star trek strange new worlds q

The Best Throwaway Joke In The Strange New Worlds/Lower Decks Crossover Makes A Big Fan Theory Canon

This post contains spoilers for the latest episode of "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds."

One of the more amusing aspects of "Star Trek" is that when a Starfleet captain meets an all-powerful deity, in some cases literal gods, they roll their eyes. "Star Trek" takes place in a post-religious world wherein old faiths have given way to a form of technology-driven benevolent humanism. When Captain Kirk (William Shatner) meets Apollo, the god is waved away as a problem that needs to be solved. When Kirk meets the Mesoamerican deity Kukulkan, he merely explains to the all-powerful serpent that humanity how outgrown the need for gods. When Kirk meets an impish trickster god named Trelane, the Squire of Gothos (William Campbell), he slaps him across the face. 

The same is true of Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart). When Picard meets an equally impish trickster god named Q ( John De Lancie ), he rolls his eyes and declares that humanity is doing just fine without divine intervention. Q may be omnipotent, but he is seen more as a nuisance than a threat. 

"The Squire of Gothos" (January 12, 1967), one of the better episodes of the original "Star Trek" series, depicted the title character as a dandyish aristocrat who was obsessed with Earth's war history. He giggled like a little boy and insisted others listen to his harpsichord. He also seemingly had unlimited power and could bend reality to his will. Q, meanwhile, was first seen in "Encounter at Farpoint," (September 28, 1987) the NextGen pilot. Savvy Trekkies immediately saw the similarities between the two characters, and a retrospective fan theory just as quickly formed — was Trelane a member of the Q species?

Thanks to a tossed-off line of dialogue in "Those Old Scientists," the latest episode of "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds," that might finally be canonically confirmed.

Don't yell Q

In "Those Old Scientists," Ensign Boimler (Jack Quaid) and Ensign Mariner (Tawney Newsome) have been thrown back in time 120 years, and have immediately become careful about tainting the timeline. Boimler, to undo some damage he incurred, sneaks aboard a shuttlecraft where he is startled by Ensign Mariner (Tawney Newsome). He exclaims "Holy Q!" and Mariner immediately shushes him. In her usual flip fashion, she then explains that the people in this timeline haven't met Q yet. "They sort of had a Trelane thing going on." 

Trekkies enacted the "Once Upon a Time... In Hollywood" meme . If Trelane isn't a Q, the characters within "Star Trek" at least acknowledge the similarities. Surely they have made the same connection theories as fans.

Trekkies, with their instincts toward canonical nitpicking, have long held that Trelane was a Q. At the end of "The Squire of Gothos," Trelane's "parents" appeared to scold him for playing too rough with his human "pets." Trelane whines like a child and vanishes into the ether. His parents — depicted as glimmers of light — apologize to Captain Kirk for their child's behavior. Were they Qs?

In "Encounter at Farpoint," Q explains that he is a member of the Q Continuum, a panoply of ineffable space deities that have existed for an untold amount of time. They can do anything and know everything. Q is also fixated on the darker chapters of Earth's history, pointing out to Picard that humans have a distressing tendency toward war and death. Both Q and Trelane know a lot about tactics and battles and war. Trelane sees such activities as fun hobbies while Q uses them to condemn humanity. Q puts humanity on trial for its crimes, using Picard as the primary defendant. 

Of course, the Q-Trelane connection had already entered the conversation in Peter David's 1994 expanded-universe "Star Trek" novel "Q-Squared." Addressing the fan theory that Trelane was a young Q, David wrote a story wherein Trelane was brought on board the Enterprise-D by an impatient Q, tasked with babysitting him. It seems that Trelane, while still a child in the eyes of the Q Continuum, has somehow become even more powerful than all-powerful. Indeed, Trelane seems to be overseeing three disparate timelines, all laid out in the novel. Trelane dies at the end, but then, he's immortal. His "death" was really just his life being shunted backward in time. Because he tried to oversee three realities at once — three lanes — he was given the nickname tre-lanes, or Trelane. 

"Q-Squared" was quite an event for the Trekkies who keep track of expanded universe lore, as it was considered the first sanctioned confirmation that Trelane and Q were of the same species. It should be explained, however, that while "Star Trek" novels are authorized by Paramount, they are not canonical. 

The authors may have to play within certain parameters — they cannot, for instance, kill off characters or end their novels well outside of the status quo– but their books are still not considered "official" parts of the "Star Trek" timeline. The novels are more or less a playground wherein writers and fans can postulate their theories in a more palpable way. Have you ever wanted to see what happened when Q met Lwaxana Troi ? Read Peter David's "Q-in-Law."  

It's rare that a novel influences Trek canon, but perhaps the long-held fan theory was solidified by Peter David. Thanks to "Strange New Worlds," it's official official. 

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Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

A prequel to Star Trek: The Original Series, the show follows the crew of the USS Enterprise under Captain Christopher Pike. A prequel to Star Trek: The Original Series, the show follows the crew of the USS Enterprise under Captain Christopher Pike. A prequel to Star Trek: The Original Series, the show follows the crew of the USS Enterprise under Captain Christopher Pike.

• Akiva Goldsman
• Alex Kurtzman
• Jenny Lumet
• Anson Mount
• Christina Chong
• 1K User reviews
• 38 Critic reviews
• 9 wins & 32 nominations total

Episodes 31

• Captain Christopher Pike …

• La'an Noonien-Singh …

• Lt. Erica Ortegas …

• Una Chin-Riley …

• Nurse Christine Chapel

• Nyota Uhura …

• Dr. M'Benga

• USS Enterprise Computer …

• Lieutenant George Samuel 'Sam' Kirk

• Jenna Mitchell

• Captain Batel …

• Admiral Robert April

• Captain James T. Kirk …

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• Trivia Bruce Horak , the actor who plays Hemmer, is legally blind, just like his character's species, the Aenar, who are also blind.
• Goofs There are some rank insignia mistakes. Number One is introduced as "Lieutenant Commander Una Chin-Riley" yet she is wearing the rank insignia of a full commander: two full stripes. A Lieutenant Commander's rank insignia is a full stripe under a thin stripe (in TOS it is a full stripe and a staggered stripe). It is not uncommon for a ship's first officer to be a Lt. Commander if they have not been in the position long. Spock at this point is a Lieutenant but he is wearing Lieutenant Commander's stripes; a Lieutenant just has one stripe. La'an is the ship's chief of security and the ship's second officer. She is also wearing Lt. Commander stripes but is addressed as a Lieutenant, but it would make more sense for her to be a Lieutenant Commander. Either way both of their rank insignia are not matching the rank they are addressed by. Ortegas is addressed as a Lieutenant but is wearing Lieutenant Commander's strips. A Lieutenant Commander may be addressed as a Commander or Lieutenant Commander but never as just a Lieutenant, so either her rank insignia or the manner she is addressed by the rest of the crew is in error.

[opening narration]

Captain Christopher Pike : Space. The final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Its five-year mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no one has gone before.

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• Runtime 52 minutes
• D-Cinema 48kHz 5.1
• Dolby Digital
• Dolby Atmos

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‘star trek’ showrunner discusses ‘strange new worlds’ plan, evolving q for ‘picard’.

Writer-producer Akiva Goldsman discusses the upcoming seasons of his two 'Star Trek' shows, plus updates on 'Firestarter' and 'The Dark Tower.'

By James Hibberd

James Hibberd

Writer-at-Large

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Star Trek: Picard and the upcoming Strange New Worlds represent two very different sides of the Trek franchise coin. The first is a heavily serialized meditation on the adventures of an aging Jean-Luc (Patrick Stewart), and the latter is an as-yet-unseen episodic throwback to The Original Series . One thing they have in common: Akiva Goldsman as a co-showrunner.

The writer-producer ( Fringe , A Beautiful Mind ) is currently directing his first pilot for Strange New Worlds and is also right in the middle of production of Picard season two. Below, Goldsman discusses both shows, the expanding Trek franchise, the return of trickster god Q (John de Lancie) and gives an update on his adaptation of Stephen King’s Firestarter .

So you’ve started filming Strange New Worlds.  How does it compare and contrast to the other Trek shows so far?

It’s unlike the other shows in that it’s really episodic. If you think back to The Original Series , it was a tonally more liberal — I don’t mean in terms of politics, but it could sort of be more fluid. Like sometimes Robert Bloch would write a horror episode. Or Harlan Ellison would have “City on the Edge of Forever,” which is hard sci-fi. Then there would be comedic episodes, like “Shore Leave” or “The Trouble With Tribbles.” So [co-showrunner] Henry Alonso Myers and myself are trying to serve that. We’ve all become very enamored, myself included, with serialized storytelling. And I’m talking to you from behind the stage where we’re shooting Picard , which is deeply serialized. But Strange New Worlds is very much adventure-of-the-week but with serialized character arcs.

You’re directing the pilot, which is always a major privilege and also a lot of pressure. How has that gone so far and what were you looking to bring to that?

It was super fun and I’ve finished almost all of it. There were certain scenes that we couldn’t shoot in Toronto because of quarantine — in terms of limits on the number of extras [in a scene] — that I’ll back and finish pretty soon, I hope. But there’s something extraordinary about a bunch of folks coming together to do a new thing; you’re surrounded by people who would be perfectly happy to be on the floor of a Star Trek convention, which is a little different than a typical show. 

Were there any changes to the Enterprise set design and uniforms compared to what we saw when we were introduced to these characters in Discovery season two?

Yeah. It’s a fine line because obviously, we want to keep continuity with the storytelling and the style, but we also want Strange New Worlds to be a different show. It’s not Discovery . There are a few more reach-backs (to The Original Series ) and the uniforms have been adjusted slightly, the sets are slightly different. Remember the Enterprise existed as a little piece of [the show Discovery ], but now it’s its own object. When you close your eyes and think of the key sets and situations that you think of The Original Series , that’s what we’re looking to do.

What was the turning point moment when the producer or CBS began to seriously consider spinning off Captain Pike into his own show? 

There are few things I will take credit for in the Star Trek universe, but this is actually one of them. When [executive producer] Alex Kurtzman called about [joining the Discovery team], I was wildly envious of any involvement in Star Trek because I love it so much — my very first Star Trek convention was in 1975. I had no idea what his show was about, so I went online and I started reading that it was clearly going to be about Captain Pike and Number One. So that’s what I thought I was going to join. Then I got there and it couldn’t have had less to do with Captain Pike and Number One. So I started agitating for them because the timelines overlapped with Discovery and the Enterprise was out there. When the Enterprise appeared at the end of season one, and once Anson [Mount] and Rebecca [Romijn] and Ethan [Peck] started living those characters in season two, it sort of became this wonderful inevitability.

