User Reviews

Let's get this out of the way, I like "Strange New Worlds". The characters are likable and compelling, I like the esthetics of the show, I like the traditional episodic nature of the episodes, mixed with continuing character arcs, so even though the mission-of-the-week may be random and somewhat inconsequential, the characters are always evolving in significant ways. Some better than others.

That being said, my main gripe with season one is how a few of those character arcs got resolved, such as Pike's destiny with the space wheelchair, and M'Benga's dying daughter. With the better ones still being ongoing like Spock & Chapel's evolving relationship* and La'an trying to deal with her hangups with the Gorn. And the Gorn War itself.

Season two begins where season one left off, Una is incarcerated by Starfleet Command for lying about being human, she's an Illyrian-a race of people who dabble in genetic engineering, which the Federation frown upon. Pike takes a few vacation days to fly to the other side of the quadrant to fetch some kind of super lawyer to defend Una at her trial. Which leaves Spock in charge, and Pike absent for the rest of the episode-which isn't an issue in the slightest. Post TOS Trek have been about having an ensemble

The main plot is perfectly fine, with the usual twists and turns you'd expect. With a few callbacks to season one, overall I thought it was a stronger season premiere than last season. But most importantly, we have proper looking Klingons. The TMP/TNG kind, not whatever Discovery was trying to push.

The only issues I have are the new Chief Engineer, Pelia played by Carol Kane. She's basically playing redux of her previous character from Taxi, Princess Bride, and Grandmama from Addams Family Values-your mileage depends on how much you liked those characters. I don't care much for the character, but I guess I just need to see more of her in show.

And there's Spock's not so subtle bouts of emotion concerning Nurse Chapel. I know it's a follow up to what happened last season (S1E9:All Those Who Wander) which was a bit contrived, and for the most part it's played off well enough throughout the episode due to Ethan Peck's performance, except for one scene on the bridge when the someone or probably Akiva Goldsman , decided to over emphasize Spock's reaction to possibly sacrificing Chapel (and M'Benga) to stop a false flag operation by the extremists.

Which is an issue I've noticed with the showrunners in general, it's like they either don't understand Subtlety or they think the audience isn't smart enough to catch on. The annoying thing is that it's not consistent, it just pops in odd places, like it was something decided after the fact, because it doesn't flow with the rest of the scene.

Despite my gripes, it's still a mostly good episode. It just hope in future the showrunners either learn the meaning of subtlety or trust their actors' ability a bit more.

Live review

So the episode starts slow with a lot of preface. But once the episode really starts to get going, it kind if made sense for the long intro.

Not sure why they jumped straight to the cliche of breaking orders and stealing the ship. But I guess it's more about the peril of the destination and disobeying orders was the only way out by the writers.

Then the show hears up and is pretty well paced. Definitely on par with last seasons episodes.

It is truly nice to see Star Trek done well again. Seems they have found a good balance on good plots. Competent actors, incredible sets, props and visuals. And above all, the script is much tighter. Less nonsense of other Star Trek shiws and holds to the show instead of say when possible.

Spock is put in command of the Enterprise while she's in space dock and of COURSE there's a reason to take her out for adventure.

Really, the 'close to perfect' part of the episode, is that Spock makes a 'reckless' 'anti-the-spock-we've-known' way too human for this early in his devlopment decision to break all the rules, to rescue a friend.

That's the part of the episode which was ludicrous.

BUT.

The emotional richness, the beautiful acting.. really every standard elemenet of an episode --- executed perfectly. Almost breathtaking.

Also some good character development for the doctor and nurse Chapel.

This overly emotional Spock breaks canon. But it's so well done, I can look the other way.

Keeup up the excellent work Paramount.

There is a writers strike, ok. But this episode really is bad even with a strike.

No story present, completely ignoring the star trek time line and species characteristics. Mindless and disfunctional action scenes that are completely outside the logic of the star trek universe. And on top of that also completely outside their own characters from season one.

For example, the doctor and his nurse are in a tight spot, surrounded by klingons. Suddenly they take a green juice from a vile, suggesting that they always carried that with them since the 'klingon wars'. And presto! They are fighting machines that can defeat dozens of klingons bare handed! Ridiculous to say the least.

This does not bode well for the rest of the season. 1 star above bomb for the special effects!

