At Home with Tech

The crew of the Starship Enterprise is back! After what feels like a century-long break, season 3 of “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” has finally arrived on Paramount+. I’m not sure why the producers waited so long (season 4 is already in production), but I couldn’t be happier.

Putting the Band Back Together
If you’ve been stuck somewhere in the Guardian of Forever, you may not know that “Strange New Worlds” is the Back to the Future of Star Trek. It chronicles the voyages of the Enterprise immediately before the saga of Captain Kirk and his crew. This crew is led by Captain Christopher Pike (played by Anson Mount), but we already know many of the characters. 

Ethan Peck is Spock. Celia Rose Gooding plays Nyota Uhura. Rebecca Romijn is Number One (originally seen in 1966’s “The Menagerie” episode). Jess Bush plays Christine Chapel, and Babs Olusanmokun is Dr. M’Benga (who was in two episodes of the original series).

There are also new characters on the bridge, including La’an Noonien-Singh (Christina Chong) and Erica Ortegas (Melissa Navia).

And some familiar characters have joined the series along the way: Martin Quinn as Scotty and Paul Wesley as Lt. James T. Kirk. 

Returning to the 23rd Century Never Felt So Cool
“Strange New Worlds” is inevitably bound by Star Trek canon but does a remarkable job not being incumbered by that limitation. In so many ways, the show embraces its roots. Sure, the writers (and designers) push the canon edges a bit, but not so much that a Trekkie would cry foul. 

Of course, the bridge of the Enterprise looks more high tech, but the same floor plan is still in place. Of course, the CGI shots of the ship look significantly different than the five analog shots we repeatedly saw during the original series. There must be a team of talented art directors for “Strange New Worlds” regularly declaring, “You think that shot of our NCC-1701 was cool? Well, take a look at this!” They’re clearly having way too much fun.

No Dystopian Future Here
And fun is the key ingredient that permeates throughout this entire prequel series. The writers have also given a lot of time to the ensemble cast, and the series is stronger for that reason.

“Strange New Worlds” shines by capturing the optimistic and entrepreneurial spirit of the original series. This success has also enabled the series to take a few really big creative swings. (I’ll leave it at that.)

Fate Fuels this Series
But this series is not without its serious side. Most significantly, this Captain Pike (minor spoiler) learns his unfortunate fate in the not-too-distant future, and season 1 deals with that theme.

Just as importantly, we know the future for many of these characters. And for the new ones who don’t show up later in the timeline… well that doesn’t necessarily bode well for them. (The series has already killed off one major character.)

There’s already a sense that time is beginning to run out before we get to the end of this beginning. (More on this later.)

Lt. James T. Kirk
But happily, we’re not there yet. The series is acutely self-aware of these variables and the writers have clearly embraced the challenge of how to maximize the impact of fate for this show. 

But that factor hasn’t limited the writers either. They’ve discovered and explored plenty of storytelling opportunities within the strict limitations of Trek canon. This has been most apparent with the re-introduction of Kirk. The original series makes no reference to Captain Kirk’s adventures with Pike, other than they knew each other. But that’s enough.

Season 3 Starts Strong Enough
As I write this, I’m four episodes into season 3. I can’t say I’ve been blown away by the scripts from a science fiction perspective. (Episode 3 was about zombies.) But the series’ existing strengths have sufficiently carried each episode.

Plus, if you’re a Trekkie, there have been some huge additional payoffs.

Season 3, Episode 2 – “Wedding Bell Blues”
This is a fun episode, if not a little silly (but also bittersweet). 

More significantly, the writers finally answer the question decades in the making whether Trelane (originally seen in 1967’s “The Squire of Gothos” episode and now played by Rhys Darby) is a confirmed Q.

Spoiler: He is.

Season 3, Episode 4 – “A Space Adventure Hour”
The plot is effectively a retread of holodeck episodes from “The Next Generation.” But it’s still an instant classic. The opening minutes are simply priceless. It’s a spoof on bad science fiction from the 60’s. And a parody on “Star Trek” itself. And stunningly, it takes a huge jab at William Shatner’s acting. Wesley effectively does his own Shatner impression. 

It’s wonderful without being mean-spirited. And this scene definitively answers a lingering fan question why “Strange New Worlds” Jim Kirk hasn’t tried harder to imitate Shatner’s Kirk.

This episode (directed by Jonathan Frakes) also cleverly offers its own commentary on the success and failure of the original “Star Trek.”

Fresh and Confident
“Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” is so self-aware. It needs to be. But it hasn’t had to tip toe as it travels uncomfortably close to own predecessor. (successor?) In fact, it charges through this space, both creatively and respectfully.

It knows this story is not about the end. It’s about the journey.

Only a Five-Year Mission
But as Paramount+ has announced that we’re only getting five seasons, I can’t help but feel the pressure that the end isn’t far away. This makes each remaining episode that much more important.

“Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” may not live long, but it certainly continues to prosper.

So, let’s “Hit it!”