Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (STW) has materialIsed, aiming to boldly go further into Alex Kurtzman’s extended universe.
As Kurtzman has been involved with the franchise since J.J. Abram’s reboot movie, Star Trek (2009), it would be a forgivable error to assume that STW takes place in the so-called “Kelvin Timeline”.
However, the Kelvin Timeline seems to have become an unofficial dumping ground for Trekkies worldwide when they reject any of Kurtzman’s new additions to the canon. Star Trek: Picard is just one instance of one of these newer shows being banished to this secondary timeline by fans.
At the time of writing, the only screen-based properties that take place in this alternate reality are the trilogy of movies sparked into existence by Abrams and co.
Rest assured, Strange New Worlds falls very much within Gene Roddenberry’s original universe.
However, the Kelvin Timeline seems to have become an unofficial dumping ground for Trekkies worldwide when they reject any of Kurtzman’s new additions to the canon. Star Trek: Picard is just one instance of one of these newer shows being banished to this secondary timeline by fans.
At the time of writing, the only screen-based properties that take place in this alternate reality are the trilogy of movies sparked into existence by Abrams and co.
Rest assured, Strange New Worlds falls very much within Gene Roddenberry’s original universe.
The Return of Captain Pike
Ansen Mount reprises the role of the Starfleet Officer, as he first did in season 3 of Star Trek: Discovery. Whilst not the first actor to portray Captain Pike, Mount now holds the honour of the most screentime whilst in character. Pike has a twisted and unusual story (both on and off screen), but it’s exciting to finally see some stability established. It’s just as thrilling to see Mount’s natural charisma bleeding easily through in his performance.
It’s rare that a character is just as aware as the audience when it comes to the subject of the strength and extent of their plot armour. STW handles the subject with masterful execution. Pike’s doomed existence is something that colours the stories over the course of the season, without ever eclipsing the show at large.
Star Trek shows always shine the brightest when the focus never lingers too long on one character, but gives the rest of the ensemble adequate attention too. STW handles the array of new and old characters with the utmost care, balancing their prominence extremely well. Whilst you may expect the show to lean heavily on a certain Vulcan science officer, he’s woven into this iteration of the USS Enterprise family just as thoroughly as his crewmates.
It’s rare that a character is just as aware as the audience when it comes to the subject of the strength and extent of their plot armour. STW handles the subject with masterful execution. Pike’s doomed existence is something that colours the stories over the course of the season, without ever eclipsing the show at large.
Star Trek shows always shine the brightest when the focus never lingers too long on one character, but gives the rest of the ensemble adequate attention too. STW handles the array of new and old characters with the utmost care, balancing their prominence extremely well. Whilst you may expect the show to lean heavily on a certain Vulcan science officer, he’s woven into this iteration of the USS Enterprise family just as thoroughly as his crewmates.
Updating the era
The show serves as a spin-off from Discovery, but also aligns itself with the category of prequels for Star Trek: The Original Series (TOS). Fans now have a way of seeing more of the Enterprise’s exploits during the pre-Kirk era. Whilst the Federation flagship’s commanding officer may differ from TOS, there’s a myriad of familiarity to latch onto. Spock, Uhura, and Nurse Chapel all have new life breathed into them by frankly brilliant re-castings.
Ethan Peck’s additions to the character of Spock are incredibly respectful, whilst furthering the portrayal at the same time. The same is true of Celia Rose Gooding’s Uhura and Jess Bush’ Nurse Chapel. Babs Olusanmokun also navigates the task of fleshing out a rarely-seen character; Dr. M’Benga’s daughter-in-peril story tugs at all the right heartstrings.
Unfamiliar faces make up the rest of the Enterprise’s command crew. Of these, the most compelling character has to be La’an Noonien-Singh (Christiana Chong). An ancestor of the infamous Khan, the audience is immediately made to wonder as to her fate by the time Kirk takes to the Captain’s chair in TOS.
The crew aren’t the only facet of the Enterprise’s interior to receive an update. Every bulkhead, control panel, and transporter pad has been dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st (23rd?) century. Whilst Kirk’s enterprise has been canonically revisited before, (Deep Space Nine - Trials and Tribble-ations) the bridge and the rest of the ship had maintained its original aesthetic for various reasons - presumably in large part to aid in the splicing of the archive footage.
Kurtzman and co clearly felt that this time around, the production values were due a much-needed update. (And no, this does not make STW part of the Kelvin timeline. Things are allowed to look nice after more than a half a century).
Ethan Peck’s additions to the character of Spock are incredibly respectful, whilst furthering the portrayal at the same time. The same is true of Celia Rose Gooding’s Uhura and Jess Bush’ Nurse Chapel. Babs Olusanmokun also navigates the task of fleshing out a rarely-seen character; Dr. M’Benga’s daughter-in-peril story tugs at all the right heartstrings.
Unfamiliar faces make up the rest of the Enterprise’s command crew. Of these, the most compelling character has to be La’an Noonien-Singh (Christiana Chong). An ancestor of the infamous Khan, the audience is immediately made to wonder as to her fate by the time Kirk takes to the Captain’s chair in TOS.
The crew aren’t the only facet of the Enterprise’s interior to receive an update. Every bulkhead, control panel, and transporter pad has been dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st (23rd?) century. Whilst Kirk’s enterprise has been canonically revisited before, (Deep Space Nine - Trials and Tribble-ations) the bridge and the rest of the ship had maintained its original aesthetic for various reasons - presumably in large part to aid in the splicing of the archive footage.
Kurtzman and co clearly felt that this time around, the production values were due a much-needed update. (And no, this does not make STW part of the Kelvin timeline. Things are allowed to look nice after more than a half a century).
