Review: Star Trek: Strange New Worlds I Episode 3×05

Midway season in Strange New Worlds! Take a look at the topic of this episode of Spock. But beware: spoilers!

Half time summary

With “Spock Amok” the first season has already ended. So it’s clear to draw a cautious conclusion about the latest “Star Trek” series. So much in advance: Episode 5 can once again convince.

And so we can say: So far not a single episode of Strange New Worlds has proven that it didn’t start. In fact, the five episodes so far have all garnered the seal of approval, save for the smaller B-grade cuts. The latest live-action series from the “Star Trek” universe can rightly be considered a bit of a “liberation blow,” especially since many “NuTrek” critics are praising this chain too.

In fact, in the first five episodes, fans got exactly what many had hoped for. Sure, that could change as the season (and series) progresses. But so far, there’s very little to complain about. On the contrary, “Strange New Worlds” corrects a lot of things that were still wrong with “Discovery” and “Picard.”

Example: After only five episodes, I already have the names everyone Familiar characters. With “Discovery” it took some of the supporting characters until the fourth season.

So it’s a pity to have to wait forever to watch this series in Germany. It’s also a pity that the first season is practically “exhausted” in fast-forwarding, just as “Prodigy” once was. It’s certainly understandable that Paramount+ would want a series as good as SNW to lead it. But are you really attracting new customers with this posting strategy? There are certainly reasonable doubts.

But now for the actual episode review.

Spock is not sleazy at all

The title of the episode is of course a reference to the famous classic episode “Amok Time” (TOS 2×01 “Space Fever”), which has been known to have been shown in Germany for a long time in re-recording (or rather: transcript). However, “Spock Amok” isn’t about Spock’s Vulcan “rutting season”, even though at the beginning of the episode he actually dreams of fighting with himself.

With this scene, the creators of the series have proven once again that they know (at least superficially) what the Trek canon is about. The setup here looks like the aforementioned TOS episode — with modern tweaks, of course. And while Spock is fighting with himself, even the original music, played during Kirk and Spock’s fight, plays.

So the episode has a pretty atmospheric start, though it’s clear that this could only be a dream.

The rest of the story is then told on three different story levels. First, there is a continuation of the story of Spock’s relationship (Ethan Peck) and his fiancée T’Pring (Jia Sandu). The second story deals with the Enterprise’s negotiations with the (yet unknown) R’ongovians. And in a third story, Una (Rebecca Romijn) walaan (Christina Chung) Follow some newcomers and play a game.

Indeed, each of these three stories is worth watching, even if one has a few more holes in it than the other.

Spock, T Bring and Church

Spock and T’Pring need to talk after the first episode. Anyway, the chemistry between the two actors is just right, and so is their acting performance. Both manage to show how Vulcans express their own feelings when they are alone.

Overall, I like a lot that you go on Spock’s date and break up that relationship. The two characters really get close from here and develop a deeper understanding of each other. So Spock worries about his human side, which his partner finally understands. Of course, a lot will happen in the next seven years. The result is well known: the relationship will eventually fall apart. Above all because Spock leaves his mate alone for too long, which in turn displeases T’Pring. The task will be to search for this development in the coming seasons. So it will be interesting to see how the series plays this out.

Certainly at this point some fans will be complaining that this story involves a lawbreaker, à la Kristen Chapel (or rival “Obi-Wan Kenobi”). chapel (Jess Bush) Spock offers relationship advice here, making their relationship feel even more private and deep than it did on TOS. It also has to be said that it wouldn’t be surprising if something happened between the two of them at some point. Because here it will be appropriate somehow.

However, Chapel wouldn’t be a good friend to Spock if she ended up trying to force her way into his ongoing relationship. There may also be a Terms of Service link here. Chapel may have adored Spock because she knew Spock was taken (and thus unrealistic for them to have a relationship).

And, in fact, Chapel’s life is expository, too. If you look at the Trek chronology, in the year 2259 you will meet scientist Roger Corby on a research project. Their relationship then lasted for two years until Corby finally disappeared in Exo III in 2261 and searched for him for the next five years.

So it will be interesting to see how these events are integrated into the new series.

Custom body swap

It could be the fact that Spock and T’Pring are getting close here before of the aforementioned TOS sequence. Again, we might be surprised in future episodes. In general I can live with the new personal constellation.

At the heart of this approach is the exchange of the body, which, however, only occurs because of a ritual gone wrong. At this point, a link to TOS or TOS Movies is established again. Because one could argue that Spock learned of Katra’s transmission here for the first time. So the procedure he then used in “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan” (2385) to stay alive. In any case, he will deal with it later in order to master this transmission as required at some point.

It’s also gratifying that the authors considered having the two simply repeat the ritual (unsuccessfully) in order to initiate a return transfer.

Here later dr. Mbenga (Babs Ulsanmokon) guides Libra, from which we also learn that he loves to go fishing. In this “beach vacation” sequence, only Ortega’s (Melissa Navy) About anyone has learned as little as possible so far. which has yet to get its own episode.

And it happens, of course, as it should: Spock and T’Pring must take over for each other in reversed roles. It also has a funny scene with Baek (Anson Mount) a result.

Complex negotiations

The slightly weaker part of the episode deals with Starfleet’s diplomatic negotiations with the R’ongovians. But these aliens are too generic for me, even if the reference to a solar sailboat in “Deep Space Nine” is very nice. Of course, it soon becomes clear that the Rongovites react somewhat privately. And how to handle this is up to Pike, as T’Pring appears to be a bit overwhelmed by Spock’s body.

Incidentally, T’Pring addresses the good captain by his first name, “Chris,” which immediately raises the question of how the friendship between the two came to be. But hopefully we get to know that, too.

Also Admiral Robert April (Adrian Holmes(Returned to negotiations as Cadet Uura)Celia Rose Gooding). However, I would have preferred it if the R’ongovians didn’t ally with the Federation here. On the one hand, it made sense. On the other hand, a nice change, too. In general, however, the negotiations take up fairly little space in the plot.

Much better than this diplomatic course, however, is the emergence of V’tosh ka’tur (“Vulcan without logic”), which T’Pring has to make sense of. And she – i.e. Spock – manages it with ease with Chapel’s support. You can’t help but smile at this point.

Bingo Enterprise

I also liked the subplot about Lan and Una. They both play an “enterprise bingo” – fueled by the not-so-nice una of the nicknames in the crew – after catching two bunting earlier.

Basically, we offer a small but very entertaining scavenger hunt across the ship. Every now and then, there are humorous entries, which continue to weld between the two women.

It all ends in a visually impressive scene on the outer cover. But did you also ask yourself if the log was still there when the Enterprise was destroyed in the third movie? Either way, for me, that subplot was one of the strongest parts of this episode.