Switching to Picard , what did you guys learn from the first season in terms of pulling off the show that you’re bringing into season two?

Figure out the end earlier. If you’re going to do a serialized show, you have the whole story before you start shooting. It’s more like a movie in that way — you better know the end of your third act before you start filming your first scene.

It felt like another bit of fan feedback from the first season of Picard and first couple seasons of Discovery was that they were overly complicated. Then Discovery season three seemed more directly focused on The Burn and was better received. Is that fair? 

Certainly, there are different levels of complication over the seasons of Discovery  —  and I’m just a friend of the court at this point on Discovery . After season one, I started trying to excavate this Picard  idea. But no, I think where our storytelling is complicated, if it is frustratingly so, it’s just our own fault for not doing it well enough. The great thing about plot complication and character excellence is they shouldn’t be mutually exclusive. Even a really complicated plot should ultimately become invisible, that’s sort of the job of it. Chinatown being the example that we all endlessly lean on in our imaginations — [the plot of Chinatown is] really complex and complicated, yet at the end of the day you just remember it’s about water. There’s this elegant disappearing act so the characters can shine. … Early on we made the choice to be agnostic when it came to the audience’s knowledge of Trek . We want to welcome somebody who knows Trek and make it even better because of the things we have, but we don’t want to alienate those who don’t. If you know Next Gen , Picard is more fun, but you don’t have to have watched Next Gen to watch Picard — but by the time we get to episode six, you better have watched episodes one through five or your eyes are going to cross. That’s not true with Strange New Worlds , where you can drop in, watch one, drop out, then watch another one later.

You’re bringing back Q, but Picard is a pretty different show, tonally, than Next Gen . So how do you evolve Q like you evolved Jean-Luc, so that he’s still the same character but not overly broad or cartoonish?

You asked the exact right question, and the answer is: “In the same way that we have tried to do with Picard himself.” [Co-showrunner] Terry Matalas and I don’t pretend that the interstitial years didn’t happen. No, obviously, chronological time is less relevant to Q. The time between shows is probably not even the blink of an eye in Q time — if you even have Q time. But we definitely chose to follow suit when it came to him. So as we tried to evolve the other characters, the same is true of Q. This is a show of a different time with actors of a different age. We’re now talking about the issues that come up in the last [stage] of your life. We wanted a Q that could play in that arena with Picard.

What was the inspiration for bringing him on board? What made him right, character-wise?

There are a lot of people who think of Q as a trickster god, right? And he is. But he’s also a profoundly significant relationship in Picard’s life. There’s a lot of discussion in Picard season two about the nature of connectedness. Q’s kind of a great lightning rod for that because in some ways he’s one of Picard’s deepest — not deep in the same way that Riker is or Beverly Crusher was — but in its own uniquely, profoundly deep relationship.

Will Picard’s new body impact his character in season two, or does it just not?

It doesn’t. We did fundamentally try to address that at the end of 10. He’s not Super Picard. We reset this congenital problem he lived with since Next Gen and gave him the opportunity for rebirth, but it’s nothing more than a record as he might have been where he not here.

The original, pre-COVID-19 plan was to shoot seasons two and three of Picard back-to-back. Is that still happening?

I would love to answer that, but I cannot.

And is the Section 31 spinoff still happening?

I don’t know. I believe so. Alex has a plan. You know, Picard wasn’t supposed to be a series. It was just a one-off scene in a Short Trek . He wasn’t even going to be played by Patrick Stewart. They were going to have a young Picard at the end of a short we were making up. Then Alex was like, “What if it was Patrick Stewart? … What if it wasn’t one scene?” Alex has a plan, and it’s pretty cool. 

The question of “How much is too much?” is something everybody is grappling with in the streaming era. Does it feel like the Trek output has hit its natural maximum? Does CBS want more?

I can’t speak for CBS. Look, we all do the same thing, which is to look at the example that really works — like, you cannot have enough Marvel shows. I’m waiting for Falcon and the Winter Soldier tomorrow, and I watched the Loki trailer 19,000 times. So with that as the example, you can never have enough Star Trek shows. — but we’ve all seen the other side where it doesn’t work. Star Trek has that heart-space for some people, especially now, after the world was revealed for being worse than we thought it was, I’m a big believer in hard-won happy endings. It doesn’t mean it’s not hard getting there, but I’m just going to choose to believe that there can be good outcomes.

Speaking of expanding franchises, in non- Trek news, you were involved in those hugely ambitious Dark Tower plans that for a while involved both movies and TV shows. What happened there, and is any of it still alive?

I have a lot of regret about the parts of that that didn’t work out. Our best version of that existed well before television-movie crossovers and streaming were a thing. I have a lot of affection for the books that didn’t end up onscreen [in the 2017 movie The Dark Tower ]. And Ron Howard had this idea of what could be done across platforms — he didn’t touch the movie, but sometimes things slip away. There are things about that [film] I still admire, and Idris Elba [played a] really wonderful Roland. I think there were too many different points of view — mine included — when it came to figuring out how to tell a cogent story onscreen, and we could have done better.

In other King news, it looks like your version of a Firestarter movie is coming together and casting. What can fans of the book and original film expect in terms of updating that story

Firestarter is one of the last great, either unmade or un-remade, Stephen King novels that have become classics. There are things I will never forget from the original movie. But it diverged from the book significantly. So Scott Teems — who is a really wonderful writer — wrote this terrific script which is much closer to the novel in both incident and tone. We start shooting, I want to say, in 12 weeks. Firestarter was always some of Stephen’s most intimate and affective horror, and I think pyrokinesis is a really fascinating idea when it comes to the expression of hidden feelings.

Interview edited for length and clarity. 

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‘Strange New Worlds’ takes a big swing toward something profound

It’s a mess, but one you can spend hours analyzing..

The following article discusses spoilers for Lift Us Where Suffering Cannot Reach, and topics of a sensitive nature.

Last week, Strange New Worlds hit something of a groove with a lightweight comedy episode that showed how well this show can work. This week, it takes a hard turn toward the weighty, with an episode that tries to cover a whole host of stuff in its 50-minute runtime . In some ways, this feels like the most The Next Generation thing Star Trek has put out since 1994. In others, it feels like the show tripped backwards and landed on something deeply profound by accident.

We open on Pike in pensive mode as the USS Enterprise heads to the Majalan System to run a stellar survey. He’s been this way before, on an unseen rough-and-tumble adventure back when he was a lieutenant, and he’s hoping for an easier ride this time around. No such luck, as just as the ship arrives, it’s thrust into a low-stakes battle between two small vessels, one of which starts firing on the Enterprise itself. That forces Pike to intervene, rescuing three people from one of the ships: A child with the title The First Servant, a prickly doctor who is also the First Servant’s father and Alora, a noblewoman Pike met on his last visit.

The ship came under attack because it was carrying the First Servant, who is about to “ascend” and achieve some great destiny for his people. He’s sufficiently special that he’s been implanted with a special perpetual-healing device to protect him from injury. But what’s obvious, from a few minutes into the episode, is that neither of the adults want to talk about why the kid is special, or what his grand ascension ceremony is going to entail, beyond the fact that the entire civilization will collapse unless it takes place, pronto . In my notes, I wrote “I bet they’re planning on eating the Dalai Lama kid,” because this whole plot felt like a throwback to a less TV-literate age.

Unfortunately, Pike seems to have left his brain in his other pants as soon as he realizes that there was mutual affection between him and Alora. In fact, as soon as Pike realizes that he’s on track to Get Some, he becomes quite petulant when his subordinates try to drag him away to try to further the episode’s narrative. And that’s despite the fact that Alora is the most Character With Something Dark To Hide character you’ll see on television this year. All the while, La’an and Uhura, this week on the security portion of her apprenticeship, try to work out what exactly is going on.

Of course, that perpetual-healing machine piques the interest of Dr. M’Benga, who wonders if such technology could be used to heal his own daughter. Sadly, the doctor brushes off the request for help, saying that it would be impossible for the Majalans to share their technology. The kid’s also something of a child prodigy, and based on nothing more than a half-overhead conversation about a sick child, he’s managed to bust Rukiya out of the transporter buffer. At this point, I can’t work out if her presence onboard is meant to be a secret or not, since it seems like a random child from an alien culture can figure out she’s there in about thirty seconds. (Pike, too, later in the episode, is tempted with an offer to get his own future fixed with their magical medical technology.)

Unfortunately, the next section of the plot is mostly throat-clearing and runarounds as Pike uncovers some sort of conspiracy. The hows and whys of the conspiracy aren’t really clear, and the only real point is to have a laser stick fight/chase scene through what looks like the grounds of Toronto’s Casa Loma museum. You can feel the show spinning its wheels while we get to the inevitable conclusion. Pike rescues the kid and hands him over to the Majalans, who promptly plug him into a supercomputer that “kills” him. This, somehow, is the key to keeping their society, which floats on suspended islands above the clouds, much like Columbia from Bioshock Infinite , from falling into the lava below. (Why? Don’t ask questions, it just does .)

Pike does try to stop it happening, but gets enough of a beatdown to watch as the kid gets wired up. It’s a pretty disturbing scene and as close to horror as Star Trek has gotten for a while, since the child realizes too late that it’s going to lead to his untimely end. Alora, in response to Pike’s objection, then goes on a rant about having the courage to sacrifice one child for the greater good. I’ll quote her response in full: “Can you honestly say that no child suffers for the benefit of your Federation? That no child lives in poverty, or squalor, while those who enjoy abundance look away? The only difference is that we don’t look away.”

Now, it was these lines that threw me, only because it’s clearly meant to be a say-the-quiet-part-out-loud statement about the US. But while the Federation is meant to be some allegorical mash-up of the Western World at large, it’s also meant to represent a utopian version of that. In the 23rd century, the Federation had the ability to synthesize food, clothing and other materials pretty darn easily. In Discovery ’s first season, Burnham uses food and clothing synthesizers to produce a delicious meal and new uniform pretty much on demand. Which means that, while the Star Trek of Pike’s day wasn’t the post-scarcity economy of The Next Generation , the idea that people would go hungry and live in squalor feels… off. I don’t want to be that guy , but did any of the show’s nine thousand producers read Trekonomics ?

Here’s the thing, while the meat of the episode isn’t particularly meaty, the topics it covers are fairly profound. One of Star Trek’s most famous philosophical tenets is that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one. This form of Utilitarianism is upheld as a noble goal within the spirit of the Federation (except, of course, when Leonard Nimoy fancies a shot at directing and so decides / agrees to resurrect Spock , but let’s not talk about that now). Then again, it’s hard to see how a kid, even a bright one, can be emotionally and mentally mature enough to consent to such a grisly demise.

