Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season one (TV series DVD review).
The Star Trek franchise seems to be cannibalizing itself. This time, it delves into the era when Christopher Pike captained the Enterprise, introducing us to the starship during a refit following some damage. A cursory examination reveals a connection to another series, Star Trek: Discovery. However, familiarity with that series isn’t necessary to understand the events here, and since I haven’t seen it, it hasn’t impacted my understanding. The only pertinent detail is that Pike (portrayed by actor Anson Mount) has foreseen his own death a decade into the future.
Seeing him resemble a masked Sean Kenney—the actor from the original Star Trek two-part episode “The Menagerie”—we realize that things are not exactly as they seem. It’s unclear if this iteration of Pike has visited Talos IV, particularly since he already has a girlfriend, Captain Marie Batel (played by Melanie Scrofano) of the USS Cayuga. Fans can expect numerous Easter eggs that may elude younger viewers but will resonate with the older generation.
In the first episode, “Strange New Worlds,” Batel is dispatched with the USS Cayuga on a first contact mission, after which all communication ceases. Admiral Robert April (portrayed by Adrian Holmes) instructs Pike to assemble his crew and head out on a barely repaired Enterprise for investigation. The crew includes Spock (Ethan Peck), Cadet Uhura (Celia Rose Gooding), and Sam Kirk (Dan Jeannotte). Additionally, there is a Number One (Rebecca Romijn), who isn’t referred to by her actual name, Una Chin-Riley, until later in the series.
La’an Noonien-Singh (Christina Chong), the chief of security, although not augmented, is related to the notorious android creator. Her decision to retain his surname is intriguing. In the medical bay, we find Doctor M’Benga (Babs Olusanmokunokun) and Nurse Chapel (Jess Bush), equipped to administer drugs that can alter crew members’ appearances to resemble aliens for infiltration purposes during first contact missions, even without having any DNA or images of the aliens. Initially, I mistook Chief Engineer Hemmar (Bruce Horak) for an Andorian, which isn’t surprising given his pallor, white hair, and antennae. However, he is actually a visually impaired Aenar, using extrasensory perception for navigation. Lt. Erica Ortegas (Mellisa Navia) serves as the pilot. Much of this name-checking and spelling clarification required online research.
This series offers a rich tapestry of characters and lore, bridging gaps between classic and contemporary Star Trek narratives. Its nuanced references and character backgrounds provide depth and intrigue, ensuring both new and long-time fans of the franchise find something to enjoy.
I won’t delve into all the plot details of the Star Trek franchise to avoid spoilers, as these have likely been extensively covered on various Trek websites. However, it strikes me as peculiar that in a potentially hostile situation, all senior staff, including Pike, Spock, and Number One, are sent on rescue missions. This raises questions about the laxity of command in this iteration of the Star Trek universe. Moreover, the method of receiving appropriate attire via the transporter, as opposed to changing in a more conventional manner, seems unnecessarily convoluted. It’s especially odd given Spock’s confusion over wearing shorts. Even without access to their DNA, a simple photo and a statement like “make them look like so-and-so aliens” could have sufficed, which could have been addressed in the dialogue.
The audio commentary of the first episode by actor Anson Mount and writer/director Akiva Goldsman offered a different perspective, as they identified actors playing various roles. At this point, the names of the characters and cast members haven’t quite settled in my memory, and the potential for confusion persists, even with resources like IMDb. It’s noteworthy that each episode required a year of post-production, with filming beginning amidst COVID-19 restrictions. Their enthusiasm for the classic Star Trek is palpable.
The opening episode concludes with Pike giving vague directions for the Enterprise‘s next destination, simply gesturing in a certain direction. This reminded me of a similar scene with a character named Kirk in one of the films, suggesting this isn’t a new concept in Star Trek travel. However, this forms part of a broader critique of Starfleet’s operations, which, although supposedly based on military protocol, often rely on plot convenience.
In the second episode, “Children of the Comet,” the away team’s composition, including a linguist like Uhura, seems too convenient for solving the episode’s central problem. It would have been more logical to select crew members based on the mission’s requirements. The fact that a starship has only one linguist on board for first contact scenarios, and Uhura’s own admission of her inexperience, seems implausible. It’s akin to having a teenager pilot the Enterprise, a concept that has been explored before.
The episode also addresses eugenics and the United Planets’ disapproval of it, yet ironically, two crew members who are products of such practices end up saving the day. This raises questions about Starfleet’s recruitment and vetting processes. Pike’s lack of knowledge about Uhura’s background in a previous episode is baffling, potentially leading to awkward situations if she preferred to keep her history private.
