Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Episodes 1-2 Review — Welcome Back!

Star Trek Strange New Worlds Season 3 starts off strong with two thrilling new episodes. Engage!

The first episode picks up right where Season 2 left off. The familiar crew returns, with a few new additions—most notably a young Scotty and Helmsman Mitchell. The Enterprise is under attack by the Gorn, massive carnivorous reptiles piloting drone-like ships. The Gorn have already abducted all the inhabitants of a small colony, storing them aboard as future food.

On the bridge, Captain Pike momentarily zones out but quickly regains focus and calls for ideas to counterattack. The Gorn’s defenses are impenetrable—undetectable and shielded. As the command crew shouts out ideas, Number One encourages Pike to pick the “best of the bad ones.” They choose to scramble communications to breach the Gorn systems. Uhura pulls it off, and it works!

Next, they devise a risky plan to break through the Gorn ship’s energy shields. By matching the harmonics of both ships, they can ram through. Despite the intensity, the crew remains calm, cool, and collected. Pike calls it the “Game of Chicken” plan. With the Enterprise’s shields down to 30%, they have only one shot. Of course, it works—they charge the massive Gorn ship, pierce its defenses… and just when you think you know what’s next—bam! The new season’s intro rolls. Fantastic!

Back to the story: The battle appears to be over. The Enterprise retreats to its rendezvous point. Admiral April is en route for debriefing.

Meanwhile, in sickbay, Nurse Chapel explains to Captain Batel how she’ll remove Gorn eggs implanted in her during the Hegemony mission. The procedure involves putting Batel into stasis to freeze the embryos, but a complication arises: Batel is allergic to the cryogenic serum. With less than 24 hours before the eggs hatch, Spock joins Chapel to help find another solution.

Elsewhere, Pike meets with Admiral April, who tells him to “stand by.” Pike warns that the Gorn won’t. April insists that the Federation, still recovering from the Klingon War, can’t afford to attack. The Gorn know this and are exploiting it. While Pike’s official orders are to monitor the demarcation line, his unofficial mission is to push back and prove the Federation isn’t easy prey.

In Engineering, Pelia and Scotty develop a cloaking device that makes the Enterprise look like a Gorn ship. Their banter is pure fun—Pelia was Scotty’s Academy instructor, and he’s now living his worst nightmare working under her again. Pike checks in, and Pelia promises it’ll be ready. Scotty works tirelessly—failure isn’t an option. The Enterprise is headed deep into Gorn space to rescue its crew.

La’an wakes up inside a grotesque Gorn cocoon. She escapes and frees fellow crew members. Sam Kirk finds a weapon and an escape route. They decide to release all colonists and crew in incubation pods and fight their way out.

Thanks to Scotty’s cloak, the Enterprise crosses into Gorn space undetected. In sickbay, Chapel and Spock run simulations for a new, risky treatment for Batel. Their conversation touches on their almost-romance. Spock apologizes for driving her away, and Chapel, while receptive, says things are complicated—she’s heading off for three months of training. Maybe time apart will bring clarity. Back to business: They try a desperate method to save Batel. Miraculously, it works.

Number One and Uhura present new intelligence: Gorn activity may be linked to a full-scale invasion. They theorize a way to force the Gorn into hibernation and set course back to Federation space to warn Starfleet. A communication buoy is left behind for future rescue operations.

The key to stopping the Gorn? A powerful phrase: “Make us shine like the sun.” That, and the fact that Scotty and Pelia temporarily turn the Enterprise into a miniature star. You’ll have to watch to see how!

This episode is SO GREAT!Strange New Worlds returns like a cosmic force!

There’s an alien invasion to stop, Gorn eggs to remove, captured crew and colonists to rescue, one crew member nearly dies, and the crew uses brilliant tech solutions—including a cloaking device—to save the day. It's full of high-stakes science, tight teamwork, and leadership by one of the best captains in Starfleet. Oh, and there’s a budding romance between Nurse Chapel and Spock, plus continued sparks between Captains Pike and Batel.