Then there’s the fact that Pike loses , and is essentially powerless to do much of anything to “correct” what went on here. He can file a report to the Federation and lodge his objection to what went on, but there’s little anyone can actually do. And that raises another interesting point, since Star Trek can be read as an essentially colonialist text, one in which a group of people with Western values venture out to “civilize” the “wilderness.” If Pike had stormed back, phasers blasting, to rescue the First Servant, it might have made for good TV, but is it morally and ethically right for one group to impose its will upon others under force of arms?

(Longtime Trek fans will probably have spotted the handful of nods to the early TNG episode “ Symbiosis ” which covered similar ground. I won’t spoil it for you, but that too posed the question of how much you can, or should, interfere when you find one group of people taking advantage of another. Late ‘80s Just Say No moralizing aside, it does manage to reach a satisfying conclusion and keep within the rules of how the Prime Directive prevents the Federation from simply imposing its order upon the rest of the universe.)

But no matter how hamfistedly the show might be gesturing toward these sorts of problems, it is at least gesturing toward them. The thing that is working about Strange New Worlds is that it’s working to provoke you to think, and dwell upon your own moral and intellectual values. And it’s worth asking yourself, too, what you would be prepared to do to prevent this form of moral injustice in the world we live in today. And that, my friends, is the power of good sci-fi.

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'Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' Season 3: Release Window, Cast, and Everything We Know So Far

Here's to finally beaming up Scotty.

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It's a huge sigh of relief when a spinoff of a classic like the original Star Trek (which ran from 1966 to 1969) is well done, polished, and gripping. Especially when that show stands out in a franchise with twelve - yes, you read that right - twelve corresponding series. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds , which serves as a prequel to the original (and iconic) Star Trek series, follows Captain Christopher Pike ( Anson Mount ) as he leads his crew through the galaxy aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise. The show, which premiered in 2022, was met with high critical acclaim from the beginning and continues to find fans with each new season - an impressive feat in a time when so many shows get lost in the streaming shuffle. Now renewed for a third season right after its Season 2 finale, here's everything we know so far about the next chapter in the epic space adventure.

With Season 2's finale leaving fans wanting more, it's only natural to be itching for Season 3 to come as soon as possible. While episodes are expected to return in 2024, the production window is from December 2023 to June 2024 for Season 3 , so we may have to wait a bit before we get the answers we're craving .

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds follows Captain Christopher Pike (played by Anson Mount) and the crew of the starship USS Enterprise (NCC-1701) in the 23rd century as they explore new worlds throughout the galaxy in the decade before Star Trek: The Original Series.

While Strange New Worlds premiered its first two episodes on CBS in 2022, all episodes are now streaming on Paramount+. It can be assumed that the third season of the show will also premiere on the CBS-affiliated streaming service. Subscriptions to Paramount+ are available in two tiers: Paramount+ Essential (with commercials, $5.99/month) and Paramount+ with SHOWTIME (commercial-free, $11.99/month).

WATCH ON PARAMOUNT+

Because production on the third season has yet to begin, there won't be a trailer out for some time.

Leading the charge is fan-favorite Captain Pike , played by Anson Mount. Mount is no stranger to the Star Trek world, as he also appeared in Star Trek: Discovery in 2019. His other credits include films like Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and the Britney Spears -led 2002 drama Crossroads . Ethan Peck 's Spock is another character who appeared in Discovery alongside Mount. Peck also worked on shows like Madam Secretary and 10 Things I Hate About You . The astute La'an is played by Christina Chong , whose credits include Johnny English Reborn and Tom and Jerry .

Erica Ortegas is played by Melissa Navia , whose guest roles include Bull , Homeland , and Billions . Rebecca Romjin plays Una-Chin Riley, Pike's Number One. While Romjin is known for films like X-Men and Austin Powers , perhaps her most unforgettable role was as Cheryl, the gorgeous girl with the disgusting apartment in Season 4 of Friends . Rounding out Pike's crew are Babs Olusanmokun ( Dune ) as Dr. M'Benga, Celia Rose Gooding ( Foul Play ) as Nyota Uhura, and Jess Bush ( Playing For Keeps ) as Nurse Christine Chapel. Arguably, one of the best parts of the Season 2 finale was the appearance of Lieutenant Montgomery Scott ( Martin Quinn ), of the infamous - and incorrect - quote from the OG series: "Beam me up, Scotty!"

Strange New Worlds is produced by CBS Studios , Secret Hideout, and Roddenberry Entertainment, and distributed by Paramount+. The show was created by Akiva Goldsman , Alex Kurtzman , and Jenny Lumet , with Goldsman and Henry Alonso Myers serving as co-showrunners . Kurtzman, Goldsman, Lumet, and Myers are executive producers on the series, alongside Aaron Baiers, Heather Kadin , Frank Siracusa , John Weber , Rod Roddenberry , and Trevor Roth .

With many unanswered questions in the Season 2 finale, there are lots of possibilities for where Season 3 could take Captain Pike and his crew. After the fun and games of the previous musical episode , things switched back to danger mode very quickly, and viewers were ultimately left with a cliffhanger. With the re-appearance of the Gorn (the reptilian-humanoid extraterrestrials first seen in Star Trek in the 1960s), Pike was faced with a decision: heed the commands of the Enterprise not to engage with the Gorn, or do whatever he can to save his people. Pike, being the always-optimistic hero that he is, decides he must try and save his crew. And, when he sees young Gorn working together, his hunch that the species may be able to communicate leads him to want to try and save his crew without violence. While it's unclear how big a role the Gorn will play in Season 3, perhaps Pike's interest in their ability to communicate will be an important factor in not having this happen again. To add (gross) insult to injury, it is revealed that Gorn eggs have been planted in Pike's love interest, Captain Batel, and she may have to sacrifice herself in order to save everyone else. This is also not resolved in the finale, adding another layer to what Season 3 might bring. Will she survive? And if so, what happens to the Gorn eggs? Additionally, diehard Star Trek fans were no doubt thrilled to see Montgomery Scott appear in the Season 2 finale. While the character first appeared in the 1960s, as portrayed by James Doohan , this is his first time on Strange New Worlds. The re-introduction of this iconic character leaves a lot of potential for Season 3.

The Mandalorian (2019-)

Disney+'s runaway hit The Mandalorian has taken the world - and the internet - by storm. Premiering in 2019, show creator and showrunner Jon Favreau ( Chef ) has confirmed that Season 4 has already been written. The series follows a Mandalorian bounty hunter, played by Pedro Pascal ( The Last of Us ), as he travels through the galaxy after the fall of the Galactic Empire. Oh, and let's not forget about his companion, the now-iconic Grogu AKA Baby Yoda . WATCH ON DISNEY+

Battlestar Galactica (2004-2009)

In the spirit of revisiting classic sci-fi television, for an updated version of the original Battlestar Galactica , try 2004's refreshed version. While not entirely a remake, it offers a more modern view of the cult classic, which originally ran from 1978-1979. Starring Edward James Olmos ( Stand and Deliver ), Mary McDonnell ( Donnie Darko ), Jamie Bamber ( Law and Order: UK ), and, who can forget, Katee Sackhoff 's iconic Kara "Starbuck" Thrace, the show is sure to hit that same, familiar space exploration note.

Buy on Amazon

Lost In Space (2018-2021)

For another modernized take on a classic, try the remake of Lost in Space , based on the original that ran from 1965-1968. The Robinsons are a family who wanted to start over on a space colony (very relatable), but they end up on an uncharted alien planet instead and must struggle for survival. The remake stars Toby Stephens ( Die Another Day ) and Molly Parker ( The Wicker Man ) as Mr. and Mrs. Robinson and ran for three seasons on Netflix.

WATCH ON NETFLIX

Den of Geek

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds — What You Should Know About Pike, Spock, and Number One

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds might seem like a reboot, but it’s also a direct sequel to Star Trek: Discovery season 2. Here’s what to know if you’re just now catching up.

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This article contains spoilers for Star Trek: Discovery season 2.

If you’ve slept on new TV Star Trek for the past several years, there’s a good chance you’re thinking of beaming back in with the debut of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds . And, in terms of understanding the future of where the franchise is headed, this new series is a pretty perfect place for a casual viewer to create their own personal Star Trek reboot. In all meaningful ways, Strange New Worlds is an approachable and less canon-obsessed Star Trek than some more recent entries. Its aesthetic and flavor will also remind longtime viewers of both The Original Series and Star Trek: The Next Generation . But if you missed Star Trek: Discovery season 2 or Short Treks , you may be a little confused by a few very specific details. 

So, here’s what to know about Pike, Spock, and Number One’s whole deal in Strange New Worlds . 

If you’re already watching all the new Star Trek shows, this article isn’t for you because you already know. But if you are one of the people cautiously dipping your toe back into the transporter beam, it may interest you to learn that Discovery season 2 was essentially the whole reason Strange New Worlds exists. Here’s how it shakes out.

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Pike’s vision in Discovery Season 2

In 2018, at the end of Star Trek Discovery season 1 , the USS Enterprise appeared in the final moments of the last episode, “Will You Take My Hand?” Then, in 2019, in  Discovery Season 2, starting with the episode “Brother,” Captain Pike (Anson Mount) beamed over from the Enterprise (which was conveniently broken) to temporarily take command of the USS Discovery . For the entirety of season 2, up until the two-part finale, “Such Sweet Sorrow,” Pike was the acting captain of Discovery while the Enterprise was repaired. During this time, Pike had a long-distance telepathic conversation with Vina (Melissa George) first introduced in original Star Trek pilot “The Cage.” But in the Discovery episode “Through the Valley of the Shadows,” Pike saw his own tragic future.

This detai about Pike’s futurel is essential . In The Original Series two-parter “The Menagerie,” we see Pike in a mechanized wheelchair, his mind essentially cut off from his body. In TOS , we’re told Pike rescued Starfleet cadets from an explosion on an old starship being used for training. In both Discovery and now, Strange New Worlds , this grim fate is still in Pike’s future, but the wrinkle Discovery created is that Pike is now aware it’s going to happen. 

Strange New Worlds doesn’t shy away from this Discovery twist at all. If anything, it doubles down. Pike’s knowledge of what’s going to happen to him is still a very big deal, and, as revealed in the trailers, Strange New Worlds even uses footage from Discovery to make this point. 

