Star Trek has grow to be greater than a traditional TV present—it’s now a beloved franchise, with numerous TV exhibits and flicks persevering with the story which first started within the ’60s. The most recent entry, the franchise’s eleventh, is Star Trek: Unusual New Worlds, which premiered in 2022 on streaming service Paramount+. The collection is a prequel to the unique collection set in 2259, after the occasions of Season 2 of Star Trek: Discovery, and follows the Enterprise below the command of Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount). Two seasons have aired up to now, and it has been renewed by Season 4.
Unusual New Worlds has confirmed to be a superb and thrilling new entry into the Star Trek canon, mixing new characters and tales with these already acquainted to followers. It splendidly attracts from traditional storylines whereas nonetheless remaining a singular collection. The collection efficiently balances lighthearted and humorous episodes with ones extra critical in tone.
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10 “Memento Mori”
Season 1, Episode 4
In “Memento Mori,” the USS Enterprise units out on a provide run to a colony planet, the place they discover the communications satellite tv for pc has been destroyed and everybody has been killed. The crew then discover themselves below assault from an unseen drive revealed to be the Gorn, and whereas Pike intends to make use of all his data and abilities to defeat them, he’s compelled to make use of artistic strategies to outlive and defeat them.
“Memento Mori” was a standout episode of Season 1, which launched Unusual New Worlds’ tackle the Gorn. The episode has a darkish really feel to it from the second they discover the planet, and from there, the episode turns into a little bit of a sport of cat-and-mouse. It confirmed how terrifying and brutal the Gorn might be—and by not being proven, they grew to become much more terrifying. It additionally had some nice moments from the crew as they labored to outlive.
9 “All These Who Wander”
Season 1, Episode 9
The Enterprise crew learns of a ship which despatched out a misery name, then makes an emergency touchdown in “All These Who Wander.” Whereas investigating the “fairly rattling creepy” barren planet, the touchdown celebration finds a gaggle of bloody our bodies however can’t account for the remaining 80 personnel. Then, as soon as once more, they discover themselves being attacked by the Gorn. Ultimately, Hemmer (Bruce Horak) is killed after sacrificing himself to save lots of the others.
A lot of “All These Who Wander” felt like a horror film—and certainly shared some similarities with Alien—because the Enterprise crew confronted the Gorn as soon as once more, to devastating outcomes. The episode begins with some nice moments from the crew as they take pleasure in a meal and do mundane chores like washing dishes whereas discussing their upcoming mission. This lighthearted second at the start of “All These Who Wander”, displaying their camaraderie, makes Hemmer’s loss of life on the finish all of the extra tragic.
8 “Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow”
Season 2, Episode 3
In “Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow,” La’An (Christina Chong) encounters James T. Kirk (Paul Wesley) in an alternate timeline, and collectively, the 2 journey again in time to Twenty first-century Earth to forestall an assault which might change the long run. Each wrestle with tradition shock as they navigate life in present-day Toronto, all whereas making an attempt to uncover why precisely they have been despatched there. Finally, their search leads them to a Romulan spy and murderer, additionally from the long run, who has been working to sluggish humanity’s progress after being annoyed with the Romulan strategies.
“Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow” was a fantastic episode that explored time journey within the Star Trek universe, just like the traditional Star Trek episode “Metropolis on the Fringe of Ceaselessly.” It is enjoyable to look at La’An and Kirk in what was primarily our time and our world, particularly as Kirk enjoys the little issues, like scorching canine. Above all, it’s nice to see the methods this episode incorporates acquainted Star Trek storylines and characters, particularly because it takes a extra critical flip because it builds in direction of its ending.
7 “Unusual New Worlds”
Season 1, Episode 1
Captain Pike returns from a self-imposed exile after one in every of his officers, Commander Una “Quantity One” Chin-Riley (Rebecca Romjin), goes lacking whereas on a secret first-contact mission for Starfleet in “Unusual New Worlds.” Quantity One is on a planet just like present-day Earth on the verge of breaking out right into a civil warfare. With crew members each new and outdated, the Enterprise got down to discover her, and so they in the end achieve rescuing her.
“Unusual New Worlds” was a compelling begin to the collection which launched its story and characters and set the tone. Newcomers to the franchise may simply leap in, with lots to take pleasure in for longtime followers. The pilot episode additionally established a hopeful and optimistic tone that may be current all through the collection. Total, it was entertaining to look at, particularly because the crew go to work rescuing Quantity One and in addition making an attempt to save lots of a distant planet from the identical horrible destiny which destroyed Earth.
6 “Subspace Rhapsody”
Season 2, Episode 9
After an accident involving an experimental quantum chance subject in “Subspace Rhapsody,” the crew of the Enterprise start singing about their emotions, as characters in a musical would. The phenomenon presents a potential safety danger for the reason that crew would possibly reveal emotions or data they should not as a part of a music, nevertheless it additionally permits the crew to deal with their varied private issues. The scenario will get worse as the issue spreads to different ships.