This show has a flair all its own. It’s a feel-good space odyssey—and it’s GREAT to have them BACK!

Episode 2

The second episode begins with Spock updating his personal log, Stardate 2251.7. The crew has survived the storm of the Gorn invasion and is now focused on recovery and rebuilding. After three quiet months at Starbase One, Spock has had plenty of time to reflect. With Federation Day Centennial just three days away, Captain Pike decides to host the celebration aboard the Enterprise, believing it will help boost crew morale.

Nurse Chapel has returned from her medical fellowship, but she and Spock haven’t spoken since her departure. In a charming and humorous moment, Spock is seen testing out new looks in preparation for her return. The crew is busy preparing for the Centennial festivities.

La’an offers to teach Spock how to dance—a delightful and unexpected development in this version of Spock. It's a sweet moment. Spock compliments La’an on her moves, which surprises her. Just then, Uhura contacts Spock to let him know that Nurse Chapel has arrived. Spock rushes to the transporter room with a book in hand.

La’an appears in her formal dress uniform, and Scotty is manning the transporter console. He notices a brief anomaly on the panel, but it vanishes quickly. Could this mysterious glitch resurface later?

Scotty beams aboard Nurse Chapel and her Fellowship Director, Dr. Roger Korby. Spock presents Chapel with a gift: Saltavantur, a rare and priceless book. La’an asks Dr. Korby if he needs accommodations, but he replies that everything is taken care of. To everyone’s surprise, Nurse Chapel announces that Dr. Korby is attending the Centennial as her date. Spock is visibly stunned and confused.

Meanwhile, Lieutenant Ortegas is sparring in the gym with her younger brother, Beto. Uhura enters and delivers the news: Nurse Chapel brought a date. Beto is so awestruck by Uhura’s beauty that he fails to notice his sister’s punch—and hits the mat.

In sickbay, Number One donates blood while having a humorous exchange with a young ensign, who believes his temporary assignment is ending with Chapel's return. However, Dr. M’Benga informs him he’s been permanently reassigned to the Enterprise. The ensign worries it’s a cruel joke and wanders off, dazed. Captain Batel, meanwhile, is recovering well—the Gorn eggs have been successfully removed, and she’ll soon be fit for duty.

Captains Pike and Batel discuss her next assignment. She’s considering a post involving deep space exploration or a diplomatic courier role. Their chemistry remains natural and compelling—they’re great together. Chapel later visits Spock to talk about their relationship. She admits she’s unsure how she feels about her new boyfriend, Korby. The conversation is awkward and unresolved. Uhura, Erica Ortegas, and Beto head to the Port Galley for drinks. Erica tries to block any flirtation between Uhura and her brother—but it’s already too late.

Spock eventually joins everyone in the galley for cocktails. Chapel and Korby share the story of their romantic moment, making the atmosphere uncomfortably tense. Spock retreats to the bar, where a Vulcan bartender offers him a strange drink called a Bakenal. Spock wishes things could be different.

Things get surreal: Spock falls asleep and wakes up in bed with Chapel. They’re getting married. Korby is his best man. The situation spirals into a bizarre dream sequence orchestrated by a powerful cosmic trickster masquerading as a wedding planner. Spock and Korby must work together to stop him. The trickster is revealed to be the transporter anomaly Scotty spotted earlier. Eventually, Spock’s father arrives and banishes the entity, who disappears into the cosmos.

One of the more emotional subplots involves Lieutenant Erica Ortegas, who is suffering from trauma. She’s haunted by flashbacks of her encounter with the Gorn. Despite her intense boxing sessions, the memories won’t fade—and no one else knows the depth of what she’s going through.

The episode concludes with the Centennial Celebration in full swing. The crew dances joyfully, and Spock, now an excellent dancer, joins them. He even manages to look good shirtless—bonus points.

Another wonderful episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. It delivers humor, heart, surreal sci-fi twists, emotional depth, and even a dash of romance—all while keeping the spirit of Star Trek alive and boldly going.

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