Spock and Michael Burnham

Discovery established that Spock’s human step-sister is Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green), the main character of that series. Spock doesn’t mention Burnham much in Strange New Worlds (or at all in the rest of canon!) but there is one conversation in the pilot episode of the new series that connects to Burnham. Pike acknowledges this detail too, because, of course, he served with Burnham on Discovery . 

But, why can’t Pike and Spock talk more openly about Michael Burnham or the crew of the Discover y ? Well….

The Super-Classified Enterprise-Discovery mission 

At the end of Discovery Season 2, both the Enterprise and Discovery teamed up to fight a rogue AI called “Control” from destroying the future. Long story short: In order to completely get rid of Control, Discovery has to jump far enough into the future, to a point at which its special data can’t be used by Control to eradicate all sentient life. In the same season, Discovery itself merged with a super-advanced alien intelligence and gained its own nascent sentience, which, while cool, was also a liability. So, for many complicated reasons, Burnham and the crew had to take themselves into the far future, in order to prevent Control from ever gaining the “sphere data” and ruining everything. 

In order to do this, the Enterprise provided cover, while Burnham opened a wormhole to the future, and Discovery flew behind her. In the final moments of “Such Sweet Sorrow Part 2,” Spock encourages Starfleet to classify everything about this mission for several reasons. First, the time travel tech developed by Starfleet’s Section 31 was partially responsible for the problem. Second, Starfleet also created Control in the first place. And finally, if the general public was aware that a 23rd-century starship was now living in the 32nd century, because of an AI threat, it would be generally bad for everyone. 

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So, the crew of the Enterprise , including Pike, Spock, and Number One, are all sworn to secrecy, and the official “record” suggests that Discovery “exploded,” a lie that everyone is sticking to, except in private. Strange New Worlds takes place very shortly after these events.

Number One and Spock in Short Treks

In addition to Discovery Season 2, in 2019, Pike, Spock, and Number One appeared in three short episodes of the anthology series Short Treks . Two of those episodes, “The Trouble With Edward,” and “Ask Not,” mostly used Pike as a kind of framing device to tell a different story. But, in “Q&A” (written by Michael Chabon) we got to see Spock’s first day on the USS Enterprise and his first meeting with Number One (Rebecca Romijn). This was the first time we learned Number One’s real first name is “Una,” and it was the first (and only ) time that Star Trek canon has attempted to reconcile the similarities between Spock and Number One’s personalities and to explain why Spock in “The Cage” acted so different than the rest of The Original Series .

In many ways, “Q&A” is just as essential for understanding Strange New Worlds as Discovery . It creates a great introduction to Spock and Una’s relationship, which, in a sense, makes it a direct prequel to Strange New Worlds .  

For the most part, the nitty-gritty details of the rest of the Star Trek canon aren’t required to enjoy Strange New Worlds , but that doesn’t mean the show is shying away from those details either. Like all of Star Trek, small parts can inform the whole, and with this Enterprise , a little bit of knowledge about its step-siblings goes a long way.

Ryan Britt is a longtime contributor to Den of Geek! He is also the author of three non-fiction books: the Star Trek pop history book PHASERS…

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Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

Where to watch.

Watch Star Trek: Strange New Worlds with a subscription on Paramount+, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV.

Cast & Crew

Anson Mount

Captain Christopher Pike

Rebecca Romijn

Science Officer Spock

Nurse Christine Chapel

Christina Chong

La'an Noonien-Singh

Celia Rose Gooding

Nyota Uhura

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Tv news & guides, this show is featured in the following articles., series info.

One iconic Star Trek villain could return for Strange New Worlds

Rainn Wilson wants more Harry Mudd. But does that even work?

The busiest of the Star Trek baddies twirls his mustache.

We’re not talking about wrathful Khan or the mischievous Q . Appearing twice in The Original Series , once in The Animated Series , and twice in Discovery , as well as having a Short Treks episode dedicated entirely to multiple versions of him, the Trek villain to beat is not-so-secretly that swindling con-man, Harry Mudd. Played by the late Roger C. Carmel in the ‘60s and ‘70s, the intergalactic criminal is more recently portrayed by the iconic Rainn Wilson .

Recently, Wilson publicly pushed for Mudd to appear in the TOS prequel series Strange New World s . Can it happen? Will Mudd need to erase Spock’s memory? Mild spoilers ahead for Short Treks “The Escape Artist” and Discovery Season 1. Wild speculation follows.

Wilson is ready to return to the final frontier.

Rainn Wilson wants more Mudd

Speaking at the 55 Year Mission Star Trek convention in Las Vegas earlier this month (as reported by TrekMovie ), Wilson told his audience, “I’ve written the producers and said, ‘Bring Harry Mudd back.’”

So far, the response from co-showrunner Akiva Goldsman has been, as per Wilson, “I don’t know, I would need to think about that.” Wilson also insinuated that if the fans “write in to producers saying they want more Harry Mudd, they will listen to that,” as per reporting out of the event.

Considering Strange New Worlds itself was partially born out of fan demand, Wilson is probably right. If enough Trek fans made noise, his take on Harry Mudd might show up on Strange New Worlds . But how would this work? Can Harry Mudd exist in the pre- TOS but post- DISCO Season 2 era? Short answer: Yes. But there’s a catch.

Harry Mudd will return. Or will he?

Harry Mudd’s timeline, explained

In Star Trek: The Original Seris , Harry Mudd appears in the episodes “Mudd’s Women” and “I, Mudd,” which occur, canonically, in 2266 and 2267. He then showed up in The Animated Series episode “Mudd’s Passion,” set in 2270. In Star Trek: Discovery Season 1, the crew encounters Mudd twice, in the episodes “Choose Your Pain,” and “Magic to Make the Sanest Man Go Mad,” both of which are set in 2257, about 10 years before Mudd appears in TOS . So far, so good.

Then, in the Short Treks episode “The Escape Artist,” Mudd is seen running around the galaxy, along with several android duplicates, presumably sometime in the late 2250s but before TOS .

So, in terms of the timeline, here’s how it shakes out:

• 2257-2258-ish: Mudd in Discovery and Short Treks
• 2258- 2264-ish: The events of Strange New Worlds
• 2265-2270: Mudd in The Original Series and The Animated Series

Essentially, yes, Mudd can appear in Strange New Worlds according to the timeline. The only issue is simple: If Spock hypothetically meets Harry Mudd in Strange New Worlds , this would recontextualize Spock’s familiarity with Mudd in TOS . But that’s where the fun begins.

Mudd and Burnham in Discovery Season 1

How Mudd can crash Strange New Worlds

So, how can Harry Mudd appear on the USS Enterprise NCC-1701 without totally wrecking TOS canon? Well, the easy answer is that Spock is pretty good at keeping secrets. Michael Burnham was never mentioned in TOS , and she’s Spock’s human step-sister! If fans can accept that, they might be able to accept the fact that Spock kept an earlier meeting with Harry Mudd to himself.

But there are more fun ways to make this work, too. In Discovery , Mudd had some time crystals, which allowed him to put the DISCO crew into a time loop. So, if Mudd appears on Strange New Worlds , it’s possible he could again use some time travel shenanigans to make everyone forget he was there. In essence, Mudd could use time travel to erase Spock’s memory — because he did the exact same thing to most of the Discovery crew already.

So many Harry Mudd androids.

Barring time travel, though, Mudd could also return as one of his android duplicates. At the end of “The Escape Artist,” we saw a Starfleet ship burdened with a gaggle of Harry Mudd robot duplicates, each one believing he was the real Harry Mudd. In fact, the end of the episode (written by Lower Decks creator Mike McMahan ) really made you wonder which Mudd we’d encountered thus far. The “real” one? Or an android duplicate? In 2019, Rainn Wilson told Syfy :

“I think we’ve been seeing the real Harry Mudd throughout. We certainly see him at the end of this episode. [“The Escape Artist.”] But I think it would be fun to have future episodes where you don’t know if you’re seeing Mudd or a duplicate Mudd running around the universe. That would be really interesting.”

So, back in 2019, Rainn Wilson already came up with the perfect way for Mudd to return. If he does come back around to hassle Captain Pike and Spock, he might be a duplicate. And, if Harry Mudd androids are “running around the universe,” then Wilson’s hypothetical return wouldn’t need to be limited just to the SNW era. If Mudd has robot clones, whose to say some of them didn’t survive into the 24th century? Or the 32nd!

Sure, Mudd on Strange New Worlds would probably fit with the vibe of that show. But the place you’d least expect him would be in Picard Season 3 or Discovery Season 5! Nobody expects Mudd!

Who knows: maybe a Harry Mudd robot duplicate could end up working for Michelle Yeoh in Section 31 . When it comes to android duplicates and the Star Trek canon, the sky really is the limit.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is expected sometime in 2022.

This article was originally published on Aug. 24, 2021

• Science Fiction

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• April 25, 2024 | Prep Begins For ‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ Season 3 Finale; Cast And Directors Share BTS Images

Prep Begins For ‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ Season 3 Finale; Cast And Directors Share BTS Images

| April 25, 2024 | By: Anthony Pascale 15 comments so far

Work on the third season of  Star Trek: Strange New Worlds  continues to move swiftly in Toronto and looks to be set to wrap up next month. We have some fun bits from the set shared by the cast and a couple of directors, as well as some details on the production.

2 more episodes to go

First up, a selfie from director Jordan Canning, who previously directed the season 2 episode “Charades.” The image posted earlier this week shows the director with Ethan Peck and Rebecca Romijn and has the message, “Always happy to be the redshirt between these two.”

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Jordan Canning (@jjhcanning)

TrekMovie has confirmed that Canning directed episode 8, which has wrapped. Filming for episode 9 has already begun, with Andrew Coutts directing. This will be the directorial debut for Coutts, a co-producer and editor on the show. The 10th and final episode of the season will be directed by Maja Vrvilo, a Paramount+ Trek veteran who has directed episodes of Discovery , Picard , and Strange New Worlds . Earlier this week, she posted an image of her office door, indicated prep work for her episode had already begun.

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Maja Vrvilo (@majavrvilo)

Anson has a challenge for cosplayers

There have also been a couple of fun recent social media updates from the cast. First up, Anson Mount posted on Twitter/X that season 3 will require cosplayers to bring their “A-game” as he shared some creative fan costumes.

I will say this about season 3 of #StarTrek #StrangeNewWorlds : Cos-players, you better be ready to bring your A-game. #Cosplay @StarTrek @StarTrekOnPPlus pic.twitter.com/mZ9gMmIhsL — Anson Mount 🖖 (@ansonmount) April 16, 2024

One new look for cosplayers to try is an armed Nurse Chapel, as seen in this short video from Jess Bush showing off her phaser holster.

