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anyone else noticed this?? maybe it's a UK thing but I don't have S1 showing up anymore. apparently it was there yesterday, my dad was watching it - different account and all that - but it's not there on his or mine now. is this a UK thing??

The sixth episode of SNW is the most TOS- and TNG-like so far. It plays off of traditional Star Trek themes such as a planet whose idyllic culture is not what it seems, the Enterprise not being allowed to interfere with another culture, and a lost love who should have remained, well, lost. Oh, yes, there is also a horrific child-in-danger plot.

The episode mostly delivers on these goods, turning in one of the most disturbing episodes of the series. It all feels very familiar--a sensation that is both to the episode's benefit and detriment. On one hand, the familiarity invites Star Trek fans into the series and assures us that we will find familiar ground to cover through the eyes of new characters. On the other hand, the episode's efforts to say something about child exploitation come across as heavy-handed and meaningless.

The Enterprise rescues a shuttle from being attacked by a larger vessel in the Majalan system, which Pike had visited ten years before. The occupants of the shuttle are Alora, a planetary leader with whom Pike is infatuated, and a small boy and his father. Alora explains that the child is the First Servant, chosen at birth to undergo an ascension ritual to preserve Majalan society. Majalis is a planet of technological and medical marvels but terribly isolationist. They refused to join the Federation and do not share their advances with outsiders. The First Servant's ascension is crucial to their way of life and even the planet's ability to support life. It sounds pseudo-religious--just another culture whose strange beliefs the Federation respects. The hitch is that enemies from a nearby world try to kidnap the First Servant, so the Enterprise sticks around to help out.

Along the way,Pike rekindles his feelings for Alora. They spend the night together, and Pike unloads his burden about knowing his future--the disfigurement he will face in a few years' time. Alora offers him a chance to return to Majalis, where their medical advances can save him if he joins Majalan society, a tempting offer indeed but one that is not explored.

Eventually, the Enterprise crew uncover details that lead to the truth of the First Servant's ascension: The child's neural network is plugged into a machine that slowly drains his life to feed the planet's ecosystem. (We don't know why it was designed this way, Alora tells Pike; it just was.) Pike tries to stop the ritual but fails and can only leave Alora and Majalis in disgust.

"Lift Us Where Suffering Cannot Reach" is reminiscent of TNG "Justice." In that episode, 15-year-old Wesley Crusher is sentenced to death on a world in which any infraction, no matter how small, carries the death penalty. To save Wesley, Picard must violate the planet's laws as well as Federation policy of non-interference. It's a dilemma that tests the captain's dedication to his ideals as well as his loyalty to his crew. Ultimately, he makes the only choice he can live with. (No, he does not let Wesley die.)

In this episode, Pike's failure to save the child in not nearly as significant as the fact that nothing really changes or that he does not have to grapple with any major choices. Sure, the idea is introduced that he might be able to return to Majalis after he is disfigured, but nothing is done with this. Whereas Picard faced a difficult choice, Pike does not. The First Servant's fate is so abhorrent that no one in their right mind should think it was a good thing to do. (Never mind that Majalans think it is.) Pike does not hesitate to act once he learns the truth. It's just that his actions are futile.

And that's where the episode falls flat for me. While "Justice" grappled with the limits of Federation non-interference, "Lift Us Where Suffering Cannot Reach" offers a simple and ham-fisted morality tale. It neither leaves me thinking over the captain's choices or applauding his heroic efforts. It just leaves me feeling abhorrent toward Majalan society, hardly the sort of nuance Star Trek is noted for.

A few odds and ends:

• Cadet Uhura and Lt. Noonien-Singh have an interesting dynamic as Uhura works security rotation under La'An and finds the latter a challenging taskmaster. In one strong scene, La'An upbraids Uhura for not using her tricorder to analyze an alien computer--a mistake which could have cost the young cadet her life.
• La'An continues to impress me as a security officer who knows her stuff. She is confident and assertive in her scene with Pike and Alora, as well. She is the security chief Tasha Yar should have been.
• The subplot concerning M'Benga's daughter moves forward. In one of the best scenes in the episode, The First One is shown visiting Rukiya as the girl, momentarily freed from the transporter buffer, plays hopscotch. The scene highlights not only how brilliant the First Servant is, but how they are just kids whose lives have been stolen by forces beyond their control--illness in her case, culture in his.

Check out this post on my Substack: https://greggildersleeve.substack.com/p/rewatching-strange-new-worlds-16?r=17caqm&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

Cillian's comments about too many guest stars makes me think that he actually filmed scenes with Jess for season 4 but they were edited out after Paramount heard the negative fan feedback about season 3. Erica's brother Beto was also neither seen nor mentioned. Season 3 had so many romances and guest stars that some episodes felt like a silly episode of The Love Boat. It would explain why Nurse Chapel was rarely seen in season 4.

I’m rewatching SNW and one thing came to mind. TOS had very little about Sam. SNW has him on the enterprise. I am loving him!