A musical episode shouldn’t work in a present like Unusual New Worlds, particularly on the heels of 1 as darkish and intense as Season 2, Episode 8 “Below the Cloak of Warfare.” And but it did, and it was a delight to look at, particularly because the characters acknowledged the strangeness of it. It’s proof that the present does not must take itself too critically and is not afraid to take dangers; plus, it exhibits the characters in a completely completely different gentle.
5 “These Outdated Scientists”
Season 2, Episode 7
In “These Outdated Scientists,” a crossover episode with Star Trek: Decrease Decks, Ensigns Beckett Mariner (Tawny Newsom) and Bradward Boimler (Jack Quaid) journey by time from the twenty fourth century again to the twenty third whereas investigating a time portal—first, Boilmer, then Mariner in a failed try and return Boimler to their very own time. After just a few failed makes an attempt at creating an influence supply for the portal to ship them again, they lastly succeed.
“These Outdated Scientists” was a enjoyable crossover episode balancing the humor of Decrease Decks with the extra critical tone of Unusual New Worlds. The keenness of each ensigns is offered as that of somebody encountering essential historic figures, nevertheless it may simply be in comparison with a fan assembly these characters themselves—and it was even higher when juxtaposed with the extra critical nature of the Enterprise crew. It is entertaining to look at them persistently wrestle with not by chance revealing any details about the long run.
4 “Advert Astra Per Aspera”
Season 2, Episode 2
Una faces the potential of a courtroom martial with potential imprisonment and dishonorable dismissal from Starfleet in “Advert Astra Per Aspera” because of altering her DNA. As she’s placed on trial, her friends in Starfleet testify on her behalf, and her personal testimony gives perception into her previous. She reveals she had turned herself in as a result of she was uninterested in hiding who she actually was.
“Advert Astra Per Aspera” was a compelling episode not simply due to its plot centered on Una but additionally due to the higher themes coping with whether or not a regulation is simply. It’s Unusual New Worlds‘ tackle a courtroom drama, one thing the franchise has performed with earlier than, to nice impact. Among the episode’s greatest moments come from the testimony of Una’s colleagues, displaying the power of their relationships with one another.
3 “Charades”
Season 2, Episode 5
After a shuttle accident in “Charades,” Spock’s (Ethan Peck) Vulcan DNA is eliminated by aliens, making him human—simply in time for an essential dinner along with his fiancée, T’pring (Gia Sandhu), and her household, which they might not postpone. Because the crew works to discover a method to return him to his regular state, he struggles with dealing with his human feelings as he experiences every little thing from anger and annoyance to a newfound love of bacon.
“Charades” was a implausible episode for Spock particularly. Total, it’s a extra lighthearted episode of the collection, enjoying out like a romantic comedy. The stark variations between the usually impassive Spock and the human Spock for the majority of the episode are nice to see, as are the “classes” Spock acquired in convincing T’Pring’s mother and father nothing was improper. T’Pring’s mother and father have been additionally simply as entertaining, along with her mom being troublesome, and her father being extra focused on meals.
2 “Below the Cloak of Warfare”
Season 2, Episode 8
In “Below the Cloak of Warfare,” a former Klingon basic who defected to Starfleet, Dak’Rah (Robert Knowledge), generally known as “the Butcher of J’Gal,” boards the Enterprise. This attracts conflicting reactions from the ship’s crew—together with mistrust from some who questioned his motivations and suspected he was actually out to steal Federation secrets and techniques. M’Benga (Babs Olusanmokun) confronts him about his claims and in the end kills him. In the meantime, flashbacks present M’Benga and Christine Chapel’s (Jess Bush) experiences within the warfare.
“Below the Cloak of Warfare” was a compelling episode coping with the problem of whether or not somebody may atone for his or her previous, and to what extent, particularly when coping with individuals straight impacted by their actions. The episode is filled with rigidity, and it is one of many darkest within the franchise. It culminates in a stunning ending during which M’Benga reveals how a lot he actually knew and what his personal position within the warfare was.
1 “A High quality of Mercy”
Season 1, Episode 10
After determining a method to save himself from the long run he’d seen, Pike is visited by his future self in “A High quality of Mercy,” the Season 1 finale. He makes an attempt to warn a cadet as a way to save his life, however Pike’s future self insists his answer could have unexpected penalties. He exhibits him an alternate model of his future, six months after the accident which, in that timeline, did not hurt anybody.
A big a part of Unusual New Worlds—as with every prequel—has concerned the fragile stability between the characters as they’re offered and what we all know will grow to be of them later. In Pike’s case, he additionally is aware of what his future holds, and an enormous a part of his character arc was coming to phrases with that. The occasions he was proven in “A High quality of Mercy” have been an important a part of that.