True Trek in all respects. We get fabulous effects, Spock's first command, wherein he steals the Enterprise no less, a mystery to be solved, one-on-one confrontations with the Klingons, the tension of a space battle, and Carol Cane as the new Chief Engineer. It just doesn't get much better than this.

I was glued, which is saying something in these days when we are all ADD. Forgive the plot devices, accept them for what they are. It's not science fact, its science fiction, and the best episodic science fiction ever done, by several light years.

This show is about the characters. All great fiction is about the characters. Gene Rodenberry gave us Wagon Train in space. Live long and prosper.

Regarding all the scathing comments, I guess a lot of fans are still on their Picard finale high, because if you're expecting the dizzying nostalgic, bombastic heights of that, then this will surely disappoint.

If however you care to actually recall all the character- and world building that took place in SNW season one, then you'll see that this picks up right where we left off in terms of both the story, and the crew we came to like so much last year. No complaints here.

Admittedly, an Admiral who won't listen, and a starship heist aren't exactly new for Trek- but then, we can't blame the show for plucking at more than a few classic Trek strings- this was exactly what we got last season in spades, so there's no real harm done in the classic riffs continuing apace now.

We even got the old style Klingons back after two seasons of Discovery's blue meanies, so again, what's not to enjoy here? That D7 looked gorgeous! I was a little confused by Mbenga and Chapel's part in this story: I had not realized they were such action heroes. The rest of the ensemble felt a little under-utilized, but these are all minor gripes.

I suspect/hope next week will pick up on Pike's side mission. He was missed this episode. I'm not sure Spock is ready to carry a whole episode alone ju-ust yet. Don't at me. I'm intrigued by Carol Kane's addition to the crew: she didn't blow it first episode, and I'm happy to let her Pelia find her feet on board. Still don't at me.

Welcome back SNW.

The production design on this show is top notch, and the talents of the production team are on full display; costume, makeup, set dressing, the lot! Incredibly visually appealing. Also, actors' performances are largely stellar, particularly Babs Olusanmokun and Jess Bush.

However, multiple issues regarding the writing, particularly the characters, kept pulling me out. Firstly, whilst it is established in Spock's own future that he is more than ready to break away from Starfleet protocol and steal the Enterprise to save a dear companion or to act in the greater good of the Federation, this instance of that felt largely unearned. His and the crew's relationship to La'an has not been shown to be deep enough to, in my mind, warrant this act of illogic from the acting Captain...although I believe the writing of Spock's emotional barriers breaking down are intended to compensate for this fact, as a whole it just does not work for me and is largely contrived.

And whilst the character of Ortegas shows promise, the performances of Melissa Navia, as well as Celia Rose Gooding, are so densely smug that their characters are difficult to watch at certain points. Their own pompous self-confidence feels unearned, and bizarrely tolerated by their co-workers aboard the Enterprise, who behave much unlike what characters serving in Starfleet are established to behave like as a requirement of their job and position in this so-called 'evolved' society. Uhura's behaviour towards the Starfleet engineer carrying out maintainence on the comms system was bafflingly rude and unprofessional, and I'm surprised the uncharacteristic outburst of condescension and aggression didn't warrant Uhura getting written up as some sort of character arc for her...but instead was dropped and passed off as normal and acceptable. Ortegas, on the other hand, is unbearable in almost every scene she's in.

Rest of the cast was fantastic though with a particular shoutout to the guest actors playing Klingons, who look and sound fantastic. Although still a little shaky on Peck's Spock, his acting talent is undeniable.

So despite my nitpicks, of which I had more but were largely inconsequential, this episode was, at the end of the day, good fun. Enjoyed it, but was pulled out at certain key moments. Will look forward to the rest of the season.

This episode had such an awesome ethical dilemma that's classic Trek: a weird diplomatic colony filled with Dilithium decides to go rogue and mine the dilithium for themselves, with humans and Klingons banding together to intentionally start a war so they can strip the planet bare of natural resources and profit extremely....all while enslaving the population.

Classic Trek.....and that's it. Yep, with such a meaty concept they literally go nowhere with it. Instead they use magical Rambo juice to become super human and the entire situation gets resolved in a neat bow over drinks (literally.... I'm not joshing...).

Everything gets resolved without seeing anything about these people and exploring the ethical dilemmas on all sides.

Jeez Louise...what a missed opportunity to make parallels with our world and the military industrial complex...

I loathe new Trek.