Star Trek: Strange New Worlds just wrapped up a lingering storyline from season 2 with a somewhat disappointing resolution. Written by Onitra Johnson and Bill Wolkoff, and directed by Dan Liu, Strange New Worlds season 3, episode 3, "Shuttle to Kenfori" delivers a horror-tinged story complete with Klingon zombies.
"Shuttle to Kenfori" follows Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) and Dr. Joseph M'Benga (Babs Olusanmokun) as they embark on an off-the-books mission to find a Chimera Blossom that could save the life of Captain Marie Batel (Melanie Scrofano). A Klingon named Bytha (Christine Horn) tracks down Pike and M'Benga, revealing herself as the daughter of Ambassador Dak'Rah (Robert Wisdom).
Back in the Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2 episode, "Under the Cloak of War," M'Benga killed Dak'Rah for the atrocities the Klingon general had committed during the Federation-Klingon War. Bytha, who hated her father for dishonoring their family, needed to kill M'Benga as a way to restore her honor.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ Resolution To Dr. M’Benga’s Murder Cover-Up Was Disappointing
M'Benga Faces No Consequences For Murdering A Federation Ambassador
In Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2's "Under the Cloak of War," M'Benga and Nurse Christine Chapel (Jess Bush) claimed Dak'Rah's murder was in self-defense, but even then, Captain Pike suspected otherwise. Still, he trusted his friend and ultimately let the matter go. While this made sense at the time, it raised the question of whether M'Benga's actions would ever come back to haunt him.
When Bytha confronted M'Benga, he confessed that he had assassinated Dak'Rah.When Bytha confronted M'Benga, he confessed that he had assassinated Dak'Rah, but refused to kill Bytha after beating her in combat. After Pike and M'Benga return to the Enterprise, M'Benga is prepared to accept the consequences for his actions. Captain Pike, however, says that since the confession happened during an off-the-books mission and while M'Benga was under duress, he won't be filing a report about the incident.
"Shuttle to Kenfori" put Pike and M'Benga's friendship on full display, and it was great to see the two of them interacting as friends rather than as Captain and Chief Medical Officer. And while Pike is right to assure Dr. M'Benga that he is not a "monster," he lets him off the hook a bit too easily. He did murder a Federation Ambassador, after all.
Dr. M'Benga reveals he has been married and divorced several times, although his last marriage was annuled.
What Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Should Have Done With Dr. M’Benga’s Story
Strange New Worlds Could've Taken M'Benga's Story In Many Different Directions
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has already shown hints that Dr. M'Benga sometimes struggles with PTSD as a result of his time during the Klingon War. The show could have continued to explore this thread, revealing more about M'Benga's past, as he faced the consequences of his murder of Dak'Rah.
Throughout its long history, Star Trek has delivered some great trial episodes in which beloved characters have had to exonerate themselves or defend their actions. Strange New Worlds could have done the same with M'Benga, putting him on trial just like Number One (Rebecca Romijn) in one of the series' best episodes, season 2's "Ad Astra Per Aspera."
Strange New Worlds could have used Dak'Rah's murder as a way to explain why M'Benga is no longer the chief medical officer aboard the Enterprise by the time of Star Trek: The Original Series.
It would've been more satisfying to see Strange New Worlds dig deeper.
Ultimately, the story's resolution in "Shuttle to Kenfori" all feels too easy, and it would've been more satisfying to see Strange New Worlds dig deeper. The show could have easily focused an entire episode on this resolution rather than including it in an episode focused on finding a treatment for Captain Batel.
Dr. M’Benga Has Still Become One Of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ Best Characters
Babs Olusanmokun Never Disappoints
Even if Star Trek: Strange New Worlds could have done more with M'Benga's storyline, he still remains one of the show's best characters. Babs Olusanmokun delivers powerhouse performances in both "Under the Cloak of War" and "Shuttle to Kenfori," and never fails to make M'Benga compelling to watch.Between his history in the Klingon War and his friendship with Captain Pike, M'Benga has become one of Strange New Worlds' more well-developed characters, and he consistently gets strong storylines. Plus, M'Benga's compassion as a doctor and his impressive fighting skills make for a truly fascinating combination.
Dr. Joseph M'Benga (as portrayed by Booker Bradshaw) originally appeared in two episodes of Star Trek: The Original Series, but Strange New Worlds has given his character a lot more depth.
The characters (and the actors who play them) on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds continue to be one of the show's greatest strengths. Dr. Joseph M'Benga remains as compelling as ever, but it would have been nice to see a stronger resolution to his shocking decision to murder Dak'Rah.
