Chris Connor reviews the season 3 premiere of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds…
Strange New Worlds has been one of the best-received Star Trek shows in some time, with a formula that meticulously blends an enthralling adventure and a contemporary feel. It recalls the original series with William Shatner, but is far from derivative. Season 2 of the show left us with a cliffhanger as the crew of the USS Enterprise was scattered and facing a major threat from the Gorn.
The opening season 3 episode, the second part of that story, picks up in the immediate aftermath with the crew trying to get everyone safely back to the Enterprise, averting a conflict in the process. It is a thrilling, action-packed way to start the season. It leaves a few questions as to when we might see the Gorn again, either later in this season or in the announced fourth and fifth seasons.
The second episode cleverly shifts the tone completely as the crew recovers following their ordeal. This episode picks up one of the dangling threads of the show to date, that of Spock’s relationship with Nurse Chapel. Rhys Darby guest stars as a Vulcan who takes an interest in the pair’s relationship. This episode places Ethan Peck’s Spock at the forefront, once again allowing the show to capitalise on its ensemble cast. This episode offsets the darker tone of the opening with a more playful one, while still having stakes of its own.
Strange New Worlds’ two-episode premiere shows it has lost none of its magic in the two years away, continuing to deliver a delightful blend of nostalgia and escapism. The cast are on song with most of the crew given some kind of meaningful role to play, while setting the stage for the season ahead. It is quite self-contained, with much of the action aboard the Enterprise and following the crew.
It sets up the third season to be every bit as impressive as the show’s first two. The show continues to stand out as one of the most impressive in the franchise and with two further seasons in the works, hopefully it can maintain this high quality threshold. Tonally the two episodes show how well this series balances a range of genres with a mix of light hearted comedy and high-octane thrills.
Chris Connor