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Jess Bush (@onejessa)

Finally, on the day of the big eclipse, some of the Strange New Worlds team took a moment to check it out. Bush shared an Instagram story with herself and co-star Melissa Navia rocking their eclipse glasses. (They had 90% totality in Toronto.)

Last week brought big news for Strange New Worlds: It’s been renewed for a fourth season. Paramount+ recently confirmed season 3 will debut in 2025.

Keep up with news about the  Star Trek Universe at TrekMovie.com .

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I LOVE holodeck dude in cosplay!

I’m curious how long their entire season shooting period actually is.

Usually 5 to 6 months. This one started just before Christmas.

I know I’ll end up watching it, but I’m just not excited for the next season. Season 2 was all over the place, in my opinion. For every episode like Those Old Scientists or Ad Astra Per Aspera, there was rubbish like The Broken Circle and Under the Cloak of War and Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow. I like the cast, but the quality isn’t there- and for all the talk of “big swings” and pushing the envelope- Season 2 was almost painfully generic.

Same here. I’ll be tuning in, but it’s not up there on my ‘must-see right away’ list. I feel like overall, the storytelling floundered during S2, legacy characters written badly, and a distinct corny popcorn feel to it. Both Spock and Pike were reduced to bumbling sidekicks. Hoping S3 has a bit more gravitas to it. Like you said, not the fault of the cast. All blame goes back to the writer’s room. I’m more than happy to consider this show as existing in its own separate timeline, as has been confirmed.

I still can’t get over how *boring* the finale was. It felt like it went on for hours and yet nothing actually happened besides a super-quick and appallingly shot fight in zero-g. Season Two really dropped the ball.

I agree. I don’t even remember what happened in the finale, except Pike at the end hesitating like a scared junior officer when the situation called for fast decisive action. As for the season in general, it feels empty, like nothing really happens in the episodes. I hate the way they turned Spock into a moron. There are better ways if the writers wanted to put some humor in… I’m sure the 12 year olds found it funny but adults are watching too…

They seem to be testing the water for the Academy show with teen romances also. Spock, Chapel / La’an, Kirk and Pike, Batel were all shallow romances and just really boring that took up way too much time in the season. They seriously need to get back to writing some good sci fi stories or this show will go down as one of the worse Star Trek series for me. It seems more of a comedy starship show than the Orville at times. And season 1 had so much promise as well.

The SNW writers room has a chalk board titled Gimmick Board only they misspelt it Big Swing Board. Hopefully they can’t destroy Spock’s character anymore as they have already scraped the bottom of the barrel with their writing of his character.

So relieved I’m not the only one who felt this way. I hear “game changer” and “big swing” and I think “great, they’re effing with my show again to bring in the non-Trek fans”!

Yes, to them “big swing” means having the characters do things completely out of character and turning Star Trek into a Broadway play. Sure the musical was original and unexpected, but really out of place, and I will never be able to get the K-Pop Klingons out of my head.

I didn’t mind the musical episode (probably because I love musicals!) but on the whole, the season felt soulless and devoid of anything interesting to say (outside of Ad Astra Per Aspera). It’s as though the entire season was written by committee and was deathly afraid of offending the fandom by doing anything even slightly controversial.

I’ve had this feeling since the first season. Anson Mount is a wonderful lead, but they’ve completed destroyed the character that we got to know in Season 2 of Discovery. And they need to do something with Spock besides him being a complete and utter pig to women.

I’m absolutely giddy for this next season. Season two was fantastic and I cannot wait for this next season.

I really wish studios would get it together. They used to be able to turn out twice the number of eps or sometimes more every year without year-long pauses between seasons.

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UPDATED: Star Trek Books 2024

Star trek’s lost original enterprise model returned, classic star trek alien in star trek: section 31, star trek renewal news – cast & creatives respond, new: strange new worlds – scotty is on board for season 3, review – star trek: discovery season 5 episode 5 “mirrors”, review – star trek: defiant #14, review – star trek: discovery season 5 episode 4 “face the strange”, review – star trek #19, review – star trek: discovery season 5 episode 3 “jinaal”.

NEW SERIES: Strange New Worlds – ‘The Scorpius Run’

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2 left us on tenterhooks with a tense cliffhanger for the finale ‘Hegemony’. It will be a torturous wait for the conclusion, expected to be over a year away. Don’t worry, though. A new adventure for Captain Pike and the Enterprise Crew is heading our way! It might not be Season 3 , but it’s set to soothe some withdrawal pangs, at least for a while. Comic series S trange New Worlds – ‘The Scorpius Run’ Issue #1 warps in from IDW Publishing next week, kicking off a 5-issue run. And if you’re in the Annapolis (Maryland, USA) area you can get your hands on issue #1 early, with Sean Van Gorman’s exclusive cover. Find out how below!

A New Adventure for The Enterprise Crew!

Launching on August 23rd, Strange New Worlds – ‘The Scorpius Run’ will see Captain Pike and the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise head to the Scorpius constellation! As they venture into the unknown, Enterprise’s crew must learn what it truly means to traverse the strange and unfamiliar when they lose contact with Starfleet and find themselves trapped in unexplored space!

The new series is from Star Trek  comic veterans Mike Johnson and Ryan Parrott, with story consultant Kirsten Beyer (and SNW Producer) and art by Angel Hernandez. And as usual, each issue will have several variant covers from a host of IDW Publishing’s talented roster of artists.

Issue #1 launches with an extra special cover variant, a tribute to a classic from artist Sean Von Gorman! Sean took some time to give us a little insight into his process of creating a cover. Plus, a little hint at what fans can expect from the series!

Sean Von Gorman – A Tribute Cover

Q. How did you decide on the style for your cover?

It’s based on a cover for Star Trek #1 for DC Comics 1983 I’ve always loved that cover. It popped up a lot in my research, getting ready to do Trek comics. I’ve always thought the design of it was very striking and exciting. I only recently found out that this was a George Perez cover. He did Trek work for DC (Comics) in the 80s and would go on to become a legendary Comic Artist. I thought it would be cool to take a beat from Strange New Worlds . I wanted to bring something we enjoyed from the past with a modern sensibility to it, which is something the show excels at. It’s something I had the idea for before this project came up. I had been chipping away at it in secret before IDW gave me an SNW assignment. When I send over cover concepts, I’ll usually send one that fits with the assignment I’ve been tasked to do. And then I will throw in a fun one that I think would sell. This idea was one I had pitched that was originally passed on. But I had a strong feeling that this would be something. Sean Von Gorman

Starting out …

Q. How did you become a comic artist and what are some of your career highlights?

I’ve been working in Comics for a little over 10 years now. I started with a book called The Secret Adventures of Houdini which was an action-adventure story based on the life of the real Harry Houdini. To go along with that I would perform public stunts. Like breaking out of straight jackets and chaining myself to comics shops until we would sell out of the book. I’ve gone on to do creator-owned books like PAWN SHOP, and Toe Tag Riot. And have contributed to things like the Love Is Love Anthology. I’m working on a new project called The Pedestrian which is about a street-level costumed hero who never breaks the law to fight crime. Sean Von Gorman

Q. How would you ‘tease’ (no spoilers) ‘ this series ‘The Scorpius Run’ to fans?

This series was pitched to me as ‘The Cannonball Run ‘ in Space with The Enterprise. I can’t think of a more exciting premise. Keep an eye out for my second Strange New Worlds – ‘The Scorpius Run’ cover for Issue #5! Sean Von Gorman

For those who don’t know the reference, ‘The Cannonball Run’ is a 1980s Burt Reynolds movie about a crazy, illegal car race across the US. It’s packed with fun and action and some wild characters. Sounds right up Strange New Worlds street!

Creating the Cover

One thing that stands out about the recent crop of IDW Publishing’s Star Trek comics is the artwork. Not just inside, but outside too, and the wide variety of artists and styles. Some talented fan artists have even leapt, producing covers for IDW like J.J. Lendl and Steffi Hochriegl !

But where do you begin to create a unique comic cover?

I start with doing digital pencils and get all details just right and print them out on bristol in blue lines to ink digitally. This one was tricky because in the summer months, my studio gets very humid, and making fine details with ink is very tricky. That made inking the many actor likenesses impossible, so I went back and inked those elements digitally and then printed those out in black, and then added those to the final piece before scanning. After scanning I touched up/corrected some imperfections before sending them off to be colored. This one was a beast. I had pitched this with a few other concepts! Sean Von Gorman

If you want to see more of Sean’s work and how he creates it, head to Socials. Sean shares lots of videos on his process and shows how he creates his comic covers via Twitter (sorry ‘X’) and Instagram .

Special Signings

As any comic collector will tell you, getting our hands on some of the cover variants can be very tough! Fortunately, there are special signings coming up! For those lucky enough to be in the Annapolis area, Sean and IDW Publishing’s Trek Group Editor Heather Antos will be doing a special event! You can get the exclusive cover, plus have it signed this weekend at Third Eye Comics in Annapolis, MA. Plus Black Cat Comics in Salt Lake City, UT is holding a signing in September. Full details are below!

Event Location: Third Eye Comics, 209 Chinquapin Round Rd Annapolis, MD 21401

Date & Time: Saturday, August 19 (2023) from 11am – 1pm

More info: thirdeyecomics.com/event/trek

Event Location: Black Cat Comics, 2261 Highland Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84106

Date & Time: Saturday, September 2 (2023) 11am

More info: blackcat-comics.com/

Order Online

For those who can’t make the signings, there are a limited number of tribute cover issues available to order online from Third Eye Comics including signed copies!

Upcoming Issues …

In Issue #1: Come back to  Strange New Worlds  with a never-before-seen adventure of the hit Paramount+ show! Set course with Captain Pike and the crew of the  U.S.S. Enterprise  to the Scorpius constellation! As they venture into the unknown, the Enterprise crew learn what it truly means to traverse through the strange and unfamiliar when they lose contact with Starfleet and find themselves trapped in unexplored space!

Release Date: August 23, 2023

Amazon Pre-Order Link

In Issue #2: Let the race begin! After entering a crime lord’s starship competition to save an innocent pilot, the U.S.S. Enterprise jets through a gauntlet of dangerous environments in the unexplored Scorpius sector. But cosmic storms and sentient ship-eating asteroids aren’t the only obstacles the crew will have to survive!

Release Date: October 4, 2023

In Issue #3: Captain Pike’s crew must think on the fly as they race to the finish line, try to stay alive, and cover one another’s backs! But it’s not only the Scorpius region that’s unfamiliar to them. The people and ships they’ve been forced to join are strange, and they will have to get creative if they’re to make it through the mobster Zephyx’s rat race.