Interestingly, it’s only in a deleted scene that we see a crew member express disdain for ‘augments,’ promptly corrected by Pike. This highlights why I’ve struggled to keep up with recent Trek series. The characters often seem too idealistic, lacking personal ambitions or desires for career advancement. While it’s important to depict characters striving towards perfection, actually achieving it leaves little room for growth or conflict. It’s disappointing that the mirror universe won’t be explored until a later captain’s era.
After watching three episodes, I believe the series would benefit from both a military and a scientific advisor. Even in a futuristic setting, certain contemporary protocols, particularly in command structures, are likely to persist.
In the fourth episode, “Memento Mori,” we are reintroduced to the Gorn. While familiar from previous Star Trek series, here, they are described by the sole survivor, La’an Noonien-Singh, as ‘monsters’ without her having seen them, only their brooding pouches. It’s unclear whether she refers to their appearance or actions.
Additionally, there’s a peculiar scenario involving the shuttlecraft Galileo being sent to distract Gorn starships near a brown dwarf star and a singularity. Navigating without instruments in such conditions raises the question of how they return to the Enterprise.
Episode five, “Spock Amok,” revisits Spock’s Vulcan/human heritage, prompting contemplation about eugenics protocols and whether Spock, as a hybrid, would be considered a violation of these rules. This suggests a double standard within Starfleet.
Finally, it seems odd that while the Enterprise is docked for repairs, personnel are transported rather than simply walking through a connected airlock, which would presumably save energy. This choice of using the transporter under such circumstances seems impractical and raises questions about the operational decisions aboard the ship.
These observations highlight various inconsistencies and narrative choices in the Star Trek universe that, while intriguing, sometimes strain believability. The series’ approach to character development, plot construction, and adherence to its own established rules of science and protocol invites both admiration and critique from its audience. As it continues to evolve, one hopes that it addresses these aspects more convincingly, maintaining the balance between dramatic storytelling and the logical framework that has defined Star Trek since its inception
Another puzzle is the R’ongovian Protectorate. Why have an unqualified cadet as an advisor in the room in an important meeting when it could be just as easy to watch from a monitor and have someone more senior there. It’s hardly like Uhura’s language skills would be of use as they appear to speak English.
Meanwhile, on Earth, do all Starfleet personal or just the Enterprise crew hang out in the same area on shore leave or how else did Spock and Chapel meet up?
Notice, I’m still not talking much about the episode plot itself just questionable things. It’s been out for a couple years but the drama aspects are so laid back you have to wonder if they panic about anything.
One major thing that struck me with episode six, ‘Lift Us Where Suffering Cannot Reach’, is the transporter chief, Kyle (actor Andrė Dae Kim), must have a dull time throughout warp flight with nothing to do. Its also interesting that ‘Star Trek’ continues with petty alien customs. I wonder how alien species interpret translations of sailor terms of ‘mess’ and ‘brig’?
With episode seven, ‘The Serene Squall’, this is the first noted observation of a Starfleet vessel going into non-Federation space, although its also seen permission is given whenever it needs to be done. It’s also surprising how quick T’Pring got to the edge of this space as well within a matter of days. That means Federation space is closer to Vulcan or it’s a lot smaller in Pike’s time.
The demonstrations of Spock using medical devices and Chapel activating engineering devices apparently outside their normal jobs does throw questions on their knowledge. It had been hinted in earlier episodes that they intern with other jobs on-board but you would question how much expertise they get and them remembering everything without making a mistake. There’s also the little matter of phaser availability in the medical bay. There is also the matter of just where is Chief Engineer Hemmar? Considering the imprisoned Doctor M’Benga had access to his medical equipment, his knowledge could have modified them to weapons. That also translates is not all people’s expertise is equal on-board.
With episode eight, The Elysian Kingdom’, there was another look at Doctor M’Benga’s daughter, Rukia, nominally kept in the medical transporter’s buffer to prolong her life from a life-threatening disease, cygnokemia (not available in out reality so you should be safe). Granted, senior crew now know about this but technically she is a stowaway. It says little about the Enterprise’s security and who else could be hidden away somewhere. If the Enterprise was a civilian spacecraft, which it isn’t, then it doesn’t matter but as a Starfleet vessel it has enough firepower to wipe out a planet and security protocols are really lax. Incidentally, I’ve yet to see any red-shirted security staff to rate their survival chances until the last episode.