A format for the fans
Part of what gave every pre-Discovery Star Trek show such a winning formula was the monster-of-the-week approach. This episodic format has taken a backseat to serialised drama in recent years, and with mixed results.
Strange New Worlds has retaken the formula when telling its stories. The result is us finding out so much more about the crew than we would have done in other circumstances. It also reduces the risk of losing viewers that don’t or can’t connect with the overall narrative of the show. All they have to do is wait a week and they get an entirely new adventure.
Of course, television has moved on since Star Trek’s golden age. Because of this, the format has needed to be tweaked. For instance, we learn more about the Gorn on more than one occasion. Whilst some purists have taken personal offence to the species no longer being an underpaid actor in a cheap-looking lizard suit, the rejuvenated look of the villain race fits very well in this new flashy new graphic style.
Strange New Worlds has retaken the formula when telling its stories. The result is us finding out so much more about the crew than we would have done in other circumstances. It also reduces the risk of losing viewers that don’t or can’t connect with the overall narrative of the show. All they have to do is wait a week and they get an entirely new adventure.
Of course, television has moved on since Star Trek’s golden age. Because of this, the format has needed to be tweaked. For instance, we learn more about the Gorn on more than one occasion. Whilst some purists have taken personal offence to the species no longer being an underpaid actor in a cheap-looking lizard suit, the rejuvenated look of the villain race fits very well in this new flashy new graphic style.
Pike’s uncertain future
The finale is executed in signature Star Trek fashion. A captain’s future self coming back to warn of altering the timeline is not a new idea, even within the franchise. Star Trek: Voyager had a very similar framework for their very last episode. (Remember Admiral Janeway?)
However, what Voyager didn’t have to do was dance around plot points and character arcs that were tied into almost every edge of Star Trek.
Future Pike’s aged look was highly convincing, and his TOS movie-era Starfleet uniform was enough to instill nostalgia in anybody. The alternate future the Captain is shown serves as the ultimate homage to the original series. We see how Pike’s meddling would influence the era that started it all. Even the awkwardly atmospheric face-lighting is replicated to an impressive degree.
In this alternate timeline, Pike has remained the Captain of the Enterprise, and we even get an off-screen cameo from a certain Scottish engineer.
Captain Kirk’s entrance is a huge anticipation throughout the episode. When it takes place, it may not be what some audiences were expecting.
Paul Wesley’s interpretation of Captain James T. Kirk could not be further removed from William Shatner’s. Whilst Wesley did have some dauntingly big shoes to fill, the choices made at the casting and performance level were questionable at best.
In another role, the actor would have been a commanding captain. As Kirk, the choice seemed misguided and a little confusing. The plot thickens when you consider that Kurtzman was involved in the project that cast Chris Pine as the Star Trek legend.
Pine balanced the old and the new in a way that the rest of the ensemble for Strange New Worlds did for their pre-existing characters. If Wesley returns as Kirk in future, it will be interesting to see how the interpretation develops.
However, what Voyager didn’t have to do was dance around plot points and character arcs that were tied into almost every edge of Star Trek.
Future Pike’s aged look was highly convincing, and his TOS movie-era Starfleet uniform was enough to instill nostalgia in anybody. The alternate future the Captain is shown serves as the ultimate homage to the original series. We see how Pike’s meddling would influence the era that started it all. Even the awkwardly atmospheric face-lighting is replicated to an impressive degree.
In this alternate timeline, Pike has remained the Captain of the Enterprise, and we even get an off-screen cameo from a certain Scottish engineer.
Captain Kirk’s entrance is a huge anticipation throughout the episode. When it takes place, it may not be what some audiences were expecting.
Paul Wesley’s interpretation of Captain James T. Kirk could not be further removed from William Shatner’s. Whilst Wesley did have some dauntingly big shoes to fill, the choices made at the casting and performance level were questionable at best.
In another role, the actor would have been a commanding captain. As Kirk, the choice seemed misguided and a little confusing. The plot thickens when you consider that Kurtzman was involved in the project that cast Chris Pine as the Star Trek legend.
Pine balanced the old and the new in a way that the rest of the ensemble for Strange New Worlds did for their pre-existing characters. If Wesley returns as Kirk in future, it will be interesting to see how the interpretation develops.
Will it live long and prosper?
Strange New Worlds has beamed in at just the right time for the franchise. Whilst many of the ever-expanding list of shows have been generally well-received, there remains lingering criticism regarding their formatting and story structure.
The Pike-led powerhouse rectifies many of its predecessor’s mistakes, allowing the franchise’s history to inform its future. With season 2 already in production and expected to land at some point in 2023, the USS Enterprise’s rich history looks to remain in the making.
In short, the show’s shortcomings can be easily forgiven due to the myriad of its strengths, and the baton that was passed from Discovery is being well cared for.
Rating: 8/10
Want to read more of Dan’s content?
Check out some of his other posts.
You can also listen to him co-host Tell Me Again and various episodes of Talk Nerdy To Me, both podcasts affiliated with the site.
The Pike-led powerhouse rectifies many of its predecessor’s mistakes, allowing the franchise’s history to inform its future. With season 2 already in production and expected to land at some point in 2023, the USS Enterprise’s rich history looks to remain in the making.
In short, the show’s shortcomings can be easily forgiven due to the myriad of its strengths, and the baton that was passed from Discovery is being well cared for.
Rating: 8/10
Want to read more of Dan’s content?
Check out some of his other posts.
You can also listen to him co-host Tell Me Again and various episodes of Talk Nerdy To Me, both podcasts affiliated with the site.