Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Episode 3 // Review
NOTE: This article is about the third episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds entitled Ghosts of Illyria. There will be some spoilers. You have been warned.
With the third episode of Strange New Worlds, the franchise of Star Trek revisits an age-old problem: when the crew of the Enterprise is infected with a virus that makes them all want to get a nice tan, how can they cope?
All sarcasm aside, this was a great episode.
Spock decides its best to arm yourself with a good book than a phaser.
The Enterprise is tasked to visit an abandoned colony of Illyrians, a species of people who used genetic modification like humans put on a pair of shoes or a coat. With the colony abandoned entirely and the planet ravaged by continual ion storms, Starfleet wants to find out what went wrong. Unfortunately, one of the crew has brought a deadly virus back to the ship.
Oh. Also, Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) and Lieutenant Spock (Ethan Peck) are stranded on the surface, with a lethal ion storm coming down on them.
Star Trek is no stranger to episodes with deadly viruses rampaging across the ship. From The Original Series to Voyager, writers have greatly enjoyed taking a look at what the crew does when faced with a viral medical emergency. Admittedly, Voyager decided to have it with viruses that were macrosized, resulting in monsters rampaging across the decks… but there has to be outliers in any sample. What’s unique this time, however, is the fact that the crew engage lockdown procedures the minute a virus is suspected. This makes the episode feel instantly less science fiction and a little more science fact, but also makes the characters feel way more realistic.
Admittedly, there isn’t anyone parading up and down the decks, demanding that their rights not be infringed upon, but Star Trek has always believed in the best of people.
Our characters of focus this time is Number One (Rebecca Romjin), with seriously strong appearances from Doctor M’Benga (Babs Olusanmokun), Nurse Chapel (Jess Bush), and Commander Hemmer (Bruce Horak). In fact, it’s arguable that Hemmer steals the show with his dry wit, sarcasm, and desire to beam the mantle of the planet into the transporter room.
Because he feels like it.
The solution for the virus is also a unique one for Star Trek, allowing for a dramatic character reveal at the same time. It’s doing double-duty for the story, and it is genuinely appreciated.
The B-plot for the episode focuses on Pike and Spock, stranded down on the planet. Decked out in their best away team jackets (now leather instead of the wool from the 60s pilot), Spock and Pike bond as friends and men in danger while trying to survive the lethal ion storm. There are some delightful character bits between the two that helps to bolster the kind of friendship and trust that we would later see earlier in The Original Series.
The fact that the episode ends with the crew being the best Starfleet has to offer, and dealing with secrets dredged up during their darkest moments like normal humans and adults? This is delightful. Number One’s origins are explained in a way that doesn’t undermine her previous iterations, and the disaster helps the crew gel in ways that are nothing short of touching.
So far, Strange New Worlds is doing a great job of showing off what the franchise can be. We can only hope that the remaining 7 episodes keep up this quality.