M’Benga’s chemistry experiment is also extremely sloppy, subject to writers and other people. No measurement of liquid or chemicals, just spooning it in. In my day and even early with a home chemistry set, this is really ‘dollop chemistry’ to see what happens. When you also consider how sophisticated future medicine is, there must be other means than even basic chemistry to examine the disease. They need a chemistry and medical advisor watching over the show to stop such silly mistakes.
The nineth episode, ‘All Those Who Wander’, gave more information than even the above. I can understand cadets rotating through various jobs to see what suits them, even before they get some expertise or have some training that way. What is odd is Pike offering Uhura her communications job before she returns to the academy. I mean, the chair can hardly be vacant until then, can it?
Again, Pike takes his senior officers on an away mission while the Enterprise is off on a delivery mission. A crazy situation when they not only anyway to contact them but aren’t even in the vicinity. Granted this is a team that is always successful, but you have to wonder if other captains have such a cavalier attitude to getting killed. Don’t they trust their officers to do such work? Even more so, no security officers so no redshirts are killed, although three of the team don’t survive.
Establishing a planet where distance communication and transporter can’t work is useful except not how it happens. It can’t be down to the cold weather but why would the captain of another Starfleet vessel crash there, even when pursued by the Gorn. We do see their offspring this time and similarities to a certain xenomorph species can’t be ignored. They even shed skin and grow just as fast with viciousness over intelligence, which makes me wonder how they ever evolved space travel. This is also the episode with the most deleted scenes.
The final episode of the season, A Quality Of Mercy’ is also the longest with an added 10 minutes as the Enterprise is called to the Romulan Neutral Zone to deliver supplies, along with a new upstart captain of the Farragut. Pike also meets his future self who shows him the consequences of changing his own future and two other casualties in a variation of the original episode, ‘Balance Of Terrror’. Events pretty much play out the same way, including the recent Spock raising an eyebrow when he sees what the Romulans look like. Thing is, Pike’s visit to the future raises questions as to what happened to the future Pike for him to replace him and whether or not he will remembers what the Romulans look in the past?
Looking at this first season as a whole, one can’t fault the special effects or even acknowledging what we know from the original 1960s TV series. What it does lack is a sense of caring for the crew. Any dramatics is with alien encounters or relatives and girl-friends and rarely hinted at within the crew. Yes, there is a touch of racism against ‘enhanced’ people and even Vulcans by Sam Kirk but told off by Pike and forgotten. This is supposed to be an alternative version of the original Federation but using the Roddenberry ethic that everyone gets on in Starfleet. Its no wonder the mirror-versions are revered so much and that’s because they have the much needed internal dramatics. I’ll come back to this in my conclusions.
The extras start off with the original ‘Star Trek’ episode ‘Balance Of Terror’, as history is to show in its original box shape on TV and looks like its had a clean-up for blu-ray.
‘Pike’s Peek’, running at 17 minutes has actor Anson Mount doing a recording of some of his events as a diary/log of the first season. I do think the message from NASA he delivers is perhaps too optimistic. Just a little pessimism is healthy if we get into space or is that me?
‘World Building’ runs at 12 minutes, showing the AR wall. This is used instead of CGI so the cast can see their backdrop than just imagine it.
The longest is ‘Exploring New Worlds’, at 54 minutes where there is an exploration of the bridge crew both in the parts and the cast in civies as they really are. A lot of time has been spent on all of them and yet only three are still there after Pike’s tenure, so why did the rest move on or is the again ‘rotation’?
There’s also a 3 minute ‘Gag Reel’.
Am I being too harsh above? Yes, the series is watchable and I do have season 2 to watch but the things I pointed out stick out as things that could have been resolved at script preparation. It doesn’t mean the Enterprise has to be more militaristic but it is sloppy in places where it shouldn’t be. This is also an earlier period of Starfleet history. They should be on the road to utopia rather than being there already. It’s rather odd that a SF reality like ‘Star Trek’ seems to be forever never moving on from the events in ‘Deep Space Nine’ and ‘Voyager’ and literally standing still. Are we going to see the third Enterprise being run by someone before Pickard at some point? Redefining what the original show couldn’t do because it only lasted three seasons with a smaller budget does seem a little like a backward step. However, no doubt the ‘Star Trek’ fans will be glad they aren’t forgotten.
GF Willmetts
January 2024
(pub: Paramount/CBS Studios, 4 DVDs 502 minutes 9 episodes and 90 minutes of extras. Price: ASIN: 5320462)
cast: Anson Mount, Ethan Peck, Celia Rose Gooding, Rebecca Romijn, Christina Chong, Babs Olusanmokun, Jess Nush, Mellisa Navia, Bruce Horak and many more.