Release Date: Nov 1, 2023

Also available from :

You can pick up your issues of Strange New Worlds – ‘The Scorpius Run’ from your local comic book stories, either walk in and purchase or pre-order. It is also available via the IDW App and website, and keep an eye on their Exclusives section for special covers. Plus, you can order online print copies from a variety of outlets including Forbidden Planet (in the UK).

Previous Captain Pike Series From IDW!

This will be IDW’s 3rd series for Captain Pike and his crew! And if you’ve not caught the previous stories, you really have been missing out! Not only do they have fantastic artwork, but the stories are top notch too! And you don’t have to wait for individual issues to be released, or track down back copies. Both series will be available digitally or as graphic novels.

‘Aftermath’ is technically under the banner of Star Trek: Discovery . Its story is set just after the events of Season 2 before Strange New Worlds was announced. After discovering Michael Burnham’s personal log, Spock begins to unravel the story of Burnham’s journey from orphan to Starfleet officer—and the secret history of the Red Angel as well. But as he confronts the secrets of Burnham’s past, he’ll also have to grapple with his own. The 3-part series is available now as a graphic novel .

‘The Illyrian Enigma’ follows up on the events of Strange New Worlds Season 1 finale cliffhanger. With Una accused of unlawful genetic modification by Starfleet, Captain Pike sets out in search of evidence that could prove her innocence. But, when Captain Pike and the crew of the  Enterprise  get caught in the Pryllia colony, home to the illusive Illyrians, the mission objective quickly shifts from gathering evidence to exonerate Una to…breaking out. The 5-part series will be available as a graphic novel from October 10, 2023.

More From Trek Central

🚨 – REVIEW – Star Trek: Strange New Worlds “Hegemony”

🔥 – REVIEW – Star Trek: The Motion Picture – ‘Echoes’ Issue #4

🔍️ – Where Is Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3?

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Screen Rant

Star trek: strange new worlds season 4 needs another lower decks crossover.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 4 is confirmed and the best chance to see Star Trek: Lower Decks when the animated show ends with season 5.

• Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 4 needs to have another crossover with Star Trek: Lower Decks.
• More opportunities for the casts to meet include Lt. Spock meeting fellow Vulcan Lt. T'Lyn.
• Strange New Worlds season 4 is the best chance to see the Lower Decks cast again in a further mix of animation and live-action.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 4 needs another crossover episode with Star Trek: Lower Decks . Strange New Worlds season 2, episode 7, “Those Old Scientists, ” saw Lower Deckers Ensign Beckett Mariner (Tawny Newsome) and Ensign Brad Boimler (Jack Quaid) time travel to encounter Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) and the USS Enterprise crew in the 23rd century. The exciting and emotionally resonant Star Trek crossover was lauded by fans of both shows and provided important character and narrative development.

The renewal of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds for season 4, alongside the news that Star Trek: Lower Decks will not be renewed after season 5, is a bittersweet reality check for fans but may also present an opportunity to capitalize on the success of the first crossover between these two shows with another one in Strange New Worlds ’ season 4. The growing prominence and influence of Tawny Newsome over Star Trek’ s modern shows and Strange New Worlds showrunners’ interest in further collaboration suggests that another crossover may be a possibility .

Tawny Newsome is a writer on Paramount+'s upcoming Star Trek: Starfleet Academy series as well as voicing Mariner on Star Trek: Lower Decks.

Strange New Worlds Season 2 Cast Guide — Every New & Returning Star Trek Character

Strange new worlds season 4 needs another star trek: lower decks crossover, star trek: strange new worlds season 2, episode 7 - "those old scientists".

Star Trek: Lower Decks’ Tawny Newsome says there's no crossover episode in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3, but the possibility of reuniting the USS Enterprise and USS Cerritos casts remains open. Ensigns Beckett Mariner and Brad Boimler visited the Starship Enterprise in Strange New Worlds season 2's crossover, but a sequel could see additional USS Cerritos officers’ involvement or even fully bring the live-action USS Enterprise crew into the world of animation, allowing fan-favorite characters like Lt. D’Vana Tendi (Noël Wells) and Lt Samanthan Rutherford (Eugene Cordero) to interact with other Star Trek characters .

Imagine Lieutenant Spock (Ethan Peck) meeting Star Trek: Lower Decks ’ Vulcan Lieutenant T’Lyn (Gabrielle Ruiz).

Imagine Lieutenant Spock (Ethan Peck) meeting Star Trek: Lower Decks ’ Vulcan Lieutenant T’Lyn (Gabrielle Ruiz) or a live-action Dr. Migleemo (Paul F. Tompkins) showing Dr. Joseph M'Benga (Babs Olusanmokun) the finer points of food-metaphor psychiatry. The dynamic between characters like Lt. La’an Noonien-Singh (Christina Chong), Lt. Shaxs (Fred Tatasciore), and Dr. T’Ana (Gillian Vigman) could also create engaging storylines, allowing options for additional animation. With the success of the first Strange New Worlds crossover and both shows’ strong fan base, another joint-venture episode in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds ’ season 4 seems a natural progression , continues important character developments, and, most importantly, allows for a continuation of Star Trek: Lower Decks .

Strange New Worlds Season 4 Is The Best Chance To See Lower Decks Again

Strange new worlds can bring the enterprise and cerritos crews back together..

When Star Trek: Prodigy was canceled by Paramount+, an online fan campaign successfully saved the show, with Netflix acquiring it for a second season. This suggests a similar option exists for Star Trek: Lower Decks to continue with a new streaming provider. However, with Lower Decks having already completed a five-season run and fans not responding with the same umbrage and passion that saved Star Trek: Prodigy from cancelation, the likelihood of this happening remains uncertain. Nevertheless, there are still avenues – and interest – for the USS Cerritos crew to embark on new adventures.

Star Trek: The Next Generation icon and Commander William Riker actor Jonathan Frakes directed the Strange New Worlds & Lower Decks crossover episode, "Those Old Scientists."

A second crossover with Star Trek: Strange New Worlds offers the most promising chance to see Lower Decks again after it ends with season 5. Given how well-received Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2, episode 7 , “Those Old Scientists" was, there is scope and precedent for further development of this collaboration. Strange New Worlds season 4 presents the best chance for Star Trek: Lower Decks to make a triumphant return . Both Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and Star Trek: Lower Decks' diverse creativity and genre-blending offer numerous possibilities for an engaging and innovative second crossover, including the potential for a multiple-episode story arc.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and Star Trek: Lower Decks are available to stream on Paramount+.

Star Trek: Lower Decks

Star trek: strange new worlds.

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Star Trek Discovery Cancellation Ruins Strange New Worlds Crossover?

Posted: April 29, 2024 | Last updated: April 29, 2024

The fifth and final season of Star Trek: Discovery has been filled with fan service, including the entire season’s mystery arc being based on the beloved TNG episode “The Chase.” We’ve gotten callbacks to the Dominion War and a cameo by a Soong-type android. But one of the most ambitious bits of fan service was Discovery encountering the abandoned hulk of the Mirror Universe vessel ISS Enterprise.

We later found out its crew rebelled from the Terran Empire and escaped into the Prime Universe, but it’s my belief this episode was meant to set up a Strange New Worlds crossover we will never get.

Star Trek: Discovery Setting Up Strange New Worlds?

How, exactly, could Star Trek: Discovery have been setting up a crossover with Strange New Worlds? It may seem unlikely, especially with SNW taking place in the 23rd century and DSC now taking place in the 32nd century.

However, there are various ways for the show to explain how a vessel could time-travel to the future (something that the Discovery crew knows all about) or just get stuck in a timey-wimey space phenomenon.

Star Trek: Discovery “Mirrors”

In the Star Trek: Discovery episode “Mirrors,” Captain Burnham and Booker board the ISS Enterprise in search of the criminals Moll and L’ak as well as clues about the Progenitors. These ancient aliens who created many major races in the galaxy and whose technology could be used as a superweapon.

Our heroes eventually discover that this ship fled the Mirror Universe after Spock became the Terran Emperor and was executed for trying to usher progressive reforms into a regressive empire.  We later find out they safely made it into the Prime universe despite the ISS Enterprise getting stuck in the wormhole.

Didn’t Know Fifth Was Last

Here’s my speculation: we know that the Star Trek: Discovery cast and crew did not originally know the fifth season would be their last. After the show’s surprise cancellation, however, Paramount allowed new scenes to be shot to help wrap the season up and make it feel more like a finale. 

Many fans (myself included) assumed these new scenes would mostly be added to the season finale to help wrap up the series. However, seeing the ISS Enterprise makes me think the show had an ambitious Strange New Worlds crossover planned for a future season and a new scene was added to quickly resolve things.

Trying To Find Clues

In Star Trek: Discovery, we learn that the ISS Enterprise crew rebelled against the Terran Empire and fled to the Prime Universe, with the ship getting stuck in a wormhole.

At first, what happened to the Mirror crew was a mystery. Later, though, Captain Burnham happily reveals that everyone safely made it to the Prime Universe in the 23rd century. The one fleeing Terran, Dr. Cho, became a Starfleet branch admiral who researched the Progenitors and left the clue Burnham and Book are trying to find.

Strange New Worlds Mirror Universe?

My theory is that Star Trek: Discovery was originally going to leave the fate of that crew as a mystery so that in future seasons, we could find out they escaped into the future and get cameos from Mirror Universe versions of Strange New Worlds characters.

Mirror Pike, for example, could basically be an anti-Lorca: a captain from the evil universe who is actually a good guy and not just putting on an act. The crossover between Strange New Worlds and Lower Decks proved very popular, and this would have been a chance for Paramount to engage in more of that sweet, sweet brand synergy.

Adding New Scenes?

Furthermore, I believe that after Star Trek: Discovery was canceled, the conversation where Burnham tells Booker the crew all survived and settled in the Prime Universe was later added as a new scene.

Think about it: that scene is just two characters talking on a very small set. That’s not exactly a smoking phaser when it comes to my theory, but this would have been a lot easier to add as a new scene compared to something like a major ensemble scene on the Discovery’s bridge.

Future Crossovers Could Still Happen?

We may never definitively know if Star Trek: Discovery was setting up a Strange New Worlds crossover, but I’m trying to embody what Burnham said about the rebel Enterprise crew. “They had hope…despite impossible odds.”

In my case, I hope that Paramount hasn’t fully given up on ambitious plans like crossovers in favor of just playing it safe with Starfleet Academy, an upcoming show aimed at teens so aggressively that it might as well be called Stardate 90210.

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Published Jul 26, 2023

RECAP | Star Trek: Strange New Worlds 207 - 'Those Old Scientists'

Holy Q! These guys look very realistic.

