At the end of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2, Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) faced a seemingly impossible choice. With the Enterprise facing a fleet of Gorn ships, Starfleet orders Pike to retreat, but this would mean leaving his captured crew members behind.
In its second episode, Strange New Worlds season 3 delivers something completely different, jumping ahead three months to tell a classic Star Trek story that offers insight into the show's characters. It’s an incredibly fun episode that feels like Star Trek: The Original Series in all the best ways.
Strange New Worlds Season 3, Episode 1 Picks Up Immediately Where Season 2's Finale Left Off
“Hegemony, Part II” Proves Why Captain Pike Has Such Faith In His Crew
In Strange New Worlds’ two seasons so far, Captain Pike and his Enterprise crew have proven to be not only incredibly capable Starfleet officers but also incredibly likable characters. The show’s season 3 premiere highlights this while providing an action-packed conclusion to the cliffhanger of “Hegemony, Part I.”
Based on a story by Henry Alonso Myers & Davy Perez, "Hegemony, Part II" was written by Davy Perez and directed by Chris Fisher.
Their plan, which effectively puts the Gorn to sleep, is complex, clever, and risky, but it works thanks to the people involved and their ability to work together. "Hegemony, Part II" is a fast-paced, action-focused episode, but it gives every main character something to do and cements Captain Pike as one of Trek's greatest heroes.
"Hegemony, Part II" Is An Action-Packed Premiere That Bodes Well For Strange New Worlds Season 3
Star Trek Puts The Gorn To Bed (For Now)
As Captain Pike and his crew work on a way to get their people back from the Gorn, Lt. La'an Noonien Singh (Christina Chong) helps her fellow captured crew members begin their escape. La'an experiences flashbacks to her previous time in Gorn captivity, but "Hegemony, Part II" doesn't reveal anything new in this regard.
Ortegas remains one of the least developed characters among the main Enterprise crew members, and I hope the season gives her more to do.
While all of this is going on, Nurse Christine Chapel (Jess Bush) and Lt. Spock (Ethan Peck) race to save Captain Marie Batel (Melanie Scrofano) from the Gorn eggs growing inside her. Chapel and Spock pick an odd time to discuss their relationship status, but they ultimately come up with a temporary solution to Batel's Gorn problem.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3, Episode 2 Delivers A Fun Diversion Sprinkled With Character Insight
"Wedding Bell Blues" Centers On Spock's Complicated Love Life
Written by Kirsten Beyer and David Reed, and directed by Jordan Canning, "Wedding Bell Blues" begins with a personal log from Spock as he reveals that three months have passed since the events of the season premiere. The Enterprise has been undergoing repairs at Starbase 1 and is now preparing to celebrate the one hundredth anniversary of the founding of the United Federation of Planets.
As Nurse Chapel introduces Dr. Korby to her friends on the Enterprise, a mysterious “cosmic trickster” grants a wish for Spock. The next morning, when Spock wakes up, he’s suddenly engaged to Chapel, and they are preparing for their wedding. As the trickster takes on the role of wedding planner, Korby is the only one who notices something is amiss.
Although the wedding planner is not given a name, all signs point to him being Trelane (William Campbell) from the Star Trek: The Original Series episode, "The Squire of Gothos." Also of note, Trelane's father is voiced by none other than John de Lancie, but the episode gives no indication that he's playing Q.
This leads to some zany hijinks, as Korby and later Spock work to figure out what’s going on, while the Enterprise crew members prepare for the wedding. Rhys Darby’s trickster Trelane is a perfect fit for Strange New Worlds, and the episode's final “twist” comes straight from the TOS episode “The Squire of Gothos.”
Strange New Worlds Continues To Introduce New Characters
But Still Takes Time To Further Develop Its Main Characters
Wedding Bell Blues” also checks in with Captain Batel, revealing that her body has absorbed the Gorn eggs thanks to infusions from Number One’s (Rebecca Romijn) Illyrian blood. It remains to be seen if this is a permanent solution, but Batel seems to be out of the woods for now. Batel and Pike get some adorable moments together, and it’s nice to see more of Marie, as it feels like we still don’t know much about her.
While the episode focuses on Spock, Chapel, and Korby, most of the other characters get moments in the spotlight as well. Although Erica has recovered physically from her encounter with the Gorn, she’s struggling with what appears to be PTSD. Her younger brother, Beto (Mynor Luken), is a welcome arrival, and his instant connection with Ensign Uhura (Celia Rose Gooding) is incredibly sweet.
La'an seems lighter after surviving the Gorn (again), and she helps Spock learn to dance, revealing that she once dreamed of being a prima ballerina.
Between Roger Korby, Erica’s brother, a new ensign in sickbay, and a potential new Enterprise bartender, “Wedding Bell Blues” introduces a lot of new characters (and potential romances). Strange New Worlds already has a big cast, which leaves me worried that the show’s third season may be juggling too many stories.
Still, Strange New Worlds season 3 gets off to a strong start with an action-packed conclusion to its season 2 cliffhanger, followed by a more light-hearted, character-focused adventure. I hope Star Trek: Strange New Worlds continues to explore its less developed characters and doesn’t forget that the best Star Trek is thought-provoking as well as fun.