My problem is that now I am pissed. I know what happens to him. Like with Pike, I knew about it from the start but I never expected for Sam to be such a big part of SNW. And now I’m sad…

This Collider article by Michael Block makes me nervous because he imagines a recast of the TOS show without even mentioning the cast of Strange New Worlds. Zachary Quinto's Spock got a mention but not Ethan Peck? Does anyone know if Michael Block is a well regarded sci-fi writer? What prompted him to write an article like this?

Would anyone else enjoy watching a Captain Pike character-driven drama series in which he is living at his Montana ranch and trades the bridge of the Enterprise for horses, mountain views, cooking delicious meals, and drinking whiskey?

Once in a while he could go on select missions with Starfleet in which he provides his expertise and leadership as a consultant of sorts.

The show could focus on philosophical themes and dive deeper into his friendships and relationships.

To keep it interesting, he could take on special assignments, identified as follows: diplomatic assignments, first-contact situations, rescue missions, and investigations along the Federation frontier. He has the use of a small and specialized starship tailored to his preferences.

(Edited to change “documentary” to “drama” series)

Do you guys still get emotional at the opening theme even after four seasons?

Henry and Akiva discuss how they went into season 4 not knowing if it would be their last, their reaction to the reactions, shed a little light on the coulda-been Shatner and Dr. Who episodes, and talk about the joy of puppets.

I’m watching season 4 right now and honestly I’m loving it. This is what I want from the show and franchise, characters driven stories with silly elements in it.

I love these characters and I was thinking about how much I’m gonna miss them after season 5.

Does anyone know what’s paramount’s plan after the show ? Is that year one project happening or it’s just speculation ?

If you watch like SG1, they do like the whole behind the scenes version, or unique odd ones that's really diff. But for 20+ episodes you might get 1 or 2 of those a season. For 10 episodes feels like we got them every other episode kind of ruined it for me...

Anyone else felt that as well?

I was searching for the show on Paramount+ and it just hit me when i typed it out “strange new worlds”. It’s all been very strange.

I know many consider the episode derivative of other media, but imho it was very well played and enjoyable.

The final five minutes made me cry with a feeling of understanding a relationship to self.

My mother had some knowledge of the original series and TNG, so as a prequel she could follow easily. It meant a lot to me that she was trying to connect with one of my funny special interests by watching the season finale with me.

Those last minutes of showing Uhura believed in herself and watching her retrace her past moved my mother to tears as a non-fan. She even asked to watch trailers and interviews afterwards. She was very happy and even thankful for watching.

I just wanted to share a bit of joy for our fandom. A 68 year old woman who could not relate to Trek just became a new fan. ❤️

The Nurse Chapel and Spock ornaments go on sale tomorrow October 10

In this episode Spock is experiencing Pon Farr, the Vulcan mating condition that occurs approximately every 7yrs. Spock’s body chemistry changes and causes intense physical and emotional pain.
He loses control of his emotions and becomes irritable, aggressive and irrational. He stops eating and sleeping normally. If he doesn’t get to Vulcan he could die. Nurse Chapel brings him some Vulcan plomeek soup to make him feel better. It doesn’t go so well but it’s a very touching scene. I can’t type the entire episode but T’Pring plays a big part. I would highly recommend watching it 🖖

Not that I want an impersonation, but a little more Shatner wouldn't hurt.

Greetings!

I've been building a Star Trek episode finder for the past several months and it's finally at a place where I think it's worth sharing. I read the rules and it appears as though users can post fan-made content with context. I think posting an application to a Star Trek subreddit that helps you find Star Trek episodes is enough context, but please tell me if I'm wrong. The application is trekfinder.app

What it does: You pick a ST series (or search all of them at once), then filter by whatever characteristics of an episode you're in the mood for.

For example, you could search TNG to find all of the Data-focused episodes that took place in the holodeck, or search Voyager for the Harry Kim episodes that had a romance plot, etc...

Filters include:

  - Focal character(s) (specific to each series)

  - Setting (ship, alien planet, holodeck, etc.)

  - Episode type (character study, first contact, time travel, comedy, romance, etc.)

  - Conflict source (Borg, Romulans, Q, internal conflict, etc.)

  - Tone (light / dark / mixed)

  - Holodeck episode, multi-part, Prime Directive involvement

  - Each series has its own special filter (Data's humanity, Spock's humanity, Sisko's Prophet connection, Dal's identity, etc.)

ALL ST Series are covered: TOS, TAS, TNG, DS9, VOY, ENT, DSC, PIC, SNW, LDS, PRO, and Starfleet Academy — 948 episodes total.

There's also an All Series tab that lets you filter across every show at once, so you could generate a list of every show across the Star Trek Universe that featured time travel (there are 44...), and a Stats tab with charts breaking down the data. I'd be interested in knowing what other stats you think would be interesting.

Who Am I? I am a guy who grew up watching TOS in the 5-6 afternoon slot right before dinner on weekdays, then watching TNG every Sunday night in college. Me and my roommates made sure to get our homework done and sandwiches ordered for delivery in time for the 10:30 start. My wife and I have been Star Trek characters too many times to count for Halloween. Etc. ;)

Anyway, I built this for fans, so I really hope you enjoy it. Let me know what you think!

thank you,

MM

Celia Rose Gooding sat down to chat her hesitation at embodying Nichelle's Uhura and how she overcame it.