Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (S2)
Available on Paramount+
It’s a great time to be a Star Trek fan. After the rocky Star Trek: Discovery, Paramount and CBS are treating us to this electrifying series, which follows the adventures of Captain Pike (Anson Mount) and company. I would be amiss if I didn’t start this review by stating just how much this show continues to feel like a love-letter to classic Trek. All of the adventures this season have felt like they were pulled straight from the most creative episodes of Next Generation. Not only does it capture the spirit of old Trek, but it blends it with sleek cinematography, fantastic production design, and visual effects that are better than most modern superhero movies.
Unlike other contemporary big budget TV, this series has a different adventure every episode, meaning we are treated to a great variety of storytelling that fuses multiple genres. While some detractors have bemoaned this season for its silliness, that’s what makes it a total riot in my eyes. For example, the crossover episode with the animated Lower Decks series was so much fun. To see Boimler and Mariner in live action interacting with the Enterprise crew was an absolute joy to behold. We are also treated to Trek’s first musical episode with the outstanding ‘Subspace Rhapsody’. Not only was it so funny to see singing and dancing from the likes of Spock and the Klingons, I also found the songs to be total earworms and the entire cast clearly put their all into performing them.
However, what really makes this show special are the characters. Obviously all our old favourites like Spock, Number One, and Pike get a lot to do, but this season I was particularly compelled by Dr. M’benga (Babs Olusanmokun) and La’an Noonien-Singh (Christina Chong). They arguably have some of the most dramatic arcs in the show and to see issues like PTSD and prejudice portrayed so well with these two is very rewarding.
Strange New Worlds continues to be a fantastic series for both newcomers to the franchise and life-long fans. It’s possibly my favourite piece of Trek media since the 2009 cinematic reboot and I cannot wait to see what they have in store for us next season, especially after that cliffhanger ending.
