Interview: Eugene Cordero and Noël Wells Talk About ‘Star Trek: Lower Decks’ Season 2 [EXCLUSIVE]

The animated underdogs of Starfleet are back! Season two of Star Trek: Lower Decks premieres next week on August 12th, so we logged onto Zoom to chat with Eugene Cordero (D’Vana Tendi) and Noël Wells (Ensign Rutherford) about what we can expect for the Lower Decks crew this season.
And while important things were discussed like exploring more of Tendi’s Orion heritage this season, and whether or not Rutherford and Tendi’s sexual tension will ever grow into something more, we had to find out the answer to the hot button question that we know will be plaguing viewers this season.
Nerds and Beyond: So as Tendi and Rutherford are redefining or rediscovering their friendship, we learn that Rutherford despises pears. Is there a food or item that you absolutely hate, but if you suddenly started enjoying it, your friends would think there is something catastrophically wrong with you?
Noël Wells: Yeah I used to hate pears!
Eugene Cordero: Really!?
Noël Wells: But now I actually really like them.
Eugene Cordero: So that episode is based on you, that’s really crazy.
Noël Wells: Yeah I used to be like, “Pears are so gross, they don’t taste like anything, they’re mealy, like what is a pear? They’re weird!” But now I’m like “mmmm pears!” There are just so many undercurrents to them.
Eugene Cordero: People would think that I am a weird clone of myself if I walked into any place with cottage cheese. Because it’s one of those things where it’s like “Um, did you drop this? Because it’s in pieces. And wet. Did you put it in something else that didn’t belong in? Because this is gross. It – it looks like it has already been destroyed and it doesn’t smell right.” So if you guys ever see me with cottage cheese, run. Because that is not the real me.
Interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. Star Trek: Lower Decks premieres August 12th on Paramount+.