Chris Connor reviews the seventh episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds…
Strange New Worlds has never been afraid to shy away from genre episodes with a murder mystery homage just a few weeks ago, and “What is Starfleet?” borrows from found footage and documentaries as we follow Beto, Ortega’s brother, filming a documentary on the crew of the Enterprise. This plays out both as a conventional mission and also a look at the crew in their downtime, seeing sides we wouldn’t normally see.
In many ways the episode humanises the characters as we follow how they spend their moments away from missions both together and as a crew, seeing Number One and M’Benga sparring for example or Pike jamming on his guitar. Beto is initially sceptical of Starfleet given his personal experiences and the fact he was unable to save Ortegas following her ordeal with the Gorn.
The episode showcases the importance of Starfleet both for the crew of The Enterprise, offering them a home and community, but also its purpose for the wider galaxy. The main storyline may be a bit light compared to some other episodes but it still finds a nice balance between the exploration and danger the show naturally brings with a sense of levity and reflectiveness.
Far from a filler episode this helps to flesh out the characters and makes us see them in a different light. It is another successful genre episode for the show and brings a sense of lightness following some of the denser plotlines. There is a sense of optimism at the episode’s core, celebrating the work of Starfleet and it’s importance within the wider context of the show.
With just three episodes remaining, Strange New Worlds’ third season does have some loose ends to tie up, however it continues to be a success, with this season underlining why it has built such a loyal fanbase. The show continues to go from strength to strength with this episode offering more of a blend of what we’d expect with something fresh and setting us up for the final stretch of the season.
Chris Connor