SPOILER WARNING: This article contains story details and plot points for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.

StarTrek.com

In  Star Trek: Strange New Worlds ' " Those Old Scientists ," an accident while investigating a time portal sends Ensign Brad Boimler through time from the 24th Century, and Captain Pike and his crew must get him back where he belongs before he can somehow alter the timeline.

• Brad Boimler
• Beckett Mariner
• Sam Rutherford
• D'Vana Tendi
• Una Chin-Riley (Number One)
• La’An Noonien-Singh
• Christopher Pike
• Dr. Joseph M'Benga
• Nyota Uhura
• Erica Ortegas
• Christine Chapel
• Harr Caras 
• Jack Ransom

• U.S.S. Cerritos
• Krulmuth-B, home of the Krulmuth-B portal
• U.S.S. Enterprise
• D'Var , Orion science vessel

In the 24th Century, the U.S.S. Cerritos enters orbit around Krulmuth-B, home to one of Ensign Bradward “Brad” Boimler’s favorite portals. On the starship’s lower decks, Boimler explains that the object was discovered by Captain Christopher Pike and the original U.S.S. Enterprise — well, technically the second Enterprise — to his friend, Ensign Beckett Mariner. She expresses annoyance at Boimler’s enthusiasm for scanning the portal, particularly as it hadn’t done anything interesting in the 120 years since “those old scientists” found it.* The dialogue doesn’t deter Boimler, who remains excited over standing where Lt. Spock, Ensign Nyota Uhura, and Commander Una “Numero Una” Chin-Riley had explored. Ensigns Samanthan “Sam” Rutherford and D’Vana Tendi arrive to detail their own passion for the portal mission, and Mariner reveals she is in charge of the away team.

"Those Old Scientists"

On the planet’s surface, the four ensigns approach the portal’s rings. Tendi confides that the device was actually discovered by an Orion science vessel her great-grandmother had served on, but Boimler’s disbelief results in an awkward exchange related to the notion that all Orions were pirates back then.** “Somebody had to make the starships,” exclaims Tendi, and Mariner voices her support for Tendi’s position. Rutherford’s portal scans detect horonium, which hadn’t been found for centuries, leading Boimler to point out a lesson he learned at the Starship History Museum — the lightweight and durable substance had been used by Starfleet to construct its NX-class starships.

Boimler climbs onto the portal’s platform and does his best Spock impression, reflecting on his wish to experience life in an earlier era. Rutherford lifts his camera to take a holoimage of Boimler, causing the portal — or “ancient thing” — to glow and generate an energy field. The rupture closes right after Boimler is pulled through, but quickly reemerges on the planet once again. However, instead of finding his friends, the ensign looks up to see Spock, Commander Chin-Riley, and Lt. La’An Noonien-Singh as he loses consciousness. Number One reluctantly contacts the Enterprise to let them know they might have a problem.

Having been on a mission to deliver a crucial shipment of grain to a colony on Setlik II, the Enterprise now had a more pressing priority — dealing with a time-traveler. Aboard the ship, Number One informs Captain Pike that scans indicate Boimler’s badge is also a communicator; though her commanding officer declares, “but flipping it open is the best part.” The senior staff assembles in Sickbay, where Boimler awakes to see Pike, La’An, and Dr. Joseph M’Benga. The 24th Century ensign confuses the group by requesting the computer end the program, but he quickly realizes he’s not on a holodeck. Boimler begins to freak out , prompting Pike to assure him they’ve already deduced he’s from the future. Now approximately 120 years in the past, Boimler struggles with the concept of a funny captain and appears startled when he first notices Una. La’An guides Boimler from the room, and Una questions whether the ensign knows something about her future.

In the corridor, the time-traveler continues to marvel at the Enterprise ’s retro tech, so Noonien-Singh reviews temporal protocols — no interfering with past events and no sharing knowledge of the future, which Boimler promises not to violate by “Worf’s honor.” Speaking from her experience with an alternate James T. Kirk in 21st Century Toronto , La’An adds one of her own rules — don’t make any attachments. While she does not divulge the specifics of her ordeal, the security chief emphasizes that a small change could destroy Boimler’s friends, loved ones, and future.

Waiting in Pike’s Ready Room, Boimler pulls a ‘Riker’ and mounts the saddle the captain has on display. Uhura interrupts the ensign’s appraisal of the historical saddle, and Boimler explains that his friend Mariner is a fan of the communications officer. Tasked with deciphering the portal’s ancient language, Uhura wonders why Boimler seems surprised that she is so focused on work.

Boimler joins Spock and M’Benga down on the surface, once again conveying his awe over being in the presence of his heroes. The ensign compliments the doctor’s TS-122 tricorder — which is actually a TS-120 — and recounts what happened prior to his jaunt through time. Boimler theorizes the radioisotopes emitted by Rutherford’s camera had inadvertently activated the portal. Spock unleashes a perplexing laugh upon hearing the ensign’s belief that the accident was dumb luck. The mystified ensign asks M’Benga if this attribute is something new, and the doctor confirms it is.

On the Bridge, Pike orders the landing party to beam up after learning that an unidentified ship is approaching. At the helm, Lt. Erica Ortegas notes the vessel might be Orion. Number One states that the starship’s shields and weapons are inactive; though La’An adds some Orion vessels are specifically designed to fool sensors. Uhura, Spock, and Boimler exit the turbolift, giving their visitor a chance to gaze in amazement at the Bridge of the “NCC-1701-... nothing!” La’An is puzzled by what would possibly come after the Enterprise ’s registration number, but Boimler has already moved on to geek out about Ortegas, who he describes as a war hero . Having built a model of one in a bottle, Boimler immediately recognizes the ship as an Orion scout, eliciting a concerned look from the captain.

Pike asks La’An to prepare a full torpedo spread as a precautionary measure, but Boimler — remembering Tendi’s claim about her grandmother’s service — struggles to explain his certainty that the unknown ship is a science vessel. Although Una comments that multiple reports of Orion pirate activity in this area had been received, the Orions hail the Enterprise . Their captain introduces himself as Harr Caras of the Orion science vessel D’Var , assuring Pike that Orion pirates give the rest of his species a bad name. As they converse, Spock detects a transporter signal and announces the Orions have beamed up the portal. The Orion ship warps away, and Pike offers a frustrated glance in Boimler’s direction.

At the desk in his Ready Room, the captain admits to Number One that he might have made a mistake by listening to Boimler. Pike elicits a laugh from his first officer when he compares trying to prevent the ensign from altering time with stopping a toddler from knocking over the furniture.

In the Enterprise ’s lounge, Ortegas and Nurse Christine Chapel pretend to admonish Boimler for endangering the timeline by handling a PADD. Chapel continues the playful ruse, asking Boimler if he has dealt with the uncontrollable vomiting and chroniton poisoning associated with time travel. Ortegas wonders if there are jetpacks in the future, and Chapel points out they already have them in the 23rd Century. Noticing a pair of Andorian officers, Boimler inquires as to whether life aboard the Enterprise is filled with non-stop excitement. Referring to this period as the "Golden Age of exploration," the ensign expresses solemn jealousy. Ortegas invites Boimler to movie night, and he responds that Pike’s birthday is on Friday — accidentally revealing the captain’s special day will be celebrated as a holiday in the future. Ortegas wants to throw Pike a party and promises to give Boimler credit for the idea. Chapel excuses herself to meet up with Spock, who once again disturbs Boimler when he greets the nurse with a wide, uncharacteristic smile.

Sometime later, the concerned ensign catches up with Chapel as she walks alone in the corridor. The two enter a turbolift, and Boimler nervously shares his worry that he had unwittingly influenced Spock’s personality and changed the past. By making Spock laugh, had he set a butterfly effect in motion? Chapel suggests Spock is just “going through a thing” and having fun, yet Boimler insists history chronicles Spock growing up on Vulcan, his pet sehlat, and his relationship with his parents — but nothing about a “happy, smiley, jokey” guy period. The ensign suspends his excited ramble when Chapel guarantees him that Spock was this way prior to his arrival, intuiting from the nurse’s tearful eyes that she is the person who has affected Spock’s behavior. Chapel sadly proclaims she never believed she would get to influence Spock forever anyway, and a demoralized Boimler exits the turbolift.

Spock, Pike, Chin-Riley, and Noonien-Singh assemble around the Bridge’s science station, where Boimler overhears the Vulcan report he has no way to track the Orions. The ensign knows how to accomplish the task, suggesting they simply not look as he does so to avoid contaminating the timeline. The four Enterprise officers turn their backs, allowing Boimler to root around underneath the console. The ensign, referred to as ‘future boy’ by Ortegas, succeeds, though he briefly becomes trapped in the ship’s wiring. The Enterprise catches up to the science vessel, and Boimler breaks protocol by insisting no Orions be harmed in the process, as Tendi’s great-grandmother is on the D’Var . Hurting the Orion crew could erase Tendi and her future as a junior science officer in Starfleet from history. Citing diplomacy — as well as patience, forgiveness, benevolence and "really great hair" — as one of the captain’s many strengths, Boimler convinces Pike to hail the Orions.

Seated in his captain’s chair, Harr Caras takes offense to Pike’s request to return the ancient portal. The Orion pauses communication in the hopes Pike will persuade him, and Boimler — in a very unsubtle fashion — tells Spock to inform the captain that the Orions want him to trade with them as a sign of respect. The Orions detect an extraordinary amount of tritriticale grain in the Enterprise ’s hold, leading Pike to agree to give them the cargo in exchange for the portal.

The Enterprise travels to Krulmuth-B and replaces the portal on the surface, where Spock observes there is only enough horonium left for a single trip through the device. Boimler describes his reality-threatening journey as one of the greatest experiences of his life. As he readies himself to enter the now active portal, Ensign Mariner flies through in an attempt to save “Boims.” Mariner notices Spock, Pike, and La’An, immediately checking to see if her idol Uhura is anywhere to be found.

His problems now doubled, Captain Pike convenes with Mariner, Boimler, Number One, Spock, La’An in his Ready Room. The time-traveling ensigns rapidly debate Mariner’s decision to help Boimler — What if he had been stuck in a dystopian San Francisco in the middle of a riot? *** — and Spock’s unexpected ‘hotness.’ No sources of additional horonium have been known to exist in the quadrant for over 100 years, but the crew will need more to activate the portal and send the ensigns home. Mariner suggests they “cook some up,” and is pleased when “hot Spock” agrees with her, but synthesizing horonium is a dangerous process that could blow up half the ship. With Uhura focused on translating the portal’s ancient text, Mariner claims she has enough linguistic experience to help Nyota. She also volunteers Boimler, who completed a material synthesis elective at Starfleet Academy, to assist Spock. The Vulcan cracks a joke and displays a broad smile, disturbing the two ensigns.

