library.
