Warp Factor Trek

Fear not, SNW fans! In Season 3, Pike’s impressively large “peak” does not overcrowd everything else!!

I have recently watched the first five episodes from Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ third season. Since Season 2 left us with a cliffhanger which I considered weak (a moment of indecision in the heat of battle not being as dreadful as, for example, kidnapping and assimilation by the Borg in “The Best of Both Worlds”), I wondered if – going into this season – it would be an improvement. So far, it hasn’t disappointed.

Of the initial five Season 3 episode screeners received by reviewers, three of them (episodes one, three and five) feature action and thought-provoking chills whereas the other two showcase comedy as well as nostalgia and allow for highly enjoyable out-of-character performances by members of the main cast. At various points, I laughed, sang and jumped in response to these episodes. All five are wonderful.

Connections

In these five episodes, the show not only reminded me of a lot of earlier-produced Star Trek that I enjoy but also pleasantly surprised me. Completing the “Hegemony” two-parter is a requirement which the first episode succeeds at with excitable aplomb. Afterwards, what surprised me is how much development there is from last season. The main characters don’t just hang about with their usual closest allies. There are new pairings and even a couple of new recurring characters. The first four episodes end by bringing character development to the forefront, whereas episode five concludes with a technological cliffhanger. There is meanwhile a loosely connected story arc, as usual with SNW, and I was pleased to find that, this time, it does involve strange new worlds and new civilizations.

Watching the second episode, I thought to myself that there were two elements I would like to see soon: the return of a particular honour-driven species and a new filming set. Both were delivered in quick succession. Seeing which new set is established was thrilling, since it has a long history in the franchise before making its much-hyped SNW introduction here. It was a pleasure not only to see the aforementioned species make a comeback but a couple of TOS guest characters too.

I somewhat wish this show included a bit more trivia for fans but maybe I’ve been spoiled, in that regard, by the brilliance of Lower Decks. That said, a deep-cut historical reference could have been helpful in episode five, giving the story some much-needed weight.

Elements of Creativity

Although a few scenes in these episodes feel a little boring and perfunctory, most of the writing is fantastic as always. The tone of the stories is brilliantly varied, as is typical of Strange New Worlds. However, the kinds of radical time jumps portrayed in such episodes as Season 1’s “A Quality of Mercy” and Season 2’s “Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow” are absent here, which may disappoint some viewers.

Particularly admirable is that there are repercussions that carry on through several installments. The story arc serves to provide material for some characters who otherwise might feel a little underserved in this third season.

A more minor but still appreciated point is that episodes one and three contain maps and lines of dialogue which give a sense of the state-of-play for the galaxy at large. These add valuable context to whichever situation the Enterprise has found itself in. Commendable worldbuilding also applies to the couple of alien species which reappear en masse. Of course, a few other recognizable alien species turn up too.

The costumes are exquisite, much as we’ve come to expect from the show. Hairstyling is diverse, demonstrating some new and different hairstyles for the ensemble of principal actors. This is something I usually enjoy – in Deep Space Nine especially – and it’s good to see be included here.

The entire cast delivers powerful, convincing performances. I enjoyed seeing fellow Scotsman Martin Quinn fit comfortably into his role as the redshirted engineer Scotty, having shown potential in the Season 2 finale “Hegemony”. Also fun is to spot some characters who return from having recurred earlier in the series. My favourite part of all five episodes are a couple of the performance choices, specifically a guest cameo near the end of episode two and a portrayal by one of the usual recurring actors at the start of episode four. However, it’s bizarre to hear the TOS guest characters, as they have different accents from when they first appeared.

The music is a highlight. It is consistent at being impactful on an emotional level, whether by sounding frantic and sinister in episode one or romantic and quirky in episode two.

The directing is another excellent aspect. Episode one features a combination of extreme close-ups, odd camera angles, flashback shots that are separated by quick cuts, and swooping visual effects shots. Although the latter feel disorienting, they are nonetheless impressive, demonstrating extensive CGI. The visual effects in general are beautiful and yet don’t draw attention to themselves unnecessarily, which is appropriate and done well.

A marvellous factor, visible throughout, is how much colour there is in each scene, which episode four excels at the most. It’s always a bonus to see a Star Trek show change up its opening titles sequence for an episode or two (the “In a Mirror, Darkly” two-parter from Star Trek: Enterprise comes to mind, as do the episodes “Those Old Scientists” and “Subspace Rhapsody” from last season) and the fourth episode delights by doing this. Stick around for the same episode’s end credits too!

Lately, news that Star Trek: Strange New Worlds will end with a fifth season has been sad to receive. Whereas some fans have complained that there will only be six episodes in that forthcoming season, watching these five episodes felt almost like a trial run for the experience of watching a season that short. All five episodes are delightful, still allowing enough time for the sort of varied storytelling fans have come to know and love from Strange New Worlds. Seeing how the fans will react to these Season 3 episodes will be interesting. Set course for a third season of strange new worlds and wonderful episodes.