Soon after, as Mariner traverses one of the Enterprise ’s hallways, Boimler hurries to catch up with her. Although his friend thought she had done him a favor by pairing him with Spock, Boimler hopes to avoid getting stuck in the 23rd Century, where he’d have to live off-the-grid so as not to change history. Mariner — who thrives on the grid and, in fact, requires grid — is surprised when Number One approaches and causes Boimler to make a hasty exit. Still curious as to why the ensign looks at her as if she’s doomed, Una becomes even more unnerved when Mariner tells her not to worry because Boimler has a poster of her in his bunk. Afraid it could be a pin-up poster, Number One declares she doesn’t want to know.

Now seated in Uhura’s quarters amid a plethora of books and research materials, Mariner describes her impression of the communications officer as a care-free, super-translating space adventurer. Uhura feels weird that Mariner even knows her at all, but the Cerritos ensign elaborates, referring to Uhura as a hard worker who also knows how to have fun. Only 22 years old, Uhura admits these expectations have added pressure to her life. How can she have fun while being aware she must become a universally-known, super-translating, unflappable, hard working badass? Recognizing Uhura’s stress, Mariner quotes Section 48 Alpha-7 of Starfleet’s Labor Codes — "Officers must take meal breaks at regular intervals."

In the Enterprise’ s Lounge, Mariner mixes some Orion Hurricanes, though she needed to improvise some ingredients. The green beverage normally contains delaq , an Orion substance which Mariner states will “mess you up” and “truly ruin your life.” Ortegas accepts the powerful refreshment and calls the ensign a “good bad influence,” but Uhura covertly tries to keep working on the translation. The Enterprise ’s pilot notices Uhura’s subterfuge and reminds her friend of her service during the war with the Klingons. On the front, Ortegas and her colleagues always seized the opportunity for a break, because you could never get that time back. 

Uhura concedes and downs her drink, granting Ortegas a moment to look at her PADD. The lieutenant recognizes the symbols from the time someone tried to trade her a dom-jot set at Starbase Earhart. Mariner notes that Nausicaans are terrible at the billiards game, but Ortegas asserts that this wasn’t a traditional set — it was very old. With this information in mind, Uhura has a triumphant breakthrough. The portal’s glyphs are from an ancient Nausicaan dialect that is thousands of years old. Wearing a smirk, Mariner toasts with Ortegas and implies that taking time to recharge was clearly beneficial.

Working to synthesize horonium in one of the Enterprise ’s science labs, Spock informs Boimler that Chapel had told him about their exchange. Outfitted with a protective apron, the ensign appears anxious as Spock hypothesizes that his experiments with human emotion trouble Boimler. Spock believes his future self must have minimized his emotions, to which Boimler responds that the universe needs Vulcan Spock. They finish their preparations and set themselves to activate the synthesizer. Separating fissile isotopes at high speeds, Spock estimates the chances of an explosion are down to a coin flip and — in another attempt at humor — asks Boimler if he feels lucky. The pair don goggles and watch as sparks begin shooting out of the synthesizer, and the resulting explosion elicits terrified screams from the ensign.

A dejected Boimler stands beside Commander Pelia in Engineering and listens to the soothing sounds of the warp core. According to Pelia, losing the grain shipment will force the colonists at Setlik II to be relocated, further deflating Boimler’s spirit. The engineer wryly observes they could always search for a time-travel device to prevent Boimler from messing everything up, though she quickly addresses the ensign’s defeated demeanor. As a Lanthanite who has lived for thousands of years, Pelia remembers encountering a hero who resolved to pretend to be someone he wanted to be until he became that someone.

Inspired, Boimler heads down to the Shuttlebay and infiltrates one of the Enterprise ’s support craft. Mariner’s presence at the vessel’s controls surprises him, manifesting a Boimler yelp — Holy Q! Mariner rebukes him for mentioning the Continuum, particularly as Starfleet’s 23rd Century members currently have a Trelane thing going on. The pair duck for cover as another shuttle lifts off, and Mariner explains Uhura indicated the portal’s writing merely translated as “This is a time-portal.” Hoping to be a hero, Boimler plans to contact the Orions with the shuttle’s comms array and retrieve the grain for the Setlik II colony — he wants to help people now. Phaser drawn, La’An gets the drop on both ensigns, who raise their arms in alarm.

The security chief brings them to Pike’s quarters, giving them a moment alone with him. Mariner pleads with the captain to place the blame on her, particularly as being thrown in the Brig by someone he dressed up as for Halloween would be hard on Boimler. Pike changes the subject, asking a personal favor — stop encouraging his crew to throw him a birthday party. Boimler cautiously advises the captain that you never know how many birthdays you have left, drawing a nod from Pike. The captain is already aware of his fate,**** explaining his trepidation over a party stems from the fact he never mended fences with his father prior to his death. This will be the first year he will be older than his father was when he died, so he aims to spend his birthday alone and finally have that talk with his dad. Boimler counters, wondering how many people on the Enterprise will wish they had another day to talk to Pike when he is gone? A solemn Pike reflects on how he would react if he had the chance to step foot on Captain Jonathan Archer’s Enterprise — a comment that ignites an idea in Boimler’s mind.

They retreat to the Ready Room, where Boimler apologizes for judging the Enterprise crew by his expectations of them. Una encourages him to skip a repentant limerick he had prepared, allowing Mariner to fill them in on the time they visited the Starship History Museum, the NX-01’s 24th Century home. At the time, they learned that 22nd Century ships used horonium alloy in their hulls. When Starfleet builds a new vessel, tradition involves starting construction with a piece of the last ship to bear its name — there’s a piece of Archer’s Enterprise somewhere on Pike’s command!

Spock, Ortegas, and Uhura remove the NX-01 relic from underneath the deck in Engineering. Ortegas beams with admiration for Travis Mayweather’s piloting skills, while Uhura applauds Hoshi Sato’s ability to speak 86 languages. Spock accompanies the ensigns to the Transporter Room, where Mariner decides to clarify her remark concerning Boimler’s poster of Number One to the Enterprise’ s first officer. It’s actually a recruitment poster — Una is the literal “poster girl/woman” for Starfleet. Relieved, Number One listens as Boimler divulges that she was a big reason why he joined up. Visibly moved upon hearing the poster bears the phrase ad astra per aspera , Chin-Riley thanks Boimler and gives him a wink. Pike and La’An arrive to transport down, and the ensign becomes speechless when Spock bids farewell with the traditional Vulcan hand gesture.

Having received Boimler’s transmission, Caras and two armed Orions stand guard by the portal on the planet. Pike works to diffuse the situation by relaying the truth about the time-traveling ensigns. Mariner mentions she and Boimler serve alongside an Orion science officer who refers to herself as the "Mistress of the Winter Constellations," a name which intrigues Harr Caras. Boimler indicates that their friend Tendi’s great-grandmother serves aboard the science vessel, and the Orion captain responds that one of his colleagues is Astrea Tendi. Pike interjects, proposing he will let history record the portal was discovered by Orions — Orion scientists — if they permit Starfleet to use it once more. Pleased by the recognition for his vessel’s achievements, the Orion captain agrees and departs.

Boimler reactivates the portal and immediately hears Rutherford and Tendi’s voices, but insists they don’t attempt to come to his rescue. Boimler smiles and follows Mariner into the vortex. The two emerge in the 24th Century, where Boimler happily notifies Tendi she was right — Orions did discover the portal.

Back on the Cerritos , Boimler opens the compartment which proudly displays his Number One recruitment poster and thanks Mariner for journeying to save him from the TOS-era, referring to the “those old scientists” phrase Commander Jack Ransom uses to describe the time period. Ransom makes a timely entrance and notices the poster, remarking that “Numero Una” was the hottest first officer in Starfleet history. He then discloses that Mariner had sought out the assignment to survey the portal, gifting Boimler with the gleeful realization that his friend had undertaken the mission just so he could go along.

Meanwhile, in the 23rd Century, Captain Pike maintains he expected the surprise birthday his crew threw for him. Having learned the value of relaxation, Uhura plans to put on an Andorian comedy for next month’s movie night. Pike and his senior staff are drinking Orion Hurricanes made with genuine delaq provided by Caras. The officers begin to feel strange — almost two-dimensional, and Spock’s arm twists in an unexpected fashion. Distressed, M’Benga exclaims, “What the hell is in these things?!”

* " No Small Parts " - Following a second contact follow-up on Beta III, Ransom remarks to Captain Freeman how it's weird when they have to revisit planets from Captain Kirk's time, which he refers to as the "TOS" era (aka "those old scientists").

** " Crisis Point " - Mariner makes edits to Boimler's holoprogram, fashioning it into a movie, Crisis Point: The Rise of Vindicta . She casts Tendi as a stereotypical Orion pirate queen, which she rebukes as many Orions have moved away from piracy. After all, she herself didn't choose that path and pursued a career in Starfleet instead.

*** " Through the Valley of Shadows " - While on Boreth, Pike sought out a time crystal from the Klingon Timekeepers. Pike sees a vision of his unavoidable future. While on an inspection tour of a cadet vessel, a ruptured baffle plate resulted in a radiation leak. Pike was able to pull the remaining cadets still alive following an explosion, but he himself was stuck in the automatic lockdown. As a result, the severely disfigured and immobilized captain was placed on life support and confined to his wheelchair, as seen in " The Menagerie, Part I ."

**** " Past Tense, Part I " and " Past Tense, Part II " - En route to a symposium in San Francisco, Sisko, Dax, and Bashir are lost during transport to Earth. The trio materializes in San Francisco, but in the year 2024. Upon learning the date, Sisko realizes they arrived just days before a crucial event in history — the Bell Riots.

• Written by Kathryn Lyn & Bill Wolkoff
• Directed by Jonathan Frakes

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Jay Stobie (he/him) is a freelance writer, author, and consultant who has contributed articles to StarTrek.com, Star Trek Explorer, and Star Trek Magazine, as well as to Star Wars Insider and StarWars.com. Learn more about Jay by visiting JayStobie.com or finding him on Twitter, Instagram, and other social media platforms at @StobiesGalaxy.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds streams exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S., U.K., Australia, Latin America, Brazil, South Korea, France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland and Austria. In addition, the series airs on Bell Media’s CTV Sci-Fi Channel and streams on Crave in Canada and on SkyShowtime in the Nordics, the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal and Central and Eastern Europe. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution.