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Ron: Hello and welcome to a new episode of Stereo Geeks. Today, we’re reviewing the first five episodes of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3. I’m Ron. 

Mon: And I’m Mon. We’ve seen five episodes, so there will be some spoilers. 

Ron: Before we start our episode, we would like to acknowledge that the land we are recording on is the traditional territory of many nations, including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples. It is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. We also acknowledge that Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 with the Mississaugas of the Credit.

Mon: While we are making this land acknowledgement, we understand that this is not enough and that positive action is required by the people of Canada to make substantive change for the Indigenous nations and communities whose lands we now reside on.

[Music]

Ron: Strange New Worlds is back for season three. We’re at the midpoint of the show, which is set to have two more seasons after this one.

Mon: We left the Enterprise crew in the midst of a war—with the Gorn. Captain Pike needed to make a decision. Escape and save the ship, or stay to rescue the landing party. What will he do? 

Ron: The five episodes we’ve seen are:

Mon: I’m not going to lie, I was full-on emotional when the first scene began. Through to the theme tune. Then I composed myself. 

Ron: What is it about the theme that always makes me tear up? 

Mon: Everytime! To me it just reiterates how much I freaking love this crew. I love this ship. And I love watching Strange New Worlds.

Ron: We loved Star Trek: Discovery and we were beyond excited for Strange New Worlds. Two and a half seasons in and I absolutely love it. It’s got the vibe of Discovery with nods to old-Trek. But it still tries to do new things, like that outstanding musical episode last season. Even in season one, the Mbenga episode where he’s the protagonist in his daughter’s fantasy? I knew right then that we had something special. 

Mon: Absolutely. It’s got the balance of episodic storytelling and a continuing narrative. But the gimmicky episodes aren’t the only highlights. They’ve given us such lovely characters, played by these compelling actors who just capture the screen. 

Ron: Every character has my entire heart. We came into this show with so much love for Captain Pike, played by Anson Mount. He was a wonderful addition to Discovery and as the captain of the Enterprise, he’s the heart of the show. 

Mon: And that brings me to something I have loved throughout the show so far—Captain Pike is amazing. He’s so kind, so large-hearted. And he’s so funny. I love the little things he does. There’s a moment in episode 5, when a character can’t see him, so he gently taps the person’s leg to reassure them. Or how he listens to Captain Marie Batel as she explains what she’s feeling. A boyfriend who listens, y’all!

Ron: The kindness of the characters is a relief. We have so many dark characters nowadays. You’ve got Rebecca Romijn’s Una Chin-Riley, who’s all business during battle but so understanding of her crew. All while having to hide her Illyrian heritage. 

Mon: Una is a fascinating character. They have to juggle the coldness we saw in ‘The Cage’ of OG Number One, with a more multi-dimensional and fun character in SNW. And they get it right. 

Ron: Of course there’s Spock. Played this time by Ethan Peck. He’s a much more immature, romantic character than Leonard Nimoy’s Spock. He’s got his head in the clouds sometimes but continues to be the scientific brains of the operation. 

Mon: Spock is sweet. He’s so silly, but I love his earnestness. 

Ron: La’an Noonien Singh, played by Christina Chong. In a very short amount of time, she’s managed to make such an impact that nobody even remembers the significance of her surname. 

Mon: Ok, so La’an is my favourite character. I think I’ve loved her from like the get-go. 

Ron: Yes, you have. Since the first episode!

Mon: She’s really loosened up in this season. I really like that because I could feel Christina Chong aching to spread her emotive wings. She gets to do that now, while being stern and firm. And she’s got a humourous side to her that I particularly love.

Mon: I wanna talk about Erica Ortegas. I like that she’s got a couple of moments here. But she’s still on the periphery of the narrative. Who is this woman? She remains an enigma. A magnetic enigma, but still an enigma. 

Ron: I love Ortegas! She’s my second-favourite character on this show. Even though we don’t know much about her, we keep getting glimpses. She’s shared her knowledge from the Klingon war several times. And her piloting skills are on par with Data, Sulu and Tom Paris. There’s something about Melissa Navia’s dialogue delivery that makes her so much fun to watch. She feels real, but a Star Trek character. 

Mon: Yes! She has this way about her. A swagger, but not overconfidence. 

Mon: Ok, another character who is a little underdone this season is Uhura. That being said, we’ve had some great episodes with her. But I do hope she gets a few more spotlight moments this season. 

Ron: Agreed. Celia Rose Gooding’s Uhura has given us so much more of the comms officer than we could have imagined. She’s everyone’s friend, makes people so comfortable. And she’s a critical member of the bridge. She’s not just communications, she’s tactical, and strategy. I love how much Pike and Chin-Riley rely on her. Also, Uhura gets the best dialogue! More on that in a bit. 

Mon: Aye. Engineering has expanded this season. Alongside Carol Kane’s hilarious and quirky Commander Pelia, we’ve got Martin Quinn’s younger Montgomery Scott. Very wet behind the ears but we can already see him shaping up to be the character as played by the late James Doohan. Pelia and Scotty make a fun team. She was his former professor at the Academy and she does not let him forget it. 

Ron: Let’s talk about the medical staff. Nurse Chapel, played by Jess Bush. She’s a major player here, unlike the original series. 

Mon: Christine is magnetic. She’s such a tour de force. Jess Bush has really made the character her own. And it helps that they’ve given Christine a lot of depth and interests.  

Ron: Yes, she’s not just a nurse, she’s interested in archeology, like Captain Picard. That plays a big part in this season. 

Mon: Rather, she’s not just a nurse character, like the way Hollywood used to write them. But let’s get to the person you really want to talk about. 

Ron: My absolute favourite character is Joseph Mbenga, played by Babs Olusanmokun. 

Mon: Honestly, us getting more Dr. Mbenga this season has been a boon. He’s fantastic. A glorious character who is measured, funny, extraordinarily brilliant. He’s complicated and layered. We could have so many episodes of him, and we’ll never get tired of him. 

Ron: Mbenga is perfect. I don’t mean as a person, but as a character. He’s very flawed and he did some terrible things during the war, which come back to haunt him repeatedly. His keeping his daughter in the transport buffers was not the best choice but he was keeping her safe. But the way Babs Olusanmokun plays Mbenga is what keeps me wanting more. The cadence of his voice, the affection he has for his crew mates, his bedside manner. After Bones and The Doctor, Mbenga is a dream!

Mon: Not that we don’t love Bones and the Doctor. But those two were so dramatic! Unlike Mbenga. 

Ron: 100%! We love all the doctors but they aren’t the nicest to their patients. I’d choose Mbenga any day. Also, he’s very funny at times. Every scene with him is special. 

Mon: So true. Ok, now on to the story elements. Are you surprised by just how much romance is going on in this season?

Ron: There’s so much romance! First up, Christine and Spock break up. Which was on the cards. Nurse Chapel is so much more mature than Spock. He’s doe-eyed and adorable, and I can see why Christine would want to be with him but Spock has been expecting a long-term relationship when Christine only wants something fun. 

Mon: Look, I’m not the biggest for romance most of the time, but the hopeless romantic in me definitely digs it from time to time. Last season, La’an and her unrequited love for the alternate universe James Kirk was simply magical. I was all heart-eyes for them. 

Ron: That episode caught me by surprise. It was so romantic and touching. It felt like La’an finally had someone who could be with her without her baggage.

Mon: So, here’s the thing. I was heartbroken for La’an not getting a Kirk, any Kirk. I was hoping we’d get to see her and Kirk again. Not a romance, but La’an working through her unrequited love. Instead, she’s now in a casual relationship with Spock? Really? I’m not digging this at all. 

Ron: I’m all for pining! Would have loved to see more pining. But instead we’ve got La’an and Spock. A label-less relationship. The chemistry is certainly there. 

Mon: Listen. They’re both gorgeous. Yes, they have chemistry. But Spock’s storylines have almost all been about romance. He needs more. And I don’t think he deserves La’an. She needs someone strong and secure and who’ll take care of her. Anyway, we’ll see where this goes. 

Ron: I’m getting Harry Kim vibes from Spock. All romance, little else. 

Mon: Ohhhhhh. That makes so much sense. I get it now. 

Ron: It is interesting that Spock is now in a casual relationship and Christine is in a committed one. That’s an interesting switch. Also tells me that Christine didn’t want to commit to Spock. He just wouldn’t accept it. 

Mon: Yeah, Christine outgrew Spock. 

Mon: I have to say, Pike and Batel getting more together-time is sweet. 

Ron: Yes, they’re the established relationship and I like them together. Though I get the feeling it’s not going to end well. Two Starfleet captains, both head strong? Not sure about this. 

Mon: Well, we know what happens to Pike. But what happens to Batel? I’m worried for this character, for sure. 

Mon: How about Uhura and Erica’s bro making eyes at each other? 

Ron: Very cute! 

Mon: They have no chemistry. Come on! 

Ron: Wait what! They do have some chemistry. It’s adorable. The way he couldn’t keep his eyes off her. And I think Uhura is just happy for the unexpected attention. She’s so focused on work most of the time and now she’s got someone else to occupy her. 

Mon: Pfft. I’m unconvinced. Honestly, I’m not feeling any of the romances this season. 

Ron: I agree. The two people who have a lot of chemistry aren’t even in a relationship—Erica and Una!

Mon: Dude, oh my gosh, yes. How are these two not a couple yet! 

Ron: Right? I’ve been feeling these two since season one. But so far, nothing! 

Mon: This brings me to one of my criticisms of the show. Where are the queer characters? We had one trans actor in one episode, a hint at two fantasy lesbians, and that’s it. Disco made waves. I want SNW to do the same. 

Ron: Yes! It’s tough after Discovery made such breakthroughs with queer representation. But it’s all so hetero on SNW right now. Very odd. 

Mon: Yeah. And it’s not like they’re hampered by continuity. That’s gone right out the window in this show. Let people be gay in space! 

Mon: My other criticism, which doesn’t affect the viewing experience, is that some of the story choices feel a tad repetitive. 

Ron: Say more. 

Mon: There’s a health issue for Batel—she resists treatment. That happens again in Episode 5. Other little things here and there too. I was like, the show has done this before. Do something different. 

Ron: Aside from that though, I can’t think of anything I don’t like so far. Every episode has been fascinating and unexpected. There are nods to all the Star Treks that have come before. It’s been fun but also intense. 

Mon: I dig the stories. But, this isn’t light-hearted fare. There’s a darkness running through this season. 

Ron: Yes. Even with the Wedding episode. We see Q2 again, now a slightly older version played by Rhys Darby. It’s all fun and games for Spock and the crew but you end up feeling so bad for Roger!

Mon: Yeah, so much silliness, but at the end, we see that the always jolly Ortegas is struggling with PTSD. 

Ron: Uff. That moment at the end when she sees the Gorn in the reflection? I really felt for Ortegas. She’s the happiest person on the ship but this season puts a lot on her. She even mutinies, kind of, because she’s so afraid Pike and Mbenga will die. 

Mon: Yeah! That was a surprise. But again, she does it with good intentions. And Una sees that. 

Ron: There’s that chemistry between them. Una is so understanding but she’s still the first officer. She just can’t let this behaviour slide. 

Mon: Let’s not even get into Episode 5. Do not watch that episode at night! 

Ron: Through the Lens of Time. Such a beautiful title. Such a horrifying episode. We had the Star Trek sci-fi stuff, which was fun, but then the other story was pure horror. And so terribly sad. I’m crushed. 

Mon: Well, let’s talk about what episode we loved. 

Ron: The zombie episode. Shuttle to Kenfori. I don’t like zombies but I loved this episode. 

Mon: Uh, that’s not a surprise. But aside from the Mbenga of it all, I did like the tension, the sets, the banter and bond between Pike and Mbenga. Also, Pike has some really fun lines here. 

Ron: Such funny lines! Pike is a funny man. “Sounds a lot like the z-word.” Mbenga’s face. Too good. 

Ron: Also loved seeing Klingons again. And a female Klingon warrior who was no-nonsense and vengeful. Love it!

Mon: Ok, can you guess which was my favourite episode? 

Ron: A Space Adventure Hour?

Mon: Nailed it. I’m so obvious.

Ron: It had to be the La’an episode!

Mon: Right. But that first scene had us laughing so hard, who wouldn’t love it? 

Ron: True. It was so over-the-top and I just know that Paul Wesley was having the time of his life playing that ludicrous pastiche version of Kirk. 

Mon: I liked the alternate characters too. The costumes and performances. Everyone was having a great time. 

Ron: The costumes this season were out of this world. The Wedding episode? Christine’s wedding dress? Beautiful. Spock’s sherwani-like suit. Gorgeous.

Mon: Everyone’s outfits in that episode were stunning. Gorgeous indeed! 

Ron: And then the costumes in Space Adventure Hour, both the fake show and the Holodeck programme. Silly but beautiful. 

Mon: But Space Adventure Hour also makes a point about the entertainment industry. Its issues but also its impact. Fake-Uhura’s impassioned speech about stories—I felt that. 

Ron: I loved that scene and it’s perfect that they had Uhura say it. Or rather the Holodeck character. Everything she says, it could be about Nichelle Nichols, or any other marginalized character or story. Wonderful writing. 

Ron: We’ve got five episodes left. I think we’re going to see some of the events from the first half impact the rest of the season. 

Mon: Yep. There are some mysteries that are going to come back to bite the crew. I just hope the crew come out unscathed. We only have two more seasons with these characters. Let them live. 

Ron: I’m also worried that we’ll lose some people. I don’t want to lose anyone. I’ve become too attached to this crew. As we do with all Star Trek crews. 

Mon: Yes. I really love this crew. 

Ron: There’s a brand new character who we see for barely three episodes and I didn’t want to see him go. How does Star Trek do it?

Mon: Instant attachment. I wish I knew how they do it. 

Ron: I didn’t expect us to feel anything but complete adoration for this season. We’ve been engrossed in the first two seasons. We’re crazy about these characters. We were always going to love this season. 

Mon: Yes, but we do need to put our critic caps on. The season is compelling. The characters are wonderful. But the romances don’t work. And I’d like them to not repeat story beats. 

Ron: Point taken. I also think the pacing in episode two was a bit slow. But that could be a directorial choice. 

Mon: Interesting. But despite it all, I couldn’t wait to get back to this ship. And watching each episode just makes me wish this show had 22-episode seasons. I want to spend more and more time with these characters. 

Ron: Yes. For now though, we wait for the rest of the season.