Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3, Episode 3 Review - Strange New Worlds Channels The Last Of Us In A Standout Episode For Dr. M'Benga

Warning: SPOILERS for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3, Episode 3, "Shuttle To Kenfori"

In its third episode, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 delivers an excellent horror-tinged adventure, complete with Klingons and zombies. After wrapping up the cliffhanger from season 2 and following that up with a fun wedding misadventure, Strange New Worlds season 3 gets more serious for its third outing.

The story begins with Captain Pike (Anson Mount) and Captain Batel (Melanie Scrofano) enjoying their last few days together before Batel takes command of her new ship. When Pike finds Batel unconscious, however, they learn that the Gorn tissue from her previous injury has returned despite treatment.

This leads Dr. M'Benga (Babs Olusanmokun) to propose an unconventional solution involving a rare flower known as the Chimera blossom. Unfortunately, this flower can only be found in the restricted zone left in the wake of the Klingon war, leading Pike and M'Benga to embark on an off-the-books mission that quickly turns dangerous.

Captain Pike & Dr. M'Benga Make For A Dynamic Duo

Strange New Worlds Should Pair The Two Up More Often

"Shuttle To Kenfori" wastes no time diving into its main story, quickly setting up Pike and M'Benga's away mission. Ever the romantic, Pike is immediately willing to violate Starfleet regulations if it means saving Batel, but he insists on being the one to accompany M'Benga on the mission to find the life-saving Chimera blossom.

As Pike and M'Benga fly a shuttle down to Kenfori, they reminisce about past missions, reminding viewers of their lengthy friendship. Strange New Worlds is often at its best when it gives its characters time to be themselves with one another, and it's great to see Pike and M'Benga share a laugh.

As Pike and M'Benga explore Kenfori, they encounter strange remains that look as though they have been devoured by an animal despite the lack of lifesigns on the planet. When Klingons arrive and zombies emerge, the episode turns into a full-blown horror movie. Pike and M'Benga make a great duo, fighting alongside one another like only trusted friends can.

Later, when Pike puts the pieces together about Batel's treatment, he confronts M'Benga in a tragic scene that sees the normally unflappable Pike pleading for another solution that doesn't exist. Anson Mount and Babs Olusanmokun both deliver standout performances, and "Shuttle To Kenfori" explores multiple aspects of the characters' friendship.

Klingons & Zombies & Gorn Hybrids, Oh My!?

Star Trek Channels The Last Of Us, But Keeps Its Focus On Its Characters

While Pike and M'Benga battle Klingons and zombies on Kenfori, Batel struggles to fight through the pain caused by the Gorn DNA ravaging her body. When Lt. Spock (Ethan Peck) tries to help Batel using a mindmeld, they both catch glimpses of the Gorn, raising the question of just how the Gorn DNA is affecting Batel's body.

Meanwhile, Lt. Erica Ortegas (Melissa Navia) pushes back against Number One (Rebecca Romijn) on the bridge, worried about what the Klingons may do to Pike and M'Benga. It's nice to see Ortegas get more screen time (even when she's insubordinate), and it's always great to see Una in charge of the Enterprise.

Down on the planet, Pike and M'Benga fight off zombies until the Klingon leader, Bytha (Christine Horn), captures them and reveals that she has been tracking M'Benga. "Shuttle To Kenfori" then reveals its surprising connection to Strange New Worlds season 2's "Under the Cloak of War," finally forcing M'Benga to reckon with his decision to kill Ambassador Dak'Rah (Robert Wisdom).

The resolution to M'Benga's murder of Dak'Rah feels a bit too easy, with everything nicely wrapped up in the end. Still, Bytha is a fun character, making the most of her relatively few scenes, and M'Benga continues to be one of Strange New Worlds' best series regulars.

"Shuttle To Kenfori" Continues Adding Depth To The Characters & Diving Into Their Relationships

Strange New Worlds Season 3 Just Keeps Getting Better

Babs Olusanmokun is the true star of the episode, as he makes M'Benga likable and trustworthy, but also someone you would not want as your enemy. M'Benga gets so many great moments throughout "Shuttle To Kenfori," but it's a good episode for Pike and Batel as well.

Pike gets to be more than a captain, as both his friendship with M'Benga and his romance with Batel get tested in various ways. I love that Strange New Worlds allows Pike to be human, showing his more vulnerable moments as he struggles to accept Marie's fate and lashes out at her and M'Benga.

"Shuttle To Kenfori" also proves that Star Trek can do horror well when it wants to, delivering some surprisingly bloody zombie carnage. I like that the episode provides a scientific explanation for its zombies without making that the focus, instead keeping the story centered on its characters.

With genuine horror, emotional character moments, and perfectly placed sprinkles of humor, "Shuttle to Kenfori" has everything that makes Star Trek great. The episode's three main stories all blend together well, and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds continues to prove itself as one of the most entertaining sci-fi television shows on television right now.